St. John The Baptist Church in the 1400's

The 15th Century

The Church in 1486

The roof loft appears to have been added at the beginning of this century, and the three surviving supporting stone corbels show it to have been an exceptionally large one occupying the whole of the eastern bay of the nave. The remaining rear corbel is plain, but the two front ones are ornamented with carved figures and date from about 1400.

15th Century Floor Plan

Two old wooden seats in the chancel (See photographs below - click to enlarge) which belong to the early part of this century contain linenfold panelling, and the side of one of them shows evidence of once having had a curved seat, usual in times when clergy were not allowed to sit (at least comfortably) during services.

15th Century wooden seats

During the restoration work of 1875, signs of a previous fire were said to have been observed, and it seems probable that such a fire might have occurred about the middle of the 15th century. Apart from improvements and extensions, a great deal of rebuilding of existing work was carried out, much of it only dating from the previous century.

It appears that in 1450 money was being collected for the repair of the chancel, and shortly afterwards it seems to have been largely rebuilt as a result. Any existing windows were replaced, and new ones were added (See photograph below), but the lower portion of the 13th century east window was retained and a typical 15th century traceried top added, which may also be seen in pre 1875 engravings and photographs.

Chancel 15th Century North & South windows (click to enlarge)

At the same time a priest's door was added in the south wall (See photograph below), decorated with carved paterae, and the whole of the external walling appears to have been refaced or rebuilt.

15th Century Priest's Door

The large amount of work carried out during the last quarter of the 15th century is thought to have been due to the influence of Cardinal Morton who was a native of Bere Regis, having been born at Milborne Stileham which then formed part of this
parish, and who was said to have been "much given to building".

In about 1485 the old nave roof was removed and replaced by a new one at a higher level, incorporating clerestry walling and windows with trefoil headed double lights (See photograph below - click to enlarge). The old north transept which had probably developed into a tower, was retained however, and the joint in the masonry where the new clerestory walling abutted it can still be seen externally. It also meant that at this point there could be no clerestoy window, and the one which now exists in this position can be seen by its plain top to have been inserted early in the following century when the tower was removed.

15th Century Clerestry walling & windows

At about the same time the old narrow north aisle including its westward extension carried out in the previous century, was taken down and rebuilt to its present width with new cinquefoil headed windows (left photograph below) in the north wall and an unusual triangular headed window (right photograph below) in the west wall. The roof at this period was probably a shallow double pitched roof, the supporting corbels of which still remain, but it has since been replaced by a single pitched roof at a slightly higher level. Pre 1875 engravings and plans show that there were several more buttresses on the north wall than at present, and that the north doorway was further east.

Cinquefoil Headed window & Triangular Headed window (click to enlarge photograph)

The late 15th century work cannot be left without considering the magnificent nave roof of about 1485 in greater detail. As it is so unique for this part of the country, there is a seperate section covering the roof alone which you can find by clicking here or by using the menu on the left.