Church Of St Edmund

Church of St Edmund

This is a parish church of medieval origins, with significant rebuilding and restoration across several centuries. The building dates from the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, was substantially rebuilt in 1666 by the Marquis of Dorchester, restored in 1878-81 by T. C. Hine (when the chancel was rebuilt), with further restorations in 1912 and 1960, and the spire was restored around 1980.

The church is constructed of ashlar with slate roofs and stands on a plinth. It comprises a tower with spire, nave, south aisle, south porch, south organ chamber, and chancel.

The tower is a single-stage embattled structure dating to the 14th century, set on a moulded plinth with diagonal buttressing. It features single large corner finials, remains of three gargoyles, and is topped with a 15th-century spire. The west side has a single ogee-arched light; the south side has a moulded arched doorway, four stair lights, and a single larger rectangular light. The four bell-chamber openings each contain two arched and cusped lights under a triangular arch.

The north wall is buttressed and contains three round-arched windows dating to 1666, each with three round-arched lights and tracery. To the left is a blocked four-centred arched doorway with hood mould. Adjacent, projecting from the wall, is the brick and ashlar roof of a cellar. The north chancel has a similar window and a moulded arched doorway. The east chancel features a 19th-century arched three-light window with some cusped tracery and a single transom, with hood mould and decorative label stops. The east chapel has two pilaster buttresses, each topped with a single obelisk finial surmounted by an orb, and contains a similar 1666 window. A band continues from beneath this window across the south wall, the sides of the porch, and the west wall of the aisle. The south chapel and south aisle have five further similar buttresses and finials, with four similar 1666 windows. The 1666 porch has an arched entrance with keystone and imposts, with single Tuscan columns either side supporting the cornice; further moulded keystone and parapet above; and an inner moulded arched doorway. The west wall of the aisle has single outer similar buttresses and finials, and a single similar 1666 window. Parapets and coped gables with single ridge crosses mark the east nave and east chancel. A single stack rises at the east end of the north nave.

Interior

The interior retains a three-bay 13th-century nave arcade with quatrefoil piers and responds. The west respond has a fillet. Double-chamfered arches with broach stops to the outer orders feature hood moulds with human head label stops. The tower arch is tall with double chamfering, the inner chamfer being to the arch only.

The 19th-century chancel arch is moulded and supported on pilasters and colonnettes with shaft rings, all with decorative capitals. The colonnettes have single carved figures above. Hood mould and decorative label stops are present. A low 19th-century alabaster screen is positioned beneath.

The aisle and organ-chamber arch is a 19th-century moulded pointed arch supported on single columns with decorative capitals, themselves supported on single flanking low ashlar walls. Above each wall is a single smaller similar opening with continuous hood mould bearing an inner angel and outer decorative label stops. The chancel-organ chamber features a two-bay arcade supported on a single pair of columns with decorative capitals. The moulded arches are decorated on front and soffit with globe flowers, with hood mould and decorative label stops above.

The north nave wall retains remains of two 14th-century cinquefoil-arched openings with mouchettes under a flat arch. Moulded arches span the south aisle, north nave, chancel, and organ chamber windows.

Fittings and Memorials

A 19th-century decorative reredos is installed in the chancel. The pulpit is 19th-century, crafted from decorative alabaster and ashlar, further decorated with inset carving depicting the Sermon on the Mount. A 15th-century octagonal font has a base with broach stops to alternate sides and a bowl with panels decorated with blind shields set into quatrefoils.

A 17th-century style carved chair and a 17th-century chest with decorative carved panels are present. The east chancel window, dating to around 1913, is reputedly by Powell and Sons. The organ chamber and two south aisle windows contain some glass reputedly by Henry Giles. An inset safe dated 1831 is located in the organ chamber.

The church contains numerous memorials of significance. In the organ chamber is a memorial to Sophia Manvers Pierrepont, dated 1823, reputedly by Pierre Bazzanti, featuring a tablet surmounted by a carving of a recumbent woman with angel above. The east and south walls each have a single 19th-century Gothick memorial.

The chancel south wall bears a memorial to Evelyn Pierrepont, 1773, with a tablet surmounted by a carved kneeling figure and draped urn, probably by Flaxman. On the north wall, a memorial to Evelyn Henry Frederick Pierrepont, 1801, features a large carved angel holding a book with an urn above. A memorial to Mr. John Shering, 1800, is shaped as a decorative sarcophagus. The tablet to Reverend William Saltren, 1811, is set into the wall and surmounted by a carved figure of a seated woman reading, by Flaxman, with a later cusped niche above.

The south wall of the nave contains a large and fine alabaster memorial to Princess Gertrude, Countesse of Kingston, 1649. The large inscription tablet sits within a surround of shields; the base is decorated with skulls, crossbones, and swags. Single Corinthian columns with decorated entablature flank either side, topped with single large finials. The moulding over the centre of the entablature is crowned with a single crown.

The west wall of the south aisle displays a re-set brass of a standing lady dating to around 1385. In the re-entrant angle of the south and west walls stands a 19th-century memorial Gothick niche. A fine memorial to the poet Oldham, 1683, is contained within a spandrel of the arcade, with a tablet surrounded by decoratively carved flowers and leaves, an angel's head on the crown, and a further carved head on the apron.

A damaged recumbent 13th-century effigy with head supported by angels and feet by a dog is present, alongside a further damaged 14th-century effigy of a knight with only the head and trunk remaining.

A large fine alabaster memorial to Sir Henry Pierrepont, 1615, by John Smythson, features a recumbent figure in armour upon a tomb. The base is decorated with carvings of children and shields. The background displays a tablet surrounded by fine and decorative strapwork, flanked by single Ionic columns with a semi-circular head containing a shield and surmounted by further shields flanked by single small shields over the columns.

A further fine alabaster tomb to Sir Henry Pierrepont, 1499, has a recumbent figure in armour with feet on a dog and head on a visor. The sides of the tomb are decorated with panels featuring cusping and plain shields.

The east side of the south aisle provides entrance to the family vault of the Dukes of Kingston and Earls Manvers.