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St Mary The Virgin

Saffron Walden

Essex

Chancel and crypt late C13, rebuilding of nave

Architectural Features

tower 1485-early C16 by Simon Clerk and John Wastell.

Plinth, E side has fragment of Anglo-Saxon cross.

Nave clerestory E end, early C16 turret, octagonal, ogee crocketed, scale ornamented top.

2-light window to each side, tierceron stone vault with central boss of angel with shield.

Inner doorway in the standard style with early C16 door, similar to S porch door.

Cornice under parapet has deep cavetto moulding with animals and human figures.

All joists moulded and each bay has central decorative boss and angel each side on the cornice.

N aisle 3 western bays have 4 early C14, canopied, foiled, ogee niches in each bay, decorated with figure subjects.

C13 arcade of 2 bays, 2-centred double hollow moulded arches, round undercut capitals, roll moulded bases.

Supporting wall shafts have niches with figures.

2 bays of quadripartite vaulting, chamfered ribs, semi-octagonal shafts and chamfered plinths, vault webs in thin bricks (suggesting date in C14, rather than late C13 as stated in RCHM).

C16 door of triangular sectioned boards with central arrises.

Muniment room has original C16 roof of 2 bays, cambered tie-beams and 3 longitudinal joists all decorated with rolls and hollow chamfers.

FITTINGS: C19 altar retable of 5 gabled niches with paintings of Christ and Apostles, each side, 2 smaller arched recesses with angels and archangels.

Font c1500, octagonal, sunk cusped panels with flowers and shields, shaft has sunk foiled panels.

Brass indents in N and S chapels.

Several brasses reset into C14 canopies recesses in N aisle.

N chapel, altar tomb in Purbeck marble with moulded edge amd brass marginal inscription to John Leche, vicar, 1521.

S chapel, E end altar tomb of touch to Thomas, Lord Audley, 1544, Renaissance work with panelled sides and enriched pilasters, wreathed shields, at head a panel with achievement of Audley arms.

Floor slabs at W end of nave and aisles range fron late C17 to early Cl9 with achievements and shields of arms.

Most of the church windows now have clear, diamond-paned glass.

C19 stained glass occurs in N aisle, 3 western bays, S aisle, 4 western bays, N chapel E window, choir E window, tower lower W window.

A fragment of early C16 glass,a head, probably of a female saint is in the S aisle W window.

HISTORICAL NOTE: the rebuilding of the church by royal master masons is linked with the events of 1485, when work temporarily ceased at King's College, Cambridge and the masons were obliged to undertake lesser projects.

The work was unfinished at Wastell's death in 1515.