Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1719. St Nicholas' Church hass been in ruins since the 16th century, with the steeple surviving until 1719. It was a small church dating from the 12th century, with a Norman door, chancel and nave. Very little remains now.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD to 2050 AD)
• CHURCHYARD (Medieval to Modern - 1066 AD (between) to 2050 AD (between))

Full description

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Description from record TQ 96 SE 14:
[TQ 9758 6260] St. Nicholas' Church [NR] (Remains of) [NAT] (1)

St. Nicholas' Church [NR] (Ruins of) [NAT] (2)

"Of Buckland church there only remains the western wall with a cinquefoiled window in it, and a portion of the south wall with a Norman door, c. 1100, in it. The building appears as if it was only very small, about 45ft. long, and 24ft. wide, consisting of a chancel and nave only. There is a tombstone in the chancel dated 1697. I am told a bell is preserved in the old vicarage house adjoining the church." (3)

Buckland church dedicated to St. Nicholas has been in ruins for many years. The steeple, which was a spire, was standing in 1719. The north and south walls of the church are now [in 1782] standing, and the west end where was formerly the steeple, in which was one bell. The east end is quite down and the whole roof of the church fallen in, and the inside a heap of rubbish (a). [Extracts relating to the fabric.] (b). 1561. The churchyard is unenclosed. 1563. The parish church and chancel is all fallen down except the walls ... 1590. The chancel is altogether decayed, only the walls remain. 1607. The church is decently kept, but the chancel is down ... (4)

The west wall and adjoining fragments of the north and south walls of the nave remain standing to a maximum height of about 4.0 metres. The window and door mentioned in Authority 3 have disappeared and no features remain, save some sandstone quoins at the S.W. corner, and the tombstone referred to by Authority 3 though no inscription can now be made out. The foundations of the remainder of the nave and of the chancel are faintly traceable. The fabric is in poor condition. Antiquity Model survey has been carried out. GP/AO/59/198/8 from south-west. (5)

Checked and correct. (6)

The Ruins of the Church of St. Nicholas, Grade II. Ruins of a medieval building which originally consisted of a chancel, a nave and a west tower, which collapsed in 1719. (For full description see list.) (7)

St. Nicholas' Church, Buckland - scheduled. (8)

See additional sources (9-12)

Formerly TQ 96 SE 14

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 96 SE NORTON AND BUCKLAND LOWER ROAD (north side)
1/65 The Ruins of the Church of 24.1.67 St. Nicholas
GV II
Ruins of medieval parish church. Coursed flint. Original nave, chancel and west tower which collapsed 1719. West wall of tower survives, 20 feet in length by 10 feet in height, returned 2 feet to the north, and 5 feet to the south. The footings of the nave and chancel walls are discernable at ground level. Listing NGR: TQ9701860488 (13)

<01> OS 6" 1909 (OS Card Reference). SKE48324.

<02> OS 6" 1872 (OS Card Reference). SKE48309.

<03> The Antiquary 3 no 47 1873 44 (G Bedo) (OS Card Reference). SKE49942.

<04> Hasted History of Kent 2 739 (folio ed) (OS Card Reference). SKE43742.

<05> Some East Kent Parish History - Buckland (OS Card Reference). SKE49502.

<06> Home Counties Magazine 7 1095 257-262 (Peter de Sandwich) Vol II 44-45 (OS Card Reference). SKE44177.

<07> F1 ASP 16-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42135.

<08> F2 CFW 23-JUL-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43273.

<09> DOE (HHR) Swale RD Kent Nov 1960 26 (OS Card Reference). SKE40646.

<10> Ancient Mons List 1978 - Information B Philp KARU Site no S15 (OS Card Reference). SKE33066.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 14 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4902.

<12> Field report for monument TQ 96 SE 14 - July, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4903.

<13> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading