St Nicholas

The windows are all C15 in style and have vertical tracery in a range of patterns.

The chancel windows have external jamb shafts, the bases apparently C15, the rest wholly renewed.

Fine S porch in a C15 style with an embattled parapet similar to that on the tower.

Hood moulds with large carved angels holding shields above each pier, forming a termination for shafts descending from the roof.

The chancel windows have shafted rere-arches, the bases of the shafts apparently C15, and there is a fine late C15 or early C16 door in the chancel, the door original and the surround, with a vine scroll, possibly also original and it is very red and appears fire damaged.

Small brass plate above chancel N door to Thomas Bradley, rector 1446-99.

Excellent late C15 or early C16 door in chancel, with blind tracery, slightly charred in places.

Very fine and large C16 brass eagle lectern.

Chest dated 1637.

Perpendicular style font, octagonal with quatrefoils on the bowl and nodding ogees on the stem.

Ornate font in the parish church at Wells-Next-The-Sea. The present church is Victorian as the 1460s church had to be rebuilt after being struck by lightning in 1879. www.wells-guide.co.uk

© Colin Smith

Nave benches have carved, shaped ends and good poppy heads in a range of patterns.

C19 encaustic tiles with geometric patterns in chancel.

Chancel roof is arch braced with carved angels on the posts, at the junctions with the purlins and the ridge, and on the wall plates.

The N aisle roof is also lean-to, but has short, curved braces with carved spandrels on moulded corbels, and additional braces forming four-centred arches against the walls.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES Some good tomb slabs in the churchyard, some with seafaring motifs including ships, others with cherubs and other carved motifs.

HISTORY Wells-next-the-Sea is mentioned several times in the Domesday book of 1086, by which time it was clearly already a substantial place.

In 1202 Ramsey abbey obtained a charter allowing it to expand the port, but the church stands a little way outside the early C13 planned town by the harbour, and was certainly already well established by the early C13.

The W tower is C15, and other surviving fragments, including the fine late C15 or early C16 door preserved inside and loose bits of moulded stone, suggest that the late medieval church was substantial and well detailed.

SOURCES Buildings of England: Norfolk I: Norwich and North-East , 711 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The church of St Nicholas, Wells next the Sea, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Some remains of the late medieval parish church, including surviving C15 W tower of considerable height.

The Medieval St.Nicholas' church was destroyed by fire in the 19th century, the current church is a Victorian replacement in the Perpendicular gothic style

© Richard Croft

Rebuilt handsomely to designs by Herbert Green, the diocesan architect, after a fire in 1879, including good C19 roofs in late medieval style. * Some remaining important medieval fittings, including a fine late C15 or early C16 door in chancel and C16 pulpit. * Good C19 nave benches with poppy heads and shaped arms.