Record Details
| NHER Number: | 6596 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | St Mary's Church, Bessingham, Sustead |
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Summary
This church has a round tower that demonstrates two constructional phases. This is evidenced by the presence of belfry windows being set below differently styled circular openings. Much of the nave dates to the 11th century but the north door is of later date, being of around 1300. The chancel is largely of 15th century date and features Perpendicular windows. However, much of the current exterior owes its appearance to extensive restorations in 1869.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 1667 3704 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG13NE |
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| Parish: | SUSTEAD, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
October 1960. Listed, Grade II*.
Listing Decription Excerpt:
"Parish church. Medieval, extensively restored in C19, the tower being restored during re-survey. Flint, ironbound conglomerate. Tile roof. Cll west tower, nave, south porch, continuous chancel. Embattled round tower of random conglomerate and flint. Small round-headed opening to west. Blocked slit lights to north and south. Twin triangular-headed bell-openings with conglomerate imposts and central shafts… "
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 August 2023.
Before 4 August 1986. Field Observation.
Round tower of different builds - for show? - with 11th century belfry windows cutting earlier openings. West and north walls nave of same date. North door dates to around 1300. Chancel and nave south wall date to the 15th century and are in the Perpendicular style. Much restored 1869.
See HER Notes (S5) for full, detailed report.
See also re-typed version of report (S6).
Publications (S8), (S9), (S10),and (S11) are discussed in report (S5).
E. Rose (NAU) 4 August 1986.
22 August 1986. Field Observation.
Tower examined from scaffolding.
Additional details of phases of construction were recorded. At the first floor stage of the tower, the interior of the slit windows are splayed circular windows. Small holes noted in the earlier report may be joist holes, indicating that the present floor may have been lowered from its original height. At the third stage, the slit windows are blocked in medieval brick. At the belfry level, remains of two well-rpreserved circular windows were observed above each bell opening and these appear to be 19th century. The bellframe it self is 19th century, and the tower was cut to incorporate it. One bell retains a 1699 inscription and the other is large and plain.
Other observations:
Calcined flintwork noted on the west side of the south face of the porch.
Stonework on entrance arch jamb is reddened, suggesting a fire at some date.
See HER Notes (S5) and re-typed version of report (S6) for details.
See also photographs (S7).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 August 2023.
Restoration work shows that the belfry windows are below, not cutting circular windows, but there does appear to be two phases of work.
E. Rose (NAU) 16 December 1988.
September 1992. Restoration work completed.
The church bells have been restored and will be re-hung at the end of the month.
Information from newspaper article (S17).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 August 2023.
Monument Types
- ROUND TOWERED CHURCH (Late Saxon to 19th Century - 851 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds
- WINDOW (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
- FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Photograph: [unknown]. [unknown]. Photographs of St Mary's Church, Bessingham. NCC Buildings and Conservation Team Photographs. prints. black and white. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1305371. |
| <S2> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Sustead. |
| <S3> | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 13 NE 18. |
| <S4> | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| <S5> | Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service. |
| <S6> | Unpublished Report: Rose, E. 1986. 9596 Sustead CP: St Mary's Church, Bessingham. Building Report. |
| <S7> | Photograph: Wicks, D. 1986. Historic Environment Service Photography. EMH. Field Observation at St Mary's Church, Bessingham. HES Negatives. film. black and white. |
| <S8> | Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1900. Hundred of North Erpingham. Vol V. pp 39-43. |
| <S9> | Monograph: Brown, G. B. 1903. Anglo-Saxon Architecture. The Arts in Early England. Vol II. pp 184-185 illus. |
| <S10> | Publication: Cautley, H. M. 1949. Norfolk Churches. pp 5, 174. |
| <S11> | Publication: Taylor, H. M. and Taylor, J. 1965. Anglo-Saxon Architecture. pp 62-63. |
| <S12> | Article in Serial: Plunkett, G. A. F. 1979. Norfolk Church Screens - 1865 Survey. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXVII Pt II pp 178-189. p 180. |
| <S14> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TG1637/K-L; 30-MAR-1983 (NLA 129/ASK10-11). |
| <S15> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TG1637/P-Q; 18-APR-1984 (NLA 145/AVS17-18). |
| <S16> | Leaflet: [unknown]. 1985. The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bessingham. |
| <S17> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. Ringing dedication. 15 September. |
| <S18> | Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 387-388. |
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