The Church building was sanctified in 1089,
and only part of the building as it is today was built.
The building was added to at a later date, this can be seen by
the older part of the Church having rounded arches,
whereas the newer part shows pointed arches.
Around 1200 and
before the great storm, the Church was on the coast.
It is said that there are passages under the
Church which were
used by Smugglers
Notice that the Church
is level with the
road around it
In 1287 a storm so great caused the landscape from
Lympne to Winchelsea to change.
St. Nicholas Church was covered with 4 feet of silt
both inside and outside, however it seems that the local
dignitaries decided not to clear the roads, leaving us today
with a Church 4 foot below ground level,
and the sea is around 1 mile away.
St. Nicholas Church,
circa 1900
St. Nicholas Church
today.
Notice that the trees have disappeared.
To the right of the Church where the port was situated, houses have now been built.