Church of St. Martin

CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN, CHURCH LANE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1305018
Date first listed:
16-Jul-1958
List Entry Name:
Church of St. Martin
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN, CHURCH LANE
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Date:
2002-04-04
Reference:
IOE01/06669/12
Rights:
© Mr John Giles. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1305018
Date first listed:
16-Jul-1958
List Entry Name:
Church of St. Martin
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN, CHURCH LANE

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. MARTIN, CHURCH LANE

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

County:
Norfolk
District:
Breckland (District Authority)
Parish:
Thompson
National Grid Reference:
TL 92990 96946

Details

THOMPSON CHURCH LANE TL 9396

13/71 Church of St. Martin.

16.7.58 I

Parish church. First half C14, restored 1910-13 and 1974. Flint with ashlar dressings and pantiled roofs. West tower, nave, south chapel and chancel. Tower 3 stages. Tall base with bell mouldings and chequered knapped flushwork. Diagonal buttresses west, angle to east. West door 3 orders of wave mouldings under hood. 3-light reticulated window above containing subsidiary reticulated units. 2-light Y belfry windows. Flushwork battlements. South porch with triple niche under depressed arch. 4 buttresses to south nave, one 3-light intersecting Y window. Tall south chapel founded-1450 by Sir Thomas de Shardelow. 5-light panel traceried window under 4-centred arch. Chancel 2 3-light triple-lobed petal windows, tracery now blocked. Low priest's door below raised string course. Diagonal buttresses to east. 5-light east window similar but elaborated. North chancel has 2 3-light windows as south with lights also blocked. Toothed eaves cornice of brick. 4 north nave buttresses. 2 3-light intersecting windows. 2-light panel tracery window over north door. Interior with scissor braced roof and collars of 40 trusses. Complete set of poppyhead benches dated 1632 and 1625. Box pew of Futter family c.1630 panelled and carved. 2 cockshead hinges to door. South chapel screen c.1450 with blind cinquefoil arches below circled quatrefoils with shields. Tall 4-centred chapel arch with continuous hollow mouldings. Chancel screen c.1330. Lower part panelled and painted. Stencilling probably C15. Central gates survive below free standing gable with cusps and crocketts. Finial touches top rail. 2 2-light panels between compound stiles. Muntins circular with capitals and bases. Tracery in form of frieze of circles, with alternating mouchette wheel and spherical triangle decoration. Early C17 double-decker pulpit, panelled with some carving. Fine tester slightly later. Chancel stalls C15 and C17, some with misericords.c.1620 communion rail with turned balusters. Continuous sedilia and piscina under hood : moulded piers support cusped ogee arches with elaborate mouldings. Carved representations of Green Man in spandrels. Chancel roof has principals on braces and collars dated R.F. 1648 (Robert Futter). C14 octagonal font with traceried panels. Early C14 south door with flower trail border and original lock complete with ring plate. Bell frame in tower arch braced, probably pre-Reformation. Building of national importance for interior woodwork.

Listing NGR: TL9299096946

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
220108
Legacy System:
LBS

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. Martin

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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