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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.

Posted by Jelltex on 2018-06-05 05:08:27

Badlesmere is a small parish located in Kent, England. It was once a hub of thriving communities and was named after the Badlesmere family who rose to power in the early 14th century, but their fall was just as quick as their rise. Today, the village is home to the St. Leonard’s Church, which has a unique blend of medieval woodwork, box pews from the time of Jane Austen, and stained glass of the present time.

The church is a delight for anyone who appreciates ancient architecture. The church’s exterior may look modern and uninviting, but its interior retains its ancient heritage. The church has a long history, and its structure and furnishings are a testament to the community’s strong passion for preserving their heritage.

The area surrounding Badlesmere was once wealthy from agriculture and country estates. Badlesmere was known for its large and noble mansion, which was evident from the traces of its foundation found in one of the fields. The church was also located at a field’s distance from the road, and its proximity to the former mansion gave it a unique sense of belongingness.

Apart from St. Leonard’s Church, there is not much to see in the parish. The land in the eastern part of the parish is hilly and chalky, with poor soil covered in flints and rough woodland. Still, the parish holds a fair on St. Leonard’s day annually.

The history of Badlesmere can be traced back to the Domesday Book era. Odo, bishop of Baieux, owned the land which was then called Badelesmere. At that time, it was taxed at one suling, and the arable land was two carucates and a half. In the time of Edward the Confessor, it was worth sixty shillings, but its worth rose to four pounds in the survey of Domesday.

The manor of Badlesmere was granted to Hamo de Crevequer by King William I, who included it in his Crevequer Barony. The Badlesmere family, who took their surname from the manor, held it under the Crevequer Barony’s tenure, and the manor passed down to the famous Guncelin de Badlesmere in the 12th century.

Guncelin de Badlesmere accompanied King Richard I to the siege of Acon, in Palestine, along with his brother Ralph. The family also held positions of power in the region. Guncelin and his brother Giles de Badlesmere were both justices itinerant, which was a high honor in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The Badlesmere family’s fortunes rose during the reign of King Edward II, but they fell from grace due to political intrigues. The family eventually lost their estates and holdings, including the Badlesmere manor.

Today, the St. Leonard’s Church is the only testament to the Badlesmere family’s historical importance. The church’s medieval bench ends are among the most notable furnishings, and the carving of the Trinity is frequently illustrated in the end of the chancel.

The church also has a fine Royal Arms of George I and a hatchment dedicated to the First Earl Sondes. The two west windows were created by Frederick W. Cole and depict St. Francis of Assisi and The Sower. The church consists of just a nave and chancel, and it retains its ancient heritage, proving to be a valuable addition to the region’s historical significance.

Posted by Jelltex on 2018-06-10 06:47:53

The church of St. Leonard in Badlesmere, located in the north Kent corridor, is a beautiful ancient building that reflects the area’s rich agriculture history. The Badlesmere family, after whom the parish is named, reached the peak of their power in the early 14th century, but their fall was just as quick. The family likely knew St. Leonard’s church, which is now an unusual mix of medieval woodwork, box pews from the time of Jane Austen, and present-day stained glass. The church’s furnishings include several medieval bench ends in the chancel, the most important of which portrays the Trinity. The two west windows, created by Frederick W. Cole, depict St. Francis of Assisi and The Sower. The church has a simple design, with just a nave and chancel, but is meticulously maintained and is a symbol of the area’s ties to its ancestors.

Badlesmere is a parish situated about six miles from Faversham and lies on the opposite side of the high road from Faversham to Ashford. It is not very frequented and has hardly any thoroughfare, with much of the eastern side of the parish covered in woodland and flint. Badlesmere Court Lodge is located near the high road, and St. Leonard’s church is almost adjoining to it northward. The foundations of the ancient seat of the Badlesmeres, a large and noble mansion, can be easily traced out in the next field southeast of the church, with a large pond called the Cellar pond likely serving as the place where the cellars of this seat once stood. At the south-west extremity of the parish is Basmere-lees, which has several houses around it, with one parsonage in this parish and the rest in those of Leveland and Sheldwich.

Sir Thomas Randolph, an eminent statesman in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, was born in Badlesmere in 1523 and was much favored and distinguished by the queen, being employed in no less than eighteen different embassies. Bartholomew de Badlesmere was by writ summoned to parliament in the 3rd year of King Edward II. Among the barons of this realm, by the title of Bartholomew de Badlesmere, of Badlesmere, chevalier. The barony of Badlesmere descended to the three sisters of Earl John last mentioned, who became incapable of it otherwise than by gift from the crown. Although the crown seemingly dispensed with this, after the death of Henry, Earl of Oxford, and Baron of Badlesmere in 1625, there arose a dispute concerning these titles which was determined by parliamentary adjudication in 1626. It was decided that the earldom belonged to the heir male of the Vere’s, and that the barony of Badlesmere was wholly vested in the king to dispose of at his pleasure, which judgment the king approved of.

This place was part of the possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, the king’s half-brother during the reign of William the Conqueror. The manor of Badlesmere was granted by the king to Hamo de Crevequer and together with other lands made up the barony of Crevequer, being held of the king in capite by barony, as of his castle of Dover, for the defense of which he was bound by his tenure. Of his heirs, this manor was held by the Badlesmere family, who took their surname from their possessing it. Guncelin de Badlesmere, with his brother Ralph, accompanied King Richard I to the siege of Acon in Palestine. Guncelin de Badlesmere held this manor in the reign of King John and was a justice itinerant, as was his brother Giles de Badlesmere, who was slain in a conflict with the…

Posted by Jelltex on 2018-06-10 06:47:56