Church Heritage Record 614208

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Abbotsley: St Margaret

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Abbotsley: St Margaret
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

CCT Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

614208
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Ely
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Huntingdon & wisbech
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Abbotsley

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Abbotsley

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Medieval

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 614208 St Margaret, Abbotsley
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 614208 St Margaret, Abbotsley
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of the exterior of St Margaret, Abbotsley
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

2017, August 19
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Julian Osley
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Julian Osley

Summary Description

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
A circumstantial, and seemingly reliable, account of the church kept in the vestry gives the date of the nave as c.1340 and that of the tower as c.1430; certainly the date of the north aisle windows would be consistent with a date of c.1340, and the tower is undoubtedly Perpendicular and consistent with a date of c.1430.

Visiting and Facilities

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The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

https://www.bluebellbenefice.org.uk/

Sources and Further Information

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Julian Osley (2017, August 19) Exterior image of 614208 St Margaret, Abbotsley [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 614208 St Margaret, Abbotsley
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13919/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~95799~114788 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 04640

Coverage - 1853-1854

Created by ?BUTTERFIELD, William: b. 1814 - d. 1900 of London

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 5 Bells [Archive/Index]
5 Bells

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TL 227 565

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Cambridgeshire County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

About fifteen miles west of Cambridge and about four miles south-east of St. Neots.

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

West tower; nave with north and south aisles and north porch; chancel, with a vestry on the north.

Dimensions

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

380 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

A circumstantial, and seemingly reliable, account of the church kept in the vestry gives the date of the nave as c.1340 and that of the tower as c.1430; certainly the date of the north aisle windows would be consistent with a date of c.1340, and the tower is undoubtedly Perpendicular and consistent with a date afc.1430.The chancel was rebuilt by William Butterfield in 1861-2: this work is recorded in the Church Builder for January 1862 and reference is made to it in a recent study of the architect, William Butterfield by Paul Thompson (1971). The work cost 2520, and Butterfield also built the vestry, north porch, and designed both the nave roof and many of the furnishings.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

The main building material of the church is brown cobbles, and Butterfield did not depart from this in building his new chancel. He did, however, introduce Bath stone for window surrounds and tracery, and also a strong string moulding below cill level; on the north side there is also a broad band of smooth ashlar at the point where the cusping of the main light begins, and several such broad bands are used to ornament and articulate the impressive east wall of the chancel - which would otherwise have been rather too severe. His basic window form is exemplified by that in the north wall of the chancel, between nave and vestry, where it consists of two main lights with elongated trefoiled heads and a quatrefoil of four equal lobes in the head; between the heads of the two main lights and beneath the quatrefoil is a tiny crescent-shaped piercing - a characteristically Butterfieldian touch. 

Butterfield's chancel east window is a fairly elaborate Decorated composition, impressive both inside and outside. There are three main cinquefoil-headed lights and above is a large wheel form in the tracery, containing within it a petalled cinquefoil bordered by tiny trefoils. Clasping buttresses are set in pairs at the two corners of the chancel. On the south side the chancel wall is divided in two by a stepped buttress and the two windows are crowded curiously close together in the western half. Each window is of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in the head.

The east window of the south aisle has a large late Perpendicular window which is of three cinquefoil-headed lights in a four centred head with moulded reveals and label. In the south wall of the aisle are two Decorated windows, completely renewed in Bath stone in the 19th century; one is set fairly close to the east end of the aisle and the other fairly close to the west.Placed off-centre, slightly towards the west, is the south doorway - still largely 14th century work in its jambs and two centred arch of two plain chamfered orders. The jambs have alternate courses of Barnack and ironstone. The vest window of the aisle is also renewed Decorated, of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil above. The south clerestorey (like the north) has five windows of simple Perpendicular form, each of two trefoiled lights under a square head. The one at the west end is slightly taller than the others, being unimpeded by the aisle.

The tower is big and consists of four stages (or three from the west) on a moulded plinth. There are some larger brown stones used in the construction of the tower, but like the church as a whole it is mostly of rather small stones producing a most attractive textured surface. The tower has clasping buttresses at the corners, rising with four set-offs to just above the beginning of the belfry stage. The stair-turret is in the south-west corner. The west doorway and the large Perpendicular-style window of five main lights beneath a traceried head are now largely 19th century; the splays and rare-arch of the window aro doubtless ancient, as also the two label head-stops of the door. In the second stage the north wall has a cinquefoiled opening in a two-centred head with a moulded label;in the south wall is a quatrefoil window and in the west a single square-headed light. In the belfry stage each wall has louvred belfry openings of two cinquefoiled main lights with a squashed quatrefoil in the head. The Clock face is on the north side only

In the north wall of the aisle there are two Decorated windows, both with flowing tracery and largely original and both to the east of Butterfield's north porch. The porch, with its beautifully detailed timber framework and barge-boarding, is a very attractive example of a distinguished London architect working sympathetically in a vernacular style. The east window of the aisle is Perpendicular and, except for parts of the two mullions, it is mediaeval work.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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Who:
Marshall Sisson Architects
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

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Collapse Building Fabric and FeaturesBuilding Fabric and Features
STAINED GLASS (15th Century)

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The chancel and the remainder of the church are now divided off from one another. Above the tower arch can be plainly seen the weathering which indicates the level of the low-pitched 14th century nave roof. The two arcades are both of four bays and both of clunch. That on the north has four two-centred aisles of two chamfered orders, the columns are a quatrefoil in plan, with small roles in the angles, moulded capitals and bases.

The chestnut roof of the north aisle is late 15th century, of four bays and a half bay with moulded and cambered tie-beams, and moulded wall-plates. The remaining roofs are by Butterfield, that of the nave being of uncommonly steep pitch.

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
BELL (1 of 5 U/R)
BELL (2 of 5 U/R)
BELL (3 of 5 U/R)
BELL (4 of 5 U/R)
BELL (5 of 5 U/R)
CHEST (c. 17th Century)
FONT (COMPONENT)
FONT (OBJECT)
NICHE
PISCINA (OBJECT)
SCREEN
STOUP

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: TL 227 565

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

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Ecological Designations

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The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this CCT Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this CCT Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this CCT Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this CCT Church.

Designation TypeNameGrade  
Listed Building Table Tomb About 10 Yards South Of Church Of St Maragret II View more

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this CCT Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Fabric Significance Level:
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Fabric Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Description:
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Church Renewables

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Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the CCT Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 0
Total number of animal species 0
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

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If any of the following species have been seen close to the CCT Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the CCT Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the CCT Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the CCT Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this CCT Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

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WhoActionWhen
James MilesModified asset dataWed 09 Apr 2025 10:28:33
Oliver LackAdded SourceMon 07 Nov 2022 17:06:46
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionMon 07 Nov 2022 17:06:18
Oliver LackAdded fabric typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:04:46
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:04:20
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:03:55
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:03:42
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:03:25
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:02:45
Oliver LackAdded interior feature typeMon 07 Nov 2022 17:02:28
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