England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Thurnham St Mary the Virgin

The Parish

The parish of Thurnham sits almost centrally within Kent about 3 miles northeast of the town of Maidstone. Thurnham sits just under a mile east of the A249 road which links Maidstone through to the Isle of Sheppey. Thurnham is a small and compact crossroads village sitting on the spring-line at the base of the North Downs, the village, itself, is only a small portion of the extent of the parish which also included large areas on top of the Downs and also toward Maidstone & Bearsted within the greensand and Wealden areas. High on the edge of the Downs above is the 12th century Norman Castle, or rather the remains thereof, clearance of trees in 1999 revealed the extent of this strategic fortress with its commanding views across to the south. The economy of Thurnham parish would have been based upon farming, the poor soils of the chalk Downs being dominated by sheep whilst the richer soils lower down were typical of the "Garden of England" for which Kent is known growing a wide range of crops as well as the fruit & hops which are traditional. In early times a seam of white sand within the greensand belt was used in glass production for which the area was at one time known. Modern developments have come to Thurnham, the modern M20 motorway hurrying traffic to the Channel ports and tunnel passes through the south of the parish, more gently the North Downs Way National Trail, part of the ancient Pilgrim's Way, follows the crest of the North Downs high above the village bringing a few overnight stays. Small streams drain the parish southwards to form part of the River Len which joins the Medway on Maidstone to turn back north and reach the outer Thames Estuary through the port of Chatham. Thurnham is sited at around 110 metres above the sea with the steep escarpment of the North Downs rising northward to a local height of almost 200 metres within the nearby Country-park. Thurnham parish was extensive, one of the larger in its area of the county, covering almost 3,200 acres it would have supported a population of around 550 parishioners. In Domesday times Thurnham was a holding of the ubiquitous Bishop Odo of Bayeux, a typical rural holding offering just 5 ploughs, the usual meadows & woodland but did possess a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church sits west of Thurnham Lane, the lane connecting the village with Bearsted to its south, it is accessible by an enclosed footpath behind fronting properties. The church has its origins in the same time period as the castle on the hill above, namely the 12th century of the Norman Romanesque period, these origins are somewhat masked, however, by rebuilding in the 14th century but leave a blocked window on the church's northern wall. A lancet style window of similar pedigree also testifies to these early origins. The latest addition from the medieval period is the northern chapel, documentary evidence dates this to the early 17th century with 1603 being mentioned in will bequests.The whole of the eastern wall together with both western and eastern ends is the result of the extensive rebuilding from the 14th century as is the rather blocky western tower, despite its increased height from a top-stage added in 1850. Besides this 1850 work, the church has a few other Victorian and later restorations, the eastern window of 1861, the remaining fenestration in 1878 and the roofing in 1911. Parking is possible in Thurnham Lane from where a small sign points the way to the church along an enclosed path to the north of prominent white gates to a farm. The churchyard has a number of trees, particularly closely clustering at the eastern end which do somewhat interfere with the angles available to the photographer.