Church of St Mary the Virgin

CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, HIGH ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1101071
Date first listed:
30-Mar-1966
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, HIGH ROAD
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Date:
2002-04-06
Reference:
IOE01/05194/34
Rights:
© Mr David Fletcher. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1101071
Date first listed:
30-Mar-1966
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, HIGH ROAD

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 MARY THE VIRGIN, HIGH ROAD

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

County:
Hertfordshire
District:
Welwyn Hatfield (District Authority)
Parish:
Essendon
National Grid Reference:
TL 27357 08763

Details

Essendon TL 20 NE ESSENDON HIGH ROAD (west side)

9/64 Church of St Mary the Virgin 30.3.66

GV II*

Church. C15 W tower, restored. Nave and aisles rebuilt 1883 by W White. E end rebuilt 1917 by C J Blomfield. Flint facing with stone dressings. Chequer patterning between window heads and to gables. 4-stage W tower was rebuilt at top in C17 when cross bar 2-light windows with Tudor hoods were inserted. W door surmounted by 3-light C15 style windows. Slit windows to SW angle. Hertfordshire spike with wrought iron weathervane. Nave and 2 aisles of equal heights. Gabled porches N and S. C14- style window tracery. Interior has font in S aisle of nave of Wedgwood's Black Basalt ware. Bowl with drapery decoration standing on fluted wood pier. Nearby on S wall is brass to W. Tooke, 1588, and alabaster wall monument to W Prestley (d. 1664) with spiral columns and oval plaque surrounded by leaf carving. Late C19 marble monument of 2 sleeping children in N chancel aisle by W Theed. The church has important group and landmark value (Pevsner (1977)).

Listing NGR: TL2735708763

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
158323
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977)

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 Mary the Virgin

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

End of official list entry

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