Church Of St Edmund

Church of St Edmund

Church dating from around 1300, heavily restored and enlarged by Stevens & Robinson between 1847 and 1850, with further work undertaken later. The building is constructed in rubble limestone with sandstone dressings and has plain tile roofs.

The church comprises a west tower, nave with north aisle and south porch, and chancel with north aisle. The west tower was rebuilt in 1861. Its ground stage features a two-light Decorated style window on the west elevation, an arrow slit window and sundial on the south elevation, and a single-storey lean-to on the north. A plain chamfer separates the first stage from the second stage, which is otherwise blank except for a single-light window to the south, with cusped ogee and segmental arch. A string course sits beneath the bell stage, which has two-light Decorated style windows facing north, south and west. The tower carries a plain parapet and recessed broach spire with large lucarnes positioned low down and small trefoil lucarnes higher up. Angle buttresses at the north-west and south-west corners have three set-offs. All window tracery appears to be 19th-century work.

The nave south elevation has buttresses at each end. A low, off-centre porch with a four-centred arch and stone slate roof is supported on chamfered arches. To its left is a single 19th-century lancet with hoodmould and stops. To its right is a three-light window of around 1300 with intersecting tracery, the mullions having barbs at the springing of the arches. Continuing into the chancel, there is a three-light early 14th-century window, heavily restored in the 19th century, featuring an ogee centre light, mouchettes and an oval, all cusped. A plain priests' doorway with chamfered surround, a buttress with two set-offs, and a two-light Decorated window with restored upper parts are also present. The chancel roof is lower than the nave roof. The chancel east wall has angle buttresses and a five-light east window of unusual design, essentially intersecting in character and dating from around 1300.

The broad nave north aisle, added in 1847–50, has a separate pitched roof. Its north elevation displays three three-light windows: the centre window has reticulated tracery while the flanking windows have intersecting tracery. Buttresses with two set-offs separate each window. A single lancet sits to the west. The north chancel aisle was added in 1882 and features a three-light east window copying the tracery of the chancel south-west window but with different proportions. A single lancet faces north. An east gable carries a chimney stack.

Interior

The nave-north arcade consists of three bays with octagonal piers, abaci, and arches featuring two wave mouldings and a step. The two-bay chancel north arcade has an octagonal pier and abacus with a head corbel respond. The tower arch is double-chamfered with projecting chamfered imposts. Hammer beam roofs to the nave and chancel date from 1847–50.

Chancel fittings from 1850 or 1882 include communion rails with cusped gothic arches, poppyhead choir stalls, a stone reredos with foliage capitals and painted panels, and a tiled floor. An early 16th-century chancel screen features two-light openings and flamboyant tracery with groining and cornice, restored in 1850. A parclose screen in the north aisle, dated 1519, has single-light openings and flamboyant tracery. Beside the screen stands an early 14th-century chest with elementary ironwork.

The north chapel contains a painted roof, wooden reredos with painted panels and an organ case, all from 1882. A wall monument on the north wall of the sanctuary dates from 1790 and commemorates Richard Fitzherbert, taking the form of an obelisk surmounted by an urn. Between the chancel and north chapel is a monument to Thomas Beresford, died 1473, and his wife, erected in the late 16th century. The tomb chest displays two effigies tied in a shroud, with children around the chest also in shrouds.

Stained glass windows were inserted in the east window in 1877, the chancel south in 1879, and the north chapel east and north windows in 1894.