St Mary's Church
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Chiddingstone, Kent
The church of St. Mary contains some handsome memorials to the Streatfeild family, and has a fine tower with a peal of bells. The living is in the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury. After lightning caused a fire in 1624 much of the church was rebuilt, with the roof of the nave replaced at a lower level - the original higher roof level is still visible.
The ground on the south side of the church is much higher than on the north. Its gravestones are almost at window height to the houses just across the high street. This is because the poor of the village once believed that evil spirits haunted the north side of the church, and preferred to be buried on the south so that their souls would be safe. Over the centuries the earth piled up on the south side has made a visible difference.
The curious square stone building in the churchyard, with a pyramidal roof and a wooden door, is the entrance to the Streatfeild family burial vault.
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Be aware that just up the road is the local primary school and needless to say it gets very busy at the usual drop off and pick up times.
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To the left of the path leading from the lychgate to the porch you will find a small oak tree with a plaque in front of it. The Windsor Oak was planted November AB CDEF
Walk around to the west tower where you will see a large clock, above this is a window and above that are G gargoyles.
N51°11. B (A+G) (A-C) E000°08. (E-B) D (F-E)
The cache is NOT in the Church Yard.
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