Description

TG 32 NE STALHAM HIGH STREET
(north side)

2/59 Church of St. Mary
16.4.55 the Virgin

II*

Parish church. C14 nave and aisles, Perpendicular west tower unfinished at
dissolution (numerous bequests date from 1481 to 1533). Chancel rebuilt 1827.
Many C19 restorations : 1854 nave and aisles restored; 1864 font restored;
1872 south porch rebuilt and new floors inserted, aisle windows restored;
1886 chancel roof renewed and raised, nave roof restored, vestry erected.
Flint with ashlar dressings and slate roofs, the aisles leaded. Squat 2
storey tower with angle buttresses. 3-light Perpendicular west window below
older fragment of arch. Louvred belfry openings to north and south
(originally intended as ringing chamber stage). Brick parapet. Angle
buttresses to nave aisles, stepped to flanks. Gabled south porch with diagonal
buttresses, the south face of knapped flint. 2-light Perpendicular side
windows. Double wave moulded entrance arch below wall sundial dated 1801.
4 C19 3-light Perpendicular south aisle windows and 4 2-light north aisle
windows with Y tracery. Arched north door. Clerestory of 4 circular windows
with cusping. To south side each window separated by flushwork tracery.
Chancel with angle buttresses to east, paired stepped buttresses to sides.
2 3-light reticulated south windows and similar east window. Interior. 5
bay octagonal arcade on moulded bases. Moulded polygonal capitals support
double chamfered arches. Tall chamfered tower arch with polygonal responds,
capitals and bases. To east side are keeled rolls. Double wave moulded
chancel arch on polygonal responds, with capitals and bases. Scissor braced
C19 nave roof. Rafter aisle roofs also C19. Deep splays to clerestory
windows. Fine late C15 octagonal font on 3 steps, the upper 2 traceried.
Foot of font stem with foliage trail. Against stem figures of prophets and
saints on pedestals under ribbed canopies. Bowl panels depict Baptism of
Christ (to west) and Holy Trinity (to east). Remainder of bowl panels with
12 apostles. To east of south door remains of elaborate Holy water stoup
: bowl on engaged column over which is arch within square surround. Chapel
of St. John the Baptist in south east corner. Bench sedilia, angle piscina
with cinquefoil cusping and aumbry. Remains of rood stair in north chancel
arch pier. C19 chancel roof. Against south-east chancel corner altar tomb
to Katherine Catfield 1718. 2 bay tomb chest with splayed columns and
pilasters, each bay carved with high relief cherub. Inscription panel against
wall flanked by Corinthian pilasters below segmental pediment and achievement.

Listing NGR: TG3730825165

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17556275

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

• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)