St Michael's Church, East Peckham

2013-06-26

Set romantically on a hilltop with glorious views

When the village moved down nearer to the river, St Michael’s was left romantically sited on a hilltop among beeches, with glorious views over the Medway valley to the Weald.

Originally Norman, the church seems to have expanded to its present size around 1300; the piers and arches are clearly 14th-century, the windows and south porch mainly 15th-century, and the shingled spirelet has an attractive weathervane dating from 1704.

Inside there are fragments of ancient glass, a Royal Arms of George II and two centuries of memorials dedicated to the Twysden family.

The churchyard has has some lovely 18th-century headstones.