Church Of St Catherine

RINGSHALL STOWMARKET ROAD TM 05 SW

5/164 Church of St. Catherine 9.12.55

• I

Parish church. Medieval; much early C16 remodelling. Nave, chancel, west tower. South porch added late C19. Random flint rubble. The chancel has much rebuilding in red brick and mixed rubble of early C16, and some plaster of this phase remains. Freestone dressings. Plaintiled roofs; the east wall has a parapet gable of c.1300. Some prominent buttressing of C18 and early C19 brick. Lower section of tower is of C12 origin: 2 low windows, and the base of the tower-arch remain. Remodelling of tower in early C14 includes tower arch, Y-traceried west windows, and small windows at upper level; the parapet of gault brick is a C19 rebuilding. C11 or C12 nave walling, with 2 original blocked windows with wide splays on the north, and another with an inserted C13 lancet on the south. The inner arch and jambs of south doorway also C12, but with C14 arch and C16 plank door. Various early C14 additions, including north doorway, south chancel doorway, east window with dagger tracery, and piscina beside it. Windows are otherwise of early C16. Nave roof renewed in early C16: the C12 walls were spreading, and 2 tiebeams were inserted with oak needles, well below eaves level. The tiebeams are archbraced and have moulded wallpieces; long octagonal crownposts with capitals and thin 2-way braces. 3-bay chancel roof also of early C16: arch braced collars supported by hammerbeams; the beams, cornice and braces beneath and between are enriched, and one wallpiece has a shield bearing the initials RB., for Richard Borsall. C13 font with octagonal bowl splayed and arcaded, and circular stem; the 8 outer shafts renewed in C19. On the south wall is a wall painting. In the tower are three C18 marble floor slabs.

Listing NGR: TM0428952894