In Doomsday (1086) Acrise is referred to as ‘Acres’ meaning ‘oak copse’ and was entered under the lands belonging to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux; his tenant or manager was Anschitel de Ros (or de Rot), who had replaced two unnamed Saxon brothers each of whom had a hall. These halls were united into one manor.
As with many early churches the Norman stone church was built after the invasion to replace an existing Saxon church. Evidence of Norman origins can be seen on the exterior south wall where there is the outline of a priest’s door and a Norman window. When the church was widened at the end of the 13th Century it is believed that the chancel arch was reconstructed using some of the original Norman voussoirs, the wedge shaped stones that form the arch.
Established in about 2000 the Friends have helped to improve the fabric of the building. Note the restoration work to the north and east walls. We hope to raise enough money to complete the south and west walls.
The church is still in regular use and has an early morning service every Sunday.
Acrise Place
Acrise Place must have its origins in the Saxon manors existing before the Conquest. Following Anchitel de Ros the Cosington or Cosentens became tenants at Acrise and remained so until the early years of the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547). When Thomas Cosington died Acrise passed to the youngest of his three daughters, Elizabeth, and her husband, Alexander Hamon of Sandwich.Their son, William, succeeded Alexander and lived until 1603. William was succeeded by his eldest son, another Alexander, who died in 1613 (see the brass on the south wall of the chancel). As Alexander had no sons Acrise Place went to his daughter Mary and her husband Robert Lewkenor and then passed to their son, Hamon Lewkenor, who died in 1647. The estate was sold for the first time in its history in 1660 to Thomas Papillon, a Hugenot refugee, and remained in the family for nearly 200 years over six generations. The Squire’s Pew would have been used by Papillons and their family vault is under the nave aisle. There are several monuments to the Papillons on the nave walls.In 1861 Acrise Place was sold to the McKinnon family; there are several monuments to members of the McKinnon family in the nave and a photograph of Colonel McKinnon returning home from the Boer War. One of the McKinnons, Francis, played cricket for Kent in the 1870s and 1880s. The McKinnons owned Acrise Place until 1911 and then sold it to the Watneys.
The estate was bought by the War Department for troop training in the Second World War, soldiers departing for France after their training. After the war the place was derelict and was in danger of being demolished. However, in 1950 Mr Arthur Papillon bought back his ancestral home from the War Department and married soon afterwards. His wife, Barbara, outlived him and kept Acrise Place open to the public until the late 1970s. In 1984 the house and contents were auctioned. A property developer bought and renovated the house and outbuildings to create the residential properties known as Acrise Mews.
Approach on foot from the tree lined driveway by the white metal gate. The cache should be an easy find. It is hidden in a tree on the right hand side, just outside the church yard. You are seeking a 35mm film pot in a waterproof camouflaged bag. Inside is a badge for FTF. Please clip the lid tightly on the pot, put it in the bag and close it. Return it to its hiding place so that it cannot be seen.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PEN
St Martin’s Church PCC know that the cache is there and they welcome your visit.
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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.
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If you haven't signed the log sheet you haven't found the cache, No signature = log deleted.