Kempstone: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: TF 886 160
Now a ruin. The earliest visible architectural details are of the 14th century, the mouldings and tracery look crisp despite years of dereliction, and may have been renewed in the 19th century. This is a small flint building abandoned in 1900. The two-stage tower has survived in its full scale, with cusped lancets to the plain belfry stage filled with bricks.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel, west tower
Dimensions:
Nave approximately c 8m (25ft) x 6m (18'7 ft), chancel 7, (22 ft)
Description of Archaeology and History
The earliest visible architectural details are of the 14th century, the mouldings and tracery look crisp despite years of dereliction, and may have been renewed in the 19th century. There were burials in the churchyard. The building and site are of considerable archaeological potential.
The church was abandoned by 1900, when photographs in Bryant show the nave unroofed and the tiled chancel roof in poor condition, already with encroaching vegetation. The “Stuart” chancel rails and some stone floor slabs were taken to Sibton church in 1948.
The church was finally deliberately unroofed and the ruins tidied in the early 1970s. The piscina and stoup and part of the tower screen were removed to Litcham, and the bell of 1820 sold back to Whitechapel foundries to raise money to re-hang the Litcham bells (the Rev David Cawley, then vicar at Sprowston, oversaw these works, remarking that the bell was of no interest). The font went to Sprowston church. The fate of the 18th-century box pews and 17th-century bier mentioned in Pevsner and elsewhere is uncertain, they may have become unusable.
Exterior Description
The 2-stage west tower survives to full height with cusped lancets to the plain belfry stage now filled with bricks in a honeycomb pattern, a large pointed 3-light west window with cusped Perpendicular tracery which still contains broken glass, and tower arch with two plain chamfered orders without responds.
The wooden belfry floor and also the roof survive. The east wall of the chancel also stands to full height, with clear signs of historic repairs at some point to the gable. Diagonal buttresses at each end, some plaster adheres to the inner walls. The pointed 3-light east window has reticulated tracery, and the 2-light window in a square frame in the chancel south wall also retains 14th-century tracery.
The tops of the walls are otherwise much eroded. Pointed doorways to west bay of north (partly blocked) and south walls of nave. Remains of polygonal chancel arch responds.
Building Materials
Flint
Limestone
Dressings
Interior
Interior Description
Now a ruin.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TF 886 160
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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