Details
BITCHFIELD AND LOWER BITCHFIELD
SK 92 NE BASSINGTHORPE
2/6 Church of St. Mary
Magdalene
20.9.66
G.V. I
Parish church. C11, C12, early and late C13, C14, C16, 1873
chancel rebuilt, C19, C20 boiler room. Coursed and squared
limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. Ashlar. Lead and
Collyweston slate roofs. Western tower, nave with clerestory,
north aisle, chancel, south porch. 3 stage C13 tower has plinth,
chamfered and roll moulded string courses, battlemented parapet
with angle chutes, recessed octagonal ashlar spire with 2 light
lucarnes to the principal directions, floriate knopped top and
weather vane. The 2 light belfry openings have heavy Y tracery,
chamfered surround and hood mould. To the south side ground
stage a blank pointed opening and a reset C18 grave slab. To the
second stage a narrow rectangular light. The C16 west window is
of 2 lights, with cusped heads to the lights, triangular head and
hood mould, set in roll and wave moulded surround. The west
window of the north aisle is similar. C20 boiler house between
aisle and tower. The squared rubble north aisle has moulded
parapet, 3 stepped buttresses with bell moulded bases, a C13
pointed doorway in chamfered surround, and a 3 light C14 window
with ogee heads to the lights, flat head and hood mould. In the
east wall a C19 2 light window, pointed heads to the lights and
quatrefoil. C14 ashlar clerestory having moulded parapet with 3
two light windows, cusped ogee heads, moulded pointed surrounds.
c.1873 chancel with Collyweston slate roof, having 2 light window
in the north wall, 2 similar windows to the south, all with
cusped heads and trefoils. The matching east window is of 3
lights with 2 quatrefoils to the head. The south wall of the
nave has 3 tall stepped buttresses, chamfered string course and
moulded parapet, with late C13 3 light intersecting traceried
window with hood mould, and an early C13 2 light window with
rounded heads to the tall lights. Matching clerestory. C14
gabled porch, with pointed outer doorway, moulded octagonal
capitals, side benches, single 2 light ogee headed side windows,
and a ribbed roof. Inner doorway is late C12, round headed, with
dogtooth to the inner chamfer. Interior. 3 bay C12 north
arcade, clearly inserted into an earlier wall with C11
herringbone masonry. Circular columns, responds and abaci,
double chamfered round arches with C19 painted texts. Late C13
triple chamfered tower arch, dying to the reveals with above the
earlier roof scar. C14 double chamfered chancel arch having
octagonal responds and embattled imposts, with to north a C14
niche with cusped ogee head and pinnacles. In the eastern reveal
of the easternmost south nave window a further C14 niche with
trefoil head and ballflower decoration to underside of base.
Beneath the window cill a hacked back piscina. High up on the
north side is a blocked doorway to the roof loft. The fine nave
and aisle roofs are C16, restored C19, retaining moulded
principals, angel supporters and floriate bosses. In the chancel
C19 double chamfered arch to vestry, and a C19 roof supported on
contemporary human head corbels. C19 stained glass in east
window. C16 octagonal font having quatrelobe panels with the
symbol of the passion and other devices, with a top frieze of
flowers and other tendrils. Monuments. In the north aisle a
respositioned brass plaque to Elizabeth Lack, d.l661, with
engraved coat of arms.
Listing NGR: SK9830728396
