Bredhurst / Breadhurst

A 1802 drawing of a font in Breadhurst [sic] by Thomas Fisher is entered in the Catalogue of Drawings & Museum Objects of the Society of Antiquaries of London [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/SoA_images/detail.cfm?object=1342&CFID=572257&CFTOKEN=80284650] [accessed 13 January 2008], but at the foot of the object the caption reads: "font not antient" [sic], thus indicating that it is contemporary with the original fabric of the church. The Parish web site [http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/bredhurstchurch/history.htm] [accessed 13 January 2008] illustrates the later font and a recovered holy-water stoup now remounted on the wall to the West of the main door, and claimed to be from the original ca. 1400 church. The stoup is polygonal on the outside with a round inner well. Hastead's Survey of Kent (vol. 5, 1798) [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=62937] [accessed 13 January 2008] notes about this church: "The church, which is dedicated to St. Peter, is a small mean building, consisting of one isle and one chancel, having a low pointed steeple at the west end of it, in which hang two bells; adjoining to it on the south side there is a small chapel, now shut out from the church, on the pavement of which are two gravestones, which have been long since robbed of their brasses, and are said to have been placed in memory of the Kemsleys, of Kemsley-street before mentioned, the whole of it is now in a ruinous state, without door or windows, and the pavement of it, which is much sunk, is falling into the vault underneath, and covered with filth and nastiness. This church of Bredhurst was antiently esteemed as a chapel annexed to the church of Hollingborne, the rector of which is patron of it. It is of the clear yearly certified value of 37l. 17s. 6d. and is a discharged living in the king's books.
In 1640 it was valued at fifty pounds."