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St Mary

Three Mile Cross

Berkshire

Late C12, rebuilt C14, altered and extended C15, tower added C17

Architectural Features

Gabled porch entry on north side added C19 over a late C12 doorway with two semi-circular hollow chamfered orders

there are two early C14 windows surviving on the north wall of the chancel, the eastern one of two acutely pointed cinquefoiled lights with a quatrefoiled spandrel and a two-centred head

The east window of the C16 south chapel is of three pointed lights, uncusped, their mullions being carried up into a two-centred containing head

the easternmost similar to the easternmost in the north wall of the chancel, the other three are late C15 of three cinquefoiled lights within square heads

the late C12 doorway is between these

The other two windows are late C15, each of three cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery within a square head

Interior: the nave roof is late C14 and is supported by four trusses with large timbers of plain crownposts braced twice to the collar purlins, the collars and heavily cambered tie beams are supported by wall posts and short curved braces resting on stone corbels

The C17 roof to the aisle is a double butt purlin roof complete with large windbraces at both levels, supported by rough queen post trusses

There is a scissor brace truss the second form the east which is probably early C15

The C16 roof of the south chapel has a pentagonal wooden ceiling, with moulded ribs, and carved bosses at their intersections

Monuments: on the west wall of the nave is a Purbeck marble tablet, sculptured with a shield of 12 quarters, an inscription on a scroll beneath and below this is a broken sword with the date 1576 on the hilt

On the west wall of the south aisle is an elaborate mural marble monument to Edward Martin, died 1604 and his wife Mary who died 1607

The monument is framed by Corinthian columns supporting an entablature, surmounted by a shield

The figures are of alabaster and are kneeling in prayer, that of Edward Martin is missing, those of his wife and daughter remain

On the south wall of the south aisle is a very elaborate marble and alabaster monument to Henry Beke

On a projecting base are the kneeling figures of himself, his wife and daughter

Two female figures support an entablature, surmounted in the centre by a pedimented structure on which is a sculptured shield of his arms with a crested helm

The entablature is broken forward over the heads of the supporting figures, and crowned by small obelisks standing on pedestals

Photo coming soon