NHER 7402 (Building record) - St Michael's and All Angels' church, Aylsham

Large and complicated cruciform building. Basically early 14th century; completed late 14th century (under John of Gaunt?). Chancels and chapels rebuilt late 15th/early 16th. Later alterations and 19th century restoration. Extension beyond east wall. Contains excellent rood screen of 1507; brasses and memorials; medieval ringers gallery. Tomb of H. Repton in yard.

1955.
Foundations of a wall found in churchyard.
See (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 6 July 1992.

May 1961. Listed Grade I.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Fabric mainly of 14th century and 15th century, much restored in 1852. Flint, partly rubble work, partly knapped with good flushwork panels: lead covered roofs. West tower, south porch, north and south aisles, transepts, chancel and chancel aisles. 14th-century tower with good four-light west window with late Decorated tracery. Traceried bell openings. Tower roof surmounted lead-covered spirelet, probably early 17th century. Two-storey south porch 15th century, but lower storey may be 14th century. Fine flushwork flint panels. Canopied niche flanked by two-light windows. South aisle faced in knapped flint with flushwork-panelled battlements. 15th-century transepts and chancel chapels of two bays…
...Memorial to Humphry Repton and his family against south wall of chancel.
Churchyard bounded by coped red brick boundary wall, with four-centred arched opening to Old Vicarage."
Information from (S2).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S2) for the current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 February 2022.

November 2004. Watching Brief. Contexts 10-48 used.
Monitoring of works at north-west end of the church.
Probable medieval cuts for the church walls and western pillars were found but contained no dating evidence.
Various graves/charnel pits and a brick soakaway drain cut into the floor of the church were thought likely to date to the 18th century or earlier.
Three brick crypts were found, along with related late 18th century memorials.
Unstratified prehistoric worked flints also found.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S8).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.178).
J. Allen (NLA), 27 June 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 June 2019.

2006. Mort safe noted in churchyard to northeast of chancel (hooped iron type not a true mort safe) Extremely rare survival.
See (S3) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 7 July 2006.

July 2011. Eastern Daily Press.
A building in the churchyard of Aylsham's St Michael's Parish church has been restored, a mezzanine floor installed, and has been opened as a heritage centre.
See (S7) for further details.
D. Lefeuvre (HES), 1 August 2011.

The organ was built by Norman & Beard in 1911. It was awarded an Historic Organ Certificate (Grade 1) in 2012 as it is the largest surviving organ with an unusual console and patent Norman & Beard tubular pneumatic ‘Norwich’ Action. The Heritage Lottery Fund has granted £74,800 towards the total of over £100,000 needed to faithfully restore the organ, without alteration (S9).
D. Gurney (HES), 7 April 2016.