Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1066 to 1499. Nave and chancel without structural division, North aisle, North chancel chapel, North porch, South nave chapel. Small belfry over West end of nave. The nave is 11th or early 12th century in origin. The North aisle was added circa 1200 and the chancel built or rebuilt around the same time. The South porch is also 13th century. The church was renovated in the late 14th century or early 15th century, when the windows were redone, the buttresses added, the North chapel added, and the South chapel added or rebuilt. Some earlier elements, including the chancel windows and the arch to the South chapel may have been reset at this time. The church was restored in 1878-80 by Joseph Clarke, and has had some 20th century restoration.

Monument Types

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

Full description

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Listing Text:

933/17/146 HARTY FERRY ROAD
27-JUN-63 HARTY
(East side)
CHURCH OF ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE

(Formerly listed as:
HARTY FERRY ROAD
HARTY
CHURCH OF ST THOMAS)

II*
DATES/ARCHITECTS:
The nave is C11 or early C12 in origin. The N aisle was added c.1200 and the chancel built or rebuilt around the same time. The S porch is also C13. The church was renovated in the late C14 or early C15, when the windows were redone, the buttresses added, the N chapel added, and the S chapel added or rebuilt. Some earlier elements, including the chancel windows and the arch to the S chapel may have been reset at this time. The church was restored in 1878-80 by Joseph Clarke, and has had some C20 restoration.

MATERIALS:
Stone rubble, mostly ragstone but also including some tufa, septaria and flint. Tiled roofs, Timber weatherboarded bellcot.

PLAN:
Nave and chancel without structural division, N aisle, N chancel chapel, N porch, S nave chapel. Small belfry over W end of nave.

EXTERIOR
A small, low church. The nave and chancel roof ridge line is continuous, but the roofs are all distinct. The N aisle is roofed with the nave and has a catslide roof coming down too low for windows. The N chapel is taller with a low pitched roof and two-light Perpendicular windows; the S chapel is similar, but somewhat smaller. Gabled N porch with C13 outer opening. There is a massive offset buttress in the centre of the W wall, with two further offset buttresses of differing forms on the S nave wall and on the S chapel. Perpendicular windows on either side of the central W buttress. Blocked S nave door with a four-centred head, and one Perpendicular two-light window in the S nave wall and another in the S chapel. Chancel E window is Perpendicular, but there is a C12 round-headed window in the N wall, and a similar window in the S wall with a square-headed low-side window to the west of it. Small weather boarded belfry over the W end of the nave.

INTERIOR
The C12 origins of the church are more clearly apparent inside. There is no chancel arch, but the mid C14 screen stands in its original position. Door and stair to former rood loft in the N wall. The door cuts an earlier aumbry recess. There is a fine, late C14 image niche in the chancel. The S chapel opens through a C12 arch on chamfered imposts, possibly the chancel arch reset. The two bay N arcade of c.1200 has plain pointed arches and chamfered arches; the central pier is formed from a length of walling, and has a partial, blocked C12 window above it. Simple late C14 or C15 chamfered arches to the N chapel. The bellcot is supported by a massive, probably C15, frame at the W end of the church that has corner posts with diagonal and crossed braces.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES
Rood screen of c.1350-75 with square-headed lights with ogee tracery, plain lower panels, and a moulded cornice. The screen goes around the N chapel E respond with original, plain panelling, and then continues across the N chapel. The loft is lost. Fine late C14 image niche in the chancel with a nodding ogee, gabled and pinnacled frame has traces of paint on the back. It stands on a C19 corbel. Another image niche in the S chapel, and a partial, rebated aumbry in the N chapel. A very fine chest or `Flemish Kist¿ of c.1375 carved with a battle scene. Following the theft, and return, of this chest in 1987, a delicate metal screen to close the S chapel was installed.

The N and S chapels have late medieval low pitched roofs with moulded beams. C19 roofs in nave and chancel, the nave roof with crown posts. C19 timber pulpit with open tracery panels based on the screen. Very plain C19 nave benches.

Only a few monuments, including two brasses, one in the nave for Habram Fare, d.1512, the other C17 inscription in the N chapel. Very good late C19 and C20 glass, notably a late C20 window of grazing sheep and another with an owl. There are two pieces of medieval glass in the W windows. Royal arms of George II.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES
Three good chest tombs in the churchyard.

HISTORY
Harty is now very isolated, and has little settlement, but it was once more important as a crossing point of the Swale, with a ferry in use until 1946. Harty the place is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, but there is no record of a church at that date, but this does not necessarily mean that one did not exist as many churches were omitted from Domesday book. The earliest fabric is C11 or early C12, and as was common, the church was extended with a N aisle and larger chancel at the end of the C12 or the beginning of the C13. The chancel was renovated or refurnished in the late C14. The screen is dated to c.1350-75, and the Flemish chest to c.1375. The image niche, with its nodding ogee arch, is probably contemporary. The N and S chapels are of a similar date, although it is possible that the S chapel, entered through a C12 arch, was rebuilt at this time. Like most medieval parish churches, Harty was restored in the C19. The architect, George Austin, was the Canterbury diocesan architect.

SOURCES
Pevsner, N., Buildings of England, North-East and East Kent (1977), 343-4
Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society, file 08322.
St Thomas the Apostle, Harty: Guidebook (1999)


REASONS FOR DESIGNATION
The church of St Thomas the Apostle, Harty, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
* Late C11 or early C12 parish church with N aisle of c.1200
* N and S chapels late C14 or early C15
* Fine medieval furnishings, including very good screen of c.1350-75, contemporary image niche, and chest of c. 1375.
* Sympathetically restored in 1887-90 with some good C20 stained glass
* Very beautiful setting on the north bank of the Swale, opposite Whistable, as one of the last vestiges of the medieval settlement of Harty.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
HARTY FERRY ROAD 1. 5282 (East Side) Harty, Sheerness Church of St Thomas TR 06 NW 17/146 27.6.63.
B
2. Isolated ragstone church with tiled roof. Norman remains include part of a window above the arcade. Mainly 2-light Perpendicular windows. Shingled timber-framed bell-cote of C15, as is the south chapel. North aisle of circa 1200. Decorated niche in east chancel wall. Rood screen in situ of the 3rd quarter of C14 and carved chest, probably foreign, of similar date. Listing NGR: TR0151265953 (20)

Description from record TR 06 NW 4:
[TR 02306627] Church [NAT] (1) Harty Church, Sheppey, consists of a chancel with north chapel, a nave with north aisle and north porch, and a transeptal south chapel. Over the west end of the nave is a bell cote which is possibly of C14th date. The walls are of undressed stone, now stripped of plaster, with external dressings of ashlar. Piercing the original outer walls of the old nave, the north arcade arches are of transitional character (c. 1190-1200) and earlier than them is the arch on the south side, opening into the transeptal chapel. It can be little later than mid 12th century, 1180 at the latest. High up in the north arcade wall, are remains of a partly blocked-up, round-headed window, which is at least early C12th, and may even be a survival from a pre-Conquest building. [Full architectural description follows] (2). Architectural description of C13th church, restored in 1880, dedicated to St. Thomas (3). Harty Church, St. Thomas', is of Norman origin, and has a plain rectangular Perpendicular screen, but it is chiefly of repute as containing in the north chancel chapel an early C15th chest, boldly carved with a tilting scene on the central panel (4). The earliest work visible in Harty church, (even ante-dating a Norman arch to its south chapel, which is probably the original chancel arch re-set) is in the nave north wall which was originally external. The rear-arch of an early Norman window appears above the western of two piercings of c. 1200 when a narrow aisle was added, and is notable for being made of Tufa (5). The church is in regular use for divine worship. GP/AO/59/222/5 from north (6). Church of St. Thomas, Grade B. C12th, or probably late C11th, with later workings, except the South Chapel and the timber-framed bell-turret, which are C15th. C14th screen. (For full description see list) (7). St. Thomas' is the remotest church in Kent. From the north the big tiled roof slopes down so far that there is no room for windows. The north nave, north porch, south nave and south chapel have two-light Perpendicular windows. Above the arcade to the north aisle is part of a Norman window. The aisle itself dates from c. 1200. The arch to the south chapel from the nave looks as if it started as the Norman chancel arch and has been reset. The arch to the north chapel is of C13th date. In the east wall of the chancel is a fine decorated niche. The church contains a chest, 4ft wide, with a battle scene carved on the front, datable to c.1375 and probably not English (8). Additional reference (9,10) and site photographs (11-18). Church still in use. (19)

<1> OS 6" 1908 (OS Card Reference). SKE48323.

<2> Arch Cant 35 1025 73 plan illust 5 (A Vallance) (OS Card Reference). SKE35025.

<3> A Saunter through Kent 28 1934 88-90 (C Igglesden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32895.

<4> Kent Little Guides 1935 6th Edn 181 (J C Cox) (OS Card Reference). SKE45924.

<5> Kent Churches 1954 66 (Photo of Blocked Norman Window) (H R P Boorman and V J Torr) (OS Card Reference). SKE45909.

<6> F1 ASP 14-AUG-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42095.

<7> MHLG Sheppey RD Kent Oct 1960 4 (OS Card Reference). SKE47175.

<8> The Buildings of England N and NE Kent 1983 345 ((J Newman ed N Pevsner) (OS Card Reference). SKE50175.

<9> Field report for monument TR 06 NW 4 - August, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5244.

<10> Wilkinson, Paul, 2000, The Swale District. An Archaeological Survey commisioned by Swale Borough Council, 003 (Unpublished document). SWX9332.

<11> ST THOMAS'S CHURCH, LEYSDOWN - FROM NORTH. (Photograph). SKE1440.

<12> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9528.

<13> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10180.

<14> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10204.

<15> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10421.

<16> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11428.

<17> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11429.

<18> 1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11430.

<19> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<20> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading