Listed Building record MDO3852 - St Mary's Church, High Street, Gillingham

Parish church with a fourteenth-century chancel. The main body of church rebuilt between 1838-9 by Walker, the west tower between 1908-9 by C E Ponting, and the south chapel and vestries in 1921 by Caroe. Built of ashlar and coursed, squared rubble with ashlar dressings. Slate and lead roofs.

Parish Church of St. Mary, Gillingham, of ashlar and coursed rubble with ashlar dressings, has a chancel and north chapel of early 14th century origin with restorations of 1840. The remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1838 with a south chapel added in 1921. According to a letter of 1838 from the vicar (quoted by Wagner), the antecedent nave only 12ft wide was separated from aisles by 'heavy Saxon or Norman arches only 11 1/2ft. in height, supported by large masses of stone which so shut out the aisles ... as to render them ... of little use', a description comparable with the pre-conquest nave at Canford. The advowson value of 40 shillings in Domesday may suggest a Saxon minster here; it was given to Shaftesbury Abbey in exchange for land at Corfe Castle. <2> Additional reference. <3> Church of St Mary. Parish church, chancel C14, main body of church 1838-9, west tower 1908-9, south chapel and vestries 1921. Main body of church by Walker, tower by C E Ponting and south chapel and vestries by Caroe. <4>

Record last edited

Jul 24 2023 12:26PM