Churches Committee
Kent Churches - Architectural & Historical Information

 St Michael & All Angels Church, Harbledown  TR 132 582

CANTERBURY DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1991

LOCATION:
On hilltop (c. 160ft. above sea level) in centre of village immediately north of sunken main road from London to Canterbury. Blean forest to north.

DESCRIPTION:
Until 1825, there was only a simple nave and chancel. Then a 'north transept' was built. This was demolished when the architect, St. Aubyn built a new chancel and nave (and north porch) along the north side of the old chancel and nave in 1880-1.
   The original nave is early Norman, with Quarr stone quoins on the south-west corner. Also Quarr stone voussoirs in round arch above door on S.W. side of nave. The original extent of the nave to the east is marked by a 'megalithic' block of ragstone 3/4s of the way along the south wall. The coursed whole flintwork of the west wall of the original nave is also early, and there is a blocked round-headed window in the upper gable wall (also ? Quarr stone quoins). Inside the church the remains of rere-arch of another round-headed window has been uncovered in the south wall of the nave, and Petrie's early 19th century drawing appears to show another on the north side. There is the remains of a possible piscina in the south wall near the east end of the original nave. Nearby the so-called 'stone of Mithras' is set into the wall (it was discovered in 1881 and is perhaps medieval).
   The nave was lengthened eastwards and a new chancel was built perhaps in the 13th/14th century. Only the rere-arch of the east window is medieval. The other windows and the chancel arch were all totally restored in 1880-1. There is the remains of a medieval crown-post roof in the nave, and of a little timber bell-turret above the west-end of the nave (probably late medieval, but supported internally in the roof by 19th century timbers. It is weather-boarded, but Hasted describes it as shingled. It contains 4 bells: Hatch, 1603; Palmer, 1670; and Henry Jordan (1442-68) inscribed 'Sancte Katerina ora pro nobis'.
   A west gallery and timber porch outside the west doorway are said to have been demolished in 1879. Also a 'Tudor' arch is said to have been replaced as the original chancel arch by the present one in 1881. In 1979 the original chancel was partitioned off behind the arch and become the vestry with a W.C. and upper room.
   A new door was cut on the south-east. The north transept, built in 1825 in brick (with a slate roof and timber window-frames and a gallery), was cased in flint and stone in 1855. A new high tiled roof and gable was built, and the windows were replaced in stone. This was swept away in 1880-1, when the new larger nave and chancel were built, with an arcade of three arches to connect with the old church. An organ was installed in the old chancel (moved to the west end of the south aisle in 1979).

BUILDING MATERIALS (incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.): Early Norman quoins of Quarr stone, also ragstone + Caen stone. The main material is flint. Restoration in 1880-1 in ? Bath stone.

CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size: - ? c. 2 acres.
Shape: Large L-shaped churchyard, still in use. Earlier burials around the church with great 19th and 20th century extension to the north and north-west.

Condition: Good.

Earthworks:
adjacent: - but very deep sunken main road (A2) to the south.

Building in churchyard or on boundary: Large 19th century rectory just to the east (and new small rectory alongside).

HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Earliest ref. to church: (Indirectly) Tithe of 200 sheaves mentioned in foundation charter of St. Gregory's Priory (1086-7).

Late med. status (rectory: List of rectors from 1316.

Patron: The Archbishop.

Other documentary sources: Hasted IX (1800). 18-21.

SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: Limited.

Outside present church: Limited - many burials + large drainage trench along S. side of old church.

RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: New upper room put into vestry (original chancel), also a W.C. (1979).

To floors: Drainage for W.C. (north-east side of old chancel).

To graveyard: Burials.

Quinquennial inspection (date\architect): July 1992 Gulvin & Marsh

Guide Book: by C. Munt + M. Innous (undated ? early 1980s).

Photographs\Drawings: One in vestry, showing 1825' N. transept'. Also H. Petrie, view from N.E. (c. 1806-10).

DATES VISITED: 28th April 1991.                                 REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown