Weight: 1120 lbs Diameter: 38.25" Bell 1 of 5
Founded by Joseph Eayre 1748
Dove Bell ID: 14 Tower ID: 13660 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Abbotsley: St Margaret
Diocese of Ely
Church, 614208
https://www.bluebellbenefice.org.uk/Overview
Grid reference: TL 227 565
A circumstantial, and seemingly reliable, account of the church kept in the vestry gives the date of the nave as c.1340 and that of the tower as c.1430; certainly the date of the north aisle windows would be consistent with a date of c.1340, and the tower is undoubtedly Perpendicular and consistent with a date of c.1430.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower; nave with north and south aisles and north porch; chancel, with a vestry on the north.
Footprint of Church buildings: 380 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
A circumstantial, and seemingly reliable, account of the church kept in the vestry gives the date of the nave as c.1340 and that of the tower as c.1430; certainly the date of the north aisle windows would be consistent with a date of c.1340, and the tower is undoubtedly Perpendicular and consistent with a date afc.1430.The chancel was rebuilt by William Butterfield in 1861-2: this work is recorded in the Church Builder for January 1862 and reference is made to it in a recent study of the architect, William Butterfield by Paul Thompson (1971). The work cost 2520, and Butterfield also built the vestry, north porch, and designed both the nave roof and many of the furnishings.
Exterior Description
The main building material of the church is brown cobbles, and Butterfield did not depart from this in building his new chancel. He did, however, introduce Bath stone for window surrounds and tracery, and also a strong string moulding below cill level; on the north side there is also a broad band of smooth ashlar at the point where the cusping of the main light begins, and several such broad bands are used to ornament and articulate the impressive east wall of the chancel - which would otherwise have been rather too severe. His basic window form is exemplified by that in the north wall of the chancel, between nave and vestry, where it consists of two main lights with elongated trefoiled heads and a quatrefoil of four equal lobes in the head; between the heads of the two main lights and beneath the quatrefoil is a tiny crescent-shaped piercing - a characteristically Butterfieldian touch.
Butterfield's chancel east window is a fairly elaborate Decorated composition, impressive both inside and outside. There are three main cinquefoil-headed lights and above is a large wheel form in the tracery, containing within it a petalled cinquefoil bordered by tiny trefoils. Clasping buttresses are set in pairs at the two corners of the chancel. On the south side the chancel wall is divided in two by a stepped buttress and the two windows are crowded curiously close together in the western half. Each window is of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in the head.
The east window of the south aisle has a large late Perpendicular window which is of three cinquefoil-headed lights in a four centred head with moulded reveals and label. In the south wall of the aisle are two Decorated windows, completely renewed in Bath stone in the 19th century; one is set fairly close to the east end of the aisle and the other fairly close to the west.Placed off-centre, slightly towards the west, is the south doorway - still largely 14th century work in its jambs and two centred arch of two plain chamfered orders. The jambs have alternate courses of Barnack and ironstone. The vest window of the aisle is also renewed Decorated, of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above. The south clerestorey (like the north) has five windows of simple Perpendicular form, each of two trefoiled lights under a square head. The one at the west end is slightly taller than the others, being unimpeded by the aisle.
The tower is big and consists of four stages (or three from the west) on a moulded plinth. There are some larger brown stones used in the construction of the tower, but like the church as a whole it is mostly of rather small stones producing a most attractive textured surface. The tower has clasping buttresses at the corners, rising with four set-offs to just above the beginning of the belfry stage. The stair-turret is in the south-west corner. The west doorway and the large Perpendicular-style window of five main lights beneath a traceried head are now largely 19th century; the splays and rare-arch of the window aro doubtless ancient, as also the two label head-stops of the door. In the second stage the north wall has a cinquefoiled opening in a two-centred head with a moulded label;in the south wall is a quatrefoil window and in the west a single square-headed light. In the belfry stage each wall has louvred belfry openings of two cinquefoiled main lights with a squashed quatrefoil in the head. The Clock face is on the north side only
In the north wall of the aisle there are two Decorated windows, both with flowing tracery and largely original and both to the east of Butterfield's north porch. The porch, with its beautifully detailed timber framework and barge-boarding, is a very attractive example of a distinguished London architect working sympathetically in a vernacular style. The east window of the aisle is Perpendicular and, except for parts of the two mullions, it is mediaeval work.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
15th Century
Some fragments, evidently 15th century, in the traceried head of the north aisle east window.
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel and the remainder of the church are now divided off from one another. Above the tower arch can be plainly seen the weathering which indicates the level of the low-pitched 14th century nave roof. The two arcades are both of four bays and both of clunch. That on the north has four two-centred aisles of two chamfered orders, the columns are a quatrefoil in plan, with small roles in the angles, moulded capitals and bases.
The chestnut roof of the north aisle is late 15th century, of four bays and a half bay with moulded and cambered tie-beams, and moulded wall-plates. The remaining roofs are by Butterfield, that of the nave being of uncommonly steep pitch.
Fixtures and fittings
Piscina (object)
Piscinae in north aisle (south wall, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled head, and projecting trefoiled front to drain).
Niche
Over vestry door.
Stoup
Stoup with four-centred head; inside south doorway.
Screen
The former chancel screen is now under the tower arch; what survives is of three bays including the central doorway. The side bays have traceried heads mostly renewed, and close lower panels with cinquefeiled heads and carved cresting: the doorway has an ogee crocketed head, and two doors similar in form to the side bays.
Font (object)
A picturesque assemblage consisting of an octagonal bowl set rather lopsidedly on an octagonal base slightly larger in plan than the bowl.
Font (component)
19th century cover of steeple form which must have been provided by Butterfield
Chest
c. 17th Century
In the north aisle. Plain and rustic, with pieces of leather for hinges.
Bells
Weight: 504 lbs Diameter: 27.5" Bell 2 of 5
Founded by Joseph Eayre 1748
Dove Bell ID: 7822 Tower ID: 13660 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 29.75" Bell 3 of 5
Founded by John Grene 1575
Dove Bell ID: 7823 Tower ID: 13660 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32" Bell 4 of 5
Founded by John Sturdy
Dove Bell ID: 7824 Tower ID: 13660 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 896 lbs Diameter: 34.5" Bell 5 of 5
Founded by Miles III Graye 1653
Dove Bell ID: 7825 Tower ID: 13660 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 227 565
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 | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
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
Quinquennial Inspections
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