Church Of St Mary

LITTLE STONHAM CHURCH LANE TM 16 SW 2/125 Church of St. Mary - 9-12-55 GV I

Parish church, mediaeval with major remodelling of early C16. Nave, chancel, west tower, south chapel and south porch. Mainly plastered rubble with freestone dressings. Crowstepped parapet gables; the nave has embattled parapets. Plaintiled roofs to porch and chancel; the nave roof has corrugated iron sheeting. The early C16 tower is of unplastered flint rubble: polygonal stair turret; the main parapets have fine flushwork tracery to the merlons and in a frieze beneath; traceried west doors have, at the head,the arms of the Crane family of Waltham Hall. The east window is in the C14 manner with net tracery, but a C19 restoration. All other windows early C16, with segmental- pointed and traceried heads, including in the prominent clerestory. Fine 6- bay double hammerbeam roof with high collars and short kingposts; the wall- posts have defaced seated and canopied figures; moulded principal members and leaf-carved braces throughout; the eastern truss has been altered and covered with rich carving in early C17, perhaps in association with a vanished pulpit on south side. C19 arch-braced collar-beam roof in chancel, embellished with angels. A simple C15/C16 piscina. Early C16 south porch, with good original ceiling; the principals have leaf-carved arch-braces; C16 inner doorway with original door. Good C15 limestone font; the bowl has carved emblems on each face, with supporting angels beneath, and lions against the stem. An early C18 gallery at the west end with large fielded panels. On the wall of the chapel is painted "J.G. 1703". A wall tablet incorporates a brass with an inscription to Gilbert Mouse, d.1622. Arms of Queen Ann on a painted panel.

Listing NGR: TM1116760148