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St Michael

Clapton-in-Gordano

Somerset

Norman origin, C13, north chapel c.1300, C15 additions to tower and alterations, C19 reroofing and restoration, particularly in chancel.

Architectural Features

large diagonal weathered buttresses, string course, parapet with pierced cusped triangles, gargoyle corbels

Interior: tower has pointed arch in sandstone with keel-moulded shafts with masks at tops, fine wooden screen, probably early c14, said to have come from Clapton Court (q.v.), with 2-pointed arches and roll-mouldings, plain shafts at sides and centre, shield of arms in central spandrel, central circular opening and brattished top

Nave has 8-bay roof, arched-braces, collars, one row of purlins and ridge purlin, all principals moulded with carved bosses along purlins, cornice and brattished wall-plate

Porch has arched-brace and collar roof with moulded wall-plate, stone benches to sides, mutilated Norman tympanum above triangular-headed door with narrow wave-moulding, trefoil-headed holy water stop to right, recess for image above door and small upper niche with moulded pointed arch, east door to former chamber, as rood stair door.

Chancel has 4-bay roof as in nave, probably C19 reconstruction incorporating earlier fabric, including carved figures at bases of principals

Fittings: font in nave has quatrefoil bowl of C13 with later carved faces on undersides

early C14 benches to rear of nave with tripartite tops

C19 carved wooden pulpit in nave.

Monument in north chapel to Edmund Wynter, 1672 and his wife, 2 kneeling figures, with their daughter sitting under a prayer desk, Corinthian columns, open segmental pediment and allegorical figures

C17 ledger stones.

Photo coming soon