Averham St Michael and All AngelsArchaeology
The
entrance porch
with three shields |
Nave
north door
now blocked |
South chancel, showing
herringbone mosonry
and later medieval
extension |
This tower was originally a two storey west porch with
entry from the upper storey to a gallery at the west end of the nave. Evidence
of this doorway can be seen inside the tower and the support for the gallery
is evident on the wall where the tower abuts against the nave inside the church.
There is evidence of some extension to the tower probably in the eleventh or
twelfth century, possibly as a result of the new Norman rite, promulgated by
Archbishop Lanfranc, based on papal reform. This work however is the only indication
of the Saxon or Norman origin of this church.
The church is a stone building in Early English and Decorated Geometric Gothic
style. It consists of a cancel, nave, vestry, south porch and western embattled
tower with pinnacles.
There is herringbone patterned stonework on the tower walls, north and south
sides of the nave and south side of the chancel.
A feature of the church is an elaborate stone porch built
in the sixteenth century. It is decorated by three shields, the one on the left
has the initials TS (for Thomas Sutton) and two wolf heads and the one on the
right has two barrels, a shield and the inscription ‘Miles’.
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