Weight: 112 lbs Bell 1 of 2
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1860
Dove Bell ID: 50488 Tower ID: 17980 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Ashley: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: SU 384 309
The walls are rendered, but seem to be of a variety of materials including local stone and brick. The east wall is faced with flint and the south porch is brick. The roofs are tiled. The varied materials of the walls give the church an attractive texture, particularly in the contrast of the red brick of the porch with the faded colour of the rendering on the nave walls. The east wall which is flint is perhaps too much of a contrast to be satisfactory.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Long narrow nave with south porch; narrower chancel of about the same length.
Dimensions:
The overall internal length is 73ft, and the nave is 13ft wide.
Description of Archaeology and History
Four Norman windows establish the basic date of the walls, as does the chancel arch. Other windows with masonry renewed in the nineteenth century are in origin Perpendicular, under square dripstones. The east wall and the upper part of the west wall are nineteenth century. The brick south porch is dated 1701.
Exterior Description
The walls are rendered, but seem to be of a variety of materials including local stone and brick. The east wall is faced with flint and the south porch is brick. The roofs are tiled.
The varied materials of the walls give the church an attractive texture, particularly in the contrast of the red brick of the porch with the faded colour of the rendering on the nave walls. The east wall which is flint is perhaps too much of a contrast to be satisfactory.
The building is long and low with not even a bell-cote to break the roof-line (the two bells are hung within small pointed arches contrived in the apex of the west gable). The chancel roof is slightly lower than the nave, and there is a cross on both west and east gables.
The windows, which are few, are of two basic types there are four Norman lights, very small, of which three are in the chancel and one in the nave south wall. The other five windows are of two lights under square dripstones, and most of the masonry of the surrounds has been renewed. The lights are cinquefoiled, and in the windows of the lateral walls the tops of the lights are attached to the lintel by small upright bars, an odd detail. The east window is of three lights, large and without cusping. The four-contred arches to the lights give it a Tudor appearance.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is very narrow and thus appears both taller and longer than it really is. The impression of the length is increased by the triple chancel arch. Each side of the Norman chancel arch with its plain imposts and capitals a later arch has been opened, giving the effect of a screen with solid wall above. The outer arches do not come to the floor, but stop about four feet above it.
The roof of the nave is an open timber construction but cross ties set higher up than the massive nave beams. The floors are tiled in the alleys.
The door within has a round-headed arch above it, and the Norman windows have wide round-headed reveals, the stone arrisses left unplastered. The nave is pewed with dark nineteenth-century woodwork, and the ancient font stands in the centre of the alley opposite the door. To the left of the door is a simple stoup for holy water which has been shaved flat with the wall, presumably when box pews were inserted in the eighteenth contury. Directly opposite the door in the wall is a stone head sticking out, giving the visitor a fixed and somewhat uncomprehending glare, with pursed lips. Fixed on a nearby pew is a roughly cut almsbox in the shape of a pillar, the upper part hollowed out.
On closer inspection it is evident that the arches which flank the Norman chancel arch are later they do not have exposed voussoirs like all the other openings in the church, and the central arch has crudely moulded capitals which do not continue to the side arches. The area of blank wall above is quite large and the limewash may conceal wallpaintings.
The chancel is only wide enough for one row of choirstalls on each side, again of dark wood, and a small altar. There are two marble wall monuments, one with an architectural framework and the other with swags of fruit and vegetables. To the south of the altar is a small round headed niche in the wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The Font appears to be late Norman, a square bowl on an octagonal drum set upon a square base.
Bells
Weight: 224 lbs Bell 2 of 2
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1860
Dove Bell ID: 50489 Tower ID: 17980 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 384 309
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 | 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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