Church Of St Mary

SYLEHAM TM 27 NW 5/112 Church of St. Mary - 29.7.55 -- II*

Parish church. Medieval. Nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble with stone dressings. Nave roof tiled, chancel plaintiled. Round tower, the lower part of C12 or earlier. C14 belfry stage with 4 cinquefoil-headed lancet openings; chequer pattern flushwork around the base and the openings. Red brick crenellated parapet masking a conical tiled roof. Nave originally C11-12 but much rebuilt C15; some early rubblework to north with possible remains of long and short work at the north west angle. C15 windows, mostly original. Good C15 porch: knapped flint facade, entrance arch enriched with fleurons and crowns, hoodmould with carved stops; over the entrance an empty canopied niche; original roof. Nave doorway hung with blank shields, with 2 charged shields in the spandrels. Blocked north doorway. C13 chancel: 2 original lancet windows to north and one larger cinquefoil-headed lancet; late C14 and C15 windows to south; C19 east window in Decorated style. Interior. Nave re-roofed 1891, re-using many medieval components: arch-braced construction with bracing and pendants below the ridge. Chancel roof probably also C19. Entrance to former rood loft stair retains small traces of medieval colouring. In the sanctuary a simple C13 piscina. Plain octagonal font on C12 base with large volutes. Pyramidal font cover dated 1667. Restored C17 pulpit on C19 base. Late C17 altar rails with twisted balusters. On the north wall of the nave are C19 framed copies of the Lord's Prayer, Commandments and Creed. In the chancel 3 wall monuments of mid C18 and early C19 date.

Listing NGR: TM2049278952