Description

ASHMANHAUGH STALHAM ROAD
TG 32 SW
2/8 Church of St. Lawrence
16.4.55
- I

Parish church. West tower lower parts mid Cll, remainder C12, C14 nave, C15
chancel, restored 1803. Flint with ashlar dressings. Pantiled roofs. 3
stage circular tower, the lower parts incorporating some ferruginous
conglomerate and herringbone masonry. Renewed 2-light Y tracery west window
above blocked lancet. Blocked arched ringing chamber windows with ferruginous
jambs. Arched and louvred belfry openings. Plain parapet. Stepped side
buttresses to nave and chancel. South porch with stepped gable (the gable
renewed 1803) supported by diagonal buttresses. Hollow moulded entrance arch
with hood mould below Perpendicular traceried statuary niche. 2 C14 3-light
cusped lancet south nave windows and one early Perpendicular 3-light chancel
window over priests' door. Brick eaves cornice to nave and chancel of 1803
re-roofing. Priests' door double wave moulded. Gables to set-offs on chancel
buttresses, the eastern buttresses rising to form traceried plinths for now
absent finials. Chancel east wall of coursed knapped flint with a dado of
cusped ogee arcading in flushwork. C19 3-light east window. One early
Perpendicular 3-light north chancel window. One C14 2-light north nave
mouchette window to east of further, taller, window blocked with brick.
Interior. Tall pointed tower arch, double chamfered in arch. Double
chamfered chancel arch on semi-circular responds. Nave and chancel roofs
of arched Gothic panelling above cornice with fleuron decoration. Roofs of
1803 imitating that in hall of Beeston Hall. Octagonal C19 font with encircled
quatrefoils and tracery motifs. Interlace arcading to north nave dado of
1773. Chancel windows with filleted rolls to jambs. Wall monument in chancel
to Thomas Preston 1658 : stone strapwork cartouche with bowed oval marble
inscription panel below open scrolled pediment and achievement. Altar tomb
to Francis Preston 1623 of alabaster and marble : marble pilasters and
inscription panel between which are two relief strapwork achievements flanked
by fruit clusters. Wall monument to Isaac Preston 1708 signed by Rush (of
Norwich) : pilasters support curved pediment, on the shoulders of which stand
flaming torches, on the apex an urn. Below inscription panel a foliate apron
with cherub head. Wall monument to Alice Preston 1743 by John Brine (of
London) : pilasters support curved pediment above which is broken pediment
with achievement. Inscription in form of tomb chest with surmounting urn.
Below a drapery apron with further valediction. In nave a stone cartouche
commemorating the augmentation of St. Lawrence's rectory with land through
Queen Anne's Bounty, 1741.

Listing NGR: TG3279721962

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536892

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)