Diameter: 18" Bell 1 of 1
Dove Bell ID: 60893 Tower ID: 23966 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Sysonby: St Leonard
Diocese of Leicester
Church, 619078
http://www.melton.leicester.anglican.orgOverview
Grid reference: SK 738 189
Sysonby is an unassuming building, but its attractive setting in a broad valley with fields and paddocks all round and a farm to the east shows off the building to advantage. It is approached from the west, and the west tower is the first feature to be seen. It is very plain, a rectangle in plan with the broader side along the west gable of the nave.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
A rectangle with nave and chancel under one roof. At the west end there is a small rectangular bell turret and on the north side at the west end projects a small rectangular vestry.
Footprint of Church buildings: 116 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church appears to be basically thirteenth-century in its present form. It was restored in 1892 by Edmund Jeeves, a local architect whose work here seems to have been concentrated at the west end and probably included the rebuilding of much of the west wall and bell turret. One south buttress is dated 1915 and the north vestry was probably also added at about this date. The foundations of the east and south walls were under pinned in 1936 and a new chancel floor was laid.
Exterior Description
Sysonby is an unassuming building, but its attractive setting in a broad valley with fields and paddocks all round and a farm to the east shows off the building to advantage. It is approached from the west, and the west tower is the first feature to be seen. It is very plain, a rectangle in plan with the broader side along the west gable of the nave. The lower part has two buttresses against the west wall but these die into the wall at the level of the head of the small single lancet which lights the lower stage. Otherwise there are no openings until the very top, where there are small apertures to north and south. The cross-gabled roof is a feature found in several places locally. Against the east wall a higher weathering than the present nave roof suggests that alterations have taken place.
The rest of the church is correspondingly plain. The south wall of the nave has few windows and the doorway is a simple two-centred arch with chamfered surround. To the east of it there is a three- light window with rectangular lights. Beside this there are clear indications that the masonry has been altered - possibly by the addition of the chancel to a smalle initial building. The north wall of the nave has one small two-light window of similiar character and the western part is now abutted by the vestry with windows in the north and west walls which with their rectangular lights echo the form of the other windows in the building (though they are provided with more refined moulded surrounds). The east window is a group of three lancets.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1936
The south window has three lights showing a cottage garden with a sundial in the middle, chestnut trees at each side and irises, tulips, daffodils, primroses and other spring flowers in the foreground. In the sky is a scroll with the text "God is Love", the only remotely religious aspect of the design.
Building Materials
Blue Lias
-9999
Blue Lias
Cobble
-9999
Cobbles – Bunter
Conglomerate
-9999
Sandrock
Limestone
-9999
Upper Lincolnshire Limestone
Marlstone
-9999
Marlstone Rock
Interior
Interior Description
Inside the building, the exposed stone walls show considerable evidence of the building history. The east and west walls, which are built of squared rubble, are probably almost entirely nineteenth-century but the north and south walls, which are much coarser and built of random rubble with some areas of roughly squared stones, probably remain from the mediaeval building. The tower arch at the west end is a simple two centred arch without even a chamfer round the edge and the opening to the early twentieth-century vestry has a chamfered surround. The opening is closed by an oak screen. The roof structure appears to be all nineteenth century, perhaps incorporating some older timbers, and has tie-beams with queenposts and subsidiary struts. The floor has several ledgers down the middle alley but the rest is of composition (1910), the sanctuary being tiled. The reveal of the south window is much wider to the east than present window, but this does not tally with the configuration of the masonry outside and there have clearly been more than one alteration at this point.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th Century
The altar is a nineteenth-century oak table.
Lectern
c.1930
The lectern is an oak pedestal with octagonal shaft and traceried front to the desk, in Neo-Norman style.
Font (object)
A large alabaster baluster with a bowl of white marble veined with grey, eighteenth-century in date. The ogee domed cover seems to be of the same date. The font stands on a circular step and there are remains of a Greek inscription painted round the stem above the baluster.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: SK 738 189
Burial and War Grave Information
The church/building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
The date of the burial closure order is 21/04/1980
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 | 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
Sources
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