Committee Round-Up

KAS Historic Buildings Committee

Historic Buildings Conference 2008

The conference took place on Saturday, 18 October at the Lenham Community Centre. More details on the event are given elsewhere in the Newsletter.

Two Summer Visits to Kentish Historic Buildings

The very popular series of visits to buildings of interest will continue in 2009. The first visit that Joy Saynor is arranging will be to The Grange at Ramsgate on Wednesday, 27th May. The architect and designer, Augustus Pugin, built The Grange in 1844 as his family home. After years of neglect, the building was rescued by the Landmark Trust, and the programme of restoration was completed in 2006.

On Wednesday, 10th June there will be a visit to the 13th century Luddesdown Court and to Dode Church. This Norman church was deconsecrated in 1387, after the village of Dode was wiped out by the Black Death. (See What's On section for more details)

Laser Scanning

The committee plan to explore the potential of laser scanning as a method of surveying buildings. When its investigations are complete, the findings will be shared with KAS members.

KAS Churches Committee

Visit to St Nicholas-at-Wade and Chislet

A large group of over 60 people attended the KAS visit to the parish churches of St Nicholas-at-Wade and Chislet on Saturday 4th October. St Nicholas Church is a large and ancient building full of interest. A talk was given by Mr Len Reed, churchwarden, with interpretations from the incumbent, the Revd Bob Coles. The church is built of a mixture of Kentish ragstone, Caen stone, Roman tiles and rubble faced with knapped flint. It consists of an imposing 14th century southwest tower, aisled nave with clerestory and chancel with north and south chapels, with battlements all round. Three round arches of the south nave arcade date from 1150-1170. A member of the Churches Committee, Mrs Corningham, spoke about the foliate heads (not green men, apparently) on some of the capitals of this arcade. The Norman church was remodelled in the 13th and 14th centuries and the structure was complete as we see it today by the early 15th century. The Bridges Chapel, to the north of the chancel has served as the family chapel of successive local dynasties including the Finches, Paramours and Bridges. It contains a 14th/16th century palimpsest brass. Other notable features in the church include the 13th century sedilia and piscina, the pulpit of 1615 and the mid-18th century candelabra in the nave. Much restoration work has been carried out in recent years and the church appears in good order.

A fascinating addition to the afternoon's itinerary was then provided by a visit to the underground mediaeval cruciform chamber at St Nicholas Court, an 18th century house in the village, by kind permission of the owner. Shaped stone recesses at the end of each arm suggest a 14th century date but the original purpose of the chamber is now unknown.

The group then departed for St Mary the Virgin, Chislet where refreshments were served on arrival. This impressive building is of Norman origin. It is built of coursed rubble with Caen stone dressings and consists of a long chancel, central tower and an aisled nave. Since 1986, the nave has served the local village as a community centre, complete with toilets, kitchen and badminton court fittings, and it is an interesting example of one way in which a rural church can be saved through broadening its use. Mr Chris Pout, KAS president, who has lived in Chislet for many years, outlined the history of settlement of the area based on archaeological finds as well as that of the church itself. The arch between the chancel and tower is a notable indicator of the building's Norman origins with its zigzag pattern. The nave side aisles were added circa 1200, and in the 13th century the present Early English chancel was built and the tower was heightened. The tower contains six 18th-century bells and is entered by a Norman doorway with tympanum. Several members of the group rose to Mr Pout's challenge to ascend the narrow staircase to the ringing chamber, where he then spoke about and demonstrated the ancient art of bellringing.

Thanks are due to Mr Pout for making all the arrangements for this fascinating and enjoyable afternoon.

Paul Lee