NHER 10254 (Building record) - St Lawrence's Church, Brundall

13th and 19th centuries.

26 September 1979. Visit.
Largely renewed in 1900 when north aisle added. West nave extension of 1970s. South doorway apparently 13th century and two south windows are cusped lancets, though restored. Bellcote, double seems to be also 13th century, though restored in places in same brickwork that has been used for the eaves when roof replaced. East window, Perpendicular style but of 1900 in present form, has quatrefoil over.
Restored cusped piscina. 13th century lead font (unique in Norfolk). 18th century floor tombs. Cubitt memorial of 1831 has fine carving of ship. Old clock. 16th century Dutch stained glass roundel mentioned by (S1) not found. West window by Kempe 1903 reset in new extension. Stem of Elizabethan chalice with new bowl (S1).
In yard, two 18th century stone coffins with raised crosses on lids found, one contained a helmet. See (S2).
The above reference also refers to the thatched roof being removed in 1705 and that in 1735 the church appeared as 'part of an old one ruined, and an addition thereunto'.
Extension proposals (S3) in file.

February 2008. Building survey.
Tall western archway resembles a late medieval tower arch and suggests that the church once had a western tower.
Interior- earliest part of the building is a late Romaesque capital of mid to late 12th century. It is not in situ and is reused as a corbel for the aisle roof. It was probably part of a doorway perhaps belonging to a Norman church preceding the present building. Also of interest is the cast lead font, one of only 27 surviving in the country. It is decorated with repeated crucifixion representations in relief, with each scene enclosed in decorated borders. These decorations are not typically medieval and may date the piece to the 16th century.
See (S4) for further information.
H White (NLA), 17 November 2008.

September 2009. Field Observation.
Wall footing exposed in shallow trench south of western extension, possibly the remains of a porch or tower.
See report (S7), photographs (S8) and trench plan (S9).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 September 2009. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 12 June 2017.

Evidence of extended roofline, extensions carried out around 1860, after the removal of the old thatched roof. Font believed to be the only one of its kind in Norfolk, as it is lead cased and dating from the 13 Cent. The font depicts the crucifixion and fleurs-de-lys.
See (S5) for further details.
L. Allison (NLA) 4 August 2010.

Churchwardens include the noted Ffiske family and Henry Ffiske was warden of St Laurence Church between 1904 and 1928, donating the lychgate in 1909 and then the rood screen in 1911.
See (S6) for further details.
L. Allison (NLA), 5 August 2010.

June 2019. Watching Brief.
Maintained during excavation of trial holes prior to lowering of church floor and construction of extension.
Three internal trial holes were dug, two within the north aisle of the nave and one within the modern western extension. One of the former exposed handmade bricks forming the foundation for one of the pillars. The other trial hole in the nave uncovered an east-to-west aligned brick wall footing. Both of these trial holes reached the natural clay beneath the deposits associated with the church.
No finds were recovered.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.224).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 October 2024.