Church of St Genevieve at Fornham Park is a Grade II* listed building in the West Suffolk local planning authority area, England. First listed on 14 July 1955. A Medieval Church.

Church of St Genevieve at Fornham Park

WRENN ID
rusted-baluster-holly
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
West Suffolk
Constituency
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP: Dr Peter Prinsley (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
14 July 1955
Type
Church
Period
Medieval
OS grid reference
TL 839 683
Coordinates
52.28255, 0.69589
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Church of St Genevieve at Fornham Park features a church tower that is the only remaining part of the former parish church, which was accidentally burned down on June 24, 1782. The tower dates back to the 14th century and is constructed from rubble flint with freestone quoins. It consists of three stages and is unbuttressed, topped with a plain uncrenellated parapet. The top stage has a two-light window with cusped heads on all sides, while the middle stage includes a quatrefoil window on the west face and a lancet window on the first stage. There is also a high tower arch on the east side.

Historically, this tower was intentionally preserved after the fire to serve as a romantic focal point in the landscape park that was developed in Fornham Park during the late 18th century. Capability Brown, who passed away in 1783, visited Fornham in 1781 and again in 1782 after the fire, creating plans for the park and for the church's reconstruction, although the specifics of his contributions remain unclear. The tower is part of a significant group that includes the remaining service buildings and walled gardens.

Local climate

Church of St Genevieve at Fornham Park sits in a drier-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 710 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 88% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 93% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 33 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 54% of listed buildings. Of these, 17 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

Sign in or create a free account to unlock:

  • No EPC on record for this property
  • No sale records on file
  • No related consent applications matched
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Create free account

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.

Similar buildings

The closest matches to this building from all 493,000 UK listed buildings, by architecture, period and materials.

Nearby listed buildings

  1. Stable Block and Wall and Former Laundry at Fornham Park Grade II 40 m
  2. Gatepiers and Walls to Stable Court at Fornham Park Grade II 77 m
  3. Agents and Head Gardeners Houses at Fornham Park and Attached Walls Grade II 83 m
  4. Walled Garden at Fornham Park Grade II 102 m
  5. Slip Wall Surrounding Walled Garden at Fornham Park Grade II 139 m
  6. Icehouse to North West of Walled Garden Grade II 204 m
  7. Lower Walled Garden Near River Lark at Fornham Park Grade II 442 m
  8. Bridge House Grade II 548 m
  9. Wychwood Cottage Grade II 761 m
  10. Monument 7 Feet from the South Wall of the Chancel and 8 Feet from the East Wall of the South Aisle of the Church of All Saints Grade II 768 m