Church of St Dunstan, Wenden Lofts (EHER 36740)

St Dunstan's Church, originally dating to 12th century, was completely rebuilt in 1845-6, incorporating a 12th century doorway of the former church. The church was sold and was recorded as disused and in a dilapidated state in 1977.

Redundant church, rebuilt 1845-6 but includes 12th century doorway from former church. Now disused. <1> In a dilapidated state in 1977. <2> Brass in nave dates to around 1460. <3> visited in 1981. Possibly other parts of walling may be earlier work. Seems to have been effectively gutted but stone on flat roofs in situ with ivy and creepers growing over exterior. Looks 'like a rather expensive folly'. Effectively gutted. <4> Photographs from 1971: <5> <6> Aerial photograph: <7> Photos 1999 and 2000. <8> <9> Site assessment March 2000: The fabric of the church is in poor condition, submerged in ivy and other creepers and other vegetation generally. The walls are faced with knapped flintwork of high quality; those to the north aisle are in poor condition and in places rely entirely on the ivy for their stability. The roof to the nave and the chancel appears to be in reasonable condition, but the roof to the aisle appears to be on the point of collapse. The interior is full of debris and bird droppings. The graveyard to the south has burials with headstones dating to the late 19th century; the earliest is 1877. There is no evidence to suggest that anything survives from the earlier church except the reset Norman doorway. <11> The building consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle, tower and two porches. At present (1981) it is submerged in ivy and other vegetation making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of the decay to the fabric <10> Rebuilt between 1845-46 when a late 11th century doorway was reset in the south wall of the nave. This has a round arch of two square orders with a circular column attached in the return, these have incised voluted capitals on two plains. The arch has chevron ornaments punctuated with concavely pointed, square section points relief. The outer series of the chevron band comprises, a caninated fillet, a roll and a chamfer. Chancel walls of red brick in English band windows of the 19th century. The Victorian nave roof has finely cut corbels, probably 19th Century, of quasi-medieval types. The north wall of the nave is in uncoursed rubble and flint, this is put-logged with the logs in situ and sawn flush at 2 foot intervals. A now closed Romanesque window is visible inside on the north wall, between piers 1 and 2 from the west in the north aisle. This window has a stone sill, laid on red tile levelling course. Base of west tower, put-logged every 3/4 courses See also: <12> <13> NRHE data transfer: The church has been sold to the owner of Wendon Lofts. To be kept as a ruin? <14> 1977. Field survey. Now disused and in a dilapidated state. <15> Church of St Dunstan, Grade II. The interior of the church has been entirely dismantled and the building is now a shell. <16> The church is set within the manorial complex of Lofts Hall. The present church was constructed on the site of an earlier chapel of 11th to 12th century date. The rebuild incorporated a late 11th century doorway from the earlier church. Apart from the doorway the fabric of the church is entirely a late nineteenth century re-build of little architectural importance. The fabric is in poor condition. As a Victorian rebuild the church cannot be viewed as a monument of national importance and it therefore not recommended for scheduling. <17> See also: <18> <19>