Maplebeck
St Radegund

Archaeology

The body of the church is chiefly late 13th and 14th century but was much restored in 1898.

Tower South porch Carving of face

The tower is 14th century.

South Porch

Rebuilt 1898 but retaining rough roof timbers probably dating from the 15th century. The gable above the inner door has a cambered tie beam with a central mask boss with a naïve and much worn wooden carving of a human face.

The inner doorway has a chamfered square headed reveal and 19th century door, but from the interior, and from evidence on the exterior, this doorway appears round-headed and the voussoirs are of irregular form indicating 12th century, and perhaps a potentially early date. The inner reveal has a stoup recess.

Nave

North arcade Font Tower arch
Ladder Piscina Stoup
Fragment of 14th
century altar		 Incised cross slab
on north aisle wall		 Incised cross slab
reused to form lintel

The north arcade dates from the late 13th century or early 14th century and has two octagonal piers with moulded octagonal bases and octagonal capitals. The two half round responds have round bases and octagonal capitals.

The font dates from 14th century but was restored in 19th century. It has a stepped base, squat round stem and octagonal bowl with restored top band.

The tower arch is early 14th century and within the tower chamber can be seen a wooden ladder of considerable age, perhaps contemporary with the tower, which leads up to the belfry.

Part of a 14th century altar with a chamfered cill and 4 balusters is set into the north wall.

At the east end on the north side there is a trefoil headed stoup dating from 13th century and restored in the 19th century. On the south side there is restored pointed piscina.

On the north wall of the north aisle, towards the west end, is a fragment of an incised cross slab dating from the late 14th or early 15th century.

On the exterior west wall of the north aisle another cross slab, dating from the 13th century, has been reused to form the lintel of the early 14th century window.

Chancel

The 13th century chancel has two of its original lancets, though the fabric is largely of 1898 except towards the east end where the lower courses appear to be medieval.

Exterior features

On the north side of the chancel there is a blocked-up arch corresponding to the empty tomb recess on the inside.

Technical summary

Timbers and roofs

  Nave Chancel Tower
Main Moulded tie beams and principal timbers with foliate bosses, and flat panelled 18th century ceiling. Panelled, wagon vaulted roof, all probably of 1898. Stone spire 14th century.
S.Aisle n/a n/a Ground floor ceiling comprises ties and planking, probably pre-19th century, and access via ancient, cleft timber ladder of medieval date.
N.Aisle Panelled 19th century lean-to roof, probably 1898. n/a  
Other principal Porch has rafters, purlins, and braces, with cambered tie beam with central mask boss, all probably 15th century.    
Other timbers      

Bellframe

The previous timber 3-bay frame was an Elphick 'V' type, Pickford 6.B form. Now replaced in 2008 by a a galvanised steel frame.

2008 frame not scheduled for preservation Grade 5.

Walls

  Nave Chancel Tower
Plaster covering & date Plastered and painted, probably C19th, but perhaps with earlier plaster below. Plastered and painted probably all 1898. Open stonework, not covered.
Potential for wall paintings Unknown. Paint may survive below upper plaster layer. Unlikely unless texts or stencil decoration survives at lower levels (no evidence for this). None

Excavations and potential for survival of below-ground archaeology

There have been no known archaeological excavations.

The majority of the fabric dates from the 13th century to the 15th century. Although a major restoration was undertaken in 1898 it is expected that below-ground stratigraphy will remain largely undisturbed apart from later burials and the insertion of stone floors and seating. The tower floor may contain complex stratigraphy. The chancel was considerably rebuilt in 1898 and although some 13th century fabric remains above ground, much medieval stratigraphy is likely to have been heavily disturbed.

The standing fabric of the nave, north aisle, and tower retain considerable medieval fabric; in the nave this may possibly predate the 13th century, as evidenced by the round-heaed south doorway with its uneven voussoirs. The chancel dates largely from an 1898 rebuilding, but evidently reusing earlier material, and retains some medieval work.

The churchyard is roughly rectangular, located beyond the village green to the S.E. and with a narrow lane running around the north and east sides. The church itself is located towards the N.W. of the churchyard. There is evidence of burials from the 18th century and it seems highly probable that the churchyard retains its basic medieval form.

The overall potential for the survival of below-ground archaeology in the churchyard, is considered to be HIGH, comprising mainly burials of all periods, and paths and evidence of mature trees. Below the present interior floors of the nave, south porch, north aisle, and tower it is considered to be HIGH-VERY HIGH; below the partially rebuilt chancel HIGH . The standing fabric of the church remains largely intact apart from parts of the chancel and the overall potential for surviving medieval archaeology in the standing fabric of the church is considered to be VERY HIGH, with the exception of the chancel which is MODERATE-HIGH.

Exterior: Burial numbers expected to be average, with later burials to the north.

Interior: Stratigraphy under the nave, south porch, north aisle, and tower is likely to be mixed C19th layers but with good survival of medieval deposits beneath. The chancel is likely to have mixed C19th reconstruction deposits, but with the probability of surviving earlier stratigraphy. In the body of the church the stratigraphy is likely to be punctuated by medieval and post-medieval burials.