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St Mary

North Huish

Devon

Largely early C14, probably with earlier fabric, C15 south aisle and south porch, circa 1840 vestry, restored in 1871 and 1884-5.

Architectural Features

Plan and development: The earliest record of a rectar is in 1308 and the reconstruction of the church was dedicated in 1336 by Bishop Grandisson.

The dedication may have been for the rebuilding of the chancel only but it appears that the west tower wiuth its integral spire and the north transept (Butterford aisle) are also early C14 church comprised a nave, chancel, north transept and a west tower with a spire.

The south doorway is also C14 but is reused

was probably moved from the nave when the south aisle was added in the C15.

Also in the C15 the nave was reroofed.

The south porch, may be coeval with the aisle or possibly a later C15 addition.

The north transept has a circa C16 2-light window on the east side with uncusped 3-centred lights and a hoodmould to the straight head and a late C19 Perpendicular style 3-light north window.

Uncusped lancets on each side of the belfry and a cusped lancet on the south side of the ringing stage below, a 3-light granite C15 or early C16 Perpendicular west window with a hoodmould over a small unmoulded 2-centred arch west doorway.

they may be contemporary or the porch could be later C15

it has a similarly moulded plinth and wall plate and a large moulded 3- centred arch granite doorway with carved spandrels and a label with carved stops

in the gable above the doorway an elaborately shaped slate sundial dated 1686.

The porch has its original ceiled wagon roof with roll moulded ribs, carved wall plate and later bosses.

The inner south doorway has a C14 2-centred arch frame with a double convex moulding and a lancet niche above

There are C16 ceiled wagon roofs over the nave, transept and the south aisle but most of the moulded ribs and plaster panels were removed from the south aisle roof in the late C20 when a suspended ceiling was inserted underneath.

The nave and north transept roofs have moulded ribs, carved bosses at the intersections and carved wall plates.

Furnishings: The stone reredos is supposed to be C19 ("modern" cresswell) or is it a reused C16 tomb? The C15 rood screen has been removed for repair and is now in storage in the transept

The late C19 polygonal wooden pulpit is probably contemporary

The wrought iron altar rail and wrought iron and brass lecturn are late C19.

The crudely moulded octagonal granite font is dated 1662 and has initials R.O

Stained alass: Late C19 patterned coloured glass in all the windows

the central light of the east window has a stained glass crucifixion.

Monuments: Marble gothick wall monuments in chancel to Peter Perrin died 1851 and John Allen died 1853

a Neo-classical monument to another John Allen died 1846 also in the chancel.

The best monument is on the north wall of the nave to Richard Strode of Newnham Park died 1790

On the west wall on either side of the tower arch are various monuments to members of the Cornish family of Black Hall (qv).