Lych gate and attached stone and flint wall, Church of St Giles

Lych gate, built 1887 to the designs of John Oldrid Scott.

PLAN: the lych gate stands approximately 50m south-east of the church. The stone and flint wall flanks the lych gate, running broadly north-south and returning at a northern end to the west for around 20m.

MATERIALS: Carved timber gate structure with ashlar stone and knapped flint wall.

DESCRIPTION: the lych gate is a gabled structure with a set of carved gates on its eastern side which mark the entrance to the churchyard to St Giles as it existed in 1887 (prior to consecration of the south-eastern extension in 1911). The stone and knapped flint walls form the sides and plinth of the lych gate, supporting the timber structure. The lych gate is formed of richly-carved timber members that are pegged together in the traditional manner. The structure is designed in an elaborate Gothic Revival manner, with cusped openwork to the sides and pierced bargeboards with foliate patterning and central pendants overhanging the pointed arches to the east and west. The roof structure is clad in plain clay tiles with rounded ridge tiles.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the low-set knapped flint and stone wall supports the sides of the lych gate and extends approximately 20m to the south and north, with a return section to the west of the northern stretch of around 20m, marking the boundary of this part of the churchyard. The ashlar stone dressings have chamfered edges to the capping stones at the corner sections of the wall.