Description

SWINSTEAD CREETON ROAD TF 0022-0122 (east side)

15/213

30.10.68 Church of St. Mary

G.V. I

Parish church. c.1200, C13, C14, 1798, 1854 and 1859 restorations. Coursed limestone rubble, ashlar, lead and slate roofs. West tower, nave plus clerestory, aisles, chancel, south porch, vault and boiler house. C13 2 stage tower having corner buttresses, string course, embattled parapet with pinnacles and gargoyles. In the belfry stage are paired pointed lights in chamfered surrounds. In the lower stage are single lancets. C19 2 light west window and in the north aisle a C13 trefoil. C14 north aisle with stepped buttresses and plain parapet having contemporary moulded door, a pair of 2 light windows, a 3 light window, all with cusped ogee heads and moulded surrounds. Clerestory with 4 circular lights having cusped mouchettes. C14 chancel restored 1859 with blocked ogee headed doorway and a pair of single chamfered 2 light windows, cusped ogee heads and triskeles. Fine 4 light east window with cusped curvilinear tracery. The single southern 2 light window matches those to the north. 1789 vault and boiler room. In the south aisle a small rectangular fixed light and a 4 light C14 window with quatrefoils and in the west wall a further 4 light window with reticulated tracery. C19 ashlar gabled porch having pointed continuously chamfered outer arch, side benches and a C14 wave moulded inner doorway. Interior. c.1200 north nave arcade of 3 bays, circular piers and responds, annular capitals and double chamfered rounded arches. C14 south arcade, octagonal piers and responds, double chamfered arches. C14 double chamfered tower arch dying into the reveals. In the south aisle a C14 piscina with chamfered square surround and a plain squint in the east wall. There is a further squint in the north aisle and in the north wall a C14 statue bracket. Early C13 chancel arch, circular reveals, moulded annular capitals, double chamfered arch. In the south wall of the chancel a reset c.1200 double chamfered arch having circular reveals and capitals with hobnail decoration, also a C14 recut triple sedilia with ogee heads and human head stops with beyond a matching double piscina. On the eastern pier of the north nave arcade are rare armorial paintings of c.1300 in red paint depicting coats of arms of the benefactors of the church. All fittings are C19 including the early C14 style font. Monuments. At the west end of the nave a C13 recumbent effigy of a knight, cross legged wearing chain mail and a surcoat. On north wall of chancel a handsome white marble wall tablet in Grecian style to Brownlow Bertie, 5th Duke of Ancaster, d.1809 by Westmacott. Depicting deceased and wife on a catafalque with mourning female figure,flankedby mother, children and angel. Above a scrolled cornice with Ducal coronet and palm. Beneath a rectangular inscription panel, flanked by scrolled brackets. Also an elaborate Gothic aedicule of limestone to Priscilla Bertie, Baronness Willoughby d'Eresby, died 1828 but erected 1883 on the death of her daughter, by Forsyth. Above the recessed inscription an achievement of arms of the Bertie's. The vault of 1798 contains 5 fine coffins of members of the Ancaster/Willoughby de Eresby family. There is no access into the vault from within or outside the church. Source: report by P. B. Grimes and Rev. N. O'Connor following inspection of vault having entered through roof.

Listing NGR: TF0185822455

External Links

• Wikidata Q17532198

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Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)