St. Lawrence, Mereworth, Kent.

 

Mereworth (Pronounced “Merryworth”) is situated in Maidstone close to the Tonbridge and Malling boarder. The manor was inherited in the 18th century by John Fane who became the 7th Earl of Westmoreland. He moved the village 800m to the north west of its original location so it couldn’t be seen from his home at Mereworth Castle! He also demolished the existing church but did have a new church built in mid-1740s. The medieval church of St. Lawrence stood during the sign of Henry II and was built by the de Clares, a house of Anglo-Saxon noblemen. 

Built in a Neo-Palladian style it’s architect is unknown although Henry Flitcroft, James Gibbs and Roger Morris have been suggested. Brass and stone memorials from the medieval church have survived and some repairs to the structure were necessary after wartime bomb damage. 

Construction began in 1744 and took two years to complete. It was consecrated by Joseph Wilcocks, the Bishop of Rochester on 26 August 1746  coffins and memorials were moved from the old church to the new structure. Thomas Benge Burr stated that the church “will bear, and indeed richly deserves, the attentive inspection of the curious traveller” in his book “History of Tunbridge Wells” - a quote which is still true today since he wrote it in 1766. The spire was built in 1870, the bells were repaired in 1885 and the clock was installed in 1894. The clock was repaired and had a new face in 1970. 

The exterior of the church is made from blocks of Kentish ragstone with dressed ashlar Wealden sandstone used for the porch, columns, quoins and tower.

At the West End of the church in a recess you’ll find a memorial to one of two people. It is unconfirmed whether this is Sir Edward Nevill, 3rd Lord Bergavenny (died 1476) who married Elizabeth Beauchamp, the heiress of Mereworth and the Bergavenny and Despencee baronies, or, his son George, 4th Lord Bergavenny and de jure 10th Lord Le Despencer (died 1492). The reclining alabaster figure is shown in plate armour with his head resting on a coronet, helmet and the bull crest of the Nevills.  

This area though is dominated by the tomb of Sir Thomas Fane (died 1589) and his widow Mary, Lady Le Despencer (1626). Mary inherited Mereworth from her father Henry Nevill, 6th Lord Bergavenny and de jure 12th Lord Le Despencer. Their alabaster figures lie next to each other with their feet resting on their respective crests (stolen in 2011). There are traces of colour indicating they were once painted and guided. If you find a photograph pre-1996 you’ll see two gilt putti (winged infants playing the role of angelic spirits) hanging above holding a palm branch and a coronet but these were also stolen. 

My special interest in this church goes back 231 years and concerns Lucy Byng (neé Boyle 1744-1792). Lucy was the wife of George Byng - Viscount Torrington and daughter of John Boyle the Earl of Cork and Orrery. She is my 6th great-grand aunt on my mothers side and so far the only relative I’ve discovered with a memorial in a church. 

Here are some other photographs from inside the church…