Church of St Mary the Virgin

CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, CHURCH ROAD

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Explore this list entry

Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1342293
Date first listed:
08-Jul-1959
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, CHURCH ROAD
User submitted image
Contributed by Historic England Archive This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Over 400,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places. 

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

Icon Buildings
Icon Scheduled monuments
Icon Parks and gardens
Icon Battlefields
Icon Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Images of England Project

To view this image please use Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
1999-09-06
Reference:
IOE01/02121/10
Rights:
© Graham Brown. Source: Historic England Archive

Local Heritage Hub

Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.

Discover more

Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1342293
Date first listed:
08-Jul-1959
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, CHURCH 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, CHURCH ROAD

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

County:
Norfolk
District:
King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Wiggenhall St. Germans
National Grid Reference:
TF 58264 14404

Details

TF 51 SE WIGGENHALL ST MARY CHURCH ROAD THE VIRGIN 3/39 Church of St. Mary 8.7.59 The Virgin

- I

Parish church. C13 north and south doors, remainder c.1400, restored 1862 by G. E. Street. Carstone, ashlar and brick with slate roofed nave and chancel, lead aisles. West tower, nave, aisles and chancel. 3 stage tower with western angle buttresses containing stair turrets to full height. 2-light restored Perpendicular west window. Lancets to ringing chamber. Belfry stage of brick with 2-light windows of early Perpendicular type of panels on cusped round- headed lights. Crenellated parapet, bowed at western corners for stair turrets. 3-light Perpendicular aisle west and east windows with 2-light side windows of same pattern as belfry. Brick south porch with flat buttresses tunnel vaulted within with 5 moulded transverse ribs. Sundial over exterior arch dated 1742. 2-light Perpendicular side windows as before. South door C13 with under- cut mouldings on 2 orders of columns. Flat buttresses to aisles, angle at corners. 5 clerestory windows, to south of 2-light standard Perpendicular pattern of this building, to north of 3-light stiffly intersecting. North aisle door arched with 2 orders C13 columns with moulded capitals and double hollow chamfered arches. Single stiff-leaf corbel below hood mould. Chancel with flat buttresses angled to east and 2-light side windows as before, 2 to south, one to north. Priests door. C19 4-light Perpendicular east window. Interior. 5 bay arcade of quatrefoil piers with keels between the lobes. Moulded polygonal bases and capitals supporting double chamfered arches. Clerestory windows over apices. Stilted chamfered tower arch on plain walls defined by wave mouldings. Nave roof by Street 1862 : crenellated tie beams on braces support octagonal crown posts with arched braces to collars and purlin. Main trusses scissor braced above and panelled. Chancel roof of collars on arched braces of same date. Angle piscina in chancel cinquefoiled to north. Dado of chancel screen c.1500-25 : 2 bays each side each divided into 2 ogeed panels containing excellent painted figures of saints. Early C17 pulpit with cable moulded arcades and reading desk on scrolled brackets. Early C16 south-east parclose screen with each dado bay divided by cusped lights; frieze of Perpendicular tracery. Monument to Sir Henry Kervil 1624 of alabaster: tomb chest with strapwork cartouches to 2 side bays and 2 of 3 front bays. Central bay with figures of baby and child. Straight-legged recumbent effigies of Sir Henry and wife. On wall behind paired unfluted Corinthian columns flank black inscription tablet with strapwork border. Columns stand on heavy plinth with brackets and support stepped entablature rising in centre to enclose coat of arms. Arched strapwork corner finials. Font cover dated MFPH 1625. 4 turned columns with capitals support carved arcade with pendants dropping on alternate sides. Console cornice, conical roof with ball finial upon which is a vulning pelican. Brass lectern dated 1518. Complete set of benches in nave c.1500 although on south side appear to be nearer c.1400 in date. Pierced backs with various geometric or flowing tracery panels, bench ends with figures standing in niche, ocassionally 2 figures in 2 niches, flanked by crenellated buttresses with figurative or animal arm rests and poppyheads

Listing NGR: TF5826414404

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
221371
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 Mary the Virgin

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 26-Jun-2026 at 11:31:51.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Previous Overview
Next Comments and Photos