NHER 8175 (Building record) - All Saints' Church, Rackheath

Formerly Great Rackheath parish (medieval).
Flint with lower east quoins of stone, upper of tile: much brick in upper walls. Tower of squared flint and south aisle.
All early 14th century: north door only 1.2m (4ft) high, simple pointed arch, blocked in modern brick, perhaps earliest part; south door also simple, with small porch with headstops.
Chancel south windows simple Y-tracery, south aisle cusped Y-tracery, with external grotesque headstops; belfry windows the same (also nave north window but 19th century, as is west window, a broad lancet) east window Decorated.
South clerestory of quatrefoils, cut by aisle roof external flushwork panelling only at ends.
Three bay arcade with octagonal pillars; chancel arch in same style, but tower arch narrow, with multi-chamfered top, slightly askew; marks of staircase inside, cutting west window.
(S1) says that the tower ceiling is the old pulpit sounding board, but this seems to have been replaced.
19th century plaster ceilings in nave and chancel.
Bannerstaff locker in west wall.
Piscina inside south door, cusped piscina and large simple sedilia in chancel, also tomb recess.
Rood stair base, but turret has collapsed (two painted panels of rood screen discovered in pew 1865, taken to rectory - where now? (S2). Base was in situ then (E. Rose (NAU)); a large external buttress and small window has replaced it.
Upper rood door strangely twisted, blocked.
Excellent series of monuments - best are 1698, 1723, 1746, but also whole range of 18th - 20th century
plaques.
17th - 18th century floor tombs.
Brass matrix.
Formerly old stained glass in clerestory, and good glass of 1854 in south windows, now all smashed.
(S3) notes a carved octagonal font, now removed, and says plate was: alms dish, London, 1621: flagon 1743; cup 1755.
Unusual 19th century under floor heating system.
Derelict 19th century brick vestry adjoins.
Some good gravestones in overgrown yard.
Railed vault at east end church, now rectangular, is on old prints semi circular.
Church empty and heavily vandalised, but restoration proposed.
Visited E. Rose (NAU) 20 July 1977.

Some restoration undertaken, windows glazed, floor reinstated, but one recent plaque now removed.
Remains of vestry at east end south aisle now removed (it was shown by Ladbrooke) revealing blocked south chancel window.
Font was of 1639, has been stored and replaced.
E. Rose (NAU), 25 August 1980.

1993.
Architect reports that in restoring monument south. Wall south Aisle black letter wallpainting found.
Photographed by him.
Appropriate section from (S9) in file.

Worked flint found in the churchyard is recorded under NHER 51237.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 5 February 2008.