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St Martin of Tours
Church was first built between 921 and 927 AD and
was used as a monk house. Since then it has had
three major restorations. It was partially rebuilt
in 1229/30, and then again after being greatly damaged
by fire in 1240. The last major changes came in
1860 when the Rector at that time, Rev H Polhill,
undertook a complete restoration because of the
church’s poor state of repair. These renovations
took place over a period of 22 years and included
rebuilding one corner of the Chancel, removing a
gallery, replacing the old pews, adding the vestry
on the north side and lowering the floor by two
feet. When the floor was lowered the old stone altar
was found in the Chancel and was returned to its
rightful place, where it is still in use today.The
font is of the late Norman period. There is an arched
recess across the north east corner of the Chancel
which is said to have contained an altar to St Anne
who was the patroness of miners, reflecting the
connection of this part of the world to ironstone
mining at one time |
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wooden belfry on the tower at the west end is unusual
in this part of the country. It houses a peal of
three bells, one of which dates from 1612. In the
gable of the south porch is the Rivers family coat
of arms, dating from their baronetcy in 1621, and
above it is a pillar sundial which was added in
1643. This sundial was given to the parish of Ashurst
in 1634 by Elias Allen, the most famous mathematical
instrument maker of his day and believed to be the
son of Robert Allen, the Rector from 1572-1587. |
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Click
here to link to the KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY visual
record archive for St Martin's Ashurst |
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