Detached Belfry Circa 1 Yard North Of Church Of St Augustine

TQ 92 NE BROOKLAND HIGH STREET (south-east side)

5/36 Detached Belfry circa 1 yard north of Church 9.6.59 of St. Augustine

GV I

Detached belfry. Late C12 or C13, altered in mid C15, late C16 and 1685, and strengthened in second quarter C20 and 1973. Timber-framed, clad with wood shingles. Late C12 or C13 square open tower enclosed in mid C15 by octagonal structure with vertical base surmounted by 3 diminishing stages, base of each overhanging top of one below. Dragon weathervane dated 1797. Ribbed door to west. Interior: 4 huge canted tapering posts set at corners of square frame or cill and formerly bearing large bell platform. Strength- ened with lattice bracing; braces halved over each other and jointed to posts with open notched-lap joints. Posts truncated in mid C15 by about 5' and surrounded by octagonal frame with open arcaded base and tapering roof. 2 further octagonal frames erected above original tower to give total of 3 stages. New bell-frame constructed above, and floor inserted within, original tower, supported on four canted posts set inside of C12/C13 posts. Further bell-frame inserted in late C16 between floor and C15 bell-frame and enlarged 1685. Tower strengthened by cross-braces. Oak shingles applied 1936 and belfry strengthened. Further bracing 1973. A rare survival. Interior only partly inspected. (K.W.E. Gravett, "Brookland Belfry", Archaeologia Cantiana Vol.LXXXIX, 1974. Anne Roper, The Church of St Augustine, Brookland, 1982 edition).

Listing NGR: TQ9896825825