Church’s collapse remains a mystery

There are many stories to be had concerning the ruin of Eastwell Church near the Eastwell estate and many have speculated over the cause over the years.

It’s been some 68 years since the nave and large parts of the church collapsed, leaving predominantly the Norman tower standing.

It was in the post-war year of 1951 when it all went wrong for the beautiful church, which is set in peaceful and tranquil surroundings.

Up until the disastrous collapse, Eastwell Church had its own congregation, and like any operational church, even held wedding ceremonies, though it is reputed that congregation numbers dwindled due to its remoteness.

The fate of Eastwell Church was heavily documented by the late Phillip Dormer, who even featured the church’s demise in his splendid book Eastwell Park Historiette, which was published some years back.

It features many interesting facts about the church and the nearby Eastwell estate including its houses – one of which is now owned and operated as a Champneys Hotel and Spa.

There were two suggestions as to the cause of the church’s collapse.

The first was that water ingression from the nearby lake could possibly have weakened the chalk foundations of the church, thus bringing the nave crashing down.

The other notable story suggests that the foundations of the church were weakened by the fact that the vicinity of the church was regularly used as a training ground for the Ministry of Defence.

Perhaps this was another reason why congregation numbers dwindled.

Whatever the cause, the church was never rebuilt and the parishes of Eastwell and Boughton Aluph were amalgamated.

Today, the tower and little more remains of the church built from Kentish ragstone.

The remains and the sacred ground of Eastwell have been tended to by the Friends of Friendless Churches since about 1980, and, in recent years, the previously blocked entrance to what was originally the nave (from the tower) was unblocked, thus giving visitors a view into the tower and remaining interior features.

This week’s Remember

When features pictures of Eastwell Church and the nearby possible cause of the collapse, Eastwell Lake.

■ Do you have any photographs or slides of old Ashford you would be willing to loan me to enable them to be scanned for possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, feel free to get in touch.

The nearby Eastwell Lake - one of the possible causes of the church’s collapse in 1951. The church lies very close to the water’s edge

A very rare view illustrating the church of St Mary’s Eastwell in 1947 - almost four years before the nave collapsed