Church of St Mary the Virgin, Elsenham (EHER 4603)

Much of this church is of the 12th century. The nave and chancel were built early in the 12th century on the site of an earlier church, probably Saxon. A record of 1070 exists of the gift of the church as an endowment to the abbey of St Stephen, at Caen in Normandy. The chancel was altered in the 15th century and the west tower of 3 stages without buttresses, with an embattled parapet and a stair turret rising to the second stage on the south-east corner was added early in the 15th century. The south porch was added about 1500. Evidence of Roman tiles in the church fabric.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 4603, 4604, 4605, 4606, 4607, and 35912. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Mary's Church (NAT). <1> Flint rubble walls, heavily covered with flint and cement. Tower is of mixed flint and brick, some large stone blocks-also plaster covered. The chancel and nave are early 12th century. The west tower was built early in the 15th century and the south porch added about 1500. There are windows and doorways of the 12th and 15th centuries. The nave roof is 15th century, and the south porch has a roof of a out 1500. In the 19th century, a small north porch, now used as a vestry, was added. There are indents of the late 15th to early 16th century, and of early 16th century date. In the nave, as an internal lintel of the south doorway, is a 12th century coffin lid. The church has 15th century doors, 15th century glass, a piscina of about 1225, possibly repaired in the 15th century, a stoup of about 1500, and 15th century and later inscriptions. Some tiles, probably Roman, appear in the tower and the south porch. One bell is 16th century, another dates to 1572, and another to 1600. There are brasses of 1615 and 1619. The plate includes items of 1562, 1595, and about 1700. The pulpit is octagonal, with an oak stem dating to 1625. <2> Present church built in the early 12th century on the site of an earlier church, probably Saxon. A record of 1070 exists of the gift of a church as an endowment to the Abbey of St Stephen at Caen in Normandy. Sited away from village centre. Graded for architectural and historical value. Grade I. <3> Inside the south porch is the best piece of Norman decoration, a doorway, with zig-zag carved columns, oddly decorated capitals (possibly of the sun and moon). The tympanum has chip-carved stars, tiers of saltire crosses. Inside the church, against the tympanum, is a re-used coffin lid of the same early date. The chancel arch is also Norman with similar decoration to the south doorway. <4> South doorway is one of the best in Essex. The rear arch is lined with red bricks, usually referred to as Roman. There are others in the quoins too. If original they would be very early and difficult to explain, but the rear arch may be 13th century in construction. In the chancel there is a horizontal offset in the walls, at the sill level of the Norman windows, seemingly indicating two periods. Church not mentioned in Domesday but there was a priest here. Illustration on guide leaflet gives an idea of the character the churchyard had before it was devastated. Graded AIIa by Rodwell. In the churchyard one fine 18th century headstone remains, though leaning. "An outstanding specimen of the monumental mason's art". According to Rodwell, bricks are almost certainly not Roman, but medieval. <5> Church is in isolated position with hall on a hill, possibly indicates a deserted medieval village. Roman brick in fabric. Churchyard cleared but little disturbance of this or the fabric is apparent, though a tile and concrete 'run off' (?) exists around parts of the church. Not possible to see its depth. Some archaeological problems and puzzles. <6> 1950. Field survey. Unable to definitely identify them as Roman, though some appeared to be correct in thickness and texture. Photo of rear of south doorway is in this source. <7> 1975. Field survey. The nave and chancel of St Mary's Church (name verified) are early 12th century, the tower is 14th to 15th century, and the south porch was added about 1500. The flint rubble walls of all periods incorporate large quantities of tile and brick, some of which is undoubtedly Roman. What appears to be later tile has been used to replace stonework in the windows of the tower, the quoins of the nave and chancel and in particular in the interior arch of the Norman doorway in the south wall. There are no known Roman sites in the immediate vicinity of the church but a number of Roman finds have been made in the parish. See church guide and photograph. <8> <9> 1982 Watching brief. During the installation of French drains around the south and east walls of the chancel, ground level was lowered, revealing a slight flint rubble offset. No quoining at the corners below old ground level. About 60m east of the south door of the chancel was a small brick-built, vaulted structure (a possible tomb). This was empty. It was cut at the west end by a square brick base and abutted at the east end by a further square brick foundation, up against the south wall of the chancel in which a grille to the vault was visible. Monuments within the church state names of the occupants of the vault. The brick foundations were probably for bases of 19th century monuments, since removed. Architect deposited copies of drawings of the structures. <10> - <12> Two photos of these features. <13> See also: <14>