Listing Text

SU 65 NE HARTLEY WESPALL HARTLEY WESPALL
6/34
26.4.57 Church of St Mary the
Blessed Virgin

I

C14, 'restored' 1868 by Sir Gilbert Scott. Apart from the west wall the church is of
the later date, comprising an aisleless nave and chancel, a tower to the north of the
chancel, and a small north porch. Tile roof. Flint walls with stone dressings,
including 2 and 3-light windows, flush-band and buttresses to the outside corners.
Above the eaves level the tower is tile-hung (on framework re-used from the old west
tower) with a slatted bell cage and a shingled broach spire. Within the nave, in the
form of 3 bays (4 trusses) there remains a fine open roof of the first period, with
ornamental struts and arch-braced tie-beams, resting on timber verticals with attached
4-columns; there is also a timber-framed arched door into the porch. A feature of the
building is the west wall, which has the exposed frame on the outside, with rendered
infill; the upper part continues the roof design of the inside and below the tie-beam
there is a massive vertical with braces on each side, all the framing having a cusped
effect. Inside, there is a wall monument of 1692, a Jacobean pulpit (from the earlier
church) and 2 floor slabs containing fragments of brass inlays (one of 1448). Grade I
for importance of the mediaeval timber-framing.

Listing NGR: SU7002957698