Information for record number MWA2896:
Church of St Mary, Stoneleigh

Summary The Church of St Mary was originally built during the Medieval period. Alterations were made to the building later and some parts were rebuilt. The Church is situated off Church Lane, Stoneleigh.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Building, Wall Painting, Wall Painting, Floor, Building Component, Effigy, Tomb
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Stoneleigh
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 33 72
(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: I)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Chancel, N chapel, vestry, nave, S aisle, and W tower. Of red sandstone ashlar. Dates from latter part of 12th century, when it consisted of chancel, nave, and W tower. Drastically rebuilt and the S aisle added about the middle of the 14th century. vestry built in 1665 as a burial vault for the Leigh family and a vestry for the parishioners. N chapel built in early 19th century as a Leigh family mausoleum, but is now in general use as a chapel. S aisle wall was entirely rebuilt early in the 19th century and the S porch destroyed. The 12th century tower forms a W porch; the upper stages are 14th century. There were two priests at stoneleigh in 1086.
2 Plan of the church.
3 Drawing of c1820 and photograph of the interior.
5 Essentially the church is Norman and very ambitious for its date. Norman font from Maxstoke. Two monuments, one probably 14th century, the other 15th century. Early 19th century furnishings.
7 Noted by Ordnance Survey.
8Mural painting from the church discovered in 1822 during repairs to south aisle - ?Martyrdom of St Thomas, St Chistopher, Time and Death and scriptural passages. These disappeared by 1918. Further wall paintings were observed in 1952 in east wall of south aisle, and 1969 in the chancel arch (including the lower part of a Doom). Murals depicting part of a text in a lion footed frame a (?) lion's head over looped drapery and a further fragment of on a lower layer of plaster were discovered in May 2003 by conservators repairing the Dudley Monument. The paintings were situated in the north chancel wall behind the monument.
9 archaeological recording of the interior of the north wall of the chancel was undertaken during the conservation of a large 17th century monument. A blocked 12th century window was revealed along with an adjacent area of walling with a pattern of joints painted onto it. Several elements of in-situ 12th century blind arcading were also discovered. A medieval effigy and tomb recess were revealed. A number of reused medieval floor tiles, including a single patterned example, were found within the base of the 17th century monument. The removal of this monument also exposed an area of wall painting, probably 16thg century in date. A small area of earlier, probably medieval, wall painting was visible under the 16th century scheme.
10 Observation during the replacement of decayed joists beneath the pews recorded part of the sandstone foundation wall of the original south wall of the nave, probably dating to the 12th century. It was located between the piers of the present south aisle arcade. This wall was overlain by the remains of a very worn medieval tiled floor still in situ. With occasional areas of mortar bedding for the same floor, and numerous loose tiles including several patterned examples were recovered. A small area of flagstones and a rough sandstone wall may have been associated with a later flooring scheme. Fragments of painted medieval glass were also found.
11 Observation within church yard and a small trench within church. A stone tomb was recorded against the south wall of the church, with some fragments of medieval floor tile and window glass. Pottery dating to the 13th/14th century and the post-medieval period was found. Within the church, an offset foundation which may have belonged to the original 14th-century wall of the south aisle was uncovered. The side of a blocked doorway in the 19th-century south wall was also exposed.
12 Correspondence relating to
8.
13 Photographs of the Murals.
14 church guide.
 
Sources
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 6, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1951
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: VI
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Buildings of England: Warwickshire
Author/originator: Pevsner N and Wedgwood A
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warwicks
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Stoneleigh Church
Author/originator: Sheasby, Miss E. A.
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Stratford
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Further Archaeological Recording at St Mary's Church, Stoneleigh
Author/originator: Bryn Gethin
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at St Mary's Church, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Author/originator: C Rann
Date: 2008
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Recording at St Mary's Church, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Gethin B
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0416
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Stoneleigh Church murals.
Author/originator: Matthews, Louisa
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card, 37SW8
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 37SW8
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Parish Church of Saint Mary the Virgin Stoneleigh- in -Arden
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Stoneleigh Church Church Record: Addition to Introduction
Author/originator: E A Sheasby (NADFAS recorder)
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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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.
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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
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.
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monument BURIAL VAULT * A built structure, generally below ground, designed for the interment of several burials over a period of time. Usually constructed with a door or sealed entrance to allow reopening for further burials. back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. 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 FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. 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 PARISH CHURCH * The foremost church within a parish. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING COMPONENT * A structure which can be an area within a building, a separate building within a complex or a detached architectural component of a building back
monument MURAL * A picture or pattern produced by either by cementing together small pieces of stone or glass of various colours or by painting directly onto a wall. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument WALL PAINTING * A painting executed directly onto a wall. back
monument MAUSOLEUM * A monumental burial place, usually for a single person or family. back
monument EFFIGY * A sculptured likeness, portrait or image, often found on a tomb or other memorial. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOMB * A grave or sepulchre including a monument. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record