Church of St Michael

CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, THE STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1032110
Date first listed:
17-Apr-1986
List Entry Name:
Church of St Michael
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, THE STREET
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Location

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2001-09-22
Reference:
IOE01/00565/08
Rights:
© Mr David W. Collins. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1032110
Date first listed:
17-Apr-1986
List Entry Name:
Church of St Michael
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, THE STREET

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, THE STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Suffolk
District:
East Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Benacre
National Grid Reference:
TM 51162 84460

Details

BENACRE THE STREET TM 58 SW 4/8 Church of St. Michael - - II*

Former parish church, now privately owned by Sir John Gooch. Medieval; severely damaged by fire in C18: much restoration and rebuilding work was carried out in 1769 by Sir Thomas Gooch; also restored 1888-90. Nave and chancel (in one range), south aisle, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble, the aisle and east end of the chancel probably of 1769; the upper part of the nave, chancel and aisle walls rebuilt 1769 in red brick (to north) and pale yellow brick (to south). Stone dressings. Pantiled roof, with glazed black tiles to the aisle. Tower probably C14, said to have been reduced in height late C18: square, in 2 stages, the upper stage slightly inset; later crenellated parapet with 3 flushwork panels to each face. To the west are 5- stage diagonal buttresses and a restored C15 2-light window. Small single- light bell-chamber openings except the south, which has 2 lights with cusped Y-tracery. Lower walls of nave and chancel probably C13. To the north the nave has 4 2-light windows of 1769 in Perpendicular style, and a blocked C15 doorway with hoodmould and stone shields in the spandrels. 2-bay chancel with Y-traceried wooden windows of 1769; renewed 3-light east window, the opening shafted internally. The south chancel wall has small remains of 2 original lancet window openings. 3-bay aisle, originally C14 but substantially rebuilt 1769; C14 moulded doorway; original window opening to west, now blocked. Red brick porch, probably of 1769. Interior. C14 6-bay aisle arcade. C13 octagonal font bowl, of Purbeck marble, with 2 shallow-recessed arches to each face. Good set of C18 box pews; C19 choir stalls and organ at west end of nave; late C19 squire's pew at east end of nave. Traceried wooden chancel arch, possibly of 1769. Many wall monuments and ledger slabs, mainly to the North and Gooch families. The main wall monuments are as follows. North nave: Sir Thomas Gooch (1781), Dame Anne, his wife (1767) and Sir Thomas Gooch, his son (1826): by Behnes, without figures. North chancel: Francisca North (1663); Sir Edward North (1708): large, with standing and seated putti; Louisa Anna Maria Gooch (1838). South chancel: North Carthew (1716) and Sir Alfred Sherlock Gooch (1809): both cartouches; Sir Thomas Sherlock Gooch (1851): good, with 3 Grecian figures. At the west end of the nave are 8 good hatchments.

Listing NGR: TM5116284460

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
282037
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Church of St Michael

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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