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Monument details

HER Number:TR 15 NW 16
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:St Mary's Church, Chartham

Summary

St Mary's Church Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1200 to 1875. The foundations of the medieval structure of St Mary the Virgin Church close to west end of the church. Consisting of compacted rammed chalk and gravel measuring 1.0m wide. It was set on an east-west axis parallel to the north wall of the existing nave but 0.20m north of it.

Immediately north of the foundation there were a series of children's graves orientated east-west and of a medieval date. The southern sides of these graves respected the line of the foundations, therefore the previous structure.

It would appear that these remains represent the north-west corner of the nave of the medieval church which, at that time would most likely have been a small two-celled structure consisting af an aisleless nave and a small chancel perhaps measuring 18.50m in length and in width.

A further portion of foundations was observed which seemed to be later than the above, however did not correlate with the later rebuild of c1294. It would seem that this structure was an extention to the church, creating a larger nave or additional cells, creating a new west end. This could also have included a square bell tower.


Grid Reference:TR 1068 5507
Map Sheet:TR15NW
Parish:CHARTHAM, CANTERBURY, KENT

Monument Types

  • MINSTER (CHURCH, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 700 AD to 966 AD)
  • BUILDING (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 950 AD? (at some time) to 1294 AD? (at some time))
  • GRAVE (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon to Medieval - 950 AD? (at some time) to 1294 AD? (at some time))
  • CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

  • BURNT FLINT (Unknown date)
  • COFFIN FITTING (Undated)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
  • TEGULA (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLOOR TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1650 AD?)
  • WINDOW GLASS (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PEG TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1877 AD)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) 1100352: CHURCH OF ST MARY

Full description

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[TR 10685506] St Mary's Ch [NAT]. (1) The Church of St Mary, Chartham, was built between c1285 and c1305 except for the tower which is later 14thc. (2) In normal use. (3) Church of St Mary. The Green. Grade 1. The church was built between 1285 and circa 1305 except for the tower which is later C14. The whole was restored by GE Street in 1875. (4) Additional bibliography. (5-7) Additional bibliography - not consulted. (8-11)

This church was totally rebuilt at the end of the 13th century, with only a few odd reused fragments in the walls suggesting the presence of an earlier church. The nave, shallow transepts and chancel all appear to have been built at the same time, though only the chancel has very high quality split-cusp tracery (reflecting probably the ownership of this rich manor by Christ Church Priory). The use of transepts may suggest an earlier cruciform church, and it is just possible that the crossing area of the new church (and the nave) were built around (ie. outside) the earlier church before it was demolished.

The chancel, which has magnificent split-cusp 'Kentish Tracery' windows all around (4x2 light windows on the north and south, and a 4 light east window), was perhaps built first. It is heavily buttressed, and this may indicate that a stone vault (or? Even a timber vault) was planned. In the event this was not built, but an unusual continuous internal hood-mould (with trefoiled loops between the windows) was put in. The roof over the chancel is still boarded in, and appears to be much restored. On the south side of the chancel is a small doorway (restored), while under a heavily moulded arch in the centre of the north side is a tomb-chest set into the wall with trefoiled arches. All the other chancel fittings (including the altar, stalls etc), are of the c. 1875 restoration. (12)

The shallow north and south transepts both have 5-light stepped cinque-cusped lancets and each has an original piscina for its altar (a will of 1533 suggests that one altar was dedicated to St. Giles). Between the transepts and nave are large cinquefoiled squints, and the north and south walls of the transepts both have an internal string course. In the transept floors (and before 1875, situated in the centre of the chancel) are 5 brasses in Purbeck marble slabs: (1) The magnificent Robert de Septrans brass (c. 1322). For this date of c. 1322, see P Binoki "The stylistic sequence of London figure brasses" in J Coales (ed.) The Earliest English Brasses Patronage, Style and Workshopes 1270-1350 (1987), 86-8 (2)(3)+(4) brasses of 3 rectors in vestments: Robert London (d.1416), Robert Arthur (d. 1454), and Robert Sheffelde (d.1508). (5) Poor brass of Jane Dowther (d.1580). The organ is now in the N. transept, while the S. transept has an altar and other fittings including the font (moved here in 1985).

The nave is much plainer than the rest with only paired trefoiled windows in the walls. There are three of these, while the 4th pair (on the N.E.) is only of lancets. This lower window, however, is the only one to have an internal hood-mould. At the west end of the nave are two opposing N.+ S. doors. That on the north originally had a timber-framed porch on dwarf stone walls.
This was however, removed in the 1875 restoration, and the doorway was blocked up. The south porch, though heavily restored (it has lost its original S. wall and doorway), was perhaps an original feature of the church. Just over a third of the way along the nave are two opposing buttresses, and a few feet to the west of these are clear signs in both north and south walls of masonry breaks. This was, however, perhaps only a pause in the work, leaving the west end of the nave to be completed a few years later. There is another buttress on the N. side, just E. of the blocked N. door.

Over the whole of the crossing, transepts and nave (but not visible in the chancel) is a magnificent series of c. 1300 timber roofs with large scissor-trussed rafters. Over the crossing is a fine saltire of arch-braces, culminating in a huge boss of oak- leaves. In the nave which has a 28 foot span, there was originally one truss with a tie-beam and king-strut (it lay between the two opposing north and south buttresses). The tie-beam was later cut back to the walls and the king-strut cut off below the scissor crossing. See Med.Arch 27 (1983), 129 (The north rafter and ashlar piece has been restored). Lower beams run E.-W. across the transept openings (? for screens), and rest on stone corbels.

The western tower, which has diagonal buttresses and a spiral stair turret in the north-east corner, was probably built entirely in the late 15th century after the west wall of the nave had been totally demolished. The lower stage contains quite a lot of reused material (including a 13th century quatrefoil), while above the window heads in the bell-chamber red brick is used (Wills suggest the tower was being built in 1474 and 1490, 1495 and that it was finished and getting new bells in 1500). There is also red brick in the top level of the stair turret. There are 5 J. Hatch bells of 1605 and a treble of 1728 in a relatively new frame. The tower roof has also been renewed.

The church was described in 1861 by Sir Stephen Glynne before the 1875 restoration. It had high pews, a west gallery (put in in 1777), and a fine pulpit with sounding board on the S.W. side of the crossing. Two fine photos of the interior (framed and on the W. wall of the nave) of before 1875 show these and a series of hatchments on the walls. The scissor-braced roofs were plastered below, and this along with the gallery pews, and hatchments were removed in 1875 (also the N. porch). The pulpit was moved to the N.E. side of the crossing and the chancel was refurbished with the brasses being removed to the transepts. A new chancel screen was made (removed in turn in 1984). (9)

Evidence from contemporary wills record a tower in existence in 1474 when money was left to it and again for repairs carried out in 1490. Also the rebuild of the tower c.1495-1500 is supported by further wills. The grave and brass of the re-founder Sir Robert de Septvans who died in c.1306 was originally situated in the chancel clearly showing that the new structure had been completed by then.(10)

Description from record TR 15 NW 1390:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5273 CHARTHAM THE GREEN
Church of St Mary TR 1055 29/231 30.1.67.
I
2. The church was built between 1285 and circa 1305 except for the tower which is later C14. The whole was restored by G E Street in 1875. Large cruciform building with west tower and south porch. Built of flint with stone dressings and tiled roof. C15 roof with crossing covered by diagonal timber arches with a loss of oak leaves. Transepts with very fine example of windows with kentish tracery. Stained glass of circa 1294 in the chancel. Fine brass to Sir Robert de Septvans d 1306 one of the oldest in the country and C18 wall monuments including works by Rysbrack and Scheemakers. The churchyard contains C18 headstones with skull, cherub, hourglass and anchor motifs.
Listing NGR: TR1069155076

During monitoring of refurbishments to the St Mary’s Church rainwater drainage system in 2010-2011, a considerable quantity of disarticulated human bone was retrieved by hand, including the two infant femurs recovered from the projected alignment of the late Saxon Church. A range of residual medival and post-medival finds were also found in the soils removed, including moderate quantities of medieval/early post-medieval scraps of pottery, large iron coffin nails, post-med peg-tile
fragments and occasional window glass. Fragments of burnt flint, and sporadic fragments of Roman tile (tegula) and Romano-British CBM were probably re-used in earlier phases of the church. A selection of finds were 'retained for display in the church at a later date, including fragments of painted floor tile and a clay pipe stem celebrating Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee'. (11)

Description from record TR 15 NW 646:
The foundations of the medieval structure of St Mary the Virgin Church close to west end of the church. Consisting of compacted rammed chalk and gravel measuring 1.0m wide. It was set on an east-west axis parallel to the north wall of the existing nave but 0.20m north of it.

Immediately north of the foundation there were a series of children's graves orientated east-west and of a medieval date. The southern sides of these graves respected the line of the foundations, therefore the previous structure.

It would appear that these remains represent the north-west corner of the nave of the medieval church which, at that time would most likely have been a small two-celled structure consisting af an aisleless nave and a small chancel perhaps measuring 18.50m in length and in width.

A further portion of foundations was observed which seemed to be later than the above, however did not correlate with the later rebuild of c1294. It would seem that this structure was an extention to the church, creating a larger nave or additional cells, creating a new west end. This could also have included a square bell tower.(1)

Historic England archive material: BF052987 ST MARYS CHURCH, CHARTHAM File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.


<1> OS 6" 1962 (OS Card Reference). SKE48371.

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, An Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Chartham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE8357.

<2> MHLG 1953/11/A Dec 1960 20 (OS Card Reference). SKE47079.

<3> F1 ASP 02.02.65 (OS Card Reference). SKE41881.

<4> DOE (HHR) Dist of City of Canterbury Kent Mar 1980 66 (OS Card Reference). SKE40222.

<5> BOE NE & E Kent 1983 266-267 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38216.

<6> Arch J 126 1969 265-6 (SF Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE36565.

<7> Arch J 86 1929 306-7 (Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE36719.

<8> JBAA 20 1914 219-220 (OS Card Reference). SKE44905.

<9> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1991, Church Survey - St Mary's Church, Chartham. (Unpublished document). SKE7611.

<10> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, An Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Chartham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE8357.

<11> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2011, St Mary’s Church, Chartham, Canterbury, Kent: Archaeological watching and recording brief (Unpublished document). SKE51836.

<12> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 6" 1962.
<1>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2001. An Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Chartham, Kent.
<2>OS Card Reference: MHLG 1953/11/A Dec 1960 20.
<3>OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 02.02.65.
<4>OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Dist of City of Canterbury Kent Mar 1980 66.
<5>OS Card Reference: BOE NE & E Kent 1983 266-267 (J Newman).
<6>OS Card Reference: Arch J 126 1969 265-6 (SF Rigold).
<7>OS Card Reference: Arch J 86 1929 306-7 (Clapham).
<8>OS Card Reference: JBAA 20 1914 219-220.
<9>Unpublished document: Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown). 1991. Church Survey - St Mary's Church, Chartham..
<10>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2001. An Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Chartham, Kent.
<11>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2011. St Mary’s Church, Chartham, Canterbury, Kent: Archaeological watching and recording brief.
<12>XYMap: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #43612 Church, ]