Description

ABBOTS BICKINGTON
SS 31 SE

2/1 Church of St James
14.2.58

GV II*

Parish church. Circa 1300 restored in 1868. Stone rubble walls. Gable-ended slate
roof.
Plan: nave and chancel, south transept and west tower - all probably of the same
date, north porch may be slightly later. Restored and reseated in 1863.
Exterior: low west tower with dwarf pyramidal roof, battlemented without pinnacles.
No buttresses or west doorway. Small pointed belfry openings to north and south. 2
windows on south side - one to nave and one to transept - 2 light with simple
Decorated tracery. Small C15 East window which has 2 cinquefoiled lights. North
and south chancel walls have simple trefoiled lancets of circa 1300 and the nave has
a similar C19 window on its north wall. Gabled north porch with chamfered 2-
centred arch doorway.
Inside: C14 south doorway chamfered with 4-centre arched C17 or C18 panelled door.
Chancel wallsare plastered, otherwise the internal walls are rendered. There is no
chancel or tower arch and an unmoulded plastered pointed arch to transept. Over the
chancel is the old wagon roof with moulded ribs and carved bosses. Otherwise a C19
arch-braced and crown post-roof. The chancel floor has medieval Barnstaple tiles
some with fleur-de-lys motif. In south chancel wall is original piscina with
trefoiled head. The simple fittings are completely C19.
Good wall memorial in north-east corner of chancel to Thomas Pollard who died 1710;
nowy headed slate plaque with Corinthian column either side surmounted by scrolled
pediment with armorial shield at centre and large figure of kneeling angel to left.
Swags of flowers and fruit at base.
East windows is made up of fragmented piece of medieval glass depicting various
saints and Christ's crucifixion.
This is an unspoilt example of a small early church, modest in size but with a
number of interesting features and very picturesque appearance.
Source: Kelly's Directory 1966

Listing NGR: SS3847613261

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536478

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)