Ham: St George
Overview
Grid reference: TR 326 547
The general impression is that of a Victorian chapel as the visible earlier architectural features are scanty. The building is composed of knapped flint with stone dressings. The east wall is composed of alternate areas of flint, with inserted chips of Caen stone, and brick. Brick is used to indicate quoins at this end of the church and a quantity of tile is inserted in the walls in a random fashion. The roofs are of old Kent tiles and the wooden bell-cote is weather-boarded and roofed with cedar shingles. The variation of building materials in the external wall surfaces render the general impression picturesque and interesting.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, slightly lower chancel and porch towards the south-west of the nave. The vestry on the north-west of the nave which is indicated in the plan of 1880 was Iever built and instead a small area behind the font was partitioned off for which purpose one pew was removed.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church is basically 13th century Early English but it was heavily restored by the Diocesan Architect, Joseph Clarke of '13, Stratford Place, W.' in 1879-80. Newman dates the chancel arch as 1879 and the signed architect's plans of 1880 confirm that a major work of repair and restoration was effected at this time. The Illustrated London News in January, 1881 refers to the church as 'recently re-opened'. Nevertheless, evidence in the church, particularly the signed glass of the east window, 1862, and the brass commemorativeplaque beneath it, 1860, points to an earlier restoration which may have been responsible for the near-rebuildingof the east wall. Clarke worked on many churches in the vicinity and the window tracery of the churches of St.Clement and St.Peter, Sandwich, figure among this work.
Exterior Description
The general impression is that of a Victorian chapel as the visible earlier architectural features are scanty. The building is composed of knapped flint with stone dressings. The east wall is composed of alternate areas of flint, with inserted chips of Caen stone, and brick. Brick is used to indicate quoins at this end of the church and a quantity of tile is inserted in the walls in a random fashion. The roofs are of old Kent tiles and the wooden bell-cote is weather-boarded and roofed with cedar shingles. The variation of building materials in the external wall surfaces render the general impression picturesque and interesting.
The east wall is pierced by a plate-traceried window of two lights surmounted by a quatrefoil within a circle. A hoodmould is terminated on two head stops and the line of this moulding is followed by brickwork patterned in brick in flint. The gable is crowned by a cross. The south chancel wall is broken by two lancets, and a stepped buttress divides nave from chancel, whereas the north chancel wall, buttressed in the same way, is pierced with only one lancet. The porch is partly decorated with chequerwork stone and flint and is slightly buttressed towards the south. Its south doorway is moulded and rests on circular shafts with polygonal capitals. East of the porch is a pair of lancets, whereas the north wall of the nave again allows loss light, in a single lancet. The west wall retains much of its plaster coating and is angle-buttressed to the north and south. The west wall is pierced with a tall cinquefoil-headed lancet which opens to the nave by way of a deep reveal with a slightly chamfered pointed head; in part this window is original. Almost all the other fenestration is renewed. The south side of the church has been more extensively renewed than the north or west walls. The western buttresses contain original work.
The western bell-cote is capped by an overhanging pyramidal roof and this is supported at the bell stage on arched braces resting on a post on each face. Above this is a line of woodwork pierced with quatrefoils and above the whole structure there rises a weathervane cock. The south doorway is original; its hoodmould rests on two small mutilated corbel heads and the inner order is supported on the remains of two slender engaged shafts. It appears to be hollow chamfered but it is in fact imposed on fillets projecting in two directions. The doorway is probably early 14th century.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1862
The most interesting feature of the church is the stainee glass in the east window, signed and dated by 'W.Warrington and Sans, London 1862' It depicts four scenes, with text references from 2 Samuel, Luke and John, beneath architectural canopies.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior walls are of whitened plaster and the most conspicuous feature is the Victorian chancel arch. North and south doorways stand opposite in pointed embrasures. They are in situ but the smaller north door bears no trace of original work. In the nave north wall a square-headed recess with a moulded frame retains its original base, and beneath the pair of lights in the south wall is a peculiar shapeless cavity. The nave is floored with decent tiling of early 19th century appearance. The roof timbers are Victorian, of pine, and the roof is of trussed rafter type except that the bell cage is supported on arched braces and a tie. The chancel arch bears a hollow chamfer decorated with fleurons at intervals and this is supported on engaged shafts with exuberantly foliate capitals which overspill along the line of the moulded imposts.
The chancel roof is of the same type as the nave. The east window hoodmould rests on head stops and the two lights are divided by a black marble colonette. The lancet in the north wall possesses a rere-arch and the two lights of the south chancel wall are set within a blocked or blank arcade of 13th century date the central demi-pier of which is chamfered. In the north wall towards the altar is an aumbry cupboard but the northern credence shelf indicated on the plan of 1880 was built on to the south of the altar. The flooring is most attractive, being a mixture of black marble lodger slabs and fine but worn quarry tiles. There are a few mediaeval tiles with traces of lettering still surviving but the general impression is of a post-Reformation tiling glazed cream and black to produce a chequerwork up to the chancel step.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
A plain octagonal bowl rests on a similar stem and base.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TR 326 547
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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