Information for record number MWA5645:
Church of St Editha, Polesworth

Summary The parish church of St. Editha. The building incorporates Medieval masonary and is situated 200m east of Bridge Street, Polesworth.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Nave, Tower
Period: Medieval - Modern (1066 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Polesworth
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SK 26 02
(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 Parish church of St Editha consisting of a chancel, nave, nave aisle and porch and a tower north of the chancel. The church incorporates Medieval masonry and was probably the part of the priory buildings which served the parishioners. The Parish church has suffered many vicissitudes afterwards, including a drastic restoration in 1869.
6 church, originally part of a Benedictine nunnery church, 11th century origins. Early 12th century nave and north aisle, 14th century tower has 17th-18th century top. Aisle probably widened 14th century. chancel and north parch added and drastic restoration 1869 by G.E. Street. Sandstone ashlar. Old plain-tile roofs have coped gable parapets. Navel chancel, north aisle and porch, north east tower. Four-bay chancel, eight-bay nave, Chancel ha east window of five stepped lancets in a blank arch. South side has a blocked 12th century Romanesque doorway of two orders with hood mould, originally to the cloister, set against the western end. Two pairs of lancets. Nave has 19th century windows. South side has three triplets of lancets set in-blank arches. Set high up are two straight-headed restored 14th century windows of cusped ogee lights with pierced spandrels. Between them, and set lower, is a 19th century lancet. West front composed of nave and very slightly projecting aisle. Nave has renewed four-light Perpendicular window. Aisle has northern and massive southern buttresses, both of two offsets. Early 13th century doorway, set off-centre, of two chamfered orders with old double-leaf doors and ironwork. Window has cusped Y-tracery and small buttress below. Gable has trefoil opening and 14th century cross finial. North side has splay plinth and shallow buttresses. Wide, low porch with moulded doorway and double-leaf doors, 12th century doorway inside of two moulded orders. Trefoiled faucet to west. To east of porch are three triplets of lancets, similar to nave windows. Massive tower of two stages has diagonal buttresses; each with gablet and two offsets, to all except the south-east corner. Very large restored three-light Decorated north window rises into the second stage, and has reticulated tracery, a transom and a hood mould with head stops. Bell chamber has two-light openings with reticulated tracery and wooden louvres. East side is blank apart from two large slit openings to the bell chamber. Embattled parapet has slits below. Clock face to west. Interior: chancel has east window with nook shafts. North tower arch of three segmental painted chamfered orders and fieep splayed jambs. Cusped arched brace roof. 19th century chancel arch of one chamfered order without responds or imposts. Nave has eight-bay early 11th century Romanesque arcade of low narrow arches with shallow scalloped capitals and string course above, Former clerestory of small windows with splayed jambs. Medieval head corbel sat high up. 19th century seven-bay crown post roof. Aisle has similar roof. tower arch has outer chamfer, and three inner chamfered orders with deep splay jambs, Fittings: 14th century octagonal font has trefoiled blind arches and simple shafts. Iron-bound dug-out chest. 14th century sculpture panel set on a head corbel in the aisle. 19th century stalls etc. Monuments: effigy of an Abbess circa 1200, in second bay of arcade, is in low relief, and set on a 15th century Perpendicular tomb chest with shields in quatrefoils. Early 15th century effigy of a lady, third bay. Similar Perpendicular tomb chest with blind arches to the angles. Francis Nethersole 1652; nave east wall. Panel with moulded architectural surround and lozenge of arms.
7 The remains of Polesworth priory were preserved as the Parish church.
 
Sources
Source No: 7
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Symbols of Status in Medieval Warwickshire (1000-1500)
Author/originator: Hook D
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 117
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: St Editha's Abbey
Author/originator: Mitchell H C
Date: 1939
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
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: 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: 6
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 89
Author/originator: Mytum H
Date: 1978-9
Page Number: Fig 2
Volume/Sheet: 89
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Images:  
The Church of St. Editha, Polesworth
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1960s
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.
 		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 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
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 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 SHAFT * Use only if function unknown, otherwise use specific type. 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 BENEDICTINE NUNNERY * An abbey or priory for nuns ofthe Benedictine order. 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 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 BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument EFFIGY * A sculptured likeness, portrait or image, often found on a tomb or other memorial. 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 SCULPTURE * A figurative or abstract design in the round or in relief, made by chiselling stone, carving wood, modelling clay, casting metal, or similar processes. 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 TOMB * A grave or sepulchre including a monument. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record