Church of St. Mary Magdalene is a Grade I listed building in the Powys local planning authority area, Wales. First listed on 24 October 1951. A C15 Church.

Church of St. Mary Magdalene

WRENN ID
empty-marble-jackdaw
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Powys
Country
Wales
Date first listed
24 October 1951
Type
Church
Source
Cadw listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is a building dating back to the 13th century, constructed of coursed rubble shales with sandstone dressings. The west end has stone tiles, while the east end is slate-covered. A weatherboarded and stone-tiled bellcote tops the structure, and a rubble and stone-tiled porch provides access. The walls demonstrate evidence of numerous rebuilding and patching phases over time. Four 13th-century lancet windows remain, two facing each other at the east end of the nave and one in the north wall of the chancel, with the southwest wall of the nave featuring a slightly flattened example. All other windows were added by Collier, consisting of single lancets, paired decorative windows in the nave, and a triple lancet at the east end.

The church is set within a well-maintained churchyard featuring nine chest tombs.

The interior is typically plain, characteristic of Radnorshire buildings, but stands out with a fine, predominantly 15th-century open roof. A thin lath and plaster partition divides the west end of the nave, which was formerly used as a schoolroom; the nave and chancel remain undivided. The western portion of the nave features earlier roof trusses, including three arched brace trusses with chamfered tie beams and purlins, and windbraces. Further west is a simpler tie beam truss with raking struts, suggesting some reuse of older timber in this area. A later 15th-century roof extends over the nave and chancel, spanning eight bays and featuring alternate queen post and arch-braced trusses, the latter all chamfered. The roof has three sets of trenched purlins and two tiers of chamfered quatrefoil windbraces. Fragments of red and white paint survive, indicating that all components were once decorated. A former rood beam, resting on modern corbels, is decorated with painted floral elements. Slots cut into the tie beam show the original positions of fixings for the rood and/or canopy. Significant roof timber repairs were undertaken in 1987, and strengthening features were introduced between tie beams and collars of two western trusses.

A plain pointed arch entrance leads from the porch to a heavily studded boarded door with long wrought iron hinges. An earlier entrance to a tower is marked by a triangular headed stone arch. The 17th-century communion rails are characterised by scribed detailing and serpentine balusters. A piscina is located in the north wall of the chancel, and reused Jacobean decorative panelling forms part of the pulpit. An octagonal font, possibly dating back to the 13th century, stands on a modern cement base, and a long plank-built muniments chest is also present. Two bells were cast in 1711.

More on this building

Sign in or create a free account to unlock:

  • No EPC on record for this property
  • No sale records on file
  • No related consent applications matched
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
Create free account

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.

Nearby listed buildings

  1. Bleddfa Old Rectory Grade II 37 m
  2. L-Plan range of outbuildings at Dolassey Farm Grade II 561 m
  3. Middle Storling Grade II 909 m
  4. Mount Pleasant Grade II 1.3 km
  5. Surveying Tower in Forest near Fishpools Grade II 1.7 km
  6. Weston Farmhouse, including outbuildings (formerly known as Lower Weston) Grade II 2.0 km
  7. Pen-y-Clawdd Grade II 2.8 km
  8. Barn to SW of The Great House Grade II 2.9 km
  9. Farm Range to south of The Great House Grade II 2.9 km
  10. The Great House Grade II 2.9 km