Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A chapel dedicated to St. Peter was built within the manor of Elsingham during the reign of the Bishop Gundulf (1077-1108). It was rebuilt between in 1137 and 1142. By 1772 the building had become ruinous and it was demolished. An oast house was erected in its place. Fragmentary portions of flint and rubble walling are still thought to be visible, surviving to an average height of 0.5m.

Monument Types

• CHAPEL (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1077 AD to 1772 AD (between))

Full description

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Hugh de St. Clair obtained from Bishop Gundulph (1077-1108) the grant of a free chapel within the manor of Eslingham. Bishop de Seez (1137-42) dedicated it to St. Peter. (1) The ruins of St. Peter's Church may still be traced in the lower part of an oast and cottage on Aslingham Far. It was rebuilt between 1137 and 1144, but by 1772, it had become a ruin and was pulled down. Records of appointments exist from 1330 to 1542. Harris in 1719, stated 'Whether the church was here was ... parochial.... I do not know; but a long time after the ... church of Frindsbury became so, here was a church or chapel remaining in which divine service was performed; though of late years the people of Eslingham come to Frindsbury Church and have gotten leave to bury their dead there, which before they did in their own chapel' (2) The chapel seems to have been c.30' long (E-W) and c.20' wide. It stood on the side of the yard, south of the house, and was used as an oust-house. It was pulled down in 1772 and a new oast erected on the spot. (3) (TQ 74697174) The building now on the site of St. Peter's Chapel is used as a stable and store-shed. Fragmentary portions of flint and rubble walling are still to be seen in its lowest courses to an average height of 0.5m. (4) Building still exists as described by Authority 4. Ground photograph See AO/59/5/1. (5) Condition unchanged. (6) This location falls within the area mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project, but no features associated with a dismantled building were identified during that survey. (7)

<1> Arch Cant 29 1911 237 (A Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE34946.

<2> `Records of Rochester Diocese' p 15 (Fielding) (OS Card Reference). SKE32728.

<3> `History of Kent' p 128 (OS Card Reference). SKE32718.

<4> `Kentish Pilgrim Land' 1925 248 Photo (WC Finch) (OS Card Reference). SKE32722.

<5> `Bygone Kent' 1892 p 60 (R Stead) (OS Card Reference). SKE32709.

<6> F1 AC 16-NOV-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE41813.

<7> F2 ASP 21-JAN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE43143.

<8> F3 FGA 26-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43396.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 12 - November, 1951 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4293.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 12 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4294.

<11> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 12 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4295.

Sources and further reading