Weight: 896 lbs Diameter: 36.38" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Worcester foundry
Dove Bell ID: 3973 Tower ID: 16836 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Letton: St John the Baptist
Diocese of Hereford
Church, 618142
http://www.weobleyandstaunton.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: SO 335 464
The building of the church has a fairly complex history but the oldest surviving evidence is that of the north wall of the nave, where there is an external string-course of tufa, with crude and worn tooth ornament.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform, with aisleless nave and slightly narrower chancel; south transept; and a north tower balancing the south transept. Between the south transept and the south wall of the nave is a small wooden porch, presumably added to protect the two early doorways.
Footprint of Church buildings: 211 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Part of the north wall of the nave is late 11th or early 12th century; according to the relevant volume of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, the nave was widened in the mid-12th century (and perhaps also lengthened, or its west wall rebuilt) and the chancel was either rebuilt or added. The south transept is of c.1330, and the north tower is slightly later , with a timber- framed top stage thought to date from the 17th century. The 19th century restoration, which was heavy-handed, took place in 1883; the porch in the angle between the nave and south transept is more recent still.
Exterior Description
The building of the church has a fairly complex history but the oldest surviving evidence is that of the north wall of the nave, where there is an external string-course of tufa, with crude and worn tooth ornament. Below this, internally, is some herring-bone work. The original north wall of the nave was interrupted at its eastern end by the construction of the tower, and the insertion of a segmental-pointed arch (of the mid-14th century) opening into the tower-space, which is now used as a vestry. A similar opening was made, a little earlier, on the south side when the transept was constructed; and one effect of this is the way in which the nave's south doorway the church's most monumental and most richly carved feature is tightly jammed up against the transept.
The form of the south doorway, which is attenuated, is indeed curious and the Royal Commission accounts for it by analysing the immense sandstone lintel as a mid-12th century insertion to an earlier doorway, the earlier doorway consisting of a round-arched opening of tufa, whose inner orders continue down through the inserted lintel and the jambs as a flowing chevron pattern. The outermost edge of the round-arched opening takes the form of a moulded label. The inserted lintel has patterns incised by chip-carving: two circles with tiny human heads with rays emanating from them, and two curious animal forms. The tympanum above the lintel simply consists of a number of plain stones.
The south door is a magnificent early door (12th century) with its original ironwork. It consists of five boards with three chamfered ledges fixed with bolts through the door. The ironwork comprises two strap hinges with two large affronted C shapes with curled terminals. Across the centre of the door is a plain bar with large split curl terminals, and a pair of crescents above and below the circular ring boss. The motif of the affronted Cs tends to occur before c.1150, but the exaggerated Cs at Letton indicate a later and more stylised form, c.1175-1200. This makes them quite unusual.
The west wall of the nave is steeply gabled, and is made unexpectedly memorable by the addition of an immense angle-buttress on the south-west corner. The west doorway is somewhat impaired by the insertion of an insensitive uncarved stone as a replacement lintel, but is otherwise a 12th century round-arched doorway, perhaps of the earlier 12th century campaign of building rather than the later. The west window is late 13th century, and consists of two elongated trefoiled lights.
Building Fabric and Features
Altar
The altar is a late 16th or early 17th century Communion Table.
Pulpit
The pulpit, with its tester and tester support, is an uncommonly fine example of early 18th century woodwork reported to have come from a church in Bristol. The pulpit is octagonal, each face with a panel carved with a festoon of foliage, fruit and flowers, enriched base-moulding and entablature, with enriched pilasters at the angles, and a carved swag on each face of the frieze.
Lectern
c.1920
The lectern is of oak, made to match the pulpit and Clergy Stall.
Stained Glass
The north window of the chancel is a memorial to Charles Blisset, d.1859; and the east window of the chancel is a memorialto Elizabeth Blisset, d.1867.
Interior
Interior Description
East of the tower arch is a small niche, visible both internally and externally, and this is perhaps a former squint though probably in that case re-set as it would otherwise be inexplicably high up.
The chancel has a late 13th century east window of three lights. within a segmental-pointed head. In the north wall are two windows, the eastern a late 13th century lancet and the other of late 14th century date consisting of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a square head. In the south wall are two single lancet windows, probably late 13th century, the western window being slightly lower in level and with an internal rebate for a shutter. There is a priest's doorway of the same date, with chamfered jambs and a two-centred head. There is no chancel arch, but there may have been one before the tower and the south transept were built.
The tower is of three stages, two of masonry and the top stage timber-framed. The ground-floor stage has two windows, in the east and north walls, each of a single trefoiled light. The general appearanc eof the tower is squat and massive, recalling the somewhat earlier defensive appearance purpose and character of Border church towers. The middle stage has loop-lights in the east, west and north walls. The lower part of the bell- chamber is of stone, and has plain rectangular openings on all four sides. The upper part, as already noted, is timber-framed and thought to be 17th century. It has plain-boarded sides, and a pyramidal roof.
The south transept has an early 14th century window of one trefoiled light in its west wall; a renewed two-light window in its east wall; and a large window in the south wall apparently formed by amalgamating two former trefoiled lights. Above this window, in the gable, is a pair of bank niches with pointed heads, and between the niches and the window a much-worn sundial, no doubt of the 18th century. In the west wall of the transept, close to the south nave doorway and forming a rather uncomfatable conjunction with it, is a 14th century doorway probably reset in this position, judging by the disturbed masonry around it ; it has moulded jambs, and a segmental-pointed arch.
The trussed-rafter roof structure of the chancel is evidently of some age, probably of the 15th century; that of the nave is also trussed-rafter in form.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
The font has an octagonal bowl and stem, and is probably late 13th or early 14th century, set on a circular 19th century base.
Bells
Diameter: 29.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Robert Hendley
Dove Bell ID: 28236 Tower ID: 16836 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 33" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by William Evans 1744
Dove Bell ID: 28237 Tower ID: 16836 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 335 464
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
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