Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1267 to 1889. 13th century and later, restored circa 1863.

Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1267 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 73 NE 1 :
[TQ 77683616] St. Dunstan's Church [NAT]. (1) The Church of St. Dunstan, Cranbrook, is today substantially as it was in the mid 16th century. It includes 12th-15th century work. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St. Dunstan. Grade A. (for full description see list). (4)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
CRANBROOK CARRIERS ROAD, (EAST TQ 7736 SIDE) 10/40 Church of St Dunstan 20.6.67 GV I
Parish Church. Late C13, C14 late C15, early C16, restored C1863 by William Slater and Ewan Christian. Dressed stone with plain tiled roofs, all hidden by crenellated parapets except chancel. West tower, nave with north and south aisles, south porch, north and south transeptal chapels and chancel. Extension: 3-stage tower with crenellated parapet and south-east octagonal stair turret. Stepped angle buttresses. Two-light cusped belfry openings under label moulds with 2-centred arched openings on second stage and large C15 window above pointed arched west doorway heavily inset. Six-bay nave and aisles all with large late C15 or early C16 windows, some quite heavily renewed. Two-bay transeptal chapels, little more than extensions eastwards of aisles. Chancel of 3 bays with higher pitch to roof. Clock on south wall of town, C1700 with C20 figure of time (original in Town Museum), in open swan-neck pediment topping cartouche. Interior: C15 tower arch. Six-bay arcades, with compound plans of 4 shafts and 4 double waves, wide 3-centred arches matching carrying clerestory with 4 centred arched windows. Vertical shafts flanking clerestory windows terminate below in demi-angles over pairs of arcade and as demi-angles on roof corbels. Crown-post nave roof with cusped arches in tympana. C14 chancel arch. Fittings: 4 wooden roof bosses, ("Green Men"), C1300. Early C15 altar rails. C18 pulpit, with sounding board, now a table. Font of 1852 in perpendicular. Also total immersion font of 1725 by south porch. Glass: one window in north aisle with complete early C16 glazing. North and south chancel windows by O'Connor, C1858-59. Three windows in south aisle by C E Kempe, 1902. Monuments. Brass of merchant C1520. Marble standing monument, for the Roberts family, 1740 by Joseph Pickford. Broker pediment and drops of oak-leaves. Baker family 1736. Obelisk. Thomas webster, R A d.1886 by Hamo Thorney-Croft, 1889. Marble relief of recumbent artist. Listing NGR: TQ7769036166 (6)

Archive material (7)

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

<2> Cranbrook N and R No April 1952 (CCR Pile) (OS Card Reference). SKE39490.

<3> F1 CFW 4.2.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42844.

<4> MHLG (Prov HHR) Dist of Cranbrook RD Kent Nov 1960 12 (OS Card Reference). SKE47061.

<5> Field report for monument TQ 73 NE 1 - February, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3701.

<6> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<7> Historic England, Archive material associated with St Dunstan's Church, Cranbrook, Listed Building (Archive). SKE53925.

Sources and further reading