Hosting costs for the History Files website have been increased
by an eye-watering 40% in 2025. This non-profit site is
only able to keep going with your help. Please make a
donation to keep it online. Thank you!
Churches of the British Isles
Gallery: Churches of Kent
by Peter Kessler, 22 August 2010.
Updated 1 February 2021
St George's Church, Ivychurch, lies
on the eastern side of the main street overlooking the junction
with Ivychurch Road in Romney Marsh. The name Ivychurch originates
from the Old English words for an island burial ground, while the
church dates from about the thirteenth century, probably one of
the first major buildings on the marsh as it was systematically
drained and occupied from the twelfth century onwards. Additions
were made to it in the fourteenth century.
The tower, added in the fifteenth century, is
of roughly coursed stone, while the rest is of mixed roughly coursed
stone and flint. Both north and south chapels were fourteenth century
additions. As with many churches on Romney, St George's was used for
smuggling in the eighteenth century. The building was restored in
1888-1890 by R T Blomfield. During the Second World War it was used
as an ARP and Fire Post, and underwent further restoration
afterwards.
St Augustine's Church, Brookland, is
on the southern side of the High Street, with the churchyard
reaching to Boarman's Lane. Brookland was first recorded in 1262
as 'Broklande', part of an innings in the marshland. The church
was built perhaps just a few years before this, and the detached
wooden bell tower dates to the same period. The tower is octagonal,
with a conical roof of three diminishing 'flounces'. Until 1936 it
was covered in black tarred weatherboarding.
The area was noted for its smuggling activities,
and for the Battle of Brookland in February 1821 between the Customs
& Excise men and the 250-strong Aldington Gang. The church's chancel
was restored in the nineteenth century, but the nave remains untouched,
and has a Georgian pulpit and box pews. The nave arcades lean outwards
at a perilous angle, thanks to subsidence which occurred many years ago.
The arcades settled over a centimetre more between 1900-2000.
Three photos on this page kindly contributed by
Sam Weller, plus one by Glass Angel via the 'History Files: Churches
of the British Isles' Flickr group.
