Halam St Michael

Archaeology

Earliest core fabric is C12th - nave/chancel junction fabric and N.chancel lower walls

Core fabric of nave is C13th; S.aisle rebuilt C19th

Chancel arch is C12th with C19th restoration

West tower is C13th (base) - probably early C16th rebuilt upper phase

Complex area of multiphase fabric around blocked low-side window in N.wall of chancel towards west end

Significant Interior Features

Complex, multiphase fabric in N. chancel

C14th glass in N.chancel window

Blocked low-side window in N.chancel - indeterminate medieval date

C13th font in nave

C13th bell in tower, and medieval frame

The west door to the tower has, on its exterior, five medieval iron straps. They appear to come from two different doors: straps 1 and 3, counting from the top, appear too long to fit this doorway and may be from a lost doorway elsewhere. In date they may range from the C12th (eg. the rather savage horse-shoe shaped barb on the centre strap) to the C13th (some have parallels with the ironwork on the C13th chest at Laneham). All have been reused, being set on a C19th door, probably at the Ewan Christian restoration. (Thanks to Professor Jane Geddes for information on dating and style).

Timbers and roofs

	Nave	Chancel	Tower
Main	Ties and rafters, all c. 1885	King post, braces, and ties c.1862	Plain planked C20th
S.Aisle	Ties, rafters, curved braces, boarded above c.1885	n/a
N.Aisle	n/a	n/a
Other principal
Other timbers

Bellframe

Two steel RSJs, Taylors of Loughborough, 1965

Earlier wooden, Elphick B, Pickford Group 1.D (resting on timbers bearers), bell support timbers remain alongside. Probably late medieval or medieval re-used.

Present frame not scheduled for preservation Grade 5. Earlier frame scheduled for preservation Grade 1.

The medieval bell

The original bellframe

Walls

	Nave	Chancel	Tower
Plaster covering & date	Plaster c.1885	Plaster c. 1862 or 1885	Rendered and painted C20th
Potential for wall paintings	Traces of yellow ochre are visible on the south side of the chancel arch indicating a former decorative scheme, probably Norman or later medieval	Unlikely	Improbable

Ochre fragment on chancel arch

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

No recorded archaeological excavations have taken place in the interior of the church. The whole interior was heavily disturbed between 1862 and 1885 when sucessive restorations took place in the chancel and nave. The south aisle was rebuilt in c.1885 and disturbance must have been considerable. However, the core of the building has no evidence of vaults and may have relatively intact medieval stratigraphy below the C19th disturbance.

The exterior of the north
wall of the chancel

The upstanding fabric is, in parts, complex: in particular the north wall of the chancel and the whole of the tower appear to be unaffected by later restorations and the archaeology in these areas is considered to be of great significance to the building.

The south churchyard contains a good selection of grave markers from the C18th onwards and appears to be little disturbed away from the rebuilt south aisle. It is likely that archaeology survives from the medieval church and later in this area. In 2002 an archaeological watching brief was carried out on the excavation of drains and sumps in the churchyard to the north and south sides of the nave and south aisle. Relatively large amounts of disarticulated human bone were recorded and two grave-cuts were noted within the drainage footprint. The subsoil contained modern brick and glass togther with some stone fragments, and it would appear that these areas, adjacent to the church building, have been heavily disturbed during and since the C19th.

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 high.

Exterior:Burials expected generally, multiperiod. Areas immediately surrounding building are likely to have been heavily disturbed in the late C19th and more recently in 2002. Excavations indicate that considerable amounts of disarticulated human bone will be encountered.

Interior: Extent of C19th disturbance is conjectural, although all floors have been re-set and restored. The floors are likely to be punctuated by late medieval graves and medieval stratigraphy may survive relatively intact below this disturbance.

Walls: Complex mixture of C12th-C16th, and C19th rebuilding and alteration. Tower and north chancel are important.