Church Of St Mary The Virgin

TL 13 NW MEPPERSHALL CHURCH ROAD 3/61

31.10.66 Church of St Mary the Virgin

GV II*

Parish Church. C12, C13, C15, half rebuilt 1875-6 by Sir Arthur Blomfield. Coursed ironstone, ashlar dressings. Clay tile roofs. Chancel, central tower, N and S transepts, nave, N and S aisles. Chancel: C13. E elevation has 3 C19 lancets. N and S elevations each retain lancet to E bay, C15 3- centred 3-light window to W bay, and small blocked square-headed window between. S elevation also has C15 4-centred doorway. Tower:C12. 3 stages, top stage added or rebuilt C15. Round-headed arches to all sides of ground stage, plain except for simple moulding to W side of W arch. N arch partly rebuilt C19. 2nd stage has C12 loop to each side. Top stage has C15 2- light windows to bell-stage. C19 embattled parapet. Transepts: C12, reworked C15. Each is lit by C15 4-light cinquefoiled window with flat head. N transept now a vestry and organ chamber. S transept E wall rebuilt C15, with a tower staircase included in thickness of wall. C19 embattled parapets. Nave and aisles: rebuilt 1875-6. 3-bay pointed-arched arcades. Clerestory has 6 pairs of single lights to each side, aisles have 3-light windows under flat heads, 3 to N, 2 to S. S aisle has pointed-arched doorway in slightly projecting gable. Interior: C15 12-sided font to S aisle. E walls of N and S transepts have altar recesses with 4-centred heads and carved panel decoration, and retaining traces of paint. N one set within blocked semi-circular archway. S transept has brasses to John Meptyshale (d.1440) and wife, and to John Boteler (d.1441) and wife. Chancel wall monuments include polychrome one to Timothy Archer (d.1672), rector. Transept roofs include some C15 work, otherwise roofs and pews are C19.

Listing NGR: TL1345935925