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Bench marks Link were historically used to record the height above sea level of a location as surveyed against the Mean Sea Level data (taken at Clarendon Dock, Belfast, for Northern Ireland data, Newlyn in Cornwall for data in Great Britain and Portmoor Pier, Malin Head, for data relating to the Republic of Ireland). They were used as part of a greater surveying network by the UK Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) and the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI). If the exact height of one bench mark is known then the exact height of the next can be found by measuring the difference in heights, through a process of spirit levelling. In this way hundreds of thousands of bench marks were sited all around the UK & Ireland from the mid 19th to late 20th centuries. There are several distinct types of bench mark:

- Fundamental bench marks have been constructed at selected sites where foundations can be set on stable strata such as bedrock. Each FBM consists of a buried chamber with a brass bolt set in the top of a granite pillar. See NG8825 : Dornie fundamental bench mark for an example. FBMs were used in Ireland as well as GB but those in Ireland do not have any surface markers, nor are they marked on standard maps.
- Flush brackets consist of metal plates about 90 mm wide and 175 mm long. Each bracket has a unique serial number. They are most commonly found on most Triangulation Pillars, some churches or on other important civic buildings. See J3270 : Flush Bracket, Belfast for an example.
- Cut bench marks are the commonest form of mark. They consist of a horizontal bar cut into a wall or brickwork and are found just about anywhere. A broad arrow is cut immediately below the centre of the horizontal bar. See J3372 : Bench Mark, Belfast for an example. The horizontal mark may be replaced by or contain a bolt - see J1486 : Bench Mark, Antrim.
Other marks include:
- Projecting bench marks such as SD8072 : Projecting Bracket Benchmark on St Oswald's Tower
- Bolt bench marks such as SJ1888 : OSBM bolt on Hilbre Island
- Rivet bench marks such as J3978 : Bench Mark, Holywood
- Pivot bench marks such as SJ2661 : Pivot bench mark on Leeswood Bridge

Bench marks are commonly found on older buildings or other semi-permanent features such as stone bridges or walls. Due to updated mapping techniques and technological advances such as GPS, bench marks are no longer maintained. Many are still in existence and the markers will probably remain until they are eventually destroyed by redevelopment or erosion.

Strictly this is a chapel rather than a church, as it has never had its own rector, being under the control of the Knights Templar from its formation in the 12th century. It has however always served as the parish church for the villages of Wycomb and Chadwell.

The church was founded in the first half of the 12th century with aisled nave, chancel and west tower. It is built largely in the richly coloured local ironstone, with limited use of limestone dressing. The Templars made significant additions in the 13th century. The chancel was extended, the south aisle rebuilt, with porch and an additional stage added to the tower.

A clerestory was added in the 15th century and new windows inserted in the south aisle probably in the 16th century. The north aisle was removed and the arcade blocked up in the 18th century, giving the layout of the church as it is today.

Major changes were made during the restoration of 1865-66 by R W Johnson. He removed the clerestory with the idea of restoring the church to its 13th century form, including remodelling the aisle windows in the style of those in the chancel. He was also responsible for the windows in the blocked north arcade which are not medieval in form.

Despite the restoration, much medieval work remains. The north aisle arcade retains the original early 12th century capitals on the interior side, and the tower arch is also Norman, but later. The south arcade dates from the 13th century rebuilding, in a plain style found throughout the county of Leicester, but with added nail head decoration. The lower two stages of the tower are also early 12th century, with 13th century third stage. The font is also of Norman date, and shows some unusually crude arcading work.

There is a combined piscina and aumbry in the chancel which is stylistically consistent with the 13th century extension of the chancel.

Other interior fittings are 19th century or later.


It is Listed Grade II* Link

I am indebted to the comprehensive description and history of the church displayed in the church for the details in this description.