NHER 2354 (Building record) - St Nicholas' Church, Shereford

1865. Norfolk and Norwich Archaeology Society Rood Screens Survey.
In anticipation of preparing a series of publications on Norfolk rood screen paintings, the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeology Society circulated a survey to all parish clergy.
The return for St Nicholas' Church indicated that there were signs that an oak screen once separated the chancel from the nave. A few remains "worked up in the construction of the Manor pew and the Pulpit" are obscured by repeated painting but indicate the screen might have dated to the Tudor period. It further states that the east window is "a rather striking example of the same [Tudor] style, the remainder of the church being Norman."
See journal article (S9) for full transcription and further details about the survey.
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

1931. Publication.
Messent (S5) states that this church may be Saxo-Norman.
Information from HER Record Card (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

1949. Publication.
Cautley's publication "Norfolk Churches" (S6) states that this church is probably pre-Conquest.
Information from HER Record Card (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

March 1959. Listed Grade II*.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Parish church. Norman tower and nave, c.1300 and later details to nave and chancel. Flint with some carstone and stone dressings; leaded tower, slated nave and tiled chancel roofs. Round tower at west, nave, south porch and chancel. Tower with one 2-light moulded brick mullioned window and 2 switch tracery mullioned windows. Conical lead roof with valance. Norman south door with 2 orders of shafts with capitals and 5 superimposed arches, 2 with roll- mouldings. Nave south wall with one 3-light Decorated window, one splayed Norman window, one paired lancet; to chancel one straight headed Decorated 2-light window. One 2-light switch tracery window. South priest's door c.1300. Nave north wall with EE north door c.1300 with shafts missing; 2 2-light switch tracery windows of c.1300 re-used in built up former north arcade of c.1300. Elaborate Decorated 3-light east window with flowing tracery."
Information from (S7).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S7) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

1962. Casual observation.
A lump of iron-bound conglomerate was recovered from the church.
This has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM: 1962.525).
Information from HER Record Card (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

1965. Publication.
Taylor and Taylor (S8) class this church as C3 (1050-1100).
Information from HER Record Card (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

12 December 1991. Field Observation (Visual Assessment).
A detailed visual assessment of the church was undertaken.
St Nicholas' is a round-towered church with Saxon origins. The main building material is flint with some carstone and stone dressings, a leaded tower, slated nave and tiled chancel roofs. The church was heightened and altered in the 12th-century and altered again c. 1300 when a north aisle was added with reset Early English door. This [north aisle?] was demolished in the early 18th century and the doorway and windows were reset in the nave wall.
See HER Notes (S10) for a full details of the observations and discussion. These HER Notes have also been transcribed separately as unpublished report (S11).
Brief description also provided in regional and subject journal round-up articles (S12) and (S13).
Amended M. Langham-Lopez (HES), 28 June 2013.

December 1991 (at some time, likely 12th December). Field Observation.
Excavations for drains, located adjacent to the church, were begun at an unspecified date.
A greenglazed fragment was identified as a piece of medieval Flemish tile.
Information from HER Notes (S10).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

18 December 1991. Field Observation.
Excavations for drains were observed prior to backfilling.
"The projection from the footings of the aisle wall were shown to be probably a buttress, not part of a porch. There is a second projection and both are approximately in line with the present buttresses on the nave north wall. An angle buttress at the [northwest] angle was also discovered. This may therefore suggest that the buttresses from the aisle were reset on the blocked arcade, perhaps increased in height from material taken from the angle buttress which was not rebuilt. No trace has yet been found on the west wall, but the trench has not quite reached the line of the [northeast] nave angle."
Transcribed from HER Notes (S10).
A brief summary of results is also provided in regional and subject journal round-up articles (S12) and (S13).
E. Rose (NAU), 19 December 1991. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

15 January 1992. Field Observation.
The final section of the drainage pipe trench revealed the west wall of the aisle, but only in the extreme end face of the cutting. The wall is aligned just to the east of the nave northeast quoins, as if it joined on to the chancel wall overlapping the corner of the nave. This is most unusual. No scar remains on the chancel wall, suggesting as commented above that refacing may have taken place since demolition.
The removal of the scaffolding has brought to light, above the north doorway at the level of the projecting flints marking the former attachment of the aisle roof, a stone moulding in the shape of a rectangular "tray" with raised edge. This is presumably reused.
Transcribed from HER Notes (S10).
A brief summary of results is also provided in regional and subject journal round-up articles (S12) and (S13).
E. Rose (NAU), 16 January 1992. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

Mr. S. Heywood (NCC Buildings Conservation Team) believes that the fact that the Norman doorway appears to project from the wall is another indication that the nave is Saxon.
Transcribed from HER Notes (S10).
H. Hamilton (HES), 01 December 2022.

June 1995. Field Observation.
Large subterranean vault revealed by collapsed floor near west end of nave, near to north east of south door. Over 2m deep, about 2.5m square. Two coffins visible below collapsed joists and stone slab. Probably grave of husband and wife commemmorated on balck marble slab immediately to south. Now backfilled.
Transcribed from HER Notes (S10).
A. Rogerson (NAU), 01 September 1995.

Churchyard finds previously recorded under this number are now recorded under NHER 59577.