This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.
GREAT BEDWYN CHURCH STREET SU 26 SE (south-east side) 11/82 Church of St Mary the Virgin (formerly listed as the Parish Church of St Mary) 22.8.66 I Anglican parish church. Late C12, C13 and C14 and heavily restored 1853-5 by T.H. Wyatt. Flint with limestone dressings, stone tower and putlog holes. Lead and tile roofs. Nave with aisles, transepts, central tower, chancel and south vestry. Two light windows to aisles, quatrefoil headed to north aisle, square headed to south aisle, C14 but restored. Clerestory 2-light square headed windows. Three-light east and west windows, both C19. Chancel C13 trefoiled lancets, walls part rendered. Vault of Ailesbury family beneath east end. Tower of 2 stages, 2 light bell openings and cusped openwork parapet. North-east stair tower of 1840, Greek inscription on south aisle buttress and initials CA, II 1684, and graffiti of cross-crosslets.
Interior: Nave of 4 bays, pointed Transitional arcade of bold chevron and billet mouldings on square abaci and round columns, the capitals strongly carved on a varied scalloped theme. Much restored. Roofs throughout of 1853-5; to nave hammerbeam trusses with carved cusping. Crossing of early C14, chamfered arches of equal height and contemporary 2 bay transepts, said to be built by Sir Adam de Stokke before 1313. Chancel replaces shorter chancel known from excavation, 5 bays with C19 roof. C19 vestry.
Fittings: Font: high tub on clustered Purbeck shafts, 1854.
Pulpit: in crossing 1854. Limestone chequerwork with crocketed gabled motifs and wooden pulpit in nave provided 1982. Organ in south transept by T.W.Walker, 1888. Chancel screen, 1852, wrought iron by J.Easeby of Collingbourne Ducis replacing orginal C14 screen of oak, now across north transept. Communion rail C19 and encaustic tiles. In south transept, naturalistic carved piscina and credence shelf with nodding crocketted ogee canopy, mid C14.
Nave, a mutilated figure of seated Queen of Heaven carved into east respond of north arcade, said to be undamaged in 1860. Monuments: Chancel: on north side, wall chest tomb with effigy, 1590, limestone of Sir JOHN SEYMOUR, died 1530, father of Lord Protector Somerset and grandfather to Jane Seymour, reset here from Easton Royal priory in 1590. Pevsner says effigy is of 1530. Armoured, with hands in prayer, resting on helm with carved wood wings, lion at his feet and sword by his side. Above, dedicatory inscription set in wall with gadrooning and arms with ribbons. Chest has shields (restored), and much ribboning. Wall monument, 1706, black and white marbles, to FRANCES DEVEREUX, Duchess of Somerset, died 1674 and daughter of Earl of Essex. Waisted table with 3 stages of panels over surmounted by her bust. Naked angels at sides. S.
Transept: Wall tombs, pointed wave moulded arches, to left containing cross legged knight holding shield and drawing sword.
Said to be Sir Adam de Stokke, builder of transepts. To right, his son, Sir Roger de Stokke, died 1333, formerly with long footed brass. Linear cusping at back. Wall tablet, 1862, white marble sarcophagus on slate, to LOUISA POTTER. North Transept: 3 wall tablets, white marble on slate, 1839 to WILLIAM GALE PIKE, 1829 WILLIAM PIKE, and 1879, to ELIZABETH LIDDERDALE. Nave has four C20 memorials. Brasses: Chancel, 1510, to JOHN SEYMOUR, eldest son of Sir John. Devotional figure and inscription. Small brass, to Lord BEAUCHAMP, inscribed BELLOCAMP' ERAM GRAIA GENETRICE SEMERVS TRES HABVI NATOS, EST QVIBVS VNA SOROR. North Transept; THOMAS DOGESON, vicar, 1501. Figured wallpaintings in north and south transepts, discovered in 1842 and re-covered. Glass, some good Victorian glass, including a window by Street, and in chancel, C16 yellow stained glass with arms of Jane Seymour, badge of Prince of Wales, Tudor rose and imperial crown, all brought from Wolf Hall in 1905.
(References: Pevsner, Sir N. Buildin s of England: WILTSHIRE.
ECCLESIOLOGIST, 14, 380 (1.10.1853 ; Church Guide.)
Listing NGR: SU2775964271
This is part of the Series: IOE01/1288 IOE Records taken by Simon Mack; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England
© Mr Simon Mack. Source: Historic England Archive
This photograph was taken for the Images of England project
Photographer: Mack, Simon
Rights Holder: Mack, Simon
Flint, Lead, Limestone, Render, Stone, Tile, Medieval Parish Church, Religious Ritual And Funerary, Church, Place Of Worship, Commemorative Brass, Commemorative, Commemorative Monument, Chest Tomb, Tomb, Funerary Site, Wall Monument, Anglican Church, Vestry, Plaque, Coat Of Arms
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