Summary

C12 and later church.

Full description

During ground reduction works within the tower a series of walls and other feature were uncovered. Two flint built mortar bonded wall foundations were uncovered running east-west and linked by a N-S foundation 1.9m to the west of the naves western end wall. The E-W foundations had been truncated by the west wall of the tower and the nave and by the north and south walls of the tower. The N-S cross wall survived intact. These walls must predate the existed tower and it is thought that they may be Anglo-Saxon in date. Overlaying the early walls was a puddled clay and chalk floor about 0.75m thick. The existing tower arch was added duruing the C15 probably replacing a smaller example. Inn the NW corner a Tudor charnel pit was present. These discoveries are interesting as the building discovered must be earlier than the C12 and as the wall contuinued to the east a similar narrow building may have existed. Theses foundations relate to a pre-existing church and may well represent an earlier porch or tower. <1>

Historic Landscape Management, 2002, Mardyke Valley Project; A Brief Landscape History of the Mardyke Valley (DESC TEXT)

Andrews, D, 2004, Early Foundations (Photograph)

<1> Andrews, D and Crouch, B, 2005, The Tower at Stifford St Mary (DESC TEXT)

Monument Types

• CHURCH (C12, Medieval - 1100 AD to 1199 AD)

Associated Events

• The Tower at Stiiford St Mary (Ref: ?)
• Mardyke River Valley Project (Ref: ?)

Protected Status

• Listed Building (EH) (I) 1111611: CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN
• Historic Environment Character Area: Thames Gateway 120
• Historic Environment Character Zone: Thames Gateway 120_4

Sources and further reading

Images

No image description available © Essex County Council

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