Church Of St Martin

The Church of St Martin is a church built between 1864 and 1866 by EB Lamb for JD Allcroft. A later chapel was added to the north-west corner after 1915, designed by Lamb’s son, EB Lamb junior. The church is constructed of Kentish ragstone rubble with fine dressings and has tiled gabled roofs with fishscale diaper patterns.

The west part of the nave consists of three bays, followed by three aisled bays. A transept cuts into the nave, reaching the same height, with the bays of the aisle treated as angle chapels. A polygonal apse is narrower than the almost polygonal south transept. A tall, three-stage north tower, originally with corner pinnacles, stands close to the west end, alongside an attached, even taller stair turret. The design is an unusual modified Gothic style with eclectic and original details. The windows are imaginatively designed as Perpendicular windows with eccentric cusping and heavy transoms, described as “Tudor” by Nikolaus Pevsner. Small towers with broach spires are situated to the north of the apse and on the south side near the east end.

The interior features an elaborate carved hammerbeam roof throughout, resting on shafts that begin from Cistercian-like brackets attached to large square piers between the nave and aisles. Original features include Lamb’s choir stalls and pews, altar rails with pierced decoration, a font with cover, and a pulpit. A massive organ is located in the south choir aisle. Royal arms are displayed over the south porch. Initials JBA (outside) and EBL (within) are visible. The vestry is fully panelled. Contemporary stained glass is found at the east end, as well as mosaic spandrel decoration in the chancel and mosaic floors. Stained glass in the nave, dated 1905 and 1907, includes a window dedicated to Harriet Puzey, the organist, and designed by Morris and Co. Post-1945 heraldic glass is in the transepts, along with commandment boards. A memorial is dedicated to John Derby Allcroft (1821-93).

The church was paid for by Allcroft, a wealthy glove manufacturer and strong Evangelical, who funded several churches.