NHER 10077 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Long Stratton

Round tower, apparently postdating nave west wall with early Norman arch. Remains of Norman chancel window. North aisle about 1320, south aisle about 1340, said to be parts of one building campaign that included the north chapel. Major remodelling in 15th century provided grand chancel windows, other windows, porch. Restoration in 1840s and early 20th century. Contains important 17th and 19th century memorials; reset woodwork; very rare 16th century sexton's wheel, a device for ascertaining the date of the Lady Day Fast. The only other example is at Yaxley, Suffolk. Early bell.
See (S1) and (S2) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 28 November 2005.

August 2007. Geophysical Survey.
Ground probing radar survey of church interior.
A number of anomalies of possible archaeological origin were observed. These included discrete anomalies indicating buried foundations or possible burials in the south porch, north aisle and chancel area. A possible stone ledger with associated burial may have been dtected undereath the nave.
See report (S3).
S. Howard (HES), 2011.

September 2008.
Proposal to replace the roof structure and change the covering from slate to zinc
see (S4) in file
H. White (NLA) 17 December 2008

December 2008. Building Survey
The church is built of flint with ashlar dressings. It has a round Norman western tower with a later bell stage and short spire. It has an attached stair tower to the first floor where the clock is situated. The original tower arch survives. The nave has aisles with four-bay 14th century arcades and a later clerestorey. The chancel is of 14th century date but its fenestration is much later. The organ chamber is situated in the former chapel of St John the Baptist which was the chantry chapel for the de Bourne family.
See (S5) for further information.
H. White (NLA), 29 January 2009.

There are 119 examples of round church towers recorded in Norfolk. The tower contains six bells, dating from 1734, 1789 and 1904. The organ was presented to the church in 1893.
See (S6) for further details
H. White (NLA), 21 October 2009.

(S7) states that the clock probably dates from the late 17th century. The date 1722 can be seen on the dial of the one hand clock but this probably represents a reconstruction.
H. White (NLA), 21 October 2009.

October 2009 and February-March 2010. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of extension.
A sequence of natural deposits, medieval grave and graveyard soils, post-medieval pathways and topsoil and a recent burial probably dating the 1940s were revealed. One medieval burial pre-dates the early 14th century buttress construction and is probably associated with the 12th century church. Evidence for the later renovation of the church was recovered in the form of brick buttress footings and medieval roof tiles used to build-up material for pathways. Finds included a 17th century clay pipe fragment and unstratified medieval and post-medieval pottery.
See report (S8) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S9).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.212).
S. Howard (HES), 16 November 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2019.

April 2010.
The six church bells need to be removed, repaired, re-tuned and re-hung. This is estimated to cost £32,000.
See (S10) for further details.
H. White (NLA), 16 April 2010.