NHER 4015 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Narford

1960. Grade II listed.
Disused church, Medieval and later. Chancel of 1902, Nave restored in 20th century. Flint with ashlar and brick dressings and pantile roofs. West tower; aisled nave with south porch; chancel.
Information taken from listing.
H. White (NLA), 12 November 2009.

13th century church with 14th century aisles. Tower of 1857.
Important monuments.
See notes in file.
(S1) in file.

The Chapel of St Mary stood in the northern part of the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Narford.
Slight remains were visible in the early 19th century.
Information from (S2).
R.J. Rickett (NAU) 26 April 1990.

Appropriate section from (S3) in file.

Early 2000. Field observation. In molehills to south of chancel and north of nave and chancel.
Pottery sherds: 1 handmade reduced body sherd with smoothed surfaces, faint horizontal groove and part of a stamped or impressed motif ?Early Saxon.
2 probably grimston unglazed, 2 medieval unglazed and 1 body sherd with 4 parallel ?comb impressed grooves, probably coarse Roman.
A. Rogerson (NAU), 18 July 2000.

September 2000.
Fragment of colonnette found within 18th century tomb disturbed during repair work.
See (S4) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 25 September 2000.

March 2008.
Proposal to change concrete roof tiles to lead to combat water damage and to improve the visual appearance of the church within the estate landscape.
See (S5) for further information.
H. White (NLA), 19 November 2008.

A terrcotta version of the marble bust of Sir Anthony Fontaine was sold at auction in 1991.
See (S6) for further details.
H. White (NLA), 12 November 2009.

June 2008. Statement of significance.
The nave and chancel are of late 11th or early 12th century date, and the aisles are an early 14th century addition with a reused 13th century paired lancet. The tower appears to date from the 14th-century and pre-dates the heightening of the nave walls. The tower has a tall tower arch of two chamfered orders on carved corbels. The archway is partly blocked and includes a traceried sound hole inserted in 1857. The west face of the tower has a plain two-centred archway with an early Perpendicular two-light window above. The tower parapet includes an inscription with raised bronze letters and the initials AF on each side. The roof forms a shallow cone and is covered with lead. The date 1814 and the initials JFB are inscribed on the lead sheet. One bell remains and dates from 1424-1513. The roof is of seven bays and nine trusses, with the date 1894 and the name A Barker scratchedinto the timbers in two places on the north side.
See (S7) for further details.
H. White, (NLA), 29 January 2010.

June 2010. Listing amended from Grade II* to Grade I for the following reasons:
It retains an unusually large amount of medieval fabric. Its interior contains some very good quality fixture and fittings. The mid 19th century remodelling of the upper stages of the tower is of high quality. Its strong group value with the Grade I listed Narford Hall and the Grade II registered landscaped park, and its association with Sir Andrew Fountaine.
See (S8) for further information.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 17 August 2010.