Church Of St Mary

ASHLEY ASHLEY SU 33 SE 5/28 Church of Mary 29/5/57 II* Parish Church. Early C12, chancel lengthened mid C12, C15/C16 windows. Porch 1701 on tablet, restored 1858 and 1895. Rubble flint, plastered except to E, stone quoins and dressings, old plain tile roofs. Small early C12 church of chancel and nave with W bell-gable, chancel prob lengthened mid C12, S porch added 1701. Chancel has restored C14 square headed 3-light E window. C16 diagonal corner buttresses. To N and S walls at E late C12 roundheaded lancet with chamfer. In S wall to W and set lower 2nd C12 lancent, earlier with no chamfer but with later pointed head, perhaps original SE window. To NW and SW C15 squareheaded 2-light cinqfoiled window. On E gable stone cross prob C19. Taller, wider nave has on N wall early C12 roundheaded lancet, set high on wall. No trace of N door, in its place C19 squareheaded perpendicular 2-light window. S wall at E has similar and in centre gabled brick porch with stone keys to archway, one inscribed '1701 P + L CW'. Inside plain roundheaded doorway with quirked abacus. Each side of porch high set five-sided window. W window C15, restored squareheaded cinqfoiled window with moulded jambs and mullions. Below 3 C18 headstones to Smith family. In gable C19 pair of unequal pointed bell openings C12 cross on gable. Inside chancel E qindow has splayed C14 jambs. E lancets have wide splays. Below SE is small roundheaded recess with hole in soffit. Central S lancet has altered sill and on E jamb C13 wallpainting of young person under crocketed gable. Opposite monument 1755 to A Weekes by T Baker, London, inscription panel with column each side supporting open pediment. On S wall monument 1707 to T Hobbs, volutes and garlands either side of inscription panel. C19 collar roof, tiled floor falling from altar rails to chancel arch, and fittings. Low roundheaded plain chancel arch with quirked impost. Each side later roundheaded squint, half arch width. In N nave wall original lancet has narrow splay. To W of it reset C15 stone head wearing cap. Wide splays to other windows. E of S door piscina with mutilated bowl. W of door C16 alms box on post, cut from tree trunk. At W end Norman font of Purbeck marble with square bowl moulded stem and square base. Rest of fittings C19. Roof C19 but older wallplates and 4 tiebeams, with E wall set back at this level indicating earlier flat ceiling. VCH; Vol.4; 1911; p441-2. Buildings of England, Hampshire; Pevsner; 1966; p83.

Listing NGR: SU3840230772