More information : (TR 31904141) St. Martin's Le Grand Ch. (NR)
(Rems. of) (1)
The collegiate church of St Martin le-Grand which stood on the west
side of the Market Place, Dover was founded in 691 AD by Wihtred, King of Kent, when the canons were removed from "the castle" (meaning the Roman fort?). At the suppression of the college after 1130 (it was refounded in 1131 on another site: see TR 34 SW 22) the church was used as the parish church until after 1528. When the parish was
amalgamated with another about 1536, the church, a rebuilding of c.
1070 was pulled down, the most important surviving remains being parts of the north aisle and arcade of the presbytery and of the NE
radiating chapel. These were further reduced in 1881 when the Carlton Club was built (remains of a Roman building were found beneath the site: see TR 34 SW 39) and again during the last world war by bombing.
The last surviving fragments, two separate masses of flint rubble
masonry and a N-S foundation wall, were cleared away in 1957-58 for
the rebuilding of a branch of the National Provincial Bank. They weresited by Mr Quinnell at TR 31904141 - TR 31914141. (See GP.F/54/125/3). (2-5)
No trace of the church now remains.
In Dover Museum, in store, is a collection of Roman and medieval
sherds from the site found 1952-58. (6)
(TR 31904141) St Martin Le Grand, (Remains of)
Nothing now stands above ground. There was an impressive Early Norman Church, the choir with radiating apsidal chapels, the nave of five bays, as recent excavation has established.(7)
TR 319415, TR 319414. B. Philp directed excavations on the west and
south side of Market Square at the site of the church of St.
Martin-le-Grand. In 1975 the early 12th century west end and the
rammed pebble foundation for the north arcade were uncovered. This
corner of the church was redundant as a church by the 15th century
when a chalk block garderobe was constructed in the north west angle.
In 1976 most of the 12th century nave, part of the south transept and
a chapel added to the south side at the Collegiate church of St Martin le Grand were revealed. The south doorway, buttresses and piers were dressed in Caen stone and survived 3m high. Only one pier of the south arcade remained, but the west crossing pier was substantially intact. The church appears to have been finished short, with the west end quite different, though substantially of the same date. Chalk block tombs were found (see TR 34 SW 185). The church was reduced to parish status and largely demolished in the mid 16th century.(8,9)
Notes on excavations on the site of St Martin Le Grand Church.(10)
Passing comment. (11)
Additional bibliography - not consulted. (12,13)
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