Church Of St Martin

TL 66 NW NEWMARKET CHURCH STREET (including Exning)

1/81 Church of St. 28.11.50 Martin

I

Church, mediaeval, restored c.1863. Nave, chancel, aisles and transepts on north and south sides, west tower and south porch. Rubble walls mainly rendered (the tower of flint rubble and some brick); dressings of clunch and limestone. Roofs mainly low- pitched and leaded, some with parapets; the chancel plaintiled. In the chancel are fragments of lancet windows of C12 or early C13, and a C12 priests door is said to be buried in the south wall. The tower c.1300, incorporating as a doorway lintel part of a possible Norman consecration cross. The original 2-light belfry openings were made redundant by larger openings when the top stage was added late C14, together with west doorway and 3- light window, and clasping buttresses. A timber bell turret with cupola roof was added C18. Apart from the chancel walling, most of the church was rebuilt early/mid C14. The lancets in the chancel are c.1300 (apart from the triple-lancet east window, a C19 introduction). The aisle and transept windows mid C14, with 2 and 3 lights, the transept end windows of 4 lights with net tracery. Most windows were heavily restored c.1863. The south chancel doorway was inserted C15, the north doorway is a C19 replacement in the C15 style. The south doorway and porch with parvise were added mid C14, heavily restored C19; on a quoin- stone is the scratch-date 1673. The nave arcades have octagonal piers with moulded capitals and bases; simply chamfered tower arch and chancel arch. In the chancel is a late C13 double piscina. In the south transept is an aumbry and a piscina with dog-tooth ornament (possibly late C13), also a rare but damaged late C14 double heart shrine, formed of 2 cusped arches with quatrefoil under an ogee arched head, and within are 2 hands holding a heart. In the north transept is an image niche, perhaps C14, and the rood-loft stairway. Beside the north doorway is a C15 image niche with traceried panel above. C14 octagonal limestone font. All roofs are ceiled with plaster, all except chancel were probably rebuilt c.1821. C17 altar rails in chancel. Early C18 pulpit with back and sounding-board. In the nave is a set of 15 C16 pews with linenfold ends, square-headed; in the aisles are 13 more, plain and heavily restored. In the north transept is a fine C15 stallfront with tracery and poppyhead ends. In the south transept floor is a C13 marble coffin lid. In the chancel is a simple C15 altar tomb, now without brasses. Below the east chancel window is a tablet to Robt. Peachey, Vicar, d.1702; by the west door another to John Huske, d.1713. In the north transept is a painted hatchment to Francis Robertson. In the south aisle are the arms of George II, and, on the gallery, of George III, dated 1817.

Listing NGR: TL6214065513