Church Of St Martin Of Tours

TM 23 NW NACTON ORWELL PARK

5/22 Church of St. Martin of Tours (Formerly listed as Church of St Martin) 16.3.66 II*

Church, mediaeval with major alterations of 1870 and 1908. Nave, chancel and west tower. The south chapel was added 1870. The north aisle with organ chamber and vestry, and open timber-framed south porch were added 1908, all in the perpendicular Style. Rendered walling, the mediaeval work is probably of flint and other rubble; freestone quoins. Plaintiled roofs. In the north chancel wall is a lancet of early C13; in the south wall is a 2-light Y- traceried window of early C14, and another of one light. The adjacent priests doorway is a renewal of 1908, perhaps a copy of a C13 original. The nave was rebuilt on a new alignment, perhaps in C14. The 2 restored south windows with good corbel heads and south doorway with original battened plank door are of early C15, but the reset jambs of the north doorway are perhaps C14. In the south nave wall is a C14 or early C15 piscina for a side-altar. The C15 tower has a 3-light west window with mask-corbels; above is a canopy for an image niche now blocked. In the late C18 or early C19 the belfry stage was removed and gault brick parapet constructed. Main roofs renewed 1908; in the nave the trusses have collar-beams and kingposts. Fine C15 octagonal limestone font; the stem has carved lions at the corner and wild men between, and the bowl has angels and evangelists. In a south chancel window is a small panel of mediaeval stained glass. A large marble wall tablet to Edward Vernon (d.1757) and others to members of his family are in the north aisle. On the nave wall is a tablet to Philip Broke (d.1762). A floor brass to Richard Fastolph of Broke Hall, with shield and date 1479. In the chancel floor is an C18 ledger slab. Stained glass by Clayton and Bell, and in the east window by Kempe.

Listing NGR: TM2170439693