Scratch Sundial - St Margaret of Antioch - Elmham St Margaret, Suffolk
Posted by: SMacB
N 52° 24.283 E 001° 24.032
31U E 391192 N 5807257
A scratch sundial on the south porch of St Margaret of Antioch's church, South Elmham St Margaret.
Waymark Code: WM11X72
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/03/2020
Views: 1
A scratch sundial on the south porch of St Margaret of Antioch's church, South Elmham St Margaret.
"The small village of South Elmham Saint Margaret is situated in quiet countryside in the north of Suffolk, about five miles south of Bungay. It is one of the group of six parishes called South Elmham and these, together with the four Ilketshalls nearby, are known locally as the 'Saints'.
Saint Margaret's church stands pleasantly near the road which bends to go round the churchyard. The core of the nave dates from the time of the Normans. This can be seen from the crude 'erratic' masonry in the south east corner (which may be even earlier), also the small window in the south wall and the south doorway. The tower and chancel were probably built during the C14th and the Perpendicular windows which light the building were added during the C15th.
The church was thoroughly restored in 1838, when the stonework of some of the windows was renewed.
The south porch has two storeys. Its upper floor is known as a parvise, or priest's room and it is lit by single windows. The outer entrance arch has been renewed, as has the niche above it. In the stonework of the western quoin of the south wall are the remains of three medieval mass-dials, of which one is quite well preserved. Access to the upper chamber is by means of the belfry staircase. Inside it are the remains of a simple Jacobean bench. At one time part of a barrel-organ was stored here. The south doorway is Norman, and is at least 800 years old. It has a simple arch with roll-moulding, resting upon volute capitals."
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