Church Of St Margaret And All Saints

LOWESTOFT

TM59SW SAXON ROAD 914-1/3/76 (North side) 13/12/49 Church of St Margaret and All Saints

II*

Parish church. Unusual history. South-west tower of C13 origins, re-built C15 with the remainder of the building. Until 1748 the building was 2 churches, St Margaret's occupying the north nave, All Saints the south. From 1411-22 both were unified under one rector, Robert Graunt, who demolished the dividing wall and constructed the arcade and made the principal medieval alterations. After 1422 the churches were re-divided until 1748. Restored 1929-38, burnt by incendiary bombs 1941, re-built 1946-50. Flint with ashlar dressings and some brick. Thatched roofs. 2 naves and continuous chancels, south-west tower and south porch. Stepped buttresses to the north and south flanks, the NORTH NAVE has diagonal corner buttresses. Arched north nave door. Four 3-light Perpendicular windows under square heads, very restored. Early C14 three-light reticulated west window with quatrefoils in the reticulation units, also much restored. Early C14 three-light reticulated east window with quatrefoils and trefoils, the lights filled with flint 1949. C20 vestry abuts the west gable. The SOUTH NAVE has a 2-stage unbuttressed west tower. Two lancets to the west side. String course to the set-off under the C15 belfry stage: 2-light reticulated belfry windows north and south; arched louvred windows east and west. Crenellated parapet. Gabled S porch with diagonal buttresses. Eroded roll and wave-moulded jambs. Wall sundial in gable-head. One trefoil light in east and west sides. Four 2- and 3-light Perpendicular south windows under straight heads, all C20 restorations or replacements. Low priests' door to chancel. 3-light reticulated chancel east window of C20 character. INTERIOR. 7-bay arcade divided into 5 to naves, 2 to chancel. Octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. Scissor-braced roofs of 1946-50. Rood screen extends entire width. 1411-22, canopy demolished 1767, all but 17 cusped dado panels destroyed 1941, re-built without canopy 1946-50. Octagonal late C14 font on a plinth. The stem has lions crouching against it, the bowl the symbols of the Evangelists and 2 white harts of Richard II. Set into the north wall is a brass to John Bowf and wife, 1417, with inscription. Figures in civil costume, predella with 2 sons and 9 daughters. In the south chancel a brass to Richard Folcard, 1451, half-figure, inscription, academical dress. On the west wall a Royal Arms of Charles II, painted. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Suffolk: Harmondsworth: 1961-1975: P.388).

Listing NGR: TM5386090496