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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	10464
Type of record:	Building
Name:	St Mary's Church, Sisland

Summary

A thatched brick church, whitewashed except where the windows and doors are neatly picked out in red brick. It consists of a nave and chancel in one, with a weatherboarded bell turret on the west end, topped by a spirelet and weather cock. Most of what you see dates to 1761, when the medieval church was mostly destroyed by lightning and rebuilt in Gothick style, but the old north wall was re-used and the remains of the north transept chapel left as a buttress. Inside is a west gallery on iron rods and interesting 18th century window glass. The sole survivor of the earlier church is the 15th century carved octagonal font.

Images

Location

Grid Reference:	TM 3441 9857
Map Sheet:	TM39NW
Parish:	SISLAND, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Church of Norman origins, with reused Roman material claimed; foundations cross Late Saxon grave.
Altered in about 1300 and 15th century. Ruined north chapel of 14th century and earlier date; hoard of alembics found of about 1500. In 1761 church mostly rebuilt after damage by lightning with remarkably advanced brickwork techniques. Important Gothick interior remains of this date although altered in 1931.

1984. Excavation of dry area; observation of works on floors. Finds from churchyard;
Iron Age sherds, Late Saxon sherds, medieval to post medieval finds.
See (S1), (S2), (S3) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 6 November 2004.

Photographs (S4) and architectural plans (S5) in file. Listed (S6).

(S7-10) - PAS details to follow.
A. Beckham (HES), 6 February 2013.

Monument Types

BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FLOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
INDUSTRIAL SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CHURCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
SITE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FLOOR TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
MORTAR (VESSEL) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STAINED GLASS (WINDOW) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BOTTLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOF TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOF TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
STAINED GLASS (WINDOW) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Listed Building

Sources and further reading

---	Aerial Photograph: TM 3498C-F.
---	Monograph: Yates, N.. 2000. Buildings, faith and worship: the liturgical arrangement of Anglican churches 1600-1900.. p 28.
---	Documentary Source: Martin, T. c. 1700-1799. Collections of Church Notes. Norfolk Records Office. c. 1740.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Website: Knott, S.. 2005. St Mary, Sisland. http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/sisland/sisland.htm. 11 May 2007.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, W. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 653.
---	Leaflet: 1972. St. Mary's Parish Church, Sisland..
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Photograph: CQS 9-32.
---	Unpublished Report: Bryce, R., Burgess, J., Coren, G. and Fryer, V. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the Parish of Sisland.
---	Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2017. Vital repair works help church to beat the damp after panel is damaged. 7 August.
<S1>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 2004. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S2>	Unpublished Document: Williams, P.W.. 1984. Excavation of dry area trench at Sisland Church, Norfolk.
<S3>	Unpublished Document: Batcock, N.. 1984. St Mary's Church, Sisland.
<S4>	Photograph: Rose, E.. 2005. KVN 20-25.
<S5>	Illustration: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
<S6>	Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1051106.
<S7>	Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a medieval floor tile.. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
<S8>	Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a medieval floor tile.. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
<S9>	Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a medieval floor tile.. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
<S10>	Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a medieval floor tile.. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.

Related records - none

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Parish Summary: Sisland (Parish Summary)