2014

SP8526 : Stewkley - St Michael - Chancel groin roof

taken 11 years ago, near to Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, England

Stewkley - St Michael - Chancel groin roof
Stewkley - St Michael - Chancel groin roof
A view directly upwards at the groin roof of the chancel of St Michael's, Stewkley. The ribbing of the groin is ornamented with chevrons and diamonds. The semicircular tops of two of the Norman windows in the chancel can be seen on either side.
The deep red patterns on the barrel vaults date from the Victorian restoration of G.E.Street (1862) - but originally the church would have contained many bright colours, with most of the stone painted in vivid primary colours.
For a detailed view of the intersection of the ribs of the vault, see SP8526 : Stewkley - St Michael - Chancel groin rib intersection
See also the shared description below:
Stewkley - St Michael

St Michael in the large village of Stewkley is one of the most complete and unaltered Norman churches in Britain. Only the south porch and south vestry from the C19th, and late 14th-century pinnacles, parapet and stair-turret to the tower date from later than c.1160 when the nave, tower and chancel were built in the reign of Henry II. (There are also a few modern buttresses to the chancel to help stabilise it).
The church was sensitively restored by G.E. Street 1862, at which time most traces from intervening centuries were removed. The chancel had previously required its roof to be rebuilt in 1844. The nave and tower also have C19th roofs.

There is a wealth of zig-zag or chevron ornamentation to windows, doors and arches. The interior being a particularly overwhelming array of these Norman geometric designs.
The interior is also unusual in having two arches (both Norman) the first between the nave and the tower, the second between tower and chancel.
The church contains a contemporaneous Norman "Tub" font.
There is a plan of the church here LinkExternal link
For much more detail on this church see:
EH Grade I listing LinkExternal link
BHO (VCH) information LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rob Farrow and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Village, Rural settlement Religious sites Place: Stewkley Listed Building Status: Grade I Period: Norman Primary Subject: Church Interior other tags: Groin Vault Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Stewkley Church [64] · Chancel Groin [2] Other Photos: · Stewkley - St Michael - Chancel groin rib intersection ·
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SP8526, 130 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Rob Farrow   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 29 December, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 15 January, 2015
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 8522 2610 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:55.6142N 0:45.7248W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 8522 2610
View Direction
EAST (about 90 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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