Ruins of a Stone Church, Faversham, UK
N 51° 18.965 E 000° 51.388
31U E 350621 N 5687156
Researches believe this stone church was abandoned by the 1530s.
Waymark Code: WMMJCC
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/27/2014
Views: 2
These stone ruins are from a Romano British temple or mausoleum, which was later incoporated into a larger Christian Church which was dedicated as Our Lady of Elwarton; this church and related graveyard was in use until it was abandoned in the first half of the 16th century.
The property is open for viewing, in a field on the outskirts of Faversham, and alongside busy A2.
The ruins have been excavated, studied and measured several times; it is reported to be built on a foundation of flint, and is about 17 feet in length (6 metres) with 3 feet thick walls (1 metre) that are made of square stone blocks (tufa stone and ragstone) intersperced with thinner red Roman bricks. Two external buttresses are still viewable, on the south-west and the north-west corners. The researchers report that the original floor consisted of crushed tiles embedded in concrete that was coloured in red, which is the same color that was painted on the plastered walls.
Researches believe the ruins were originally a Roman-British above-ground tomb, possibly for a high ranking individual or for a family. This type of tomb was common from 2 AD to 4 AD.
The researches have interpreted the ruins and believe that the tomb walls were later incorporated into a Christian church built on the same sight. The tomb was altered to become the chancel, with a stone nave added by the late Saxon period (11th century), made of flint. Additional construction measuring about 25 ft by 78 feet (7.5 metres by 24 metres) was added to the east and west, in the 13th century. Remains of a square graveyard on the north-western side of the stone ruins have been found. A decorative grave slab from the graveyard here is on display at the Maison Dieu at Ospringe. The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Elwarton; researches believe it was abandoned sometime before the 1530s.
Type: Ruin
Fee: No
Hours:
Daylight hours
Related URL: [Web Link]
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Original photographs showing additional views of the Ruin/Remnant or even just its current condition are encouraged. Please describe your visit, especially if no additional photos are available. Did you like the Ruin or Remnant? What prompted you to see the Ruin or Remnant?
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