Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
Leave your email address to receive Kent Past Times free every month
Sundridge comes from the Old English words ‘sundor’ meaning ‘asunder, apart, detached alluding to land’ with ‘ersc’ as a ‘ploughed field’; therefore, ‘detached arable land’. The Domesday Book records Sundridge as Sondresse and the Textus Roffensis as Sundersce.
Sundridge parish church is a Grade: I listed building, dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin. The church dates to the 12th century and replaced a Saxon chapel. Probably due to the church’s position on the pilgrimage route to Canterbury extensive rebuilding became necessary in the 13th century with the addition of the north and south aisles, chapels and extension to the chancel. The parishioners made more renovations in the 15th century by heightening the aisles, tower and remodelling the chancel. There is a record of five bells being present in 1737 when Samuel Knight added a tenor, although Edward Hasted makes no mention of them in his topographical survey of 1797. In 1882, T E C Streatfield carried out repairs and reconstruction following a fire. Mears and Stainbank recast the Sanctus bell in 1937…. More
History of Sundridge