NHER 3062 (Building record) - St Mary's Church, Elsing

The area of the west nave wall south of the tower is the oldest visible section of the building, but it is not possible to date it accurately. The remainder of church was rebuilt between 1330 and 1347 by Sir Hugh Hastings whose brass remains inside. It is therefore an important example of an unaltered Decorated building of high quality. The nave is exceptionally wide. Exceptional font cover, and remains of screen, also dating from the early 14th century. The rood stair was added in the 15th century. The church was repaired in 1781 with a trussed nave roof.
Later restoration has clearly taken place, perhaps around 1906 when the Hastings brass was reset.
See (S1) and (S2).

1978. Excavation.
Excavation of Hastings tomb.
This work revealed an inhumation, extended and supine with head to the west, inside a wooden coffin with iron fittings. The coffin lay at the base of a rectangular brick chamber which itself lay beneath a Purbeck marble slab carrying a memorial brass to Sir Hugh Hastings (died 1347). A mass of cow's hair was recovered from beneath the skull, which may have been a cushion, or a wig.
This excavation also revealed a pre-church hearth.
See published article (S3) for further details.
Ironwork from the tomb is now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2001.79).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 23 July 2019.

8 September 1978. Stray Find.
Found in molehills and sheep scrapers in south-west corner of churchyard.
Five small medieval unglazed pottery sherds.
A. Rogerson (NLA), September 1978.

See (S4), which includes (S5).
T.E. Miller (NLA), 19 April 2006.

16 April 1991.
Medieval tiles found.
E. Rose (NLA) 17 February 1995.

September 2004. Field Observation.
Examination of cable trench in nave.
See (S6) for stratigraphic details.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 July 2005.

At Clouds Hill (a National Trust property) in Dorset, there are rubbings of the Hastings brass by T.E. Lawrence. These were done in 1905, when Lawrence went on a cycle tour of Norfolk with his father.
D. Gurney (NLA), 24 March 2010.