Description

TR 05 NW SHELDWICH BADLESMERE

1/74 Church of St Leonard
24.1.67
GV II*

Parish church. C13 and early C19. Flint, entirely rendered and channelled
except on part of nave north wall. Plain tiled roof. Chancel, nave, south
porch and west tower. C19 west end, with chamfered Gothick lancets, and
double chamfered west doorway to tower-cum-porch, with louvred belfry.
Battlemented south porch. Chancel with offset corner buttresses, 2 east
lancets and C14 ogee headed north window. North nave and chancel wall is
inset 3 times with exposed quoins, the chancel roof also stepped - evidence
of previous greater size of church. Interior: west tower intrudes into nave;
nave roof of 2 large moulded crown posts, chancel roof of 3 spindly crown
posts. No chancel arch, but chancel stepped in from nave, and north chancel
wall stepped in, with exposed jambs of arcade to lost chapel. Fittings:
complete set of C18 box pews with raised and fielded panels, the rear set
raised in tiers. Integral 2-tier pulpit with ramped hand rail and panelling.
C18 altar rail with turned balusters and square knops and moulded dado
panelling to sanctuary and reredos with ball flower finial and inscriptions.
C15 bench ends incorporated into C18 Choir stalls; linenfold panels, with
emblem of Trinity on one end and Star and Garter on the other end. Inscribed
to and made for Sir Richard Badlesmere, 1415. C15 octagonal font; plain
with C17 wooden font cover. Royal coat of Arms 1717, and large hatchment on
south wall. Six Tugged inscription boards in nave. The whole is remarkably
unrestored and unusually so for this part of Kent.(See B.0.E. Kent II, 1983,
131).

Listing NGR: TR0162256679

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17546327

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide