Ivychurch is a quiet village at the heart of the original Romney Marshes, dates back to at least the 13th century (with church rectors names dating back to 1242¹) with its pretty look hiding a past steeped in smugglers felonious deeds.

St. George's Church

At the heart of the village is the 13th Century St. George's church, a classic Romney Marsh church, although the site is far older. Against the base of the East wall is the base of a semi-circular rag-stone pillar hinting² at an earlier building while the origins of the village name are a derivative of the saxon word circi, later becoming Le Circa to Ive Circa to Yve Church and thence Ivychurch³. Circi meaning burial round, ciric in turn being a burial ground above water to keep the dead dry - indicating Ivychurch may originally date back to an island originally formed when the area was still was under water - in the first millennium. The current church is built largely of sandstone and features a pretty Blue clock set in the middle of a square clock tower.

Smuggling

Like most Marsh towns, smugglers tales abound and there is rumored to be a tunnel from the St. George's to the nearby Bell Inn⁴ which sits next to the church and opposite the village hall and green. In St. George's a vault once existed under the nave⁵ that was used for storage of smuggled goods and well known smuggler Francis Sisley was married at St. George's⁶.

In 1744, it was recorded that the Sexton of St. George’s warned the Rector of Ivycurch “Bain’t be no service s’morning parson, Westry be full wi’ baccy and pulpit full o’ brandy”.

In the 14th, 15th and 16th Century's Ivychurch, like Lydd and New Romney, enjoyed theatrical performances with playwarden accounts recording three shillings and four pence being contributed from Ivychurch for church dramas in 1560⁷.

Bell Inn

Alongside St. George's, one of the oldest buildings in Ivychurch is the village pub - The Bell Inn which is over 450 years old. The original timber framed building was constructed in 1545, with extensions added the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. As with the church, the Bell was a hive of smuggling activity and was called “The Stained Glass Window” by the smugglers of the area⁸.

References

1: http://www.romneymarshchurches.org/stgeorge.html

2: ibid

3: http://ivychurch.tripod.com/index.html

4: http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/ivychurch.asp

5: http://www.smuggling.co.uk/gazetteer_se_15.html

6: The Ancestry of Alfred Sisley, pg 248

7: English Parish Drama By Alexandra F. Johnston, Wim N. M. Hüsken, pg 147.

8: The Bell in website: http://www.thebellinnromneymarsh.co.uk/index.html

New and Complete History of the County of Kent, G. Shepherd. pg 317

http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsIvychurch/01.htm

Last update: 15-07-2008 20:23