Fairfield, Kent
| Fairfield | |
|---|---|
 St Thomas à Becket church | |
  Fairfield Location within Kent | |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Romney Marsh |
| Postcode district | TN29 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Fairfield is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Snargate, in the Folkestone and Hythe district of Kent, England. In 1931 the parish had a population of 61.[1] On 1 April 1934 the parish was abolished and merged with Snargate; part also went to Stone-cum-Ebony.[2] The area lies west of the village of Brookland. It is in the Church of England parish of Brookland and Fairfield[3] on Walland Marsh (part of Romney Marsh).
Church of St Thomas à Becket
The isolated Church of St Thomas à Becket stands in open marshland and is accessible only by footpath, it is noted for its remote setting and has been a frequent subject for photographers, writers, and artists. The church was built in the 15th century on the site of an earlier church.[4][5] Artist John Piper used the white panelling and black furnishings of Fairfield Church as inspiration for the prayer room at Nuffield College, Oxford. The church has also appeared in film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.[6] It is a Grade I listed building,[7]
References
- ^ "Population statistics Fairfield AP/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Fairfield AP/CP". A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Brookland and Fairfield". A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ Jenkins, Simon (1999). England's Thousand Best Churches. Penguin Books. p. 315. ISBN 978-1846146640.
- ^ "Fairfield, St Thomas Beckett". Britain Express. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "St Thomas à Becket, Fairfield". Romney Marsh History. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Thomas a Becket and Mounting Block Attached (1277450)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
