Description

BUCKDEN CHURCH STREET
TL 1867 (NORTH SIDE)

5/1
PARISH CHURCH
14. 5.59 OF ST. MARY

GV I

Parish church largely rebuilt between 1436-49 by Bishop
Alnwick. The tower, early C15 is asymmetric to main building
axis perhaps due to the intention of widening the church later.
Earliest features are C13 south facing doorway, not in situ, the
piscenae, and sedilia in chancel. C15 roofs repaired in 1649
and 1665 and marked by dated wall plate and boss. North vestry
and organ chamber built in 1833. Roofs restored in 1937, dated
timber. Walls in limestone rubble with pebbles and ironstone
dressings of Barnack limestone and freestone. Roofs covered in
lead. South facing facade; west tower of three stages with
moulded plinth and embattled parapet has four carved gargoyles
with grotesque faces on the parapet string course. Transomed
belfrey windows of paired trefoiled lights and quatre-foil in a
four-centred head. Clerestory of five bays, and south aisle,
have embattled parapets with windows of three cinque foiled
lights in four-centred heads with moulded labels. Two storey
south porch with quatre-foil panels above a moulded plinth, and
carved animals on string of embattled parapet. Very fine outer
archway, with crockets and finialed label with angel stops.
Window to upper room has similar label to three cinque-foil
lights. Vault of clunch with carved boss of the Assumption of
the Virgin at its intersection. Chancel has three, three-light
transomed windows and a late C13 doorway. Interior; the roofs
of chancel, nave, north and south aisle all C15 but restored in
C17, have very fine moulded beams, carved bosses at their
intersections angel figures with outstretched wings, and carved
figures against wall posts of south aisle. C17 carved panels,
and roof truss inserted into central bay of nave roof resting on
fluted capitals. C15 oak doors to south doorway, and both
entrances to room above porch. North and south arcades of five
hays, and tower and chancel arches all C15 and two-centred.
Late C15 glass fragments in south aisle windows. C16 carved
panels of the Passion, Flemish, incorporated into modern reading
desks. Restored, carved C17 pulpit. C15 font with octagonal
bowl and quatre-foil panels. Wall monuments of note. Bishop
Thomas Barlow 1691, of freestone and black marble; Bishop Green
1779, roundel with reading female figure; Bishop George Pelham
1827 by E H Baily, R.A. (1788-1867), white marble figure of
kneeling woman; Robert S H Whitworth 1831, by T Rickman,
architect, marble Gothic triptych.
RCHM - Huntingdonshire, p33
Pevsner - Buildings of England, pp214, 215
Gunnis - Dictionary of British Sculptors, p35
V. C. H. - Huntingdonshire, p268
S B Edgington, transcriptions of Church Warden Accounts C.R.O.
Inskip-Ladds Collection. Norris Museum, St Ives

Listing NGR: TL1927067660

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527953

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.

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