Details
NORTH SOMERCOTES CHURCH END
TF 49 NW
(north side)
2/42 Church of St. Mary
9.3.67 I
Parish church. Late C12, C13, C14, C17, heavily restored in C19.
Coursed limestone rubble, limestone ashlar, thick pebble dash and
render with some oyster shells embedded. Lead and slate roofs
with stone coped gables and cross finials. West tower, nave with
north and south aisles, south porch, chancel. C12 west tower,
refurbished in C14, heavily restored in C19. 2 stage diagonal
buttresses, upper stage of south west buttress with cusped, ogee
headed niche. C19 pointed west window with 3 cusped pointed
lights, C14 style tracery, hood mould with grotesque head label
stops. Single rectangular light with chamfered surround on west,
north and south lights. Moulded string course above. Bell
openings on all 4 sides, each a pair of small, narrow lancets.
Moulded string course above. Moulded eaves with corner
gargoyles. Broad parapet, Thickly rendered north aisle with C14
cusped oculus in west end. North side of aisle with plinth and 4
C19 two stage buttresses. C19 window to west with pointed head,
2 cusped ogee headed lights, tracery, hood mould and label stops.
Late C14 pointed doorway to east with moulded head and jambs in
one and plank door. 2 pointed C19 windows to east, each with 3
cusped pointed lights, tracery, hood mould and label stops. Low
clerestory with 2 C14 two light mullion windows. North side of
chancel thickly rendered with outline of pointed head of blocked
C12 doorway. East end of chancel rendered with plinth; 3 stage
angle buttresses flank pointed C19 window with 3 cusped lights,
tracery and hood mould running into string course to each side.
Slit light in gable. South side of chancel with thick render,
blocked C13 doorway to east with sharply pointed head, chamfered
surround in one, moulded imposts and hood mould. C19 window to
west with pointed head, 3 cusped pointed lights and tracery.
Single narrow C19 window to west with trefoiled head. East end
of rendered south aisle with C14 window with four centred head, 3
C19 cusped ogee headed lights and hood mould. South side of
aisle with 2 stage angle buttress with gable set-off with finial.
2 pointed C19 windows to west, each with 3 cusped pointed lights,
tracery hood mould and head label stops. C14 gabled porch with
C14 pointed doorway with moulded head and jambs in one. Porch
interior with C14 south doorway with pointed double chamfered
head with raised keystone, double chamfered jambs with richly
foliate impost bands, C17 plank door. West end of south aisle
with 2 stage buttress with gabled set off with finial. C19 west
window with four centred head, 3 cusped ogee headed lights,
tracery and hood mould with head label stops. C14 interior tower
arch with tall, pointed, double chamfered head dying into
rectangular jambs chamfered towards east. 5 bay north and south
arcades, 2 late C12 bays to west on each side with double
chamfered heads, high plinths, round piers with plain moulded
capitals, western responds with large corbel heads. 3 C14 bays
to east on each side with double chamfered, pointed heads, high
plinths, octagonal piers and plain moulded capitals with moulded
corbel eastern responds. Early C13 chancel arch restored in C19,
keeled responds, plain moulded capitals, double chamfered head.
Pointed blocked C13 doorways in north and south chancel walls,
that to north with chamfered head and jambs in one. Corbelled
shelf on north wall re-using C14 impost with human head and
flower head banded decoration. South-east chapel with pointed
aumbry in south wall, with part of tomb recess arch to west,
broken off by eastern-most window. 2 C15 chairs and 2 pews, all
with poppy head bench ends. C15 font heavily restored in 1844,
with octagonal bowl with shields set in cusped panels and figure
of Christ climbing out of tomb, bowl supported on cluster of 8
shafts. C19 roofs, pews and ornate reredos. 2 medieval
gravestones set into floor to south west of nave, both with
illegible inscriptions, one with inscribed cross with base and
shaped plinth.
Listing NGR: TF4223495765
