Church Of St Mary Magdelene

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is a building of 1876-77, originally a church, later made redundant in 1978 and converted to residential use as flats. It was designed by Frederick W. Preedy, with Messrs Collins and Cullis of Tewkesbury acting as builders. A tower and spire were added in 1889, designed by Mr J S Alder of London and built by Mr A Estcourt of Gloucester. The church is constructed from squared sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings of Bath stone, and has a plain clay tile roof. A bellcote is situated on the east end of the main ridge, and the spire features five contrasting colour bands of ashlar. The design is Middle Pointed style.

The building plan comprises a four-bay aisled nave with a clerestorey, a west-end door, a tower to the southwest corner with paired doors on the south side, and a four-bay chancel. Architectural details include chamfered plinths, sills, decorative banding, hood moulds, string courses, door and window surrounds, copings to gable-parapets, and angle buttresses. The west end features a pair of tall lancet windows with mullion and cinquefoil tracery, a wheel window above, and a shallow porch with a pointed arch, single colonettes with foliate capitals, and a pointed planked door. Lancet windows are present on the aisles, and there are three-light and quatrefoil windows to the clerestorey. A large five-light lancet window is located at the east end. A south entrance, now a window, incorporates a shallow porch with a pointed arch, triple colonettes with foliate capitals, and carved figures to the tympanum. The base of the tower is square with angle buttresses; the upper bell stage and spire are octagonal in plan and linked by tall pinnacles. New window openings have been created, primarily at the east end and at low level, and some roof windows have been installed. All glazing has been renewed with clear glass.

The interior has been converted to accommodate 30 flats across five floors. Frederick Preedy was also responsible for the design of St Stephen’s Church, the south window of the south transept of Worcester Cathedral, and was involved in the restoration of St Clement’s and St Helen’s churches.