Church of St Mary the Virgin, Little Easton (EHER 1215)

Parish church. 12th century nave, with 13th century chancel, 15th century west tower and south (Bourchier's) chapel, and 19th century north organ chamber and vestry. Built of flint rubble with Roman brick and stone dressings.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 1216, 1217, 1218, and 37979. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Bourchier's Chapel (NR). <1> Dedication doubtful. Church stands on the east side of the park of Easton Lodge. Walls are of flint rubble with a few pieces of brick, possibly Roman and stone dressings. Nave built in early 12th century. Chancel rebuilt and lengthened, and a south chapel added about 1230. South chapel rebuilt and west tower added late in 15th century. Noteworthy features: remains of early 12th century windows in nave, two 15th century monuments in the chancel, 13th and 15th century paintings in the nave. Features and fittings: windows of the early 12th century, possibly 13th century, 1470, 15th century, doorways of 14th and 15th centuries, a bell of the early 16th century, monumental brass of about 1420, indent of the early 14th century, door of late 15th century, noteworthy monuments including some in the Bourchier (later Maynard) chapel, of mid 13th century (with a tiny effigy of a knight), about 1400 and late 15th century, a niche of late 15th century, a piscina of 15th century, paintings of 13th and late 15th centuries, tiles in the chancel round the Bourchier tomb are 14th century, architectural fragments and worked stones built into tower and churchyard walls including some sculpture. In the 19th century the church was restored and the north vestry and organ-chamber added. Sanctus bell probably 17th century, another bell is of 1643. A chest is 17th century. 17th century monuments in the Maynard (south) chapel. Plate includes 17th century items. Royal arms in nave, on north wall, dated to 1660. Screen between chancel and Maynard Chapel, of wrought iron, early 18th century. <2> Norman origin of nave visible only in scanty fragments of two north windows. Rest, as visible to the eye, is essentially Perpendicular and 15th century except the north vestry. Paintings of about 1175 and early 15th century. North vestry etc. date from 1881. Windows on the south side of the Maynard chapel covered in 18th century and about 1840. Chapel, according to T.K. Cromwell, built 1621. Early 18th century screen to Maynard Chapel was originally a gate of Easton Lodge. In south window, six 17th century panels of South German glass put in in 1857. Monuments included 18th century ones. <3> The nave was raised in the 15th century. Late 12th century wall painting of seated prophet and 15th century stories from the Passion, in the nave. Nave roof is 19th century in date, as is north arcade of nave. Grade I. <4> The church contains brick which may be Roman. <5> February 1950. Field survey. The chapel forms the southern wing of the church, now disused. <6> <7> April 1975. Field survey. The name 'Bourchier's Chapel' is verified by the rector and the church history sheet. It is an integral part of the parish church and is the private chapel and burial vault of the Maynard family, previously of the Bourchiers, both families having resided at the nearby Manor House. See photograph. <8> <9> April 1975. Field survey. As described, but there is no local knowledge of a Roman structure in the area. <10> See also: <11> - <19>