Description

TF 23 NW BICKER CHURCH ROAD
(east side)

7/18 Church of
26.1.67 St. Swithin

G.V. I

Parish church. Early C12, late C12, early C13, late C13, C14,
C15, C16, restoration 1876-1911. Limestone ashlar, lead roofs.
Truncated nave with clerestory, aisles, central tower, transepts,
chancel with clerestory and aisles, south porch. C19 west window
is of 4 lights with reticulated tracery and fleurons above, in
C16 rectangular surround. In the south aisle a 2 light C19
window. The north aisle has 3 shallow pilasters, and billet
moulded scalloped corbel table. C19 Romanesque door and window
with billet moulded heads. C12 nave clerestory of 2 lights
flanked by blank openings, all with shafted reveals, cushion
capitals and roll moulded heads. Scalloped corbel table. North
transept has a restored C15 panel traceried 3 light window. The
3 stage tower has chamfered string courses and embattled parapet
with grotesques and early C14 2 light belfry openings with
trefoil heads and quatrefoils. Chancel north aisle is C14 with a
figured corbel table and a single 3 light and 2 two light
windows, all with C14 cusped reticulated tracery, 2 with
triangular heads, the other pointed. A similar 3 light window is
at the east end. The chancel clerestory, also with plainer
figuredcorbel table, has 2 C13 lancets and 2 circular windows.
Beyond to the east is a full height lancet. The chancel east
wall has C13 pilaster buttresses and 3 tall lancets with shafted
reveals and moulded heads. The chancel south aisle has 3 C19 3
light windows with cusped tracery and a continuously moulded
pointed door on the south and a 3 light reticulated C19 window to
the east. The chancel has a single 2 light C14 reticulated
window to the south and a clerestory with 2 lancets and a
circular window. The south transept has a 3 light C19
reticulated window and on the south west angle a facetted stair
tower and reset C14 quatrefoil. South aisle, has 2 light C14
reticulated window and a single bay of C12 clerestory comprising
a single light flanked by blank openings. Gabled south porch
having recut C14 outer door with double chamfered head. C14
inner moulded doorway. In the east wall a reset stoup with above
a C10 interlace carving. Interior. 2 bay early C12 nave arcades
consisting of large drum pillars, scalloped capitals, later C12
roll moulded and chevron arches with billet moulded hoods. A
further pair of shafts is buried in the west wall, showing that
the nave has been truncated. The eastern responds are early C13
triple shafts with hob nailing. The bays are divided by half
round wall shafts to support roof principals and there is a
matching cill band to the clerestory. The clerestory lights have
shafted rear arches. At the ends of the aisles are triple
chamfered arches to the transepts. The tower crossing has tall
early C14 pointed arches with deeply moulded heads on shafted and
facetted piers with annular capitals. C13 eastern arches to the
transepts with triple shafted responds, annular capitals and
moulded heads. Chancel has 3 late C13 bay arcades with round
shafts, octagonal and annular capitals, double chamfered arches.
In the sanctuary a C13 triple sedilia, with detached shafts,
pointed and moulded heads. In the north wall an early C14 tomb
niche with cusped head. The east windows have collared shafted
moulded rear arches. In the south aisle a C14 piscina with
cusped ogee head and sunk triangular panels above. Fittings. In
the chancel are 2 sets of C15 pews with blank panel tracery, and
in the north aisle are 6 moulded pews, one with reset C17 chip
carved panels. C19 facetted ashlar pulpit. Late C13 tub font
with engaged octagonal columns, with foliated capitals and stubby
supporting bases. At the west end a fragment of C10 cross shaft
with interlace decoration. Also a matching grave cover.
Monuments. Near the south door a wall monument in the form of an
escutcheon with scrolled sides and shield to Rev. Hinckesman
d.1744.

Listing NGR: TF2245837864

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526081

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy