Church Of St Martin Of Tours

Church of St Martin of Tours, Ashurst

This parish church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, with significant later additions and alterations. The south porch was added in 1621. The building was modernised by the architect Ferrey in 1861 and by H.W. Curzon in 1865. A vestry was added around 1875, and the church was refurbished, possibly by Fellowes-Prynne, in 1904–5.

The church is constructed mostly of sandstone rubble with roughly-dressed sandstone blocks laid to courses at the west end. The tower is a weatherboarded timber frame, while the 19th-century vestry is built of rock-faced sandstone ashlar. The roof is covered in peg tiles.

The plan consists of a nave with a narrower and lower chancel. The west tower probably dates to the 15th century, with a 17th-century south porch and 19th-century vestry and north porch.

The weatherboarded tower rises from the west end with a steep pyramid roof topped by a wrought iron weathervane. The west end features angle buttresses and a west doorway with a two-centred arch with moulded surround and hoodmould, containing a 19th-century plank door with coverstrips. A quatrefoil window in the south wall under the tower was part of the 1904–5 refurbishment.

The south side of the nave features a gabled porch dated 1621, positioned right of centre. The porch has a rebuilt Tudor outer arch, with a date plaque above that includes a carved coat of arms and a sandstone sundial. The gable has shaped kneelers and coping. Inside, steps lead down to the south door, another two-centred arch with moulded surround, shafts, and hoodmould. To the left of the porch are two possibly 14th-century trefoil-headed lancets, and to the right a two-light window with Decorated tracery (19th-century replacement).

The chancel's south side has two square-headed two-light windows: the left one retains its original cinquefoil heads, while the right one has 19th-century trefoil-headed lights. The east window is a Decorated three-light window with reticulated tracery and hoodmould.

The north side of the chancel is partially obscured by the 19th-century vestry, which has a low pitch roof and parapet with clasping buttresses and plate tracery windows. The gabled north porch has a shoulder-headed arch in the side and a two-light window with Decorated tracery, with another similar window to its left and two trefoil-headed lancets to the right.

The interior tower arch, dating to 1904–5, is a nearly full-width segmental pointed arch with pierced quatrefoil spandrels below a blind Gothic arcade. Above, some of the original timber frame of the tower remains exposed.

There is no distinct chancel arch. The space between the roofs is boarded over. The nave features a fine 14th-century three-bay open roof of moulded tie beams with tall square crown posts (moulded caps and bases) and common rafters with soulaces and ashlar posts. The two-bay chancel roof is boarded but follows a similar profile; although it has a tie beam, it lacks a crown post. Both roofs have moulded wall plates.

A tall niche with a moulded surround occupies the north-east corner of the chancel, its purpose unknown. The walls are plastered. The nave has a tile floor, while the chancel features marble steps to the sanctuary and a polychrome mosaic floor laid down in 1905.

The chancel was refurbished in 1905, as recorded on a plaque. A carved stone reredos, possibly late 19th century, features a Gothic arcade with the symbols of the Evangelists flanking a central cross. An 1905 oak altar rail on turned balusters bows forward. 19th-century oak stalls incorporate some Gothic detail. The 19th-century pulpit has panelled sides incorporating some probably 16th-century work. Plain pine benches furnish the nave.

A 13th-century stone font has a cylindrical shaft with four corner columns supporting a square bowl with rounded corners and a simple arcade around it, possibly with a 17th-century oak hood. A fine late 17th-century table towards the rear of the nave features elaborately carved sides and legs.

Memorials are plain and of no more than local interest. Some 19th-century glass survives.