NHER 1722 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Great Bircham

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Summary

This medieval church has various post-medieval elements. The tower has a door from about 1200. The chancel is early 14th century in date, with the nave and aisles dating to the mid 14th century. Inside there is a 13th century font. The war memorial cross here was the first World War Two memorial to be erected in Britain.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (I) 1077807: CHURCH OF ST MARY

Location

Map sheet	TF73SE
Ecclesiastical	GREAT BIRCHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
Civil Parish	BIRCHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

See (S1) for description.

September 1986.
Rendering stripped off north wall of chancel but raking out not thoroughly undertaken so details obscured. See (S2) in file; A and B are limestone jambs of window (upper parts) relating to C on interior which is eastern jamb. D and E on interior are jambs of blocked doorway presumably cut through blocked window because top of doorway is above base of window. No trace of west jamb of window on interior face, but signs of patching above door. Only vague indications of blocked door on exterior because of large area of repatching and poor raking out.
Specification of works (S3) in file.
See sketch (S7) of the north wall of chancel in the Illustration Library.
A. Rogerson (NAU) 1 September 1986.

A cope of about 1480 given by Roger Le Strange in 1505 is now in St Peter Hungate Museum. This was found in use as an altar cloth in 1848 and restored (S4).

1997.
East window restored and organ from Chesham, Buckinghamshire installed.
(S5, S6 and S8) in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 28 May 1997.

August 2005.
A medieval church, with post medieval elements. The tower has a door from about 1200. The chancel is early 14th century in date, with the nave and aisles dating to the mid 14th century. Inside there is a 13th century font.
See listing description (S1).
D. Robertson (NLA) 2 August 2005.

The war memorial cross here was the first World War Two memorial to be erected in Britain.
E. Rose (NLA) 22 July 2006.

Associated Sources (12)

--- SNF7576 Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 362.
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF7732/B-C; 17-APR-1984 (HES 144/AVD 8-9).
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1077807.
<S2> SNF56896 Unpublished Document: Rogerson, A.. 1986. Sketch map of works at St Mary's Church, Bircham. 1 September.
<S3> SNF56897 Unpublished Document: Laurence, King & Partners. 1986. Specification of work to be done to north chancel wall and south east buttress to the tower at the church of St Mary, Great Bircham, Norfolk.
<S4> SNF52354 Unpublished Document: 1848. Minutes of West Norfolk Ecclesiastical Architectural Society. Meeting Minutes.
<S5> SNF3031 Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1997. Restored to Glory. 23 May.
<S6> SNF56893 Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1998. £7,000 project at Bircham church. 27 October.
<S7> SNF81827 Illustration: Rogerson, A.. 1986. Sketch of the north wall of chancel.. Film. 1:50.
<S8> SNF56899 Illustration: Birdsall, N.H.. 1998. Great Bircham Parish Church, Norfolk - East window in the chancel.. Paper. Unknown.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)

Object Types (1)

TEXTILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Related NHER Records (1)

Geographical: NHER 68678 - Parent of: Medieval to post-medieval finds, churchyard of St Mary's Church, Great Bircham (Find Spot)

Find out more...(3)

Record last edited

Jan 31 2025 3:00PM