Church Of St. Mary

SU 66 SW SILCHESTER CALLEVA 1/21 26.4.57 Church of St Mary

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C12 to C17, all periods. Once a Norman nave, but altered by a north aisle of the early C13,and a south aisle of the mid C14; long chancel of the early C13, north and south porches, timber-framed bell turret. The chancel has lancets, with a Perpendicular east window, and a lat er window on the north and south sides. The north aisle had coupled lights, 2 arches with a round column with cushion caps, and a north door. The south aisle also has 2 arches; there is a recessed wall tomb with an ogee cusped arch, and a large 3-light reticulated windows. The massive timbers supporting the belfry occupy the western half of the nave and there is a C14 reticulated west window. The furnishings include a C15 wooden screen with pierced cresting, a hexagonal pulpit of 1639 with a domed tester, several wall monuments (1732, 1757, 1769), a large hatchment, a record of gifts of 1774, a set of painted Prescriptions, a C14 octagonal font, a female effigy (possibly of Margaret de Cusancia, died 1300), and several sections of medieval wall painting (mainly of masonry markings) on the eastern walls and deep reveals of the chancel. The exterior has tile roofing, the south aisle having a separate ridge but the north aisle is covered by a catslide from the nave. Walling of flint (partly plastered) with stone dressings, and later buttresses (2 being massive brick structures at the west end). Single broach spire on shingled bell chamber. Gabled porches.