Description

BADLEY
TM 05 NE

1/1 Church of St. Mary

9.12.55 I

Parish church, mainly C15, with core of c.1200 or earlier. Nave, chancel,
west tower and south porch. Mainly flint rubble walling, plastered on the
south and east sides. The tower is of flint and brick rubble, with the belfry
stage rebuilt in C16 orange brick. Freestone dressings. Plaintiled roofs
(the tower roof is flat behind parapets). Two features are of c.1200; a
lancet in the north chancel wall, and the south doorway which has an
equilateral arch, hoodmoulded and with chamfered jambs and imposts. Good C15
door with moulded muntins. The south porch is of C14 but almost rebuilt in
C20; a heavy 2-centred doorway and posts which give evidence for traceried
side-lights. Mainly C15 3-light windows, but the west window is unusually
large and of 5 lights. The tower was placed on top of the west end of nave in
C15. Complete early C16 roofs: in the nave are octagonal crownposts with
moulded capitals, and tie-beams and cornices also moulded. Other early C16
work includes a south window with triple ogee-headed lights, and a ruinous
rood-loft stair outside the north side. C13 Purbeck marble font, the
octagonal bowl with a pair of shallow arches on each face; a C17 oak cover
with acorn finial. A fine selection of oak furnishings of various dates, but
untouched since C18: a set of 5 and three sets of 4 benches, one C15 example
having carved animals on the buttresses. Most others are of C16, the whole
augmented and rearranged in C17. The base of the C15 rood screen remains up
to middle rail, with painted stencilled decoration; it is incorporated in C17
box pews, 2 of which have long sections of tracery taken from the head of the
screen. The C17 pulpit is plain but has a reading desk enriched with
arcading. All the C17 work has interesting ironmongery. Iron communion rails
of c.1830. A number of good monuments and floor slabs. Blocking the outer
face of a C14 window is a monument to Henrietta Robins (d.1728). In the
chancel is a wall monument to Edmund (d.1548) and Myrabel Poley (d.1558) with
a coloured achievement and obelisks above; others of the family were added,
the last in 1604. Another monument to Sir Henry Poley (d.1707), with fine
Baroque modelling. C18 panels over the sanctuary bear the 10 Commandments,
Creed and Lord's Prayer. In the chancel are 14 marble floor slabs of C17 and
C18, most having achievements of members of the Poley family, and one with
inset brass. In the nave are 5 others, 3 of which have (or had) brasses. A
C13 coffin-shaped slab inside the south door has an inscription around the
border.

Listing NGR: TM0623855918

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Mary's Church, Badley at Wikipedia
• St Mary's Church, Badley official website
• Wikidata Q7594270

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

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings