St George
Ivychurch, Kent
Long, low and with a battlemented and buttressed tower, St George's is built on a grand scale, and was perhaps always larger than its rural agricultural population ever actually needed.
The little town never recovered, and the deluge of material explains why the west door of St Nicholas' church is far below present day ground level. The storm may have badly damaged the east end, which was rebuilt later in the early 14th century.
The church as it is today still has its large tower, with very clearly Norman lower stages. The upper stages are later, as they have the slightly pointed arches, and mark the transition from the Norman style to Early English.
When the east end of the church was rebuilt in the 14th century its elements of chancel and two flanking chapels were built to have a harmonious facade, each of the three parts having windows in the Reticulated style with flowing tracery.
There are wonderful architectural details inside, much of it saved in 1880 by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings which persuaded the Vicar to stop the 'restoration' that he had begun. It was the society's first notable campaign.
