Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1899. A 13th century church with 14th century additions. The church was restored in 1875. October 2009 archaeologists observed rewiring works on the iside of the church. No archaeological finds were recovered.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 72 NE 10 :
[TQ 79052730] St. Nicholas's Church [NAT] (1)
Church of St. Nicholas. Grade B. Chancel with North Chapel (for full description see list) (2)
In normal use. (3)

Parish church. Nave and chancel 13th c and 14th c, aisles and west tower 14th c, heavily restored and chancel largely rebuilt by R C Carpenter in 1875. Built of sandstone with tiled roof. (Listed Grade II*) [Detailed architectural description]. (4)

St Nicholas. Sandstone; sizeable. Heavily restored and the chancel largely rebuilt by R H Carpenter is 1875. [Further architectural details]. (5)

A watching brief carried out in 2009 the removal of Victorian pew platforms. Although heavily disturbed a solid sleeper wall foundation and intact soil horizons were discovered (7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
SANDHURST TQ72NE CHURCH ROAD 1350-0/5/179 St Nicholas Church 20/06/67 GV II* Parish church. Nave and chancel C13 and C14, aisles and west tower C14, heavily restored and chancel largely rebuilt by R.C. Carpenter in 1875. Built of sandstone with tiled roof. Nave, chancel, west tower, north and south aisles with north chantry chapel, north porch and C19 south porch. C14 west tower in 3 stages with renewed reticulated window to 1st stage and tall shallow angled buttress, louvred lancets to bell stage and arched doorcase with hood moulding. Top replaced in C16 brickwork. North and South aisles, the south aisle having 3 restored triple cinque foiled light windows with Kentish tracery. Plinth. Nave has clerestorey with lancets. C19 north porch, wooden on sandstone base with tiled roof. Interior: West tower opens by arches to North and South into lean to aisles and has semi-octagonal responds with sunk quadrant. C14 sandstone font with Decorated tracery pattern on each face. Nave of 4 bays with C14 arcade with octagonal piers of 2 dates, except for easternmost, piers rebuilt in C19. Clerestorey lancets are probably C13. North aisle has roll-moulded roof and rood stairs. Chantry Chapel or Betherynden Chapel built c.1450 by Sir Richard Betherynden of Old Place. South aisle has in East window stained glass depicting St Michael of c.1450, reset from the Chantry Chapel. South window has remains of C15 glass, also from the Chantry Chapel, depicting St George, a priest and an abbess. Piscina between them and stoup on one side of South door. 4 bay chancel has C14 aumbry but was heavily restored by R.C. Carpenter. C19 barrel vaulted ceiling. C18 wall tablet to members of Hodson family, swansneck pediment with urn in center and console brackets. 3 bells date from the C17, the oldest (No. 5) a C15 one is no longer used. Titus Oates began his clerical career here as an assistant curate. (West Kent and the Weald).
Listing NGR: TQ7905427314 (9)

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

<2> DOE (HHR) Sandhurst Tunbridge Wells Dist Kent Nov 1960 68 (OS Card Reference). SKE40608.

<3> F1 ASP 4.2.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42367.

<4> DOE (HHR) Tunbridge Wells 5 July 1993 (99) (OS Card Reference). SKE40666.

<4> Field report for monument TQ 72 NE 10 - February, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3697.

<5> Newman, J 1980. The Buildings of England, West Kent and The Weald: Penguin (505-506) (OS Card Reference). SKE47560.

<6> Diocese of Canterbury (Hugh Richmond), 2001, Sandhurst, St Nicholas:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29485.

<7> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2009, St Nicholas Church, The Street, Ash, Kent, Watching Brief Report (Unpublished document). SKE51602.

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

Sources and further reading