St Mary

EXTERIOR: C13 chancel much restored mid C19 and early C20 has parapeted roof, lower than the transepts, and C15 octagonal turrets which originally served the rood loft, project above the roof, and rise to provide access to the nave and transept roofs

Vestry to north of chancel, C15, heavily restored mid C19, with embattled parapeted roof, restored C15 3-light window with ogee headed cusped tracery under flat head with projecting dripmould and C19 arched north door

To west restored C15 former north chapel, organ chamber since mid C19 with parapeted roof and two 2-light windows with cusped ogee traceried heads under flat heads with projecting dripmoulds

C14 south chapel, restored mid C19, with parapeted and embattled roof, projecting angle buttresses, with two C19 3-light windows with cusped ogee tracery under flat heads with projecting dripmoulds

C13 north transept, restored mid C19, with angle buttresses and embattled parapeted roof at higher level to that of adjoining north chapel and chancel

C14 north aisle with embattled parapeted roof, 4 bays, with angle buttresses and diagonal buttress at north-west corner, 2 restored 2-light windows with cusped geometrical tracery, one 3-light window, restored west window with reticulated tracery and C19 north doorway which leads into 1982 north extension

C14 south aisle with embattled parapeted roof, 4 bays, with one angle buttress, and diagonal buttress at south-west corner

South porch C15, with C19 side windows, and restored doorway with carved spandrels under flat dripmould

Restored C14 doorway from south porch opens into second bay from west

Clerestorey of nave raised C15, with parapeted embattled roof, four 3-light windows with cusped trefoil heads, all restored

C15 doorway, with moulded arch and jambs, and a C15 door, with original locks, in north chancel wall

Further west is a C15 arch into the organ chamber

In south chancel wall a C15 piscina with moulded jambs and pointed arch under a square head, a C19 3-light window, and part of a C13 moulded window jamb adjoining a large round-headed arch divided into 2 by moulded stone tracery springing from a central purbeck marble column of 4 clustered shafts separated by hollows

The corbels of angels playing musical instruments supporting the braces to the tie-beams are restored C15

In the south wall is a restored sedilia with piscina alongside, c1380 with moulded cusped ogee arches, and carved heads, traditionally held to be portraits of Henry Tudor and his mother, Margaret, Countess of Richmond

C15 oak screen dividing the south chapel from the south transept, installed across late C14 arch from south transept

C19 rebuilt north transept window has wave moulded inner jambs and rear arch, probably C13

C19 rebuilt south transept window has C15 double-ogee moulded jambs and inner arch, decayed C14 piscina in south wall

The aisles have a C14 string course below the windows

Four 2-light clerestory windows, all restored, but retain C15 inner arches and jambs

The nave roof is C15, restored C19, of chestnut with moulded tie-beams and braces carried on corbels, c1865, carved with figures of the Apostles, and traceried spandrels

The tower arch is C14 with chamfered jambs and a moulded arch

FITTINGS: font c1380 in westernmost nave bay, octagonal, stone, with quatrefoil panels on the short stem, and on the bowl figures of high relief of the Virgin and the Archangel Gabriel, and Saints, alternating with angels holding musical instruments and emblems of the Passion

Plain cover, 1979, by Riley and Glanfield carved by Sigfried Pietzch, replacing elaborate late 1840s Gothic style cover carved by Philip Wynne, now displayed in north aisle

Mid C17 pulpit, oval, Jacobean style, with lozenge-shaped raised panels and tapered pilasters

STAINED GLASS: E and W windows by Wailes, 1849-50

MONUMENTS include, in the chancel a tablet in memory of Rev

On the east wall of the south transept a large carved marble aedicule, flanked by unfluted Ionic columns, surmounted by arms, above a broken segmental pediment, commemorating Sir Richard Fanshawe, Bart., Privy Councillor and Ambassador to Spain, 1666

Brasses to Elene Warburton 1454 in north transept

Local tradition associates the carved heads at the termination of the arched opening between chancel and south chapel with portraits of Joan of Kent and Edward III

the crowned head at the apex of the arch of the C14 doorway from the south porch is said to represent the Black Prince

The church fell into decay in the C17 and C18, and was badly damaged by storms in autumn 1703, which blew out the clerestory windows