Brough
St Stephen

Archaeology

The church comprises of a three-bay nave and single bay chancel under continuous roof, south porch, vestry, and a bell turret.

The body of the church dates from a single phase of building in 1885-6.

Technical Summary

Timbers and roofs

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Main Principal rafter roof with two sets of moulded side purlins, scissor bracing above curved braces supporting rafters and bearing onto simply carved wall brackets; planed diagonal boarding above. All 1885-6. Principal rafter roof with plain collars and moulded side purlins. Short posts bear onto wall plates. All 1885-6. Bell turret has pitched roof, details not visible. 1885-6.
S.Aisle n/a n/a  
N.Aisle n/a Vestry has pitched rafter roof with plain collars and posts bearing onto wall plates. All 1885-6.  
Other principal South porch has pitched rafter roof with plain collars and posts bearing onto wall plates. All 1885-6.    
Other timbers      

Bellframe

Single bell of 1885 in central wooden turret; frame apparently of timber, 1855-6, probably a simple gantry, but not yet accessed for recording.

Walls

NAVE CHANCEL TOWER
Plaster covering & date Open brickwork Open brickwork n/a
Potential for wall paintings None. None. n/a

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

There have been no known archaeological excavations. However it is noted that Roman pottery was discovered during construction works in 1885-6.

The standing fabric of the church dates entirely from a single phase of building in 1885-6 on land that was formerly an agricultural field but is likely to have formed part of a Roman settlement alongside the Fosse Way. It is expected that below-ground stratigraphy will comprise a mixture of Roman deposits and construction evidence from 1885.

The standing fabric of the entire building has moderate importance as a mid-19th century church. It is listed grade II.

The churchyard is small and rectangular, with the church positioned towards the north. The former school rooms, now a private residence, lie beyond the boundary at the north end. There are no burials.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground pre-1885 archaeology in the church and churchyard, is considered to be HIGH-VERY HIGH as evidenced by the discovery of Roman pottery during construction. The standing fabric of the church is of a single phase of 1885-6, it has potential for late-C19th archaeology in the standing fabric which is considered to be MODERATE.

Exterior:No burials. Evidence of Roman settlement and related deposits throughout.

Interior: Stratigraphy under the interior of the building is expected to comprise construction layers dating from 1885 with underlying and disturbed Roman deposits.