NHER 2643 (Building record) - St Mary's Chapel

June 1960. Listed, Grade II*.

May 1978. Field Observation.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU).
Built in 1835, red and white brick Gothic Revival style, said to be by Pugin, the architect responsible for the reconstruction of Oxburgh Hall during the same period, but poor for him if it is. Contains Antwerp retable of around 1525, 17th century foreign stalls, two Flemish or French communion rails, one of which is in the gallery, medieval and 16th century English and foreign stained glass. 19th century monuments, two hatchments. Roof in poor state.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 25 May 1978. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 May 2023.

The building is said in (S2) to have been constructed of bricks removed from demolished cottages in the village. The bricks are certainly old, some seem late medieval, but the number may suggest that some came from parts of the Hall during restoration.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 23 August 1982. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 May 2023.

6 October 1993. NLA air photography.
Chapel to be clearly seen in most of photographs.
H. Clare, 1 February 2001.

Church is various described as 'The Roman Catholic Church at Oxburgh', 'St Mary's Church', 'Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Margaret' (S3), 'Church of St Margaret and Our Lady' (S4) and 'Our Lady and St Margaret' (S5).
R. Fillery-Travis (NLA), November 2006

For detailed descriptions of the foreign woodwork (and a reredos now used as a mantelpiece in the Hall itself) see (S6).
E. Rose (NLA), 12 April 2007.

Excerpt of current Listing Description:
"Roman Catholic private chapel. Completed in 1838. Later additions. Attributed to A.W.N. Pugin. Re-used early brick; additions in ashlar and gault brick. Slate roofs. Aisleless nave with polygonal apse not oriented, (described, however, as if it were). Early Pointed style. Six bays of plain lancet windows with chamfered reveals. Staged buttresses at each bay division including around the five-sided apse. West wall with a later traceried three-light window inserted into an original opening. Small doorway with hood mould and a rendered bellcote to gable peak. Ashlar south chapel of c.1865 in late medieval style with a traceried oculus to east, a three-light traceried gable window and a two-light west window. Low northern addition in gault brick with three gables - two pertaining to vestry and one to porch.
Interior: Arch braced roof with wall posts supported by crowned angels carrying shields. South chapel contains a carved marble effigy of the sixth baronet (Sir Henry Richard Paston-Bedingfeld). Imported fittings including an elaborate painted and carved 17th-century Flemish altar with reredos, 17th-century carved railings and medieval glass."
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S3) for the full listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 May 2023.