Description

TL 2256 ABBOTSLEY HIGH STREET
(South Side)

10/13 (18/1A) Church of
14.5.59 St. Margaret

GV II*

Mainly C14 parish church of west tower, nave and north and south
aisles. The 1861 chancel, north vestry and north porch are by
Butterfield. The C14 tomb recess in the south aisle is note-
worthy. Late C14 or perhaps C15 west tower of pebblestone with
some sandstone and Barnack. Embattled and of four stages on
splayed plinth. Four stage set back buttressing with newel
staircase in south west angle. There are beast gargoyles to the
centre of the main cornice. Surmounting and at each corner of
the parapet is a figure of a king, the two at the south east and
south west corners are C16, and those at north east and north
west are C19 or C20 restorations. They are said to represent
Macbeth, Malcolm, Harold and William. C19 west doorway of
Ketton stone with original label and stops of clunch. C15 west
window of three lights with vertical tracery. Bell stage has in
each wall, two cinquefoil openings in four centred head with
label. Nave mainly of pebblestone with C19 and C20 steeply
pitched plain tiled roof. Each side of late C14 clerestorey has
five windows of two trefoil lights in square head. C14 south
aisle with four C20 windows of Wheldon stone, each of two lights
with flowing tracery and two centred arch. C14 south doorway of
two chamfered orders. East window of south aisle has three
cinquefoil lights in four centred head with mask stops. North
aisle similar. Chancel and north vestry mainly pebblestone with
tiled roof and Ketton surrounds to windows. Interior. North
arcade of four bays. Two centred arches of two chamfered orders
on columns, quatrefoil in section, with small rolls to the
angles and moulded capitals and bases. South arcade also of
four bays with two centred arches of two chamfered orders.
Octagonal columns and capitals. The C19 or C20 nave roof rests
on C15 corbels, some carved. The gable end of the original nave
roof is visible in the east wall of the tower. There is a fine
C14 tomb recess in the south, aisle of the church. Moulded and
cinquefoiled ogee head, carved with tendrils and foliate
ornament and flanked by buttresses surmounded by crocketed
pinnacles carved with paterae. Above the ogee arch are two
coats of arms of Tilly. C13 font. Tapering octagonal bowl of
limestone on octagonal base. The roof of the north aisle
retains some C15 moulded tie beams and in the east wall, two C15
brackets carved with angels. The C16 oak screen under the
chancel arch was originally under the tower arch. Of three bays
including central opening, traceried heads and closed lower
panels.
VCH (Hunts) Vol. II (p257).
RCHM (Hunts) mon. (1).
Pevsner: Buildings of England, p203.

Listing NGR: TL2277556538

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Margaret's Church at Wikipedia
• St Margaret's Church official website
• Wikidata Q7594099

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

• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)