Churchyard South Gate And Adjoining Churchyard Walls

PAYHEMBURY ST 00 SE 3/104 Churchyard south gate and - adjoining churchyard walls GV II

Churchyard gate and walls. Dated 1831, parts of the walls may be earlier. The Church of St Mary (q.v) and its churchyard are built up on rising ground above the village green. The gateway stands at the head of a wide flight of 5 granite steps flanked by stone rubble retaining walls. They have weathered granite ashlar coping which includes a series of ramps as it descends from the gate to heavy granite terminal piers, slightly tapering cylinders with semi-circular caps. The gate posts are granite and volcanic ashlar; they are square in section with chanelled rustication and have projecting caps and large ball finials. Each contains a plaque on the front; both are dated 1831 with the initials of the church wardens of that year, HR to left and HD to right. The gates are probably contemporary; the top rail dropping towards the centre and the rails with large spear heads. The wrought iron overthrow which holds a lamp is dated 1911. Either side are the churchyard walls. They are tall from the outside since theyrevet the terrace. They are built of local stone rubble with volcanic ashlar rounded coping and are propped by a regular series of pilaster buttresses and one large buttress with weathered offsets.

Listing NGR: ST0887601774