Description

SOUTH WITHAM CHURCH STREET
SK 91 NW
(east side)
9/140 Church of St.John
the Baptist
20.9.66
G.V. I
Parish church. Late C12, early C13, C14, C15, C16, 1902
restoration. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar quoins and
dressings, ashlar, Collyweston slate roof with stone coped
gables. Nave with western bellcote, aisles, transepts, chancel.
Early C13 ashlar west end with stepped plinth, corner buttresses
and taller central buttress supporting gabled twin opening
bellcote, having central gabled pilaster with roll moulded
angles, round headed bell openings and blank pointed arcades to
the corners and sides. North aisle is squared rubble, has single
chamfered segmental headed doorway flanked by single C14 style
windows of 1902 restoration. C15 north transept has large 4
light north window, cusped ogee heads and embattled panel
tracery, and to the east wall a similar 3 light window. In the
north wall of the chancel a blocked opening and a C14 style 2
light window in rectangular surround and cusped ogee heads.
Early C15 chancel east window of 4 cusped lights with panel
tracery. In the south wall are 2 windows matching that to the
north. In the south transept west wall, a 3 light C14 window,
cusped ogee heads, rectangular hooded surround and to left an
oval wall plaque dated 1807. In the south wall a further 3 light
window with reticulated tracery and pointed surround. The south
aisle wall, a C14 door with concave chamfered pointed surround
containing human and animal heads, and moulded hood with
ballflowers and human head stops. To the left a C14 style 2
light window. Interior. 3 bay late C12 north arcade having
single chamfered round arches with chamfered imposts and
waterleaf capitals to the circular piers. The west respond of
the south arcade is early C13, circular and with hob nail
decoration, otherwise it is of mid C13 with octagonal piers and
moulded capitals, double chamfered pointed arches. The eastern
respond has fine naturalistic foliage. In the south transept is
the 4 centred arched doorway to the rood loft and a C14 ogee
headed piscina and statue bracket. In the north transept a
further ogee piscina and an aumbry. Also preserved in the
transepts the end trusses of the early roofs. The chancel arch
is a recut C13 double chamfered arch with octagonal imposts and
capitals. In the chancel north wall a blocked C16 hollow
chamfered cambered headed doorway and an aumbry. In the south
wall a C13 trefoil headed piscina. Fittings are all C19 apart
from C17 octagonal font having depressed fleur de lys to the
sides of the bowl. Monuments. At the west end of the nave a mid
C14 stone coffin lid with a cross fleury from which sprouts a
man's head beneath a trefoil arch. In the north transept a small
recessed rectangular moulded panel with cornice contains a brass
to Francis Harrington, d.1577, also a small brass plaque to
Elizabeth Harrington, d.1597, with a shield of arms. In the west
wall a fine limestone wall monument to members of the Michel
family c.1673, comprising recessed rectangular inscription panel
having moulded architrave containing arabesques surmounted by a
segmental pediment with escutcheon and beneath a cartouche of
arms. In the north aisle a white marble wall plaque, classical
aedicule, with side scrolls and broken segmental pediment with
arms to Elizabeth Halford, d.l694. In the south transept a
limestone wall plaque to Catherine Wimberley, d.1716, having
double semi-circular headed inscription panels with cherubs, in
composite pilastered surround with broken pediment, cartouche of
arms and flaming urns.

Listing NGR: SK9271619407

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531211

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)