Description

WELL CHURCH STREET
SE 28 SE
(north side)
5/38 Church of St Michael
22.8.66

GV I

Church. C12, early C14 and C15 with 1844 restoration. Coursed squared
stone, ashlar, graduated stone slate and lead roofs. West tower, nave,
north and south aisles, south porch, chancel with south aisle and small
north aisle with north vestry. West tower: C12 to tall first stage,
Perpendicular to upper 3 stages. First stage has 2 small chamfered single-
light openings to south side. Wide band to second stage which is blank.
Wide band to third stage and paired cusped lancets, blocked to base. Belfry
has 2 large shallow-arched openings next to each other, each contains a 2-
light opening with cusped pointed-arched heads and a transom. At this level
the corners are cut back to form a small diagonal buttress. Band, embattled
parapet. West window is set in segmental-headed opening but window is flat
headed with 2 cusped lights. Clock faces to west and east below belfry. To
north side a small lean-to stair tower with 4-centre arched lintel to
doorway. Nave: early C14 and later, of 3 bays. South porch to left bay of
south aisle, offset angle buttress to its left. Gabled porch has offset
angle buttresses, pointed-arched moulded doorway. Inner south door C12 with
3 orders of colonnettes, waterleaf capitals and several roll mouldings in
the arch. Board studded door. An offset angle buttress divides nave south
aisle from chancel aisle. To nave south aisle are two 3-light flat-headed
cusped traceried windows set in segmental-headed surrounds. North aisle to
nave has three 2-light Perpendicular cusped windows in segmental-headed
surrounds. South aisles have a plain parapet. Clerestory: both sides have
three 2-light ogee-headed cusped windows set in chamfered flat-headed
surrounds. Plain parapet. Corner clasping buttresses. Gable cross and
pinnacles to east end, also similar 3-light window above the chancel.
Chancel: early C14. South aisle of 3 bays, to east offset angle buttresses.
To left a C19 2-light pointed-arched window with hoodmould and cusped
curvilinear tracery, to right a small basket-arched priests door. Central
window of 2-lights in pointed arch with hoodmould and cusped tracery.
Window to right is of 2-lights in pointed arch with hoodmould and
curvilinear tracery. One bay north chancel aisle has pointed-arched 2-light,
cusped window, vestry beyond to east. South aisle, 4-light east window has
pointed arch and cusped reticulated tracery. Chancel east window has
pointed-arch with hoodmould, 3 lights with cusped curvilinear tracery with
quatrefoils in head. North vestry of 2 stages. Offset diagonal buttress to
east. To east a C17 2-light mullion window, above a 2-light mullion window
with round-arched heads. Interior: nave arcades of 3 bays. Keeled
quatrefoil piers with fillets between the shafts, above octagonal capitals
and pointed moulded arches. Chancel arch similar, as are arches to chancel
north aisle. South chancel arch similar but of 1844. Similar tower arch.
Font cover of 1352, tall wooden elaborately traceried and crocketed
pinnacle. Wooden reredos in north chapel, late C16, Dutch, with 5 small
screens and decorative panels. To north aisle is a portion of Roman mosaic
found at the Villa in Well in 1859, also to north aisle large painted coat
of arms to George I, 1731. Monuments: tomb chest 1526 to Lady Dorothy
Nevill, very plain. Tomb chest to Sir John Nevill Lord Latimer 1596, a
recumbant effigy, the back panel now to side with inscription and arms. In
north chapel a cartouche with convex inscription place circa 1700 to John
Milbanke. Roofs to nave and chancel probably C17.

Listing NGR: SE2681482058

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17538175

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas