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Saint Andrew

Nesscliffe

Shropshire

C13 nave, C13 tower with belfry rebuilt or added in the C17, early C14 chancel and late C19 vestry.

Architectural Features

Nave and tower of dressed red sandstone with plain tile roofs and chancel of yellow/grey sandstone with slate roof.

Stepped plinth (battered to south), diagonal buttresses to lower 2 stages with moulded plinths and chamfered offsets,later (probably C17) buttress to south- east with chamfered offsets, chamfered offset to belfry, weathered string course to battlemented parapet with moulded coping, and pyramidal cap with weathervane.

Probably C13 blocked moulded-arched belfry light to east.

South side: restored paired chamfered lancets to left with semi-circular relieving arch and hoodmould with carved stops

Central C13 roll-moulded arched doorway with hoodmould

old nail-studded boarded door with decorative wrought-iron strap hinges and panel at top with carved Tudor rose and the date 1618.

C19 paired lancets to right with hollow-chamfered reveals and hoodmould with carved stops.

Small C14 or C15 square-headed window of 2 trefoil-headed lights in east wall.

Interior: uncompleted C13 south arcade with double-chamfered arches and remains of capital to centre (aisle not visible externally).

C13 triple-chamfered chancel arch, cut off at base.

east window has roll-moulded rear arch with fillet and hoodmould with carved stops.

C14 moulded ogee-arched piscina to south with plain hoodmould and small aumbry to north.

C15 six-bay nave roof with billet-ornamented moulded wall plates, ashlar pieces, ovolo- moulded arched-braced trusses with central carved 'bosses', cusped raking struts forming cusped triangular openings, and pairs of purlins with cusped wind braces.

Fittings: C17 altar rails with turned balusters, large turned standards with finials, and moulded rail.

C19 choir stalls and eagle lectern.

Polygonal stone pulpit dated 1885, with tapered stem, moulded base, cinquefoil side panels and billet- decorated top.

Plain octagonal stone font dated 1850 with wooden cover.

Hatchment to right of chancel arch.

C19 encaustic tiles to santuary.

Reset medieval floor tiles at west end of nave.

C19 stained glass in some windows.

Various late C18/early C19 memorial tablets.

Great Ness church was a Saxon collegiate foundation and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.