Church of All Saints, Great Braxted (EHER 38820)

A church. The nave and west end of the chancel are 12th century. The chancel was extended in the 13th century, and the west tower built in this century also. The south porch is 15th century. The north chapel and vestry are 19th century, and the chancel arch, belfry and spire were rebuilt in this period, alongside restorations. The church is built of flint rubble, clunch tufa, septaria and Roman tile. The quoins and dressings are of clunch and Roman brick. The 19th century chapel is crenelated, and the vestry is built of red brick with stone dressings. The roofs are covered in red plain tile, and the belfry is weatherboarded belfry with a shingle spire.

December 1959. Grade II* listed. A church. The nave and west end of the chancel are 12th century. The chancel was extended in the 13th century, and the west tower built in this century also. The south porch is 15th century. The north chapel and vestry are 19th century, and the chancel arch, belfry and spire were rebuilt in this period, alongside restorations. The church is built of flint rubble, clunch tufa, septaria and Roman tile. The quoins and dressings are of clunch and Roman brick. The 19th century chapel is crenelated, and the vestry is built of red brick with stone dressings. The roofs are covered in red plain tile, and the belfry is weatherboarded belfry with a shingle spire. <1> See photos <2>. November 2003. Watching brief. Observations made during the groundworks for an extension to the church vestry recorded the articulated skeletal remains of 17 individuals, all appearing to be orientated E-W, with the head to the west. There was almost no evidence for coffins and the burials could not be dated. <3> Walls are septaria mixed with flint, freestone and Roman brick. Dressings are clunch and Roman brick. The earlier work in the chancel has regular courses of tufa and Roman bricks, two courses set herring-bone fashion. The south quoins of the nave are of Roman brick. Above the second window in the lower range in the south wall is the Roman brick head of a 12th century window. <4> <5> The church stands in Braxted Park. The walls are septaria, mixed with flint, freestone, and Roman bricks; dressings are clunch and Roman brick roofs are tiled. The nave and west half of the chancel date from the early 12th century, when the church probably terminated eastwards in an apse. The apse was removed early in the 13th century, and the chancel extended to its previous length soon after. The west tower was added, though it is doubtful if it was ever finished. The south porch was added in the 15th century. The 12th century part of the chancel is of coursed rubble with regular courses of tufa and Roman tiles, two courses set herringbone fashion. There are traces of an inward curvature at the junction, suggesting the springing of the former apse. Features and fittings include: early 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th century windows (there are traces of former round-headed windows in the west wall); 13th (blocked) and 14th century doorways; chancel roof (west part) is 15th century, of trussed collar beam type; late 15th-early 16th century king-post roof to nave; 15th century south porch roof with carved stone corbels; 13th century locker in chancel; 13th century piscina in chancel, enlarged in the 16th century; probably 13th century sedilia in chancel; sundial in chancel incised and much worn. <4> 19th century font. Painted board relating to will of John Freze 1663. Stone wall slab under west window in tower to Robert Aylett 1654-1656. The 19th century chapel is known as the 'DuCane' chapel, containing monuments to that family. The nave roof is of crown-post type. <5> In the 19th century the church was restored, when the north chapel and vestry were added, the chancel-arch rebuilt and the timber spire and belfry were probably renewed. The chancel roof is probably 17th century towards the east. Features and fittings include: a monument in 1654 in the tower; floor slabs in the chancel of 1680 and 1705; early 17th century panelling in the chancel; plate incudes a cup of 1562, an Elizabethan cover-paten, a cover-paten of 1711, a flagon of 1666 and an alms- dish of 1646; part of a 17th century table incorporated in modern chancel furniture. <4> <6> Essentially a two-celled Saxon or Norman church, apparently once apsidal chancel extended and squared off in 13th century. The west tower was built at about the same time. There is much Roman brick in the dressings and herringbone work, and some Coggeshall Abbey bricks in the fabric also. Apart from a few late medieval windows, the church was effectively untouched until the 19th century restoration and extension. Graded 'BBIIa' by Rodwell. <6> Church contains Roman bricks. <7> <8> Note: See EHER 8299 for finds of Roman pottery to the south. Mostly Norman except some 13th century windows, at east end of chancel tower arch. Bell-cote of 1883(?) with timber belfry stage of tower behind, with two-light windows. Recent additions may have been designed by Rev. E. Geldart, rector of Little Braxted? The early 17th century panelling is not original to the church, and is now in the chancel. Stained glass window of 1844 by Warrington in north transept. <9> See aerial photographs <10> <11> <12>. Site Assessment: Coursed rubble walls of chancel is interesting. <4> Essentially a two-celled Saxon or Norman church, once apsed it seems. Ground level is high; there is a brick gutter and plinth around the bases of the walls. A prime site for archaeological study; plaster clearly hides blocked window (including circular ones) and extensive mortar sampling is needed to check the building sequence. Fortunately no current threats. <6> 'Little church is picturesque of Braxted Park'. <9> NRHE data transfer: See also <13> <14> and <15>. NRHE summary description: Church. 12th century Nave and west end of Chancel. 13th century restored West Tower and extension to Chancel. 15th century south porch. 19th century North Chapel, Vestry, rebuilt Chancel arch, Belfry, Spire and restorations. Of flint rubble, clunch tufa, septaria and Roman tile. Quoins and dressings of clunch and Roman brick. 19th century crenelated chapel, and vestry of red brick with stone dressings. Red plain tiled roofs. Weatherboarded belfry with shingle spire.