Beckingham
All Saints

Archaeology

The church consists of a chancel, a nave with clerestory, north and south aisles, west tower, south porch and a modern extension on the north side of the tower.

Exterior

The tower from
the south-east
The north aisle
from the north-east

The west tower is of four stages with a crenellated parapet, eight crocketed pinnacles and two diagonal buttresses.

The north aisle is of three bays and has four gargoyles and three corbels on the exterior of the north wall. Until recently there was a 13th century blocked doorway with ashlar quoins and hoodmould in the wall. This was opened up to provide access to the extension which was built in 2007-9.

The south porch South doorway

The 13th century south porch has moulded plinth and coped gable with a cross. The south doorway of the porch has double chamfered and rebated surround with half-octagon responds, and hoodmoulds with mask stops. Inside, the south doorway has 15th century moulded Tudor arched opening with carved spandrels, and a panelled 19th century door.

Interior

The five-bay north arcade and three-bay south arcade date from the 13th century. Both arcades have octagonal piers with moulded capitals decorated with nailhead.

The chancel arch is also from the 13th century. The tall tower arch dates from the 14th century.

North arcade South arcade The nave looking west
to the tower arch
The nave looking east
to the chancel arch

Medieval Cross Slab

Cross slab 1

(1) The lower part of a cross slab re-used in the internal west splay of the western of the two windows in the north wall of the north aisle. Incised cross shaft and stepped base.

(2) The internal lintel of the north window of the north chancel chapel, now the vestry; faintest traces only of what looks like a simple straight-arm cross, under whitewash. Not drawn.

Descriptions and drawing of the cross slabs courtesy of Peter Ryder.