St Bartholomew, Albourne, Sussex

I Location

Site Location
Albourne
National Grid Reference
TQ 257 162
County
traditional: Sussex
now: West Sussex
Diocese
medieval: Chichester
now: Chichester
Dedication
medieval: not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St Bartholomew
Type of building/monument
Parish church

II General Description

This church, which was virtually rebuilt by George Gilbert Scott in 1859, comprises a nave, a N aisle with a three-bay arcade, and a small, square-ended chancel. While the chancel arch itself is neo-Norman, the W wall of the churchyard incorporates original 12thc. stonework.

III Exterior Features

4. Other

(i) Arch segment

Fragments in churchyard wall

Fragments in churchyard wall

A segment of an arch, comprising 14 voussoirs above present ground level (possibly more below). The voussoirs are carved with formalised beakhead, touching an angle roll. They vary in width.

Dimensions
h. of voussoirs 0.20 m

(ii) Arch segment

Fragments in churchyard wall

Fragments in churchyard wall

Fragments in churchyard wall

Fragments in churchyard wall

Two arch segments, one within the other. The outer segment comprises 11 voussoirs carved with lateral face chevron, with two rolls separated by angular quirks. The voussoirs vary in width.

The inner segment comprises four long voussoirs, probably from a label. It is carved with sawtooth.

Dimensions
h. of voussoirs carved with face chevron 0.20 m
h. of voussoirs carved with sawtooth 0.14 m

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

a. Chancel arch/Apse arches

(i) Chancel arch
"Restored" chancel arch, from W

"Restored" chancel arch, from W

The neo-Norman chancel arch (width 2.38m) is carved with lateral face chevron of a similar form to III.4 (ii).

VII History

Albourne is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086). It was probably during the 'restoration' by G G Scott in 1859 that elements of a 12thc. sculptural ensemble were dismantled and installed in the churchyard wall. Some of that sculpture may have come from the chancel arch, but according to Harrison the fragments came from 'an old arch of nave'.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The 19thc. chancel arch is included in the Corpus as it may reflect the form and/or position of original 12thc. work.

The fragments in the W wall of the churchyard appear to be carved from sandstone with some fossil content. Their former location in the church remains uncertain.

IX Bibliography

  • I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 395.
  • F. Harrison, Notes on Sussex Churches. Hove 1908 (4th ed. 1920), 48.