Details
TL 4245 FOWLMERE HIGH STREET
(South Side)
18/113 Parish Church of
St Mary
22.11.67
GV I
Parish Church. Nave early C12, western walls of chancel later C12; central
tower and chancel rebuilt late C13; west tower arch and second stage, north
arcade and north aisle early C14; south transept c.1300; north transept mid
C14; clerestory, north porch and top stage of tower C15. Restorations
include west window 1857, transept roofs repaired and vestry and buttress
built north of the chancel 1859, part of north transept and clerestory,
rebuilt 1863-4. Complete restoration, by T. Whitehead in 1869, and 1956.
Walls of flint and pebble rubble with dressings of clunch, Barnack limestone
and freestone. Roofs possibly of lead. South elevation. Nave with plain
parapet and embattled gable parapet with cross finial. Three clerestory
windows of three recessed cinquefoiled lights with four-centred arches; two
C14 Y-tracery windows below in two-centred arches, and to the east and at a
higher level a two trefoiled-light window with tracery in a square head
c.1330. South doorway, c.1300, two-centred arch with moulded jambs. Central
tower of three stages with an embattled parapet, and small lead covered
spire, surmounted by a weather vane in 1759; single lancet light second
stage windows, belfrey window of two cinquefoil-lights with spandrels and
four-centred arch. South transept with diagonal buttresses, plain parapets,
and four cinquefoiled-light south window c.1300 with tracery in two-centred
arch with label. Three chancel windows with Y-tracery in two-centred arches
and with a single cinquefoiled-light to the west with blocked low side window
remains on internal wall; angle buttresses. Interior: Nave arcade of three
bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders with quatrefoiled piers
with small rolls at the angles and corresponding respond; moulded capitals
and bases. North doorway C19; C14 or C15 door of vertical boards with
horizontal rails and integral moulded battens, large lock case and key. C12
coffin lid fragment above door. Tower arches; west wall two-centred arch of
two plain chamfered orders with semi octagonal responds with moulded caps and
bases, east wall two-centred arch of two hollow-chamfered orders with moulded
label carved on semi octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
'hold-water' bases, similar but later arches to north and south walls. North
transept arch to north aisle two-centred of two chamfered orders. Niches
with moulded ogee heads C14, and stone bracket and shelf. South transept
niche with vaulted head and canopy with crockets and finials, C15. Chancel,
C19 doorway to vestry in north wall; piscina C12 with plain round head and
projecting chamfered rectangular stone shelf and square sinking to drain;
late C13 piscina with two trefoiled arches in round head with central round
column with engaged shafts with moulded caps and bases. Font, clunch
octagonal bowl with quatrefoil and foliate spandrels on each face C15.
Roofs: to nave C15, low pitched of three bays with tiebeams supported on
short wall-posts with carved braces, each bay subdivided by moulded principal
rafters with carved bosses at intersections; north transept, C15 of three
bays with heavy cambered tiebeams and short king-posts with curved braces to
ridge; south transept, two bays with moulded central tiebeam, moulded ridge
and purlins, short king-post, bays subdivided by moulded principal rafters;
north porch of two bays with chamfered principal rafters and ridge. Glass in
west window of south wall of chancel a shield of arms of De Vere; in east
window of north transept fragments of medieval glass; south transept C14 and
C15 pieces. Monuments: north wall of chancel, white marble pedestal with
Latin inscriptions to William Mitchell d.1745 and Elizabeth his wife d.1748,
above pedestal a seated draped female figure representing Elizabeth carrying
a cartouche carved with head and shoulders of a man representing her husband,
signed Th ADY fecit; in south transept white marble tablet to John Crown
Agnis of Longford d.1829 by Gaffin - London. Floor slabs: in chancel, slate
slab to Rev Wm. Metcalf d.1850 and Susanna his wife; slate slab inscribed
'The burying place of James Mitchell Esq and his family July 1715; slate
slab to Henry Hall d.1757; slate slab to Alexander Chisholm late of Sidney
New South Wales, husband of Emily 3rd daughter of Wm Metcalf d.1845; marble
slab with brass inlay to Anna Maria Blackburn d.1842 and her infant son
d.1843.
R.C.H.M. Report 1949
V.C.H. Vol. VI, p.163
Pevsner. Buildings of England, p.387
Gunnis. British Sculptors, p.15
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
52928
Legacy System:
LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
