HER 8791 - THE CHURCH OF ST JAMES

Church. 12th century Norman tower and north nave wall, 13th century south aisle and chapel, lengthened in 14th century with 14th century chancel, restored in 1895 by S. Weatherley who added the vestry. Ironstone rubble nave and south aisle and west walls with large brick buttress to north west corner, mortar rendering on north wall. Rough-dressed rubblestone on vestry with rendered tower and sandstone buttresses with brick dressed knapped flint on porch. Plain tiled roofs with Horsham slabs over south aisle, wood shingled broach spire above. Nave and south aisle with fine tower to centre, chancel to east and porch to west end. Two stage plain tower with tall single bell openings in upper stage and round arched Norman two-light window to north side. 14th century east window to south chapel/aisle - a large circle with four quatrefoils in two tiers. Main east window similiar with prominent ogee arch. Big curvilinear 15th century north window to shortened "transept" and two lancets to south side of south chapel. 16th century Perpendicular window to south aisle. Porch to south gabled with cusped bargeboards and further door up a flight of external stairs. Main door to west in gabled porch with wood mullions of oval section. Roll moulded west door surround with Petworth marble shafts carrying foliage capitals. Fine 17th century studded and panelled door. Interior: old roofs, mainly of scissor type truss with crown post in nave. Three-bay nave arcade with massive octagonal piers under square capitals. Crossing arches of differing dates: north arch and arch from chancel into south chapel early 14th century, all with three orders and attached octagonal piers under simple moulded tops. 13th century arch between south aisle and chapel with Petworth marble shafts and crocketed capitals. Gallery across west end of church: wood panelled in classical style with fluted pilasters and dentilled cornice. Fittings: north chancel wall - quatrefoil window and squint 14th century - belonging to Anchorite Cell ? Piscina on wall and traces of wall painting on soffit of east window arch. 13th century stone font with big central stem and four corner shafts under stiff leaf capitals supporting a bowl with three scallops to each side. Some medieval stained glass fragments - 14th century glass in east window. Chancel fittings renewed since 1956 by Louis Osman. Monuments: east wall, north side: To Thomas Duncombe died 1714. Stone, aedicular with broken pediment containing coat of arms and crude Doric pilasters. Grey ground to white inscription tablet with scroll over. South side of east wall. Dedicated to four of the Duncombe children. Died 1668, 1677, 1678 and 1690. Aedicular with steep pediment/gable over. Blackstone tympaneum containing coat of arms, gilded crossed bones on pilasters, skull to base. Brasses in chancel wall: To Robert Scarcliff, Rector of Shere, died 1412, and John Lord Audley, died 1491. Figure in armour with delicate linear design - restored in 1911. PEVSNER: BUILDINGS OF ENGLAND, SURREY (1971) pp 455-7. Listing NGR: TQ0743847781

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