Description

TL 17 SW STOW LONGA CHURCH LANE

3/3 CHURCH OF ST BOTOLPH
14.5.59

II*

Parish church mainly of C13, C14 and C16 but having late C12 doorway and other
fragments surviving from an earlier church. C16 west tower of coursed limestone and
4 stages with put logs for scaffolding still vacant in walls. On splayed plinth
with string courses between stages. Moulded cornice with large gargoyles to centre
of each side. Diagonal buttressing of 3 stages. Three lancets to newel staircase
in south-west corner. C16 west doorway and fenestration. Above the west doorway is
a plaque carved with 2 shields of arms and in the south wall is an inscription.
C13 nave of rubblestone, but roof and most of clerestorey rebuilt c 1880. Plain
tiled with parapet and large reset C16 grotesque gargoyles to south-east and north-
east corners. Clerestorey with 4 C19 windows. Parapetted C13 south aisle and C14
chapel at east end. Of rubble and pebblestone on plinth with diagonal and angle
buttressing. Three C14 windows of 2 trefoil lights and one of 3 lights. C12 tomb
slab with omega ornament incorporated in east wall. C13 south doorway reset. Of
3 hollow moulded orders in 2-centred arch with gabled head. Attached shafts with
moulded capitals and bases. Round headed rear arch to doorway. C13 chancel of
pebblestone and reused rubble to upper courses, substantially rebuilt in c 1880.
Tiled with gable end parapet. Parts of 2 C13 lancet windows in north wall. One
C14 window with low side in south wall. South doorway is C12 reset. Round headed
archway with chevron ornament on attached octagonal shafts, one to east restored, with
square abacii, capitals carved with knot ornament and moulded bases. Tympanum carved
with figure of mermaid between 2 beasts with scimitar tails. Doorway in square head.
Interior. c 1880 nave roof incorporating C15 tie beams. The gable ends of the
earlier roof are visible in the east and west walls of the nave. Mid C13 north
arcade of 4 bays. Two-centred arches having 2 chamfered orders on cylindrical columns
with round capitals and moulded bases with modern plinths. Rebuilt semi-octagonal
east and west responds. Late C13 south arcade of 4 bays. Two chamfered orders in
2-centred heads. The chamfers terminate in broach stops but those on the south side
are part hollow moulded. Cylindrical columns with moulded octagonal and round
capitals. Moulded bases and modern plinths. Chancel. Rebuilt C13 chancel arch.
Two-centred and of 2 chamfered orders, inner springing from attached shafts with
moulded capitals and bases. Fragments of 2 carved C12 and C13 capitals are incorporate
in the east wall. The 5 bayed wood screen between chancel and nave contains some
original C15 work. The stalls adjacent to the screen on the east side are C15 with
poppyhead ends. Piscina in south wall of chancel, C13, spiral drain in square recess
with chamfered jambs. In south chapel, a C14 piscina with ogee head. Late C13 font,
octagonal base on cylindrical stem. Monuments. South wall of chancel, to
Sir Thomas Maples, Bart 1634-5. Of stone with flanking fluted pilasters, surmounted
by entablature and shield of arms. The ball finial to the Village Cross and other
fragments are in the north aisle.
RCHM (Hunts) p 260, mon (1). VCH (Hunts) Vol II.
Norris Museum, St Ives. Inskip Ladds records.

Listing NGR: TL1070171151

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17544126

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.

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