Church Of St Laurence

The Church of St Laurence is a parish church of mid-12th-century origin, substantially altered and extended in the 14th century, truncated and modified in the 16th century, and restored by Frederick Chancellor between 1895 and 1907. The building is constructed of flint rubble with dressings of clunch (soft white limestone) and red brick, the latter partly plastered, and roofed with machine-made red clay tiles. The belfry is timber-framed and partly weatherboarded, with a shingled spire.

Historical Background

The church was founded as an Augustinian Priory in the mid-12th century and dissolved in 1527. The existing structure represents what was originally the structural nave and aisles of a much larger building that formerly extended further east. Two incomplete windows survive at the east end, evidence of the building's former extent. The north arcade (except the west bay) was rebuilt in the early 16th century, while the 12th-century west bay survives. The west belfry and spire date from the 14th century. Early in the 16th century, arches were inserted to the north and south of the parish altar for two storeys in the aisles, with large plain openings towards the nave. The east end was demolished and blocked. The north porch dates from the 19th century but incorporates fragments of the original structure. The north arcade was rebuilt using the same stones during the 1895-1907 restoration, and the east end of the north aisle was also rebuilt at this time.

Nave

The nave of the priory church now forms the parish nave and chancel. The east wall is 19th-century but incorporates numerous worked stones. Internally, this wall is splayed back to reveal part of the mid-14th-century octagonal responds of a former transverse arch. These have moulded capitals and taper back to a point about two metres above the floor.

In the north wall are six arches. The easternmost is early 16th-century, constructed of plastered brick with a four-centred arch of three chamfered orders and semi-octagonal responds. The eastern respond has a moulded stone capital and base, while the western respond is repaired with cement and the base is cut away. The arch is kept low to accommodate an upper floor in the east bay of the north aisle, since removed.

The second, third, fourth and fifth arches are 14th-century (rebuilt). The moulded two-centred arches have moulded labels with shield-stops, some 19th-century, and spring from columns each with four attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The responds have attached half-columns.

The sixth arch is mid-12th-century, semicircular and of one square order. The square pier has at each corner an attached shaft with three waterleaf capitals and a scalloped capital to the northwest, and moulded imposts. The respond of the fifth arch is built against this pier; the west respond is similar to half a square pier.

Above the east arch of the arcade is a plain window opening with a shallow segmental head, now blocked on the south, which formerly opened from an upper floor in the north aisle. East of the head of this arch, partly cut away by the east wall, is a blocked 12th-century window with roll-moulded jambs and a semicircular arch. Above the fifth pier and centrally over the 12th-century pier is a 12th-century clerestorey window of one rebated round light, now opening into the north aisle but with the weathering of the original aisle roof below it.

South Arcade

The south arcade has six bays. The easternmost arch matches that opposite, but the capitals of the responds are cement-rendered. Above and to the east of the arch is part of a blocked window similar to that opposite, but with a short length of roll-moulded string course to the west. Centrally over the arch is a plain opening, wider than that opposite, with a square head and timber on the south side, indicating the former existence of an upper floor in the east bay of the south aisle.

The second, third, fourth and fifth bays have two-centred arches of three chamfered orders, with brick octagonal piers and semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals, all early 16th-century. The second column has a reused round stone base; the fourth column and west respond have moulded stone bases. Painted in red on the east side of the fourth arch is a consecration cross with the letter M below it.

The sixth bay is 12th-century and matches that opposite, except that all the attached shafts have scalloped capitals and the impost mouldings are repaired with cement. Above the fifth pier is a window matching that opposite, with similar weathering below.

West Wall

The west wall is entirely 12th-century and was external before the timber belfry was erected against it. The west doorway has three plain orders with a semicircular head and chamfered label. The jambs formerly each had two free shafts and one worked on the inner order; only the scalloped capitals remain, with grooved and chamfered abaci. The jambs are repaired with brick. Above the doorway are two hollow-chamfered and round-headed windows, and higher up a circular window (19th-century internally). South of the doorway the rubble has been cut back for a first-floor fireplace and flue, which must pre-date the belfry as it is obstructed by one of the main posts.

The roof is 19th-century but retains some late 14th-century carved bosses depicting faces, foliage and shields.

North Aisle

The north aisle has in its east wall the southern part of an arch, probably 13th-century, dying into the 19th-century buttress. The remainder of the arch has been destroyed, and the filling is 19th-century. The north wall is 19th-century east of the porch and 14th-century to the west. It contains five windows. The easternmost is a single early 16th-century light with a four-centred head, restored externally. The second window is 19th-century. The third window is 19th-century except for the head and tracery of the western light and the internal head of both lights, which are 14th-century reset. The fourth is similar to the third and is 14th-century reset with some 19th-century stonework. The fifth window is similar but with a restored moulded label.

Between the fourth and fifth windows is the mid-14th-century north doorway with a two-centred arch, moulded label with 19th-century headstops, and restored moulded jambs.

East of the porch and projecting on 19th-century buttresses are two 17th-century gabled dormers, each of three lights with an oval light above, with moulded mullions, jambs and heads, and diamond leaded glazing. The east dormer is restored; the west has only minor repairs. Both have 17th-century bargeboards.

South Aisle

The south aisle has in its east wall a blocked 13th-century two-centred archway with a moulded label on the west side. The south wall is splayed back to accommodate the width of the archway. At the southeast corner is a brick diagonal buttress inscribed with the date 1714 and two initials, of which the second letter is B.

The south wall is mainly early 16th-century except at the east end, where it may be 13th-century. There is a 13th-century blocked two-centred doorway from the former cloister. Externally, part of the two-centred arch is visible, with a weathered capital for a round shaft (now missing). Internally, the whole arch and the segmental pointed and shouldered rear-arch with moulded label are visible. Above it internally is set a carved figure of a beast with the head broken off.

West of this arch is a blocked 16th-century brick window with chamfered four-centred head and jambs, visible externally. Further west are three 19th-century windows. Between the second and third is the 18th-century south doorway with a chamfered lintel, formerly a west doorway from the cloister. On this side are three 19th-century dormers. The upper part of the west end of the wall is timber-framed. In the west wall is an 18th-century window of two semicircular lights with a 20th-century frame.

Belfry

The belfry is almost square in plan and comprises three diminishing stages. The lowest stage has exposed timber framing, the middle stage is clad with vertical hardwood boards, and the third is clad with 20th-century horizontal weatherboarding. Between the stages and above are pent-roofs: the lowest is tiled with projecting eaves supported by wide solid brackets, the others are shingled. The top stage is finished by an octagonal spire.

Four massive posts are arranged in a square, with two high two-centred arches across the axis and an intermediate post and two lower two-centred arches in each side. Three of the posts are approximately 0.50 metres square at the base, with a chamfered order attached by slip tenons and aligning with similar orders on the transverse arches. In the northeast post the chamfered order is cut in the solid, giving overall dimensions of 0.57 by 0.66 metres—an exceptional timber in any context.

In the spandrels of the transverse arches are vertical struts with curved altire braces above. To each side are curved shores up to 0.16 metres thick in six successive stages. In each side are four pairs of curved saltire braces, up to the first floor which is partly rebuilt. Outside the main posts are fourteen wallposts and heavy studs 0.28 to 0.38 metres apart with curved braces trenched to the outside.

The north wall has an inserted door. The south wall has an unglazed window with restored diamond mullions and an original shutter rail, a rare feature. The south and west walls retain many panels of wattle and daub infill. All the sills are original, up to 0.48 by 0.42 metres; the plinths are rebuilt.

In the west wall is a window of six lights with a straight head. The head and outer jambs are chamfered with broach stops; the mullions and inner jambs are moulded in two hollow chamfers and are grooved for glass. Cinquefoiled wooden tracery, also grooved for glass, appears to have been inserted after the original construction, probably in the late 15th century; a mortice for a former mullion is visible above it. Two arched braces have been removed from the east frame to clear the 12th-century windows, presumably during the 19th-century restoration.

Above the first floor each side of the square frame has one intermediate post. The eight panels so formed each have curved saltire braces. The floor above is original, of horizontal joists with a framed bell-trap. Above this each side of the tower has paired curved tension braces to the corner posts, with wattle fixings for former infill of wattle and daub.

The bell-frame is a later addition, wholly composed of straight timbers, diagonally braced, tenoned and pegged, probably of 16th-century construction. The base of the octagonal spire has been restored, and the upper part rebuilt with some restored timbers. Canted posts are tenoned to tie-beams above the highest stage of the tower, with two stages of curved saltire bracing. At the head is a horizontal frame carrying the spiremast.

Dating Note on the Belfry

In 1962 C.A. Hewett dated the belfry and spire to circa 1480, a dating followed by Pevsner and Scarfe. However, this was greatly influenced by the west window tracery, which was taken to be integral with the main structure. It now appears that an originally unglazed window was glazed in the 15th century and that the cinquefoiled tracery was inserted at that time. The multiple curved bracing, the heavy sections of the braces and brackets (even those which do not carry much stress), and the form of the tying-joints are all more typical of the early 14th century. On historical grounds too, it is unlikely that the Priory would have been able to undertake a major timber construction of this quality in a period of falling revenues and high wages, or at any time after the Black Death. The large number of timbers, each having long sequences of growth-rings, makes this structure highly suitable for dendrochronological analysis.

Fittings and Monuments

The font, dating from the 14th or 15th century, has an octagonal bowl with a hollow chamfered lower edge, an octagonal stem, and an octagonal plinth with similar moulding.

In the chancel is an indent of a foliated cross with stem resting on breast and an incomplete marginal inscription in Lombardic letters. In the nave is an indent of a brass (now stored in the vestry) of a secular male figure in fur-trimmed gown with inscription and lower half missing, early 15th-century.

In the chancel and nave are floor slabs to Stephen Smyth (1670), Henry Smyth (1671), Stephen Smyth (1672), Thomas Smyth (1684), Charles Smyth (1720), and Arthur Smyth (undated), all in black marble with achievements of arms, and to Simon Lynch, Rector of Runwell (1660), with achievement of arms.

In the north aisle is an altar-tomb in white marble to Charles Alexander (1775) and floor-slabs to Thomas Alexander Smyth (1747), Mary Tendring (1732), Esther Acworth (1768), and Dorcas Spriggs (1752).

In the south aisle is an altar-tomb (of Thomas Smyth, 1594, and Margaret, his wife) with a 19th-century base of brick and cement, enriched alabaster pilasters, gadrooned table and recumbent effigies of a man in armour and a woman in ruff and close dress, all of alabaster repaired with plaster. On the south wall is a monument to Joanna Gibson (1746) in alabaster, with tented drapery, putti, and scrolls; the inscription is partly indecipherable.

There are five bells: the second by Miles Graye (1657), the third by Miles Graye (1648), and the fourth by Thomas Lester (1752).

In the belfry is a large panel of painted pine with a moulded frame, recording benefactions to the poor up to 1728.