NHER 10756 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Aldeby

March 1978. Visit.
Was appropriated to priory (NHER 10725). Basically of two periods, Norman and 13th to 14th century, restored in 17th and 19th centuries.
E. Rose (NAU) 2 March 1978.

2005. Detailed investigation.
Alters the above description. The church is indeed basically a cruciform Norman priory church also used as the parish church and retains a fine Norman west door and nave of unusual construction. The central tower and north transept were rebuilt around 1300 at which time new windows were inserted and there was a second building campaign in the 15th century producing further new windows and roofs; a south chapel may be of this period. However the building was in ruins in 1514 and in 1633 the central tower was rebuilt in brick, clad in flint and reusing the arches and openings of 1300, a most unusual exercise for the date; the chapel was also partly converted to a vestry. A restoration in 1880 removed some of the 15th century work and further rebuilding took place in 1912. The church contains an unusual font that may be of two periods, 1300 and 15th c; a number of 19th century memorials and a ghastly iron bellframe.
(S1) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 21 November 2005.
March 2009.
Church awarded £117,000 for essential maintenance work
see (S2) in file
H. White (NLA), 4 March 2009