Description

SP 9235-9335 ASPLEY HEATH CHURCH ROAD
6/32
1.3.72 Church of Saint Michael
- II*
Parish church, 1868 by Henry Clutton, patron the Duke of Bedford. Some
reworking 1889 by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Coursed limestone with ashlar
dressings. Clay tile roofs. Chancel, N gable block and vestry, nave, N and
S aisles, N chapel, S porch. Loosely Gothic and Tudor motifs. Almost all
windows have curious tracery, formed by intersecting circles, truncated just
beyond intersection. Most are under square heads. Plain parapets to most
blocks with gargoyle waterspouts at intervals. Cross finials to most gables,
Chancel:E elevation has 3 elongated pointed-arched single lights, central one
taller, N elevation has 3-light window, outer lights blind: S elevation
has similar window to E and 2 2-light windows to W. Internally 2 SW windows
are set in pointed-arched 2-bay blind arcade, matched by similar blind arcade
to N. N gable block:2-storeyed. Lower room has plain 3-light N window.
Upper room has large rose window with cross of 2 mullions and 2 transoms and
trefoils similar to cusping elsewhere. Integral chimney stack to gable apex
with linked polygonal shafts. Single-storeyed vestry block within NE angle
has pointed-arched E door and 3-light window. Nave: 5-bay round-arched
arcades on slender columns to both sides. W end has 2 long pointed-arched
single lights. These flank a substantial 5-stage buttress. Supported by
buttress, at gable apex, is partially projecting circular bell-turret. Bell-
stage has single lights similar to those elsewhere. Small stone spire
pierced by small rectangular slits. N and S aisles: each has 2 4-light
windows. Steeply pitched roof extends over nave and aisles. N chapel:
projects from E end of N aisle. 2 3-light N windows. Slender column and
corbels support moulded timber posts, lintel and curved braces, forming 2-bay
arcade onto N aisle. S porch: to W end of S aisle. Tall, gabled, with
pointed archway surmounted by small single light. Side elevations have
single lights. Interior: fairly simple. Chancel has barrel-vaulted roof.
Open timber roof to nave and aisles, the timbers substantial and simply
moulded. Chancel has piscina and sedilia with cusped pointed arches. Glass
of 1890 to chancel E window and N chapel NE window. N chapel has timber
screen with heavy cusping and slender colonnettes.

Listing NGR: SP9285835343

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17551289

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

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  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
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  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)