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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	8583
Type of record:	Building
Name:	St Mary's Church, Martham

Summary

A 14th and 15th century parish church which has a 15th century chancel by Robert Everard, the architect of Norwich Cathedral's spire. The chancel was rebuilt by Philip Boyce in the late 19th century during an extensive restoration. The church contains a 15th century 'seven sacrament' font, and a late 15th century memorial brass to a man named Robert Alen. A watching brief was carried out by the NAU in 1999 during the lowering of the floor in the west tower. The building works revealed the foundations of a round tower, probably dating to the 12th century, probable medieval graves, and a small lead-melting pit containing medieval window glass.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TG 4549 1844
Map Sheet:	TG41NE
Parish:	MARTHAM, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

Full description

Late 14th century tower, otherwise 15th century Perpendicular church.
Chancel by Robert Everard in 1460s was rebuilt in 1855 to 1861 as an important Gothic Revival building.
Good 15th/17th century woodwork and fine Victorian fittings in chancel.
See (S1), old print, plans, notes in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 13 August 1997.

March and May 1999. Watching Brief.
Observations of lowering of tower floor revealed the foundations of a round tower. Flint flakes and medieval sherds were found beneath this, and above it medieval graves, a pit for melting lead window cames, and a later leadsmelting hearth presumably from a restoration. Roman tile and lava quern also found.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised (S3).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.453).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 December 1999. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2019.

March 2004. Visit to record floor taken up in nave.
See (S4) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 9 March 2004.

23 February 2012. Planning Application.
Proposed works to the Church to include demolition of existing boiler house and chimney.
See (S5) for further details.
Z. Dack (HES), 20 December 2012

Monument Types

CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
LEAD FURNACE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
LEAD WORKING SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
ROUND TOWERED CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CHURCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
LEAD FURNACE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
LEAD WORKING SITE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

QUERN (Undated)
FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
CAME (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PISCINA (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOD SCREEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Listed Building

Sources and further reading

---	Article in Serial: Taylor, E. S. 1859. Notices of the church of Martham, Norfolk, previous to its restoration in 1856. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol V pp 168-179.
---	Photograph: HPT 20-29.
---	Aerial Photograph: TG4518D-F.
---	Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1152351.
---	Illustration: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. [Articles on the compromise of the installation a glazed door at the west door entrance].
---	Newspaper Article: 1997. Eastern Daily Press. 4 August.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 607-608.
---	Unpublished Document: Rogerson, A.. 1994. Note on a visit to St Mary's Martham. 15 November.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988. Village church warms to court ruling. 23 November.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1997. Children will get a towering feeling. 4 August.
---	Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1899. Hundreds of East and West Flegg. The Churches of Norfolk. Vol IV. pp 79-90.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2011. Grants given to 18 county churches. 17 February.
---	Leaflet: A guide to the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Martham..
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Unpublished Document: Blackman, R. 1998. The Parish Church of St. Mary at Martham. Specification for improvements to the tower which include installing a lavatory and kitchenette, meeting room and gallery.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1975. [Photograph of the restoration work at St Mary's Church, Martham]. 12 December.
---	Newspaper Article: Yarmouth Mercury. 1986. [Photograph of St Mary's Church, Martham]. 17 October.
---	Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1997. Building Report. Building Report.
<S2>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Trimble, G. 1999. Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary's Parish Church, Martham. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 447.
<S3>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2000. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1999. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt III pp 521-543. p 529.
<S4>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 2004. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S5>	Unpublished Document: 2011. Planning Application.