Church of St James The Less, Hadleigh (EHER 9736)

Parish church built in mid 12th century, with 16th century additions and 18th to 20th century alterations. It was constructed of mixed rubble with limestone dressings, with tiled roofs. The weatherboarded belfry dates to 16th century. The nave, chancel and apse are mid 12th century, with 18th century south porch, and 20th century north-west vestry.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 9736, 9737, and 27485. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Parish church. Mid 12th, 18th, 19th, and 20th century alterations. Mixed rubble with Limestone dressings. Red plain tiled roof. 16th century weatherboarded belfry, shingled with fish scale striations spire, surmounted by a weathervane. Mid 12th century nave, chancel and apse, 18th century south porch, north-west vestry by Sir C. Nicholson about 1927 with later extension. Chancel: Four round headed windows between pilaster buttresses. South-west two centre arched window of two lights with tracery and label over, all restored, splays may be original. Nave: North wall, 13th century chamfered east lancet and a 15th century square headed window of two cinquefoil lights, label with headstops over. 20th century crenellated north vestry has two square headed two light windows to north wall and a similar window to east and west walls. West wall, 12th century partly restored round headed doorway of two plain orders, above it a restored 12th century window. South wall, three restored round headed windows and a window of two ogee lights with tracery over under a square head, label over. South doorway, 15th century moulded jambs, two centred arch, moulded label and head stops, 12th century round headed rear arch. South porch, 18th century timber-framed and weatherboarded, moulded 4 centre arched doorway with keystone, double plank and muntin doors with lights and light over. 15th century stoup to east of doorway. Interior. Chancel: Stone altar floor from the Island of Oland in the Baltic, 19th century coloured tiles to remainder of floor. 19th century altar rails. Niche, with cinquefoiled and sub cusped head, unfinished, to east wall. 12th century cushion stone bracket to south east wall. 19th century stained glass windows. 12th century semi-circular chancel arch of two plain orders, responds with moulded imposts, flanking walls each with blocked round headed arches and 15th century foiled circular squints. Roof: Carved and moulded tie beam supporting centre post, arched braces to collars, brackets to ashlar posts, moulded wall plates. Nave: Roof of seven cants, moulded wall plate. Four northern round headed windows, the two western windows not visible from outside. About 1200 painting of Saint Thomas A Beckett to easternmost window arch, and possibly 13th century remains of a figure to arch of third window from east. Other paintings were found during 19th century restorations but are not now visible. 19th century stained glass to windows. Round heads to north and south doorways. 20th century pulpit. Small 15th century niche in east wall with cusped head. On north wall, arms of Queen Anne after the Union. South wall niche with most of canopy and pedestal cut away, but still showing traces of colouring and carving. Piscina below. Octagonal font, plain bowl, stiff leaf carvings to soffit, stem of central and four side columns with moulded capitals and bases, chamfered base, 20th century ribbed cover. Organ and west gallery about 1968. West bell turret with angle posts, arched braces to first stage side girts and solid braces to upper stage. Bill, 1636 by John Wilnar of Borden, Kent. Cast iron heating grids in floor. RCHM 1. <1> Walls are mixed rubble with limestone dressings. The roofs are tiled. The whole church including the apse, chancel and nave, was built about the middle of the 12th century. The bell turret is probably 16th century. Features and fittings include; windows and window details of 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th century; late 13th century north doorway in the nave with probable 16th century door; early 15th century nave south doorway; 12th century round-headed doorway in west wall of the nave. 12th century bracket in apse; 13th century font, 15th century unfinished niche in apse; 15th century niche in nave; paintings in nave about 1200 and probably 13th century, and 14th century; 15th century stoup in south porch. The 12th century chancel arch is semi-circular; flanking it are two round headed arches, each with a squint with a circular foiled opening of 15th century on the east face. Plate of one of the squints (south of chancel arch) in RCHM, also plate of whole church. The church has been restored in 'modern' times. The south porch is late 18th century. Post-medieval details include a bell said to be 1636; plate including cup and cover patten, the latter of 1568, the cup of the same period. Royal arms of Queen Anne at the west end of the nave. Site Assessment: The building is interesting as a complete 12th century church with an apse and among the fittings the paintings are noteworthy. <2> DOE mentions about 1200 and 13th century paintings and says that others were found during 19th century restoration but are no longer visible. 18th, 19th, 20th century alterations. South porch is 18th century, timber-framed and weather-boarded. <3b> According to Pevsner a chancel precedes the apse, a nave the chancel. At the west end a boarded belfry resting inside on a free standing four-post structure the only later (15th century) addition. <4> Three tiles from the chancel floor, about 15th to 16th century. Size and glaze suggest a later date. <5> See also: <6>