Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1160 to 1842. Parish church, built circa 1180 and restored 1839-42 by R C Hussey. The church is built of flint and ashlar and comprises a nave and chancel. The 12th century carvings are very well-preserved but the formerly extensive wall paintings were almost entirely destroyed in the 19th century restoration.

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Monument Types

• CHURCH (Medieval to Modern - 1160 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 25 SE 15 :
[TR 2642 5014] Church [NAT] (1) The Church of St. Nicholas, Barfreston, is late 11th century. Grade A. (2) In normal use. (3) Parish Church of St. Nicholas, Grade I. Circa 1180, restored 1839-42.Complete if small, very finely and sumptuously decorated late 12th century building, only a 2-light 15th century window in the west wall not of 12th century date although here also is a 12th century lancet and quatrefoil. (For full description see list.) (4)(5) Additional bibliography. (6)

This church is famous for its sculptured decoration of the later 12th century. There is no evidence for a church here before the later 12th century. Almost the whole structure dates from the period c. 1170-1185, though the chancel arch may have been a second phase of the work. 'Decorated' windows from the south side of the chancel were removed by Hussey during the major restoration of the church in 1839-41. Much was rebuilt/replaced at this time (see R C Hussey's own account, 1886), but it was carefully done. The west wall was probably rebuilt in the late 14th/15th century (when the perp. window was inserted) as well as in c. 1840. Hasted records that (in the late 18th century) there was a south porch, and that "a small wooden turret was taken down a few years since." "There is only one bell". The earlier timber roofs were removed and replaced in c. 1840, but Hussey's account suggests that the roofs up to 1840 may have been simple trussed rafter roofs (?? 12th century). Wills of 1501 and 1508 mention lights of the rood loft/holy cross; also lights of St. Katherine (1508) and St. Nicholas (1530). Burials in the churchyard are recorded in wills of 1474, 1530, 1544 and 1545 (Test. Cant. 11).

The plan of the church shows that none of the walls meet at right angles. It is a parallelogram not a rectangle. However, a nave of 30 feet long by 22 feet wide (externally) was clearly planned, with a chancel 20 feet long by 18½ wide (externally). The walls are c. 2-2½ feet thick, except the rebuilt west wall which is 3 feet thick. The internal dimensions are: 24-24½ feet by 17 feet (nave) and 17 feet by 14 feet (chancel).

The west wall was rebuilt in the late Medieval period (and again in c. 1840), when large ragstone ties were put in (see above). The tall round-headed window, and the quatrefoil in the gable above are however, probably of the late 12th century. The N.W. pilaster was also presumably built in the later Medieval period, by which time the north wall was already leaning out considerably. (7)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
EYTHORNE BARFRESTONE TR 25 SE 3/11 Church of St Nicholas 11.10.63 GV I Parish church, Circa 1180, restored 1839-42 by R.C. Hussey. Flint and Caenstone ashlar with plain tiled roof. Nave and chancel. Complete if small, very finely and sumptuously decorated late C12 building, only a 2 light C15-window in the west wall not of C12 date although here also is a C12 lancet and quatrefoil. The lower half of the walls throughout are of flint, with ashlar above with blind arcading except on the west wall and with corbel table to roof. The arcading generally alternately large and small semi-circular arches, the latter with lancet windows, with pointed heads where pinched in above north and south doorways. East end with arcaded and weathered base with buttresses, and large wheel window, the spokes consisting of colonnettes,with beasts' heads as capitals, with leaves and winged beasts in the surround, with the arcading and lancets below. Recesses surround the wheel window with fragments of sculptures of the Evangelists' symbols, and of a Knight on horseback. Brackets to left and right on gable ends bearing crouching lions. Sculptural fragment on south chancel wall, mutilated and indecipherable but for the architectural tabernacle. Otherwise the ornament is expressed in the 3 doorways: north door, with attached shafts with enriched capitals, and imposts to the door surround with bestial heads, with 4 orders to surround; an enriched chevron, roll mould, triple zig-zag and a roll mould. Priest's door (south chancel wall), with billet moulded hood and chevron moulded side pieces, with 3 heads dropped down from concave tympanum. The south door has the richest expression of sculpture. Two sets of attached shafts, the capitals carved with beasts and charging armoured knights, the inner shafts with water leaf volutes as are the spurred bases to the shafts. Three orders around tympanum, with an outer enriched, foliated roll mould, then a dozen sunk medallions with signs of the zodiac and the labours of the month, but also with some warriors and Samson, with a thick roll within this with animals cavorting and playing musical instruments, with a figure of a bishop at the apex. An inner roll of enriched foliate design surrounds the tympanum, which has loops of foliage enclosing figures of angels, human heads and beasts, with central figure of Christ in a mandorla. The door itself with 3 large C19 strap hinges scrolled and bifurcated. Scratch dials are cut into the doorway surround. Interior: Nave and chancel with C19 wooden tunnel vault roofs. All the window reveals have roll moulded surrounds. Continuous enriched band in nave at sill level and raised over door heads, with trefoil and flower ornament, with carvings on north wall of a fox and a rabbit apparently stewing another rabbit and a monkey blowing a pipe; with C19 wyvern and lion.Dogtooth over rere-arches of nave windows. Chancel arch: with niches to left and to right with attached crocketed shafts, roll mould and zig-zag. Chancel arch itself with a billet moulded drip, triple zig-zag moulding, chevron moulded and plain inner rolls. Moulded imposts carried as if a cornice across the side niches, and with large attached zig-zag shafts with crocketed capitals similar to those found at Bredgar, Bapchild and several other churches in the Sittingbourne area, all ultimately based on Canterbury Cathedral work of the 1170s. The decorated strings in the chancel, embattled in part with punched holes in relief, and the dogtooth show signs of the C19 restoration (involving the complete taking down and rebuilding of the chancel stone by stone). The wheel window surround is, as with the exterior, decorated with winged beasts and floriate patterns. Fittings: Aumbries in north and south walls, the latter with a trefoiled head. Glass: C19 in style, in the wheel window, by W. Miller, Paintings: Very faint traces in the chancel north-east window, the only remains of very extensive paintings destroyed in the 1839-41 rebuilding. Monuments: Thomas Boys d.1599, wall plaque in chancel. Black and white alabaster monument with strapwork base, and side pieces with ribband and strapwork decoration, topped by cornice with ball and steeple finials and achievement in strapwork surround. A plain black and white wall plaque with simple surround and cornice of similar date, but illegible inscription is on the south wall. (See B.O.E. Kent II 1983, pp 133-4). Listing NGR: TR2625350175 (8)

Historic England archive material (9)

<1> OS 6" 1960 (OS Card Reference). SKE48367.

<2> MHLG (2067/11/A) September 1960 15 (OS Card Reference). SKE46999.

<3> F1 FGA 16-JUN-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42928.

<4> DOE(HHR) District of Dover 1986 5-6 (OS Card Reference). SKE41133.

<5> Buildings of England NE and E Kent 1983 133-5 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38409.

<6> Field report for monument TR 25 SE 15 - June, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5765.

<7> Diocese of Canterbury (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1991, Church Survey - St Nicholas' Church, Barfreston (Eythorne CP). (Unpublished document). SKE7606.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<9> Historic England, Archive material associated with St Nicholas' Church, Barfrestone, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54823.

Sources and further reading