Church of St Mary the Virgin, Arkesden (EHER 3947)

A flint rubble church with a 13th century nave and chancel but very much restored in 1855, when the 15th century west tower was rebuilt and the remains of an earlier Norman round tower were discovered.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 3947, 3948, and 35373. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Church of St Mary the Virgin, Grade II*. A flint rubble church with a 13th century nave and chancel but very much restored in 1855, when the 15th century west tower was rebuilt and the remains of an earlier Norman round tower were discovered. On the north side of the village. Walls of flint rubble with stone dressings. Slate roofs. Chancel and nave built around 1250. Foundations of a circular tower of earlier date discovered at the west end in 1855. A north aisle and south aisle built around 1380. west tower rebuilt in about the middle of the 15th century and a south porch added. The north aisle was largely rebuilt early in the 16th century according to an inscription said to have formerly been in the north wall. No remaining details of that date. Some medieval windows and a 12th century font. Foundations of a circular tower discovered when the west tower was demolished in 1855. Internal diameter 16' 4' wide, walls 4' thick. In 1855 the west tower and chancel arch were rebuilt and the church was generally restored. <1> Traces of a Norman tower found in 1855 when the present west tower was built. <2> Photo in SMR. <3> Some important monuments inside, including a 15th century effigy of a priest, in the north wall of the chancel. There is also a military brass of 1439. Very much restored in 1855. Some important monuments inside the church, including a canopied wall monument to Richard Cutte (d.1592) and his wife, and a 17th century wall monument to John Withers (d.1692) and his wife. <4> 1999. Watching brief. An archaeological watching brief on the construction of a water pipeline in the area of Arkesden church revealed no archaeological features. <5> 2005. Watching brief. An archaeological watching brief in the north west corner of Millenium Playing Field, next to the church of St Mary, revealed no archaeological finds or features. <6> See also: <7> - <11>