Description

GREAT BLAKENHAM STOWMARKET ROAD
TM 15 SW
3/55 Church of St. Mary
9.12.55
- I
Parish church, mediaeval. Nave, chancel, west tower and south porch. The
vestry and organ chamber were added in 1877 with other alterations. Flint
rubble walling; the chancel and upper stage of tower are plastered.
Plaintiled roofs; the tower roof is flat with parapets. The nave walling is
largely Norman and has sections of coursed flint rubble. The north and south
nave doorways both have plain round arched heads of C11 or early C12 form, but
are not opposite; the former may be earlier. The south chancel doorway is
similar and has interesting and early graffiti on the jambs. By the south
doorway is a Norman lancet. Other windows are of c.1200; the east window has
3 separate pointed lancets with a vent above, but the centre light was re-
introduced in 1877 to replace a C14 window. 2 small pointed lancets in the
chancel side walls of c.1200 and another in the nave. The plain 2-stage tower
was added in mid C14; it has 2-light traceried belfry openings and a similar
west window. On the south walls of the nave and chancel are several scratch-
dials, some early. The nave roof, of C14 or C15, is of coupled-rafter type
with double collars, the lower set with soulaces (the last couple against the
tower, with single collars, remain from an earlier roof). The cornice was
added or renewed in C19. Similar chancel roof, with single collars. A
roodloft stair and doorway of c.1500 in south wall. The south porch is also
of c.1500, open, timber-framed and standing on a high plinth. The doorway has
a 4-centred head with rose-carved spandrels. The mountant above is carved
with an image of St. Mary in a buttressed niche. The side windows, in 2 bays
of 4 lights, have fragmentary traceried heads. The roof has moulded arch-
braced principals without ties. The moulded inner south door may be of this
date, but the cinquefoiled framing at the head suggests C14 work. A 3-light
window near the south door is of c.1500. C15 octagonal limestone font; on the
bowl are carved emblems of the passion and on the stem are traceried
buttresses with sunk panels between - an unusual design. Fine mid C17 pulpit
with arcaded panels and a sounding-board with acorn drop finials. In the
tower is a tombchest of Richard Swift (d.1645), with carved achievement; it
was removed from the north chancel wall, probably in 1877. In the tower floor
is a marble slab dated 1663.

Listing NGR: TM1180850827

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Mary at Wikipedia
• Church of St Mary official website
• Wikidata Q17526315

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

• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)