Cut Bench Mark - St John the Evangelist - Ickham, Kent.
Posted by: MeerRescue
N 51° 16.746 E 001° 11.073
31U E 373380 N 5682427
A cut bench mark on south-west corner of the tower of St John the Evangelist church, The Street, Ickham, Kent, CT3 1QW.
Waymark Code: WMFNQE
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/10/2012
Views: 1
This cut bench mark, on the south-west corner of the tower, is now
partially obscured by a modern lightning conductor. A church at Ickham
is mentioned in Domesday Book of 1086, but the earliest visible
remains now are of the mid-12th century.
The 12th century west tower
had a timber broach spire (probably of late medieval date), but this
was demolished in 1825 when a new flat lead roof and crenellated
parapet were added. A new spire and a clock were added in 1870 when
the tower was restored, all four bells inside date to 1641. The major
restoration of the church was in 1845-6 under Hezekiah Marshall (Cost
£1,167), and galleries were put in, though an earlier west gallery was
removed, to give the church 240 new seats. Later repairs were in 1870
(tower), 1901, and to the nave roof in 1932-3 (after the ceiling
collapsed). The major masonry repairs and the south porch were
probably made in 1845-6.
The 12th century dressings are of Caenstone, though the rubblework was
probably of flint with some reused Roman bricks. Caenstone is also
used for the 12th century
dressings in the extended nave and aisles, and in the west tower
(small block quoins). The 13th century chancel has side-alternate
Caenstone quoins, but some Reigate stone and Kentish Rag can be seen
in the flint rubble walls. The early 14th century transepts have
Ragstone (from the Sandgate foreshore) side-alternate quoins (with
1845-6 repairs in Caen) and Caenstone tracery. There is also small
knapped flint coursed rubble with re-used Roman bricks and Purbeck
marble fragments. No old painted plaster or stained glass has
survived.