Stained Glass Quarries in Kent c . 1225– c . 1700: A Listing with Commentary

The diamond- or square-shaped panels of glass with ornamental designs which are an important feature of English medieval and early modern stained glass for nearly five centuries are probably found in more diversity of designs in Kent than in almost all other counties. Several, now lost, of the 341 designs preserved in the county’s parish churches, country houses and museums, are recorded in 19th-century antiquarian drawings and watercolours. This article lists, documents and discusses both the abundant surviving examples and those lost but recorded in antiquarian sources. In assessing the latter, a survey of antiquarian records of Kent medieval and early modern stained glass is presented, providing an overview of the very important tradition of antiquarian scholarship in the county. The categories of ornamental designs, mainly foliate and floral, but also figure, bird, animal and heraldic badges, are all covered. This is the first attempt at a wide-ranging study of this very significant aspect of English medieval glass since Augustus Wollaston Franks, Ornamental Glazing Quarries (London 1849).