St Andrew

The C20 south porch is rib vaulted but retains C17 brick paving.

Inside it the south aisle retains a C14 doorway with continuous chamfer.

INTERIOR: The tower arch is C14, triple-chamfered on polygonal responds.

In the north wall of the tower is a lower blind triple-chamfered arch, which either opened to a north aisle longer than the present aisle, or is the re-set original C13 tower arch.

Within the arch is a blocked triangular-headed window that might be a re-set Saxon window.

The lofty interior has 3-bay arcades on C13 round piers to the north

taller C14 octagonal piers on the south.

The nave retains a fine late medieval king-post roof on corbelled posts, decorated with castellated tie beam and with bosses repainted and gilded in 1999.

In its south wall are cusped sedilia with carved spandrels and ogee-headed piscina.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: The restored C13 font has a round bowl and stem with 4 detached shafts.

C16 bench ends with poppy heads are incorporated into a reading desk and fixed against the nave west wall.

In the chancel north wall is a brass memorial with effigy to William Heathcott A C13 sepulchral slab is fixed to the west wall.

A fragment of C15 glass from Rouen is in the south aisle.

The Ascension east window is by Harry Payne of the Birmingham School of Art Other stained glass includes: in the north aisle is a Nativity window by Burlison and Grylls (c1923)

A re-set triangular-headed window in the tower has been interpreted as Anglo-Saxon and there is a fragment of C12 masonry in the south wall.

Other than that the core of the church is C13, including tower, spire, nave

north aisle, to which the south aisle was added in the C14.

The early-C14 chancel is unusually large but, although big enough to have accommodated a secular college of priests, there is no documentary evidence for such a use.

The nave clerestorey was added in the C15.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St Andrew, Aylestone, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * It is an ambitious medieval village church mostly of the C13-C14, retaining tower, arcades

sedilia of that period. * It has notable late-medieval features including the nave roof and an unusual stone screen base. * Fixtures of special interest include C16 brass memorial and C16 bench ends.