Description

SS 44 NE MORTEHOE MORTEHOE

1/208 Church of St Mary Magdalene
-
25.2.65
GV I

Parish Church, C12 fabric to nave, probably largely rebuilt and extended in C13
when chancel and north tower were added. Early C14 south transept. In C16 nave
heightened and reroofed and north aisle added, possibly replacing north transept in
earlier cruciform plan. South porch and vestry probably also added C16. Restored
and almost entirely refenestrated 1860 by R D Gould. Morte slates with ashlar
dressings. Slate roofs with coped gable ends to nave and chancel with apex
crosses. Rubble and ashlar gabletted stack to vestry. Tower of 2 stages with
embattled parapet. Bell openings with louvres on four faces, 2 light to north and
east, that on east face also with pointed-arched hoodmould, single light to west
and south. Pointed north door with rough voussoirs and ventilation slit above.
Buttress with offsets to west wall. Two 2-light windows to north aisle and single
trefoil-headed 2-light window at its east end. 3-light pointed arched east window
with human head corbels. 2 cavetto moulded lancet windows to north wall of
chancel. Shoulder-headed priests door on south side flanked by 2-light trefoil-
headed windows. South transept has single light trefoil-headed window on east and
2-light window on south side with label stops and short engaged columns and
capitals to the inner face with floriated corbels. 4-light window with renewed
tracery with 2-lights on each side splaying outwards from the angle of the south
transept and nave. 2 single light windows to each side of nave and 3-light west
window. South porch doorway with plain-moulded segmental arch and latticed framing
and ledging to C19 inner plank door in unmoulded round-arched doorway. Barrel roof
with moulded wooden spine, supported on carved and canellated wooden wall plates.
Interior: Pointed arched doorway with rounded inner arch to tower, which has 2
blocked square-headed splayed windows on east side. Unceiled waggon roof to nave
with moulded spine. Clerestory window above north aisle arcade of 3 lights with
ferramentla. Ceiled wagon roofs to north aisle and south transept with carved
bosses at the intersections of the ribs. 2-bay arcade to north transept of plain
chamfered four-centred arches with single octagonal pier. Arcade to south transept
of 1½ bays with four-centred arches supported on octagonal pier with moulded
capital. Larger bay has blind trefoiled panelling to the intrados and wooden
moulded lintel above. The smaller bay is created by the diagonal vaulted
connection between transept and nave wall, perhaps to form a hagioscope to the
south transept. Plain moulded pointed chancel arch with striking mosaic by Selwyn
Image 1903 of ascending angels flanking representation of Lamb and Cross in central
medallion. C19 piscina on north wall of chancel and stone carved reredos with
pointed arched niches on each side with cusped headed inner arches supported on
colonettes. C19 wooden altar table with altar frontals embroidered to Image's
designs wineglass stone pulpit with double cusped-headed panels to each facet with
ball flower ornamentation between and fleurons above and below. Nave has fine set
of 17 pairs of C18 richly carved benchends and benches with moulded rails. Stained
glass mostly by Beer of Exeter. Octagonal bowl to font on shaft with lipped
capital and square base.
Monuments: Tomb-chest in south transept probably to William de Tracey, early C14.
Incised figure of priest with chalice on lid. 7 bays of blend arches with
Decorated style tracery to south side, with floriated spandrels. Carved panel of
crucifixion at west end. North side has from left to right 6 smaller cusped headed
arches with 3 shields above. Then 2 arches similar to south side then 2 arches
containing figures in low relief in the niches. Wall monument with original
painted decoration on north wall at upper end of nave to Mary and Thos Newel, early
C18. Oval medallion with large scallop above and putti each side in the swags
and cherubs bust below on small consoles. Wall monument on west wall of south
transept by Harry Hems of Exeter to Mary Heddon, died 1889. Outer and inner
colonnettes flank cartouche of 3 female figures. C19 marble wall monument on south
wall of transept by R Scamp of Ilfracombe.

Listing NGR: SS4569245192

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Mary Magdalene at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17526662

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

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper