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CHURCH OF ST MARY

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Former Benedictine priory church of Totnes priory (SX86SW11), and parish church. It was rebuilt in the 15th century as a result of agreement between the priory and parish. The nave was rebuilt 1432-44, the chancel 1445-48, the West tower, 1449-59 and screen 1459-60. 19th century churchyard walls and gate. Plan of 4-bayed aisled nave, 2-bay chancel, and aisle chapels to chancel.

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(SX 80226047) St Mary's Church (C of E) (NAT). (1)
5180
HIGH STREET (North Side) Church of St Mary

SX 8060 SW 1/104 7.1.52.

Formerly the Benedictine Priory Church of St Mary. The
conventual buildings lay on the north side of the church (see
Guildhall, Guildhall Yard). The town had the use of the
building, and in 1432 an agreement was reached between Prior
Stone and Mayor John Burhed for a complete rebuilding of the
fabric, for which Bishop Lacy granted an indulgence. Nave, 1432-44;
chancel, 1445-48; tower, 1449-59; screen 1459-60. The tower was
built to the designs of master mason Roger Crowden, who may have
been responsible for the work as a whole. 4 bay nave with
aisles (outer north aisle added circa 1824 and remodelled circa
1869). 2 bay chancel with rood stair turret on north side (rood
loft removed circa 1862 by Sir Gilbert Scott) and chancel aisle-
chapels. Perpendicular style. Welsh slate roof with coped
gables. Random Devonian limestone rubble with red sandstone
dressings. The tower is entirely of red sandstone from Stoke
Gabriel. Tower and chancel with set-back buttresses; nave and
porch with diagonal buttresses. Crenellated aisles and chancel
in white limestone with gargoyles and pinnacles. The 3 stage
west tower was modelled on towers at Ashburton and Tavistock
by the same master mason, together with those at Buckland Brewer
and Callington (Cornwall). The south (street) front of the
tower of symmetrical composition with buttresses flanking
central stair turret. In a niche of the turret is a bearded,
mitred head with the inscription "I made this tore", perhaps
referring to Bishop Lacey, whose device, a knot, also appears
on the screen inside. The tower is capped by a crenellated
parapet and large, polygonal pinnacles. Aisles with 4 light
windows with panel tracery; 6 light east window by Scott.
Gabled south porch with battlements and pinnacles; enriched,
arched doorways with C16 inner door decorated in Early
Renaissance manner; ceiling with ribs and bosses. Interior with
ceiled wagon-roofs with bosses in nave and chancel. Fine stone
screen with 8 narrow, 2-light panels plus 2 for the doors to the
nave; the sections separating the chancel chapels from the nave
have have 3 broader panels with depressed ogee arches, of which
the middle ones serve as entrances; coved frieze and thin
cornice. C15 octagonal front with quatrefoil panels. Stone
pulpit with 2 tiers of cusped bland arches. Monument to Walter
Smith (died 1555) in south chancel aisle.

5180
HIGH STREET (North Side)

Churchyard wall and
Gates of St Mary's Priory
Church
SX 8060 SW 1/104A

II

2.
On main south and west sides, C19 red sandstone walls;
octagonal gate piers with crenellated caps to west gate. Older
churchyard walls along east and north sides of Devonian
limestone rubble with weathered coping of granite. Ashlar gate
piers with pryammidical caps and cast iron gates to east and
north gateways. (2)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 1:2500 1968

( 2) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Parish of Totnes, Devon, Mar 1978, 47-48

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A Benedictine monastery founded in 1088 as an alien cell of St Serge, Angers. It became independent in 1416 and was dissolved in 1536. After the Disso...

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