Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1080 to 1858. Prob. 12thc, enlarged 15thc; restoration of 1858. Ragstone, some herringbone. West tower, nave, south porch, chancels and north and south chancel

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1080 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Description from record TQ 65 NE 12 :
[TQ 65375888] St. Margaret's Church [TU] (1) The church at Addington is dedicated to St. Margaret. The present building was erected in 1403 as appears from the following inscription on a wall of it: In fourteen hundred and none, Here was neither stick nor stone; In fourteen hundred and three, The goodly building which you see. It has always been an appendage of the manor. [History of church given from temp. EDW.I 1272 - 1309] (2) St. Margaret of Antioch. A church is mentioned in Domesday 1089 AD. It was rebuilt in Norman times probably in the 12th c. The major part of the nave walls and the chancel east wall belong to this period - The south transept, west tower and porch were built in the first half of the 15th c. The north transept is of the 19c. The nave windows were enlarged in the 15c. There are indications that the Norman chancel was lighted by three or four round-headed lights in the east wall. (3) The church is in use for ecclesiastical purposes. CP/AO.59/56/4 from North East. (4) In Normal use. (5) 3/1 B Parish Church of Saint Margaret Parish Church Nave and western tower, north porch, blocked south doorcase, chancel and south chapel. The church originally dated from the 12th century, the quoins of which appear in the nave, which was lengthened in the 15th century, when the well-designed Kentish type of tower was built. The chancel arch is late 14th century. The gabled porch has the original carved barge-boards. Of outstanding interest are the brasses. 17th century monument to Watton family and contemporary panelled ceiling in south chapel. Plaque in nave to Admiral Parry 18th century obelisk monument in church yard to William Locker. (6) St Margaret's Church, Addington. The west tower, joined to the pre-existing nave by short pieces of wallling. Perpendicular, with diagonal buttresses and a big polygonal south east turret. Hasted quotes an inscription, which is now lost, recording 'goodly building' in 1400-3. The church is early Norman in its walling, see the herringbone masonry high on the south side, and all four original quoins. Nave and chancel without a division. The ghost of a big round arch in the south wall is revealed inside as not Norman. Decorated north window. North porch with a pretty 16th century bargeboard. Gabled chapels, originally a pair, the north rebuilt in 1858. A will of 1463 refers to one as 'de novo constructa'. The arches to them look older than that. Aumbry in the south chapel. Also a boarded and painted wagon roof. 14th century chancel arch. (7) Church may originate from the 12th century and enlarged in the 15th century when the tower was added. Fine medieval brasses. (8) Listed Grade I. (9)

A watching brief on services works in the churchyard in 2001 found no significant archaeological remains. Some fragmentary human remains were encountered. These were immediately reburied. (13)

In 2010 three test pits were dug against the south side of the church, exposing the foundations of the building. The foundations of the earliest phase consisted of large roughly hewn boulders at the corners with infilling between along the lines of the walls. The late Saxon-early Norman date of this work is supported by other typical features of this period in the building's fabric including herringbone patterning, the use of travertine and wide mortar jointing between largely unworked locally collected field stone. A number of graves were also located but not disturbed. (14)

In 2011/2 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out a watching brief on the south side of the church. The foundations were again exposed confirming the idea that they are of pre-Norman date. It is possible that they relate to an Anglo-Saxon timber church which was replaced in the Norman period, though its foundations were reused. A blocked door in the south wall of the nave was reopened. It was found to be an original Norman doorway that had been sealed, and its decorative stonework removed, probably during a late medieval phase of alteration. (15)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ADDINGTON CP PARK ROAD TQ 65 NE (south side) 7/12 Church of St Margaret 25.8.59
- I
Church. Circa 1100, c.1300, c.1400 with C16 alterations and additions and restoration of 1858. Ragstone, some herringbone. West tower, nave, south porch, chancels and north and south chancel chapels. 3-stage embattled west tower with diagonal buttresses and octagonal south-east stair turret. Circa 1470 with 2-light belfry openings, single light west window below and large 3-light window above door. 2-bay nave with C15 and C19 windows, but some herringbone walling high on south wall and all original quoins. Gabled north porch with C16 decorated wooden bargeboard. Gabled chancel chapels, originally a pair, the north rebuilt in 1858. Interior: Boarded and painted wagon roof. C14 chancel arch. Aumbry in south chapel. Brasses: Richard Charlis d.1378. William Snayth d.1408. Armoured figure, c.1415. Armoured figure, c.1445. Thomas Chaworth, after 1446. Robert Watton, d.1470. Monument to unknown parson, d.1651. Alabaster with black torch, marble side columns. Open segmental pedimented aedicule, with smaller one in pediment. 2 large inscriptions with relief busts in ovals below. 2 groups of children and 3 more inscriptions in base. 4 pairs of clasping hands and 4 armorial bearings in spine of monument. Listing NGR: TQ6530458877 (17)

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> History of Kent 2 1782 228 (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44107.

<3> Handboard in church North Porch Anon and Undated (OS Card Reference). SKE43662.

<4> F1 ASP 09.06.59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42008.

<5> F2 FGA 19.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43328.

<6> DOE(HHR) Dist of Tonbridge & Malling Kent 1950 1 (OS Card Reference). SKE41088.

<7> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 125 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37842.

<8> Tonbridge Malling Official Guide (OS Card Reference). SKE50605.

<9> KARU TM 1 (OS Card Reference). SKE45633.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 12 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3300.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 65 NE 12 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3301.

<12> DNH List Feb-1987 p.5 (OS Card Reference). SKE39783.

<13> Lower Medway Archaeological Group, 2001, Ref. Watching Brief at St Margaret's, Addington (Unpublished document). SKE13659.

<14> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2010, Archaeological Evaluation at St Margaret's Church, Addington (Unpublished document). SKE18157.

<15> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Archaeological Watching brief at St Margaret's Church, Addington (Unpublished document). SKE24859.

<16> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1993, Addington, St Margaret: Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29587.

<17> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading