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Description

BITCHFIELD AND LOWER BITCHFIELD SK 92 NE BASSINGTHORPE 2/6 Church of St. Mary Magdalene 20.9.66 G.V. I Parish church. C11, C12, early and late C13, C14, C16, 1873 chancel rebuilt, C19, C20 boiler room. Coursed and squared limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. Ashlar. Lead and Collyweston slate roofs. Western tower, nave with clerestory, north aisle, chancel, south porch. 3 stage C13 tower has plinth, chamfered and roll moulded string courses, battlemented parapet with angle chutes, recessed octagonal ashlar spire with 2 light lucarnes to the principal directions, floriate knopped top and weather vane. The 2 light belfry openings have heavy Y tracery, chamfered surround and hood mould. To the south side ground stage a blank pointed opening and a reset C18 grave slab. To the second stage a narrow rectangular light. The C16 west window is of 2 lights, with cusped heads to the lights, triangular head and hood mould, set in roll and wave moulded surround. The west window of the north aisle is similar. C20 boiler house between aisle and tower. The squared rubble north aisle has moulded parapet, 3 stepped buttresses with bell moulded bases, a C13 pointed doorway in chamfered surround, and a 3 light C14 window with ogee heads to the lights, flat head and hood mould. In the east wall a C19 2 light window, pointed heads to the lights and quatrefoil. C14 ashlar clerestory having moulded parapet with 3 two light windows, cusped ogee heads, moulded pointed surrounds. c.1873 chancel with Collyweston slate roof, having 2 light window in the north wall, 2 similar windows to the south, all with cusped heads and trefoils. The matching east window is of 3 lights with 2 quatrefoils to the head. The south wall of the nave has 3 tall stepped buttresses, chamfered string course and moulded parapet, with late C13 3 light intersecting traceried window with hood mould, and an early C13 2 light window with rounded heads to the tall lights. Matching clerestory. C14 gabled porch, with pointed outer doorway, moulded octagonal capitals, side benches, single 2 light ogee headed side windows, and a ribbed roof. Inner doorway is late C12, round headed, with dogtooth to the inner chamfer. Interior. 3 bay C12 north arcade, clearly inserted into an earlier wall with C11 herringbone masonry. Circular columns, responds and abaci, double chamfered round arches with C19 painted texts. Late C13 triple chamfered tower arch, dying to the reveals with above the earlier roof scar. C14 double chamfered chancel arch having octagonal responds and embattled imposts, with to north a C14 niche with cusped ogee head and pinnacles. In the eastern reveal of the easternmost south nave window a further C14 niche with trefoil head and ballflower decoration to underside of base. Beneath the window cill a hacked back piscina. High up on the north side is a blocked doorway to the roof loft. The fine nave and aisle roofs are C16, restored C19, retaining moulded principals, angel supporters and floriate bosses. In the chancel C19 double chamfered arch to vestry, and a C19 roof supported on contemporary human head corbels. C19 stained glass in east window. C16 octagonal font having quatrelobe panels with the symbol of the passion and other devices, with a top frieze of flowers and other tendrils. Monuments. In the north aisle a respositioned brass plaque to Elizabeth Lack, d.l661, with engraved coat of arms. Listing NGR: SK9830728396

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