This Church is first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086), but it has a complicated medieval history, and this is made more difficult to understand by the comprehensive late 19th century (1880) restoration of the exterior, and also by the complete whitewashing of the interior.
The South aisle and nave is formed of Saxon walling, whilst the exterior of the nave in the South West is formed of tufa (limestone) and reused Roman bricks, and in North West small Ragstones and some Roman bricks .
The first addition to this church seems to have been a late 12th century North and South aisles, although the outer walls to both these early nave aisles seem now to have disappeared above ground.
There is also evidence that there may have been an early (c.1200) tower on the North side of the chancel, due to the very thick wall fragment on the west side. This tower was no doubt removed in the later 15th century when the present tower was built.
In the early 14th century, the arcade into the East end of the north aisle was put up. It may have replaced an earlier arcade, or be an extension of the North aisle
In 15th century much of the is the rebuilding is centred on the of the outer South aisle wall, to be in line with the South East chapel, and repairs to the chapel of St Blaise (1460).
The final major phase of rebuilding, in the later 15th century, was on the North side of the nave, where a fine three stage tower was put up. Work on this must have started after the demolition of the North aisle wall, which it presumably straddles. The tower is made of good quality Kentish Ragstone, with a plinth, and two major string-courses marking its three stages. The top parapet is of flint and rag checkerwork, typical of the early Tudor period. The weather-vane on top of this turret is dated 1802.
A major restoration took place in 1880 under Ewan Christian. All the roofs were renewed, and the building was re-pewed and new floors were put in. In the chancel, the sanctuary floor was raised and various external repairs were done. The tower roof and new bell-frame were made c.1899.
The Church is most notably known for the grave of Walter Burke
Walter Burke - Nelson's Purser
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Local man Walter Burke, served on HMS Victory as Nelson's Purser, and at the Battle of Trafalgar he cradled Nelson as he Died.
Once he left the Navy he returned to Wouldham where he owned both Purser Place and Burke House. Both were removed to Maresfield in East Sussex in 1937 where the materials were used to build one new house called Purser Place.
In recognition of Walter's service, every year around Trafalgar Day (October 21st), the local School children walk from the nearby School to lay flowers on his Grave.
The grave is to the left of the Path, just before the main Door.
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If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
To view the church micro stats page, please click here
You will have to visit two locations, The Church Lych Gate, and a local History Information Board.
To get to the Information Board walk North along the road past the first house and turn left down the Footpath, at the footpath sign.
To obtain the cache co-ordinates you will have to find the following numbers.
At the Lych gate :
How many Stevens gave their lives in the Two World Wars ? - A
At the Information Board :
How much would Mr Stevens The Ferryman have charged to take Two Bicycles across to Halling ? - B
What Year did the Church open? C D E F
The Cache can be found at :
N 51 21. (B+C) (C+E) (A-C)
E 000 27. (A-B) (A+E) (E+B)
You are looking for a small Pot, a little smaller than a 35mm film canister.