Church Of St Margaret

Church of St Margaret

Parish church with building work spanning the 13th to 15th centuries, followed by 18th-century modifications and major restorations in 1869, 1882, and 1910. The structure is constructed from squared greenstone and coursed limestone rubble with ashlar and brick patching, roofed in slate. It comprises a western tower, nave with clerestory, aisles, chancel, and south porch.

The 13th-century four-stage tower in greenstone and limestone rubble features two string courses and a battlemented parapet, raised further in the 14th century. The belfry stage carries two louvred openings on each face with 14th-century reticulated tracery and hood moulds. The third stage on all sides displays tall 13th-century pointed two-light windows with moulded surrounds, dogtooth moulding to the wide central mullion, pointed heads to the lights and vesica form. The eastern opening is blocked. On the west face stands a tall lancet, while the angle buttresses carry carved figures on their lower stages.

The 19th-century north aisle includes a pointed two-light window at its west end. The north side of the church contains four two-light windows with cusped panel tracery, two of which are reused—one with a triangular head, the others with flat heads—plus a pointed and roll-moulded late 19th-century doorway with a circular window above containing four mouchettes. The ashlar nave clerestory comprises four single lancets and a pair of small lancets, possibly 19th-century in date. The gabled vestry is contemporary and includes a two-light window, shouldered door, and a larger two-light window to the east.

The 18th-century brick chancel was raised in the 19th century and features a three-light east window of that period. The south wall carries a similar two-light window. The 15th-century south aisle has stepped buttresses and gargoyles, lit by large three-light windows beneath four-centred arches with hood moulds enriched with fleurons and human head stops—one each to east and west, and four to the south. The clerestory matches the north side. The gabled 15th-century south porch displays single side lights with ogee tracery, a continuously moulded outer doorway with sprays of foliage on the concave chamfered arch, and a hood mould with human head stops. The matching inner doorway contains an original wooden door with an ogee-headed wicket.

Interior features include a 13th-century continuously moulded double chamfered tower arch with filleted responds, above which lies an earlier nave roof pitch. The 14th-century five-bay nave arcades contain octagonal piers and double chamfered arches. The composite chancel arch combines 14th-century octagonal reveals with naturalistic carved capitals supporting an early 13th-century double chamfered arch with circular imposts, a possible 18th-century arrangement. The nave and chancel roofs date to 1882 with painted panels. A 19th-century door to the vestry opens from the chancel. Three reset 14th-century human head corbels are located in the south chapel.

Church fittings include an early 20th-century screen and rood, three brass chandeliers dated 1834, and a 15th-century octagonal font of exceptional quality. The font stem displays figures in ogee niches, while the base features large winged figures at the angles. The bowl carries finely carved figures with standing-out hair in East Anglian fashion, supported beneath by angel corbels. The font cover is a 19th-century wooden addition. Two notable chests survive: a 14th-century example with five panels of geometric tracery beneath crocketed gables, and a 16th-century chest with arabesque decoration. A large 18th-century coffer also remains. The north aisle contains an early barrel organ.

Monuments include two incised floor slabs commemorating Bartholomew Note (died 1473) and Maud Note.