A great ship

Continuing our 'collection' of the Medieval Churches of Romney Marsh, on our way to Dungeness, we stopped off in the hamlet of Snargate and found the Church of St Dunstan. A lovely church, bigger inside than one would imagine from the outside. (See Extra)

It was built in the 12th century with just a nave and a chancel, but very soon after the parish was extended out into the newly drained land of Welland Marsh and the church was enlarged by the addition of north and south aisles. The name Snargate derives from the 'snare-gates' or 'sluice gates' used to control the water levels on the marsh. 

Of special significance is this wall painting of a ship, thought to date from around 1500. It had been hidden under a layer of whitewash and only came to light during restoration work in 1964. Folklore suggests that the painting of a ship meant that the church was a safe place in which to hide smuggled goods and indeed there are records of whiskey and tobacco having been found in the church. However, the more likely explanation is that it was the backdrop to a guild altar for shipwrights who worked round here. 

Another sunny day. We have had such a lovely ten days weather-wise. We are off home tomorrow, or at least the first leg of the journey anyway.