Church of St Augustine of Canterbury, Ashen (EHER 7057)

The nave was built probably in the first half of the 13th century. The west tower was added in around 1400 and in around 1525 the stair-turret was added to the tower. The south porch was built probably in around 1600. In 1857 the chancel was rebuilt, the nave lengthened a few feet towards the east and the north vestry and organ recess were added.

June 1962. Grade I listed. Parish Church of St Augustine of Canterbury. Parish church, 13th century and later. Grade I. (See list for details). <1> 18th century window; 13th century window widened in the 18th century; both have 18th century glass. On the nave north wall is an inscribed panel of 1620, reportedly removed from a seat. Late 15th century pews at the west end with some 17th century panelling. <1> See photos <2>. The church has walls of flint rubble with limestone and clunch dressings. The tower stair-turret is brick. The roofs are tiled. The nave probably dates from the first half of the 13th century. The west tower was added in around 1400 and in around 1525 the stair turret was added to it. Features and fittings: windows and window details of the early 13th century (one widened in the 18th century), c1400, 15th century, late 15th or early 16th century; doorways of c1320 (blocked) and c1400 (south doorway); 15th century nave roof; two inscribed bells of c1333; one inscribed late 15th century bell; an old bell- frame; a brass of c1440 in the nave; 13th century door in the south doorway 16th century door to the stair-turret; font is possibly 15th century; niches of c1400 and the early 16th century; some late 15th century seats; a stoup of uncertain date. <3> <4> The south porch was added in around 1600. In 1857 the chancel was rebuilt and the nave lengthened a few feat eastwards, the north vestry and organ recess were added. Features and fittings include: one 18th century window in the nave north wall; timber-framed and plastered south porch; two chests in the tower probably date from c1700; a monument in the nave is of 1610; early 17th century panelling has been used as a dado in the 18th century pews; the plate includes a cup and cover paten of c1570; part of a panel from seating with a dated inscription of 1620 is set in wainscot against the north wall. <3> One lancet window in the nave, indicative of a 13th century origin. The door in the south doorway has 13th century ironwork. The chancel dates from 1857. A monument of 1610 has an odd design with `termini' caryatids, with decoration in between. Other details as RCHM. <5> Dedication dates from 1853. The former chancel and apse were described as `ruinous' in 1857 when the nave was lengthened to the east. 'Presumably the apse belonged to the Saxon or Norman church mentioned in a grant of around 1090.' The windows belie the age of the fabric. 'The only visible features of significance are the curiously braced roof and the remarkable 13th century peg-jointed soth door.' <6> <7> 13th century and later. The south door is 'assembled with fox-wedged pegs that fix U-edged boards to square ledges with chamfered arises. ' (quote from source <8>), with straplugs with incomplete lobate ends and a large stock-lock. The south porch was added in the 16th century or earlier (around 1600 according to RCHM) with mortices for missing diamond mullions in each side. The bell-frame may be original. <8> <9> 1952. Archaeological excavation. A stone block was found during excavation of the east end for underpinning in 1952. A crude sundial is incised on one face (drawing in source <10> and EHER). It may have come from the south side of the original chancel and may have been buried during rebuilding. 'Unfortunately it is quite badly chipped and abraded. ' Cartouches and intials in the porch suggested to be by the builders - porch given 18th century date in source <10> and are dated to 1717. One example illustrated in source <10>, a copy is in the SMR. <10> <11> AP <12> <13> <14>. See also <15>. Site Assessment: South wall externally refaced, north wall rendered but in poor condition. Saxon or Norman church mentioned in grant of around 1090 (see source <15>). Remarkable 13th century south door (see source <6>). 'Ground level is high and the church damp at the W end. Opportunities should arise for fabric study and the recovery of the lost E end, by excavation, would be valuable since, if it belongs to the first church on the site, it can be confidently dated to `ante' 1090.' 'A fine wall monument of 1610 is in a poor state.' <7> NRHE data transfer: St Augustine's Church [NAT]. <16>