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St John The Baptist

Little Yeldham

Essex

Parish church, C12/13 and later.

Architectural Features

Walls of flint and pebble rubble, roof of red clay tiles.

Nave C12/13 but W wall rebuilt, probably in 1874, Chancel rebuilt in C15, W belfry C15/16, N porch and S vestry 1891.

In the S wall is a C15 window, partly restored, of 2 cinquefoiled lights and tracery in a 2-centred head with moulded label.

The Nave has in the N wall a late C14 window of one wide light with a slightly ogee cinquefoiled head.

Further W is a doorway, probably C13, blocked and partly below ground level, with chamfered jambs and 2-centred head which has been converted to a window.

the eastern is late C15, partly restored, of 2 cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a 4-centred head

the western is C19 except the E splay and semi-circular rear-arch, possibly C12.

The roof is of 7 cants, boarded to the soffit, probably medieval.

The W belfry is weatherboarded with C19 pyramidal roof, supported on 4 posts with tiebeams and chamfered arch-braces, with single unchamfered arch-braces against the side walls, C15/16.

There is a C14 piscina in the Chancel with chamfered jambs, trefoiled ogee head, recessed spandrels and quatrefoil drain.

The font has a C15 octagonal bowl with cusped panels enclosing a molet, roses, blank shields and a 4-leafed flower, with a C19 stem and base.

There are 2 bells of Miles Graye, 1674.

In the Chancel there are 3 floor slabs in black marble, to Thomas Cracherode, 1701, to Waldegrave Sidey, born 1661 (partly covered by altar table), and to Sarah Cracherode, widow, 1705.

Outside, against the N wall of the Nave there is a stone coffin-lid found during construction of the S porch, coped slab with beaded edge and cross formy with plain scroll arms springing from the middle of the stem, and stepped base, early C13.