Church Of The Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A church of late 11th-century origin, extensively modified in the late 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, and restored in 1854 by Gilbert Scott. The building is constructed of squared, coursed ironstone with parapeted roofs throughout.

The church comprises a chancel, nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, and a west tower. The chancel is of two bays with offset buttresses, plinth and parapet. To the east stands a 5-light cusped 15th-century window within a hollow chamfered surround. Two further 3-light cusped windows face south, and one to the north, all with hollow chamfered surrounds. On the north side is a 19th-century vestry with two reticulated windows and a plank door within a pointed arch.

The nave comprises four bays with a pierced quatrefoil parapet to the south and a wavy line parapet to the north. Below runs a corbel table carved with animal heads. Pinnacles with cusped panels and crockets project above. The aisles feature a plinth, coped parapet, offset diagonal buttresses and gargoyles to the north. To the centre of the south aisle is a plank door within a late 12th-century round-headed arch of two orders of shafts with rings and water-leaf capitals bearing lozenge and nailhead mouldings in the arch. Above this sits an Agnus Dei panel in bas relief with carved corbels either side; the right-hand corbel is carved as a beakhead. A 15th-century porch with double chamfered arch and moulded imposts features double plank doors. To the left of the door is a 20th-century two-light window. To the right is a 14th-century three-light reticulated window with hood mould and label stops. Further right is a 15th-century three-light square-headed window with cusped lights, hood mould and carved label stops.

The north aisle door is set within a moulded, pointed arch with hood mould and label stops. To its left and right are 14th-century three-light reticulated windows. Further left is a three-light window of intersecting tracery. All windows have hood moulds and label stops. To the west of the north aisle is a single round-headed light. A renewed 2-light reticulated window with hood mould and label stops occupies the west of the south aisle. The clerestory contains eight 14th-century square-headed 2-light windows to north and south, each with differing cusped tracery, dropped hood moulds and label stops. To the east gable end is a 17th-century sanctus bell turret.

The west tower rises in four offset stages with plinth, buttresses and a battlemented parapet with pinnacles. To the south is a blocked round-headed arch and round-headed light to the west. The third stage retains a late 12th-century corbel table, with a small single light below to north and south. The fourth stage contains 2-light cusped bell chamber openings with hood moulds and label stops. Cusped panels occupy each corner, with gargoyles below the parapet.

Internally, the chancel arch is of 15th-century date with many mouldings. The nave arcade comprises four bays. To the south are 12th-century round piers with scalloped and round capitals on square abaci, with responds at east and west. Two blocked 11th-century openings lie above. The north arcade features 15th-century octagonal piers with double-chamfered arches and responds; the eastern respond includes a small cusped piscina. A pointed doorway opens to the north. The tower arch is 15th-century with triple chamfering but is now blocked. Most roofs date to the 15th century, partly restored, with the nave and aisle roofs supported on 15th-century carved corbel heads.

Monumental inscriptions include a tomb to William Clarke (died 1618) in the chancel. In the north aisle wall is a 12th-century tomb set within a 14th-century cusped ogee recess with finial. A memorial tablet to Ralph Wilcox (died 1659) occupies the east wall of the south aisle. Brasses in the north aisle wall include one to Thomas Mastrupe (dated 1463) and brasses to the Browne family (dated 1598 and 1611) in the east wall of the north aisle. A tablet dated 1662 is set in the porch, with two further 17th-century tablets in the external porch wall.

A late 14th-century octagonal stone font with reliefs depicting the Virgin and Child, the Baptism of Christ and various saints within crocketed ogee gables survives in the nave.