Saint Mary

south tower and C14 chancel, nave altered

south tower truncated in the C15.

North aisle, south porch and west tower added in the C15.

Chancel probably altered in the early C16.

Restored in 1876-91 at a cost of £900.

Plan and development: C12 nave and C12 transeptal south tower, formerly with C12 chancel too Chancel rebuilt (and possibly enlarged) in the C14.

Nave remodelled in the C15, and south porch, 4-bay north aisle and 2-bay north aisle chapel, and west tower added in the C15 (north aisle incorporating reused C12 nave north doorway).

The south tower was probably truncated in the C15 when the west tower was added.

The C15 north aisle extends the length of the nave

chancel and probably replaced an earlier north-aisle chapel Chancel probaby altered in the early C16 The evidence (remains of chancel arch, blocked south window to west of south doorway

former south tower) suggests that the C12 church was large and that the present nave incorporates much C12 fabric in the south wall.

C15 west doorway has continuously moulded archway (left-hand reveal rebuilt in the late C20) and pair of C20 plank doors.

Nave has a pair of restored C15 south windows, each of 3 stepped cinquefoil-headed lights with moulded reveals.

C12 round-arched doorway between south windows, with chamfered jambs, chamfered impost blocks, one order of shafts with carved foliate capitals and imposts breaking forward above, round arch with beakhead, chevron and dogtooth ornament (including hoodmould), rendered tympanum with painted trefoil, and late C19 door with 4 chamfered panels.

C12 carved corbel head to left of arch probably formerly a hoodmould stop Evidence of ancient colour on south doorway.

C15 porch has pointed-arched entrance with pair of C19 or C20 plank doors, and chamfered wooden jambs (note rings for the insertion of poles to keep out animals).

Interior of porch has a C15 barrel roof with chamfered ribs, carved bosses and chamfered wall plates with carved shields.

Rendered walls and C19 encaustic-tile floor.

Small wooden fixed seat in corner C12 pillar piscina in porch (at time of survey) consisting of circular pillar with cushion capital and C19 base.

Truncated south tower (present vestry) has C14 (or C17) hollow-chamfered 2-light south window with curved Y-tracery

returned hoodmould and the east front has two C12 chamfered round-arched lancets, the smaller one in the apex of the gable above (probably formerly lighting the second stage of the C12 tower).

The south side of chancel has a probably C16 square-headed window to the right of 2 cinquefoil- headed lights with panelled spandrels and returned hoodmould with carved head stops, and a C19 (or restored) square-headed window to the left of 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with panelled spandrels and hoodmould with carved head stops.

Central C14 continuously-chamfered arched south doorway with hoodmould and C19 plank door with decorative strap hinges.

Later (possibly C15 or C16) small buttresses flanking doorway.

Granite C15 east window (C20 limestone mullions) of 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with panelled tracery and chamfered reveals and returned hoodmould.

The 4-bay north aisle has restored C15 windows of 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with panelled tracery hollow-chamfered reveals and returned hoodmoulds.

Blocked C12 north doorway between second and third windows from west (opposite south door) with chamfered imposts, chamfered round arch with inscribed lines, and solid tympanum.

Two-bay north aisle chapel has restored C15 north windows, each of 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with moulded reveals and cusped panelled tracery with mullions running up into head.

C15 east window (restored) of 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with moulded reveals, panelled tracery and returned hoodmould.

Interior: Evidence of former C12 church includes the right-hand jamb of the former chancel arch (in south wall between present nave and chancel) consisting of shaft with leaf capital and lower voussoirs of former round arch.

South doorway with C12 round rear arch and remains of probable former C12 south window to right (west) of south doorway with dressed stone jamb and voussoirs of right-hand side of former arch.

C15 four-bay north aisle arcade consisting of Pevsner type-A piers with capitals only to the main shafts and diamond baces, and 4-centred moulded arches.

There is said to be the remains of an old spiral staircase in the truncated south tower but it was not noted at the time of survey C14 two-bay north chapel arcade consisting of octagonal piers with moulded capitals, and hollow-chamfered arches.

East window with splayed jambs and chamfered rear arch dying into jambs, south-east chancel window with splayed jambs and chamfered Tudor-arched rear arch, and south-west chancel window with splayed jambs and C19 chamfered stone lintel.

C14 triple sedilia consisting of hollow-chamfered ogee trefoil-headed arches with broach stops and continuous chamfered stone seat.

C14 hollow-chamfered ogee cinquefoil-headed piscina with broach stops and projecting circular shelf with quatrefoil bowl.

C15 double-chamfered tower arch dying into jambs.

C15 west window with ovolo-moulded hoodmould.

C15 waggon roof to nave with chamfered ribs and carved bosses and wall plate with carved shields (supported on 4 stone corbels above vestry archway).

C15 waggon roof to chancel with moulded ribs, carved bosses and moulded wall plates.

C15 waggon roof to north aisle too with moulded ribs, carved bosses and chamfered wall plate with brattishing.

C19 encaustic tiles to chancel and north aisle.

Fittings: Elaborate late C19 carved wooden reredos incorporating reused old carved panels (possibly lower panels from former C15 or C16 screen) and short sections of reused vine trails.

Early C17 Communion table with turned legs (front ones carved) carved rails to front and sides, and C19 top.

Late C19 choir stalls incorporating late-Medieval and C16 bench ends (one at rear of north side said to be C13).

Frontals installed in 1905, carved with processions of animals, in memory of Robert and Siddie Greenwood Penny.

Late C19 octagonal wooden pulpit with well carved panels and ribs.

Late C19 wooden eagle lectern, with brass plate inscribed in memory of Harriet Bending Very fine series (about 70) of mainly C15

C16 (and some C19) benches.

Well-carved bench ends, the late-Medieval benches with traceried patterns, heraldic devices and carved figures of saints etc., and the C16 benches with Renaissance motifs including foliage and profiles in medallions etc..

Benches with moulded (and carved) tops, heavy book rests and chamfered supports to the seats.

Remains of C18 box pew at west end of nave with carved panel on door, with the inscription : "R P" and an heraldic device.

C12 stone font with square base, circular stem and rope-moulded base, and bowl like a large block capital which has semi-circular faces with inscribed wheels, rosettes and crosses.

The large bowl of this carved Norman font appears slightly off-centre on its stem.

© Chris Brown

Late C17 wooden railed enclosure on 2 sides (possibly former Communion rails) with turned balusters and turned newels with finials.

Old oak parish chest (probably C13 or C14) with 3 locks.

Two halves of probably C17 carved timber , with carved dragons and shield to centre (one half is reused as a bench end and one half stands at the west end of the north aisle).

Also at east end of north aisle at time of survey is a well-carved bench end (or possibly part of a former screen) with 2 figures of saints or kings.

Late C16 or C17 Communion table in vestry too (not inspected at time of survey).

Late C19 stained glass in east window and south-west window of chancel.

Monuments: Tablet to Joshua Tucker on north wall of chancel (stone and marble) consisting of central convex oval slate/marble inscribed panel with carved spandrels, flanking pilasters and scrolls with fruit/flower drops, gadrooned base with scrolled brackets below flanking a pair of winged cherubs' heads, and moulded cornice with central painted shield above and much carved wheat, flowers, fruit etc. Small piece missing on top (possibly one of the fragments at the east end of the north aisle).

Saint Mary's Church is particularly notable for its large collection of C15

C16 carved bench ends.