Information for record number MWA3145:
Church of St Margaret, Wolston

Summary The Parish Church of St Margaret which was originally built during the Medieval period. The church was later restored during the Imperial period. It is situated 200m south east of Brandon Castle at Wolston.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Building
Period: Medieval - Industrial (1066 AD - 1913 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Wolston
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 40 75
(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
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Chancel, N and S transepts, N and S aisles, nave, central tower, and modern vestry. Dates from the 12th century, when it probably consisted of chancel, nave and S transept, and a low central tower, the N transept being added early in the 13th century. Church rebuilt 14th century with the addition of aisles; in the 15th century a clearstorey was inserted, and in the 17th century the low tower was raised to form a belfry. Of the 12th century Church the tower crossing remains, with the 13th century arch to the N transept, and the N doorway re-used in the 14th century S aisle. Chancel roof extensively repaired in 1680 and decorated in colour in 1760. The Church is recorded in 1090, when it was given to the abbey of St Pierre-sur-Dive.
2 Plan of the Church.
3 Drawing of c1820.
4 The Church is a mixture of styles externally. Norman S doorway. Chancel of c1300. Central tower is a replacement of 1760 by Job Collins. Internally the Church is much more interesting. Crossing is entirely Norman, with high W and E arches, and the N and S arches so low that instead of transepts proper there can only have been small chambers. Nave and S arcade apparently of early 14th century; N arcade a little later. Sedilia and piscina in chancel; in the S transept are two big tomb recesses with effigies of c1300 (one badly defaced), a sedile and a piscina, also an early 16th century monument. Font probably 17th century.
5 18th century vestry. Church restored 1860.
6 Noted by Ordnance Survey.
7 Church guide.
8 Map showing the village with annotations of cropmarks.
9In 2014, test pits were excavated by members of the Wolston PCC and congregation prior to the design of a new floor. An archaeological watching brief observed a number of features and finds relating to the history of the Church between the 12th and 19th centuries. This included foundations for the former south wall of the 12th century Church, and foundations for the 14th century south and north nave walls plus a later extension. Traces of bedding for a 14th and 15th century tile floor were found. Post holes, possibly relating to scaffolding in the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries were found as were two grave cuts sealed by an 18th century floor. Finds, dating from the 15th to 19th century, included pottery, floor and roof tile, window glass, metal objects, painted wall plaster and human remains.
 
Sources
Source No: 9
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: A Report on the Watching Brief Monitoring Investigative Ground Works Carried out in St. Margaret's Parish Church, Wolston, May - June
Author/originator: A. Thompson
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
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: 4
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: 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: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Stratford
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Map
Title: Wolston
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: A History of Wolston Church
Author/originator: Norton, Richard
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: OS Card, 47SW
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP47SWM
   
Images:  
St Margaret's Church, Wolston
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 2000
Click here for larger image  
 
St. Margaret's Church, Wolston
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1900s
Click here for larger image  
 
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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
technique Cropmark Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.

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technique Test Pit A small, exploratory excavation that helps archaeologists to find out how deep below the ground surface the archaeological layers extend. They are also dug to discover whether the topsoil contains particular concentrations of artefacts. Test pits are dug before a large excavation to determine a site's depth and contents. 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.
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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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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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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.
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monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. 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 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 FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. 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 GRAVE * A place of burial. 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 ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument INDUSTRIAL * This is the top term for the class. See INDUSTRIAL Class List for narrow terms. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument VESTRY * A room or part of a church where the vestments, vessels and records are kept. back
monument PISCINA * A perforated stone basin usually built into the wall of a church on the south side of the altar. Used for carrying away the ablutions (wine and water used to rinse the chalice, and wash the priests hands after communion). 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 HUMAN REMAINS * The unarticulated remains of the body of a human being. If articulated use inhumation. 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
monument POST HOLE * A hole dug to provide a firm base for an upright post, often with stone packing. Use broader monument type where known. back
monument WORKS * Usually a complex of buildings for the processing of raw materials. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record