Church Of St Mary

TL 5866 TL 5966 BURWELL HIGH STREET (West Side)

15/21 16/21 CHURCH OF ST MARY

19.8.59

GV I

Parish Church, very fine, Perpendicular, believed to be the work of Reginald Ely, master mason of King's College Chapel Cambridge. Built while John Higham was vicar 1439-67; inscription above chancel arch 1464 for the completion of the nave roof. The early C12 tower rebuilt above first two stages with C15 third stage and octagon; western end of C14 south aisle survives in part with C15 vestry or treasury. Spirlet above lantern to the tower dated 1799. Several C19 restorations, one in 1862 by Mr Edlin, another by George Street in 1877. Walls of field stones, flint and rubble with limestone dressings. Some re-used Barnack stone; interior of clunch. Roofs covered with lead; plain tiles to porches. The church is noteworthy for its very fine proportions and richly carved ornament to chancel and to the roofs of the nave, chancel and aisles (For complete architectural description and fittings see RCHM North-East Cambs. with measured drawings and plates). Wall painting of St Christopher, fresco originally covered in 1649. Three brass floor monuments and indents include a palimpsest brass possibly of John Laurence de Wardboys, Abbot of Ramsey 1508 to 1539. d.1542. Wall monument of painted clunch with two kneeling figures to Thomas Gerard and his wife 1608. Canopied tomb chest to Lee Cotton 1613 with figure in armour. Stalls in chancel with some re-used C15 tracery, and pews 1860; chancel screen C15 restored by Mr Allix of Swaffham Prior 1877; mosaic panels inserted into reredos 1877; pulpit 1885; rose window reglazed 1885; oak screens across tower and vestry arches 1887; brass lecturn with eagle book rest 1901; memorial windows in north and south aisles by Hugh Eaton 1905 and 1934. Coffin stand possibly late C17. Scratch-sundial medieval, re-used.

RCHM, North-East Cambs. p.18-25, plates 25-33, 1972 Pevsner Buildings of England, pp.310-12 Cole Ms C.R.O. Sayer, W. Notes on Burwell Church C.C. (Cambridge Collection) Gathercole, A.F. Burwell and its Church. 1972 Lewis J. Scratch sundial, 1980. C.C. Lucas C. Fenman's World. 1930 Taylor C. Cambridgeshire Landscape, p.156, 1973

Listing NGR: TL5895866063