Listed Building record TQ 75 NE 18 - St Andrew's chapel, Boxley

[TQ 75735864]. St. Andrews's Chapel (NR) (Now a dwelling house). (1) The chapel of St. Andrew is situated on the left side of the Sandling to Boxley Abbey road. There is a reference to the chapel in 1490. (2) The shell of the 15th c. fabric of St. Andrew's Chapel comprising chapel and two living rooms stands near the outer gate of Boxley Abbey. It is now used as a cottage. (3) Add. ref. (4) St. Andrew's Chapel, a 15th c. stone structure, with a two-storey wing, half-timbered with brick-filling upon a stone plinth, at the south-east corner. Modern tile roofs, original windows and doorways. A timber and brick addition, now the local Post Office, at the north west corner is a modern addition. Structure in good condition. Published A.M. survey found to be correct. GP's AO/59/6/4 from south /5 from west. (5) Checked and correct. (6) St Andrew's Chapel, Grade II*. Chapel, with priests "lodging", attached to Boxley Abbey converted to dwelling late 16 c. or early 17 c., now house. Probably late 15 c. with late 16 c. or early 17 c. wing. (7)

Description from record TQ 75 NE 522:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TQ 75 NE BOXLEY BOARLEY LANE (east side) Sandling
5/57 St. Andrew's Chapel 20.10.52
G.V. II*
Chapel, with priests "lodging", attached to Boxley Abbey converted to dwelling late C16 or early C17, now house. Probably late C15, with late C16 or early C17 wing. Ragstone with plain tile roof. Wing timber framed with rendered and bricked walls. Chapel, with south aisle running from west end to adjoin a 2-storey "lodging" approx. twice the width of the aisle, joined and running parallel to the east end of the chapel on the south side. Single timber- framed bay same width as "lodging" added to east of it, beyond east end of chapel. Chapel: on moulded stone plinth which descends vertically to ground with broach stops on either side of doors. Aisle roofed as lean-to, with C19 studded half gable at east end, abutting "lodgings". Central brick stack with corniced top. West elevation has large rectangular window with plain chamfered surround containing C19 4-light ovolo-moulded wood mullion window. Below, one small square window either side of door. South elevation has rectangular window with hollow-chamfered stone jambs and cill and head formed from wall-plate of half-gable, contining 2-light ovolo moulded wood mullion window. East window blocked with C19 red bricks, with C19 3-light ovolo-moulded wood mullion window in chamfered brick architrave in upper section and 2-light wood casement with segmental brick head below. North elevation has very small rectangular single light towards east end with plain chamfered stone surround morticed for iron bars. 3 large putlock holes in line at first floor level. 3 external doors; one to east of centre in north and south elevations with 2-centred arched heads and hollow chamfered stone jambs on moulded bases, and one in centre of west elevation, wider with plain chamfered stone jambs and head. "Lodgings": integral with chapel, plinth of which continues round it. First floor on south elevation jettied out a few inches on concave stone lintel. Roofed parallel to chapel, with bridging ridge at right-angles between them. 3 small rectangular stone windows with chamfered surrounds, one towards apex of west gable, one with iron bars towards south end of west gable on first floor and one in the centre of the first floor to the south elevation. No external door. Wing: 2 storeys on plinth, roof hipped to north and south. Projecting red brick stack on east elevation. South elevation underbuilt in stone with 3-light square- headed Perpendicular stone window with hollow chamfers, hollow spandrels and plain hood mould, said to have come from west end of chapel. No external door. Interior: Door between chapel and "lodging" at east end of south wall of chapel, narrow, with arched stone architrave with hollow chamfer and broach stops. Hagioscope in wall to west of it. Chapel roof ceiled at collar level; rafters of uniform scantling with collars, sous-laces, ashlar pieces andmoulded cornice: Moulded tie-beam to east of centre. Listing NGR: TQ7549058236 (10)

Archive material (11)

During an evaluation carried out at the site in 2019, several test pits exposed the foundations of the Chapel which comprised well-built coursed masonry, composed of stone which had a similar appearance to that which the rest of the structure is built from. The foundations were likely constructed within a wide cut or trench and supported wall courses of ashlar masonry above. Three late medieval pottery sherds were identified in association with the foundations, and subsoil covering some of the lower wall courses dated from the late post-medieval period, providing a rough date for the cutting of the construction trenches and indicating that the lower wall courses remained visible above ground surface for around 200 years after construction. Dendrochronological analysis dated the construction of the chapel to around of 1484-5 AD.

During the excavations, areas of stone rubble were identified beneath some of the walls of the building. This has been interpreted by the authors of the report (12) as possible evidence for the foundations of another monastic period building, however, further investigation is recommended (12) to establish the relationship between these features and other structures at the site.

Analysis of the standing building recorded the original position of the east window at the east end of the structure. Furthermore, both excavation and standing building analysis of the south aisle and west end of the chapel revealed that these sections were contemporary with one another, as is the priest’s lodging to the south of the chapel. The south aisle and west end of the chapel are thought (12) to likely post-date the dissolution of the monasteries. Several features mark these areas out as having been constructed later than the medieval chapel, including reduced wall width and changes in the character of the roof. Excavation also revealed that the walls of the south aisle and west end were bonded below the ground surface and in one area had an offset plinth at their base.

Analysis of the interior of the chapel also indicated that there was likely originally a beam which marked out the west end of the chapel proper, and that timber framed bays were added to the southeast of the structure, which post-date the construction of the chapel. An unusual stratigraphic relationship was observed in the timber framing and brickwork of the south east corner of the chapel which the author of the report states requires further investigation (12).

Studies of historic mapping suggest that outbuildings were present at the site from the mid-19th century. Possible evidence for a wall was identified to the north of the chapel, however, it is unclear whether this represented a standing structure or a garden feature. (12)

<1> OS 6" 1936-47 (OS Card Reference). SKE48342.

<2> Arch Cant 29 1911 222 (Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE34941.

<3> Arch Cant 15 1883 xli (F R Surtees) (OS Card Reference). SKE34744.

<4> Maidstone 1834 62 (S C Lampreys) (OS Card Reference). SKE46265.

<5> F1 ASP 14.05.59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42089.

<6> F2 ASP 24.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43157.

<7> DOE (HHR) Boro of Maidstone Boxley Kent 20.7.84 32 (OS Card Reference). SKE39851.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 75 NE 17 - May, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3787.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 75 NE 17 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3788.

<10> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<11> Historic England, Archive material associated with St. Andrew's Chapel, Boxley, Listed building (Archive). SKE53952.

<12> Keevill Heritage Ltd, 2019, St Andrew’s Chapel, Boxley, Kent, A report on recent archaeological investigations (Unpublished document). SKE58166.