Church Of St Mary

TL 76 SW 6/7

DALHAM CHURCH LANE Church of St. Mary

7.5.54

I Church. Medieval, the tower rebuilt 1625. Nave, chancel, north and south aisles, west tower, south porch, north chapel. Flint rubble with some limestone rubble freestone dressings. Crenellated parapets and parapet gables. Low-pitched leaded roofs. Most of the existing structure was built in 2 phases: early/mid C14, and late C15. C14 works includes: south aisle with triple arcade, trefoiled and hood-moulded windows, a piscina and 2 image pedestals, south doorway (with C18 6-panelled door) and south porch. The chancel doorway (restored C19) and trefoiled piscina also C14 work. South chancel window inserted c.1468, by the bequest of Thomas Stuteville, whose tomb stands, obscured by another, beneath it. Chancel walls raised and roof rebuilt C15. North aisle added C15, with triple arcade, 2 2- light windows and moulded arched doorway with original counter- boarded oak door; good roof with arch-braced principals. The south aisle roof also renewed C15. Nave walling raised C15 with clerestory windows, tie-beam roof of 3 bays with king posts and principal rafters at half bays, restored C19 and c.1950. The chapel to north of chancel (now roofless and ruinous) contains tombs of the C18 and C19 Affleck family; the structure appears to be C16, with mullioned window and arched doorway (the datestone "CS, 1705" probably relates to an alteration). The tower arch C15; the tower was rebuilt after collapse c.1625 in the Perpendicular style; on a frieze below the crenellated parapet is the flushwork inscription "ANNO DOMINI 1625, DEO TRINEUNI SACRUM. KEEP MY SABBATHS. REVERENCE MY SANCTUARY". Flushwork panels also on the buttresses. West window and belfry openings also of Perpendicular form. Over the tower arch is a prominent inscription, naming the benefactors and cost of rebuilding the tower. Octagonal limestone font, c.1625. Chancel screen C15, complete up to middle rail, with 4 solid traceried panels each side having original decoration in black, gold and red. On the east and west nave walls are traces of C15 wall paintings of the 7 deadly sins, the emblems of the passion, and several other topics. The large east window and tie-beam roof to chancel renewed c.1904. The C19 choirstalls have good poppyheads, with possibly C15 poppyheads reused. Nave pews with animal buttresses, all C19. A C15 moulded pew in the south aisle. Arms of George II, dated 1760. An early C19 organ in the north aisle. Wall monuments in the chancel include: 1. To Thomas Stuterryle, d.1571, of classical form with panels containing coats of arms below. 2. To Sir Martin Stuteville, d.1631, with his children kneeling below. 3. To John Affleck and his wife Neeltje, d.1718 and 1729. Also in the chancel, 8 floor slabs of marble, C16-C18.

Listing NGR: TL7242962556