Information for record number MWA720:
Church of St Leonard, Priors Marston

Summary The Church of St Leonard which was originally built in the late 13th century with the aisle being widened in the 14th century. The tower was remodelled or rebuilt around 1720.
What Is It?  
Type: Church, Aisle, Tower, Nave, Porch, Chancel
Period: Modern (1250 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Priors Marston
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 48 57
(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, North vestry, nave, North aisle, South porch and West tower. The earliest material is a late 13th century north arcade, indicating an aisle of that period added to an earlier nave that was probably shorter than now. The aisle may have been widened late in the 14th century. There seems to have been a Medieval tower, remodelled around 1720. Various alterations to the church were carried out in 1863 and 1875. The church is first mentioned as a chapel of Priors Hardwick in 1279.
4
5 church. Late 13th century origins; aisle widened 14th century. tower remodelled or entirely rebuilt circa 1720. Nave and porch largely rebuilt 1863 and chancel rebuilt 1865 by Spragg and Joyce. Ironstone with limestone dressings: aisle of coursed rubble; nave of squared coursed rubble; chancel, vestry, and porch regular coursed; tower of ashlar. Tile roofs have ridge cresting and coped gable parapets; stone stack. Chancel, nave, north aisle, north vestry, west tower, south porch. Two-bay chancel and five-bay nave. Chancel has splayed plinth. Diagonal and south buttresses with two offsets. Three-light east window has hood mould and head stops. Two south and one north two-light windows. Geometrical tracery throughout. North side has chimney above vestry. South porch has splayed plinth. Low angle buttresses flush with front. Doorway of two moulded orders. Door with Gothic open work panels and grille. square-headed two-light windows with stop-chamfered jambs. Inside late 13th century moulded south doorway has hood mould with return stops. Ribbed and studded door with old strap hinges. Nave has angle and south buttresses with two offsets. Two two-light windows east of porch, and lancet and two-light window west of porch, all with plate tracery. vestry has splayed plinth. Angle buttresses. East paired trefoiled lancets, and circle with cross, under segmental pointed arch. Lean-to roof. Aisle has diagonal, two north and west angle buttresses. Chamfered Tudor arch north doorway of circa 1500 has 19th century plank door. Three late 14th century two-light straight-headed Decorated north windows, partly renewed. Two-light west window has basket-arched lights. tower of two stages has high splayed plinth. West angles have giant clasping Tuscan piers. String course. round-arched south door and west window with Y-tracery and transom. Second stage has two small round-arched west windows. Bell-openings similar to west window. Clock faces to north and south. Cornice and parapet of three panels, Interior: plastered walls. Chancel has segmental -pointed rere arches. arched braced roof with naturalistic foliage corbels. Early English style chancel arch of three plastered orders. Nave has five-bay partly late 13th century arcade of low, wide arches of two chamfered orders and octagonal piers with moulded capitals. Hammerbeam roof and scissor braces. Fittings: mid 1860's; reredos 1868. Stained glass: late 19th century. Monuments: north aisle: Bradshaw family 1770 etc. Neoclassical wall monument. Porch floor: brass 1688. Inscriptions to Elizabeth and Richard West (1691).
6
7 In 2011 observations were carried out during the removal of the pews and pew bases in the church. These works revealed the possible 14th century foundations under the north wall and a probable Medieval beaten floor. Another exposed floor in the nave may have been of a Medieval date but it was impregnated with 19th century debris during the construction of the brick pew bases.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
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 5, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1987
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Stratford
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Statuatory List
Title: National Heritage List for England
Author/originator: Historic England
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Serial
Title: West Midlands Archaeology Vol 54
Author/originator: CBA West Midlands
Date: 2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 54
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: OS Card, 15SE2
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 15SE2
   
Source No:
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Observations at St Leonards Church, Priors Marston
Author/originator: Jones R
Date: 2011
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 1134
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Observations at St Leonards Church, Priors Marston
Author/originator: Jones R
Date: 2011
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 1134
   
Images:  
The Church of St. Leonard, Priors Marston
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1926
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
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 WALL MONUMENT * A substantial monument attached to a wall and often standing on the floor. 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 CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. 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 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 SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with 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 CHIMNEY * Chimney used on an industrial or commercial site. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument GRILLE * An open grating of wrought iron, bronze or wood, forming a screen to a door, window or other opening, or used as a divider. 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