Nominal: 767.5 Hz Weight: 950 lbs Diameter: 37" Bell 1 of 5
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1937
Dove Bell ID: 889 Tower ID: 11812 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Boyton: St Mary the Virgin
Diocese of Salisbury
Church, 634450
http://www.upperwylyevalleyteam.comOverview
Grid reference: ST 950 395
In addition to occupying an attractive position close to its manor house, the church at Boyton is a building of considerable historic and architectural distinction. In common with a minority of English parish churches, it is approached from the north, which from the plan of the building seems to have been the case at least since the fourteenth century, and from this direction it presents a most unusual massing of the various parts of the building.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with north vestry, tower (forming also the porch) and transept; south chantry chapel; chancel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 406 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
There was apparently a Norman church on the site, and it appears that this was wholly rebuilt about the second quarter of the thirteenth century (remains of some Norman pilaster buttresses are recorded in 1853). The chancel is the earliest existing work, dating (with the exception of the east window) from the thirteenth century. The fourteenth century saw the rebuilding of the north wall (re-using the earlier lancets) and the provision of buttresses. The north transept also belongs to this time, although the east window seems to be an earlier one re-used, and the lower part of the adjoining tower and so vestry seem to follow from this. The upper stage of the tower is later in the same century. The south chancel chapel is the next stage of the building to survive, and dates from c.1280. The features of the nave now almost all date from the restoration of 1860 by T.H Wyatt, who rebuilt the west wall, inserting the former chancel east window in this position, and replacing it with one of his own design. He also renewed all the roofs throughout the church.
Exterior Description
In addition to occupying an attractive position close to its manor house, the church at Boyton is a building of considerable historic and architectural distinction. In common with a minority of English parish churches, it is approached from the north, which from the plan of the building seems to have been the case at least since the fourteenth century, and from this direction it presents a most unusual massing of the various parts of the building.
Entrance to the church is by means of a porch in the ground floor of the tower entered by a wide Early English arch. The arch is of three orders, the innermost of two roll mouldings separated by a hollow moulding, the middle of dogtooth between two rolls and the outer a simple chamfer. The innermost is carried on triple attached shafts which now seem entirely nineteenth-century with moulded capitals and bases. The next order rests on chamfered responds and the outer chamfer continues down to terminate just above the plinth of the building. Obviously not originally built as a doowway, it is possible that this arch was once the chancel arch, especially since it is of the same date as the chancel walls and has evidently been cut down to fit its present position.
To the right (west) of the doorway is the pent roof of the small vestry, with a single little ogee-headed lancet in the north wall and a chimney in the north-west angle (entirely rebuilt by Wyatt). The tower is externally of two stages (although internally of three) and the upper is later than the lower, somewhat set back above a sloped weathering. It is probably late fourteenth-century and has no buttresses but pairs of cinquefoil-headed lights with pointed quatrefoils above in three faces (west, north and east) and an embattled parapet without pinnacles and without gargoyles, simply drained by round holes in the moulding below the parapet.
Further east is the gable of a north transept containing a fine three-light window with reticulated tracery. The upper part, of chequered flint and stone, together with the parapet on the east face pierced with quatrefoils, seems to have been entirely rebuilt by Wyatt. In the east wall are two lancets, one with a plain splay like those in the chancel and the other considerably later with a hollow moulding, but of similar proportions and size.
The west wall of the nave has a doorway in the lower part which was obscured by stacks of tiles in March 1978 but apparently is late mediaeval in date with a square head and moulded label, the spandrels carved with lions passant which may be a reference to the Giffard Arms. The rest of the wall is faced with flint and stone chequers and dates from 1860, together with the ashlar angle buttresses with two off-sets. The present west window, of three lights with cusped heads and panel tracery and moulded hood with carved stops, was originally in the east wall of the chancel until Wyatt replaced it here.
The south chapel is supposed to have been founded either by Walter Gifford, Archbishop of York, who died Lord of the Manor of Boyton in 1279 or by his brother Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester, who died Lord of the Manor in 1301, or by both jointly, for the resting place of their brother Alexander Giffard, the noted Crusader who followed Longespoe on the Sixth Crusade to the Holy Land as equerry and died in 1250. The architecture of the chapel is extremely fine and in at least one feature unique. This is the great west window, a roundel of immense size (12 feet in diameter overall) divided by moulded tracery into three segmental triangles, within each of which is a circle with quatrefoil cusping. In each of the three spandrels thus formed is a smaller circle containing a trefoil, and the whole design is contained within a continuous label. An interesting detail is that the three small circles are set within grooves and, until a recent restoration, could easily be revolved within their fixings.
The remainder of the chapel is equally distinguished architecturally, but rather more orthodox. It is rectangular, with a roof ridge running parallel to the nave, and the three outer walls stand above a tall moulded plinth which also encircles the angle buttresses at the southern corners of the chapel. The south wall has three lancet windows with moulded hoods and the upper parts of both east and west gables were rebuilt in 1860 when the roof was renewed.
Although basically the earliest part of the building to survive, the chancel is now almost entirely the work of Wyatt's 1860 restoration. As far as buttresses go, it is externally of two bays, although there are three lancet lights in the north wall. The walls are entirely of flint and stone chequers but there is no plinth as in most of the other parts of the church. At the eastern corners are diagonal buttresses and there are further single buttresses at the mid points of the north and south walls. The east window, of three lancets, is entirely Wyatt's design and replaces the Perpendicular window now at the west end of the church.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The cast window formerly contained glass by Gibbs, but in 1960 this was removed and replaced with old glass of varying dates placed on clear backgrounds.
Stained Glass
c.1850
Four of the north and south chancel windows contain grisaille glass with the Agnus Dei, sacred monograms, Pelican, symbols of the Passion.
Stained Glass
c.1880
The remaining chancel window depicts The Light of the World.
Stained Glass
c.1860
North transept north window: Christ with St. Mary Magdalene, with angels in the tracery lights
Stained Glass
North transept east lancets (two lights) filled with glass similar to that in the chancel side windows
Stained Glass
South chapel east window: glass commemorating Canon Arthur Fane, who was responsible for restoring the church in 1860, has been removed to Corton. The window is now filled with various fragments of glass dating from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries, most of which appear to be Flemish; inserted in 1964 by Hall of Bristol.
Stained Glass
South chapel south I: two roundels of fragments again from the Baker collection; also a shield of arms, the only glass original to the church which survives, formerly in a north chancel window, showing the shield of arms of Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster (executed 1322), fourteenth-century.
Stained Glass
1484
Two lights representing The Annunciation and The Assumption, the first and last scenes of a set of fourteen windows illustrating the Life of the Virgin; the whereabouts of the rest is not known; these two, dated 1484 , were bought in Munich and inserted here in 1961
Stained Glass
c.1860
The west wheel window is filled with glass of c. 1860, showing The Angels at the Sepulchre, St. George and the Dragon, the Agnus Dei, and numerous heraldic shields.
Stained Glass
South window of nave: two panels of sixteenth century continental armorial glass, from the Creeksea collection, when the old church there was demolished in 1878.
Stained Glass
1866
West nave window: The Four Evangelists in the tracery, and three shields of arms on grisaille in the main lights, dated 1866, executed by Horwood of Mells.
Interior
Interior Description
The porch in the base of the tower is entered. This is paved with stone flags amongst which is set a coffin slab used as a palimpsest for a brass in the thirteenth century. To the right a small door opens into the vestry. The doorway into the nave has two chamfered orders, the outer with a small stoup on the left. The chamfers are stopped near the floor by bold quarter-circular stops.
The relative darkness of the nave is in a way an important contrast with the lightness of the Giffard chapel which may be seen through an arcade on the south side. Most of the architectural character the nave is now of 1860, since the roof was renewed at this time and the lavish foliage on the stone corbels is one of the most immediately noticeable features. The roof has pronounced beams at each bay, the tie beams placed high up and carrying kingposts with curved struts themselves strengthened by arch braces. The wall surfaces are quite plain, and the windows stand within plain reveals. The floor is paved with stone flags incorporating several ledger slabs and the pews stand on timber platforms. The crossing space has been cleared of pews, a considerable improvement which also enhances the south chapel and the north transept. The arch to the transept, of two moulded orders, is identical in design but smaller in proportions to the chancel arch, with the moulding coming down to the floor rather than resting on attached shafts.
The chancel stands two steps above the nave, and a low stone wall provided by Wyatt has since been removed. In spite of his restoration, the south wall retains a fine series of three sedilia under trefoiled arches with shafts with moulded capitals and bases against the uprights. Although the seats step up towards the east the arches are level, and they are outlined by a continuous moulding with little leaf motifs carved at the intersection of one with the next. Further east, as a separate entity though of the same date, is the piscina, again with a trefoiled head outlined by a simple moulding with returned ends. The bowl has been sheared off level with the wall. Wyatt's group of three lancets in the east wall have trefoiled heads and stand within a large trefiled arch which unified the composition. The floor tiles also date from his time, as doos the roof with a double scissor brace to each rafter.
The south chapel was built in the later part of the thirteenth century to house the tomb over the body of Alexander Giffard. There seems, however, some doubt whether the effigy now under the eastern of the two arches opening from the nave into the chapel (which must surely be his) is in its original position or not. The two-bay arcade is of unusual interest, with arches of two orders, the outer with the chamfer carried to the floor on the responds and the inner deeply moulded. These spring from clustered shafts against the middle pier and single shafts at each ond with very strking mould caps and bases. There are no moulded hoods either towards the nave or chapel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1870
The altar is a simple table.
Altar
1959
The altar in the south chapel is of 1959
Pulpit
1961
Of oak with lime wood embellishments. It is hexagonal, with backboard and big tester and stairs with turned balusters, the body with fielded panels with fruit and flowers and cherubs' heads.
Lectern
The lectern is a brass eagle, and came from St. James, Poole in 1913.
Font (object)
The font has a thirteenth-century round bowl on a modern round stem.
Bells
Nominal: 1159.5 Hz Weight: 520 lbs Diameter: 28.63" Bell 2 of 5
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1946
Dove Bell ID: 12314 Tower ID: 11812 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1025.5 Hz Weight: 730 lbs Diameter: 32" Bell 3 of 5
Founded by John II Lott 1681
Dove Bell ID: 12315 Tower ID: 11812 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 965 Hz Weight: 709 lbs Diameter: 33.63" Bell 4 of 5
Founded by William Cockey 1737
Dove Bell ID: 12316 Tower ID: 11812 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 868.5 Hz Weight: 857 lbs Diameter: 34.75" Bell 5 of 5
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1937
Dove Bell ID: 12317 Tower ID: 11812 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 950 395
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.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
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
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