Church Of St Nicholas

Church of St Nicholas

Parish church of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, restored in 1848-50 by Alexander Apsley and again in 1905. The church is constructed of ragstone with plain tile roofs and comprises a west tower, nave, south aisle, south porch, chancel with south chapel, and a 19th-century lean-to north vestry.

The west tower dates to the 15th century. It rises in three stages on a moulded plinth and is unbuttressed, with battlements above a moulded string course. The belfry lights are single cinquefoil-headed openings with squared hoodmoulds. A similar light appears on the west side of the central stage, and a similar 2-light window sits above the west doorway. The west doorway itself features a moulded 4-centred arch with quatrefoiled spandrels and a squared hoodmould with carved heads as label stops. Iron gates stand before the ribbed door. An external round-headed stoup with squared hoodmould is visible. A 19th-century lean-to on the north side has a pointed-arched west doorway and small pointed north window.

The nave projects slightly south of the tower and has no plinth. The south aisle dates to the 14th century, is gabled, and has no plinth. It contains three 19th-century 2-light windows in the 14th-century style with hoodmoulds—one to the west and two flanking the porch.

The south porch has a moulded stone plinth and shaped sprockets to the eaves. A moulded bressumer runs across the gable, with close-studding of 1905 above. Two windows of 2 round-headed lights appear on each side. Both inner and outer doorways have 4-centred arches with similar mouldings. The ceiling features moulded beams, joists and cornice.

The south chapel dates to the 14th century and has no plinth. A diagonal south-east buttress is present. A 19th-century 2-light south window and 3-light east window, both in the 14th-century style, are evident.

The chancel dates to the 14th century or earlier and was extended eastward in 1848-50. It has no plinth but features moulded stone kneelers to a moulded stone-coped parapet. A south-east angle buttress and a single buttress toward the north are present. A 19th-century 3-light east window and 2-light north window, in the 14th-century style, are visible. A 19th-century lean-to north vestry with a truncated north stack, 2-light east window and pointed-arched west doorway is attached.

The north elevation of the nave has no plinth and projects north of both chancel and tower, with 2 buttresses. Two 19th-century windows in the 14th-century style are present, along with a low blocked pointed-arched doorway toward the west end.

Interior

The nave has a 2-bay arcade of pointed arches, doubly chamfered with plain and hollow chamfers. The central column is octagonal, and the end columns are semi-octagonal, all with moulded Bethersden marble capitals and bases. The chancel arch is similar, dying into the wall. A single doubly-chamfered arch runs between the chancel and south chapel, springing from semi-octagonal columns with moulded capitals and bases. A single-chamfered arch connects the south chapel to the south aisle, springing from scroll-moulded imposts and chamfered piers. A pointed, single-chamfered tower arch of the 13th century features undercut imposts and chamfered piers.

The chancel floor is raised 5 steps from the nave, with the altar a further 4 steps at the east end.

Roofing

The nave roof spans 2 bays and features 3 slender octagonal moulded crown-posts, sous-laces, ashlar pieces and moulded cornice. Moulded tie-beams (the eastern one brattished) rest above. Moulded solid-spandrel braces extend from pendant posts to tie-beams, carved with shields superimposed on quatrefoils and daggers. Small carved stone corbels sit beneath the pendant posts. The south aisle roof is of common rafter construction with collars and sous-laces. Long ashlar pieces and moulded cornice appear on the south side only. The chancel and south chapel roofs are similar to the south aisle roof; the chancel roof is 19th-century, and the south chapel roof is probably 19th-century with re-used timber.

Fittings and Monuments

An octagonal font rests on a Bethersden marble base. The pulpit incorporates re-used linenfold panelling. A funeral hatchment hangs under the tower. A straight-sided 4-centred arched multi-cusped opening connects the chancel and south chapel. Stained glass in the west window dates to 1894 and is by Kempe.

A small brass in the chancel commemorates Nicholas Wotton (died 1499), showing a kneeling man, wife and children. A brass to Sir Edward Wotton (died 1551) depicts an armoured knight and lady with shields. A plain rectangular brass commemorates Sir James Wotton (died 1628), and another in the nave honours Edmond Sanford, Gent. (died 1652).

A large brass on the south wall of the chancel honours Thomas, Lord Wotton (died 1630), comprising three rectangular plates—the upper bearing the coat of arms, the centre bearing the inscription, and the base bearing a draped urn with swags. A similar 3-plate brass on the north wall of the chancel commemorates Mary, widow of Thomas, Lord Wotton (died 1658).

A bust of Thomas Wotton (died 1587) is recessed in a roundel in the north wall of the chancel, with a motto around the rim. An alabaster shield with raised coat of arms and achievements is set in the wall above, and a rectangular inscription plate is below.

A rectangular alabaster tablet set within a blocked north doorway commemorates Dr. Leonell Sharpe, chaplain to the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Henry and King James (died 1630). It is eared and shouldered, with a cherub's head to the base plate and surmounted by 3 shields.

Two kneeling alabaster figures on the south side of the south aisle, probably dating to circa 1600, are thought to be from a monument.

Three white marble lions in the chancel formerly supported a black marble pyramid from the monument of Daniel O'Neale (died 1663). The pyramid slabs are said to have been used to floor the vestry.