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Monument details

HER Number:TR 14 SE 151
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:CHURCH OF ST MARTIN

Summary

Church mentioned in Domesday Book, is almost certainly the shell of the present church, though with perhaps a shorter chancel. In the late 12th century a tall lancet was put into the centre of each side of the chancel. The chancel may have been lengthened slightly at this time. At the west end of the nave is a small 13th century doorway with a continuous external roll.he gallery in the west end of the nave was perhaps built up in the late 17th or 18th century. Also in the 18th century all the earlier nave windows were replaced by round-headed brick windows, three on each side. In 1824 there is documented a major restoration, taking 6 months. New box pews were put in, and the west gallery was restored. The surviving wall-panelling and the large 'great house' pew in the south-east corner of the nave probably date from this time.

Summary from record TR 14 SE 18:

Church mentioned in Domesday Book, is almost certainly the shell of the present church, though with perhaps a shorter chancel. N the late 12th century a tall lancet was put into the centre of each side of the chancel. The chancel may have been lengthened slightly at this time. At the west end of the nave is a small 13th century doorway with a continuous external roll.he gallery in the west end of the nave was perhaps built up in the late 17th or 18th century. Also in the 18th century all the earlier nave windows were replaced by round-headed brick windows, three on each side. In 1824 there is documented a major restoration, taking 6 months. New box pews were put in, and the west gallery was restored. The surviving wall-panelling and the large 'great house' pew in the south-east corner of the nave probably date from this time.


Grid Reference:TR 19385 42234
Map Sheet:TR14SE
Parish:ACRISE, SHEPWAY, KENT

Monument Types

  • CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1067 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1263009: CHURCH OF ST MARTIN

Full description

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[TR 19384224] St. Martin's Church (NR) (1) The Church of St Martin, is 12th century. (2) In normal use. (3) 13/1 Church of St Martin. Grade B. Chancel and nave with shingle bell turret and spire at the west end of the nave. Of Norman origin with Transitional-Norman alterations including the chancel arch. C.18 ws. and gallery at the west end of the nave. (4) Additional reference. (5) Listed Grade I. (6)
A church is mentioned in Domesday Book, and Domesday Monachorum tells us that it was a chapel to Lyminge. This is almost certainly the shell of the present church, though with perhaps a shorter chancel. In the visible parts of the outer walls, one can see rough coursed whole flint and ironstone (some herringbone) masonry. On the south side of the chancel, a blocked original doorway, and just to the east of it, the east jamb of an original round-headed window. There is also probably a blocked original window half way up the west wall of the nave (between the buttresses). All have very rough ironstone jambs and head. Unfortunately the north wall of the nave and chancel is covered in ? 18th century and later render, so other medieval doors and windows are not visible here.

The four quoins of the nave are made of small-block diagonally tooled Caenstone of the 12th century (with some later repairs at the bottom in Rag and Portland stone). The masonry here suggests that all these quoins were rebuilt, perhaps replacing rough ironstone (as used in the early jambs). The chancel arch also contains reused crenellated blocks (of an early 12th century date), as well as a capitals, shafts and bases below. These presumably come from the early 12th century chancel arch.

In the late 12th century a tall lancet was put into the centre of each side of the chancel. The chancel may have been lengthened slightly at this time. At the west end of the nave is a small 13th century doorway with a continuous external roll.

The east wall of the chancel, with its high external ragstone plinth under the east window, must date from the late 13th (or very early 14th) century. It has a fine 2-light trefoil-headed east window with an internal rere-arch. Externally there is no hood-mould, and all the original Ragstone blocks survive. There were more 2-light windows of similar date on the south side of the chancel. They flank the lancet, and there may have been two more on the north, but the render there covers any external evidence for this. On the south side of the nave, the window on the east was blocked (? in the 19th cent.) but the jambs and base of the central mullion can just be seen, as well as one (west) block for a trefoiled head. Only the internal jambs for the west chancel window survive. The two corbels that flank the altar in the chancel may also be of this date.

As already mentioned, the chancel arch was rebuilt reusing some early 12th cent. carved blocks. This was perhaps done when the pointed arch was made, and the head (in place of a capital), was put in on the south side in the late 13th century.

The nave and chancel both have fine crown-post roofs over them, and these probably date to the 15th century. This is probably also the time when the two large buttresses were added outside the west end of the nave, so that a timber turret could be constructed in the west bay of the nave roof. (There is also a possible scar for an earlier medieval roof on the east wall of the nave above the chancel arch).

The gallery in the west end of the nave was perhaps built up in the late 17th or 18th century. Also in the 18th century all the earlier nave windows were replaced by round-headed brick windows, three on each side. At the same time the walls were probably rendered and given a thicker dado (this has now gone on the north side). A brick porch was also built on the south with fine blue-headers in Flemish bond externally. The porch is entered through a flattened round arch, while the way into the church was through a ? contemporary doorcase (with double internal and external doors) that obscure any earlier doorway. The window on the south-west side of the chancel may have been replaced with its round-head at this date, or perhaps a little later (early 19th cent.). The one bell in the turret dates from 1664.

In 1824 there is documented a major restoration, taking 6 months. New box pews were put in, and the west gallery was restored. The surviving wall-panelling and the large 'great house' pew in the south-east corner of the nave probably date from this time. It now contains a table dated 1758 (an earlier altar?). (The pulpit was no doubt in the north-east corner of the nave). All the windows in the nave and chancel (except the east window of 1897) were glazed in their wood and iron frames in 1855. The crenellated top of the turret and the spire were also probably added in 1824 (according to Glynne, who visited here in 1868, the belfry was tiled and the spire slated). The marble flooring, including the black and white paving in the porch may also date from this time. The font in also 19th century, as in the brass altar rail.

There appears to be no major Victorian work, though the present pews went in in 1903. The spire and turret were given their present form in 1922, when after stripping, a new shingle cover was provided. There was much ivy on the turret before this. The little wall between the buttresses at the extreme west end (containing a Bath stone lancet) may also dated from 1922, as this was when heating was first installed. Electric lighting and proper heating were not installed until 1962, and the gallery was restored three years later when a new staircase was made and the positive organ was installed there. The tiny children's chairs in the gallery are apparently early 19th century. (8)

Description from record TR 14 SE 18:
[TR 19384224] St. Martin's Church (NR) (1) The Church of St Martin, is 12th century. (2) In normal use. (3) 13/1 Church of St Martin. Grade B. Chancel and nave with shingle bell turret and spire at the west end of the nave. Of Norman origin with Transitional-Norman alterations including the chancel arch. C.18 ws. and gallery at the west end of the nave. (4) Additional reference. (5) Listed Grade I. (6)
A church is mentioned in Domesday Book, and Domesday Monachorum tells us that it was a chapel to Lyminge. This is almost certainly the shell of the present church, though with perhaps a shorter chancel. In the visible parts of the outer walls, one can see rough coursed whole flint and ironstone (some herringbone) masonry. On the south side of the chancel, a blocked original doorway, and just to the east of it, the east jamb of an original round-headed window. There is also probably a blocked original window half way up the west wall of the nave (between the buttresses). All have very rough ironstone jambs and head. Unfortunately the north wall of the nave and chancel is covered in ? 18th century and later render, so other medieval doors and windows are not visible here.

The four quoins of the nave are made of small-block diagonally tooled Caenstone of the 12th century (with some later repairs at the bottom in Rag and Portland stone). The masonry here suggests that all these quoins were rebuilt, perhaps replacing rough ironstone (as used in the early jambs). The chancel arch also contains reused crenellated blocks (of an early 12th century date), as well as a capitals, shafts and bases below. These presumably come from the early 12th century chancel arch.

In the late 12th century a tall lancet was put into the centre of each side of the chancel. The chancel may have been lengthened slightly at this time. At the west end of the nave is a small 13th century doorway with a continuous external roll.

The east wall of the chancel, with its high external ragstone plinth under the east window, must date from the late 13th (or very early 14th) century. It has a fine 2-light trefoil-headed east window with an internal rere-arch. Externally there is no hood-mould, and all the original Ragstone blocks survive. There were more 2-light windows of similar date on the south side of the chancel. They flank the lancet, and there may have been two more on the north, but the render there covers any external evidence for this. On the south side of the nave, the window on the east was blocked (? in the 19th cent.) but the jambs and base of the central mullion can just be seen, as well as one (west) block for a trefoiled head. Only the internal jambs for the west chancel window survive. The two corbels that flank the altar in the chancel may also be of this date.

As already mentioned, the chancel arch was rebuilt reusing some early 12th cent. carved blocks. This was perhaps done when the pointed arch was made, and the head (in place of a capital), was put in on the south side in the late 13th century.

The nave and chancel both have fine crown-post roofs over them, and these probably date to the 15th century. This is probably also the time when the two large buttresses were added outside the west end of the nave, so that a timber turret could be constructed in the west bay of the nave roof. (There is also a possible scar for an earlier medieval roof on the east wall of the nave above the chancel arch).

The gallery in the west end of the nave was perhaps built up in the late 17th or 18th century. Also in the 18th century all the earlier nave windows were replaced by round-headed brick windows, three on each side. At the same time the walls were probably rendered and given a thicker dado (this has now gone on the north side). A brick porch was also built on the south with fine blue-headers in Flemish bond externally. The porch is entered through a flattened round arch, while the way into the church was through a ? contemporary doorcase (with double internal and external doors) that obscure any earlier doorway. The window on the south-west side of the chancel may have been replaced with its round-head at this date, or perhaps a little later (early 19th cent.). The one bell in the turret dates from 1664.

In 1824 there is documented a major restoration, taking 6 months. New box pews were put in, and the west gallery was restored. The surviving wall-panelling and the large 'great house' pew in the south-east corner of the nave probably date from this time. It now contains a table dated 1758 (an earlier altar?). (The pulpit was no doubt in the north-east corner of the nave). All the windows in the nave and chancel (except the east window of 1897) were glazed in their wood and iron frames in 1855. The crenellated top of the turret and the spire were also probably added in 1824 (according to Glynne, who visited here in 1868, the belfry was tiled and the spire slated). The marble flooring, including the black and white paving in the porch may also date from this time. The font in also 19th century, as in the brass altar rail.

There appears to be no major Victorian work, though the present pews went in in 1903. The spire and turret were given their present form in 1922, when after stripping, a new shingle cover was provided. There was much ivy on the turret before this. The little wall between the buttresses at the extreme west end (containing a Bath stone lancet) may also dated from 1922, as this was when heating was first installed. Electric lighting and proper heating were not installed until 1962, and the gallery was restored three years later when a new staircase was made and the positive organ was installed there. The tiny children's chairs in the gallery are apparently early 19th century. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:

TR 14 SE ACRISE
4/4 Church of St Martin 29.12.66
GV I
Parish church. Late Cll or C12, C13 and C18. Partly-rendered flint, with vestigial herringbone courses. Stone dressings. Plain tile roof. Nave, and slightly narrower chancel. South porch to nave. Nave: plinthless. Two buttresses to west end, with lean-to with C19 pointed-arched light between them. Half-hipped roof with rectangular shingled belfry to top. Louvred two-light window to each face of belfry. Splay-footed shingled octagonal spire with weathervane. Three broad, round-headed leaded windows to south elevation, one to west and two to east of porch. South porch: C18. Chequered red and grey brick, with plain tile roof. Brick plinth. Dentilled brick eaves cornice. Roof hipped to front. No windows. Open outer doorway with elliptical head and pair of half-height iron gates. Rectangular inner doorway with moulded wooden architrave and tall C18 double doors, each of four fielded panels. Black and white marble floor. Chancel: plinthless. Same eaves as nave, but lower ridge. Large round-headed south-west window in ashlared architrave with raised outer verges. Narrow plain-chamfered pointed-arched lancet. Blocked (late C11 or C12?) round-headed south-east window with plain-chamfered stone head and jambs. Blocked round-headed doorway under and to right of south-west window. East gable end has large stone quoins, and chamfered offset about half way up wall. Pointed-arched window of two cinquefoil-headed lights and sexfoil, without overall architrave. Tall pointed-arched plain-chamfered north lancet. Nave: north elevation: three broad round-headed windows in unchamfered rendered surrounds. Interior: structure: pointed C13 chancel arch, plain-chamfered to east and with hollow-chamfered imposts. West face of arch incorporates voussoirs carved with embattling, from a late Cll or C12 arch or doorway. Short re-used angle shafts to west face of archway. Low pointed-arched C13 west doorway with continuous double-quirked roll moulding to its west face, visible from within C19 west lean-to. Roof: restored crown-post roof to nave, with three slender moulded octagonal crown posts, that to east end truncated, and with sous-laces, ashlar-pieces and moulded cornice. Similar roof to chancel. Fittings: octagonal stone font with panelled sides and octagonal stem with moulded capital and base. Pammet floor. C18 gallery to west end, on slender octagonal posts, with frieze of sunk moulded panels and with turned balusters and moulded rail. Royal arms of 1689. Monuments: monument on south wall of nave, to William Turner, d.1729. Round-headed inscription panel with fielded-panel pilasters flanked by inverted scrolls. Moulded plinth, breaking forwards on consoles under pilasters. Shaped base plate with palm fronds. Moulded broken-based segmental pediment with coat of arms to each end and achievements above. Cartouche on east wall of nave, south of chancel arch, to Ann Papellon, 2 d. 1693. Two grieving cherubs, and urn, to top, two winged cherubs' heads to base, and shield over winged skull crowned with ivy. Signed by Joseph Helby. Brass to Mary Heyman, d.1601, to south wall of chancel. Brass to Alexander Hamon, d.1613. Monument to Lionel Mackinnon, d.1854, on north wall of nave; parchment scroll with chamfered cornice, and triangular pediment carved with military trophies, with antefixae and black marble back plate, signed T. Gaffin. Monument on north wall of nave, to Thomas Papillon, d.1838. Tablet with plain inscription panel, and recessed side panels with channel. Moulded cornice. Moulded plinth with three balls under it towards each end. Shaped black marble back plate with coloured coat of arms. (J. Newman, Buildings of England Series, North-east and East Kent, 1983 edn.)
Listing NGR: TR1984942818 (9)


<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Churches of Kent 1 1913 54 (F Grayling) (OS Card Reference). SKE38979.

<3> F1 ASP 26-APR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42301.

<4> MHLG Prov List Elham RD Kent Sept 1960 2 (OS Card Reference). SKE47140.

<5> Bldgs of Eng NE & E Kent 1983 125 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37751.

<6> 1963, Field report for St Martin's Church (TR 14 SE 18) - April, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5418.

<7> DNH Listing 17-Oct-1988 (OS Card Reference). SKE39786.

<8> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1993, Church Survey - St Martin's Church, Acrise. (Unpublished document). SKE7583.

<9> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1961.
<2>OS Card Reference: Churches of Kent 1 1913 54 (F Grayling).
<3>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 26-APR-1963.
<4>OS Card Reference: MHLG Prov List Elham RD Kent Sept 1960 2.
<5>OS Card Reference: Bldgs of Eng NE & E Kent 1983 125 (J Newman).
<6>Bibliographic reference: 1963. Field report for St Martin's Church (TR 14 SE 18) - April, 1963.
<7>OS Card Reference: DNH Listing 17-Oct-1988.
<8>Unpublished document: Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown). 1993. Church Survey - St Martin's Church, Acrise..
<9>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #32483 Church, ]