St Edmund

tile roof.

Exterior: S elevation: rubble nave and chancel with evidence for change in stonework at the junction of the two, all under continuous pitched tile roof.

Impressive very early C12 high quality Norman S door with scalloped shafts, chevron decoration to the arch and billets to the hood.

Two-light C14 window with cusped heads also square-headed two-light C15 window with label.

Re-used carved stone under latter.

Two C13 lancets to chancel.

E elevation: large three-light E window of C14.

Attached handsome memorial to Alexander Leigh Smith in Norman revival style with its triple Romanesque arches apeing the S door with zig-zag decoration.

Interior of four bays divided by massive tie beams supported by the wall plate except for the rood beam, on carved stone corbels.

Above the rood beam, a carved beam which is presumably part of the former rood loft.

Principal Fixtures: Carved Jacobean pulpit with back panel and tester.

Font probably also early C17 although on a later base: elegant stone bowl of carved leaves supported on a vase baluster stem.

Coade stone monument to Mary Rochfort d 1809 by Coade and Sealy.

Inscription, panel of female figure and urn, decorated with cherubs to the head and foot.

Accomplished carved figure of Christ on the rood beam, 1975 by Jack Whitehead in memory of Roy Cartwright, Reader.

Stained glass in E window 1894 by C E Kempe.

Other glass Victorian or early C20.

The first recorded rector of the parish is Edmund de Lisle in 1283 but the church certainly predates this.

In the C17 Sir John Oglander wrote in the Oglander Memoirs that Walter de Insula (the family name later became De Lisle or Lisle) built the church in 1087 and claimed to have seen an ancient document that recorded this. (Oglander was related to the Lisle family so this is possible.) Other sources credit a different Walter de Insula who died in c1224 as the builder of the church.

It is referred to in the Carisbrooke Cartulary of 1214 AD in relation to this man receiving tithes from Chillerton and paying a pension to the church at Carisbrooke.

However, it is also mentioned in a late C12 document: The Christchurch Cartulary of 1194 records that `The chapel of Wootton has paid to the church of Christ at Twynham a pension of ¾ from time immemorial for a place called Cherliertone (Chillerton) in the Isle of Wight.

We have had this tithe since before the confirmation of St Thomas the Martyr [1170AD] and before the introduction of Canons Regular [1150AD].' This suggests a construction date pre-1150.

A date some time in the early C12 century would be correct on stylistic grounds as the mouldings to the south door are indicative of the influence of the First Crusade The church was extended to the east with the addition of the chancel in the C13.

The chantry chapel (dedicated to St Edmund) has responds of Transitional (late C12) form although a late C13 date has also been suggested given the first recorded chantry priest was Robert John Wyscard in 1305 and in the same year the chantry is recorded in the return of Island livings.

It was dissolved in 1536, demolished and the gap in the north wall infilled.

There is a tradition, but no firm evidence, that the church and manor at Wootton were burnt during French raids on the coast during the Hundred Years War If so, then Gazey suggests the medieval roofs may post-date this occurrence.

Windows were inserted in the C14

a further window and rood loft are C15 additions.

This appears to have been a square boarded turret with pyramidal tile roof.

The mid C19 photograph also shows the roof with several rows of stone tiles at the eaves.

Sources: Gazey, D, Church and Parish - St Edmund's Church and the Parish of Wootton 1087-2002 AD , St Edmund's Church Building Trust report Gazey, D, St Edmund's Church History & Guide St Edmund's Church Building Trust publication Pevsner, N & Lloyd, D, Buildings of England: Hampshire

the Isle of Wight , p775 British History on-line entry for St Edmund http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42075 [accessed 25 Aug 2010] Old images/photographs of St Edmund's Church at http://woottonbridgeiow.org.uk/gchurches.php [accessed 25 Jun 2010] Reason for Designation: St Edmund's Church, Wootton Bridge is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Early date and intactness: A nave of probable early C12 date with a chancel added in the C13.

* South Doorway: A Norman doorway of high quality with scalloped shafts, chevron decoration to the arch and billets to the hood.