Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by John II Brend 1640
Dove Bell ID: 6877 Tower ID: 10970 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Topcroft: St Margaret
Overview
Grid reference: TM 265 928
The Church of St Margaret has undergone much restoration over the centuries, but many features of interest and antiquity remain. The lofty tower is a fascinating mixture of styles and additions. The tower has three bells, but only one is currently in use. Much of the nave and the south aisle is Perpendicular, though in 1712 the church was greatly restored: the brick chancel was also added at that time. A substantial programme of repair, improvement and redecoration has been carried out recently, including a new heating system. In 2003 pews were removed from the south aisle and a new floor was laid, making this area more adaptable for services, concerts and meetings.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Church open regularly Grade II* listed building Visitor parking nearby Stained Glass
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 276 m²
Exterior Description
The lofty tower is a fascinating mixture of styles and additions. The round base has been dated by some writers as Norman and the first two octagonal stages as C13th additions. A recent study suggests, however, that the three lower stages were built at the same time (possibly early in the C14th), with the tower being independently constructed against an existing church. A fourth stage – the belfry – was added in the C15th, crowned by an embattled parapet with a frieze of fleurons and fine grinning gargoyles. In 1983 the church tower was given a new roof, the rendering was stripped and stonework was re-pointed. During this work, six lancet windows were uncovered and reinstated, making eight in all. The tower has three bells, but only one is currently in use.
Much of the nave and the south aisle is Perpendicular, though in 1712 the church was greatly restored: the brick chancel was also added at that time.
There are carved medieval heads at the lower gable ends, with a group of three heads together at the east end of the south aisle. The south porch has a niche for a holy water stoup in an exterior wall and, high on its south-east buttress, a hole (for a peg) which would have formed part of a ‘mass dial’. Decorative heads flank the entrance arches.
Medieval; chancel of 1712. Flint with brick and stone dressings, brick. Slate roof. West tower, nave, C18 chancel, south aisle, south porch. Embattled tower of 4 stages, the lower stage round, the upper stages octagonal. West window, heavily restored, of 2 lights with panel tracery; post-medieval brick repair above and below window. Medieval brick quoins to second and third stages. Stone dressings to slit light to west of second stage; brick voussoirs. Single light opening to each face of third stage with brick reveals. Stone dresings to fourth stage; large louvred openings to north, south, east and west; flushwork to intermediate faces. Diagonal buttresses to south aisle; post-medieval brick buttress on medieval base. 2 restored 2-light windows with panel tracery. East window of aisle of 3 lights with panel tracery; similar to west, heavily restored. North nave doorway with continuous chamfer. One restored 3-light window with panel tracery; hood mould. One similar window of C19. Off-set in wall of second bay. Light for rood stair. Brick chancel having pilasters with moulded capitals. C19 stone-dressed windows. Buttressed porch to first aisle bay. Single cusped light under square hood mould to east and west. Archway with polygonal shafts; hollow chamfer to arch, continuous outer order with hollow chamfer; hood mould with restored figure stops. Rere-arch of 2 orders; hollow chamfered. Niche to right of archway. Nave doorway of 2 continuous orders, hollow chamfer to arch; hood mould with figure stops. Stoup to right.
As listed on Historic England website
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
13th Century
Belfry
15th Century
Parapet
15th Century
Frieze
15th Century frieze of fleurons on the belfry parapet with gargoyles
Gargoyle
15th Century frieze of fleurons on the belfry parapet with gargoyles
Lancet Window
six lancet windows were uncovered and reinstated, making eight in all.
Chancel
1712 church was greatly restored at this time and a brick chancel was added
Gable
There are carved medieval heads at the lower gable ends, with a group of three heads together at the east end of the south aisle.
Porch
The south porch has a niche for a holy water stoup in an exterior wall and, high on its south-east buttress, a hole (for a peg) which would have formed part of a ‘mass dial’. Decorative heads flank the entrance arches.
Building Materials
Brick
Interior
Interior Description
The interior has a C14th arcade which leans outwards and the south aisle has large Perpendicular windows. The rood loft stairs remain in the north wall. The font dates from the C15th. There is a trefoil-headed piscine at the east end of the south aisle, which indicates that there was once an altar there. The Royal Arms are of King George III (1760-1820) and the hanging wooden hatchments are of the Smyth family of Topcroft Hall. Near the chancel arch is a small but attractive tablet (inscribed in Latin) to Richard Wilson, who died in 1637.
In 1861 the chancel was re-seated and most of the windows renewed: further work on the chancel was done in 1876 when the then fashionable decoration with biblical texts was added. A substantial programme of repair, improvement and redecoration has been carried out recently, including a new heating system. In 2003 pews were removed from the south aisle and a new floor was laid.
Stoup beside south door. 4-bay nave arcade with polygonal shafts on large bases; 2 orders to arch. Piscina in aisle. Rood stair. Probably C19 tower arch and chancel arch. C19 roofs and fittings. Royal arms dated 1789 G.R. Many hatchments. Octagonal font with 4 lions to base; alternate lions and angels with shields to bowl.
As listed on Historic England website
Fixtures and fittings
Rood Loft
Font (object)
15th Century
Piscina (object)
. There is a trefoil-headed piscine at the east end of the south aisle, which indicates that there was once an altar there.
Inscribed Object
1637 Near the chancel arch is a small but attractive tablet (inscribed in Latin) to Richard Wilson, who died in 1637.
Pew (object)
Bells
Weight: 468 lbs Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1876
Dove Bell ID: 43081 Tower ID: 10970 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bell 3 of 3
Founded by John II Brend 1640
Dove Bell ID: 43082 Tower ID: 10970 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The Royal Arms are of King George III (1760-1820) and the hanging wooden hatchments are of the Smyth family of Topcroft Hall.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TM 265 928
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 | 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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