THE CHURCH of ALL SAINTS STIBBARD

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE CHURCH of ALL SAINTS STIBBARD"

Marian Poole
5 years ago
Views:

1 THE CHURCH of ALL SAINTS STIBBARD Fig.1. View from south west SRH Historical Analysis with Special Emphasis on Chancel, Tower and North Aisle NHER 7158 Gallow Hundred Burnham Deanery North Norfolk District Stephen Heywood FSA. January2015 1

2 Introduction This report forms part of the investigative stage of a financial grant process and is intended to assist and inform the architect and inspecting architects and to become a reference document for the Parochial Church Council. The report concentrates on the architectural history and makes use of the documentary evidence available at the Norfolk Record Office and elsewhere. The church has a western tower with brick-dressed 18 th -century diagonal buttresses with a further buttress of the same type added to the centre of the west wall blocking the west window. The nave south and west walls and the tower up to base of bell stage are the earliest surviving fabric and belong to the late 11 th or early 12 th centuries. An aisle was added to the north in the 14 th century and the wall of the Norman nave was replaced by an arcade with a clerestory in the heightened wall above. The chancel was built in the earlier years of the 14 th century and has an important east window. The roofs of both nave and chancel were replaced during the 19 th century as well as the chancel arch, the south wall of the chancel and the east section of the nave south wall. The porch was also replaced at this time (Figs.1 & 2). Fig. 2. Sketch plan The west tower is built of flint rather heavily re-pointed. The eastern corners are without ashlar quoins up to the string course at the foot of the bell stage which has ashlar quoins to all four corners (figs 1 & 5). The use of plain flint quoins is often thought to be indicative of an early date as indeed the flint quoins of the nave suggest. In the case of the tower the lack of stone quoins is in small sections of the least visible angles but, of course, the western corners were almost certainly similar, a factor which invited the addition of diagonal buttresses. The 2

There are two opposing blocked windows at this level; that to the south is visible from the ground and that to the north is visible on the interior (Figs 3 & 4).

3 bell stage could be a later addition with only the blocked west window being of 14 th -century date and this could easily have been an addition. If the bell stage is a 14 th -century addition the lower stage (present second storey) would have been the original bell stage when the nave was lower - as the nave fabric reveals. There are two opposing blocked windows at this level; that to the south is visible from the ground and that to the north is visible on the interior (Figs 3 & 4). The former is obscured on the interior by modern stitching work but the flint jambs and head are clear on the exterior. The north reveals the details of an opening at 50 cms wide and 80 cms high with a semi-circular head. Fig.3. blocked opening. South wall of tower Fig 4. Blocked opening in north wall of tower Although it is not clear in the photograph there is no mistake. There is a possibility that one also existed to the west but the plaster (and never mind the buttress) obscure the area. The question is: are these openings the original bell openings? This would depend on whether or not the openings are splayed. If so they were for letting light in and if without splay they were for letting sound out. The latter seems to be the case and, although partly based on circumstantial evidence, it is likely that the tower is Romanesque and thus becoming only the sixth Romanesque square western tower as opposed to the very many round towers which were the rule (Heywood 2005). The other openings in the tower are 14 th century. All the bell openings except that to the north have lost their tracery, each leaving just the stubs of simple two-light openings with super mullions flanking a quatrefoil in the head, as surviving in the north elevation (fig 6). The central buttress was built into the west window leaving small sections still visible to the sides of the buttress (Fig. 7). It was probably of two lights and similar in design to the bell openings, as can be judged from the surviving fragments. 3

4 Fig.5. View of tower from the north east. Fig. 6. North bell opening. (Blackman) 4

The roof is pyramidal and has a lead covering with boldly formed rolls (Fig.5). It has no guttering and relies on the overhanging eaves to shed the water. There is a fine weathercock.

The bricks are definitely post medieval and to judge by their size are probably 18 th century.

5 The roof is pyramidal and has a lead covering with boldly formed rolls (Fig.5). It has no guttering and relies on the overhanging eaves to shed the water. There is a fine weathercock. There are three buttresses which are clearly additions (Figs. 7 & 8). The buttresses have brick dressings with galletted knapped flint facing. The bricks are definitely post medieval and to judge by their size are probably 18 th century. They were added to counteract the lean of the west wall which was detaching itself, leaving vertical cracks in the north and south walls of the tower. The top stage of the buttress was rebuilt in 1964 (NRO. PD 622/29). Fig.7. Buttress blocking west window Fig. 8. West wall of tower from north The interior of the tower is entered up two steps and through a doorway from the nave. The doorway has a two-centred arch with a wide plain chamfer to its reveal and a hood mould. Although of late medieval date it is incorporated in the blocking of a possible tower arch which is the more expected opening between nave and tower (Fig. 9). It was a simple shallow roughly two-centred archway without responds suggesting the possibility that it was simply a relieving arch. If so the 14 th century doorway may replace a Romanesque original. 5

6 Fig. 9. Former tower arch. Fig. 10. Sections through tower (Ruth Blackman) The first floor, which was presumably the ringers gallery, cuts through the west window which suggests that the floor was inserted with the adoption of change-ringing and the 6

7 provision of three bells probably in the early 16 th century (Fig. 10) (Cattermole 1990). The gallery or floor did not connect with the nave space owing to the low level of the tower arch and the head of the west window would have been the only source of natural light. The blocked head of the west window and the boarding over of the side lights can be seen (Fig. 11). Fig. 11. Blocked head of west window The second floor of the tower is supported on some renewed beams and has been refurbished. There is one transverse joist on inset wall posts with solid braces. A blocked original arched bell opening can be seen on the north side(see above). The bell frame above is supported on modern rolled steel joists. The bell stage at the top storey has four bell openings with medieval brick dressings. The pyramidal roof structure is of softwood with two principal joists crossed and a king post to which the weather cock pole is fixed. The roof replaces a short spire shown in Ladbrooke s lithograph (Fig. 22 ). The long-headed bell frame is of three pits but now has just a single bell in the centre pit which is still swung by a lever attached to the head stock (Fig. 12). L Estrange records the bishop giving permission to the parish in 1746 to sell the smaller bells in order to pay for works to the aisle (L Estrange, 1874). It is clear that full circle ringing was practised as can be seen by the notches cut out to accommodate the swing. Each pit is formed out of long heads supported on end posts with foot jowls onto the foundation beams and the transverse bottom cills. The posts are also jointed to the top cills enclosing the whole frame. Each bell pit truss consists of a king post jointed to heavy and elaborate bracing. On each side of the king post, two braces, one from the king post, the other from the long-head go down to the end post and bottom cill. Another brace forming a scissor goes from the top of the end post down to the bottom cill (Fig. 12). 7

The jowled feet of the post were in order to provide tenons to join to the bottom cill and the foundation beam, one above the other (Cattermole, 1990, 115).

8 Fig. 12. West side of centre pit with lever attached to head stock. The ends of the pits are or were also elaborately braced with the same combination of double and single arched braces. The jowled feet of the post were in order to provide tenons to join to the bottom cill and the foundation beam, one above the other (Cattermole, 1990, 115). And also to have mortises for the braces. In addition the bottom cills are dovetailed to the foundations beams (Figs 13 &14). There is a re-positioned wooden pulley which was used for full circle ringing (Cattermole 1990, 2-3) (Fig.13). Fig. 13. Detail of west end of centre pit showing foundation beam, bottom cill, jowled end post and pulley. 8

9 Fig. 14. Assembled jowled foot at southwest corner. The bell itself is of the 15 th century and has the following inscription: + IHC NASERENUS REX IUDIORUM. It is fixed to a head stock with re-used nailed metal bands and a pair of 17 th century iron hoops held at the head with wedged bolts (Fig. 15) (Cattermole 1990, 91). Fig. 15. Head stock 9

All A Saints Stibbard NHER7158 The frame probably belongs to the 15 th century but bell frames are notoriously difficult to

It has double bracing, king posts, dovetailing to foundation beamss and jowledd feet (Cattermole 1990, 116-9).

The tower was semi-derelict in 1963 overgrown with vegetation and with the roof trap door missing.

cracks, roof repaired and lead re-cast. Nave.

at their feet large glacial erratic megaliths (Figs. 16 & 17).The quoins at the south west cornerr are clear.

The megaliths m at the north west corner have been robbed out explaining the irregular masonry beneath the break.

Small flat stone Fig. 16. Nave south west corner Fig. 17.

10 All A Saints Stibbard NHER7158 The frame probably belongs to the 15 th century but bell frames are notoriously difficult to date. The truss type is similar to the moree complex 15 th century frame at Bressingham. It has double bracing, king posts, dovetailing to foundation beamss and jowledd feet (Cattermole 1990, 116-9). The frame has been consolidated in recent years as the stainlesss steel bolts,, timber repairs and chiming lever show. The tower was semi-derelict in 1963 overgrown with vegetation and with the roof trap door missing. Works carried out in 1964 consisted of removal of render and 100% repointing, top of west buttresss rebuilt, stitching of cracks, roof repaired and lead re-cast. Nave. The south west walls of the nave are early Norman in date and built with the characteristic flint and rubble quoins which have at their feet large glacial erratic megaliths (Figs. 16 & 17).The quoins at the south west cornerr are clear. At the northh west corner a few survive at the break with thee later north aisle. The megaliths m at the north west corner have been robbed out explaining the irregular masonry beneath the break. The quoins have remained only because they were inside the now demolished lean-to shed and avoided the re-facing. Small flat stone Fig. 16. Nave south west corner Fig. 17. Quoins at former north west corner The rubble quoins at the south west corner rise the full height of the elevation but the upper section belongs to a later period when thee nave was heightened.. On both sides of the tower at the same level a small flat stone against the nave west wall marks the height of the Romanesque gable base and disturbed masonry against the westt wall indicates the angle of the gable and thus the height of the original nave wall (Fig.16). 10

11 All A Saints Stibbard NHER7158 Untidy off set Former windoww Fig. 18. South wall of nave The south wall of the nave is largely contemporary with the quoins and is distinguishable from the coursed small flints of the heightening of the wall which took place about 250 years later (Fig. 18). The Norman masonry clearly becamee unstable close to the porch wheree there is an untidy off-set just above its east side. This may have been caused by the disturbance created when the south doorway was inserted during the 14 th century. The Norman masonry further east survives to a higher level andd there is a former double-splayedd window clearly delineated by the small flint blocking. The buttressess and the easternmost bay were rebuilt by William Butterfield in 1861/2. Fig. 19. Arcade from the south west. 11

In the mid-14 th century it was decided to add a north aisle connected with the nave by an arcade and surmounted by a low clerestory with small two-light windows.

The easternmost respond has a raised base accommodating perhaps a former chapel at the end of the north aisle. The aisle and its roof have undergone several changes since first built.

12 In the mid-14 th century it was decided to add a north aisle connected with the nave by an arcade and surmounted by a low clerestory with small two-light windows. The arcade is of four bays with octagonal piers, moulded bell capitals and spurred bases (Fig. 19). The easternmost respond has a raised base accommodating perhaps a former chapel at the end of the north aisle. The aisle and its roof have undergone several changes since first built. The present ceiling of the north aisle was its roof before Butterfield s radical intervention of covering the north side of the building with a single pitch, thereby rendering the clerestory and the aisle roof redundant. The surviving ceiling was itself a replacement of an earlier roof by increasing the pitch thereby blocking the bottom third of the clerestory (Fig. 19 & 20). The simple structure has curious metal brackets fixed to the feet of the principal rafters. The position of the original roof was just below the surviving stone drip (fig. 21). Ladbrooke shows the building in the 1820s before Butterfield s alteration of 1862 (Fig. 22) and probably with the present aisle ceiling which is 18 th -century - of 1746 perhaps when the bishop gave the parish permission to sell two bells to help with works to the aisle (L Estrange, 1874). The lithograph shows projecting rafter ends which were replaced with the dentil cornice. Fig. 20. Aisle ceiling Fig. 21. Detail showing drip stone in south east corner of aisle 12

1 m (3ft 7ins) below the cornice (Figs 23 & 24).

13 Fig. 22. Lithograph by Ladbrooke of 1820s. A close examination of this north wall reveals that the masonry changes at a marked horizontal line at 1.1 m (3ft 7ins) below the cornice (Figs 23 & 24). This runs the whole length of the elevation interrupted by the windows and buttresses and the joint is levelled with flint gallets. The masonry above has wider joints and more varied sizes of flint and Fig. 23. North aisle from north east. 13

Both of the north facing windows in the aisle are of late medieval date and after or contemporary with the heightening of the wall.

14 Fig. 24. Horizontal break rubble. This appears to indicate that the eaves of the aisle were originally at the lower level which would have given a steep enough pitch even from below the clerestory cills. Both of the north facing windows in the aisle are of late medieval date and after or contemporary with the heightening of the wall. A will of 1511 left money for the north aisle and could well refer to this (Cattermole and Cottton. 1983). The break does not continue into the end walls of the aisle which means that they were partially rebuilt and the windows re-set when the north wall was raised (Fig. 25). In the masonry of the west end wall just to the south of the window is a window blocking which would have fitted the low aisle (Fig. 26). Fig. 25. West end of north aisle. 14

Fig. 26. Blocked window in west end aisle wall The nave north and south doors are 14 th century both with double ogee and wave-moulded heads dying into plain chamfered jambs.

Rood beam from north west The interior of the nave has a remarkable moulded and painted rood beam with solid braces supported on head corbels (to the south original but damaged and to the north

15 Fig. 26. Blocked window in west end aisle wall The nave north and south doors are 14 th century both with double ogee and wave-moulded heads dying into plain chamfered jambs. Butterfield s porch has his characteristic striped masonry. It replaces an earlier porch as a will of 1479 survives leaving money to making porch (Cattermole and Cotton, 1983). Fig. 27. Rood beam from north west The interior of the nave has a remarkable moulded and painted rood beam with solid braces supported on head corbels (to the south original but damaged and to the north restored) (Fig. 27). The rood itself is of A further shield-shaped corbel survives in the north west corner of the nave and it is at the right level to have been a wall post support for the medieval roof. The roof is probably early 19 th century, earlier than Butterfield s involvement and is of 15

16 Y-strutted king-post trusses with collars and soulaces (fig.28). Several pew ends are carved with figures and animals. There is the dado of a former screen with stencilled decoration. Fig 28. Nave roof. Fig. 29. East window. 16

17 The chancel is distinguished by its outstanding early 14 th -century east window of five lights of cusped Y tracery (Fig. 29). The head of the window is filled with a quatrefoil and the cusping is confined to the daggers with the main five lights being left plain. There is a hood mould and a bold gable cross. The gable-end which the window occupies was originally much steeper with the chancel necessarily having had lower side walls. The building was obviously in a poor state of repair in the early 19 th century and it was decided to rebuild entirely the south wall. This was probably done before Butterfield s involvement because Ladbrooke s lithograph of the 1820s shows the diagonal buttress which appears to be part of the repair and because the lithograph shows the distinctive brick cornice (Figs 22 & 30). The south wall is of coursed flint with pieces of re-used worked limestone incorporated at regular intervals. There is one central 3-light Y -traceried window probably of early 19 th century date. The brick cornice is of paired dentils of bricks on edge. The diagonal buttress appears to be contemporary with the wall because it is keyed to the main fabric with ashlar quoins. The north wall of the chancel has been heightened with coursed small flints and a cornice as on the south side (Fig. 31). There is only one 2-light window at the extreme west end of the wall. The priest s door towards the centre opens as if from within a space with the reveal on the exterior. This is because there must have a been a vestry which explains also the lack of fenestration. This said, there is very little direct evidence of it. There is a single buttress with a slate coping. Fig. 30. South wall of chancel 17

18 Fig. 31. North wall of chancel. The interior of the chancel is announced by a rebuilt chancel arch probably part of the south wall rebuilding of the early 19 th century (Fig. 32). Fig.32. Chancel from the west 18

Each truss has sloping queen struts near to the ends of the tie beam (Fig. 33).

19 It has an early 19 th century roof of Y -strutted king post principal trusses with two sets of side-purlins - their tapered tenons sharing single mortises with diagonal pegging. Each truss has sloping queen struts near to the ends of the tie beam (Fig. 33). The tie beams are lower than the tops of the east window and the chancel arch. Fig. 33. Chancel roof. The furnishings are of 19 th -century stalls and early 20 th -century decorative communion rails (Fig.34). Fig. 34. The sanctuary 19

20 The altar has a reredos with colourful designs in encaustic tiles. The decorative tiling continues to either side of the altar (Fig. 35). Fig. 35. Encaustic tiling to south of altar. Fig. 36. Credence shelf and sedile Fig. 37. Detail of north west window 20

On the south side a plain sedile and credence shelf have been incorporated in the 19 th -century wall beneath a single two-centred arch and to the north west the two-light window is filled with

21 On the south side a plain sedile and credence shelf have been incorporated in the 19 th -century wall beneath a single two-centred arch and to the north west the two-light window is filled with fragments of medieval glass. Also to the north is the doorway to the former vestry which has now become the priest s door (Fig. 38). The arch has a wide chamfer similar to the doorway into the tower. Fig. 38. North west corner of chancel Conclusion This church if of special significance owing to its early medieval tower and south wall, its various changes to the 14 th -century north aisle, its exceptionally fine east window, its very rare rood beam and the fine arcade with the miniature, now redundant, clerestory. In addition the bell frame, the carved pew ends and other features are of special interest. Summary Circa 1100 Aisleless church with low nave and tower North aisle, arcade and clerestory built involving the heightening of the side walls of the nave and the addition of the bell stage and west window to the tower. The north aisle roof had eaves about a metre lower than at present. The chancel is built with its fine east window. Circa 1479 A will leaves money to the building of the porch, since replaced. 15 th century Nave windows. Circa 1511 North aisle wall heightened.(will) 21

22 Circa 1700 Buttresses added to tower. Circa 1746 New north aisle roof at a slightly steeper pitch blocking the lower panes of the clerestory. Still in situ. (Bishop s licence to sell two bells to aid repair of aisle) Circa 1800 Chancel south wall built, both side walls heightened, pitch of gable end reduced and roof constructed. Nave roof constructed. 1820s Ladbrooke s lithograph William Butterfield covers the north side with a single cat slide roof which renders the clerestory redundant. He builds a new south porch, rebuilds the east section of the nave south wall Rood added to beam 1963/4 Major repairs to tower 1997 Repairs to bell frame Bibliography P. Cattermole & S. Cotton, Medieval Parish Church Building in Norfolk, Norfolk Archaeology, XXXVIII, part III, 1983, P. Cattermole, Church Bells and Bell-Ringing, A Norfolk Profile, Woodbridge, 1990 S. Heywood, Round towered Churches in T Ashwin & A. Davison, An Historical Atlas of Norfolk. Third edition, Chichester, J. L Estrange, The Church Bells of Norfolk, 1874 Stephen Heywood FSA. 5 February

HILL HOUSE HEYDON ROAD AYLSHAM

HILL HOUSE HEYDON ROAD AYLSHAM Fig. 1. Façade from north. Report on the significance of a Heritage Asset NHER: 46064 Stephen Heywood FSA Heritage and Landscape Norfolk County Council County Hall Norwich