St Thomas À Becket

converted to a church in C13.

The church has C15, C17, C19 and C20 alterations.

EXTERIOR: the north and south elevations of the church comprise aisles lit by C15 three-light windows with vertical tracery in four centred heads with labels.

The south wall of the chancel is lit by an early C14 window of two pointed lights in round head above the remains of the vaulting shafts of the C12 aisle roof.

The chancel also has a C16 or C17 doorway with a four centred arch under a square head.

The south door is C15, and sits under a four centred arch.

The C15 or C16 north doorway has stop moulded jambs and a four centred arch under a square head with blank shields in spandrels and a moulded label.

The aisles sit under a clerestorey, each side of which has a range of seven C15 two-light windows with cinquefoil tracery in a four centred head with label.

In the centre of the tower is a late C12 doorway comprising a round-headed arch of four orders, three of which are moulded, supported by free shafts on moulded bases, with moulded bands, abaci and decorated capitals.

The roof is a series of queen post trusses supported by arch braces springing from carved corbels.

Traces of C13-C14 painting remain at the eastern end of the north arcade.

The piscinae are C13 in date, and are under a two centred arch.

There is a large Gothic monument to William Henry Fellowes on the north wall of the chancel and a smaller plaque to Emma Fellowes on the south wall.

The C15 lectern is of oak, and comprises a square post with a moulded and embattled capital and four traceried buttresses.

The C12-C13 font is of dark grey marble.

Inside Church of St Thomas a Becket, the parish church is next to Ramsey Abbey. www.stthomasabecket.org.uk

© Colin Smith

Remains of the vaulting shafts of the late C12 aisle roof survive in the vestry.

Much of the glass is early C20, by Morris and Co.