Church of St Lawrence, Ridgewell (EHER 7059)

Parish Church. The doorway in the North vestry is of late 12th century date, but the vestry is probably late 14th century. About the middle of the 15th century the whole of the rest of the church, including the Chancel, North Aisle and West Tower, was rebuilt, and the North Vestry, North Chapel and South Porch were added. The church was restored in the 19th century. An excavation in 1995 revealed the flint footing of a North chapel built in 1313 and demolished in 1704.

June 1962. Grade I listed. Parish Church of St Lawrence Parish Church, 14th and 15th century, restored in 19th century. Grade I (See list for details). <1> 19th century window and doorway. Five bells - three 17th century bells (1600, 1601, 1695 - this one inscribed). <1> See photos <2>. August 1995. Watching brief. In August 1995, a drain was dug to a soakaway on the north side of the chancel. An open chute at parapet level emptying on to a concrete gutter was to be converted to a downpipe and gully. At 4.6m from the side of the church, the trench encountered a coffin made of oolithic limestone about 1 foot below ground level. It is thought to be of 13th century date. It is possible that it may be in situ and that it is associated with the coffin lid in the north vestry. In the area of the soakaway, 6m to the north of the north vestry a flint wall was discovered, the soakaway being relocated just to the east of this. This is thought to be the earliest thing in the trench and must be associated with a chapel on the north side of the church. Documentary evidence (ERO T/A 366) records that in 1704, a licence was obtained to demolish the ruinous old Chappell on the north side of the Chancel. <3> <4> The church has walls of plastered flint and pebble rubble with limestone and clunch dressings; the roofs are covered with tiles and lead. The doorway in the north vestry is late 12th century but is probably not `in situ'. The nave was probably rebuilt in the late 14th century. Around the mid 15th century, the rest of the church, including the chancel, north aisle and west tower, was rebuilt and the north vestry, north chapel and south porch were added. The easternmost bay of the north aisle is canted outwards in plan, probably to give more altar space against the east wall. Features and fittings: 14th and 15th century doorways; late 12th century doorway in the vestry (blocked, reset); 14th and 15th century windows; 15th century roofs; 15th century indent of a priest in the chancel; inscription plate indent in the north chapel; coffin lid of uncertain date in the north chapel; 15th century font 15th and 16th century glass; 15th century lectern stem; traces of a niche (filled); 14th century, reset piscina; 15th century piscina; remains of a screen with elaborate tracery and decoration in red and gold (photo in this source); three chancel stalls of c1500 (restored); 15th century stoup; 15th century oak bier in tower (photo of this in RCHM). <5> 15th century except for unexplained, probably reused 13th century blind arcading in the north wall of the vestry. <6> The church was restored in the 19th century. Features and fittings include: early 18th century communion table in north chapel; 17th century font cover plate includes a cup of 1564; early 17th century pulpit. <5> <6> 'An intriguing church with a complicated history which is far from understood.' Archaeological importance not certain but there must have been a predecessor. North aisle has a curiously splayed east end. Blocked 13th century arcades in the vestry presumably not `in situ'. Graded BBIIa by Rodwell. <7> Medieval graffiti in various parts of the church 'of which the most remarkable is a 15th century poem on the south respond of the north chapel arch.' <8> The nave roof is dated to the first half of the 15th century. <9> See also <10>. Aerial photographs <11> and <12>. Graffiti recorded. <13> Site Assessment: 15th century screen, lectern and bier are noteworthy. <5> 'There are many interesting fittings in the church and the graveyard is largely unspoiled, although some of the monuments need freeing of excess vegetation which is causing damage.' <7> 'An intriguing church with a complicated history which is far from understood.. The church, which is fairly large and has a tall, imposing tower, is in a very poor state of repair, as recent quinquennial surveys emphasise. External ground level is high and though there is a concrete-lined channel and gutter, the church is still damp inside. The walls are rendered internally and partly externally - much of this covering is in a poor state. The roofs have leaked substantially, damaging the very fine medieval timbering. Many of the stone mouldings are badly decayed and in need of repair. Finally, the bell-frame is reported to be unsafe and the tower clock. NRHE data transfer: St lawrence's Church [NAT]. <14>