3-021-364 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

St. Mark's Church, Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells, 1868. 'The church lately built on the Earl of Abergavenny's estate...has a pleasing architectural aspect, with a character of great solidity...The roofs of the church are covered with variegated slating, laid to a pattern in three colours, with ridge-tiles and iron crestings. The window-dressings are of Bath stone, and the masonry in general is scalped rustic work. The fine native sandstone, of very hard and durable quality, is the chief material of the building. Over the principal entrance is sculptured a figure of St. Mark, writing the life of Christ. The tower and spire, with the ends of the transepts, have great originality in their composition. The style adopted by the architect has its principal type drawn from the French churches of the middle of the fourteenth century, when the Flamboyant was coming into vogue...The architect is Mr. R. L. Roumieu...[and the builder was] Mr. Mansfield...The cost of the whole building was defrayed by the Earl of Abergavenny. The seats in the church are to be free, and the offertory gifts will provide for its maintenance'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.