Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

May 1961. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Parish church. C15 with alterations and partial rebuildings in C17 and C18. Flint with stone dressings; south aisle rendered, brick vestry; slate roofs, lead roof over south aisle. West tower, nave, chancel, south aisle, south porch. Squat C15 west tower with angle-buttresses. Two-light sound openings with foiled heads. Embattled parapet with corner pinnacles in the form of seated figures, those on the south-east and south-west renewed. South porch of flint with brick parapet; south doorway with engaged shafts."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

May 1978. Field Observation.
St Margaret's Church. Simple north door - 13th century? In chancel north wall blocked narrow stone-edged window, odd blocks of stone, and brick-edged door, blocked. Otherwise mostly Perpendicular; tower post-1422, massive but not high, with figures of pinnacles. Perpendicular windows; south aisle rebuilt in brick in 17th century but original windows reset (though cut down), also piscina. Arcade perhaps recut at this date but westernmost bay with head corbel 'fossilized' west of screen shows original date. Entrance to south porch also Perpendicular. West end of nave cut off by 19th century organ gallery. King post roof on arched braces - 18th century? East window 1883, has small lancet above. Very fine Marsham monuments of 1638 and 1678 - latter aded to in 16925 - in south aisle, now cracked and dirty; also here 17th century floor tombs, plaques and brasses, and a hanging lamp. 18th century floor tombs in porch. Effigy of c1300 in chancel, also 19th century monuments. Octagonal font. Some old stained glass. Some Perpendicular work in screen. Old south door with grille and lock plate. Chalice, Norwich 1619, and paten.
Transcribed from HER Record Card (S2).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

Candelabra said to come from Russia.
Two 18th century table tombs in yard also Listed (S1), List Entry 1250431.
Transcribed from HER Record Card (S2).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

January 1986. Verbal Communication.
The bells are a set of three, c. 17th century, Norwich made. Information from specialist P. Cattermole.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA), 30 January 1986.
Transcribed from HER Record Card (S2).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

November 2001. Field Observation.
Church of Saxo-Norman origins, contains much Roman tile in 14th century chancel. 15th century tower and alterations.
Aisle contains very important 17th century Marsham tombs. Interior of church remodelled in Gothick style dating to around 1830 - important example.
See unpublised report (S3) for a detailed discussion of the church.
E. Rose (NLA), 4 December 2001.

2001. Field Observation.
Observations were carried out during restoration works to the tower.
A remarkable group of 17th to 19th century graffitti was discovered on the lead roof. Depictions include "shoe and hand outlines, bells, a cross-section of the church showing thecongregation in the pews, ladders zigzagging up the tower, and four figures blowing trumpets on the top." the trumpeters may imitate the corner pinnacles, one of which may have been an angel playing a musical instrument. A pair of large wooden tubes leading from the belfry into the nave above the organ were also discovered. It has been suggested that they may have been intended to carry the sound of the bells into the church.
Information from published summary (S4).
See also unpublished specification for these building works (S5), archaeological brief (S6), and associated correspondence (S7).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

January 2002. Field Observation.
An inspection was carried out following removal of the lead roof of the tower during restoration works.
The roof timbers themselves appear to be of considerable age and rest loosely on joists and a beam. It is possible that it was originally intended as a temporary cover when work on the tower ceased in the 15th century.
At the west end of the south wall, a date of 1830 was found burned into the wallplate indicating that it is likely that the nave and chancel roof dates from 1830-1832.
A graffiti drawing was observed, consisting of an oblong shape surrounded by twelve or more items described as possible figures blowing trumpets or trees.
A 19th century lemonade bottle embossed Palace Works and a spoon were found built into the battlements, presumably suring 19th century restoration.
See HER Notes (S8) for further details.
See also unpublished specification for these building works (S5).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

2002?. Verbal Communication.
It is reported that the main beam of the tower roof has an inscribed date of 1720/1.
Transcribed from HER Notes (S8).
H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

November 2005 and February 2006. Building Survey.
Historic Building Recording during conservation work to the monuments in the south aisle.
The monument to Thomas Marsham was dismantled, revealing an opening to a previously unrecorded medieval rood stair. The work demonstrated that the monument itself was in situ and largely intact from its original construction around 1638. The presence of the medieval fabric proves that when the Marsham chapel was created in the south aisle in the 17th century the exisitng 14th century fabric was altered rather than rebuilt. The discovery of a late-19th century cigarette package in debris associated with the installation of the lath and plaster re-facing suggests that the Gothick interior is the result of the late 19th century restoration.
Four bone fragments, a bone handled iron knife, and unfired bricks were found within monument of c.1638.
A fragment of painted wood finial and an empty cigarette packet dating to 1885 or shortly afterwards were recovered from the blocked staircase, laying loose in debris associated with the installation of the lath and plaster re-facing.
12 fragments of stained glass and painted window glass were found lying loose behind the effigy, dating to Workd War Two bomb damage to the windows.
See unpublished contractor report (S9) for further details.
See also additional comments in HER notes (S8).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 May 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 March 2015. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 7 December 2022.

Additional Sources of Information:
For historic discussions of the church, see published report by Bryant 1905 (S10), unpublished report by local resident A. Powell (S11), and unpublished note on the monument to Thomas Marsham (d. 1638) (S12). See also published summary by Pevsner (S13).
See also correspondence 1993 (S14) and related photograph of stained glass (S15) and further correspopndence (S16) and photograph (S17) from 2001-2002.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CHURCH (Medieval to 21st Century - 1066 AD to 2100 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• KNIFE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

• Listed Building
• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Related records - none

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Stratton Strawless (Parish Summary)