Description

HENSTEAD WITH HULVER STREET HULVER ROAD
TM 48 NE
2/25 Church of St. Mary
-
- I

Parish church. Medieval, with C17-C18 alterations; considerably restored
1906. Nave with part of original chancel (in one range), west tower, south
porch. The chancel was considerably damaged by fire in 1641 and was only
partly rebuilt, possibly in C18 as the date 17-- (said to be 1776) appears on
the south east quoin. Flint and stone rubble with remains of old plasterwork;
some herringbone work to north nave; the tower and porch facade are faced with
knapped flint. Stone dressings. Thatched roof except porch which is
pantiled. C15 square tower with 3-stage diagonal buttresses to the west;
crenellated parapet enriched with flushwork. 2-light west window, probably
renewed, and 2-light bell-chamber openings; at the base of the parapet is a
stone string course carved with grotesques and with gargoyles at the angles.
C12 nave with original north and south doorways. The south doorway is one of
the finest in Suffolk: 3 orders of colonettes, the central one with spiral
ornament, decorated scalloped capitals; the arch has a triple billet
hoodmould, followed by roll-moulding, zig-zag, pellets and further roll-
moulding; over the doorway is a carved string course supported by flanking
pilaster strips. The north doorway has one order of colonnettes and a
chevron-moulded arch. All windows are in the Perpendicular style, probably
renewed 1906. C15 porch, the facade with flushwork panels in the plinth; the
entrance arch and hoodmould are enriched with fleurons. Interior Plastered
ceiling, the nave roof probably C18 but with alternate C17 tie-beams. Rood
loft stairs in north nave, niche of banner stave locker in south west nave.
The furnishings are substantially of 1906. On the south nave wall are 2
monuments by Coade and Sealy, dated 1806: William Clarke, a tablet above which
is a weeping cherub sitting by a draped urn; George Mitchell and Frances his
wife: a sarcophagus above which is a draped oval medallion showing a woman
resting her head on an urn. On the north nave wall is a monument to Thomas
Eachard, rector (1714). 2 hatchments on north wall. Graded I for medieval
fabric, notably the south doorway.

Listing NGR: TM4883386086

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527351

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)