St. Nicholas' Churchyard, Thanet, Kent, England

Notes:
There has been a church at St Nicholas-at-Wade for over 800 years. Dedication to St Nicholas was popular in the area, as he is the patron saint of sailors. The present building, begun in the 12th century, includes a piscina probably made from an Anglo Saxon window head. The fall of an 18th century wall-mounted memorial in the north aisle recently revealed traces of poly-chrome wall painting, probably of early Norman date. The substantial tower and turret were complete by the 14th century, making the church a landmark for ships in the estuary and for travelers by land. Inside, a row of handsome ledger stones paves the full width of the nave, and right along the north aisle, leading to the north chapel where many members of the Bridges family are memorialized, including Robert Bridges, Poet Laureate. The contract for the erection of the south arcade, built by plasterer William Goldwyn from Herne, dated 1343, still exists. A very impressive chandelier in the nave was given to the church in 1757.