Church of St Michael, Melton Road, Thurmaston (Grade II*)

Geo: 52.6785, -1.0987
Date ListedWed 1st June, 1966
CategoryStatutory Listed Building
AddressChurch of St Michael Melton Road Thurmaston LE4 8DR
GradeGrade II*
Grid ReferenceSK6103109359
LBS189597
Volume, Map, Item285, 6, 131
ParishThurmaston
WardThurmaston
Description

Parish Church, exterior largely of 1848 though the west tower is C14. Internally some early C14 work remains, including the arcades. Randomly coursed granite rubble throughout, with ashlar dressings. West tower, nave with 2 aisles, chancel. Buttressed tower of 2 stages, with C19 west doorway in roll moulded and hollow chamfered arch. Two light C19 window above. Paired foiled lights to bell chamber. Embattled parapet with gargoyles. Buttressed south aisle is of 1848: the west window is in a decorated style the others are perpendicular. Three lights with paired lights above, in square headed openings with hoodmoulds and corbel heads. South doorway has roll moulded and hollow chamfered archway. Aisle and nave under a single sweep of roof. Chancel also of 1848 in decorated style. Four light east window. To the north east of Chancel a polygonal projecting chapel. North aisle has similar details to south, with the addition of a large gabled porch with parvise.
Internally, the arcades of the medieval church survive, and are of c1300. Five bays round chamfered arches on alternately octagonal and clustered columns, with heavy abaci western bay is a shallower arch of less height and later date, linking the existing church with the added tower, which has a tall double chamfered arch. Nave roof is Victorian, an ornate and unusual construction, since the aisles are roofed under the same slope, the roof carried clear of the arcade wall on a higher timber arcade. Nave roof itself is of hammer beam construction , ornately decorated in the spanadiels at the main braces. Narrow North doorway with double chamfered arch and responds.
Chancel arch is east of the steps up to the chancel, and rests on high corbels. Scissor braced roof 4 light east window with stained glass of 1879. East windows of aisles contain glass of 1845, in the style of a painting.
Font probably Victorian, squared lower base rises through chamfering to an octagonal section from which concave curves spring to support the plain octagonal basin.

The description above describes the salient features of the building as it was at the date of listing. It is given in order to aid identification; it is not intended to be either comprehensive or exclusive.

Statutory Listing covers all parts of the property and its curtilage, ie all internal and external elements whether described or not.