England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Harrietsham St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Harrietsham lies in central Kent roughly 7 miles east of the county town of Maidstone. Harrietsham sits on the A20 road which links Maidstone with Ashford. Harrietsham is a village of two halves, a sizeable presence lies along the A20 and in modern developments either side, to the north wherein sits the parish church, and separated by the village's greatest asset it vast public field, sits a further concentration mostly on the southern side of Marley Road. The public field was formerly the location for an annual fair which featured "pedlery & toys" according to early gazetteers, nowadays it is a valuable asset for the population of what is quite a large village. Harrietsham sits below the escarpment of the North Downs and the parish included part of this higher chalk-underlain area, that area being primarily for grazing sheep whereas the area around the village was decidedly arable with small patches of hop bines. The ridge of the North Downs is, of course, home to the North Downs Way National Trail and the ancient Pilgrim Trail to Canterbury bringing a few overnight stays to Harrietsham. Modern developments have almost sliced the village into segments moving from north to south there is the standard railway line from London to Ashford granting Harrietsham a station, the high-speed international line from London to Paris and finally the M20 motorway also headed for the Channel ports from London, a very busy corridor indeed and one which has made Harrietsham popular as a commuting dormitory. Harrietsham is drained southeastwards by the infant River Stour which is renamed the Great Stour as it approaches Ashford where it meets its Little counterpart, turn northeast and heads through Canterbury and to the North Sea arriving at Pegwell Bay. Harrietsham is sited on gently rising ground from 80 metres above the sea at its southern edges to 120 metres at the northeastern corner, looming above is the chalk escarpment of the North Downs which tops out at 196 metres on Deen's Hill above the village. Harrietsham parish was fairly typically sized for its area covering just under 2,500 acres and supporting a population of around 650 parishioners. In Domesday times Harrietsham's 39 households were just sufficient to place it into the top 20% of settlements by population, it was held by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the assets recorded, however, do not confirm such an elevated status as there were only 4 ploughs, meadows & woodland but there were 2 mills.

The Church

St John's church sits in the northern part of the village on the northern side of Marley Road and facing the public field. Whilst St John has early origins it was heavily modified during the great church-building era of the Perpendicular, there are, however, elements remaining from those earlier times even though outwardly the church appears wholly late medieval. The lower stages of the small tower adjacent to the chancel which is something of a mystery showing tufa in its northeastern quoin which Pevsner believes indicates a possible Norman origin. The chancel alongside it has lancet windows and an impressive chancel arch all indicative of a 13th century origins in the Early English Gothic period. Completing the pre-Perpendicular fabric is the 2-bay chancel chapel which shows early 14th century Decorated style windows. The nave arcades of 3-bays are also from the same early 14th century period and Decorated in style. Most of the western end of the church, in particular those areas showing battlementation, are from the 15th century and Perpendicular, the 4-stage tower is documented as having been rebuilt in 1479 so is probably the final piece to that rebuild. Pevsner documents sparsely a Victorian restoration of 1849 without giving any details of the changes wrought. Marley Road is of sufficient width to allow considerate on street parking outside the churchyard, an open-canopied leads directly to the church, whilst there are trees within the churchyard the photographer will be grateful they are to mostly to the north leaving the better viewpoints available unencumbered.