Church Of St James

The Church of St James is a parish church, largely dating to the 15th century, and likely built upon earlier fabric, with significant restoration work undertaken in 1889-90. The building is constructed of rubble walls, partly rendered, with a gable ended slate roof. The plan comprises a nave, chancel, south aisle with a porch, and a north transept surmounted by a tower. While the font suggests Norman origins, no original Norman fabric remains visible. The tower’s position over the north transept is unusual, likely indicating pre-Perpendicular construction, although most of the architectural detail is Perpendicular, with the south aisle added during that period. A thorough restoration in 1889-90 included renewed window tracery, restoration of the arcade, an extended chancel, and the construction of a vestry and organ chamber on the north side, alongside roof restoration.

The castellated, three-stage tower, set above the north transept, features obelisk finials and set-back buttresses. A two-centred north doorway is constructed of slate stone, with a restored two-light window above, a single light above that, and a simple slit for the belfry. A three-light Perpendicular window on the west side of the tower has granite mullions and Beerstone tracery and jambs. The vestry is situated in the angle between the tower and chancel. The chancel has a restored two-light Decorated style window on the north side and a restored four-light east window, with two end buttresses. The south aisle has a granite Perpendicular window at its east end, two three-light Perpendicular windows on its south side with a 19th-century buttress between them, and a segmental arched, moulded priest's doorway. A similar Perpendicular window is situated to the west of the south porch, alongside a partially restored window at the west end of the aisle. The west window of the nave is entirely restored. The south porch is likely a completely 19th-century rebuild, being a gabled, single-storey structure with a two-centred doorway and cusped lights on either side wall.

Inside the porch, a rebuilt wagon roof retains the old crenellated wall plate. The richly moulded 15th-century two-centre arched south doorway features worn carved figures as headstops, with a similar stone figure set in the wall above. The four-bay arcade has been considerably restored with moulded piers and four-centred arches. A rebuilt chancel arch and plastered tower arch are present, alongside 20th-century plaster to the walls. An old wagon roof covers the nave and south aisle, partly restored with moulded ribs and carved bosses. Over the south aisle and chapel, positioned under every third rib, are carved angel corbels displaying armorial shields. A late Norman or Early English square font, cut away at the sides and resting on an octagonal base, is also present. The internal walls are plastered. A royal court of arms of Queen Anne, painted on a wooden board and dated 1713, is positioned above the south doorway.