CHURCH OF ST MARGARET

CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, HIGH STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1267793
Date first listed:: 24-Feb-1950
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MARGARET
Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, HIGH STREET

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Date:: 2001-09-24
Reference:: IOE01/05073/33
Rights:: © Mr David G. Smith. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1267793
Date first listed:: 24-Feb-1950
Date of most recent amendment:: 05-Dec-1996
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MARGARET
Statutory Address 1:: CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, HIGH STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, HIGH STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Medway (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 81736 65881

Details

GILLINGHAM

TQ86NW HIGH STREET, Rainham 686-1/8/107 (South side) 24/02/50 Church of St Margaret (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET, Rainham (South side) St Margaret's Church)

GV I

Church. Originally c1066, chancel and N chapel largely rebuilt mid C13, nave and N aisle early C14, C15 roof, tower c1470; restored 1869-71 by Joseph Clarke. MATERIALS: flint, partly rendered, and limestone dressings, tile-hung nave and aisle gables and Kentish ragstone rubble tower; tiled roof. STYLE: Decorated and Perpendicular. PLAN: chancel and N chapel, nave and N aisle and N and S porches and W tower. EXTERIOR: E end has 2 gables, the taller chancel gable has a single left-hand buttress and roughly-coursed masonry in the top of the gable, with a C19 3-light window; chapel gable has a right-hand buttress with offsets, some render to the top, a C19 4-light window with Decorated tracery, and a low C19 3-light mullion cellar window. 3-light N side has two C19 1-light windows with an altered C16 2-light W window with flat 2-centre arch. S side has a central buttress with an early C13 lancet to the right; C14 2-light windows either side, and a left-hand paired C16 window. Wider nave and aisles have tile-hung E gables, that to the nave with an 2-light C14 window; the N aisle is 4-bays with a C19 gabled porch with 2-centre arched doorway with hood mould and small 2-light side windows in a flat-headed frame, to an inner door with a fine C14 studded door; left-hand windows divided by a buttress, C16 shallow 2-centre arched left-hand window and 2-centre arched C19 windows either side of the porch. Crenellated 3-stage tower has angle buttresses and strings, with an octagonal NE stair tower offset at parapet level. A plain 2-centre arched W doorway with double doors beneath a 3-light window, a small niche with label over the ground-floor string, with flat-headed 2-light cinquefoil-headed windows to middle and top stages. S side has a large central gabled porch with side buttresses and a pointed arched door, with flanking C19 2-light windows.

INTERIOR: chancel has an early C13 4-bay arcade with keeled shafts, interrupted by a sedilia with 3 gables and a small piscina; N arcade has an E C13 arch and 2 wider late C13 arches, with a good late C15 parclose with carved leafs to spandrels over 4-centre arches. Moulded chapel arch to the aisle has triple shafts and head stops, with rood openings either side. Crown post roof with moulded bases and capitals. Early C14 5-bay nave arcade has octagonal shafts, with a rood loft opening below the rood beam, and 3 tie beams with crown posts and diagonal braces and moulded wall plates; aisle has a similar roof. At the E end 2 bays of fine late C15 painted panels with sunbursts, Tudor roses repainted in Lancastrian white. In the S wall is a fragment of wall painting with a 1335 consecration cross. Fine N and S doors, the former with an inserted wicket. MEMORIALS: chancel E end: wall memorial, painted alabaster of kneeling couple within a flattened arch with pilasters and an open pediment with cartouche, and a reclining figure beneath, John Norreys d.1627. In the E bay is a Perpendicular chest tomb to Thomas Norreys d.1624, painted limestone top with re-set panelled sides. In the chapel NE corner a good marble statue of Nicholas Tufton, Earl of Thanet, d.1679, standing on a plinth in Roman armour, and flanking oval panels with family history. In the N wall, a seated figure of George Tufton d.1650 with a Latin inscription. STAINED GLASS: nave SE window by Hardman, 1871. FITTINGS: a fine C14 parish chest has 9 panels with trefoil heads and blind tracery, 2 cusped panels on top. C19 octagonal font, pulpit and pews. HISTORY: Pevsner reports further wall paintings overpainted, a Last Judgement and C15 St Christopher over a C14 St Christopher. (BoE: Pevsner N & Newman J: West Kent and the Weald: London: 1976-: 466; Dellar R: St Margaret's Rainham, Church Guide).

Listing NGR: TQ8208365791

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 462572
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: West Kent and the Weald, (1976), 466

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.