Church of St Mary

CHURCH OF ST MARY, BLUNDESTON ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1183419
Date first listed:
27-Nov-1954
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary
Statutory Address:
CHURCH OF ST MARY, BLUNDESTON ROAD
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Location

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Date:
2002-07-18
Reference:
IOE01/08237/01
Rights:
© Mr Roger Preston. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1183419
Date first listed:
27-Nov-1954
List Entry Name:
Church of St Mary
Statutory Address 1:
CHURCH OF ST MARY, BLUNDESTON ROAD

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 MARY, BLUNDESTON ROAD

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

County:
Suffolk
District:
East Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet
National Grid Reference:
TM 49305 97211

Details

SOMERLEYTON BLUNDESTON ROAD TM 49 NE 4/29 Church of St. Mary 27.11.54 II* Parish church. C15 tower, otherwise rebuilt 1854 by John Thomas; chancel extended 1974. Nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble faced in knapped flint with stone dressings. Slated roofs. Square tower with 3-stage diagonal buttresses to the west face; 2-light belfry openings. Tall stepped parapet added 1854: this formerly had tall crocketted pinnacles at the corners. Below the parapet is a string course with gargoyles. 4-bay nave with 4-centre arched 2-light windows. The chancel is in the Decorated style, with a single 2-light window to the side walls and a 3-light east window. Interior. The nave and chancel have open rafter roofs with scissor-bracing to the main trusses. Well-preserved C15 octagonal font, the bowl panels carved with alternate lions and angels bearing shields; angels to the bowl underside and 4 lions against the stem. C17 font cover. Over the south doorway is a medieval stone slab with 4 well-carved panels depicting the emblems of the Evangelists; this was discovered in 1854. Fine C15 rood screen: crocketted ogee arches and pierced Perpendicular tracery above; the dado has 16 panels with painted figures, mostly of saints. C19 wooden reredos and pulpit in Gothic style. In the sanctuary is a stone tomb chest to Sir Thomas Gernegan (1446): the chest is decorated with lozenge panels within which are quatrefoils containing shields. On the north chancel wall is a large monument to Sir John Wentworth (1651) and his wife: black and white marble, with 2 free-standing busts framed by columns which carry an open segmental pediment. On the south chancel wall is the bust of Sir Thomas Allin (1686), Admiral of the Fleet. One north nave window has 2 C14 Flemish stained glass panels originally taken from St. Olaves Priory.

Listing NGR: TM4930597211

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
282380
Legacy System:
LBS

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 Mary

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 12:21:21.

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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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