KINGSTON

I found this bridge by accident, when I missed the turning to the church, and went on ahead. It's a remnant from the old Elham Valley railway line, where most of the bridges have been demolished. I hope this one is allowed to remain intact. It's a lovely piece of Victorian workmanship.

The Elham Valley Railway was a line connecting Folkestone and Canterbury in Kent, England. It opened between 1887 and 1889 and closed in 1947.

The line was originally proposed by the independent Elham Valley Light Railway Company in the mid-19th century. After the project was cancelled owing to financial difficulties, it was revived by the South Eastern Railway who were competing with the rival London, Chatham and Dover Railway for railway traffic. The scheme was complicated by the imposing geography of the Elham Valley and the construction of two significant tunnels. The southern section from Cheriton to Barham opened in 1887, with the northern section to Canterbury opening two years later.

The Elham Valley Railway was never commercially successful as it passed through predominantly rural areas. During World War II it was appropriated by the War Department who used it for defence, including a large rail-mounted gun stationed on the line. After the conflict, the line passed back into civilian use, but the route now had competing bus traffic. A shuttle service from Folkestone to Lyminge was reinstated in 1946, but closed the following year; the remainder of the line never re-opened. Some of the railway has been demolished, including Elham railway station, but parts of the infrastructure including the two tunnels have survived. The history of the line is commemorated in a local museum.

St. Giles' church. In the early years of the Saxon settlement, when Kent was an independent kingdom, Kingston was one of the villages that belonged to the King. This is shown by the early form of the name 'Cyningestun' (The King’s Manor), and also by the rich finds in the nearby Saxon burial ground, including the ‘Kingston Brooch’. Once the Kingdom of Kent ceased to exist, the village seems to have sunk into obscurity, as it is not mentioned in the Doomsday Book, apparently being included with one of the neighbouring villages.

However, it seems likely that there was a church here at that time, and that much of it remains in the present building.

In the corner of the churchyard is this pretty private gateway that leads into the beautiful garden of the charming house below, known as St. Giles Lodge (I think).

The church is usually entered by the north door, to the right of which is a well-preserved holy water stoup. 

The Font, standing under the tower, has a rather interesting history. It dates from the beginning of the 13th century and at some time during the 18th century it was removed and discarded because it was damaged. After being used for some years as a feeding trough by a local farmer, it was rescued by Brian Faussett, who was curate of Kingston and a well-known antiquary. He kept it in a summerhouse at his home near Canterbury, from where it was eventually returned to the church and re-consecrated in 1931.

Kingston lost 3 men in World War I, and one in World War II, as the brass memorial in the church testifies.

The story of the font

not sure whose head this is

My Latin is not very good, and my knowledge of Greek is worse. All I can say is it is something to do with William Chapman of Heppington. Heppington is in the parish of Nackington (where I lived as a very small child), and there were several William Chapmans cropped up in my search, but without translation of the memorial, I can go no further. The two dates mentioned are 1775 and 1931. The lower section gives mention of Archbishop Cosmo, which would tally with the 1931 date, and I did find mention of one William who died in 1932, but can't identify him as the right one. Think possibly it is all to do with re-consecration of the church maybe?

James Paylor - died unmarried 1854. A Colonel in the army, sometime governor of Zante and Corfu. Appointed Lieutenant 52nd. Foot 1804, Captain in the same regiment 1808, silver medal and four clasps for his services at Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Nevelle and Nive, Major 10th. foot 1822, Lieutenant Colonel 1825, Colonel 1838.

The ‘Kingston Brooch’, is still one of the finest Anglo - Saxon disc brooches which has been found and is an important piece of Anglo-Saxon jewellery. Dating from the 7th Century, it was discovered in a Tumulus on Kingston Downs in 1771 by Rev’d. Brian Faussett. It is 8cm in diameter, made of gold and set with garnet imported from Sri Lanka. There are also blue glass or Lapis and shell settings. It is now held in the World Museum in Liverpool.

Charlotte Clara, wife of Rev. Frederick Morgan-Payler of Warwickshire, and daughter of Rev. William Payler, vicar of Patrixbourne and Bridge. d.1895

Easter Sepulchre in an empty tomb space.

Mary Lucy, d. 1846, wife of Robert Deane Parker Esq., of the Honourable East India Company's Civil Service. 

The pulpit is of carved oak with smaller decorative hinges, and is Jacobean or possibly Elizabethan.

Beautifully painted reredos and bronze angel candle holders adorn the main altar.

John Netersole, of Netersole. (probably a mis-spelling of Nethersole, as there used to be a Nethersole between Canterbury and Dover, and Canterbury has a Nethersole House.) So, working on Nethersole died 1627, I found Born about 1546 [uncertain] in Kingston, Kent, England. Died before 9 Jul 1627 before about age 81 in Kingston, Kent, England 

Another Payler memorial, but too indistinct

Elizabeth Sarah Martha, wife of Edward Knocker Esq. of Dover, d. March 1835, and their 3 day old son, Edward Tottenham Knocker, who died in February 1835.

Rev. William Payler, vicar of Patrixbourne and Bridge. d. 1814. His widow died 1817, and Sarah Maria, their youngest daughter, who died 1827.

The Legend of St. Giles

St. Giles was a hermit who lived in the 8th century in a forest near the River Rhone. He lived on the wild plants of the forest and drank the milk of a doe which he had tamed and which lived with him in his cave.

The king of the Franks, Childebery, used to hunt in the forest, and on one occasion the dogs chased the doe until she reached the safety of the cave. A huntsman shot an arrow into the cave, and when the king entered he found Giles with his arm round the doe, and with his hand pierced by the arrow, which he had warded off from his pet.

The king was greatly moved by this action and often visited the hermit afterwards. Eventually he gave the land around the cave and built a monastery on it, of which Giles became the first abbot. He prayed that his wound would not heal so that he might learn to bear pain as his Saviour before him.

St. Giles is traditionally the patron saint of 'cripples' (although today we would say 'disabled people') and many churches and hospitals throughout Europe have been named after him.