Church Of St Mary The Virgin

SO 51 NE 12.12.53 1/31

ENGLISH BICKNOR ENGLISH BICKNOR Church of St. Mary the Virgin

(formerly listed as Church of St Mary)

I

Parish Church. C12 with later medieval alterations and some C19 reconstruction. Sandstone, clay tiles to nave roof, concrete tiles to rest. Nave and clerestory with single storey aisles, projecting west tower and chancel. 4 stage tower has C13 base with blocked lancet openings. Small rectangular openings above with twin light louvred belfry in Perpendicular style on top stage. Embattled parapet. 4 window bays to nave and aisles with stepped coped buttresses between, simple pointed windows with twin lancets and hexagon above. Clerestory with three, 2-light windows. Interior: wagon wheel nave roof, aisles have boarded roofs. Norman arcade with 5 arches on round piers with sculptured capitals. Elaborate north east arch with chevrons and beakheads thought to be re-used south doorway. Pointed arch from nave into crossing, with eastern bays of aisles forming small transepts. Vestry in north transept behind organ with stone stoup and column piscina. South transept contains Machen Chapel with many floor and some wall monuments and has carved wooden screen of c.1500 across 2 sides with altered boarded dado. C19 screen in similar style divides nave and crossing. Chancel has 3-light decorated window and Baroque wall tablet 1664. In north aisle at west end, three C14 effigies not in situ. Plain circular font in south aisle. (David Verey, Buildings of England: Gloucestershire - The Vale and the Forest of Dean, pp 182-3, 1970)

Listing NGR: SO5812915812