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Churches Committee
Kent Churches - Architectural & Historical Information

  St Bartholomew Church, Otford       TQ 528594

ROCHESTER DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1994

LOCATION: Situated not far above the east bank of the river Darent, close to an ancient crossing point of the river at c. 230 feet above O.D. The Archbishop's manor house (later palace) was a short distance to the south.

DESCRIPTION: The history and architectural history of this church has been well surveyed by Anthony Stoyel (op. cit. below), and the building materials (and architectural history) have also been studied by Bernard Worssom, who has produced some useful additional notes on the building materials and roofs.

The nave must date from the later part of the 11th century and much of its north and west walls survive, including the north-east and north-west quoins. A blocked original splayed window has been found towards the west end. The walling is of coursed whole flint ironstone and some ragstone with quoins of reused Roman brick, tufa and flint (occasionally), ironstone and ragstone. (There has unfortunately been a recent insertion of some modern quoins in the north-west angle). There are also other reused materials in this wall, including sarsen and part of a Niedermendig Lava quern (Roman).

In the late 12th century the western tower, with thick walls, was added. Externally it is entirely covered in cement render, but inside one can see deeply-splayed round-headed windows to the north and south, and a pointed tower arch into the west end of the nave made of Reigate stone. The west doorway into the tower seems to have been removed when the 1637 porch was built.

In the early 14th century the chancel was rebuilt with a fine five-light Decorated east window. This was unfortunately completely rebuilt in c. 1840 very inaccurately (see early 19th century Petrie view for the original window). The original relieving arch survives above the east window. There is also a good two-light Decorated period window on the north (blocked since 1755), made of worn Reigate stone, but having better preserved carved head-stops, perhaps of Caen stone. At about the same time, the north side of the nave was given three large buttresses, and two Decorated windows were inserted (heavily restored externally). An area of renewed masonry on the south-east side of the chancel may also mark the site of an earlier window.

Documentary evidence quoted by A D Stoyel seems to suggest that the south aisle was built in the early 16th century. However the south doorway, quoins, plinth-top and window jambs are all of Tunbridge Wells sandstone and in a 14th century style, suggesting that the aisle was first built at this time. The two south buttresses, which were almost entirely of Kentish ragstone (and have hollowed chamfers on the plinth), are perhaps a little later in date, while the upper parts of the windows with their late Perpendicular heads, are probably a rebuild of the late 15th to early 16th century. These windows, though heavily restored in Bath-stone and Tunbridge Wells sandstone (particularly the external hood moulds), appear originally not to have been made of Tunbridge Wells sandstone. Inside the church, the difference between the side-alternate side jambs, and the larger blocks making up the flatter four-centred heads is very striking. Any stone arcading between the nave and the south aisle was presumably destroyed in the fire of 1630 (see below). In the south wall of the south (Lady) chapel, a door leads into the chapel. This, however, appears to be entirely 19th century, and the blocking to the west suggests that the earlier doorway was here. There is a mass-dial on the extreme south-west corner of the south aisle, quite high up.

Wills suggest that the `steeple' (tower and spire) were being rebuilt in the later 15th century.

On the north-east side of the chancel is an early 16th century vestry, roughly built and with windows in the east and north sides. The latter has a 19th century doorway (with brick jambs) cut into its lower part. The windows and most of the quoins are made with Reigate stone, while the rubble walling is of Ragstone. Iron glazing-bars survive in the windows, and in the west wall A D Stoyel has discovered a very rare wafer oven (its tiny window is still visible externally, but blocked up). There is a doorway from the vestry into the chancel, and to the east of this is a fine late Perpendicular tomb, with good panelling on it, which was probably also used as the Easter sepulchre.

The church seems to have been badly gutted by fire in c. 1630, and various traces of burning can be seen internally. As a result of this, all the rather spindly roofs were rebuilt soon afterwards and a series of large posts were put in between the nave and south aisle (these survived until 1863). The chancel arch seems also to have been destroyed at this time.

A new timber staircase was put into the south-east corner of the tower in c. 1635, and the fine new timber porch was put up outside the west tower in 1637 (dated at the apex of the west gable). The upper part of the tower, which seems to have some brickwork behind the cement render, and has a small crenellated parapet also dating to this time, as does perhaps the squat shingled spire.

In c. 1840, as we have seen, the Decorated period east window was completely rebuilt in Bath-stone, and then in 1863 came G E Street's major restoration of the church, in which he used much more Bath-stone. He replaced the chancel arch and the south arcade and built the stone pulpit and low screen at the entrance to the chancel. The font too is Victorian, but has a fine early 17th century cover.

A boiler-house was added outside the south-east corner of the tower in 1960.

BUILDING MATERIALS (Inch. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
This has been very fully covered by Bernard Worssom in a separate sheet. The early Norman church has Roman brick and rough ironstone `quoins', with tufa, flint, rag rubble, etc. Reigate stone is used for dressings from the later 12th century, with Reigate stone (a little Caen stone), and Tunbridge Wells sandstone in the 14th century. Also Ragstone for the plinth, etc.

Bath-stone is the major material used in Street's 1863 restoration.

EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS: The huge Charles Polhill monument (of c. 1755) on the north side of the chancel, and the David Polhill monument (of c. 1754) on the south aisle wall. Various other good monuments, and a Royal Arms of 1697. Eight large hatchments are on the west wall of the nave.

CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size & Shape: Large rectangular area around the church, with modern extension to the south-east.

Condition: Good

Boundary walls: Brick walls to the north (c. late 17th century), and east (modern).

Building in churchyard or on boundary: Court Hall immediately to the west of the church.

Exceptional monuments: Some good earlier gravestones.

Ecological potential: ? Yes - many ornamental trees planted in churchyard.

HISTORICAL RECORD (where known):
Earliest ref. to church: 12th century

Evidence of pre-Norman status (DB, DM, TR etc.): Chapel to Shoreham

Late med. status: Chapel only (with curate).

Patron: The Archbishop till 1538, then in 1548 to private hands, and on Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey.

Other documentary sources: Hasted, III (1797), 29-31.
Test. Cant. (West Kent, 1906), 57 - Wills give 105. `at such tyme as the crosse of ye stepull of Otteford be made newe' (1464); `to the reparacion and covergng of the steple of the chirch of Otteford' (1475).

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD:
Reused materials: Roman bricks in the earliest masonry, as well as a Roman quern.

Finds from church/churchyard: Two medieval grave-slabs (small) dug up in churchyard - now at east end of south chapel.

Finds within 0.5km: The great early Tudor palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury (earlier a moated manor) is just to the south.

SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? Good, except for burial vaults and 1863 foundations for the south arcade.

Outside present church: Good.

RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: Some rather mechanically cut new jamb-stones have been put into the south aisle windows, and most unfortunately some new quoin stones have been put into the north-west quoin of the nave.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
The church and churchyard: An important surviving early Norman nave, with sturdy late 12th century west tower. The chancel was rebuilt in the early 14th century, and the south aisle was perhaps added a little later in the 14th century, with its window tops being renewed in the late 15th century. The north-east vestry, with associated Easter sepulchre tomb, must date from the early 16th century.

After a major fire in c. 1630 the roofs were rebuilt and a west porch was added. The major restoration was in 1863 when the chancel arch and south arcade were rebuilt.

The wider context: One of a small number of churches where the early Norman nave survives in part.

REFERENCES: D Clarke and A Stoyel, Otford in Kent : a History (1975).
S Glynne, Churches of Kent (1877), 303-4

Guide book: Leaflet by A D Stoyel (1961, revised 1992)

Photographs: Kent Church 1954, 20 shows north-east vestry, 47 shows west porch of 1637, and 129 shows the font cover (early 17th century).

Plans and drawings: Plan by A D Stoyel (1968) in church. View from north east (early 19th century) by Petrie.

DATES VISITED: 26.8.94                                           REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown

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