Church of St Michael

Tower and altar of the former Church of St Michael, built in the early C16; the nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1871 to designs by Sir Arthur W. Blomfield and demolished around 2000.

MATERIALS: Coursed and squared limestone with ashlar sandstone dressings.

PLAN: The tower is square on plan and stands at the former west end of the Church of St Michael; the altar is rectangular on plan and stands at the centre of the east end of the former church.

EXTERIOR: The early C16 tower is square on plan and is of three stages, undivided externally, with an embattled parapet; the parapet formerly had carved gargoyles at the angles however these are no longer present. On its east elevation, a doorway to the former nave (demolished) has chamfered jambs, a two-centred arch and gate; over the doorway the scar of the former gabled nave is evident. The west elevation has a single bay of windows to each stage; the first and second stages have flat-arched window surrounds, the first-stage opening being blocked. The third stage, the former bell-chamber, has on its east elevation a square-headed window opening; the other three sides each have a trefoil-arched window opening with a square hoodmould over. The altar at the east end of the former church likely dates from the C16. It has an 18cm thick limestone slab, three sides of which have been shaped to incorporate beading and a bevel, and two rough crosses are incised towards one end. The slab, called a ‘mensa stone’, from the Latin word for table, mensa, was broken in two pieces, probably during the Reformation.

INTERIOR: The interior of the tower has been adapted to house telecommunications equipment, with steel ladders and floors inserted.