Listed Building record MDR1113 - St Edmund's Church, Ashes Lane, Fenny Bentley

St Edmund's Church, Ashes Lane, Fenny Bentley, originally build c1300. 'Fenny Bentley Church is now generally supposed to be dedicated to St Mary Magdalene although formerly the patron saint was Edmund. The church was extensively repaired and considerably enlarged in 1850. The whole building appears to have been reconstructed in the 14th century although the south doorway may be Norman.' (1) 'The church has always been known locally as being dedicated to St Edmund's, as published on the 25" Ordnance Survey map. In normal use.' (2) 'A much renewed structure of early 14th century origin. The tower was rebuilt in 1850 and the north aisle added then. Grade B.' (3) 'When the church was restored in 1850, many of the tiles were found in the rubble of a wall and elsewhere and were re-laid in the Beresford Chantry Chapel. A few years ago the screen of this chapel was removed, and the pavement broken up. Many of the tiles were smashed for concrete, but some were rescued and removed to Bentley Hall.' (5) 'Church contains the 15th century Beresford Tombs, where the shrouded figures of Sir Thomas Bentley (who fought at Agincourt) and his wife (unknown) are displayed.' (6) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 15 SE PARISH OF FENNY BENTLEY CHURCH LANE 5/34 (East Side) 13.9.1967 Church of St Edmund II* Church, c1300, heavily restored and enlarged by Stevens & Robinson 1847-50 and later. Rubble limestone with sandstone dressings. Plain tile roofs, West tower, nave with north aisle and south porch, chancel with north aisle. West tower rebuilt in 1861. Two light Dec style window to the ground stage of the west elevation; to the south elevation, an arrow slit window and a sundial, and to the north, a single storey lean-to. A plain chamfer divides the first from the second stage, which is blank except for a single light window to the south, with cusped ogee and segmental arch. String course beneath the bell stage which has 2-light Dec style windows to the north, south and west. Plain parapet and recessed broach spire with big lucarnes low down and tiny trefoil ones higher up. The tower has angle buttresses with three set-offs at the north west and south west corners. All the window tracery looks C19. Nave south side with buttresses at each end. Low off-centre porch with four-centred arch and stone slate roof, supported on chamfered arches. To the left, a single C19 lancet with hoodmould and stops. To the right, a 3-light window of c1300 with intersecting tracery. The mullions have barbs at the springing of the arches. Continuing into the chancel, a 3-light early C14 window, much restored in C19, with ogee centre light, mouchettes and an oval, all cusped. Plain priests doorway with chamfered surround, buttress with two set-offs and a 2-light Dec window, the upper parts restored. The chancel roof is lower than the nave roof. Chancel east wall has angle buttresses and a 5-light east window of odd design, basically intersecting and of c1300. Broad nave north aisle of 1847-50 with separate pitched roof. North elevation with three 3-light windows, with reticulated tracery in the centre window and intersecting in the flanking windows. Buttress with two set-offs between each window. Single lancet to the west, North chancel aisle added in 1882, with a 3-light east window, copying the tracery of the chancel south west window but with different proportions. Single lancet to the north. Chimney stack on the east gable. Interior. Nave-north arcade of three bays with octagonal piers and abaci and arches with two wave mouldings and a step. Two bay chancel north arcade with octagonal pier and abacus and head corbel responds. Double chamfered tower arch with projecting chamfered imposts. Hammer beam roofs to nave and chancel of 1847-50. Chancel fittings of 1850 or 1882, including communion rails with cusped gothic arches, poppyhead choir stalls, stone reredos with foliage capitals and painted panels, and tiled floor. Early C16 chancel screen, with 2-light openings and flamboyant tracery, Groining and cornice. Restored in 1850. Parclose screen in the north aisle with single light openings and flamboyant tracery, said to date from 1519. By the screen, a chest with elementary ironwork, early C14. In the north chapel painted roof, wooden reredos with painted panels and organ case, all of 1882. Wall monument on the north wall of the sanctuary, 1790, to Richard Fitzherbert, an obelisk surmounted by an urn. Between the chancel and north chapel, a monument to Thomas Beresford, died 1473, and wife. Erected late C16. Tomb chest, the two effigies tied up in a shroud. Children around the chest, also in shrouds, stained glass. East window 1877; chancel south, 1879; north chapel east window, and north chapel north window, 1894. Listing NGR: SK1745750189.' (7)