The small village of Badlesmere, situated in the land between the North Downs and the north Kent marshes, was once a hub of thriving community, with country estates and agriculture. It is said to have given its name to the powerful Badlesmere family who experienced great political upheaval in the reign of Edward II which led to their downfall. In the early 14th century, they would have attended the tiny church of St Leonard which now stands as an unusual hybrid of medieval woodwork, box pews from the time of Jane Austen, and stained glass from the present time. The exterior of the church has been coated in concrete, making it appear somewhat unsightly; however, the interior is delightful and clearly an ancient building. The recesses in the east wall of the church display the location of the original windows which have now been replaced, and above, a sturdy roof is supported by large king posts. The most significant furnishings in the church are the medieval bench ends in the chancel. One of these elaborate carvings shows the frequent representation of the Trinity by a triangle. Two of the west windows contain modern stained glass by Frederick W. Cole, depicting the figures of St Francis of Assisi and The Sower. The only other elements of the church are the nave and chancel, but the care with which it is maintained demonstrates a clear passion for the building which offers a glimpse into the past that is otherwise lost as the surrounding areas become increasingly covered in concrete.
Badlesmere is in the same region as the parish of Leveland and is found to the east. It is lightly populated and situated opposite to the high road from Faversham to Ashford. The parish is predominantly located on high ground with fairly good and level soil, however, its eastern side is characterised by rough, hilly chalky terrain that is covered in flint and has a great deal of woodland. Badlesmere is approximately six miles from Faversham and close to Basmerecourt or the court-lodge. Within one field’s distance south-east of the church, it is still possible to see the foundations of the old seat of the Badlesmeres by the different colours of corn, indicating a large and noble mansion with a large pond known as the Cellar Pond. This is where the cellars of the old seat were located. On the south-west end of the parish lies Basmere-Lees, which the Ashford Road passes through, and in surrounding it are many houses, one of which is the parsonage. Badlesmere-lees hosts a yearly fair on the 17thof November, which was previously held on St Leonard’s Day.
Badlesmere was once the property of Odo, Bishop of Baieux, half-brother to William the Conqueror, and identified as such in the survey of Domesday which dates back 15 years after William’s reign. Guncelin de Badlesmere, accompanied King Richard I to the siege of Acon, in Palestine. Guncelin de Badlesmere held the manor in Rupert’s reign, and his brother Giles de Badlesmere was a justice itinerant, who was killed in a conflict with the king during the baronial wars. Eventually, the family’s power came to an end when they fell into political intrigue in the reign of Edward II. Bartolomew de Badlesmere was summoned through writ to parliament in the third year of King Edward II. among the barons of the realm with the title of Bartholomew de Badlesmere, of Badlesmere, chevallier. This title was held by his son Giles, and after his death, the sisters and co-heirs of Giles held the title. The title reverted back to the crown after their descendants were not allowed to hold it due to the title being indivisible.
In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Randolph, an eminent statesman in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was born in Badlesmere, in the southeast of Kent, and was much favoured and distinguished by the Queen as he was employed on no less than eighteen different embassies. He died in 1590 and was buried in St. Peter’s Church, Paul’s Wharf, in London leaving behind a numerous issue by one of his wives, a sister of Sir Francis Walsingham.
Despite its small size and remote location, Badlesmere has a rich and interesting history, and the church of St Leonard is a testament to that history, providing a glimpse into a past worth remembering.