Church Of St Mary

SO 24 NE CLIFFORD CP

2/29 Church of St Mary

26/1/67 GV II*

Parish church. C12, c1300 and C18, restored 1839 and 1888. The 1888 work by Ewan Christian. Sandstone rubble with some tufa, tile roof. Chancel and nave c1300, west tower C18, north aisle, north porch and organ chamber 1888. West tower: 3 stages on battered plinth with 2 plain string courses and a crenellated parapet (added in 1888 ?). C19 west door in ground stage, first stage has lancets, with circular clock recess in west side; second stage: 2 semi-circular-headed windows to each side, each of which is an enlarged oculus. Nave: south wall: 3 windows, the two to the east much restored in late C19, c1300 in style with two 2-centred-headed lights, western window late C19 with 2 trefoiled lights under square head with label, above the segmental headed blocked south door; C19 plain buttresses; wall-plate moulded early C16. North aisle: entirely of 1888 with 2 windows to east of timber north porch of 3- and 2-trefoiled lights under square heads, to east of this gabled organ chamber with Decorated style window of 2 ogee trefoiled lights. Chancel: south wall: 2 restored lancets of c1300. Late C19 buttresses; to west of windows a low, blocked, priest's door with flat lintel; east wall rebuilt C19 with Decorated style window of 3 ogee trefoiled lights under 2-centred head with label; north wall: restored Decorated window of 2 ogee trefoiled lights under 2-centred head. Interior: chancel: C12 recess in north wall with tufa dressings, semi- circular head, probably reset; the splays of the east window in the south wall might be C12; C19, 2-centred arch to organ chamber in north wall; have: 3-bay timber arcade to north aisle, built 1888; division with chancel defined by arch braced tie-beam with tracery in spandrels and close-studding above and by late C19 wooden screen; tower arch C19 with 2-centred head and early C20 wooden partition as infill. Roofs: all early C16, chancel: 4 bays with arch braced collar beams, moulded tie-beams to central and west truss; nave: common rafter roof all couples with arch braced collars; formerly ceiled, 2 moulded tie-beams and moulded wall-plate. Fittings: font has probably C14 octagonal bowl on C19 stem. Late C13 wooden effigy of recumbent priest in the recess in chancel. Two neo-classical wall monuments in chancel with weeping maidens over inscription panel: Thomas Stallard Penoyre, died 1821, by Reeves & Son of Bath, and Francis Rigby Broadbelt Stallard Penoyre, died 1827, by Bacon of London. (RCHM 1, p 38; BoE pp 101/102).

Listing NGR: SO2514945025