Description

TL 5457 GREAT WILBRAHAM CHURCH STREET
(North East Side)

Church of St. Nicholas
13/96
31.8.62
II*
GV

Parish church, with a C12 origin, but mostly of C13 when the
nave, crossing and chancel were built or rebuilt. The West
Tower is probably C14. Restored C19 when the North Transept was
mostly rebuilt. Pebble stones, flint and limestone dressings
with some clunch surviving in the window tracery. Plain tiled
roofs. Original cruciform plan, but the central tower was
either never built or collapsed. West Tower added C15, of three
stages embattled with restored crocketed pinnacles and moulded
main cornice. On chamfered plinth, with three stage diagonal
buttressing. Restored C14-C15 window with vertical tracery.
Second stage has a lancet with hollow moulded opening, to each
side and bell stage has two cinquefoil openings in two centred
heads. Nave: C15 restored fenestration. The south porch is
also C15 with two centred outer arch of clunch, much worn, of
two-wave moulded orders, the inner on engaged shaft with
embattled capital. Inner arch is C13 of three hollow and roll
moulded orders in a two centred arch with two bands of dog tooth
ornament. Each order on restored shafts with moulded capitals
and hold water bases. The walls of the crosswing are visible
above the eaves of the nave. The South Transept is of similar
materials and has two restored C13 lancets in the west wall, a
window of C15, again restored, with vertical tracery in the
south, and in the east wall a blocked two centred archway of two
chamfered orders on responds with half octagonal moulded
capitals and bases originally leading to a South Transept
chapel. The C13 chancel has two lancets windows in the south
wall, one partly blocked by a C15 low side window opening. The
south doorway is restored as is the east window, which is
composed of three graduated lancets. Two smaller lancets in the
north wall. The north wall of the nave has a C12 window in a
round head. Interior: There are deep splays to the windows in
the north wall of the nave, unlike that of the south wall. The
C13 arches at the crosswing are two centred and of two chamfered
orders on half octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
bases. The outer chamfer has a stop. The west side of the arch
facing the nave has two hollow and roll moulded orders. The
blocked archway in the east wall of the South Transept has the
similar hollow and roll moulding and dog tooth ornament: as the
inner archway of the porch. There was a rood loft opening in
the north wall of the chancel. There are two mid C18 gothic
wall monuments in the chancel, one to Miss Mary Ward, 1756 and
Thomas Weston Ward, 1750. Also in the north wall and above
these monuments is an early C18 white marble wall tablet. The
communion rail is early C18 and has twisted balusters. There
are fragements of C14 wall painting at the crossing. The font
is early C12 and dates from the original church on the site.
Square bowl of limestone, with lead lined bowl, the upper edge
with band of saltire crosses and fleurons and the lower with
volutes at the corners. On a square stem with large stop
chamfers. Square base.
Pevsner: Buildings of England p.397
R.C.H.M: Record card

Listing NGR: TL5483757760

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17550764

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

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House