Church Of St Mary

LONGSTOWE SCHOOL LANE TL 35NW (North side) 2/130 Church of St Mary 22.11.67 II*

Parish church. C14-C15 west tower, 1864-65 rebuild of nave, chancel, south porch and vestry under the supervision of W M Fawcett. Carstone, limestone rubble and fieldstone with some limestone and clunch dressings. Plain tiled roofs with crested ridge tiles. West tower of three stages, embattled parapets on plinth with four stage diagonal buttressing. Restored fenestration includes west window of three cinquefoil lights in four centred arch. Bell stage has two cinquefoil openings of clunch in four centred arch. The nave, of fieldstone with Ketton limestone dressings, has two light windows with quatrefoils in two centred arches. The south porch, gabled, has a two centred outer arch, moulded with two engaged shafts with stiff-leaf foliage to the capitals to each respond. The chancel has three lancet windows to the south wall and three graduated lancets to the east window. Interior: Two centred tower arch of two orders. Wave moulded outer order and ogee moulded inner order on engaged shafts with moulded capital and base. Patterned brickwork to nave and chancel. Crown post roof in three bays to nave. 1863-4 north chapel has reset wall monument of Sir Ralph Bovey 1679, white marble semi domed niche with flanking enriched scrolls on a gadrooned shelf with winged cherubs and cartouche. In the recess half effigy of deceased rising from the sea and reaching for anchor of wood proffered by a hand from the clouds; Antony Cage 1603 and Dorothy, his wife, clunch and alabaster with recumbent effigies and miniatures of ten children in relief to the base.

RCHM: West Cambs mon (1) Pevsner: Buildings of England p433

Listing NGR: TL3106355430