Church Of St Andrew

TG 42 NW LESSINGHAM CHURCH LANE HEMPSTEAD

3/32 Church of St. Andrew 16.4.55 II*

Parish church. C13 chancel, C14 nave, altered C15 when aisles removed, C15 west tower. Restored 1878. Flint with ashlar dressings, the nave rendered. Thatched roofs. 3 stage tower, undifferentiated on exterior. Diagonal stepped west buttresses rise to ringing chamber. C19 3-light transomed west window. Chamfered belfry windows, louvred. Crenellated parapet. 2-light cusped nave west windows, that to north blocked. 2 storey south porch. Wave moulded arched entrance below triple statuary niches. Central niche with ogee. head, all cupsed and moulded. Outer niches formerly windows, now blocked. Diagonal buttresses. Flushwork crenellated parapet. 3 3-light restored Perpendicular nave windows separated by stepped buttresss. Wave moulded north nave doorway. South chancel with 2 restored 2-light Y tracery windows, a lancet and arched Priests' door. One stepped side buttress north and south, angled buttresses to east. 3-light stepped lancet east window under enclosing hood mould. One lancet to north chancel wall and low side window of lancet form but with shouldered head. Interior. Wave moulded tower arch on circular responds with high polygonal bases and polygonal capitals. Hollow chamfered chancel arch with similar responds and bases cut to accommodate screen. Boarded Cl9 nave roof on principal rafters and arched braces to wall posts. 1 tier moulded butt purlins. C15 octagonal font. Against stem are 4 lions sejant. Angel and animal heads under bowl. Bowl panels alternate between rosettes and shields. Blocked parvis stair door with 4-centred arch. Early C17 faceted pulpit on 4 legs and later cross stretchers. Strapwork panels below and arcading above. Stairs have turned newel and circular balusters. Early C17 reading desk of arcaded front panel between turned posts. 2 thin turned balusters to returns. C15 screen of 2 subdivided bays right and left of 4centred opening. Tracery heads ogeed below panel tracery. Dado further subdivided into 8 panels under Perpendicular tracery. To north fragements of 6 painted saints, to south 7 painted saints. C19 boarded chancel roof. C13 trefoiled piscina with hood mould. Plain bench sedilia.

Listing NGR: TG4033428407