Church Of St Mary

UGGESHALL TM 48 SE 4/65 Church of St. Mary

GV I

Parish church. Medieval, the chancel restored C18 and lace C19. Nave, chancel, truncated west tower, south porch, north vestry. Flint and stone rubble, the nave plastered; stone dressings; C18 east wall of chancel with chequerwork of red brick and flint; C19 north and south chancel walls with 2 bands of knapped flint. Thatched roofs. Only the lower stage of the C15 square tower remains, with diagonal buttresses and a largely original 3-light west window below which is a stone inscription; the tower supports a weatherboarded and gabled belfry. The nave walls are C12, at least partly of herringbone rubble; there is a break in the walling towards the east end indicating a later extension or possibly the incorporation of part of the former chancel. C12 north and south doorways with semi-circular arches, chat to the north now blocked, that to the south remodelled C15. To the north the nave has 2 2-light square-headed Perpendicular windows (one renewed) ; to the south there is one 3-light Perpendicular window and 3 C19 windows, one a lancet and 2 with Y-tracery. Timber framed, plastered and thatched porch, probably C18. Early C14 2-bay chancel, much rebuilt; the windows are mainly C19, although the Priest's doorway and parts of the south east window appear to be original. 3-light east window with curvilinear tracery, probably C18. Interior. Good C15 arched-braced nave roof of 8 bays, with crenellated wallplate and collars; at the west end the wall posts of 3 trusses retain original carved figures at their bases, with shields to the westernmost truss. The eastern roof bay was treated as a canopy of honour and has traces of original colour. C19 scissor-braced rafter roof to chancel. No chancel arch. Simple angle piscina in south sanctuary. Well-preserved C15 font with carved bowl and 4 lions against the stem. Early C17 carved pulpit on C19 scone base. The nave has a set of C19 poppyhead benches.

Listing NGR: TM4555080396