Church Of St James The Less

HADLEIGH HIGH STREET TO 88 NW 2/7 Church of St. James 7-8-52 the Less

• I

Parish church. Mid C12, C18, C19 and C20 alterations. Mixed rubble with Limestone dressings. Red plain tiled roof. C16 weatherboarded belfry, shingled with fish scale striations spire, surmounted by a weathervane. Mid C12 Nave, Chancel and Apse, C18 south porch, north west vestry by Sir C. Nicholson c.1927 with later extension. Chancel. 4 round headed windows between pilaster buttresses. South west 2 centre arched window of 2 lights with tracery and label over, all restored, splays may be original. Nave. North wall, C13 chamfered east lancet and a C15 square headed window of 2 cinquefoil lights, label with headstops over. C20 crenellated north vestry has 2 square headed 2 light windows to north wall and a similar window to east and west walls. West wall, C12 partly restored round headed doorway of 2 plain orders, above it a restored C12 window. South wall, 3 restored round headed windows and a window of 2 ogee lights with tracery over under a square head, label over. South doorway, C15 moulded jambs, 2 centred arch, moulded label and head stops, C12 round headed rear arch. South porch, C18 timber framed and weatherboarded, moulded 4 centre arched doorway with keystone, double plank and muntin doors with lights and light over. C15 stoup to east of doorway. Interior. Chancel. Stone altar floor from the Island of Oland in the Baltic, C19 coloured tiles to remainder of floor. C19 altar rails. Niche, with cinquefoiled and sub cusped head, unfinished, to east wall. C12 cushion stone bracket to south east wall. C19 stained glass windows. C12 semi-circular Chancel arch of 2 plain orders, responds with moulded imposts, flanking walls each with blocked round headed arches and C15 foiled circular squints. Roof. Carved and moulded tie beam supporting centre post, arched braces to collars, brackets to ashlar posts, moulded wall plates. Nave. Roof of 7 cants, moulded wall plate. 4 northern round headed windows, the 2 western windows not visible from outside. Circa 1200 painting of St. Thomas A Beckett to easternmost window arch, and possibly C13 remains of a figure to arch of third window from east. Other paintings were found during C19 restorations but are not now visible. C19 stained glass to windows. Round heads to north and south doorways. C20 pulpit. Small C15 niche in east wall with cusped head. On north wall, arms of Queen Anne after the Union. South wall niche with most of canopy and pedestal cut away, but still showing traces of colouring and carving. Piscina below. Octagonal font, plain bowl, stiff leaf carvings to soffit, stem of central and 4 side columns with moulded capitals and bases, chamfered base, C20 ribbed cover. Organ and west gallery c.1968. West bell turret with angle posts, arched braces to first stage side girts and solid braces to upper stage. Bill, 1636 by John Wilnar of Borden, Kent. Cast iron heating grids in floor. RCHM 1.

Listing NGR: TQ8101287025