St Mary Magdalene, Bolney, Sussex

I Location

Site Location
Bolney
National Grid Reference
TQ 262 226
County
traditional: Sussex
now: West Sussex
Diocese
medieval: Chichester
now: Chichester
Dedication
medieval: not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St Mary Magdalene
Type of building/monument
Parish church

II General Description

Bolney church has an early 12thc. nave and a slightly skewed chancel with a N chapel. The W tower was added in 1536-38, the N aisle in 1853 and the N vestry in 1912. The S doorway of the nave dates fromc.1100.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

S doorway, upper half

S doorway, upper half

(i) S doorway, nave

Round-headed, of one order in the jambs and two orders in the arch.

Dimensions
h. of opening 2.15 m
w. of opening 0.925 m
Voussoirs of first order 0.25 m
Voussoirs of label 0.20 m

First order

Plain chamfered jambs; no impost blocks or capitals. The arch is carved with four reeded bands.

Second order

The arch is carved with four reeded bands.

VII History

Bolney is not mentioned in 1086.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The doorway appears to be of an early date, and can be compared with that at Wivelsfield, 5 miles away (also not in Domesday). It has been argued that both doorways are late Anglo-Saxon, rather than early Norman, but they undoubtedly belong toc.1100.

According to the VCH, the chamfered jambs have been recut to widen the opening a little. Inside there are indications of a former tympanum. The imposts were chamfered but have been cut back in the reveals and western face. The door is also medieval.

IX Bibliography

  • Rev. J. Dale, 'Notice of the South Doorway of the Church at Bolney' Sussex Archaeological Collections 10 1858, 59-62, with engraving.
  • E. A. Fisher, The Saxon Churches of Sussex. Newton Abbot 1970, 51-56.
  • Victoria County History: Sussex. 7 (Rape and Honour of Lewes). 1940, 139-140