Inventory Site Record

St John the Baptist Church, West Wickham, is a medieval church probably extended or partially rebuilt at the behest of Sir Henry Heydon (d.1504), who purchased the manor in 1469, building Wickham Court as his house. The churchyard has tombs set among grass with a number of trees, and a path leads to the church from the restored C15th lych-gate at the entrance.

Previous / Other name:

West Wickham Parish Church

Site location:

off Layham's Road, West Wickham

Postcode:

BR4 9HW

Type of site:

Churchyard

Borough:

Bromley

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Hayes then walk. Bus: 138

Citymapper

The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/03/2012
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Leland refers to Sir Henry's building of 'a right fair Manor Place, and a fair Chirche' although there are C14th arches to the chapel. The ragstone rubble north chapel has stained glass windows with the Heydon Arms. The church has its late C15th windows throughout but has been much restored; in the mid-C19th the nave, north aisle and south-west tower were rebuilt in flint by Whichcord & Whichcord and the north chapel was remodelled in 1961. The lych-gate has a hipped tile roof, supported by vertical and cross struts, a pair of wooden five bar gates. Kent Archaeological Society has a transcription of memorial inscriptions from the churchyard taken on 1 August 1891 by Leland L Duncan, transcribed by Frank Bamping 5 March 2001.

Sources consulted:

B Cherry & N Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London 2: South' (1983 reprint 1999) p195

Grid ref:

TQ389648 (538893,164827)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

Church

Site management:

Church

Date(s):

C14th onwards

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Lych-gate

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

Yes

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Area of Archaeological Significance

Other LA designation:

None