Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

Also known as St Mary's.
Ruined church, Late Saxon nave and possibly later Saxo-Norman round tower.
Extended about 1300 and in 15th century.
Ruinated about 1860.
Roman bricks in walls.

1931. Medieval sherds and tiles found.
See details in file.

Scheduled.
"Short Description of Monument and its condition:
A ruined church consisting of:- tapering west tower of Saxon character, containing Roman tiles (there is a Roman site at Coltishall), Nave, brick arcade (late perpendicular), south aisle (13th century), chancel and south porch (perpendicular detail).
Condition: roofless except for chancel (used as a tool-shed), but shell intact and remarkably around. The churchyard is maintained and there is parish lattice to keep the church in order. Wall tops clean and ivy removed."
Information from Record Form (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S2) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

May 1961. Listed, grade II*.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Ruined church. Cll, possibly pre-Conquest. Built of flint with dressings of Ferruginous Conglomerate. Pantiled roof over chancel and west tower of nave, south aisle, south porch, and south aisle chapel. Round tower, after nave at its west end…"
Information from (S3).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S3) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

January 1978. Field Observation.
Ruins of St Theobald's (or St Mary's) Church, Great Hautbois. In good condition. Round tower. Probably Late Saxon. Bryant says it formerly has rond windows, but now they are slits. Tower Arch round-headed, lowered in antiquitiy then again blocked with 13th century door inserted. Heads of old arches are of tile which schedule sheet calls Romano-British - could be. Nave, chancel and aisle originally 13th century with lancets: Chancel north one blocked with stone blocks. North door head has been replaced in medieval brick. Round-headed niche in aisle east wall; marks of piscinae in south wall at east end and by door - Bryant mentioned a Norman piscina. Perpendicular east window and south porch, formerly thatched, and arcade of two bays; separate pointed arch from aisle to chancel now blocked up; chancel arch also blocked and top removed by recent gable. Fragment of tracery or carving set in west wall interior. Chancel was long used as mortuary chapel and is inaccessible - through keyhole floor tombs and unusual projection in north wall seen. Putlog holes. Bryant mentions a brass and memorials formerly in the church; now modern graves inside, and in overgrown yard to north a tall broken column of 1854 (?). Font went to new church.
Information from Record Card (S4).
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

May 1990. Field Observation.
Additional detailed survey of the building.
See Unpublished Report (S5) for details.
E. Rose, (NAU) 9 May 1990.

February 2013. Building record.
This record is to accompany the proposal for repair and consolidation of the ruin and the memorial chapel. The site is adjacent to Hautbois Castle (See 7679) which was built in the ealy 14th century by Sir Robert Bainard. The site has 11th century north and west wall of nave with contemporary part of north wall of chancel. The battered round tower was an addition of the early 12th century. Chancel extended and south transept added in early 13th century. This became the east end of a wide 14th-century aisle, (clear change in fabric), with a 2-bay arcade. Ruinated at time of construction of replacement church in 1862 (see 7702). The chancel has an early 19th-century king post roof with raking struts.The font with its complex interlace decoration has been moved to the new church. Very isolated site.
See Unpublished Report (S7).
S. Heywood (HES), 28 March 2013.

The wooden door into the tower from the nave has been broken into (a while ago).
D. Gurney (HES), 13 April 2015.

Monument Types

• ROUND TOWERED CHURCH (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

• BRICK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• WINDOW (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• PISCINA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• TILE (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

• Listed Building
• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

Related records - none

Find out more...

• Norfolk Architects (Article)
• Parish Summary: Coltishall (Parish Summary)