Description

SOUTHWARK

TQ3379 BERMONDSEY STREET 636-1/5/46 (East side) 06/12/49 Church of St Mary Magdalene

GV II*

Church. 1675-9, incorporating C15 tower, remodelled C19. By Charles Stanton. Lower stages of west tower C15 (now obscured), upper part of tower rebuilt and front remodelled 1830, George Porter; chancel lengthened, 1883. MATERIALS: stucco with slate roof. PLAN: nave with aisles of differing widths (semicircular gable extension to south aisle), tower over western entrance. Chancel an extension of nave, vestry an extension of north aisle. EXTERIOR: west front: remodelled in playful Gothick style with crenellated parapets to 1st stage of tower and side aisle lean-to roofs. Tower has pinnacles and upper stage with tiny lantern surmounting 4 gables. Tudor arches to doors to nave and aisles, pointed arches to traceried windows above, all with hood moulds. INTERIOR: retains late C17 character: closed narthex at west end with stairs leading to galleries. 4-bay, groin-vaulted nave with crossing in 2nd bay from west. Shallow vaults north and south of crossing, suggesting transepts, the southern one extended south of south aisle wall. Flat aisle ceilings. Chancel of 2 bays with coffered barrel vault. Arcade of giant Tuscan columns supporting entablature. Gallery around 3 sides on slender wooden composite columns, panelled and with carved cornice having angel heads over columns. South gallery (added in 1794) set further back into aisle with area below now screened off to create separate room. Round-arched windows with leaded lights, that to south transept very large with Gothick tracery. FITTINGS: organ in west gallery, case of 1750. Carved reredos with angel heads and garlands (reassembled). 2 brass candelabra dated 1699 and 1703 in nave. Large window in east wall of chancel with stained glass of 1883. MONUMENTS: large monument, 1681 to William Casteil: black and white marble on heavy scrolled brackets, with columns, broken pediment and cresting; and another large monument to the Browning family, 1758. The medieval parish church of Bermondsey, it forms a group with No.191 (qv). (The Buildings of England: Cherry B: London 2: South: 1983-: 599-600).



Listing NGR: TQ3331179459

External Links

• St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey at Wikipedia
• St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey official website
• Wikidata Q7594568

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 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)