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Sandhurst probably means simply a place, mostly wooded, in sandy ground. The parish comprises 1,790 hectares and is about 6.5km East-West and 5km north-south. It adjoins East Sussex – and the diocese of Chichester – along its southern border, separated by the Kent Ditch.
The earliest mention of Sandhurst is in 791 when land here was given by Offa, king of Mercia, to Christ Church in Canterbury1.
It occupies a low ridge between what, possibly as late as the Norman Conquest, were estuaries covered with sea water at least at high tide. The ridge ends at Newenden and recent floods have shown what the land and sea must have looked like centuries ago.
The highest point in the parish (>80m above sea level) is the hill on which Downgate is built and St Nicholas Church itself is built on another high point with commanding views in every direction. The south east of the parish is no more than 2m above sea level.
The church (at Sandhurst Cross) has become widely separated from the present village. There are two possible theories why this happened: i) it was thought that many plague victims were buried in the churchyard which caused the inhabitants to seek a healthier site. However recent excavations yielded no evidence either way for this theory ii) Alternatively, the growing importance of the London to Rye road through the village suggests that more mundane commercial considerations were at work. Equally important is the other principal road between Maidstone and Hastings which is the modern realignment of the Roman road between Rochester and Hastings.
“ A medieval landscape of wooded, rolling hills studded with sandstone outcrops; small, irregular-shaped fields; scattered farmsteads; and ancient routeways.”
Does that sound like Sandhurst? That’s how The AONB team describe the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty2. That’s Sandhurst.
You have maybe ended up on this website looking for information about St. Nicholas, the Sandhurst Parish Church so please take your time to look around the information we have included.
If you are looking to visit the area, then please can we welcome you to the Church. Take time to look around our beautiful 14th century Church with its magnificent tower. Take time to look inside and admire the medieval stained glass. Then please take time to wander around the church yard, standing to admire the views of the surrounding area.
Can we tempt you to further explore the area? Follow the link on the left for some local attractions
| Our English Heritage |
Are you one of those people who care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s architectural heritage? Do you love Church Buildings? If you’d like to know more about some of the beautiful and historic churches in Kent and further afield, please follow the heritage link on the left.
