St Mary

EXTERIOR: The church is almost wholly C15 in appearance, with low pitched roofs, embattled parapets and windows with vertical tracery, but much of what is visible is post-fire C20 restoration along the original lines.

The W window of the nave has C14 Reticulated style tracery, apparently a pre-fire arrangement, and the S door is also C14 in style.

The 1930s porch (there was no porch previously) is also in a C15 style and has an outer opening and windows with hood moulds.

Before the fire the E bays of the nave arcades were said to be C14 in origin.

PRINCIPAL FIXTURES: A few older fittings survived the fire, most notably the fine mid C12 Purbeck marble font, now painted white.

The square base may also be C12.

There is a C15 piscina and sedilia in the chancel.

C17 communion rails with turned balusters, now in the S chapel.

A few late C12 or early C13 fragments of uncertain provenance are preserved in a cupboard in the N aisle.

The chancel screen is three bays in a Perpendicular style and has elegant openwork tracery that includes carved figures of angels and the Virgin Mary.

It has a coved cornice supporting a rood loft with openwork panelling on the front and large rood figures.

Perpendicular style open nave roof with king posts, the curved tie beam braces on corbels with angels.

The tie beams have curved braces on carved stone corbels.

On the outer walls the posts stand on carved stone corbels, many with highly characterful portrait heads of people associated with the 1930s rebuilding: the horned figure beside Pan may be the architect.

The 1930s chancel reredos is also interesting, and shows a crucifixion with kneeling angels and adoring figures in classical dress.

The C16 tapestry of the martyrdom of St Alban and another framed textile were found for the church by Richardson.

The C12 font is the earliest evidence of a church on the site.

It was given to the Knights Hospitallers in the late C12 or early C13.

Before the fire, the church was mainly of a single C15 campaign, although the E bays of the nave arcades, the S door

the W window of the S aisle were C14.

A fraternity dedicated to Corpus Christi was founded in the church in the mid C14, and provided a chaplain to celebrate daily in the church, probably in addition to the services provided by the vicar.

The church was almost wholly rebuilt in the C15, and before the fire had some very good C15 woodwork.

Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society, file 06779 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The Church of St Mary, Eaton Socon, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Large parish church with C15 fabric, in particular the fine tower.

Although gutted by fire in 1930, it was sympathetically rebuilt by Sir Albert Richardson. * Fine C15 W tower survived the fire. * Excellent interwar fittings, notably screens

roofs, by Richardson, complement earlier items of note such as the C12 font

C17 communion rails.