NHER 8583 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Martham

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Summary

A 14th and 15th century parish church which has a 15th century chancel by Robert Everard, the architect of Norwich Cathedral's spire. The chancel was rebuilt by Philip Boyce in the late 19th century during an extensive restoration. The church contains a 15th century 'seven sacrament' font, and a late 15th century memorial brass to a man named Robert Alen. A watching brief was carried out by the NAU in 1999 during the lowering of the floor in the west tower. The building works revealed the foundations of a round tower, probably dating to the 12th century, probable medieval graves, and a small lead-melting pit containing medieval window glass.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (I) 1152351: CHURCH OF ST MARY

Location

Map sheet	TG41NE
Civil Parish	MARTHAM, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Late 14th century tower, otherwise 15th century Perpendicular church.
Chancel by Robert Everard in 1460s was rebuilt in 1855 to 1861 as an important Gothic Revival building.
Good 15th/17th century woodwork and fine Victorian fittings in chancel.
See (S1), old print, plans, notes in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 13 August 1997.

March and May 1999. Watching Brief.
Observations of lowering of tower floor revealed the foundations of a round tower. Flint flakes and medieval sherds were found beneath this, and above it medieval graves, a pit for melting lead window cames, and a later leadsmelting hearth presumably from a restoration. Roman tile and lava quern also found.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised (S3).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.453).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 December 1999. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2019.

March 2004. Visit to record floor taken up in nave.
See (S4) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 9 March 2004.

23 February 2012. Planning Application.
Proposed works to the Church to include demolition of existing boiler house and chimney.
See (S5) for further details.
Z. Dack (HES), 20 December 2012

Associated Sources (25)

--- SNF13048 Aerial Photograph: TG4518D-F.
--- SNF100747 Article in Serial: Taylor, E. S. 1859. Notices of the church of Martham, Norfolk, previous to its restoration in 1856. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol V pp 168-179.
--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1152351.
--- SNF49212 Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
--- SNF82235 Leaflet: A guide to the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Martham..
--- SNF64237 Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1899. Hundreds of East and West Flegg. The Churches of Norfolk. Vol IV. pp 79-90.
--- SNF58263 Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 607-608.
--- SNF56998 Newspaper Article: 1997. Eastern Daily Press. 4 August.
--- SNF94876 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1975. [Photograph of the restoration work at St Mary's Church, Martham]. 12 December.
--- SNF62940 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988. Village church warms to court ruling. 23 November.
--- SNF56960 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. [Articles on the compromise of the installation a glazed door at the west door entrance].
--- SNF62941 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1997. Children will get a towering feeling. 4 August.
--- SNF80025 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2011. Grants given to 18 county churches. 17 February.
--- SNF94877 Newspaper Article: Yarmouth Mercury. 1986. [Photograph of St Mary's Church, Martham]. 17 October.
--- SNF10171 Photograph: HPT 20-29.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF92662 Unpublished Document: Blackman, R. 1998. The Parish Church of St. Mary at Martham. Specification for improvements to the tower which include installing a lavatory and kitchenette, meeting room and gallery.
--- SNF62937 Unpublished Document: Rogerson, A.. 1994. Note on a visit to St Mary's Martham. 15 November.
<S1> SNF55600 Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1997. Building Report. Building Report.
<S2> SNF62938 Unpublished Contractor Report: Trimble, G. 1999. Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary's Parish Church, Martham. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 447.
<S3> SNF82377 Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2000. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1999. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt III pp 521-543. p 529.
<S4> SNF53131 Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 2004. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S5> SNF50981 Unpublished Document: 2011. Planning Application.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (7)

Object Types (15)

FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
QUERN (Undated)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
CAME (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PISCINA (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOD SCREEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WINDOW (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

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Record last edited

Jan 28 2025 3:50PM