Church Of St Mary Magdalene

TL 86 SE LT.WELNETHAM CHURCH LANE

2/112 Church of St.Mary Magdalene

14.7.55

I

Church, mediaeval. Nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble with some surviving areas of early render, lacing courses of plaintile to tower, limestone quoins and dressings. Plaintiled roofs. The earlier chancel re- fenestrated mid C14; 2-light hood-moulded windows in sidewalls and 3-light east window with flowing tracery. Simple nave piscina possibly Norman with chamfered round arch; small arched recess, perhaps a C13 aumbry; C13 leper squint in south wall. C13 tower, with mid C14 2-light west window, 2- light belfry openings with boarded shutters, the parapets rebuilt early C16 in crenellated red brickwork. The nave much altered early C16, with large 4-light hood-moulded windows, north (blocked) and south doorways, and tower-arch. Fine nave hammer-beam roof, with each hammer-beam figure-carved (restored 1842), and principal rafters arch-braced up to collar; 2 intermediate trusses above each window, arched directly to collar, with a head carved in the wall-post either side of each brace; lion-head carved timber corbels to each truss. Early C16 porch of unusually thick red bricks; crow-stepped gable, hood-moulded arched doorway and niche above, 2-light arched side windows, coupled rafter roof. Chancel roof rebuilt early C16; principal rafters with arch-bracing to collars, butt purlins and crenellated cornice; of similar workmanship to nave roof. Restored C15 screen, complete up to middle rail only, with pilasters and tracery between. A set of 20 fine C15 poppy-head pews, some restored or replaced to a high standard, probably in 1882; traditional poppy-heads, traceried ends and carved buttresses. C19 traceried poppy-head choir stalls. C15 octagonal limestone font, with traceried stem and sunk quatrefoils to bowl. In the south nave wall 2 C14 image pedestals, and a shaft (probably reset), having a C12 cushion capital. 4 black marble slabs in the chancel floor to:- Edward Agas (rector), d.1680, and his wife Rachel, d.1677; their son Anthony Agas (rector), d.1721; Wm Bauley, d.1705, and his wife Susan, d.1718; Katherin Briton, d.1720, her son Thomas, d.1741, and daughter Elizabeth, d.1734.

Listing NGR: TL8886560045