St
Cosmas & St Damian Church, Challock
TR 011 492
CANTERBURY
DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1994
LOCATION: At c.390ft. above O.D. on an east-facing
ridge just below the scarp of the North Downs. The manor house (of
Otterplay) was not far to the south-west, and the parsonage to the
west, until pulled down in c.1589 when Eastwell Park was created with
a pale just to the south of the churchyard. The `village' of Challock
is to the north around Challock Lees.
DESCRIPTION: This church was, unfortunately, badly damaged in the
1940s, and then rebuilt in the early 1950s. In the spring of 1944,
Eastwell Park became a tank training area, and during the summer of
that year several flying bombs fell in the vicinity, all causing
damage to the church. As well as this the church and churchyard were
out-of-bounds to the parishioners (except for occasional burials), and
no maintenance or repairs were carried out from 1943 until the end of
1945. In November 1945 `first aid' repairs were undertaken, but during
the severe frost of early 1947, the piers disintegrated, and fell
down, bringing down the nave and south aisle roofs in March 1947. The
north aisle roof came down a little later, and there was further
collapse in the north-east corner (with the screen being damaged)
early in 1948. After a long bureaucratic `battle' with the War Damage
Commission, the latter agreed to accept responsibility for the war
damage in September 1949. During this long period of delay further
deterioration took place to the fabric, and in the spring of 1949 the
lead was stolen from the tower roof, and from the lining of the font.
Repairs to the church finally started in November 1950, and the church
was finally rededicated on 20th July 1958. Most of the north and south
arcades were completely rebuilt, and new nave and north and south
aisles roofs were made; the latter has a nearly flat roof with a
continuous parapet (before the war the south aisle roof was a pitched
one with eaves on the south). In 1953 the repaired north chapel was
given wall murals by Rosemary Aldridge and Doreen Lister and two years
later John Ward painted scenes on the chancel walls.
A chapel to Godmersham is first documented in Domesday
Monachorum, and it is likely that the nave and western part of the
chancel of the present church were first built in the very late 11th
or 12th centuries. North and south aisles were added to the nave in
the 13th century and at the same time a north-east chapel was added.
The outer walls to the aisles and chapel were probably less far out
than the subsequent ones. Only the two western engaged piers and one
free-standing round pier at the west end of the north arcade now
survive of the 13th century work. The original arcades are best
described by Sir Stephen Glynne, who visited the church in 1859. He
says: "The arcades are Early English, each of four pointed arches
on circular columns, with moulded capitals and bases. There is no
chancel-arch, and the fourth arch of the north arcade ranges with the
chancel". He is mistaken about the south-arcade as there were
only ever three arches here.
The north chapel, which was probably dedicated to Our
Lady, and the north aisle were rebuilt and widened around 1300. This
north-east chapel is of considerable interest even though its south
arcade was renewed in the 1950s. Hasted tell us that: "In the
north chancel, on the south side, there is a plain flat tomb, very
ancient; and on the north side, a low plain tomb, coffin-shaped; and
on the pavement, an ancient gravestone of the like shape, with five or
six letters, in French capitals, remaining on the upper side, but
illegible". This latter graveslab seems to have disappeared,
though there are later graveslabs in the floor (including an 18th
century brass), and some reset c.16th century floor tiles around a
19th century tiled centre. Hasted's southern tomb is more like a wall
bench and steps down to the west. It is of Bethersden marble. The
north tomb, of Purbeck marble, is very worn and has a foundation wall
extending to the west from it. On the north wall of the chapel is a
chalk block string course, with above it a blocked window (the
internal jambs are visible). The three light east window has restored
(Bathstone) reticulated tracery with internal chalk jambs. The
external north-east quoin is of ironstone and Kentish Rag.
The north aisle also has a pair of two light Decorated
windows and a north doorway (with scars for the pitched roof of a
porch outside it). The west window of both the north and south aisles
is a wide ogee-headed lancet. Originally the north aisle and chapel
were unbuttressed. The south aisle on the other hand was buttressed
when rebuilt a little later in the 14th century. Apart from its west
window, it has two-light early Perpendicular windows with square
hood-moulds and carved-head label stops. There is also a Ragstone
south doorway (with a Caenstone hood), which has a stoup inside it on
the east. The upper part of the south aisle wall and the roof were all
renewed in the early 1950s.
The chancel was probably extended eastwards in c.1300
with a later 3 light east window in the Perpendicular style (totally
restored in 1871). The base of this window was blocked up (?in 1871).
On the south-east side of the extended chancel is a restored early
14th century 2-light window with head-stops. East of it the south-east
quoin of the chancel (of Rag and Caenstone) has a mass dial. Inside is
an ogeed trefoil-headed piscina. In the centre of the south wall of
the chancel is a restored wide lancet. The chancel has a 19th century
scissored roof, which Glynne tells us was boarded in 1859.
During the 15th century, a fine west tower with western
diagonal buttresses was added to the west end of the nave. It has an
integral square stair-turret on the south-east, which becomes
octagonal only in the top stage. The turret and top of the tower have
crenellated parapets, and all the main windows are in a later
Perpendicular style with square hood-moulds. The smaller turret
windows are rectangular. Most unusually there is a fireplace within
the tower, and above the second stage of windows on the west is a
cross in knapped flintwork (cf. the cross in the now-destroyed nearby
church of Eastwell - see Kent Churches 1954 p.31). The walls of
the tower are of ironstone and knapped flint (with some render) and
there is a continuous plinth around the base. Inside is a large
Ragstone tower arch, with hollow chamfers and pyramid stops. The
Ragstone west doorway has a moulded hood with ironstone and knapped
flint relieving arch above it. Inside are the original pair of
15th-century wooden doors.
Also of the later 15th century is a 2-light Perpendicular
window (with square hood) on the S.W. side of the chancel. Buttresses
(with plinths) and a Roof loft stair were added on the north side of
the north aisle and chapel and a new 3-light window was put into the
north chapel. Parts of the 15th century Rood screen survive in situ in
the entrance to the north chapel, and relocated under the tower arch.
There are also fragments of a Perpendicular screen (restored in the
19th century) between the chancel and north chapel, and an unusual
moulded beam across the centre of the north chapel (perhaps for a
Lentan veil).
The chancel was heavily restored in 1871, when much
tracery was renewed, and given new choir stalls and roof. A raised
dais for the high altar was made and the whole floor was tiled. There
is a 19th century pulpit and font (Glynne mentions an earlier font) in
the nave, but the 19th century pews here have been removed. There is
also a 19th century south porch; all this work being carried out when
the church eventually became a parish church in 1871. The extensive
rebuilding of the church in the early 1950s has already been
mentioned.
BUILDING MATERIALS (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
The principal rubble material is the local flint (knapped in the later
medieval period) and ironstone from the Folkestone Beds just to the
south. Chalk block was apparently used for the earlier internal carved
work (arcades) and internal jambs. Externally Caenstone (and some
Reigate stone) with Ragstone for the later work. Bathstone was used
for the 1871 restoration.
The church once contained quite a lot of medieval glass (see
description in Hasted), and some of this was rescued from the ruined
church in 1945 by C R Councer. It has been reset in the east window of
the south aisle. The new 1950s wall paintings have already been
mentioned.
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: Brass of Thomas Thorston (ob. 1504).
Also the remains of some medieval tombs in the north chapel.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size: Large trapezoidal area (enlarged west to east) around church.
Conditions: Good
Boundary walls: Flint (with brick top) northern boundary wall.
Earthworks:
adjacent: Terrace down beyond wall to north.
Building in churchyard or on boundary: ?18th century brick building in
extreme N.W. corner.
Ecological potential: Yes. Hasted (late 18th century) mentions `six
yew-trees, of remarkable large size' in the churchyard - now gone,
though there are the remains of one yew to the north-west of the north
aisle.
HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Earliest ref. to church: In Domesday Monachorum (c.1100) as CEALVELOCA)
Evidence of pre-Norman status (DB, DM, TR etc.): -
Late med. status : Chapel to Godmersham till a separate parish in
1871. Then united with Molash parish in 1929.
Patron: Christchurch Priory, Canterbury (as chapel to Godmersham) till
1541. Then to the crown and on to the Archbishop in 1561.
Other documentary sources: Hasted VII (1798) 388-40. Test.Cant.
(E.Kent, 1907),69-71 mentions burial in the churchyard from 1460, as
well as burials in the church. Various lights and images are
mentioned, as well as that of `Our Lady in the North Chancel' (1499).
The Easter Sepulchre is also mentioned (1503), as well as repairs to
the Rood and to `the body of the church', and walls being amended and
a new bell being bought in 1509. £10 was given in 1500 to the leading
of the church on the south side.
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: Good
Outside present church: Good
Quinquennial inspection (date/architect): April 1991 Harrison Clague
(very brief).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
The church and churchyard: Despite being heavily damaged in the 1940s,
this is still an important church with a nave and two 14th century
aisles, a chancel and north chapel. There is also an added later 15th
century west tower, as well as fragments of a timber Rood-screen, and
an unusual moulded beam in the north (Lady) chapel.
The wider context: One of a group of quite large `chapels' (compare
Hythe, and the nearby Molash chapels) which only technically became
parish churches in the 19th century.
REFERENCES: S Glynne, Churches of Kent (1877), 232. (He visited
in 1859). Article, especially on the post-war murals, in Country
Life (May 21st 1964).
Guide book: Leaflet
Photographs: Of church, with unroofed nave, etc. (c.1948) in church. Kent
Churches 1954, 135 shows chancel beam and end of Rood screen; also
p.31 shows church from S.W.; View from the south in c.1910 in T H
Oyler. The Parish Churches of the Diocese of Canterbury
(1910),36.
Plans and early drawings: H Petrie view from S.E. in 1808.
DATES VISITED: 9th July 1994 & 31st October
1994
REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown