Information for record number MWA363:
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Astley

Summary The Church of St. Mary the Virgin which was originally built during the Medieval period. It is situated 100m south west of Astley Castle.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Building
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Astley
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 31 89
(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 The nave was originally the choir of a collegiate church and is of late Decorated work. The W (formerly central) tower has a Decorated tower stage, the upper stage rebuilt 1608. 15th century carved wooden stalls, with painted panels, medieval effigies, Norman font and Jacobean pulpit.
2 Completely rebuilt in 1343 by Sir Thomas Astley as a collegiate church (see PRN 362, 6130 for more detail). The present nave was the chancel of the collegiate church, the tower, transepts and nave having been demolished in 1607. At this time a W tower was erected along with a chancel, all in Gothic style. 15th century oak stalls with 9 seats on each side survive in the E end of the nave.
4 Description of internal fittings and wall paintings.
5 Photograph.
6 Excavations on the site of the north transept. This found the transept to be 14th century, an ivory figure (also 14th century) was recovered.
7 East-West wall and two medieval floor tiles found by gravedigger to the north west of the present tower. The grave was abandonnd and backfilled and a new one dug elsewhere. Plan to follow showing the exact location of the grave in relation to the standing masonary. Likely that this wall is the north wall of the original nave.
8 Copy of church leaflet for visitors.
9 North Transept Excavation report. Undated.
10 Plan. Undated.
 
Sources
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: 3
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: Desk Top Study
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1951
Page Number: 5
Volume/Sheet: Tamworth Rural
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: The Church of St Mary, Astley
Author/originator: Howard E Brown
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Excavations on site of North Transept, Church of St Mary, Astley
Author/originator: H.E. Brown
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Note
Title: Church of St Mary the Virgin, Astley
Author/originator: Parkhouse, J, WM
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Plan
Title: Church of St Mary, Astley
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card: photograph
Author/originator:
Date: 2005
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 51
Author/originator: Houghton F T S
Date: 1925
Page Number: 19-28
Volume/Sheet: 51
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 91
Author/originator: Brown H E
Date: 1984
Page Number: 137-40
Volume/Sheet: 91
   
Images:  
St Mary's Church, Astley
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1977
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 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
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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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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monument COLLEGIATE CHURCH * A church attached to or founded by a college. back
monument PULPIT * Use as an external architectural feature only. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. 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 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 GRAVE * A place of burial. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument SEAT * An external structure used to sit on. back
monument WALL PAINTING * A painting executed directly onto a wall. 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 WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record