Church of St Margaret (EHER 755)

A flint and stone rubble church of Norman origin but almost completely rebuilt in the early to mid 15th century, with a timber-framed, weatherboarded and shingled west tower with a broach spire. The roofs to the nave, chancel and aisle are tiled. The chancel was altered in the 16th century and the church was much altered by restoration in 1877. A portion of the north wall to the east of the north porch is of Norman work and incorporates Roman tiles. The most significant features of the church are the 15th century west tower and north porch.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Mainly 15th century, incorporating 12th and 14th century work. <1> <2> The church walls are mostly flint-rubble roughly coursed, intermixed with Roman bricks. There are dressings of limestone and, in the tower-arch, Tudor brick. The tower is possibly 12th century when the nave was shorter. An aisle was probably added in the early 14th century, in around 1400 the nave was lengthened by one bay towards the west, the upper part of the north wall rebuilt, south arcade and south aisle also in around 1460 the north porch was added and in the 15th century the west tower was built. In the early 16th century, probably, the chancel was restored and widened. The arch at the west end of the nave is early 16th century, brick. Features and fittings include: 15th and early 16th century windows and window details of around 1400, 14th and 15th century doorways, late 14th, 15th and early 16th century bells, brass around 1450, 15th century doors, late 15th century font, late 15th century glass, 15th century screen, late 12th and 15th century architectural fragments built into the tower and in the vicarage garden. <3> Listed Grade II*. A flint and stone rubble church of Norman origin but almost completely rebuilt in the early-mid 15th century, with a timber-framed, weatherboarded and shingled west tower with a broach spire. The roofs to the nave, chancel and aisle are tiled. The chancel was altered in the 16th c and the church was much altered by restoration in 1877. A portion of the north wall to the east of the north porch is of Norman work incorporates Roman tiles. The most important features of the church are the 15th century west tower and north porch. The tower is supported on 10 posts with shores and cross bracing (cf, Churches at Stock, Navestock and Blackmore, Essex). The lower stage is faced in vertical weatherboarding and has a tiled, hipped, roof. The upper stage and broach spire is shingled. The north porch has cusped bargeboards and traceried side lights. The doorway has a 4-centred arch with traceried spandrels and the oak door is of the same period, partly renewed. The king post roof to the nave is 15th century and the chancel roof is 16th century. The chancel has a Tree of Jesse window which is made up of 15th century Flemish glass, fragments from earlier windows built into its present position in the restoration of 1877. Fittings include a 15th century octagonal font carved with emblems and a grotesque head, a carved alabaster wall monument to John Tanfield of Coptfold Hall (dated 1625), A 16th century brass of Robert Sedge, his wife and children, of "Shenfield" (now known as "Killigrews" and the lower part of a 15th century rood screen. The 4 bells in the belfry are all of pre-Reformation date. <4> Description largely accords with <4>, although the earliest date given for any part of the structure differs. <5> Site Assessment = Timber tower comparable to Blackmore and Navestock. <6> Part of the north wall east of the north porch incorporates Roman tiles. <7> 1976. Field survey. Roman brick can be seen in the lower courses of the nave (north wall) and a slight scatter in the fabric of the south aisle. <8> <9> 1988. Field survey. St Margaret's Church (dedication confirmed) is as described externally by <4>. The north wall of the nave and the south aisle have been recently repointed, obscuring the detail of the wall fabric, but occasional Roman brick is still visible. <10> Additional references <11> - <13> Photographs <14>