NHER 8934 (Building record) - Former St James' Church, Crownthorpe

St James' Church, Crownthorpe (redundant)
North and south nave walls of two builds; possible Roman tile quoins with flint blocks, and slit window with flint slab jambs, cross boundary suggesting Saxo-Norman heightening of older building. Chancel in Early English style (13th century) very fine; Early English north chapel demolished; Perpendicular (15th century) south chapel demolished, window reset. Perpendicular south porch over Early English nave door. Tower perhaps 14th century Decorated, altered in 15th century, or all 15th century; top rebuilt 1714. Very fine nave and chancel roof is late 19th century. Furnishing; only a few memorials, and some possible Flemish tile reset in walling.
Information from Record Card (S1)
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 6 December 1978 and 19 August 1987.
E. Rose (NAU) 20 August 1987.

December 1978. Field Observation (Visual Assessment).
No separate notes retained.
Information from Record Card (S1).

August 1983. Listed, Grade II*.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Former parish church, now derelict. Mediaeval and later. Flint with ashlar and some brick dressings. Slate roof. West tower, aisleless nave-cum-chancel, 2 former side chapels and a south porch…."
Information from (S2).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S2) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

August 1987. Field Observation (Visual Assessment).
See HER Notes (S3) for full report.
See also photographs (S4).
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

August 1989. Field Observation (Visual Assessment)
Conversion to house proceeding, has revealed some features including very unusual fact that south chapel was joined to porch.
See HER Notes (S3) for full report with new conclusions.
E. Rose (NAU) 25 August 1989.

September 1989. Additional information.
Research by Mr. P Cattermole notes that the bellframe was dated 1748 and that this was also the date on the bell (not 1731 as previously noted) which was made by Thomas Gardiner, Norwich, and sold for scrap around 1960. It is suggested that the frame was rebuilt from old fragments at that date.
Research also notes a bequest of 1445 for glazing a south chancel window. This may well date the inserted Perpendicular tracery in the southwest window.
Information from HER Notes (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.

August 1993. Report and Field Observation.
The District Council reported that a wallpainting was found when a wall tablet was removed from the north chancel wall. The painsint was one metre square in a red surround. All else had been previously destroyed.
The exterior of the house was visited and it was noted that a pavement incorporating old tombstones and a small stone inscribed in cursive copperplate has been installed in front of the north porch. It is suspected that the inscribed stone could be an inscriber's name on the reverse of a memorial as it consists of a name, the date 1826, and apparently "of Crownthorpe".
Information from HER Notes (S3).
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 February 2023.