Bell 1 of 9
Founded by Lester & Pack
Dove Bell ID: 61948 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
West Harling: All Saints
Overview
Grid reference: TL 974 851
Although not a large building, the church makes a considerable impact seen across the field against a background of trees - indeed except for the approach from East and Middle Harling the church is almost completely encircled by woods.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, aisleless nave, with a south porch; chancel.
Description of Archaeology and History
The chancel is late 13th century; the nave is probably of much the same date, though the general character of the windows is Perpendicular, and the tower is 14th century.
Exterior Description
Although not a large building, the church makes a considerable impact seen across the field against a background of trees - indeed except for the approach from East and Middle Harling the church is almost completely encircled by woods.
At the west is the tower, of three distinct stages and built of flints. The diagonal buttresses have quoins of freestone; and there is also a base frieze of stone and flint chequerwork, which is lozenge-shaped on the west and square on the north and south faces. There is a Perpendicular west window in the lowest of the three stages, of two cinquefoiled lights with an elongated quatrefoil is the head flanked by lozenge shapes on their sides. The tracery looks as though it has been renewed, but the hood-moulding (strangely, since it might be expected to have weathered most) and label-stops in the form of carved heads appear to be mediaeval. In the middle stages of the tower, set fairly low down, is a single trefoiled light with a square hood-moulding on the west face, and the belfry openings consist of two big lancet lights which look to have been formerly part of a single unit with simple Y-tracery with theupperpart now filled in - indeed the relieving arch can still be discerned. The battlements at the top are of brick and look 17th century. On the north side of the tower the treatment is much the same for the middle and top stages, except that the small opening in the middle stage has no hood-moulding; on the south side the treatment for these two stages is again similar except that this time the small opening in the middle stage has a hood-moulding which is arched and not square. Below it in the lowest stage, though set off-centre, is a 14th century trefoiled niche with a pretty though largely eroded ogival hood-mould; slightly higher and to the east of that is an intriguing triangular headed opening which may be the sole visible surviving trace that the origins of this tower are much earlier than at first appears.
The porch has a steep gable, angle-buttresses, and two-light Perpendicular openings in the east and west walls; over the entrance arch is a moulding with two fine carved label-stops representing the head of a mitred ecclesiastic and a woman respectively - rather an odd combination, one might thinks Inside the porch, which has an attractive and well-'worn brick floor, is the recessed opening, with four-centred head, for a holy water stoup.
Proceeding round the church from the porch, the south wall of the nave has two windows; that next the porch is Perpendicular, of two-cinquefoiled lights with nouchettes in the head and beasts' heads for label-stops; and that further east is late 13th or early 14th century, again of two lights but these are plain lancets with a quatrefoil above in plate tracery. The south wall of the chancel has a renewed window with Y-tracery and a 13th century priest's doorway. The east window is Decorated, of three tall lights with elongated cinquefoiled heads and three 'stretched' quatrefoils in the head, i.e. the top one stretched across and the flanking ones stretched downwards. The north wall of the chancel exhibits a single lancet light, therest being blocked by the 19th century vestry. The vestry is combined with a staircase and small loft for the organ, and from the outside of the building the latter shows as a gabled projection with a three-light Decorated-style window. The north wall of the have has two Perpendicular windows, clearly contemporarywith the Perpendicular window close to the porch on the south side; these two north windows are irregularly spaced, and are divided from one another by one of the three strongly projecting buttresses on this side. There is a Perpendicular north-west doorway, with hood-moulding and carved label-stops.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
East window. Largely of clear quarries, but with an assortment of stained glass (of which a small amount is evidently mediaeval)
Stained Glass
Fragments of mediaeval glass have survived in the north and south windows of the nave.
Stained Glass
1850
The west window (i.e. of the tower) has some glass.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is plastered, stones being left unplastered round the inner edges of the window aplays.
Fixtures and fittings
Sedilia
The seilia is plain, but on the wall is a small fragment of painted diaper-work with fleur-de-lys; probably cont'mporary with the chancel, i.e. late 13th century
Piscina (object)
A double piscina
Reredos
From a distance the miniature gables and crocketted pinnacles suggest simply a rather fussy 19th century furnishing with an elaborate silhouette; but this 19th century framework was built to enclose five 16th century or early 17th century panels of high quality, evidently from the Low Countries, and with subjects and inscriptions as follows:
Annunciation De Boedeschop Maria
Nativity De Geborth Christi
Christ being examined by the High Priests
Adoration of the Magi De Bilge Dre Conninge
Circumcision De Beschnidung Christi
Brass
1508
William Berdewell, d. 1508, and his wife - both beautifully detailed figures, he in armour, with an inscription to them below and one shield out of three surviving (and indents for the missing pair).
Brass
c. 1490
William Berdewell, c. 1490, and his wife.
Brass
1479
Further towards the west end of the nave aisle is a fine brass of Radulph Fuloflove, priest, d. 1479, wearing Mass vestments.
Brass
Wost of the Fuloflove brass is a ledger with indents for three missing figures.
Pew (object)
The pews have attractive ends, with roll decoration at the top which seems consciously to have been derived from Saxon ornament; in the middle of each pew-end is a cinquefoil enclosed in a sunken circle. In the southeast corner of the nave is the manorial pew, which incorporatedbrass memorial plaques to various members of the Nugent family.
Stall
19th Century
Pulpit
19th Century
Lectern
Small brass eagle.
Brass
In the vestry are three brass coffin or other inscription plates, affixed to the wall, to members of the Crofts family.
Coffin
Stone coffin: in the south-west corner. Date uncertain, but clearly mediaeval, of oddly tapering shape.
Font (object)
Perpendicular, octagonal, the base having a blank trefoiled arch on each panel and the bowl (which is supported at the corners by eight carved heads) has alternate shields and double roses.
Font (component)
The cover is 19th century, and of some elaboration.
Bells
Bell 2 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61949 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 3 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61950 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 4 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61951 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 5 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61952 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 6 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61953 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 7 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61954 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 8 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61955 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 9 of 9
Founded by Harrington, Latham & Co 1890
Dove Bell ID: 61956 Tower ID: 24582 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 974 851
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.
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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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