[TQ 60467398] St. Peter & St. Paul's Church [TU] (1) The Church of S.S. Peter & Paul, Swanscombe, severely damaged by fire in 1902, is pre-Conquest to 15C. and later. '... The only grounds apparent for ascribing a pre-Conquest date to the tower are to be found in the double splayed window, the head and splays of which are formed of Roman brick, but beyond this use of Roman material, there are no other characteristics of pre-Conquest architecture whatever... The east end of the south aisle was probably screened off to serve as a chapel, .... (?the shrine of St. Hildefirth).....' Rebuilt in the 12th and enlarged and extended in the 13th and 14th centuries, with internal additions in the 15th c. and later, the roof, and presumably the porch, is modern. [See AO/59/81/5 & 6] (2) Included in list of Saxon churches, western tower only remaining, and dated to approx, late 10th.Cent. (3)

Coin of Faustina, in a good state of preservation, found in the course of recent works [circa 1874] at the church, Swanscombe. Also found was a 15th C iron padlock. (4)

Brief description of the church at Swanscombe, with reference to the destruction of the shrine of St.Hildefirth. (5)

St. Peter & St. Pauls - still in use for public worship. The present whereabouts of the Ro. coin and the Md. padlock were not established either in the field or in local recording. (6-7

Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Manor Road. Grade I. Some C11 and C12 work in the tower and chancel respectively but mainly C13 with C14 windows. Heavily restored by Jabez Bignall in 1872-3 and repaired by him after a fire in 1902. Built of flint with patches of stone rubble and stone dressings. Nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, chancel and west tower with broached shingled spire. South porch. The lower part of the tower is Saxon. The chancel has a blocked Norman window and in the nave there are traces of round-headed recesses in the east wall flanking the chancel arches. The aisles and clerestory were added in the late C12. Three bay arcades. Pointed arches with angle roll. Short circular piers and square abaci with chamfered corners. The tower was reconstructed in the C13 and the chancel arch is C14. Norman font. Perpendicular oak lectern (one of only 2 in Kent). C18 pulpit. Brass chadelier dated 1687. Large standing monument to Sir Raphe Weldon died 1609 and hanging monument to Anthony Weldon died 1613. (8) Additional Bibliography (9-12) Additional Bibliography not consulted (13-14)

Description from record TQ 67 SW 1175:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5274 SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE MANOR ROAD
Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul TQ 67 SW 5/103 5.5.52
I GV
2. Some C11 and C12 work in the tower and chancel respectively but mainly C13 with C15 windows. Heavily restored by Jabez Bignall in 1872-3 and repaired by him after a fire in 1902. Built of flint with patches of stone rubble and stone dressings. Nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, chancel and west tower with broached shingled spire. South porch. The lower part of the tower is Saxon. The chancel has a blocked Norman window and in the nave there are traces of round- headed recesses in the east wall flanking the chancel arches. The aisles and clerestory were added in the late C12. Three bay arcades. Pointed arches with angle rolls. Short circular piers and square abaci with chamfered corners. The tower was reconstructed in the C13 and the chancel arch is C14. Norman font. Perpendicular oak lectern (one of only 2 in Kent). C18 pulpit. Brass chandelier dated 1687. Large standing monument to Sir Raphe Weldon died 1609 and hanging monument to Anthony Weldon died 1613. Listing NGR: TQ6037873884 (11)

A watching brief carried out in 2009 excavated more than 50 burials, with the remains of 20 others individuals. Most of the burials were post-medieval in date although there were 3 medieval skeletons and one probable Saxon infant buried at the base of the tower. The remains were stored on site and then re-buried with no further analysis.(12)

Archive material (13)

<1> OS 6" 1938-46 (OS Card Reference). SKE48353.

<2> Arch Cant Vol.43 1913, 241-6 illust. and plan (F C Elliston Erwood) (OS Card Reference). SKE36443.

<3> "The Arts in Early Britain" (1903) 291 & 342 (Baldwin Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE32693.

<4> Arch J Vol 31 1874, 77-8 illust (of padlock) (OS Card Reference). SKE36771.

<5> A Hist. of Swanscombe Pub in "Eng. Topo. Tracts" 1875 (J A Sparvel-Bayly) (OS Card Reference). SKE32818.

<6> F1 CFW 23-JUL-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42729.

<7> F2 ASP 14-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43112.

<8> DOE (HHR) Boro of Dartford, Kent, Mar 1982, 39. (OS Card Reference). SKE39840.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 36 - July, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3663.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 67 SW 36 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3664.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<12> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2009, Archaeological watching brief at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Swanscombe Street, Swanscombe, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE30731.

<13> Historic England, Archive material associated with St Paul's Church, Swanscombe, Listed Building (Archive). SKE53917.