Little Raveley: St James
Overview
Grid reference: TL 255 799
The chancel dates from c.1230, and the nave from the late fourteenth century; the chancel was restored restored in 1914. Although at first sight the church seems to be but a remnant of a larger building, closer inspection of the quoins shows that it has never indeed been any bigger than its present rather limited size. The rectangular nave has been heightened at some later date, with the result that the small bell-cote is now within the apex of the gable rather than rising above it as it once has done.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Simple nave and chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave 31 ft. by 17 ft.; chancel 19ft. by 15ft.
Description of Archaeology and History
The chancel dates from c.1230, and the nave from the late fourteenth century; the chancel was restored restored in 1914.
Exterior Description
Although at first sight the church seems to be but a renant of a larger building, closer inspection of the quoins shows that it hasnever indeed been any bigger than its present rather limited size.
The rectangular nave has been heightened at some later date, with the result that the small bell-cote is now within the apex of the gable rather than rising above it as it once has done. One opening is blocked, and the other holds a small bell rung from withir the west end of the nave. The west wall is otherwise featureless save for a rebuilt central buttress. At the corners are diagonal buttresses.
The north wall has two two-light windows with cinquefoiled main lights and pointed mouchettes as tracery and a blocked doorway with a two-centre head and moulded jambs.
The south wall has windows in similar positions, but these are at least a century later, each of two cinquefoiled lights with panel tracery above and four-centred heads. Between them is a much weathered doorway with moulded jambs and a two-centred head with a moulded label.
The chancel is small, narrower than the nave on the south only, with a modern brick plinth and an east window of two cinquefoiled lights and a quatrefoil similar to those in the north nave wall. In the north wall is a window of two trefoiled lights under a rectangular label and in the south is a similar window and a small priest's doorway with chamfered jambs and moulded brackets to the lintel like a Caernarvon head. Further west is quite a large rectangular low-side window.
Interior
Interior Description
The floor is tiled fitted with nineteenth-century pews. The roof is of three kays and has crudely chamfered tie-beams and curved braces.
The chancel arch has attached shafts and is notched where a screen has been fitted, all other trace of which has disappeared.
The chancel roof is probably early sixteenth-century, of three bays with three kingposts and chamfered tie-beams; north of the east window is a foliated capital built into the wall as a corbel for a statue, carved with stiff-leaf foliage. The north window has a wooden inner lintel. There is a piscina with a trefoilod head and a quatrefoil drain.
Fixtures and fittings
Table
The communion table is Jacobean, of oak with turned legs, square stretchers and enriched toprail shaped at the ends.
Font (object)
The font has a plain octagonal stem with splayed foot and a roll-moulding, the underside of the octagonal bowl with alternate panels carved with a bishop, an eagle, a tree with another object superimposed, and another tree with side branches. The bowl is not carved and looks unfinished.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 255 799
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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