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

• Historic England Listing
• 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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  Old House Care and Repair
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  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)