St
Mary Magdalene Church, Canterbury
TR
CANTERBURY
DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1992
LOCATION: The church lies on the south side of
Burgate Steeet, about 100 years NW of the Burgate. It is at about 40ft
above OD and faces well south of east.
DESCRIPTION: This church was unfortunately demolished in 1871 except
for the tower. At this time parts of the late 12th century arcade that
divided the nave from the south aisle was taken to St George's church
which was being enlarged, with a new chancel, aisle and arcade.
Documentary evidence shows the church was in existence by
the mid 12th century (Urry), and the now-demolished capitals and
arcade seem to be of this date. However all the surviving remains, the
tower and wall-fragments to the south and east are much later in date
and probably relate to the documented rebuilding of the tower in 1501.
The tower itself was built with large blocks of Ragstone
ashlar facing where it could be seen, that is on the whole of the
north side and above the roof-line of the east side, but only at the
very top on the west side. The upper wall on the south side is all of
knapped flint. Since the bombing of the last war the whole of the west
face of the tower has been exposed, and this shows rougher facing with
much reused materials. Before this it was covered by a timber-framed
building. The top stage of the woes holding 3 bells originally has
flat cinquefoil-headed windows in all four faces covered by a square
hood-mould (much worn in places). On the north face there is another
cinquefoil-headed window, below the string-course, which light a
ringing chamber that was entered from a still visible door on the
south (there are traces of a spiral stair here). There was then a
two-light cinquefoil-headed window above a contemporary doorway, both
having square hood-moulds. These open into the ground floor porch area
with above it a contemporary moulded beam ceiling. On the east and
south sides are two-centred arches with deep hollowed mouldings
leading into the nave and south aisle. The tower now contains the
Whitfield monument and several other (now very dirty) wall monuments.
The north wall of the church seems also to have been
rebuilt in the early 16th century. It buts the tower wall and had,
from east to west (and shown in pre-1871 photos and drawings), a two
light, the eastern 2-light window appears to have no hood mould in
Petres drawing, another two-light and then a three-light window, all
under square hood-mouldings. A much smaller cinque-foil headed window
still survives, though blocked, at the extreme west end of the wall,
butting the tower. There was also a continuous plinth along the north
side of the church. There was a dormer window above the west end of
the nave.
There seems to have been a single-pitched roof over both
the nave and south aisle - the scar for this is still visible on the
tower east wall.
BUILDING MATERIALS: (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
Apart from the large well-cut (but worn) Ragstone ashlar blocks in the
tower, its west was contains a mixture of materials including knapped
flint, a few tiles and some local sandstone (with pyddocke holes).
There are also some revised materials including Roman bricks, rag and
occasional Caen and Reigate store small blocks.
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: Whitfield Monument (1691) moved from
south aisle to under tower in 1871 when the rest of the church was
demolished (cleared and conserved in May 1977 by Deobrah Carthy).
HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Late med. status (rectory):
Patron: St Augustines till 1539, then to Dean and Chapter of
Canterbury till in 1681 united to St Georges
Other documentary sources: Hasted XI (1800), 241-4 Test. Cant.
(E Kent 1907), 57-9. Wills mention "the making of the
steeple" and "restoration of the Bell tower" in 1501
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? good, but burial vaults
Outside present church: Good
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
The church and churchyard: only the c. 1501 tower for this
church still survives above ground. There should, however, be useful
archaeological remains below ground of the pre-1871 church.
REFERENCES:
Photographs: Photo from NW before 1871 demolition
Plans & drawings: Petrie view from NE in 1801 (KAS library photo)
DATE VISITED: 31st October
1992
REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown
To Kent
Churches - Architectural & Historical Information Introduction
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Church Committee Introduction
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