Church of St Mary the Virgin, Chickney (EHER 4619)

Church with late 10th century or early 11th century nave, early 13th century chancel, and 14th century west tower. The church was redundant by 1976.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 4619, 4620, 4621, and 37506. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Mary's Church (NAT). <1> Saxon nave and chancel. Nave is pre-conquest and the west half of the chancel is contemporary. Walls of flint and pebble, part plaster covered. The dressings are of limestone and clunch. Pre-conquest windows, some are blocked. The church was restored in 1858. The communion table is early 17th century and the plate includes a cup, probably of 1630-1640. Built of flint and pebble rubble part covered with plaster. Dressings are of limestone and clunch. The nave is pre-conquest and the west half of the chancel is nearly contemporary. Early in the 13th century the chancel was lengthened. In the 14th century the west tower was added, followed in the early 15th century, probably by the south porch. During this century the north and south walls of the nave were cut back at the east end and arched recesses formed, probably to give more space to two nave altars. There are 13th and 14th century windows and 14th century doorways. The south porch is timber-framed and plastered externally. It has diamond set mullions, and has been shortened and re-roofed probably in the 14th to 15th century. The nave roof is 14th century with king-posts. The south porch roof has 15th century tie beams. An altar in the chancel is 13th century, possibly, and was found under the floor in 1858. There are two 15th century bells. A bracket in the nave is reset, probably 15th century. The font is an octagonal bowl of clunch with shields, probably early 15th century. The piscina, in the chancel, is early 13th century. A sun-dial in the nave, re-used in a desk, is 15th century. Site Assessment: "An unusually complete example of pre-conquest work. The erratic planning of the whole building is remarkable". <2> Saxon nave with two original double-splayed windows. Font cover is 16th century, certain motifs look Elizabethan. The chancel arch imposts are curious. Regarded by the RCHM as 19th century but not necessarily so. Font is 14th century. <3> Late 10th century nave. Remains of pre-conquest chancel include parts of blocked windows. Church has a 15th century squint. The chancel roof is probably original. Nave roof is of crown post construction. <4> Domesday Book mentions a priest here in 1086. Graded AIIc by Rodwell. Isolated, with hall. A brick gutter around the nave and chancel and a shingle-filled drain has been constructed at the west end. Restoration usually good but much damage done, archaeologically, especially the apparent extensive relaying of internal floors. <5> St Mary's Church has an aisleless nave, with two original double-splayed windows, and the west part of the chancel all of late Saxon date. The west tower dates from the 14th century. <6> <7> Declared redundant in 1973. To be preserved. <8> <9> April 1975. Field survey. St Mary's Church, Chickney, as described. See photograph. <10> <11> Four photos in the SMR. <12> See: <13> <14>