NHER 1741 (Building record) - St Clement's Church, Burnham Overy

June 1953. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Parish church. 12th century Saxon-Norman origins represented by axial tower, made cruciform c.1200 with north and south transepts; presumably rebuilt nave with additional north and south aisles, chancel largely rebuilt in 13th century, later 15th century fenestration, 18th century and 1835 restorations. Flint with stone dressings, brick, lead nave and south aisle roofs, tiled tower and chancel."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current details.
Amended by H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2019.

February 1978. Field Observation.
A visual inspection of the church was carried out.
St Clement's Church. Norman central tower (top storey with circular windows gone, replaced by 17th century cupola). Arch to E visible with imposts, but mostly blocked up. Upper doorway or square recess over present door to nave. Traces of N & S transepts; arch to N has EE lancet in blocking. S aisle of c1200 with irregular piers with small heads, and imposted pointed arch (now blocked) to S transept: corbelled tower stair has light hole here. Nave N wall had three imposted arches cut through it, now blocked again, and two containing Y-tracery and interescted windows - late copies, apparently. E jamb of easternmost arch cut away to avoid pulpit. Third contains blocked N door. Mid-13th century EE chancel with E window of 3 lancets. Shafted inside, and S chapel with three bay arcade - now leaning considerably; chapel demolished and wall rebuilt only a few feet out. Piscina at foot of one pillar in sanctuary steps! N chancel windows, renewed in part, have Y-tracery, intersected, and Dec tracery, two inside ogee embrasures; are they original? Nave S windows all replaced by square ones - 17th cent? See W window of S aisle, square under awkward hoodmould. Crude 16th or 17th century 3 light nave W window. Nave roof considerably lowered. S porch with simple pointed entrance. Later buttresses, one of yellow brick. Reset St. Christopher wallpainting, another (angel?) at E end S aisle. 17th-19th century floor tombs. Brass plaque. 17th-19th cent memorials. Commandment boards 1747-8. Elaborate Royal arms George III. Old stone fragments. Solid octagonal font. Paten cover (Norwich) and chalice, both reworked.
Information from notes in HER Record Cards (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 1978. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 24 August 2022.

October 2006. Field Observation.
Norman central tower. Transepts added around 1200 to make a cruciform church; nave arcades inserted in two styles around the same time. Chancel 13th century with south arcade to chapel. North aisle may have gone by as early as the 14th century to judge by a wallpainting on the blocking, although the windows of this period may be later copies. Tower reduced in height 17th century. South chapel demolished before 1820, partly rebuilt during restoration of 1835. Church contains an interesting selection of 17th-19th century monuments, and there are a number of historically important memorials in the graveyard.
See detailed report (S3) for further details.
E. Rose (NLA), 21 October 2006.

This is one of the sixty five Norfolk churches selected for the publication "England's Thousand Best Churches" (S3).
D. Gurney (NLA), 17 February 2006.