England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Goodnestone by Faversham St Bartholomew

The Parish

The parish of Goodnestone, the suffix is needed to distinguish this parish from the other Goodnestone near Wingham, lies in northern Kent not too far from its northern coastline with the outer Swale Estuary Goodnestone is located roughly 2 miles east of the brewing town of Faversham and stands a half mile northwest of the A299 road which links Faversham through to Ramsgate. Goodnestone is a small settlement with most properties lining a lane which heads north from the A299 towards the coast or along the lane headed west from that to the former church. Goodnestone sits on the low flat coastal plain with much land devoted to pastoral farming, the whole area between Goodnestone and the Swale Estuary being low-lying and criss-crossed by man-made drainage channels, on drier land to the east there are a few orchards typical of the county. Modern developments have come to the parish, the railway line from Faversham to Whistable passing through the parish without granting a station. Goodnestone is drained by the myriad of small channel either to Faversham Creek or directly to the Swale's estuary and the North Sea. Much of Goodnestone parish lies below 10 metres above the sea, a few spots by the A299 almost reach the 30 metre contour whilst further east 100 metres is not uncommon in the vast area of woodland near Dunkirk. Goodnestone parish was one of the smallest in its county covering just 334 acres which would have barely supported 50 parishioners. Goodnestone is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Bartholomew's church was declared redundant in the mid-1990s and from 1997 has been managed by the Churches Conservation Trust, it sits in fields west of the main lane through the small village. Like many small churches St Bartholomew has fabric dating back to the earliest times still in situ, first built in the early Norman period in the 12th century, 2 windows are retained showing the characteristics of those early times. Through the centuries there has been steady modification, in the 13th century the southern doorway was created in the Early English Gothic style, it is now blocked, the 14th century saw the chancel arch modified and the piscina and sedilia added, in the Perpendicular era many windows were replaced. In more modern times the northern porch was rebuilt following an earth tremor displacing the original and a general restoration of 1876 is recorded. The western bellcote owes its appearance to a 1922 remodelling and the Trust made good the premises in 1997 following their acquisition. Goodnestone Lane leads to the site and is narrow but after a few yards a very broad farm entrance opens out allowing considerate parking without blocking activities. The former church sits within a compact churchyard sharing it with 3 large trees east, southeast and southwest of it which impact angles and leave only the less favoured angles for the photographer.