Description

SU 66 SE STRATFIELD SAYE STRATFIELD SAYE PARK
2/14
26.4.57 Church of St Mary the
Virgin

I

1758 possibly designed by John Pitt (Calvin p 639), restor ation 1965. Replacing a medieval church in a new site, the building has a Greek Cross plan, with an octagonal tower above the crossing. There is a copper dome (with a finial) and copper roofing of low pitch to the arms. Walling is in painted brickwork, English bond, with a moulded brick cornice, a pediment effect at the gables, and plinth. The octagon has a stepped cornice. Circular (slatted) openings on the axes, and a band above roof level. The entrance facade (north) has 3 circular lights above 3 arched openings, with springer band. The windows are round-headed, single and central to the side of some arms, but otherwise in pairs, with the outer fitted. They have leaded lights within cross frames, the 'east) (south) being a Venetian design within an outer arch. The north gable has a circular window above a classical doorway, of cornice, frieze, and architrave. Inside, the pulpit came from the old church, the west arm has original box
pews (copied elsewhere in the restoration), the font is Victorian of Wren style. There is a gallery in the north and east arms, the latter containing a C18 organ. There are rich monuments to the Pitt family (1636, 1734, 1803), the builders of the church, and wall mouments to Dukes of Wellington. Despite the external raised dome, the ceiling is flat, with plain coving. In the open porch, the floor has medieval tomb slabs, which once contained C15 brasses to the Darbridge court family, which preceded the Pitts (about 1620-1815).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17528262

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

• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)