Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Toppesfield (EHER 17491)

Nave of uncertain date, lengthened towards the west, and south aisle added about 1300, north wall partly rebuilt in 15th century except a short length each side of the north doorway. Chancel late 14th century. North and south porches 15th century. West tower and west gallery 1699. South vestry and general restoration 19th century.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 17491, 17492, and 28409. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Margaret's Church (C of E) (NAT). <1> Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch. Parish church, mainly 14th century with later alterations. Grade I. <2> Flint rubble construction, plastered; dressings of limestone and clunch. West tower of brick. The nave is of uncertain date but was lengthened towards the west and the south aisle added about 1330. Chancel rebuilt at end of the 14th century. The north and south portions were added in the 15th century and north wall rebuilt. The west tower was added or rebuilt in 1699. A major restoration took place in the 19th Century. The 15th century north porch and the consecration crosses on the south arcade of about 1330 are noteworthy. The major addition to the fabric in the post-medieval period is the west tower which is built entirely of red brick in 1699. It is of three stages, with clasping buttresses, a parapet of two inverted curves on each side, and eight pinnacles with plain pyramidal caps. <3> <4> The chancel on its south side has a group of cusped arches, two single sedilia seats and then the piscina. The windows are all perpendicular. The monuments include a coffin slab depicting a knight of about 1260 cross-legged with flat topped pot - helmet, Purbeck marble (below the organ). Brass to John Cracherod 1534 and wife (below the organ). <5> <6> 2006. Test pitting. Test pit against the buttress foundations of St Margaret of Antioch revealed a 150m layer of flint rubble foundation on the chalky boulder clay beneath the south-east buttress. There was come disturbance attributable to plant action, but no finds. <7> See also: <8> <9>