St Mary's Church, Little Washbourne Explained

St Mary's Church, Little Washbourne
Imagealt:A very small church seen from the south, with the nave on the left, a smaller chapel to the right, and at the west end of the chancel, a bellcote
Pushpin Map:Gloucestershire
Pushpin Mapsize:200
Map Caption:Location in Gloucestershire
Location:Little Washbourne, Gloucestershire
Country:England
Coordinates:51.9994°N -2.0172°W
Osgraw:SO 989 334
Denomination:Anglican
Website:https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/st-mary-little-washborne.html
Functional Status:Redundant
Heritage Designation:Grade II*
Designated Date:4 July 1960
Architectural Type:Church
Groundbreaking:12th century
Completed Date:18th century
Materials:Limestone,
Cotswold slate roofs

St Mary's Church, is a historic Anglican church at Little Washbourne in the civil parish of Dumbleton, Gloucestershire, England under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

History

The church dates from the 12th century. Alterations were made to it in the 18th century, when the north wall and part of the south wall were rebuilt.

Architecture

Exterior

St Mary's is constructed in limestone, with Cotswold slate roofs. Its plan is simple, consisting of a five-bay nave and a two-bay chancel with a roof at a slightly lower level. At the west end of the roof of the chancel is a bellcote with rendered walls, some weatherboarding, and a pyramidal roof. In the south wall of the nave are three buttresses, a window under a pointed arch, and a doorway also with a pointed arch. At the west end of the church are pilaster buttresses, and a window under a pointed arch. The north wall of the nave also has three buttresses. The chancel is supported by buttresses, one on both the north and south walls, and two on the east wall. Also in the east wall is a window under a pointed arch. In the north wall of the chancel is a slit window dating from the 12th century.

Interior

The floor of the church is flagged, and the walls are limewashed. Inside the church are panelled box pews, an octagonal pulpit with a sounding board, communion rails, and a communion table, all dating from the 18th century. The octagonal stone font dates from a similar period. There are traces of paintings on the walls. On the north wall of the chancel is a monument in white and grey marble to the memory of William Hill who died in 1786.

See also