Walkeringham
St Mary Magdalene

Archaeology

The church consists of embattled west tower with eight pinnacles, clerestoried nave, chancel, north and south aisles, south porch. It is built of large coursed limestone ashlar, coursed rubble, part rendered, with ashlar dressings.

North arcade South arcade

The current stone building dates from the early 13th Century, the largest remaining portion being the nave arcades. The arcades are almost identical with octagonal piers, 13th Century capitals and odd square ‘broached’ bases. The arcade to the north chancel chapel is also 13th Century.

The nave and chancel roofs (with carved bosses), the tower arch and the clerestory (which has four windows on the south side and three on the north) are Perpendicular in style.

Medieval Cross Slab

Floor stone in chancel floor, much worn. Straight-arm cross with stylised fleur-de-lys terminals rising from, stepped base. Crude black letter inscription, perhaps never more than one line at the top.

In addition to the slab drawn, there is another in the same floor with remnants of a marginal inscription, possibly early post-medieval work; the lintel of an aumbry, now concealed by modern woodwork, is said to bear a cross and may well be a re-used slab.

Drawing and description of the cross slab courtesy of Peter Ryder.