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St Mary

Woodham Ferrers

Essex

C14, restored C19.

Architectural Features

EXTERIOR: west end with C19 arched brick opening partly glazed replacing early C16 tower collapsed in 1715.

One 2-light early C14 reticulated west window to south aisle, mouchette tracery to north aisle.

Aisles both with early C14 moulded doorways and 2 2-light reticulated windows to flanks

3 C19 segmental windows to clerestory north and south set within splayed C13 openings.

South chancel with 2 early C14 2-light windows and one 3-light Perpendicular window.

North chancel mostly obscured by a large vestry under a catslide roof erected 1849 with a prominent flint and stone chimney: One 2-light early C14 window with a quatrefoil vesica.

INTERIOR: 3-bay arcade of c.1260 consisting of alternating octagonal and circular piers on moulded bases and with undercut capitals.

Traces of paint on piers, especially a complete C14 secular head on north-west pier.

North aisle with 2 C13 round-headed niches.

C13 scissor-braced nave roof with collars and 4 tie beams

north aisle roof of moulded C15 rafters and purlin

Former tower arch with remains of early C16 double sunk chamfer mouldings to jambs but no arch.

Painting of Doom over chancel arch, probably C15: very faint with traces of reds

ochre colours depicting central Christ flanked by angels and with a frieze of souls below Chancel with triple sedilia under depressed arches and a double C13 piscina to east with trefoiled arches.

Arched C13 vestry door to north.

FITTINGS: fine wall monument in chancel to Cecilie Sandys, died 1610, monument erected 1619.

Alabaster, with a kneeling figure in profile set within an architectural surround of block entablatures on Corinthian columns with a deep shell hood decorated with rose trails in the form of a bower.

2 victories on top and a standing figure of Time to the left.

Corresponding figure on the right missing.

4 C15 stalls in chancel, with poppy-head bench ends.

Plain C14 octagonal font.

Circular C19 pulpit with panelling.

Bibliography (Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England), An Inventory of Essex South East, 1923, Vol. 4