Lychgate At South Entrance To St Marys Churchyard

The lychgate at the south entrance to St Mary's Churchyard was built in 1901 and incorporates an early or mid 16th century wooden arch. It features roughcast stone and exposed timber-framing, with a slated roof and a chimney on the east gable. The structure consists of an open ground storey with two small chambers on the east side, and above this is an enclosed chamber accessed by an external stone staircase that wraps around the south and east sides.

The ground storey has wide openings at the front and back, with flat wooden lintels supported by stone corbels, and there are no windows in the side chambers. The upper storey has widely spaced vertical studding and features a two-light window on each side with trefoil-headed lights. In the center of the open part of the ground storey is the 16th century arch, which is approximately 2.5 meters wide and has shouldered durn jambs, both of which are heavily moulded and carved with vine and scroll patterns. Within the arch is a centrally-pivoted gate from 1901. The southernmost of the two chambers to the east contains a panelled wooden seat.

On the south face of the building, there is a metal plaque inscribed with "Mains water to Bickington 11th January 1962". Historical records indicate that there was an earlier lychgate on this site, as an account from the 1883-1884 restoration mentions "the ancient lych gate upon the south approach to the church."