Holy Trinity Church, Dartford

During the whole of 1996, this church was closed for major alterations and renovations. These exposed features which revealed a continuing history of building, demolition, and rebuilding from the 11th century at least. The plaster on the interior walls was removed, which allowed time for inspection.

Medieval building phases summarized

The lower part of the Tower is the oldest survival, dated to the period of Saxo-Norman, perhaps AD 1070 - 1100 or even as early as 1050-1080. By implication, Gundulf (Bishop of Rochester 1077 - 1108) might not have been responsible for building this, as had previously been thought. The Tower may well have stood to the north of a church with a chancel more or less level with it and a nave to the west of the chancel, the Tower being beside this church although related to it. This supposed area of chancel and nave was not excavated.

In the 12th century, perhaps about 1150, walls were erected to the west of the tower. These now form the present North Aisle, effectively enclosing the open space beside the church. This dating means the North Aisle is about 200 years older than previously thought.

The next phase of construction in the early to mid 13th century, possibly 1220-1250, brought the North East Chapel beyond the tower, an extended Chancel, and the southeast (Lady) Chapel, thus creating a building which surrounded the Tower except on the north side. It is likely that the South Aisle post-dates the Lady Chapel, possibly being constructed in the 14th century.

Medieval sketch of window

One item (rarely found) was a block of Reigate stone built high in the south wall of the south Nave arcade. Faint scorings on it were revealed as a sketch of a window-head. Why this sketch was made on a stone block and not on parchment isn't clear. Assuming that it was intended for Holy Trinity and not brought from elsewhere, any window created from it would have been the principal window, probably in the east wall. Parallels for the design survive in St Etheldreda's Chapel (formerly part of the London palace of the Bishop of Ely), Merton College Oxford, and the Lady Chapel at Exeter Cathedral. They are all late 13th century in date. At Holy Trinity, the design relates in date to the west door of the nave. It is known that Hamo de Hythe gave a window in the early 14th century and visited the church to view it in 1333.

Other discoveries

One excavation to the north of the church yielded Roman and pre-Roman pottery from as far afield as France, a Roman coin, and some German 16th-century trading tokens.

Unexpectedly, 14th-century burials were found, it having been understood previously that until the 17th century interments were in the East Hill Burial Ground which overlooks the church.

Stacks of medieval floor tiles were found around the old Rood Screen opening. These were reused in the 15th century. Further stacks came from the Rood Screen door at the head of the staircase which was blocked in the 1862 restoration. These tiles have been examined by the British Museum who suggest the smaller ones (6 inches square), which have a range of decorative designs on them, were made in the 14th century. Similar tiles have recently been found in the vestry floor of St. Mary's church, Bexley. It is likely they were manufactured at Penn, Bucks, where they were produced on a huge scale. The larger tiles date from the 15th century and possibly covered the east end of the church. These monochrome glazed tiles were imported into southern England from the Low Countries.

This summary is based on the Interim Archaeological Report, April 1996, by Mr. H. A. Jones and notes by Mr. J. Bailey of Messrs Thomas Ford and Partners who were the Architects.

The project 'Trinity 2000' is not yet finished, and much remains to be done. These notes are only intended to record the main findings of the first phase of 1996.

K.M. Roome LI. B