Holy
Cross Church, Bearsted
TR 8015 5550
CANTERBURY
DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1996
LOCATION: Situated at just under 200 feet above
O.D. on the edge of the Folkestone sands, just below the Ragstone
ridge. Otteridge (early Oterashe) lies just to the south-east, and the
hamlets of Roseacre Street and Ware and Bearsted Green are not far to
the North. The (old) vicarage is immediately to the north of the
church.
DESCRIPTION: The earliest phase of this church is suggested, by F.C.
Elliston-Erwood, to be late Anglo-Saxon in date. This seems unlikely,
and an early Norman date is more likely. The evidence for this was
uncovered in 1947-8, when the western part of a round arch was
uncovered at the extreme west end of the north wall of the nave. The
elevation of this arch was carefully drawn and studied by
Elliston-Erwood op.int.infra (1949, 103-7), who recorded the
roughly side-alternate tufa jambs and impost, with four Kentish
Ragstone voussoir-blocks above (including a through-stone at the
bottom). The arch probably indicates that by the early 12th century
there was already a north aisle to the nave. It is at this time that
the church was given to Leeds Priory. Two areas of masonry in the
south wall of the nave (at the west end, and between the two eastern
windows) may also be of an early 12th century date, but otherwise
nothing else is known about the Norman church.
The chancel was probably rebuilt in the 13th century, but
of this only the southern lancet (restored externally) with the
piscina and partly cut-away sedilia below it survive. There is also a
fine two-light window in the centre of the south wall of the nave,
which is perhaps very late 13th century in date. It too has been
completely restored externally in Bath stone, but its split-cusp
tracery presumably copies the earlier tracery. Internally this window
still has its original shafted jambs and moulded rere-arch (with
hood-mould).
Perhaps a little earlier than this window was the
rebuilding of the north aisle. This has a pair of two-light north
windows of a later 13th century date, with quatrefoils at the top and
external hood-moulds, with carved stops. These windows are
less-restored than most of the others, but unfortunately the west
windows of the north aisle are completely restored. Here there is an
unusual 2-light trefoil-headed window above a single-light lower
trefoiled window. The two western arches (with plain chamfers) of a
three bay arcade of the late 13th century have survived between the
nave and north aisle. There is also one original round pillar here. In
the outer wall of this aisle (in the rubblework) are a few fragments
of Reigate stone, which are perhaps reused jambs from the earlier 13th
century church.
In the early 14th century a Lady Chapel was added to the
east end of the north aisle, and this has an unusual 2-light window on
the north with ogee heads and a flat top in between. There is a
hood-mould with head-stops of a bishop and a king. The three-light
east window of this chapel has restored early 14th century tracery and
a rere-arch. This chapel contained the Milgate chantry which was
dissolved in 1548, and there is a piscina for the altar in the extreme
south-east corner. Externally there is a rough break in the rubble
work between the chapel and north aisle, and the outside wall has a
chamfered plinth. The original wave-moulded arch, with its half round
pier on the east, still survives above the organ pipes. It gave direct
access to the chancel.
Also of the early 14th century is the inserted
south doorway into the nave, and probably its neighbouring
trefoil-headed arch on the west (renewed externally in unsuitable
stone). The south doorway has external hollow and sunk chamfers, and
immediately to the east of it (outside the doorway) is a square-headed
15th century stoup. At this time a porch must have been added, but it
was completely rebuilt in the 19th century.
In the 15th century a fine Kentish west tower was added
to the west end of the nave. On three corners of its crenellated
parapet were ‘figures of 3 dogs or bears sejant’ according to
Hasted. They were ‘very defaced’ then and have subsequently been
restored. The three-light Perpendicular window above the west doorway
still perhaps has its original glazing bars, and there is still some
medieval glass here. There is a tall 15th century arch from the tower
into the nave with double hollow-chamfers (and large pyramid stops at
the bottom), and a metal door into the semi-octagonal stair-turret on
the south-east. The doorway also has hollow chamfers and pyramid
stops. There is one inscribed 15th century bell in the tower, as well
as 5 other bells dated 1590, 1599, 1606, 1729 and 1742. The frame
apparently dates from 1763. The master mason for the tower could have
been Robert Barty (died 1501-2), who lived in the parish. His son
Thomas was a well-known Tudor master-mason at Winchester Cathedral and
other places (see J Harvey, Dictionary of Medieval Architects
(1987)21-2).
Also in the later 15th century the east end of the
chancel was rebuilt (and ? lengthened) with a chamfered plinth and
three-light Perpendicular east window (and 2-light south window - now
in vestry wall). Unfortunately all the masonry is renewed in Bath
stone, as are the east quoins.
Finally the third arch from the west was replaced in c. 1500
with a flat 4-centred arch (with double hollow-chamfers) and flanking
new octagonal piers. This was clearly done for a new Rood-screen, and
at the same time a 2-light window, with niche in eastern jamb and
stair-turret to the Rood loft was put in the south wall of the nave.
The lower part of the Rood screen survived until 1987. All the
medieval roofs have been replaced.
A plain octagonal font-bowl (on 19th century base)
survives in the north aisle (with trace of lock on rim).
The church was unfortunately over-restored in c.1874
with new pews, roofs etc. Much masonry was renewed and the porch was
rebuilt and a south-east vestry was added. This was added to in 1987-8
when a large new extension was built. A new gallery was added under
the tower in 1995, and a plaque informs us that the tower was restored
in 1931 at a cost of £708.
BUILDING MATERIALS: (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
There is a rare red-painted consecration cross on the 12th century
plasterwork on the east face of the Norman jamb in the north wall of
the nave. Some medieval glass in west window.
Glynne mentions ancient glass in the east window.
The main building material is the local Kentish Ragstone
with some tufa quoins in the Norman work, and Reigate stone jambs
perhaps from the 13th century work. The later medieval dressings are
in Ragstone, with Bathstone being used for the 19th century
restoration.
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: -
Several good post-medieval brasses and monuments; the best being that
to Dr Robert Fludd (ob.1637), now under the tower (in a niche in the
north wall). It was originally in the Milgate chapel, which became the
‘pew’ for Milgate manor.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Rectangular area around church, with large late 19th/20th century
extensions to east, and north-east.
Condition: Very good - neat and tidy lawns.
Apparent extent of burial:
Present Burial: open *est. per yr.: ) Eastern section still used.
Maintained by local authority.
Boundary walls: 19th century. Ragstone walls
Earthworks: within: None, but terracing down of levels outside
churchyard.
Building in churchyard or on boundary: Vestry and new 1987-8
extension.
Exceptional monuments: Some earlier gravestones around church.
Ecological potential: Yes - many good specimen trees in churchyard.
HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Earliest ref. to church: Early 12th century - Textus Roffensis.
Late med. status: Vicarage.
Patron: Given to Leeds Priory (early 12th century), and appropriated
later 12th century. Then to the Dean and Chapter of Rochester after
the Dissolution, and to the Archbishop early this century.
Other documentary sources: Hasted V (1798), 510-513. A chantry chapel
(with a priest) was dissolved in 1548 (see Kent Chantries I). Testamenta
Cantiana (E. Kent, 1907), 13-14, has burials in churchyard from at
least 1463. Also a ‘light of the Holy Trinity in the chancel of Our
Lady’ (N. chapel). Also ‘To buy a candlestick of latton (ie brass)
to stand before the image of the Trinity, in the pillar beside the
high chancel’ (1513) (?on bracket inserted in eastern half pier).
Also Rood light, Holy Cross light, Our Lady’s light in the chancel,
and various other lights and images. And ‘the reparation of the
steeple’, (1499), and a ‘candlestick of laten with three branches,
to be before the sacrament within the chancel’ (1499).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD:
Reused materials: Some Reigate stone reused in north wall of north
aisle.
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? Good.
Outside present church: Good - no drainage channel.
RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: Remaining lower part of Rood-screen removed 1987, and
new gallery put in under the tower 1995.
To graveyard: Large new extension to south of chancel made 1987-8.
Quinquennial inspection (date/architect): -
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
The church and churchyard: A small early Norman nave, which had a
north aisle by the earlier 12th century. Remains of 13th century
lancet, piscina and sedilia in south wall of chancel. North aisle
rebuilt in late 13th century, with Lady Chapel added to the east in
the early 14th century. Fine 15th century west tower, with chancel
rebuilt/extended also in the 15th century. Rood screen built across
nave and north aisle in c. 1500 (now removed) with contemporary
south stair-turret and arch rebuilt for it in arcade. Heavily restored
in the later 19th century.
The wider context:
Claimed as having Anglo-Saxon remains, but unlikely. One of many
churches having N.E. Lady Chapel, 15th century ‘Kentish’ tower and
Rood screen.
REFERENCES: S. Glynne, Notes on the churches on Kent (1877),
84.
Notes by F.C. Elliston-Erwood in Arch.Cont.61 (1948), 52-3 plus
plan; and Arch.Cant.62 (1949), 103-7.
Guide Book: 1972 by Sam Mendel (updated in new colour format, 1996).
Photographs: View from the west in c.1910 in T.H. Oyler, The
Parish Churches of the Diocese of Canterbury (1910), 176.
Plans & drawings: Petrie view from S.E. in early 19th century,
showing earlier south porch.
DATE VISITED: 29th October
1996
REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown