Description

TM 38 SW
4/45
1.9.53

SOUTH ELMHAM ST. CROSS
Old Minister Ruins

II

Ruins. Traditionally thought to be those of a Minster relating to the See of
Elmham created in the C7, although the surviving structure seems likely to
date only from the C11. In flint rubble, coursed where the outer: surfaces
remain. The building had the form of a small Romanesque church, with nave, a
narthex to the west, and an apsidal east end, although nothing remains of the
latter above ground level. The nave, 38 feet long and 27 feet wide, has walls
still partly standing to a height of 14 feet, with evidence for window
openings. The narthex is 26 feet square, and had windows on each side and a
wide west door. The building is surrounded by a large square enclosure with a
bank and ditch, said to be of Roman origin, though this is unproven. For the
most recent account of the site cf. N. Smedley and E. Owles, Excavations at
the Old Minster, South Elmham, Procs. Suff. Inst. Arch. for 1971 Vol. XXXII,
part I pp.1-16. Further excavations in 1985, undertaken by the Suffolk
Archaeological Unit in conjunction with Sheffield University, failed to
produce any further evidence of the origins of the building. Scheduled
Ancient Monument.

Listing NGR: TM3073282657

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26283361

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)