Description

BENSON CHURCH ROAD
SU6191 (North side)
7/39 Church of St. Helen
18/07/63

GV II*

Church. C12 nave and chancel; C13 aisles; nave re-roofed probably late C15; west
tower rebuilding started c.1765 in classical style, finished c.1781 by Stephen
Townsend in Gothick style; chancel rebuilt 1862 by Charles Buckeridge. Render,
probably on limestone rubble to nave; flint with stone dressings to chancel;
ashlar limestone to tower; sheet aluminium roof to nave; sheet coppper roofs to
aisles; old plain-tile roof to chancel; roof to tower not visible. 3-bay aisled
nave, chancel and west tower plan. Ribbed double doors with 2-centred stone
arched surround to gabled porch to left of aisle. Two 2-light windows of
Reticulated tracery to aisle, with hood moulds. Three 2-light stone mullioned
windows with leaded lights to clerestory of nave. Chancel to right has two C19
Romanesque lancets flanking a round-topped plank door. Tower to left of 3
stages. Central plank door to first stage with 2-centre arched top with stone
surround in tall round-topped shallow recess. Angled corner buttresses. String
course between first and second stage. Round window with plain surround to
second stage of tower. String course between second and third stage of tower.
2-light Y-tracery louvred opening to third stage. Battlemented parapet with
fluted finials with pyramidal caps to each corner. Left return and rear of tower
the same except round-topped window to centre of first stage of left return and
round-topped blind panel to first stage of the rear. Rear: 3 two-centred arch
topped windows to aisle with central mullions. 2 dormer windows to aisle roof. 2
paired trefoil topped lancets to probable former Lady chapel to left, now the
vestry and organ chamber. 3 lancets under common 2-centred arched hood mould to
right return of chancel. Interior: C12 font with C17 cover to left of chancel
arch. C13 chancel arch of one chamfered order with a roll mould. Nave roof of
square panels with carved bosses, some with the Tudor rose. C19 stained glass to
the chancel.
(Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, p.450-1; E.M.R. Ditmas: A Short History of
Benson Church).

Listing NGR: SU6150691637

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17549594

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

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  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
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  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings