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St Mary

St Mary

Higher Wambrook

Somerset

C13 in origin, C15 nave rebuilt and porches added, bell-tower extant by 1405, 1812 chancel rebuilt except south wall, roof and upper walls of nave renewed, vestry added, church restored and refitted

Architectural Features

tower undergoing restoration at time of survey Random rubble chert stone, west face of tower squared and coursed chert banded and dressed limestone, Ham stone dressings, slate roofs, plain clay tile to chancel, coped verges, west tower with north-east stair turret, 3-bay aisless nave, north and south porches now blocked, entry via west tower, north-east vestry and chancel.

Crenellated 3-stage tower with setback buttresses rising almost to parapet, 2-light louvred bell-openings, continuous hoodmould to 3-light best window resting on Ham stone pierces quatrefoil decorative string, Tudor arch head doorway

polygonal stair turret rising above tower. south front of nave 4-light Tudor arch head mullion window left of single storey gabled porch flanked by stepped buttresses to nave wall, moulded arch head blocked doorway opening with inserted 3-light window, to right 3-light cinquefoil headed mullioned window, stepped buttress to nave, 2-light window and lancet to unbuttressed chancel, 3-light east window, lancet on-north face, vestry with lancet on east face, 2-light window on north face with chimney in gable end, door on west front, small rood stair light with 4-centred arch head, 3-light cinquefoil- headed mullioned window left of former porch flanked by stepped buttresses against nave wall, hoodmould of original entrance remains, inserted C20 2- light window, nave unlit to right.

former south doorway to nave with chamfered columns, mutilated inmost and Norman arch

Chamfered Tudor arch head stiar turret door way.

south porch wagon roof ribbed with wallplate and carved bosses restored 1932.

Some C15 ends reset.

Pulpit composed of liienfold panelling of uncertain age.

Octagonal C13 font with C17 flat ribbed cover.

Painted latin inscriptions on pieces of wood in chancel, thought to be cautions to medieval wallpaintings of the Passion now vanished. royal Coat of Arms (Queen Anne) dated 1703 and subsequently repainted.

Collection of C19 memorial tablets of members of the Beviss family, white marble and slate

Decorative C19 leading to all windows, some medieval glass in north wall of chancel, Wooden bier with rubber wheels in tower.

Bells (i) and (ii) 1892 John Warner and Sons, London, recast from the C15 tenor bell, (iii)

(iv) early C14 Bristol foundry, (v) early C16 Thomas Jeffries Bristol, the church is mentioned as a chapel 1215-20, In the 1560s the roof was thatched

shingled but was leaded by 1613, Proposals for a rebuilding of the fabric in 1860 was not executed.