Copyright Kent Past 2010
Kent Past
The History of Kent
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History of Thurnham
Thurnham comes from the Old English words ‘born’ meaning a ‘Hawthorn-
Thurnham parish church is a Grade: I listed building, dedicated to Saint Mary the
Virgin. The Saxons built the first chapel in wood, which, in the 12th century, the
Normans rebuilt in stone. They built a two stage tower in the 14th century. In 1586,
Lawrence Wright cast and hung a bell making three. In 1798, Edward Hasted described
the Thurnham church as being a ‘small building, consisting of one isle and two chancels,
having a low pointed steeple at the west end, in which hang three bells’. In 2000,
they installed a kitchen and bathroom at the base of the tower, without regard to
ringing the bells. All ringing had to stop until reopening of the bells.