We were planning on stopping in Weobley, but a diversion pushed us north into unknown territory. All, however, was not lost for we ended up on the road to Pembridge, and Pembridge was one of those places on a mental list of places to visit as we journey between the Infernal City and my family in Worcestershire. For not only has the large parish church have a highly original detached bell-tower/bell-house but the village is filled to the brim with half-timbered buildings.
The detached bell-house stands just north of the church, and it's quite the sight. A low octagonal ground floor from which arises a massive spire constructed of timber looking like an upturned funnel. Visitors have likened it to the timber spires you find in Essex and, further a field, the Scandinavian stave churches and the wooden churches of Eastern Europe.
The church is built of the local sandstone. Apart from some fragments of earlier work, and the vaulted north porch (which is later) it is wholly Decorated in style - lengthy nave with aisles and diminutive clearstory, transepts and long(ish) chancel. Pevsner dates it all to c1320-60. All the windows, I think, have Reticulated Tracery. It's the sort of church that would have pleased the Cambridge Camden Society with their desire for correct Middle Pointed. The exterior of the nave looks indeed like the work of one of their approved architects (like R C Carpenter).
Sadly the two restorations in the 19th century have left the interior bald, dark and dull. The best 19th century feature is the barrel vaulted chancel ceiling which has a nice cellure over the High Altar. It should be painted. Some good monuments though, particularly in the chancel, and Medieval & Early Modern wall paintings around the s transept. Jacobean looking pulpit. Sadly the church is crowded with clutter.
