Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

St Johns Commandery
Hob Uid: 466229
Location : Kent Folkestone and Hythe Swingfield
Grid Ref : TR2322844016
Summary : The chapel known as St John's Commandery close to the village of Swingfield. It was built by the Knights Hospitallers in the 13th century as part of a preceptory founded in 1180 on the site of the nunnery of the Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. The chapel is the only surviving building, although traces of other buildings survive as earthworks to the south and west of the chapel. The chapel and part of an adjoining hall were converted into a farmhouse after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. Further alterations were made during the 18th century and 19th century. It was restored in 1972-74. It appears that the chapel was situated to the east of a courtyard. The cemetery lay to the northeast of the chapel. The building is constructed of flint, and has three lancet windows in the east wall which are original. The crown-post roof structure was tree-ring dated and an estimated felling date for the roof timbers was given in the range AD 1395-1405, suggesting it was a later replacement. The chapel has a piscine (stone basin where sacred vessels were washed), and an aumbrey (cupboard for the communion vessels). To the east of the south doorway is the consecration cross carved on the wall. The two-stoey porch on the north wall indicates that the west end of the building always had an upper floor and was once in domestic use. The central chimney stack dates from the 16th century, and the ground floor parlour has a ceiling of the same period. Doors led from this room to the south wing (now demolished). There is a pointed-arched opening of 13th century date to the room above the porch. The chapel is in the care of English Heritage.
More information : [TR 23234401] St John's Chapel [NR] (1) The Sisters of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem had a house at Swingfield until circa 1180 when the Knights Hospitallers established a preceptory which was dissolved in 1540. The 13th century chapel at St. John's Farm is the only remaining building. It was converted into a dwelling after the Dissolution and altered again more recently (Full architectural description in (4)). Traces of walls are visible in dry summers in the ground south and west of the chapel and a few rough stones show above the ground about 35 yards west of the chapel and the ground is very uneven in this direction; from this it seems that the chapel lies to the east of a courtyard formerly containing several buildings and that the gateway was where the present road enters the yard. The cemetery lay to the north-east of the chapel. (2-4) The chapel remains are as described; it is no longer occupied as a dwelling house and is in a very poor state of repair. The "rough stones" are no longer visible. See G.P. A.O./64/142/3. (5) (TR 23234401) St John's Chapel (NR) remains of (NAT) (6) Dugdale states that Swingfield was of the Knights Templars prior to the Knights Hospitallers, but this is wrong. (7-8) St. John's Commandery was taken into the care of the DOE in 1978. (9) It preserves a fine moulded plaster ceiling and a remarkable medieval timber roof. The Commandery is open to the public, but with access for pre-arranged parties only. (It is evident from the photograph in Authy 9 that the chapel has now been restored and is in a very good state of repair). (10) Additional bibliography. (11-13) St John's Commandery Commandery or Preceptory of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, latterly a farmhouse, now an English Heritage Monument. 13th and 16th century with 18th and 19th century alterations, restored in 1972-4. Grade 2*. (14) Dendrochronological analysis of samples from fourteen oak timbers of the roof of St John's Commandery resulted in the production of a site chronology consisting of nine of these samples. This site chronology was dated as spanning the period AD 1312 - 1382 and as giving an estimated felling date in the range AD 1395 - 1405. It thus appears that the present roof is a replacement of an original or earlier one. (15) A brief history and description. (16)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1961
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Source Number : 12
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Page(s) : 176
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Source Number : 13
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Source details : JF Wadmore
Page(s) : 260-4
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Vol(s) : 22, 1897

Source Number : 14
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Source details : Shepway, Kent, 17-OCT-1988
Page(s) : 130-1
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Vol(s) : 1418

Source Number : 15
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Source details : 'Tree-ring analysis of timbers from St JohnÂ¿s Commandery, Swingfield, Kent', by Howard, R E, Laxton, R R, Litton, C D
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Vol(s) : 74/1997

Source Number : 16
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Source details :
Page(s) : 44-45
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Elham Rural District, Kent, SEP-1960
Page(s) : 53
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : illust (C Cotton)
Page(s) : 59-67
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Vol(s) : 11, 1930

Source Number : 5
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Source details : F1 FGA 24-APR-64
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : OS 1:10000 1977
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : Monastican Anglicanum (Dugdale) 1846 (Ed J Caley et al)
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Source Number : 8
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Source details :
Page(s) : 284,301-7
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : photo
Page(s) : 13-14
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Vol(s) : 25, 1978

Source Number : 10
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Source details : English Heritage (Ed Reed) 1987 (Lord Montagu)
Page(s) : 206
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Moved/founded in 1180
Monument End Date : 1180
Monument Start Date : 1180
Monument Type : Sisters Of St John Nunnery, Hospitallers Preceptory
Evidence : Documentary Evidence, Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Constructed C13
Monument End Date : 1300
Monument Start Date : 1201
Monument Type : Chapel, Hospitallers Preceptory
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Roof replaced/refurbished
Monument End Date : 1405
Monument Start Date : 1395
Monument Type : Chapel
Evidence : Architectural Component

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Dissolved 1540
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Hospitallers Preceptory, Chapel
Evidence : Cropmark, Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered after 1540
Monument End Date : 1600
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Farmhouse
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : C18 alterations
Monument End Date : 1800
Monument Start Date : 1701
Monument Type : Farmhouse
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : C19 alterations
Monument End Date : 1900
Monument Start Date : 1801
Monument Type : Farmhouse
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Restored 1972-74
Monument End Date : 1974
Monument Start Date : 1972
Monument Type : Hospitallers Preceptory, Chapel
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 441747
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : EH Property Number
External Cross Reference Number : 221
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TR 24 SW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-04-24
End Date : 1964-04-24

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Historic England Research Records

St Johns Commandery