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Goudhurst, St Mary
Travel Information and nearby accommodation
The eariest known church at Goudhurst was in 1117. The current St Mary's church is largely 13th century, enlarged in the 14th century. That is when an influx of weavers from Flanders arrived in the area. The tower rises to exactly 500 feet above sea level, and provides fabulous views for miles. As a result it was used as a lookout point during both World Wars.
The Culpepper Memorial
The church contains a wealth of fantastic funerary monuments, many of them to members of the Cuplpepper family. The most interesting monument by far is that of Sir Alexander Culpepper and his wife, which dates to 1537. This monumemt is a tabletop tomb, with painted wooden effigies of the deceased in beautifully detailed period costumes. The couple lie side by side. Sir Alexander is clad in a red and gold surcoat over armour. His head is bare. His wife is portrayed in a black dress with a red cloak over, and an ornate headress of the style familiar to anyone who has viewed Elizabethan portraits by Hans Holbein. The knight was known as 'Ould Sir Alexander'. His iron foundries at Bedgebury cast guns used against the Spanish Armada.
The Culpepper tomb is thought to be one of only 80 or so surviving wooden effigy tombs in the country; certainly it is one of the most colourfully painted, and is beautifully preserved. The memorial is raised up, but some kind soul has thought of visitors and provided a small step-stool so that you can climb a few steps up and get a very good vantage point to investigate the effigies.
Carved into the window jamb immediately above the Culpepper tomb is a small scene depicting kneeling members of the family with a likeness of St George slaying his dragon, and a Virgin and Child. This carving has been dated to 1537.
Other members of the Culpepper family are remembered with memorials in the Lady Cchapel, sometimes called the Bedgebury Chapel. Here you can see the oldest memorial in the church; the brass of of John Bedgebury (d. 1424), who may have fought at the Battle of Agincourt. Bedgebury is one of the oldest manors in England, with a grant dated 815 AD. After John's death the manor of Bedgebury passed to the Culpepper family.
The first Culpepper of Bedgebury was Sir John, whose brass memorial, dated 1480, is beside the altar. He is shown wearing armour of the plate and mail type.
Sir John's memorial is overshadowed by a quite wonderful alabaster Tudor monument to the Culpeppers. Four generations of the family are commemorated in this lovely memorial, carved in 1599. I a top niche is Sir Thomas Culpepper, Sheriff under Edward VI. Beneath Sir Thomas is his son Alexander with Mary, his wife. Sir Alexander Culpepper was an influential nobleman who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. The queen is known to have visited him at Bedgebury. Beneath Sir Alexander is a likeness of his son Anthony, with his wife Ann, who was the daughter of the Mayor of London. At the bottom of the memorial are carvings of their sixteen children. kneeling in suitably reverential attitudes of prayer.
On the south wall of the sanctuary is another memorial, an Italian marble one of William Campion (d. 1665). In 1722 the Campion family donated the candelabra that still hangs in the nave.
In the north aisle is the so-called Bread Tomb, a ledger slab commemorating gifts of endowments providing food for the parish poor.
The Hawkhurst Gang
In 1747 Goudhurst church was the scene of high drama. This was the era when powerful gangs of smugglers held sway throughout much of Kent. The most notorious gang of smugglers was the Hawkhurst Gang, who exercised a reign of terror over the surrounding area. The leader of the smugglers was a native of Goudhurst named George Kingsmill. Another Goudhurst man by the name of William Sturt formed a local militia to combat the smugglers. Kingsmill vowed to rout the militia and sent a defiant message that he was coming to deal with Sturt's men. Sturt sent all the women and children into hiding and deployed his men about the church, using the tower as a lookout. In a fierce battle the smugglers were defeated and Kingsmill shot and killed. Three members of the gang were caught and locked in the vestry for safekkeping.The lovely old Star and Eagle pub beside the church was also a scene of fighting in the struggle, which signalled the end of the Hawkhurst Gang's power.
Taken as a whole, the church of St Mary is a gem, set in a lovely and historic town that well repays a visit.
Back Lane,
Goudhurst,
Kent,
England
About Goudhurst, St Mary
Attraction Type: Church
Location: On the A282. The easiest parking is probably along Back Lane, behind the church.
Location
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Goudhurst, St Mary Photos
OS TQ722377
Heritage Highlight: The wonderful 16th century painted wooden effigies of Sir Alexander Culpepper and his wife are rare in England.
Heritage Rating:  ?
Photos of Goudhurst, St Mary
South front |
The east end |
Alexander Culpepper Memorial |
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Nearest Accommodation to Goudhurst, St Mary
Nearest Self Catering Cottages |
 The Lodge -
11.7
miles from Goudhurst, St Mary
Dallington, East Sussex
Sleeps: 3
Stay from: £300 |
 The Stable -
18.7
miles from Goudhurst, St Mary
Hailsham, East Sussex
Sleeps: 2
Stay from: £190 |
 Seaview Cottage -
19.5
miles from Goudhurst, St Mary
Normans Bay, East Sussex
Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £320 |
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Nearest Tourist
Information Centre
Cranbrook
Tourist Information Centre
Vestry Hall
Stone Street
Cranbrook
Kent
England
TN17 3ED
Tel: 01580 712538
Fax: 01580 712538
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