Parish Church Of St Mary

SU 1495, 19/107

CASTLE EATON, THE STREET (north side), Parish Church of St Mary

26.01.55

I

Mostly C13 and Butterfield. (Restoration 1861-3, principally to roof). Rubble with stone tile roof. Two-stage crenellated west tower. Four-bay nave with gabled C15 south porch. Three-bay late C13 chancel. Odd corbelled belfry over crossing with spire and weathervane. Nave has an early C14 window and two restored geometric-type windows. Chancel windows plain with slight cusping. Projecting gabled vestry to north-east (1860s) with small 2-light cellar or damp proof windows and reticulated window to the east. Porch has diagonal buttresses and a niche over; south door late Norman with two slightly carved caps to nook shafts, chevron and roll label with pellets and dragon head stops. Tower C15 with high stepped and twice moulded plinth and diagonal outer buttresses. Two-light belfry windows, foiled with square heads and drips. Pointed west door with Perpendicular period window above. North side has catslide roof and plain Norman arched north door. Inside porch is a large effigy slab of a knight - probably mid C14 for brass.

INTERIOR: north arcade removed and replaced by timber posts, wall painting of Virgin on east chamfered respond. Good Jacobean pulpit incorporating part of a C15 screen. A number of memorials in tower chamber, the best to Walter Parker, died 1664 - a swagged oval with two putti supporting arms. Numerous C18 and C19 tombstones in graveyard to south, several with carved angel heads, two chest tombs of early C19 and one moulded unscrolled top of a bale tomb (to south of the church).

Listing NGR: SU1463595975