ALL SAINTS CHURCH
BOUGHTON ALUPH
ASHFORD
KENT
TN25 4EU
BOUGHTON ALUPH
ASHFORD
KENT
TN25 4EU
The manor passed in due course to Stephen de Bokton and on his death in 1288 it was divided between his three daughters. By 1310 however, it had been reunited under Maud de Burghersh, grand-daughter of Stephen. She first married Sir Walter de Paveley, and then, in about 1329, Sir Thomas de Aledon who was Yeoman at the court of King Edward III.
Sir Thomas was a well-known figure in Kent at that time. Amongst other things, he was responsible for building a wall and dyke to protect tenants’ lands in Wittersham, Rolvenden, Iden and Peasmarsh from encroachment by the sea. During his tenure of the Manor extensive enlargement of the church took place. The presence in the windows of coats of arms, some of which are known to have been there 300 years ago, suggests that he received financial aid for his grandiose schemes from the Royal Household and from holders of other manors with whom he was connected as King’s Yeoman.
The arms of Edward the Black Prince, John of Gaunt and Lionel, Duke of Clarence, who were all members of the family of Edward III, are still there in the windows.
The figures in the centre of the east window are supposed to represent Edward III and Queen Philippa. The head of a woman in the south-east corner of the chancel is said to be that of the Fair Maid of Kent, wife of the Black Prince. There is another bracket, with the carved head of an angel, on the east wall of the vestry.
The figures in the centre of the east window are supposed to represent Edward III and Queen Philippa. The head of a woman in the south-
