Nominal: 1037 Hz Weight: 529 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Thomas Palmer 1664
Dove Bell ID: 5214 Tower ID: 12282 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Patrixbourne: St Mary
Diocese of Canterbury
Church, 606018
Overview
Grid reference: TR 189 551
St Mary’s Patrixbourne is a Grade I listed Norman church which stands about four miles southeast of Canterbury on the Via Francigena, the North Downs Way, and the recently reactivated Old Way. Although built mainly of flint, the church has three Norman doorways of Caen stone, as used at Canterbury Cathedral. The main doorway is very intricate with a gable, five voussoirs and a carved tympanum. There are a number of mass clocks cut into the door posts and there are also pilgrims’ and crusader crosses.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 245 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The present Norman structure probably dates from the 1170s. However, it is almost certainly on the site of an earlier Saxon church, as evidenced by Patrixbourne’s Domesday Book entry. There is a Saxon burial ground close by. The unusual siting of the tower halfway along the south side of the nave is also considered by many to be indicative of Saxon origins.
Although built mainly of flint, the church has three Norman doorways of Caen stone, as used at Canterbury Cathedral. The main doorway is very intricate with a gable, five voussoirs and a carved tympanum. There are a number of mass clocks cut into the door posts and there are also pilgrims’ and crusader crosses. There is evidence of later damage by iconoclasts, probably caused when they came out from Canterbury to Bekesbourne to destroy the Archbishop’s Summer Palace.
Although the original Norman structure is still clearly visible, there have been alterations and additions at regular intervals over the intervening centuries to meet the changing needs of the times. At the very least, this happened in the thirteenth, fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.
There is evidence on the west wall of restructuring of the south west corner and of the disappearance of a west door, probably early in the fifteenth century at the same time as the west window was created and the nave reroofed. The south east (Bifrons) chapel appears to have been modified and extended at the same time. At some stage, the old Norman north door and a fifteenth century window were installed in the new outer wall of an enhanced north aisle.
In a later phase of work, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was asked to modernise St Mary’s, with a much enhanced north aisle and gothic style arcading, thus bringing it to its present day appearance.
Since then, there has been no major reconstruction but more minor works have included the installation of the clock and the organ in 1878, the removal of ivy from the outside and the stabilisation of the tower in 1939, conservation of the Swiss glass and wheel window and the installation of efficient under pew heating.
Exterior Description
Although built mainly of flint, the church has three Norman doorways of Caen stone, as used at Canterbury Cathedral. The main doorway is very intricate with a gable, five voussoirs and a carved tympanum. There are a number of mass clocks cut into the door posts and there are also pilgrims’ and crusader crosses.
Interior
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
19th Century Clock with cast iron flat bed frame located in Tower made by James WilliamBenson from London
Historical Notes
1876 - 1876
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1245.5 Hz Weight: 448 lbs Diameter: 26.5" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Thomas Palmer 1664
Dove Bell ID: 34592 Tower ID: 12282 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1197 Hz Weight: 504 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by William le Belyetere (Canterbury)
Dove Bell ID: 34593 Tower ID: 12282 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TR 189 551
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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