Information for record number MWA269:
Church of St Mary, Sheepy Road, Atherstone

Summary The Church of St. Mary which was originally built during the Medieval period. The nave and chancel were rebuilt during the 19th century.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Chancel, Tower, Nave
Period: Modern - Modern (1100 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Atherstone
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 30 97
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: II*)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Chancel, central tower, transepts, nave and aisles. The chancel is 14th century or 15th century but is probably on the foundations of the 12th century chapel of the alien Abbey of Bec. The priory was refounded in 1378 for the Austin Friars, and the existing chancel was that of the monastic church. The octagonal embattled tower is early 15th century, the upper portion rebuilt 1782. Nave, aisles and part of the transepts are of 1849.
3 After the Dissolution the nave of the Friary church was converted into a chapel for the town, while the chancel housed the Grammar School. The nave and aisles of the church were rebuilt in 1849 and in 1888 the chancel was restored to the church, having been derelict since the Grammar School discontinued using it in 1863.
5 SMR card with photo missing November 2005.
6 Morton suggests that it is likely that the cloister range was attached to the north side of the church. Additional buildings and and areas such as a dovecote, barn and orchard are known to have existed at the dissolution of the Friary in 1535.
7 The chancel possibly has 12th century origins as an independent chapel. Central tower possibly built 13th-14th century as a west tower; upper part rebuilt 1782. Taken over circa 1375 by the Friary of St. Augustine and remodelled circa 1383, when a nave was added. Chancel converted to the chapel of the grammar shcool after the Dissolution. Nave and aisles rebuilt 1849 by T.H. Wyatt and D. Brandon. chapel restored to use as chancel 1888. Chancel of coursed squared red sandstone, but regular coursed to north. tower of sandstone ashlar. Nave and aisles of Hartshill granite rubble. Plain-tile roofs have coped gable parapets; nave and aisles have gablet kneelers and some fish-scale tiles. Chancel, crossing tower, aisled nave and south porch. Early Perpendicular style chancel; Gothic Revival style nave and aisles. Three-bay chancel; seven-bay nave. Chancel has moulded plinth, and diagonal and two side buttresses of two offsets. Large 14th-15th century, five-light window, possibly imported from elsewhere, has segmental arch and hood mould. 19th century quatrefoil opening above. cross finial. Sides have three-light mullioned windows of stepped trefoiled lancets, much restored and with hood moulds and head stops to north. Octagonal tower at each end of nave has cinqfoil light to north and south. Bell chamber has louvred openings of two cinqfoiled lights with blind rose window and a trefoil above to each side. South side has clock face; north-east side has disused stone clockface. Open parapet of three trefoiled lancets to each side has crocketed pinnacles with blind lancets. Shallow lead roof has moulded finial and weathervane. South aisle has porch to second bay. Buttresses flush with front. Double-leaf doors in moulded arch with nook shafts. Nave and aisles have hood moulds and head stops throughout. Six-bay aisle has splay plinth and moulded sill course. Two-light windows throughout have varied tracery with hood moulds and head stops. Polygonal projection in angle between aisle and nave has small door. Nave has trefoiled lancet. Angle buttresses of three offsets. West door has moulded arch and nook shafts. Five-light window above has geometrical tracery. 19th century north vestry has parapet, and cross-window to east. North porch has a re-set 12th century doorway from the demolished church of Baddesley Ensor, with zig-zag outer and moulded inner orders, hood mould and nook shafts with scalloped capitals. North aisle is similar to south, apart from east rose window. Interior is plastered, with stone dressings. Chancel has 19th century boarded wagon roof with moulded braces and purlins. High narrow double-chamfered arch between chancel and crossing. Recess in crossing wall south of arch has chamfered segmental-pointed arch. 19th century north and south arches to aisles. Aisles have 14th century style arches of two chamfered orders throughout, with alternating round and octagonal shafts and responds and moulded capitals. High narrow chamfered arch between crossing and nave has 19th century moulded imposts and stilted hood mould with head stops. Narrow, low, sharply pointed flanking arches have hood moulds with angel stops. Five-bay arcades have continuous hood moulds with alternating head and foliage stops. arched brace roof has angel corbels and subsidiary trusses with foliage corbels. Aisles have arch dividing off first bay as a transept. Roofs are similar to nave. Fittings: Perpendicular octagonal font has clustered shafts and trefoil panels with the symbols of the Evangelists and the Instruments of the Passion. Late 19th century pulpit and stalls. Stained glass: chancel east and north-east windows c.1899 by I(enpej south-east by Kempe and tower.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1959
Page Number: 18
Volume/Sheet: Atherstone Rural
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card: photograph
Author/originator:
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Warwickshire Extensive Urban Survey Atherstone Assessment
Author/originator: B Morton
Date: 2011
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Comments on SMR entries
Author/originator: Hester Hawkes
Date: 2002 onwards
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
St Mary's Church, Atherstone, North Warwickshire
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2002
Click here for larger image  
 
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
 		back
source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more -> 		back
period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
monument DOVECOTE * A building, or part of a building, used to house doves and pigeons, usually placed at a height above the ground, with openings and provision inside for roosting and breeding. back
monument SHAFT * Use only if function unknown, otherwise use specific type. back
monument PULPIT * Use as an external architectural feature only. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument GRAMMAR SCHOOL * A school founded in or before the 16th century, for teaching Latin, later becoming a secondary school teaching languages, history, science, etc. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument CLOISTER * A covered walk, walled on one side and usually arcaded on the other, surrounding or partly surrounding an open area in a monastery or similar complex of Christian buildings. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument FRIARY * Houses specifically for men and of chiefly mendicant religious orders. The status of priory is represented in several friaries. Use with PRIORY if required. back
monument FONT * A vessel, usually made of stone, which contains the consecrated water for baptism. Use a broader monument type if possible. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PINNACLE * A vertical, pointed structure usually resembling a pyramid or cone. Use for component of a larger building type where it is now used as a freestanding ornament. back
monument BARN * A building for the storage and processing of grain crops and for housing straw, farm equipment and occasionally livestock and their fodder. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ORCHARD * An enclosure used for the cultivation of fruit trees. back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back
monument CROSS * A free-standing structure, in the form of a cross (+), symbolizing the structure on which Jesus Christ was crucified and sacred to the Christian faith. Use specific type where known. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record