Church of St Mary (EHER 3032)

Parish church with 12th century nave and Chancel with 13th century rebuilding to Chancel. 13th century North Aisle and North Chapel. Mid 15th century West Tower. During 16th century a Priests House adjoining the north aisle was removed and the wall heightened. 16th century South Porch. 18th century and later alterations and restorations. Mixed rubble including puddingstone with some Roman bricks and 16th century brickwork.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Parish church from the 12th century. <1> states "The walls are of mixed rubble with some Roman and 16th century brick, the dressings are of limestone and brick; the roofs are covered with tiles, slates and lead. The nave and chancel are 12th century, but in the 13th century the chancel was rebuilt and the north chapel and a north aisle added. Late in the 14th century the north aisle was rebuilt, and around the mid 15th century the west tower constructed. In 1520 a pre- existing priest's house adjoining the north aisle was removed and the aisle wall heightened. The church has been restored in the 18th century and recently". The brick south porch was added in around 1520. Features and fittings include: 13th, 15th and 16th century windows; early 16th century south doorway; early 16th century north doorway (blocked); mid 15th century west doorway; early 16th century nave roof, the hammer beams carved with angels (photo of roof in RCHM); early 16th century north aisle roof; 14th century or 15th century chest (photo in RCHM) brass to Sir William Pyrton (died 1490), his wife Katherine (died 1510) and their children; 13th century coffin lid in the chancel; early 16th century door in tower turret staircase; font of around 1500; 15th century glass; 15th century niche in north chapel; 15th century painting on north wall of north aisle, now covered; 14th century piscina in chancel; 15th century seating in nave; possibly 14th century sedilia in chancel; stoup in south porch of uncertain date; reused worked stones in blocked entrance to ringers gallery reused trefoiled panels in external quoins. Photo of tower in RCHM. <1> - <6> Nave and chancel with Roman brick quoins, Norman at least, but may be Saxon. Wall scars show there was once a north porch, or site of priest's house. Graded Ajaib by Rodwell. <7> Site Assessment = "The church has great charm and character and the tower is a good example of ornamental flint-and brickwork; the nave has a fine hammerbeam roof. Ground level externally is high; ancient drainage works are now ineffective internal walls very damp behind panelling and the brick floors all need rebedding; the chapel floor is particularly bad. Some timber flooring has been replaced in recent years and concrete plinths have been cast under the arcade piers... interior has been redecorated but work is needed on the floors. Externally much has to be done, especially with regard to drainage. Clumsy cement pointing in the south wall needs removing. The church is potentially a very interesting structure of early, but unknown date. <7>