Church Of St Andrew

COTTON CHURCH ROAD TM 06 NE 2/15 Church of St Andrew 29.7.55

GV

I

Parish church. C14 with C15 clerestorey. Restoration of 1890 (tower) and 1903. Aisled nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble with stone dressings; the chancel and south aisle are rendered. Nave and aisle roofs leaded, the chancel plaintiled. Square 3-stage tower with embattled parapet. West face has heavy angle buttresses, between which is a very tall arched opening, said to be of later date, to light the 3-light west nave window (renewed). Above is a group of 3 trefoil-headed niches, with single niches at this level to north and south. 2-light belfry openings with large louvres of 1890. 5-bay aisles have good original 2-light windows; 3-light windows to east, one renewed. Very fine south doorway: jambs have 3 orders of shafts with foliage capitals; moulded arch, the central order comprising a richly- carved band of foliage; the hoodmould is enriched with similar foliage, and has one large but mutilated corbel. The carving of the arch retains much original colour. Fine original traceried doors. Good porch: flushwork panels each side of entrance with remains of more elaborate flushwork above. Moulded arch with foliage capitals. Intact 2-light side windows. 9-bay clerestorey has 2-light windows divided by square flushwork panels. 3-bay chancel: 2- light segmental-headed side windows, largely original; hoodmoulds with finials, linked to form a string course. 5-light east window, the tracery renewed. East end has flanking crocketted pinnacles below which are cusped ogee niches.

INTERIOR: 5-bay arcades have quatrefoil piers and moulded capitals. Similar chancel arch, the capitals mutilated. Fine late C15 nave roof in 10 bays, with alternate double hammer-beam and arched-braced trusses; much enrichment, including brattishing, some of it renewed. Easternmost bay boarded as canopy of honour. Aisle roofs largely renewed. Boarded chancel ceiling, the roof also renewed. Fine piscina with enriched arch; a similar triple arch over the adjoining drop-sill sedilia is only one-third complete. In north aisle is an ogee-arched tomb recess. Font has octagonal bowl with trefoil-arched panels; around the stem, which is not contemporary with the bowl, are 8 human figures. Nave retains 14 simple medieval benches with flat ends; one C15 bench has good carved poppyhead ends. Early C17 carved pulpit and turned altar rails. Some medieval stained glass, notably in the heads of 4 north clerestorey windows. For further notes see Pevsner and church guide by Roy Tricker.

Listing NGR: TM0700866923