Nominal: 616 Hz Weight: 2040 lbs Diameter: 48.75" Bell 1 of 13
Founded by Lester & Pack 1753
Dove Bell ID: 581 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: multiple Cracked: No
Benenden: St George's
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 808 326
St. George’s Church, Benenden is situation on the southern side of The Green in the centre of Benenden in a commanding position overlooking the village. The church consists of a western tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel with north-east and south-east chapels, south and north porches with a room over each, all set within a substantial churchyard.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 632 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The first recorded mention of a church in Benenden is in the Domesday Book in 1086.
The building is the product of two substantial rebuildings. At the heart of the construction is a large 15th century church with fabric from the building surviving in the north and south aisles, with some material in the western tower and chancel. The church was struck by lightning in 1672 and, according to various documents, patch repaired and this included works to the western tower. The building was subject to a major restoration by David Brandon in 1862 and this led to the replacement of almost all window tracery, rebuilding of parapets, repairs to the tower, complete replacement of arcades, roofs and other features.
Apart from earlier wall monuments, eight of the bells and a wooden chest dated 1693, all the contents of the church date from after the restoration in 1862 having been given or purchased over the intervening years. These include two altars, reredos, pulpit, lectern, font, stained glass, bell frame and five further bells, monuments, organ, communion plate, pews and other woodwork, metal tower screen and two communion rails.
Exterior Description
The church consists of a western tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel with north-east and south-east chapels, south and north porches with a room over each, all set within a substantial churchyard.
Interior
Interior Description
Apart from earlier wall monuments, eight of the bells and a wooden chest dated 1693, all the contents of the church date from after the restoration in 1862 having been given or purchased over the intervening years. These include two altars, reredos, pulpit, lectern, font, stained glass, bell frame and five further bells, monuments, organ, communion plate, pews and other woodwork, metal tower screen and two communion rails.
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
19th Century Clock with cast iron posted frame located in Tower made by Thwaites & Reed from Clerkenwell, London in 1819
Historical Notes
1819 - 1819
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1857 Hz Weight: 556 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 2 of 13
Founded by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2003
Dove Bell ID: 10673 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1657 Hz Weight: 548 lbs Diameter: 26" Bell 3 of 13
Founded by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2003
Dove Bell ID: 10674 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1556 Hz Weight: 578 lbs Diameter: 26.5" Bell 4 of 13
Founded by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2003
Dove Bell ID: 10675 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1389 Hz Weight: 542 lbs Diameter: 27.5" Bell 5 of 13
Founded by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2003
Dove Bell ID: 10676 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1233 Hz Weight: 611 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 6 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1971
Dove Bell ID: 10677 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1162 Hz Weight: 644 lbs Diameter: 30.75" Bell 7 of 13
Founded by Thomas I Mears 1802
Dove Bell ID: 10678 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: multiple Cracked: No
Nominal: 1037 Hz Weight: 734 lbs Diameter: 33" Bell 8 of 13
Founded by Thomas I Mears 1802
Dove Bell ID: 10679 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: undeterminable Cracked: No
Nominal: 924 Hz Weight: 891 lbs Diameter: 34.5" Bell 9 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1882
Dove Bell ID: 10680 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 822 Hz Weight: 907 lbs Diameter: 36.5" Bell 10 of 13
Founded by Thomas II Mears 1819
Dove Bell ID: 10681 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: multiple Cracked: No
Nominal: 777 Hz Weight: 1171 lbs Diameter: 40" Bell 11 of 13
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1923
Dove Bell ID: 10682 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 691 Hz Weight: 1531 lbs Diameter: 43.5" Bell 12 of 13
Founded by Richard Phelps 1719
Dove Bell ID: 10683 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: multiple Cracked: No
Nominal: 1099 Hz Weight: 674 lbs Diameter: 30.5" Bell 13 of 13
Founded by John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2004
Dove Bell ID: 10684 Tower ID: 10534 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 808 326
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.
The churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
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.
| Name | Status | Number found in this site |
|---|---|---|
| Pedunculate oak | Veterantree | 2 |
| Pedunculate oak | Notabletree | 1 |
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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