Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1899 The Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe. Grade B. Largely rebuilt in the 19th century but the arcade of the Chancel is 13th century, the arches of the central tower, the Lady Chapel and St Eanswythe's Chapel are 15th century. The nave and N aisle were rebuilt in 1856-9. Perpendicular W window and porch were added 1872. S chancel aisle and transept were rebuilt in 1869 and the S aisle in 1874. In June 1885 a leadened coffer, or reliquary was found during work on the walls of the sacrarium. The reliquary contained the bones of a young woman and may be the remains of St. Eanswith moved when the church of St. Pauls was threaten by the sea..

Monument Types

• MINSTER (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 600 AD? to 1090 AD?)
• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• COFFIN (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• RELIQUARY (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 23 NW 26:
[TR 2295 3586] Ch. [NAT] (1)

The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, Folkestone, was largely rebuilt in the 19th century but contains 13th and 15th century work. (2)

In normal use. (3)

Church Street (S side). The Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe. Grade B. Largely rebuilt in the 19th century but the arcade of the Chancel is 13th century, the arches of the central tower, the Lady Chapel and St Eanswythe's Chapel are 15th century. The nave and N aisle were rebuilt in 1856-9. Perpendicular W window and porch were added 1872. S chancel aisle and transept were rebuilt in 1869 and the S aisle in 1874. (For full description see list). (4)

In June 1885 a leadened coffer, or reliquary was found during work on the walls of the sacrarium. When workers removed plaster form the surface of a wall beneath this niche they found a large arched space which had originally been open to the chancel. Beneath a large stone slab sttod the reliquary. It is 14" long and 9" wide and 8" high. The outer surface of the reliquary is ornamented with large open lozenges in relief formed of dots. The lead used for the lid did not fit properly and is believed to be re-used from a Roman lead coffin due to the decoration on the internal side. The reliquary contained the bones of a young woman and may be the remains of St. Eanswith.(5)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 22 35 NE CHURCH STREET
737/1/55 (South Side)
FOLKESTONE
The Parish Church of St
Mary and St Eanswythe
5.12.49 II*
Largely rebuilt in the Cl9 but the arcade of the Chancel is C13, the arches of the central Tower, the Lady Chapel and St Eanswythe's Chapel are Cl5. Built of stone rubble with slate roof. Tower has octagonal stair turret and angle buttreses. The nave and north aisle were rebuilt by R C Hussey in 1856-9. The large Perpendicular west window and porch were added by Stallwood in 1872, the south Chancel aisle and transept were rebuilt in 1869 and the south aisle in 1874. Triple crown post roof to chancel. Stained glass windows by Kempe. Cl3 font, Segrave tomb circa 1350. Monument to the Herdson family 1628. Piscina and double sedilia.
Listing NGR: TR2295935863 (6)

Additional information (7-8)

Historic England archive material (9)

<1> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<2> MHLG (1158/11/A May 1948) 3 (OS Card Reference). SKE46917.

<3> F1 CFW 23-APR-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42723.

<4> DOE(HHR) Dist of Shepway 1975 12 (OS Card Reference). SKE41045.

<5> Canon Scott Robertson, 1886, St, Eanswith's Reliquary in Folkestone Church, Arch Cant p322 - 326 (Article in serial). SKE8383.

<6> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<7> Field report for monument TR 23 NW 26 - April, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5611.

<8> Southern Water Services, 1993, Dover & Folkestone Wastewater Treatment scheme Environmental Statement (Unpublished document). SKE6815.

<9> Historic England, Archive material associated with St Eanswyth's Church, Folkestone, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54778.

Sources and further reading