Church Of St Nicholas

Church of St Nicholas

A parish church of the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries, with significant 18th and 19th-century alterations. The building is constructed of flint rubble with limestone dressings, supplemented by late 18th-century red brick.

The Chancel dates to the early 14th century. It retains part of its original 14th-century east window, restored in the 19th century but preserving its original carved jambs with foliate designs and heads and animals in the rear arch. On the external north wall, an arched access to the bone hole survives, now blocked. The north wall contains two early 14th-century windows, one with a single trefoiled head and the other double trefoiled. Both have moulded internal and external labels with head stops. The south wall contains two similar windows; the eastern window features moulded capitals. A restored early 14th-century window on the south wall has shafted splays and moulded capitals and bases. The Chancel arch itself dates to the 19th century, as does the organ chamber on the north side. The Chancel roof was installed in 1893.

The central tower is 12th-century in its lower two stages, rebuilt at the top in brick in the 18th century. It is surmounted by a square timber lantern and octagonal spire, all weatherboarded. In the second stage are two 12th-century windows with splays and semi-circular arches of Roman brick. A stair turret contains a 12th-century brick newel and stone steps.

The Nave dates to the 12th century. Its north arcade is early 13th-century, comprising 3 bays with 2 centred arches of 2 chamfered orders. The columns are circular with moulded bases, square plinths and moulded capitals. The south arcade is mid to late 13th-century, also of 3 bays with 2 centred arches, but with octagonal columns which have moulded capitals and bases. The nave arch is 14th-century with attached shafts. The west wall contains a 19th-century door and window. The nave roof contains 3 crown posts, apparently late 14th or early 15th-century, extensively restored in the 19th century.

The North Aisle is early 13th-century. Its east wall contains a mid 15th-century window, now serving the organ chamber. The north wall has one late 14th-century window of 2 cinquefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a square head, and one 19th-century window. A late 14th-century north doorway has moulded jambs and a 2 centred arch. The North Porch dates to the 18th century and contains a 14th-century moulded and cambered tie beam and wall plate.

The South Aisle dates to the mid to late 13th century. Its south wall contains 3 windows, one of which retains 14th-century splays and a chamfered rear arch, though subject to 19th-century restoration. The south door is late 14th-century and has been extensively restored. A 13th-century window appears in the west wall.

Interior fittings include a Piscina of circa 1330–40 with moulded and shafted jambs with moulded bases and capitals, and a moulded cinquefoiled head with moulded label. A Credence sits east of the piscina, with a plain jamb and 2 centred head with moulded label, recess and arch. A 3-bay Sedilia in the Chancel, also dating to circa 1330–40, features moulded cinquefoiled arches and a moulded label with head stops. A moulded string course sits above the arches, resting on 2 octagonal shafts with moulded bases and capitals. The moulding of the capitals is returned along the lintels to the back wall, with responds featuring attached half shafts. St Nicholas roundels appear in one spandrel. The sedilia is constructed of clunch and Purbeck marble. A Stoup in the north aisle retains a re-used 14th-century trefoiled head. The 12th-century Font has a square tapering bowl carved with leaves and fleur-de-lys.

According to tradition, a slab beneath the organ bearing the arms of the Scrope family marks the resting place of Henry, Lord Scrope, executed by Henry V at Southampton in 1415.