WOODCHURCH

 

Woodchurch has almost as many pubs as people!  Well, it's got a few anyway. The village surrounds all 4 sides of a huge green open space, in one corner of which, is the old village pump. It sits about 6 miles from Ashford and is overlooked by the beautiful windmill, which commands extensive views over the Walland marshes to the English Channel coast. It is a fine example of a Kentish smock mill and was originally one of a pair of windmills standing on this site, known locally as The Twins. The mill is open throughout the summer and is accessible via a footpath that passes between the village pubs.

Woodchurch is renowned for its Rare Breed Centre, which stands far enough outside the village centre, down a road which bypasses the village centre, not to disturb its quietness.

The village pump, next to the enormous village green.

All Saints church, like the rest of the village, is very pretty. It stands at the top, opposite the two main pubs, and next to the little Primary school. 

On approach to All Saints from the east, it is apparent that the13th century wood shingled spire leans considerably to the south. The angle that the spire leans has been measured at 18 degrees. Above the north porch is a parvis.

Whilst a church at Woodchurch is referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086, the present building dates from the early 13th century, soon after the end of the Norman period when round door and window arches had been superceded by the typical pointed arches of the Early English Gothic period. The east window consists of three tall Early English lancet windows.

The Royal Arms are those of George III and were painted by a local artist, Joseph Gibson, in 1773.

I guess a lot of these artists have never seen a lion (let alone a unicorn) in real life. This one looks at though he's just had his mane permed and he's posing for the photographer!

Hidden in the south chapel behind the organ, is the rather (now) plain tomb to Sir Edward Waterhouse. Hidden - almost as though he was a nobody. 

His tomb was rudely shoved out of the way at the behest of the family who donated the organ to the church, and its' original setting destroyed. 

Sir Edward Waterhouse (1535–1591) was an English-born Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland from 1586 to 1589 and Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1566 to 1567 and again from 1568 to 1569.

He was born in Helmstedbury, Hertfordshire, the youngest son of John Waterhouse of Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, auditor to Henry VIII, and his wife Margaret Turner, daughter of Henry Turner of Blunt's Hall, Suffolk. According to family tradition the King saw Edward as a boy and predicted that he would grow up to be a man "fit to serve Princes". Edward was educated at Oxford, which he entered at the age of just twelve, and then joined the King's Court.

I won't put his full story here, it's too long in the telling, but there's a good article about him on Wikipedia, and although he was much loved by Queen Bess, he was not exactly favoured in Ireland! 

Next to Sir Eddie's tomb, is a mock up of how a Tudor tomb would have looked. The accompanying card explains all...........

Behind Sir Edward's tomb, a coat of arms is set into the wall

Aumbry set into a niche in the sanctuary wall

Brass Memorial Tablet to Francis Ballard Wells, former rector of Woodchurch.

Francis Ballard Wells was born on 28 June 1811, in Wiston, Sussex. His father was Rev. George Wells. He married Jane Fanny Rose Hardisty on 1 February 1842, in Marylebone, London. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He died on 21 March 1888, in Woodchurch, at the age of 76, and was buried in here.

Attractive window in the North chapel.

Few more random shots.

Small details from a window, beautifully painted

carved panel pew ends

early medieval parish chest - very plain, and obviously well-loved!

Because the coffee morning was just coming to an end, I didn't quite have the time I would have liked. I know I missed some points of interest, but I've put it back on my list for a second bite of the cherry