NHER 1859 (Building record) - Ruin of St Wandregesilius' Church, Bixley

November 1959. Listed, Grade II*.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Parish church. Early 14th-century west tower, repaired early 16th century and restored 1868. Remainder of church 1868. Flint with ashlar dressings and some brick. Plain tile roofs. West tower, nave, continuous chancel and transepts. Square unbuttressed two-stage tower..."
Information from (S12).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S12) for the current details.
Amended by H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2019.

January 1975. Visited.
Unique dedication in Britain.
Medieval pilgrimage centre (to a statue destroyed in 1538).
Tower possibly 14th century with a possibly 17th century brick parapet. Church rebuilt in 1868 (apart from the west tower) with impressive pyramidal roof over crossing. Altar slab ancient as possibly are the black and white floor tiles in front of it. Brass plaque of 1458. Foundation stone of church, rebuilt in 1272, with later mass diaL on one side preserved in chancel. The dial may date to the late 14th or 15th century. See (S11).
Memorials: Altar tomb of Edward Ward 1585 now built into wall. Carved monuments to Sir Edward Ward 1742, and Sir Randall Ward 1762, and Susan Ward. Report (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NAU), 18 January 1975. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 16 March 2017.

Chalice, 17th century, in Cathedral treasury.

Old church had Early English south door and priest's door: nave and chancel were continuous.
The original west window was straight headed, as seen in a drawing of 1813 (S2), according to Mr Fenner, who also states the tower has a fine brick spiral staircase.
The drawing does indeed show a late 14th century straight headed west window; also a south porch, south priest's door, and possible Y tracery southeast window, all late 13th century.

Photographs (S3), (S4), plans,press cuttings (S5) and (S6) in file.
E.Rose (NLA), 12 November 1990.

May 2004. Visited.
Church gutted by fire. See (S7) and (S8) in file for extent of damage, also for effect upon the important memorials.
Surviving monuments from inside the building and important masonry fragments were salvaged and moved to a local barn [1]. See (S11).
Reconsideration of structure suggests tower either 14th century remodelled 15th century, or all of latter date, but perhaps belfry never added.
E. Rose (NLA), 21 May 2004. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 16 March 2017.

August 2007.
As above, but completely overgrown with nettles etcetera, and behind fencing, so inaccessible.
D. Gurney (NLA), 2 August 2007

January 2009. Building Survey
The church stands on the edge of a deserted medieval settlement. The tower dates from the fourteenth century and is unbuttressed and faced with knapped and galletted black flint. On the south face is a polygonal stair turret giving access to the bell chamber. The tower has limestone ashlar quoins whilst the stair turret has brick angles. The crenelated red brick parapet is probably a rebuilding. There are tiny bell openings on three faces, all of different designs. The east face of the tower contains an exceptionally tall tower arch and above this an area of rough masonary which was originally plastered or hidden within a roof space. The tower arch is the same width as the tower itself. The nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1868. Several of the monuments, such as the brass plaque and two Ward family memorial slabs have been removed and stored by Fairhaven of Anglesea Abbey.
See report (S9) for further information
H. White (NLA), 2 March 2009

October 2009.
There is some debate as to whether the church should be rebuilt following the fire of 2004.
See (S10) for details.
H. White, (NLA), 19 October 2009.

April 2012. Building Survey.
Examined by structural engineer to determine current structural condition.
The wall of the north transept apparently collapsed between July and August 2009, together with the parts of the roof previously resting directly on this wall. Other parts of the roof in the central area of the Chancel fell in the following months and years.
A number of significant cracks have formed at the corner junctions of the 1868 chancel and nave walls but there is very little cracking within the surviving panels between the corners. It is clear that the east gable wall has settled, forcing the eastern end of the connected walls downwards. It is probable this occurred before the fire. The transept wall was also dragged eastwards or pushed eastwards by the roof loading. The general condition of the walls suggests the foundations are adequate. The wall plates for the roof have suffered damage from wet rot together with the ends of the principal rafters bearing on to them. The latter are repairable, but the former will need to be replaced. Of the 16 corbel stones supporting the principal frame timber posts only seven appear to be serviceable. Iron tie bars and plates are though in good condition and could be reused. In addition to some of the principal rafters a number of purlins and some ridge beams are still in place, although the common rafters are so reduced by the fire that they have no future usefulness. A number of fallen members were also noted, although these are all significantly charred by the fire.
The tower is largely in the same condition as it was in 2009. The fire resulted in the loss of the tower roof and floors and the roof of the stair turret is also missing. The topmost zone of the turret wall has been degraded by weathering and cracks were also noted in the internal wall of the stairwell (although these are small and no worse than those commonly seen in similar structures). It is thought that the tower would be stable without a connection to an adjacent church building.
See report (S13) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 June 2025.

November 2016. Trial Trenching.
Archaeological evaluation undertaken ahead of the proposed restoration and conversion of the ruined church.
A small trench excavated through the surviving tiled floor within the north transept of the church encountered a series of compact banded footing deposits that had probably been associated with the nave of the medieval church. These foundations were overlain by material likely to have been deposited during the rebuilding of the church in 1868. Deposits containing ceramic building material, flint cobbles and mortar observed in the trenches immediately to the north of church were also probable associated with the Victorian works. One of these deposits was found to be the uppermost fill of an east-to-west aligned linear feature interpreted as a possible robber trench marking the line of a medieval wall. Two of the trenches also exposed the foundations of the surviving church walls.
See report (S14) and NHER 69202 for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.354)
P. Watkins (HES), 30 June 2025.

January 2017. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed conversion of St Wandregesilius’ Church to residential dwelling.
It is recorded that following the fire the vicar instructed Cathedral Survey Services to organise the conservation and removal of four monuments (those to Sir Edward Ward, the Countess of Rosebery, Edward Warde and Sir Randal Warde), along with the 13th-century foundation stone. Although the majority of the monuments were in good condition it is noted that some had apparently become damp and disintegrated when touched. At the time of this study the disassembled monuments were stored by the Crown Point Estate in a barn at Kirby Bedon, along with the church bell. Despite an extensive search the foundation stone could not be located.
The church itself was still in a ruinous state, with the roof beams having fallen in. The tower stands unaided, but the remaining other walls are currently being stabilised by a combination of scaffolding and wooden beams. The interior is still overgrown.
Unsurprisingly, it is determined that the proposed development would have a dramatic impact on this Grade II* listed building, although it is noted that previous studies had concluded that reinstatement to its former condition would not be viable.
See report (S15) for further information, including notes on the current condition of the salvaged memorials. See Design and Access Statement (S16) for additional details on the proposed restoration and conversion of the church ruin.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 June 2025.

November 2017. Building Survey.
Study of the monuments salvaged from St Wandregesilius’ Church in order to determine their present condition and assess the feasibility of repairing them and returning them to their original locations.
Unfortunately, it was found that the MDF boxes containing the monuments had mostly disintegrated. Some fragments were wrapped in bubble wrap but most were unwrapped.
The foundation stone, the brasses and the cameo from Lady Rosebery’s monument were not found in the store or on site, although it is possible that the foundation stone at least was within a crate that had been inaccessible on the day of the visit.
It is suggested that the monument to Edward Warde (1585) is of historical and art-historical importance and should be reconstructed using traditional methods and replaced within the church (although it will need to be relocated as the wall on which it was originally located no longer stands). The foundation stone is also an integral part of the history of the church and should be returned to its original position (providing it can be located). The importance of the other monuments is less clear, although they do exhibit fine carving amongst their decorative features. It is assessed that these would all also be suitable for reconstruction and replacement within the church. Other options presented include the retention of the fragments and the presentation of important elements within a prepared display area within the church (such as a trench in the nave).
See report (S17) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 June 2025.

2021.
Permission to convert the ruined church to a residential dwelling has been granted by South Norfolk Council. These works will see the church deconsecrated but the churchyard (which contains recent graves) will remain consecrated and publicly accessible.
See local press article (S18).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 June 2025.