SEVINGTON

The village now consists of the church and Court Lodge which is now a private dwelling. It is slowly being reached by the buildings from Ashford, and in a few years will be absorbed into the town. Court Lodge is now rather incorporated into South Willesborough than Sevington.

St. Mary’s church. This is a wonderful Ragstone church, Kent churches always seem so different, like a wonderful mishmash of different styles, but in a way that looks like its meant to be, like the beautiful Oast houses that you see.  

The cat slide roof swoops down to nearly ground level and is attached to a two staged tower and spire.  

The church was altered by the Normans in about 1200, so the church was most probably Saxon, it was also altered in the 13th & 14th century and 1877 & 1936.  

Grade I listed. Nineteenth century texts cover every arch, even the low one between chapel and chancel!

St Mary's Sevington is part of the Willesborough Local Area of the Ashford Town Parish, along with St Mary's Willesborough.

It is a small but lovely chapel of ease and is described in Nicklaus Pevsner’s book “The Historic Buildings of England”, "as lonely and a little forlorn".

The main altar is surrounded by painted texts.

The South Chapel

This plaque is below the window - obviously the window was a memorial to her grandmother.

The somewhat simple font, with its' elaboratly carved cover

There are various monuments to local families, including the Boys of Boys Hall, and the Forsters. I have included most of them here, and will fill in details as I research them, as usual.

There are two slabs in the floor. One had a brass, now missing, and largely unreadable, and this one - to the memory of the Rev. Edward Boys, eldest son of Thomas Boys of Mersham, Rector of Sevington. He died November the 21st 1723. Aged 58 Years. The slab is surmounted by the Boys Coat-of-Arms.

Bennet Forster - Rector of Sevington from 1889 to 1912

Lieut-General Alfred Leonard Forster, Royal Marines, C.B., D.S.O., Diocesan Reader 1912-1963. Born 27.04.1886 died 05.07.1963. Found his service record - quite impressive!

2nd Lt. RMA	01.09.1903
...	...
Col. Comdt. (T/Brig.)	01.04.1937
Maj.Gen.	01.12.1939 (retd 12.02.1941; own request)

	CB	11.07.1940	HM's birthday 1940 [investiture 01.04.1941]
	DSO	1915	?

...	-	...	...
01.04.1937	-	17.12.1939	Colonel Commandant, Chatham Division RM
03.04.1939	-	01.12.1939	also: Marine ADC to the King
18.12.1939	-	31.12.1939	HMS President (for duty outside Admiralty)
01.01.1940	-	04.02.1940	HMS President (for duty inside Admiralty as Assistant Director of Naval Intelligence)
05.02.1940	-	20.05.1940	Chatham Division RM (additional; for full pay service leave)
21.05.1940			half-pay list

Tablet memorial to members of the Clifford family - Daniel of that ilk being Parish Clark for over 30 years.

I have found information on a Cyril James Osborne, but have not managed to ascertain if it is the same person, as there are at least two others of the same name, and there is insufficient information on this little war memorial. The same problem with Albert Frederick Smith.