Church of St Nicholas

CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, MAIN STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1047621
Date first listed:
18-Jul-1963
List Entry Name:
Church of St Nicholas
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, MAIN STREET

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Date:
2006-09-06
Reference:
IOE01/12743/29
Rights:
© Mr Sean Bergin. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1047621
Date first listed:
18-Jul-1963
List Entry Name:
Church of St Nicholas
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, MAIN STREET

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, MAIN STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Oxfordshire
District:
South Oxfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:
Forest Hill with Shotover
National Grid Reference:
SP 58232 07504

Details

FOREST HILL WITH SHOTOVER MAIN STREET SP50NE (North side) Forest Hill 5/64 Church of St. Nicholas 18/07/63

GV II*

Church. C12 and c.1200, partly rebuilt early C17, extended 1852. North aisle by Gilbert Scott. Limestone rubble with ashlar dressings; old plain-tile roofs. Chancel, 3-bay nave with north aisle, south porch; organ chamber to north of chancel. Chancel has 2 lancets to south and one to north, c.1200, and a triplet to east by J.H. Parker. South wall of nave is probably early C17 and has a round-headed window, to west of the porch, and a 2-light Decorated-style window, probably by Scott. Early C17 porch has a small window with ovolo-moulded stone surround and a gable parapet with projecting kneelers. The outer arch is a re-set doorway of c.1200 with roll and keel mouldings to arch and 2 pairs of attached shafts with waterleaf capitals. The gabled west bell turret has 3 pointed openings and may be C13; it is supported by 2 massive later buttresses flanking a 3-light traceried C15 window. North aisle and vestry/organ chamber in Geometrical-Decorated style, has traceried 2-light windows to east and west. Interior: Chancel side walls have continuous strings at sill level and around the semi-circular heads of the splays. The east window has elaborate rear arches with freestanding shafts. To south is a round-arched recess and column piscina beside two C19 stone seats. C12 chancel arch is plain except for heavy imposts, North arcade of nave is in early-Decorated style with octagonal piers and there is stencilled decoration in the spandrels. Similar decoration and texts above the chancel arch may be C17. The nave has a fine 7-canted roof with a collar purlin supported by 4 octagonal crown posts with moulded capitals and bases. The tie beams have ovolo mouldings and soffit channels, and one is dated 1630. The 7-canted chancel roof is probably contemporary. Font, pulpit and fittings are C19. Glass in chancel by T. Willement, and in north aisle by Holland of Warwick, 1852. Wall monument,in coloured marbles to Ann Heywood (died 1756), and several plainer C18 memorials. (V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.V; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, pp,605-6).

Listing NGR: SP5823207504

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
246584
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Oxford, (1957)
Pevsner, N, Sherwood, J, The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, (1974), 605-6

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Church of St Nicholas

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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