Church Of St Mary

POTTON HATLEY ROAD TL 2249 12/28 Church of St Mary 31.10.66 GV I Parish church. C13 origins, C14, C15 and early C16. Restored 1889 by Somers Clarke and J T Micklethwaite (Beds Mercury. 7th September 1889). Mixture of cobblestones and ironstone. Ashlar dressings. Mixture of plain and embattled parapets. Chancel, S chapel, nave, N transept, N aisle, S aisle, N porch, W tower. Chancel: C13 origins, reworked C15. C19 pointed-arched 3-light E window. N elevation has square-headed 3-light window to E and 4-centre headed 2-light window to W, both C15. Between these is 4-centred arched doorway surmounted by small C13 lancet. Immediately W of NW window is single light. Below NE window is piscina, orignally serving NE vestry. C16 2-bay S arcade. S chapel: C16. 2 S windows and one E window, all of 3 lights under 4-centred heads. C19 4-centred S doorway. Nave: C13 origins, mainly C14. 5-bay C14 arcades to both sides. S one earlier, with compound piers. N one with octagonal columns. Clerestory has 5 C15 square-headed windows to each side, all of 2 lights except for SE one of 3 lights. N transept: C13 origins. E elevation has C15 3-light 4-centred arched window, and small window to SE lighting inserted C15 rood stair. N elevation has C19 3-light window. N aisle: C14, reworked C15. 4-centred arched C15 windows, W one of 3 lights, NW one of 4 lights, other N ones of 2 lights. C14 N doorway. S aisle: C14, reworked C15. One W window, 3 S windows, all C15, of 3 lights under 4-centred heads. N porch: C15, with parvis above reached by stairs at SE angle. Lower stage has 4-centred arches to W and N. Parvis lit by 2-light square-headed windows to W and N. W tower: C15, of 4 stages, with semi-circular stair turret projecting from NE angle. W elevation has C19 pointed-arched doorway to ground stage and 3-light 4-centred arched window to 2nd stage. Bell-stage has pointed-arched 2-light windows to all sides. Interior: rather plain. All roofs repaired C19, but retain much of original moulded timbering, that to S aisle C14, elsewhere C15 and C16. C19 pewing. Circular font of uncertain date. E wall of porch retains indents of brass to a priest, central indent in shape of chalice.

Listing NGR: TL2286449437