Gargoyles, Church of St.Mary, Earl Stonham, Suffolk. IP14 5EE. - Gargoyles and Chimeras on Waymarking.com

This parish church is mediaeval with major phases of mid C14th and early C16th building. There was a big restoration in 1874. It consists of a nave, chancel, north and south transepts, south porch and a west tower, unusually there are no side aisles. Built in flint rubble, it is mainly plastered, and has freestone dressings. The nave roof is slated, the chancel roof of concrete plain-tiles, with other roofs mainly leaded; there are parapet gables throughout.
There is some C13th fabric in the chancel including a lancet in the north wall. The double-bowl piscina is possibly C14th but reusing late C13th bowls; a pair of sedilia have a crouching hound, minus its head, between them, and another chancel window is also of c.1300.
There was a major rebuilding of the nave with addition of transepts and porch in the mid C14th.

The nave clerestories, and nave and chancel roofs were added to the church in the late fifteenth century, so it can be assumed that the three gargoyles above the clerestory were carved then. They form the water drain from the roof and have been used to jet water into modern rain hoods, unfortunately painted an unattractive red oxide.

The co-ordinates given are for the south porch.

Water spout is used: no Condition: Lightly Weathered

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Date Logged Log   05/29/2017 SMacB visited it