Abbey Church Of St Mary

Additions and alterations to N transept early C13, modified late C13, extensive rebuilding of E arm early C14 and complete stone vaulting mid C14.

West window rebuilt 1686 (dated on a shield at the top of the main left mullion), and various parapets and other detail added.

The Bell Hotel is located directly opposite the Abbey. This Tudor fronted building dates back to Henry VIII and beyond but had to be rebuilt in 1696 following a fire.

© Kenneth Allen

roofs lead or tile.

A series of important medieval chantry chapels is sited around the E end.

EXTERIOR: the W front, probably planned for twin towers (not built) has a large 7-light 'Perpendicular' window of 1686 in a Norman arch in 6 (formerly 7) orders, above a pair of plank doors in a moulded arch with dripmould

to its left a section of the original Norman seventh order respond is exposed.

The plain aisle walls have a 2-light C14 window and a series of stair-window slits.

The top of the Norman arch cuts into a 2-stage range of blind arcading under a continuous billet mould, above which are 2-stage Norman turrets with C17 round spirelets and pinnacles, connected by a run of classical parapet, raised at the ends.

The nave clerestorey has eight 3-light C14 windows set in an irregular blind Norman arcade, much restored, and again under the continuous classical parapet.

The square N porch is part of the original Norman building, with 1686 parapet.

A large Norman opening in 3 orders, but with classical mouldings outside and square orders within has attached Norman responds.

Above is a central statue niche below a carved tribune, and the 1686 parapet is above a hollow-mould string.

The inner opening has doors which are early wide-plank with strap hinges, but with moulded C17 or C18 applied panel framing externally, and contained in 4 square orders on cushion-capital responds.

The nave clerestorey has eight 3-light C14 windows, with no blind arcading, but above a heavy ovolo-mould cill string.

The N transept was originally identical with the S, but the apsidal chapel was removed, and 2 chapels added in C13, later partly demolished.

A doorway with multi-mould C13 arch low right, now blocked, formerly gave access to the chapel.

The E wall of the transept, above the chapels has a low blind arcade under a medieval parapet, and there are weathering marks to gables to the previous steep-pitched roofs to the chapels.

The wall below is mixed ashlar and lias, with a corner buttress, and with a C13 moulded arch containing the top of a 2-light window with uncusped bars, and an ashlar blocking wall with a small door.

The S wall has a small light to the low-pitched gable with coping and apex cross, then below a weathered offset are 2 deep-set 2-light C15 windows to segmental pointed heads in coursed stone with some fire damage.

A diagonal buttress to the left has 5 offsets, and a broad flat Norman buttress to the right has stair window-slits and a blocked doorway approximately 6m from the ground.

the chapel is mainly absorbed in the adjoining vestry, but has a 2-light inserted C14 window, and a tiled roof.

The crossing tower, one of the finest surviving Norman towers in Europe, is in 4 stages, with crenellated parapet, flat corner buttresses, and 2-stage corner turrets with with pinnacles.

It had a wooden spire, blown down in 1559.

Above the main roofs are the weathering marks of the original steep-pitched roofs, flanked by a Norman window each side, and there is some fire damage to be seen in the stonework.

The upper levels have rich Norman blind arcading, with 3 louvred lights in the lower stage, and 2 above, separated by a narrow band of interlaced arcading.

Roofs are all pyramidal or hipped tile, to an eaves above the vestry and adjoining chapel, but behind a parapet to the remainder.

The eastern chapel was removed in 1540, and the blocked archway contains a 4-light above a 3-light window in Decorated style, in walling with pointed arch moulds.

INTERIOR: the nave and transepts retain mainly Norman fabric, but with C14 vaults, and the choir with ambulatory is principally C14 work, but with the Norman arcade remaining.

the bases in the raised area at the E end (part of the former monks' choir), however, are square, and the columns are marked by the position of the former rood screen.

The westernmost bay is enclosed by plain walls, and has a moulded and painted arch on very large corbels which are part leaf decoration and part figure.

The window has Hardman glass of 1896.

The triforium has paired Norman openings to plain arches, below the windows inserted when the vault was added in c1322

Half-round Norman responds divide the bays, which have narrow recesses, formerly finishing to round-arched windows, but now with wider C14 lights in splayed reveals and with segmental pointed heads.

Windows to the N have Hardman glass of 1896.

Inside the door from the N porch is a late C19 carved timber draught lobby, and the W end of the S aisle is enclosed in a crenellated ashlar wall with door.

Above the ambulatory is a small rose window with quatrefoil, with memorial glass of the late C19.

A wide plain arch opens to the Abbey Shop, or Chapel of St James, under a blocked Norman gallery arch, and a Norman triforium with 1:2:1 openings.

The Chapel of St James, to the E, has a timber barrel roof an extra outer slope, and the adjoining vaulted St Nicholas' chapel is approached through a large moulded C13 arch.

The S transept has been less modified than the N, and retains the apsidal Norman Lady Chapel with plain ribs.

Above this is a Norman arch, blocked, and with some organ pipes, and to the left is a triangular window with foil tracery.

The choir with presbytery has a rich late C19 encaustic tile floor, stepped at the screen, the presbytery and the altar.

Low cylindrical Norman columns carry moulded arches below a wall passage, without parapet or railing, and 7 large 5-light windows with very fine contemporary glass.

A series of important chantry chapels fills the arcade, these are (from NW to SW): (i) Warwick or Beauchamp Chantry, begun 1422.

Fitzhamon died in 1107, and his Chantry was in the original Chapter House

was moved in the mid-C13.

(iv) opposite this, at the entrance to the Chapel of St Margaret, the tomb of Sir Guy de Brien, late C14, built into the stone parclose screen to the chapel

(vi) an unidentified C14 tomb over broken fragments of a female figure,

of a C15 chest under a damaged canopy with cusped ogee arch, and a parapet of small crenellations

(vii) large monument to Hugh le Despenser , with 6 central panels flanked by 2 slightly canted panels each side, with remains of damaged canopies and other detail.

this was moved from the cloister in the C17, and presupposes the earlier loss of the Despenser figure

(viii) Edward Despenser Chantry, or Chapel of the Holy Trinity, 1375.

A jewel-like stone cage with fan vault, and having a kneeling figure in a delicate pinnacled tribune above the canopy.

There is some C14 wall painting in the chantry.

The double chapel of St Edmund and St Dunstan has a C17 aumbry door.

Behind the main altar is a stone enclosing screen, with door, and panelling, with unusually poor quality carving, including incipient ball-flower, and surmounted by an open reticulated parapet.

to its left is a large canopied wall tomb with multiple ball-flower enrichment, to Abbot Robert Forthington, 1254.

The first is to Abbot Alan, 1187-1202, with a Purbeck marble slab with raised cross, and beyond this a deep, unidentified memorial, with a floor of Malvern encaustic tiles.

Above the vestry door are 3 figure corbels.

Other monuments include: in the S transept, W wall,in alabaster, including a low-relief portrait, to Thomas Collins, signed 'Boulton, 1900.' This remembers "A Wise Master Builder", a JP, five times Mayor of Tewkesbury, "Always zealous in preserving the ancient beauty of his native town ..".

On the crossing SE pier is a C16 style white marble wall monument to Mrs Craik, authoress of 'John Halifax, Gentleman' , signed HH Armstead, R.A. It includes a bas-relief portrait, and inscription "A Tribute to Noble Aims and to a Gracious Life".

On the column respond at the W end of the S aisle is a fine baroque monument, set to the curve of the column.

At the E end of the N aisle is a recessed tomb with canopy, without pinnacles, and a recumbent figure, possibly Lord Wenlock, killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury.

In the tiled flooring of the choir, under the crossing, a C19 brass plate commemorates Edward, Prince of Wales, who was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury Further E are 4 brass plates to members of the Despenser family.

At the W end of the S aisle is a dignified carved wood war memorial, 1914-1919, above a stone altar, and set to the Norman arched recess.

FITTINGS: remains of medieval choir stalls with 12 misericords, N side of choir

there are 3 further misericords immediately outside the C19 choir screen, on the S side.

Above these is a painted Royal Arms.

Pulpit late C19 octagonal marble, and a very fine brass lectern, with separate set of brass-framed steps, given at Easter 1878 by Revd CW Grove in memory of his first wife.

The octagonal font, on 3 steps, incorporates an early 8-shaft sandstone base, and has a lofty canopy.

Each aisle has a section of C17 railing and gate, presumably part of a former communion rail, closing access to the ambulatory.

A great storm damaged the W end in 1661, necessitating the rebuilding of the window.