Church Of St Margaret And Bardolf Aisle

The Church of St Margaret and Bardolf Aisle is a building dating back to the 13th century, with the Bardolf aisle added around 1381. Further alterations occurred in the 15th and 16th centuries, followed by a restoration in 1834 funded by William IV, and a further restoration in 1863 by William Butterfield. The church is constructed primarily of flint with stone dressings, with brick and flint chequering on the tower, and a plain tile roof. It comprises a nave, chancel, and aisles, with a west tower. A gabled porch, dating to around 1863, is located on the right side of the centre, featuring double plank doors with ornamental wrought iron hinges, pierced barge boards to the gable, and a 2-light C19 Perpendicular stone window. A 3-light rectangular window with stone Perpendicular tracery is also present. A 2-light paired trefoil lancet is set into the vestry to the left, alongside a plank door with a cusped arch. The tower has a paired cusped louvred lancet at the top and a pyramidal roof. A 3-light Perpendicular tracery window is found on the left hand return. The rear of the Bardolf aisle is characterised by flint and stone in random courses, stepped buttresses, and Perpendicular tracery windows to the left and right ends and middle. A plank door is located to the left of the centre, while a blocked window and door are on the right. The base of the tower has a 3-light plate tracery window on a return side. Inside, a Romanesque round font with cable moulding sits on a C19 base, featuring remains of C19 painted decoration. A brass commemorates Sir Robert Bardolf from around 1395 in the Bardolf aisle. A chest tomb of Sir Richard and Dame Cecily Blount is found within the Bardolf aisle arcade, with recumbent figures at the top and kneeling figures on the sides. A collection of C18 monuments is also located within the Bardolf aisle. Further interior features include pews, a pulpit, a reredos, an altar rail, and choir stalls by William Butterfield. The chancel and pulpit decoration is likely by Butterfield. A false north aisle was created by Butterfield, incorporating a false arcade to obscure the curved principal roof with wind braces. The original roof of the Bardolf aisle remains, with some replacement of rafters. A clock, gifted by William IV, is attached to the tower. The Bardolf aisle was added around 1381 as a chantry chapel.