Church Of St Mary

NZ 44 SW EASINGTON HALL WALKS (South side)

7/11 Church of St. Mary

20.2.67 1

Parish church. Romanesque tower, remainder of church early C13. Extensive restoration in 1853 by P.C. Hardwick. Sandstone and limestone rubble masonry. Steeply-pitched green slate roof. Square west tower, aisled nave, chancel and north chapel. Long, low proportions.

4-stage west tower defined by bands. Fragment of Cl0-11 grave slab in base of west wall. Romanesque masonry up to and including corbel table. 2 round-arched openings and later battlemented parapet. 2 massive C14 diagonal buttresses. Pointed doorway of 1853 in south wall.

West ends of aisles have single lancets and buttresses added to support tower arch. C19 aisle windows, mainly in Perpendicular style but some Geometrical, have original rear-arches; similar C19 windows in chancel and 5 stepped lancets at east end with quatrefoil above. East aisle return has original 2-light window with Geometrical tracery. Nave clerestory has 4 small, irregularly-spaced lancets. North aisle and clerestory similar.

Chancel has double-chamfered plinth and, except for north wall, was rebuilt in 1853 using original materials. 3 bays divided by pilaster buttresses; east end has clasping buttresses. South wall has 2-light low-side window with Y-tracery under pointed hoodmould. 2-bay north chapel has 2-light lancets with Y-tracery.

Interior: early Romanesque double-chamfered tower arch. Double-chamfered pointed nave arcades with hoodmoulds and carved stops. Keeled east and west responds. 3 columns alternating round and octagonal, order reversed between north and south aisles. Bases and capitals follow plan of columns: octagonal columns have waterholding bases and capitals with nailhead decoration; 2 of the round columns have leafy capitals. Mid C19 arch-braced crown-post roof has embattled tie-beams. 2 steps up to wide double-chamfered chancel arch on semi-octagonal moulded corbels. East end has detached shafts of Frosterly marble between lancets; flanking blank niches. Barrelled chancel roof.

Furnishings: 48 mid C17 pew ends with deep relief carving and poppyheads in the style of Bishop Cosin's craftsmen. Chancel screen has some mid C17 traceried panelling. Reredos largely mid C17 has carved panels and a crocketed canopy. C19 font on probably medieval moulded base and stepped round plinth.

Monuments: Well-preserved C14 recumbent female effigy in Frosterly marble. Late C13 recumbent freestone effigy of a knight in armour with a shield showing 3 popinjays, possibly Marmaduke Fitz Galfrid of Horden.

(Rev. H.E. Savage, "Easington Church", Archaeologia Aeliana, New Series, Vol XVll 1895)

Listing NGR: NZ4142843444