Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

A parish church of medieval origins with substantial 19th-century alterations, comprising chancel, nave, west tower and south porch. The walls are built of rubble, largely refaced in the 19th century with flushed flint rubble and freestone dressings. The roofs are covered with plain tiles and have parapet gables, including a large gabled dormer with a traceried window, possibly added in the early 17th century to accommodate the head of a large monument.

The south doorway is a fine example of early 13th-century work with square moulded imposts and reveals. The door itself dates from around 1500 and features deep moulded ribs and traceried panels. The north doorway follows an early 13th-century design but was copied or introduced during the restoration of around 1845.

The west tower is a notable work by Thomas Aldrych of North Lopham, with a contract dated 1488 specifying similar details to the newly-built tower at Framsden. An inscription at the base reads "SCANDIT AD ETHERA VIRGO PUERPERA VIRGULA JESSE". The west doorway is moulded and labelled with shields, lion corbels and a pair of flanking niches with ogee heads and buttresses. Above this is a 3-light window. The embattled and pinnacled parapets feature complex flushwork and bear the date 1545. The porch, also dating from around 1500, has flushwork panels to its parapets.

The nave contains 3-light late Perpendicular windows, much restored in the 19th century. The chancel is mainly mid-19th century in the Decorated Style, possibly a remodelling by A. Salvin around 1840 (drawings survive) of earlier major alterations undertaken by Joseph Martyr around 1757.

The nave roof dates from around 1530 and comprises 7 bays with 2 half bays. It features arch-braced collar beams with pendant posts beneath arch-braced purlins. The principals are also arch-braced, rising from moulded shafts, and there is a deep moulded cornice.

A fine 15th-century font stands in the church. The bowl has alternate lions and shields on each face, and the stem features buttresses and supporting lions above human heads.

The church contains a number of major monuments to the Tollemache family. In the nave, the largest monument is dated 1615 and commemorates Lionel (c.1550) and three further generations of the same name (1553, 1575 and 1605). Each is represented by a kneeling figure within an arched recess, with the three younger figures positioned below the eldest. The upper recess is supported by strapwork and obelisks and is crowned by an achievement. A monument to Lionel Tollemache (1640) features a reclining figure beneath two coffered arches on Corinthian columns. Two wall tablets by Nollekens commemorate Lionel Robert Tollemache (died 1793), with a trophy and an oval portrait medallion above, and Maria Countess Dysart (died 1804), with a seated figure and weeping putto with lamb. Two floor slabs originally commemorated Elizabeth, wife of Sir Lionel (died 1661), and another Sir Lionel (died 1610). Two tablets by Bedford commemorate Vice Admiral J.R.D. Tollemache (died 1837) and Georgina, wife of John Tollemache (died 1847).

Further monuments in the chancel include one to Sir Lionel (died 1727), where his figure is semi-reclining and his wife sits at his feet beneath an entablature with pediment. A monument to Lieutenant General Thomas Tollemache (died 1694) features a bust in front of a trophy in the 18th-century manner. Dame Catharine, daughter of Thomas, Lord Cromwell (died 1620), is commemorated by a monument, as are Lady Mary (died 1715) and Lady Grace (died 1719), with a monument dated 1742.