Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 600 to 1721. Norman, 14-15thc alterations

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Modern - 600 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 65 SW 15 :
[TQ 64435256] St. Dunstan's Church [T.U.] (1) The church of West Peckham is dedicated to St. Dunstan. [Account gives details of advowson from c.1286] (2) St. Dunstan's, West Peckham. "Nave and chancel, each with N. aisle, western tower, S. porch. The tower Norman with arch in character. The windows square-headed 14th and 15th c. The two arches in nave 14th c; the rood-loft traced in middle wall.." (3) Still in use for public worship. (4) 1/21 Church of St Dunstan 25.8.59 I Later medieval parish church with Saxon tower and C17 Pew. Nave and chancel, each with north aisle, west tower and south porch. Ragstone rubble walling with tiled roofs. Saxon tower of 2 different dates in ragstone rubble, with pyramidal roof, splayed at base. Windows at upper level of tower single-splayed, below double splayed. Nave and chancel in one, with one south lancet in chancel. Other windows square-headed C14 & C15. Early C14 north aisle to nave that to chancel built as chantry chapel by Sir John Colepepper, who had given Duke's place to the Knights Templars. Chapel fitted out at 2 dates in C17 as Geary Pew. West and with pews surrounding over vault itselt. Open into nave and north aisle by 2 3-bay colonnades with over-slim wooden Corinthian columns on panelled pedestals supporting heavy but well-covered wooden cornice. East and with stairs with wooden balustra down to external door and entrance to vault, Doorway between 2 parts topped by broken segmental pediment containing coat-of-arms of Geary family. Whole doorway as well as backs of pews adjoining topped by carved wood floral decoration. Open work panels behind these 2 pews with parapet supporting volutes either side of door. Panelled wooden roof to pew with rough cornice. Aedicular tablet to Sir Nicholas Millar, and 1658. Large marble monument to Leonard Bartholomew, and 1721, and his wife, Elizabeth. Reclining figures on shelf attributed by Mrs Esdaile to Richard Crutcher! (5) St. Dunstan. Full architectural account. (6) Endowment of alter by Sir John Colepeper and the relationship between the church and the 'preceptory'. (7) TQ 644525. St Dunstan's Church, West Peckham, consists of a low west tower, a nave with north aisle and south porch, and a chancel with a north aisle which contains an upper-level chamber beautifully furnished as a squire's pew, with very fine renaissance woodwork. West tower, and west wall of nave, Saxon. Full description of Saxon work. (8)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 65 SW WEST PECKHAM CHURCH ROAD
1/21 Church of St Dunstan
25.8.59
- I
Later medieval parish church with Saxon tower and C17 Pew. Nave and chancel, each with north aisle, west tower and south porch. Ragstone rubble walling with tiled roofs. Saxon tower of 2 different dates in ragstone rubble, with pyramidal roof, splayed at base. Windows at upper level of tower single-splayed, below double splayed. Nave and chancel in one, with one south lancet in chancel. Other windows square-headed C14 & C15. Early C14 north aisle to nave that to chancel built as chantry chapel by Sir John Colepepper, who had given Duke's place to the Knights Templars. Chapel fitted out at 2 dates in C17 as Gear Pew. West and with pews surrounding over vault itself. Open into nave and north aisle by 2 5-bay colonnades with over-slim wooden Corinthian columns on panelled pedestals supporting heavy but well-covered wooden cornice. East and with stairs with wooden balustra down to external door and entrance to vault, Doorway between 2 parts topped by broken segmental pediment containing coat-of-arms of Geary family. Whole doorway as well as backs of pews adjoining topped by carved wood floral decoration. Open work panels behind these 2 pews with parapet supporting volutes either side of door. Panelled wooden roof to pew with rough cornice. Aedicular tablet to Sir Nicholas Millar, and 1658. Large marble monument to Leonard Bartholomew, and 1721, and his wife, Elizabeth. Reclining figures on shelf attributed by Mrs Esdaile to Richard Crutcher. Listing NGR: TQ6458652555 (11)

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

<2> History of Kent, Vol.5. 1798 pp.66 ff. (Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44150.

<3> The Churches of Kent. Vol.2, 1913, pp.64-5 (F. Grayling) (OS Card Reference). SKE50278.

<4> F1 CFW 30-DEC-58 (OS Card Reference). SKE42831.

<5> DOE(HHR) Dist of Tonbridge & Malling, Kent, April 1985 77-78 (OS Card Reference). SKE41090.

<6> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 605-6 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37926.

<7> Arch Cant 80 1965 93-94 (C L Tipton) (OS Card Reference). SKE35702.

<8> Anglo-Saxon Architecture 2 1965 489 (H M Taylor & J Taylor) (OS Card Reference). SKE33087.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 65 SW 15 - December, 1958 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3462.

<10> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1994, West Peckham, St Dustans:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29531.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading