Nominal: 742 Hz Weight: 1386 lbs Diameter: 42" Bell 1 of 5
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1899
Dove Bell ID: 354 Tower ID: 10307 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Badwell Ash: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: TL 989 689
St. Mary’s at Badwell Ash is a Grade 1 Listed Building. There has possibly been a church in Badwell Ash for at least 1000 years. The Listing mentions a C14 Chancel, a C15 nave with a south aisle and porch, all built in the C15, a tower built in the C15 and a vestry on the north side, built in the C19. The church is built from local flints with stone dressings and some Tudor bricks. The flints have been “galleted”, which is a traditional form of flint construction in East Anglia.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 342 m²
Exterior Description
The Tower was constructed in the latter part of the C15 by Thomas Aldrych of North Lopham, who was a prolific tower builder in this area during this period. The tower is 23m (76’0”) high and has four stages and corner buttresses. It contains some very significant examples of flint flushwork including an inscription around the battlemented crenulations which were probably added in 1480. The inscription which runs all the way round these crenulations reads “Pray for the god estate of ion finchom and Margyt his wyf”.
The South Aisle was built about the same time as the tower and contains a further 37 flushwork devices, making a total for the church of over 70. The flint flushwork found at St Mary’s have been described as being some of the finest examples of the craft to be found anywhere in East Anglia.
Interior
Interior Description
The Chancel, built in the C14 but heightened in the C15 in the Perpendicular style which contains a C13 Piscina and Sedillia.
The Nave, built in the C14 but enlarged in the C15 with the addition of the South Aisle and a heightened new roof. Above the South Aisle are a range of six two light clerestory windows, again in Perpendicular style with the wall above the windows being supported by “tumbled-in” alternating brick and flint patterning round the head arch below which each window contains a hoodmould. The roof is of hammerbeam construction with carved recumbent carved angels at each end on every other beam. The roof trusses are also supported by wall posts decorated with figures of what appear to be figurines of the Saints standing on castellated freestone corbels. In 1703, tie beams were inserted on every other truss to prevent the north wall from spreading out.
There are five bells that hang in the belfry at St Mary's with the largest weighing 13cwt. which was founded by John Warner and Son of Clerkenwell in 1899 Three of the other four bells weighing in at 5cwt, 6 cwt, and 10cwt were cast by John Draper of Thetford in 1630. The no. 3 bell weighing in at 7cwt was cast by John Darbie, an Ipswich bell founder in 1664.
The clock is an early C17 turret clock, dating from around 1680 but was modified in 1838 by J Rosier of Langham.
The Font is octagonal and dates from the C14. It has cinquefoil-cusped arches on the eight faces of the octagonal bowl, a castellated rim with figures of saints supporting it and shields between the buttresses on the stem.
There is a second Piscina and Sedilia in the South Aisle which are C15.
The north window of the Lady Chapel in the South Aisle together with a brass plaque below is the village war memorial to the 14 men who fell in WWI and was erected in 1922. A 2nd plaque adjacent was erected in the late 1940s to celebrate the lives of the 3 men who lost their life in WW2.
The Organ, which now rests on the north side of The Nave, was built by Bates & Son of Ludgate Hill, London and probably dates from the early to mid C19. The organ was awarded an Historic Organ Certificate, Grade II in 2007.
Fixtures and fittings
Clock
17th Century Clock with wrought iron side by side birdcage frame located in Tower in 20/04/1832
Historical Notes
1832 - 1832
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1114 Hz Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 30.25" Bell 2 of 5
Founded by John Draper 1630
Dove Bell ID: 9486 Tower ID: 10307 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1002 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32.38" Bell 3 of 5
Founded by John Draper 1630
Dove Bell ID: 9487 Tower ID: 10307 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 933 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 34" Bell 4 of 5
Founded by John Darbie 1664
Dove Bell ID: 9488 Tower ID: 10307 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 849 Hz Weight: 1120 lbs Diameter: 39" Bell 5 of 5
Founded by John Draper 1630
Dove Bell ID: 9489 Tower ID: 10307 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 989 689
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 31/10/1990
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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