Grade II* listed · Tunbridge Wells

Church of St Mary the Virgin

Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade II* listed building in Tunbridge Wells, first listed on 20 October 1954. It is one of 133 Grade II* entries among 2,244 listed buildings in Tunbridge Wells; 6% of Tunbridge Wells’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Church of St Mary the Virgin
Grade	Grade II* — particularly important, more than special interest
List entry number	1240943
Date first listed	20 October 1954
Local planning authority	Tunbridge Wells
Location	51.15112, 0.21989 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1240943

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Tunbridge Wells will require for your works on Church of St Mary the Virgin, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest — about 5.8% of listed buildings. Applications for listed building consent are notified to Historic England.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Church of St Mary the Virgin

Name	Grade	Distance
Coombin Headstone Adjacent North Wall of the Aisle of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	12 m
Pair of Coyte Headstones Adjacent East Wall of the Chancel of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	17 m
Pair of Friend Headstones Approximately 3 Metres South of the Porch of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	17 m
Blake Headstone 4 Metres North East of the Organ Loft of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	18 m
Burrows Chest Tomb Approximately 1.5 Metres North of the Tower of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	18 m
Okill Headstone Approximately 3 Metres East of the Chancel of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	19 m
Row of Fry Headstones Approximately 4 Metres East of the Chancel of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	20 m
Pair of Drury Headstones Approximately 7 Metres South of the Nave of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	20 m
Skinner Headstone Approximately 8 Metres South of the Nave of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	21 m
Wilkins Headstone Approximately 3.5 Metres South of the Chancel of the Church of St Mary the Virgin	II	21 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Church of St Mary the Virgin listed?

Yes. Church of St Mary the Virgin is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, list entry number 1240943, first listed on 20 October 1954. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Church of St Mary the Virgin?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Tunbridge Wells, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.