NHER 6479 (Building record) - St Martin's Church, Overstrand

The original church washed away in 1399 and a new one was constructed near the original site shortly afterwards. Ruined by the 18th century. Rebuilt 1911 to 14 despite strong objection from Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Perpendicular tower with flushwork battlements and wafer oven, but windows still very Decorated in style. The original Perpendicular nave was aisleless; an aisle was added in 1911 leaving the original north door fossilised inside. North porch moved to south side. 19th century memorials. Plate is chalice, Norwich 1567, and paten. Rood turret remains. Piscinae in porch and south wall and in rood stair. Brass matrices.
In 1765 the chancel arch had been bricked up and a window inserted - the chancel presumably by then having already gone. From 1867 to about 1950 Christ Church, a semi-temporary building, stood in the same churchyard. During the period of ruination, Black Shuck lived in the church.

Above compiled from (S1), (S2), and Bolingbroke Collection. (S3) shows church a shell, but it is hard to make out the plan; if it is correct there was no south aisle then the nave was very short and chancel very narrow, for on south are shown a southwest angle buttress, the south door almost buried in the ground with a large pointed tympanum, then a buttress, a traceryless tall window, another similar buttress and window, then an angle buttress and what might be a narrow east window, but perhaps only the wall broken through. The stub of the chancel south wall has a window jamb, then there is a long gap to the isolated southeast corner of the chancel with another window jamb and a buttress.
Through the gap can be seen two windows without tracery in the north nave wall. The west bay only of the nave is roofed, at a lower level than a roof mark on the tower. The tower has west angle buttresses dying in at belfry level; featureless belfry windows, sound holes on the storey.

Reference (S5) (copy in file) quotes Anna Gurney in 1834 as referring to a new gallery and organ in the church. Where was this? Was it squeezed into the west bay of the nave? Listed (S6). Further press cutting (S7) and architect's plans (S8) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 4 January 1999.

Charles Buxton the anti-slavery campaigner was buried in the ruined chancel in 1845.