~ ST. MARY-DE-CASTRO ~
AN ANCIENT CHURCH
Built 618 demolished c. 1542
CANTERBURY
CCA-DCc-ChAnt/C/775-780 This section of charters relates to St Mary de Castro parish, Canterbury. DCc-Register/A, f399r contains 1 charter for St Mary de Castro. Other charters for St Mary de Castro are registered in the Canterbury divers places and St Mildred's sections of DCc-Register/A and DCc-Register/E. - Canterbury Cathedral Archives
Churchwarden of St Mary de Castro presented
for not enclosing the space in front of the parson's house where there
was a well dangerous to children in which three hogs were drowned -
Quarter Sessions 1502-3, CCA
1542. Three bells are sold to the parishioners of Nether Hardres, out of the church of St. Mary Castle. Hasted
"The Church of St. Mary Castle or De Castro, long fallen into nothingness, and the parish united with that of St. Mildred." Somner
"This church, says Somner, "stood much about the upper end of that lane leading from Castle street, which at this day we call the Back lane, but was thence anciently called St. John's lane. It being come into private hands is, and hath being of a long time, profaned into a malt house." Directory 1847 * this quote from the directory actually refers to St. John the Poor and NOT St. Mary de Castro
Used to stand near the Castle.
"But to return to the greater mound, and to the Dane John. In a portion of the latter was the "Black Dike," abutting almost on the precincts ot the Church of St. Mary de Castro."
St. Mary De Castro ... De Castro ("In the Castle")
The White Hart, built on what they believe was the site of the old St. Mary de Castro Church
"St. Mary's Church was erected A.D. 618 by Eadbald, son of Ethelbert, at the instance of Laurence, archbishop." "For notice of the existence of the church of St. Mary, A.D. 804, see the quotation from Somner in the Note on Liminge. "Twenty churches were antiently in this city and the suburbs thereof; seventeen whereof, viz. St. Alphage, St. Andrew, St. Mary Bredman, St. Mary Breeden, Holy Cross Westgate, St. George, St. Margaret, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Mary Northgate, St. Mildred, St. Peter, All Saints, St. Mary Castle, St. Edmund, St. John, St. Mary Queeningate, and St. Michael, were in the city. And the other three viz. St. Dunstan, St. Martin, and St. Paul, were in the suburbs. All which parishes are still in being, except St. Mary Castle, St. Edmund, St. John, St. Mary Queeningate, and St. Michael, which are demolished." (Kilburne, 301) Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey 1852
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard looking towards St. Mary's Street
The graveyard high-lighted in pink is St. Mary de Castro
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard looking towards Castle Row (showing gravestones in the background against the wall)
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard looking towards Castle street
Gravestones in St. Mary De Castro Churchyard
Center stone reads:
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
MARTHA ANNE BUTCHER
WHO DIED 20TH NOVEMBER 1833
AGED 21 YEARS
5 MONTHS
There is a Mary Ann Butcher aged 21 years who was buried 02 December 1833. She lived in Wincheap and her burial is recorded in St Mildred's parish (Thanks Tricia)
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard
Center Stone reads:
IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE SON OF
GEORGE _ LOM _ R *likely PLOMER
_ _ EE [AL]DER[MAN] OF THIS CITY
AND JANE HIS WIFE
HE D
*the tombstone on the left reads:
OF THE ABOVE
GEORGE AND JANE P _ OM _ _ *likely PLOMER
HE DIED JULY _ _ [1724]
AGED 69 YEARS
I. IK _ _ IS_ GEORGE _LOMER
HE DIED _ _ _ _ _ BER 14 1866
AGED 77
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard gravestones
Center Stone reads:
SACRED
TO
THE MEMORY OF
REBECCA WEAR
OF THE DANE JOHN GROVE
WHO DIED
ON ____? 18 OF ......
...... YEARS
In St Mildred's PRs there is a Rebecca Wear of
Dane John aged 80 years buried on 25 April 1844
In St Mary Breadman PRs there is a Rebecca Wear baptised on 22 May 1763
- D of Thomas & Elizabeth WEAR
(thanks to Tricia for this)
St. Mary De Castro Churchyard gravestones
Center Stone reads:
IN MEMORY OF
.... ROGERS
... WHO DIED DEC.
.....17.. AGED 38 YEARS
ALSO OF ELIZABETH RELICT OF
THE ABOVE WHO DIED 28TH JULY 1786
AGED 76? YEARS
IN HOPES OF A JOYFULL RESURRECTION
THEY LEFT SURVIVING
THEIR ONLY DAUGHTER ELIZABETH
WHO HATH CAUSED THIS TO BE ERECTED
TO THEIR MEMORY