St Mary's Church, Eastwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Eastwell |
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The ruins of St Mary's Church, Eastwell
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| OS grid reference | TR 010 473 |
| Location | Eastwell, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Friends of Friendless Churches |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Ruin |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 27 November 1957 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 15th century |
| Completed | 19th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Tower flint, chapel chalk |
St Mary's Church is an old church that is now a ruin. It used to be a Church of England parish church and stands in the beautiful grounds of Eastwell Park in Eastwell, Kent, England. This special building is recognized as a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled monument, which means it's very important to protect. Since March 20, 1980, the ruins have been looked after by a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches.
Contents
A Look Back at the Church's Past
The church faced a lot of damage over time. In 1951, the roof of the main part of the church, called the nave, fell down. This caused a lot of destruction inside. By 1956, most of the remaining church building was taken down. What was left were just the foundations, the tall tower, and a small chapel built in the 1800s.
What the Church Looks Like Now
Today, only the tower and a part of the south wall from the 1400s remain. There is also a small chapel from the 1800s. The tower and wall are made from flint stones and plaster, with strong stone blocks called quoins at the corners.
The tower has strong supports called buttresses. It also has a doorway with a stone band above it. Inside the tower, you can see a window with two lights, built in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The openings for the bells were added in the 1700s and also have two lights. The very top of the tower has a battlemented edge, like a castle.
On the lower part of the tower, there is a damaged cross made from knapped flint. The arch that used to lead into the main church area is now blocked up. It has eight-sided pillars. In the remaining wall of the aisle (a side part of the church), there are two more windows, each with two lights. The small chapel is built from chalk and has a tiled roof. It features tall, narrow windows called lancet windows, and its ceiling inside is vaulted (curved like an arch).
Inside what used to be the chancel (the area near the altar), there is a memorial. It remembers Richard Plantagenet, who some people believe was the son of King Richard III.
Important Memorials and Items
Over the years, all the things that were inside the church, like the pews and monuments, have been moved. Most of the important monuments are now kept safe at the Victoria and Albert Museum. These include memorials for Thomas Moyle (who died in 1560) and his wife Katherine, as well as for Sir Moyle Finch, 1st Baronet (who died in 1614) and Elizabeth Finch, 1st Countess of Winchilsea (who died in 1634).
Some of the old church pews were taken to nearby Wye College and are now in their chapel.
The Churchyard
In the overgrown church cemetery, you can find a simple grave. This is where George Finch-Hatton, 11th Earl of Winchilsea (1815–1887) is buried. His second wife, Lady Elizabeth Georgiana (who died in 1904), and their only son, George William Finch-Hatton, Viscount Maidstone (1852–1879), are also buried there.
