← Database
St Mary the Virgin (Church of England)

St Mary The Virgin (church Of England)

Westmill

Hertfordshire

Cll (A-S) nave, C12 N aisle, C13 chancel, C15 W tower and nave roof, S porch rebuilt and church restored 1876 with new lean-to vestry at NE

Architectural Features

Steep old red tile roofs

Essentially a 2-cell pre-conquest church with unusually wide (and therefore important) nave 21 ft x 41.5 ft and square-ended chancel 15 ft x 25 ft with C13 rebuilding of chancel, and later accretious

Lancet windows in sides of chancel renewed but C13 blocked square headed window with external rebate over S door of chancel

Elaborate W doorway and moulded jambs with a canopied niche to each splay and spandrels carved with censing angels

Gargoyles in middle of each face below parapet and deep moulded string around base

C15 scissor-braced collar-purlin nave roof with 3 octagonal crown-posts with moulded base and cap and 4-way bracing, and wall responds to short end bays

C13 memorial slab to Nicol de Leuknore on wall in base of tower with Lombardic edge inscription

Octagonal late C15 clunch font with fleurons in quatrefoils on panelled sides

C15 benches with buttressed ends

Polychrome tile reredos concealed by alter said to be the last designed by Sir Ninian Comper

2 polychrome octagonal riddel posts supporting gilded angels: 2 more now under tower

Late C17 oak communion rails with twisted balusters

Vigourously carved eagle lectern, organ front and panelled pulpit 1931 decorated by Peter Larkworthy.