All Saints Church, Little Totham (EHER 8464)

Parish Church. 12th century nave, 13th century rebuilt and enlarged chancel, 16th century west tower with part possibly 17th-18th century top structure. 19th century century south porch. Plastered walls, probably of flint rubble, base of west tower brick with knapped flint facing, timber framed and weatherboarded upper storeys.

December 1959. Grade I listed. A parish church with a 12th century nave, which was rebuilt in the 13th century and the chancel enlarged. It was further altered in the 16th century with the construction of the west tower, part of which is possibly 17th/18th century. The south porch was constructed in the 19th century. It has plastered walls, probably built from flint rubble, and the base of the west tower is built from brick with knapped flint facing, whilst the upper storeys are timber framed and weatherboarded. <1> See photos <2>. 1984. Trial trench. A small trial trench recorded deposits associated with the church. <3> 1985. Building survey. See <3>. 1985. Watching brief. Watching brief on the south-east corner of the chancel showed the wall was set in a wide foundation trench and had probably been rendered originally. <4> <5> 1986. Watching brief. Further observation in 1986 showed that the foundations were only about 300mm deep and the subsequent rise in ground level was up to 600mm. The foundations seemed to be of one build, except modern repairs. The impression was that there were more graves in the south side of the church than the north. <6> <7> 2006. Dendrochronology survey. Truss A undated; Truss B undated; Truss D undated; Belfry north-west cornerpost 1428-1517; Belfry south-west corner post 1425-1517; Belfry south-east corner post 1477-1517; Belfry south upper post 1380-1516; Belfry west rail below frame 1407-1516. <8> The church walls are probably flint-rubble and except for the tower they are plastered. The dressings are limestone and brick, and the roofs are tiled. The nave was built in the 12th century, the chancel was rebuilt and perhaps enlarged in the 13th century. The north wall of the nave was rebuilt, probably in the late 15th century, except the lowest 3ft. The west tower was added early in the 16th century, though the upper part was rebuilt later. Features and fittings include:13th, 15th and 16th century windows; 12th century north and south doorways (photos of both in RCHM), the north doorway is blocked; 16th century west doorway; 15th century bells; late 12th or early 13th century door to north doorway; 15th century door in south doorway, with late 13th century scutcheon plate; 16th century door in west doorway; 15th century font bowl (photo in RCHM); and 13th century piscina in chancel. <9> The south doorway is decorated with unusual motifs. The north doorway is earlier, plain. <10> The south door has a 15th century scutcheon plate. A shield over the west doorway is dated 1527. <11> The upper part of the west tower was rebuilt in the 17th or 18th century. The church was restored in the 19th century, when the south porch was added. The nave has 18th century or modern windows in the north wall. The upper stage of the west tower incorporates 16th century timber but was probably rebuilt in the 17th or 18th century. Features and fittings include: one of the bells is 17th century; probably late 17th century chair in chancel; mid 17th century marble monument; 17th century floor slab; pulpit incorporates early 17th century panelling and frieze; mason's marks and 17th or 18th century names and dates scratched on tower arch. <9> <10> <11> See photo <12>. Site Assessment: The south doorway is an interesting example of 12th century work. <9> The south doorway is the most rewarding piece of the church. The font is unusually interesting, because the carver used what were to him current tracery motifs. Although the font is 15th century, decorated motifs were still present. <10> NRHE data transfer: All Saint's Church [NAT]. <13>