Details
STOKE DRY
SP 89 NE
4/142
10.11.55 Church of St
Andrew.
GV I
Parish church. Early C12 in origin, much rebuilt C13-early C14 with C15
clerestory windows and N porch. Restored 1898. Coursed ironstone rubble,
Collyweston slate roofs to chancel and chapel, lead roofs to remainder. Narrow W
tower, nave, aisles, N and S porches, S chapel, and chancel. W tower has lancet
with restored hoodmould in W wall, small slit window, and bell-chamber of 1694
with large 2-light traceried openings, quatrefoil frieze and battlements. Nave
has C15 clerestory with 3 bays of cusped 2-light windows with flat heads.
Similar windows to N aisle, the left with Tudor hoodmould, the right part blocked
by stair to N porch. N door has early C14 moulded arch, and fine 2-storey porch
of late C15 date, with parapet, missing finials, small angle buttesses, and
4-centred arch of 2 chamfered orders with hoodmould. Inner order rests on
half-shafts with embattled capitals. Above arch is an oriel window with cusped
lights and embattled parapet. S aisle has one arched window with 3 untraceried
lights, and 2 tall altered windows with Cl6-C17 moulded mullions and flat heads,
that to W end with Tudor hoodmould. S door in moulded arch. S porch heavily
rebuilt C20. S chapel has moulded string raised over moulded S door with steep
2-centred arch, C13 2-light window with geometric tracery, and fine 3-light E
window with Decorated tracery. Tall 3-light E window of chancel is similar but
with different tracery. Altered window of 3-lights with flat head and moulded
mullions in N wall of chancel.
Interior: high 2-centred arch to tower, of 2 chamfered orders on carved head
corbels. 3-bay nave arcades, that to S of late C12-early C13 date, with
double-chamfered arches on circular piers. Moulded capitals, 3 with narrow band
of nailhead. N arcade is late C13-C14, with quatrefoil piers. Above arcades are
traces of C16 wall-paintings with texts and heraldic cartouches of the 12 tribes
of Israel. Nave roof is C15, restored, with moulded beams and carved brackets to
ridge. S aisle has moulded cambered tie-beams; N aisle re-roofed. 4-centred
doorway to porch stairs. Double chamfered chancel arch, each jamb with early C12
shafts, richly carved with beasts, winged figures and foliage. Left shaft has
similar capital; right shaft includes figure of a man ringing a bell. Early C12
string with saw-tooth moulding in N wall of chancel. Chancel also has aumbry,
blocked arch in SE corner, ogee window to chapel and C14 wall-paintings of St
Andrew and the Madonna enthroned on E wall. Chapel has arch to S aisle partly
blocked by low wall, 4-centred door to chancel, and late C13 wall paintings of St
Christopher and St Edmund on S wall. Chapel roof is of 1574 with arch-braced
collars.
Fittings: fine C15 screen complete with rood canopy on nave side; C16 bench-ends
with poppyheads, one bench with moulded back-rail; wooden trestle for carrying
coffins, inscribed "Iob Swayen fecit 1694"; disused stone font; fragments of old
glass in E window; C19 pulpit and font; stained glass of 1904.
Monuments: alabaster tomb chest in chancel with recumbent effigies of Kenelm
Digby, d.1590, and wife Anne, with mourners and corner balusters; monument in S
chapel to Everard Digby c.1540, with mutilated effigy of knight on chest with
blind tracery panels, shields and corner balusters, a shallow wall recess behind
with 4-centred arch, finials and balusters; slab in S aisle with incised figure
of Jacqueta Digby, 1496, disfigured by graffiti.
Listing NGR: SP8555296768
