[TR 24255745] Site of College [NR] (A.D.1282) (1)

The College of St. Mary, Wingham, was founded in 1287 and suppressed in 1547 (b). (The foundation date is locally given as 1286). The site and possessions of the college were granted to Henry Palmer in 1553. Four 15th/16th c. houses standing on the S. side of the road opposite the Collegiate Church of St. Mary (TR 25 NW 16) are traditionally regarded as Canon's houses. Two are now public houses, one is a private residence. (See GP/AO/64/122/6) and one is in course of conversion into a shop. They stand from TR 24245740 to TR 24315739. The 18th c. vicarage at TR 24265735 is said to occupy the site of two more Canon's houses. The Provosts' Lodge lay to the E. of the church and the site is now occupied by a house of Regency date at TR 24245744. A 15th c. building at TR 24255730 is School Lane, formerly Canons Lane, is traditionally spoken of as the College Infirmary. It is now the private residence of Mr. Milnes, a builder, and was the Workhouse in the 19th c. All the above buildings are in good to excellent condition. Wingham Court, opposite the church, is the Hall of the Archbishop's Manor. (see TR 25 NW 209). (2)

St Mary's College, Wingham. Projected in 1273 by Archbishop Robert, and the founding was completed in 1287 by Archbishop John Pecham, for a provost and 6 prebendaries, with 8 vicars-choral, reduced to 4 in 1511 when a chaplain and a vicar who were monks `of Boxley and Evesham' were ordered to cease wearing the monastic habit. In 1535 Richard Berger, a canon, was accused of upholding the cause of the pope, and in that year the college had a provost, 6 canons and 7 priests. Net income as in 1546. (3)

<1> OS 25" 1956 (OS Card Reference). SKE48271.

<2> VCH Kent 2 1926 233-5 (OS Card Reference). SKE50971.

<3> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1953 345 (Knowles and Hadcock) (OS Card Reference). SKE46792.

<4> Hist of Kent 9 1800 Map of Wingham 200 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44005.

<5> Domestic Architecture in Eng Pt 1 1859 127 (Anon) (OS Card Reference). SKE41485.

<6> Ibid Pt II 1859 308 (OS Card Reference). SKE44195.

<7> Church Notices, St Mary's Church Wingham (OS Card Reference). SKE38966.

<8> Inf Mrs Radcliffe "Old Canonry" Wingham (OS Card Reference). SKE44361.

<9> F1 ASP 20.07.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42199.

<10> `Notitia Monastica' 1787 Kent LXIV (Naismith) (OS Card Reference). SKE32725.

<11> Med Rel Houses Eng and Wales 1971 419 444 (D Knowles and R Neville Hadcock) Additional bibliography (OS Card Reference). SKE46800.

<12> Field report for monument TR 25 NW 15 - July, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5737.