More information : [TQ 72945902] St. Peter's Ch. [NAT] (1)
The church at Aylesford has a Norman south nave and a tower of the same date. There was originally an apsidal-ended chancel but this has been replaced by the present square-end chancel. The north half of the church is 14th century. (2)
The ford at Aylesford was of great importance and the Normans erected a small castle to defend it. The keep forms the lower part of the present church tower. (3)
Additional ref. to tower having been defensive. (4)
The church is in use, for ecclesiastical purposes. Within, a tablet gives a list of vicars dating from 1145 AD.
GP AO/59/7/2 from the S.W. (5)
In normal use. (6)
Church of St Peter. Grade B. Parish church. The church has an oblong plan, divided by 15th century pillars and arches, those between the chancels being smaller. The tower to the
west of the nave is of Norman design. [For full description see list]. (7)
Church of St Peter, Church Lane, Aylesford. Grade I. Church. C12-15, restored in 1878. [For full description see list]. (8)
St Peter. Sizeable unbuttressed west tower of rubble ragstone. Norman except for the Perpendicular top stage. Three original windows in the west and south walls, four in the north. Ragstone church of nave and north aisle of a width as great; chancel and north chapel continuing the aisle, but with a lower roof. Rood-loft stair turret to the south east of the nave. There are various renewed Decorated windows, and two original ones in the north aisle. South porch of 1852. Is the doorway actually copied? The wind-blown stiff-leaf would be evidence of late 13th century activity. Altogether the restorer of 1878 was pretty heavy-handed - he spent 3500 pounds (PF). Late Decorated arcade and west arch of the north chapel perpendicular nave arcade of five bays, with a section of four shafts and four hollows and two centred arches. It must replace an earlier arcade of the same length. Sir Thomas Colepeper 1604. Tomb-chest with recumbanct effigies. Small kneeling children below. Mainly remarkable because the colouring of the figures is apparently original with no touching up. (9)
Reference to the minster. (10)
Contra authy 3, the tower, while Norman, never formed part of a Norman keep. It was plainly always a church tower. (11) |