By the Nailbourne is the gatehouse and remains of the Palace . . . 1’

used by Archbishops in the Middle Ages. Archbishop Thomas E“ Ex

Cranmer lived here and it is easy to visualise him sitting by the ;  hug   
fireside in his rooms there, drawing up the first “Book of ‘ A
Common Prayer”. Cranmer preached in the church, which ‘ WW
has a fine Norman north door. The pre-Reformation stone "‘ &

altar has been sunk in the floor at the foot of the chancel steps. ’ 
The memorial to Sir Henry Palmer once by the altar was
moved to the bell tower by Victorian restorers in order to put in V  

a large window to lighten the east end. The church also has a

memorial to Charles Tilestone Beke, an eccentric Victorian A   

  
  

explorer of Africa and the Bible lands. 9 Aga-\I,'eR|1A(4 miflelS|g::siNh:$Etl\lorilc. _  . ’. ‘ V. N I 1  
At Patrixbourne, the pilgrim route goes up the High Street’, a Romney Marshes mosttyin steam " ' ‘ ‘ .- 
past the lodge house to Bifrons Park, a Conyngham estate, hauled tfams from HYthet0

Dungeness via New Romney and

{N ‘rid then bears right up a wooded cut through orchards to the Dymchurch Frequent trainsdaily  {
,nurch of St. Martin on the outskirts of Canterbury. ir‘t"S lring, SummergnfijAutug1n_ I9
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The church of ST. MARTIN, CANTERBURY may well be the ‘A’ Picnic areas by the lineside at
oldest parish church in England, having been‘in continuous L‘ 3_YF3’é?:‘e‘;';:’[l:‘:‘a‘:’s:€;"fi:8g‘2te(3;r
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Canterbury Cathedral and our pilgrim goal. Laudate Dec! 1 Main Line steam Raflway
' For further details. Party Bookings, etc. write or
telephone —The Mana er, FlH&D Railway.
New Romney. Kent. New omney (0679) 62353

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A Comprehensive Selection of Gifts
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Further infonriation can be obtained from:
Diocesan House, Lady Wootton’s Green,
Canterbury, Kent CT 1 INQ

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In 1170 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of
Canterbury, was murdered in his Cathedral, an
event which altered the course of English history.
His miracle-working tomb brought fame and
prosperity to Canterbury, which became a
pilgrimage goal from all parts of Britain and the
Continent.

Although pilgrims used the main Roman road
from Dover to Canterbury (now the A2),( sny
took a more pleasing and circuitous route which is
suggested in this leaflet. Described here are some
of the churches and other sights known to
thousands of pilgrims over the years. All these
churches still live and serve their communities.
They proclaim the living Word. May you discover
this for yourselves.

    
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
      

CANTERBURY

1. Castle

2. St. Margarets at Cliffe
3. East Langdon

4. west Langdon

5. Guston

6. Whitfield

( . Waldershare Park

8.
9 }Eythorne

10. Barfreston

1 1. Nonington

1 2. Womenswold
13. Adisham

14. Patrixboume
15. Bekesbourne
16. St. Martins

   

Churches and Sites
of Interest


There are many sights to see in DOVER, the starting point for
the trail. Remember it was a principal Cinque Port and remains »
by far England’s premier Continental seaport. In Townwall‘
Street, close to the entry to the Roman and Medieval Port
basin, you can see the remains of the church of ST. JAMES,-its!
stonework reddened by fire. From here, you can look back at‘
the cliffs on either side and see where the Roman pharos,
navigational lights, stood—the western one by the Redoubt, a
Napoleonic War gun fortress; the eastern, a tower still
standing by the church of St. Mary-in-Castro at Dover Castle.I

Among Dover’s many churches is ST. MARY THE VIRGIN,-.
Cannon Street, possibly of Saxon origin. It has a Norman
tower notable for four tiersfiof arcading on its west front. There
is a fine Victorian porch in the north wall. _ (

Further up the road we find the 13th century ST. EDMUND’S
CHAPEL in Priory Road. It is the first and only chapel ever
dedicated by an English Saint (St. Richard of Chichester in
1253) to the honour of an English Saint—St. Edmund of
Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury 1234-1240.

Nearby is the MAISON DIEU, founded as a hospice in the:
early 13th century. Amalgamated with a 19th century Town«
Hall, it now houses a small museum and exhibition. '

To join our trail, pass St. Edmund’s and turn almost
immediately right into Ladywell. Continue uphill to a T-
junction, turning rightagain into ConnaughtRoad. You join the
A258 by Dover Castle.

DOVER CASTLE is well worth a visit. Within its grounds is the
church of ST. MARY-IN-CASTRO, built of Roman materials
early in the 11th century with Saxon work still visible in the
nave windows.

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ST. EDMUND’S CHAPEL, DOVER.

Rejoining the A258, you can take either the cliff road to the
right just after the Castle, obtaining excellent views of the
Harbour and Channel shipping, on the way to ST.
MARGARET’S-AT-CLIFFE: or an alternative route to Guston
(see _next column).

The lofty and beautiful ST. MARGARET’S is an early 12th
century Norman church, built of Caen stone. The oldest part is
the chancel with an unusual arrangement of tall, lancet
windows at the east end. The nave has a clerestory with a
remarkable external arcade and a richly moulded, north door.
The tower once had a steeple which was used for many years as
a navigational aid. This part of the Kent coast had smuggling
connections and it is easy to visualise the pack-donkeys with

‘Jed hooves being led up from the beach with silks, brandy
and tobacco their principal loads.

 

SR1 MARGARET’S CHURCH.

The route now continues to the Langdons, East and West. To
reach East Langdon take the main road (Station Road) north
from the village. Cross the A258 and continue to Martin Mill.
Here turn left and follow the road undera railway bridge. Left at
the next T-junction and the church can be seen ahead by the
village green.

EAST LANGDON parish church, a delightful building, is
dedicated to ST. AUGUSTINE and is linked with St. Margaret-
at-Cliffe. Look at the medieval tombstones in the churchyard
next to a farm. At WEST LANGDON, signposted from East
Langdon, the parish church is dedicated to ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN. In the village is a large house once the medieval
Abbey of White Canons.

An alternative route from Dover is to go up Castle Hill but head
left to Guston and Whitfield. As you pass the Duke of York's
school, behind you on the seaward side are remains of
Napoleonic War fortifications protecting the eastern flank of
Dover Castle. You cross over the newJubilee Way by bridge and
go down the hill to GUSTON.

The church of ST. MARTIN'S, GUSTON, is one of the very
early Norman village churches and shows the relative
prosperity of East Kent at that time, due to its links with the
Continent. The original structure of St. Martin’s is flint walled
with rough ashlar coins and dressed stones.

Whitfield Church is reached through the small hamlet of
Pineham and this takes you back across the line of a Roman
road from Dover to Richborough.

ST. PETER’S, WHITFIELD is reached through a modern lych-
gate, built at the beginning of the century. It incorporates an
early church forming the nave, chancel and east end. The
trumpet splayed window above the south porch is original and
the gable window high on the west end is also of early origin.
The south door was originally very grand, with fine ashlar
stafts with scalloped capitals, but now somewhat obscured by
t e added porch. Inside, the north aisle has been turned into an
open “chancel” conveniently laid out for modern worship in a
homely and attractive fashion. This arrangement has left the
Norman east end, beyond the tall and narrow early chancel

rch, as an annexe to the church—an original and striking
q ange of use.

A nan'ow lane from here links you with the Dover-Sandwich
oad. Continuing up this lane to WALDERSHARE PARK, on
your left, you now rejoin the route up from the Langdons. Turn
lbft after half a mile to approach Eythome.

 
     
    
   
  

  
  
 

  
  
   
  

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EYTHORNE BAPTIST CHURCH is discovered on the right of
the road. It is a fine building in extensive grounds and is one of;
the earliest such chapels in East Kent, built in 1804. A little
farther on is the Anglican church of ST. PETER AND ST.’
PAUL. This is another attractive Norman church with a large
sunny churchyard extending to the north; a good resting spotl
on your journey. 1

Here, you can again split your route, either taking the original
road to Nonington, or the narrow road to Barfreston, which isl
recommended. This interesting road runs over ridges formed by‘
the chalk downs and leads to a junction from where you can see
the church on the hillside opposite. ‘

ST. NICHOLAS, BARFRESTON has a nave and c -ncel of
flint, built about 1100. It is lavishly embellished _ Caen
stone from Normandy, a stone far superior to Kentish ragstone
for working and capable of much finer sculpting. This
stonework was added about 1 173 possibly in celebration of the
Lord of the Manor’s marriage. The wealth and variety of
carvings of this tiny church are world famous and can be dated r

by the figure of St. Thomas Becket in the second ring of.’

carvings round the tympanum over the south door. Many early

pilgrims were visiting Becket’s shrine at Canterbury, so would :

have been keenly interested in the carving of the saint.

 

BARFRESTON CHURCH.

Heading north from Barfreston, take the first turning right and
the next left to the village of NONINGTON.

Here‘ ST. MARY THE VIRGIN is a fine church at the foot of the
sloping road, Vicarage Lane just off the main street. Opposite
the church, over the road and in a large churchyard is an
interesting sermon in stone erected by a former vicar.

 

ST. MARY’S PATRIXBOURNE, SOUTH DOOR.

An alternative route from Barfreston leads to the village of
WOMENSWOLD. Stay on the original road to a junction. Here
turn right passing through WOOLAGE and a signposted road
to’ e. right leads to Womenswold church.

Dedicated to ST. MARGARET, the church sits on a high bank
above the village street. Most medieval churches were built on
dry elevated land and this was often heightened by the
countless burials round the church. This a good example. It is
worth mentioning that you will often find the best memorials
on the southern side of village churches. This was the sunny
side of the building and much sought after! Often the same
idea obtained inside the church and a key position for a
memorial was on the southern wall by the altar.

The route to Patrixboume splits at this point. You can strike
directly on foot for Patrixboume along the original pilgrim’s
route or bear away north to reach that village through
Adisham.

\

'llhe church of HOLY INNOCENTS, ADISHAM stands proud
0 a shoulder of hillside overlooking the village. Built of flint, it

s a cruciform shape with a central tower—-this is unusual in
Est Kent. The interior is well worth seeing, one thing of note is
tllte great ladder to the tower.

If you take the cross-country route from Womenswold to
Patrixboume, it leads through Pitt Wood, past Woodlands-—a
lqrge,house—on the right, and continues aftera short climb up
a! roadway to the original footpath past Chota and Shepherd's
(llose. A tiny lane takes you down to the valley floor to
A trixboume ford.

Nearby is ST. MARY’S church, PATRIXBOURNE. This was
an important church at one time, and the now larger church at
nearby Bridge was a daughter church to St. Mary’s. There is a
very fine south doorway, next to Barfreston in importance,
with ‘mass clock-holes by the door. Inside you will find some
interesting glass, especially the Swiss engraved glass in the
southern wall of the Lady Chapel. This was once the chapel of
the local family,.the Conynghams, and outside you can see the
chimney that once let out the smoke from their private
fireplace—now sadly vanished from the chapel. Such engraved
and etched glass can also be seen at TEMPLE EWELL church
just outside DOVER.

If you came by road from Adisham, you will reach Patrixboume
by a lane from BEKESBOURNE.

Here is the church of ST. PETER set on a hillside. It is reached
through the private gardens of Cobham Court, once the local
headquarters for this limb of the Cinque Ports. The Nailbourne
stream here was once broad enough for rowing boats to reach
sea-fishing areas around the Isle of Thanet.

 

Brochure produced by the Planning Department, Kent County COUFICII.
on Behalf of the Canterbury Diocesan Churches and Tourism Group.