Weight: 728 lbs Diameter: 32.63" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Robert Oldfield 1630
Dove Bell ID: 51896 Tower ID: 18912 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Caldecote: St Mary Magdalene
Overview
Grid reference: TL 236 384
This tiny church stands in the centre of its small churchyard. The building material is flint rubble and brick with roughly squared stone dressings, the whole covered with a coat of cement. The roofs, behind their battlements, have lead coverings.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel without structural division, west tower and south porch.
Description of Archaeology and History
The whole of the building belongs to the middle of the 15th century, with some later repairs.
Exterior Description
This tiny church stands in the centre of its small churchyard. The building material is flint rubble and brick with roughly squared stone dressings, the whole covered with a coat of cement. The roofs, behind their battlements, have lead coverings.
The western tower is of two stages. The first stage is of the same width as the nave, with small diagonal buttresses at the western corners. In the centre of the west wall is a two-light window with cusped "Y" tracery. At roof level the tower is hipped, the hips being covered with tiled roofs. On each side of the upper or belfry stage of the tower is a two-light window with a quatrefoil in the head. The parapet is plain and there is no spire.
Although there is no internal division between nave and chancel, two external buttresses mark the place where the dividing screen used to be. In the south wall of the nave is a three light traceried and transomed window; the tracery would appear to be unrestored. On the north side of the church is a similar window which has lost its tracery and has had two wooden mullions and a transom substituted. The gabled and battlemented south porch has two small diagonal buttresses at the external angles. The doorway has a moulded arch under a square head; the jambs are octagonal with moulded capitals, but they are partly made up with cement. On either side of the porch is a small two-light window with a square head. The doorway within the porch has an arch of two moulded orders without capitals. To the right of the door is a 15th century stoup under a lofty and richly crocketed canopy, with a broken basin supported on a stem decorated with quatrefoil panels. A stoup of such richness is unique, at least in this area.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
In the east window are the remains of 15th century decorative glassy and in the south nave window is part of a kneeling figure in a blue gown and the name William Makeley. There is also, in the low south chancel window, some curious painted glass, much weathered, which presumablydates from the early years of the 19th century.
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel is of the same width as the nave. The east window is of three cinquefoiled lights, traceried and transomed. In the north wall is a two-light window under a square head, and there is a similar window in the south wall; there is also in the south wall a single-light, low side window. The interior of the building is plastered and whitened throughout, with a simple braced tie-beam roof of low pitch. Access from the nave to the tower space is by means of a tall pointed arch of two moulded orders, the outer order being continuous down the jambs, the inner having a shafted jamb with moulded capitals and bases.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
15th Century
Octagonal stone font of 15th century date. The sides of the basin are decorated with traceried panels. Underneath are shields facing the four cardinal points; that on the cost bears a saltire, that on the north a cross, that on the west the instruments of the Passion, and that on the south three crowns.
Pulpit
18th Century
Six-sided pulpit with plain panelled sides.
Pew (object)
15th Century
In the nave are some 15th century pews with moulded tops and small decorative buttresses.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 236 384
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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