Parish Church of St Michael (EHER 3412)

Parish church. The nave is early 12th century, the chancel was rebuilt in the 13th or 14th century. In the 15th century the west tower was added and the upper walls of the chancel were built. The tower was restored in the 17th century; 19th century restoration.

Parish church, St Michael's Church (C of E) [NAT] <1> The church walls are probably of septaria and flint rubble, but with the exception of those of the tower are covered in plaster, the dressings are of limestone, and the roofs are tiled. The nave is early 12th century, while the chancel was rebuilt in the 13th to 14th century. The W tower was added in the early 15th century, and late the same century the upper walls of the chancel constructed. The tower was restored in the 17th century, and the upper part rebuilt in the 18th century. In 1816 the S porch was rebuilt. <2> Features and fittings include: 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and early 16th century windows; 12th, 13th, 15th, and early 16th century doorways; late 15th-early 16th century rood-loft staircase; 15th century door in south doorway (itself 15th century) of the nave; 15th century font; indent of brass inscription plate in the chancel; two niches of uncertain date in the nave; probably 15th century wall paintings in the nave; piscina of uncertain date in chancel, 14th century piscina in nave south wall; 14th century recess in chancel north wall, possibly Easter sepulchre; sedilia in chancel; stoup in south porch sawn-off end of rood beam in nave north wall; architectural fragments of stonework reused in rood-loft staircase and, a trefoiled head of a window, in second stage of tower; small mitre carved on head of north window in bell chamber; IHS monogram on keystone of west window. <2> The church was roofed with handmade red clay tiles. The chancel is 13th century. Rood-loft stair is late 15th century, complete. Nave roof is of crownpost construction, has been much restored. `Sedile' is a late 16th century carried down to form a seat. <3> Site Assessment The church was in good condition in 1922, apart from tower which was then in bad condition. <2> The nave and chancel were externally rendered and limewashed, an unusual sight today, but one that must have obtained throughout the medieval period. Oddly, interior has been left as the raw rendering of 1913. External ground level high, there is a shallow, cement-lined gully around the walls. The archaeological potential unknown, no current threats. Architecturally, many features of interest, especially the 16th century domestic-style windows. Churchyard undistinguished apart from an iron-railed monument of 1852.Graded BBIIIa by Rodwell. <4> Watching brief on extension April 2000: Trenches for strip foundations 1.4m deep on the north and west side of the extension being attached to the north side of the chancel were inspected for archaeological remains. The natural is a yellow to orange sandy gravel, exposed in only very limited areas at the bottom of the trench in between the grave cuts, because the foundation trench had not been dug out below the depth of the grave fills. There were a large number of burials in the area, the foundation trenches had cut through about eight. Although there were no gravestones in the area, there had been formerly (information from Revd. Shilliker). This is consistent with the discovery of the broken base of a York stone headstone still set in the ground in the footprint of the extension. Finds noted in the spoil were charnel and coffin grip plates. The presence of the headstone and grip plates point to these burials being 19th century in date. <5> Additional references <6> - <9>