Church Of St Mary

HENSTEAD WITH HULVER STREET HULVER ROAD TM 48 NE 2/25 Church of St. Mary - - I

Parish church. Medieval, with C17-C18 alterations; considerably restored 1906. Nave with part of original chancel (in one range), west tower, south porch. The chancel was considerably damaged by fire in 1641 and was only partly rebuilt, possibly in C18 as the date 17-- (said to be 1776) appears on the south east quoin. Flint and stone rubble with remains of old plasterwork; some herringbone work to north nave; the tower and porch facade are faced with knapped flint. Stone dressings. Thatched roof except porch which is pantiled. C15 square tower with 3-stage diagonal buttresses to the west; crenellated parapet enriched with flushwork. 2-light west window, probably renewed, and 2-light bell-chamber openings; at the base of the parapet is a stone string course carved with grotesques and with gargoyles at the angles. C12 nave with original north and south doorways. The south doorway is one of the finest in Suffolk: 3 orders of colonettes, the central one with spiral ornament, decorated scalloped capitals; the arch has a triple billet hoodmould, followed by roll-moulding, zig-zag, pellets and further roll- moulding; over the doorway is a carved string course supported by flanking pilaster strips. The north doorway has one order of colonnettes and a chevron-moulded arch. All windows are in the Perpendicular style, probably renewed 1906. C15 porch, the facade with flushwork panels in the plinth; the entrance arch and hoodmould are enriched with fleurons. Interior Plastered ceiling, the nave roof probably C18 but with alternate C17 tie-beams. Rood loft stairs in north nave, niche of banner stave locker in south west nave. The furnishings are substantially of 1906. On the south nave wall are 2 monuments by Coade and Sealy, dated 1806: William Clarke, a tablet above which is a weeping cherub sitting by a draped urn; George Mitchell and Frances his wife: a sarcophagus above which is a draped oval medallion showing a woman resting her head on an urn. On the north nave wall is a monument to Thomas Eachard, rector (1714). 2 hatchments on north wall. Graded I for medieval fabric, notably the south doorway.

Listing NGR: TM4883386086