Beeston
St John the Baptist

Archaeology

The bell tower is 74' high, and was restored in 1873. The bell frame required serious restoration in 1998, when a new frame was made, two bells were recast and all rehung.

The church, except the chancel, was rebuilt in 1843 by Sir George Gilbert Scott.

Core nave and tower fabric 1842-3 on site of medieval church

Chancel medieval, altered and extended 1876

Vestry 1897

Significant Interior Features

Font (basin C12th), sedilia, piscina, and aumbry medieval, prob. C14th

Reredos 1880

Other fittings mainly mid- late-C19th

Timbers and roofs

	Nave	Chancel	Tower
Main	Curved braces with rafter supports 1843	Curved braces, posts, ties. Mainly C19th.
S.Aisle	Curved braces and heavy rafters 1843
N.Aisle
Other principal
Other timbers

Bellframe

Wooden frame mainly of 1870, Elphick type Z, Pickford 6.A.

Not scheduled for preservation Grade 4, but to be retained in the context of the building fabric as a whole.

Walls

	Nave	Chancel	Tower
Plaster covering & date	Plaster 1896	Plaster 1896	n/a
Potential for wall paintings	Not known	Not known

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

No known archaeological excavations have taken place.

The building was rebuilt in 1842-4 with the exception of the medieval chancel which is largely C14/15th although modified and extended between 1876-92. The rebuilding has probably largely destroyed shallow archaeological deposits in the nave and tower areas although medieval stratigraphy may survive a lower depths and below the chancel. The churchyard, though now largely cleared of grave-markers, is known to contain numerous burials up to 1888.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground archaeology in the churchyard is considered moderate and below the present interior floors is considered to be moderate-high.

Exterior: Burials and evidence of earlier church.

Interior: Mainly 1842-4 destruction layers, though with possible medieval stratigraphy deeper. Chancel mixed C19th layers but medieval stratigraphy likely at lower depths.

Standing fabric of building 1842-96 throughout though with medieval work in the chancel, largely C14-C15th.