St Margaret

chancel rebuilt by G.E. Street in 1871, badly damaged by fire in 1977, west tower largely of c 1500.

On the south elevation of the nave, the C14 arched doorway has carved face stops

there is a C16 stoop within the rebuilt south porch.

On the north and south elevations are two-light C14 windows with C20 replaced glass, almost certainly re-set by Street during the rebuilding and apparently partially restored.

All of the windows have replaced stained glass, including that at the east end.

Some of the C18 monuments from the earlier church are to be found on the west wall of the nave and in the base of the tower.

Two small brasses on the north chancel wall are C14 and on the south wall are a rebuilt piscine and single sedilia.

The tower has a brick stairway at the south-east corner and is said to have a C16 timber door on the first floor.

The former stone font, the bowl of which may be C15, is located in the churchyard, which contains no significant monuments.

To the north of the church are a former stable and a C16 dovecote, re-erected in the current position from a nearby farmstead in the 1990s.

HISTORY: The church rebuilt by G.E.Street was probably C14 in date.

The 1870s reconstruction comprised the total rebuild of the medieval building, and incorporated C14 windows and doors.

The west tower is considered to be of C15 date

Tragically, the church suffered a fire in 1977, resulting in severe damage to the vestry, nave and south porch including the loss of the roof, all glass (apart from the west window of the tower) and the pews, organ, pulpit and choir stalls.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION The church of St Margaret of Antioch at Downham is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons. * It has a west tower which retains a substantial proportion of C15 fabric. * Despite a catastrophic fire of 1977 which destroyed the interior of the 1870s rebuild by G. E. Street, the C14 windows and doors re-used in the late C19 rebuilding of the nave and chancel remain adding interest to the building.