More information : [TQ 5305 6511] Church [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1)
The Church of St John the Baptist, Lullingstone, situated outside the north gate of Lullingstone Park, was united with Lullingstone Church in 1412 and was in ruins in Hasted's time. (2-4)
The flint rubble footings of this church were discovered during the excavation on the RB temple-mausoleum at TQ 5298 6509 (see Lullingstone Roman Villa TQ 56 NW 7). It was a single cell, measuringsome 32 feet by 16 feet externally, and orientated to take advantage of the cellar or cult chamber walls of the temple as foundations. About a dozen probably Md burials were found to the S of it with a few others elsewhere (a). The remains were exposed until quite recently (surveyed on OS 1:2500, 1963) but in company with the temple remains have now been covered over. (5)
Lullingstone Chapel is first mentioned in the Chrism Rent Roll of the diocese of Rochester in AD 1115, which may be an adaption of an existing Roll. An account of the chapel was published in 1788 by John Thorpe in his book Custumale Roffense (b). He suggested that the church already in a ruinous state, was of Saxon date. The Domesday Survey of 1086 records three land holdings in the area under the name of Lolingeton(e), but does not record the chapel at Lullingstone. A small village, now deserted, straddled the Roman villa site. (6-8)
The remains of the early 4th century AD mausoleum at Lullingstone villa were incorporated into the late Saxon church of St John the Baptist. (9) |