History in Structure

Church of St Mary the Virgin

A Grade I Listed Building in Gravenhurst, Central Bedfordshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.0046 / 52°0'16"N

Longitude: -0.3833 / 0°22'59"W

OS Eastings: 511075

OS Northings: 235247

OS Grid: TL110352

Mapcode National: GBR H54.CWY

Mapcode Global: VHFQW.9WR5

Plus Code: 9C4X2J38+RM

Entry Name: Church of St Mary the Virgin

Listing Date: 23 January 1961

Grade: I

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1311911

English Heritage Legacy ID: 37620

Also known as: St Mary the Virgin's Church, Lower Gravenhurst

ID on this website: 101311911

Location: St Mary's Church, Lower Gravenhurst, Central Bedfordshire, MK45

County: Central Bedfordshire

Civil Parish: Gravenhurst

Traditional County: Bedfordshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Bedfordshire

Church of England Parish: Shillington and Gravenhurst

Church of England Diocese: St.Albans

Tagged with: Church building English Gothic architecture

Description


TL 1035 GRAVENHURST LOWER GRAVENHURST 4/66

23.1.61 Church of St Mary the Virgin

- I

Former parish church, now redundant. Built by Sir Robert de Bilhemore (who died c.1361), tower added c.1400. Coursed ironstone rubble, ashlar dressings. Clay tile roofs. Chancel and nave, forming single unit without structural division, W tower. Chancel: 3-light E window. 2-light windows with pointed- arched heads, one each to N and S. All are cinquefoiled. Nave: 2-light window to N similar to those in chancel, 2-light window to S with flowing tracery. Blocked pointed-arched N door. Pointed-arched S door, above which is shield surmounted by pointed-arched image niche. W Tower: 3 stages, with 4-stage diagonal buttresses to W. Semi-octagonal stair turret at SE corner. Lower stage has 3-light W window similar to chancel E window. Bell stage has 2-light window with pointed-arched head to each elevation. Embattled parapet. Low pyramidal roof. Interior: Chancel has brass: "Robert de Bilhemore chivaler qe fist faire ceste eglise de novele gist icy de salme eit merci Amen." Monument in NE of chancel to Benjamin Piggot, d.1606, and his 3 wives Mary, Anne and Bridget, and their children. Polychrome marble, with coats of arms and brasses. C15 octagonal font. C15 road screen, retaining traces of painted decoration. Original moulded king post roof. Mostly original benches, with some C20 copies. C17 pulpit with sounding-boards.

Listing NGR: TL1107535247

External Links

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