Site Event/Activity record ESF23610 - Survey Report - St Andrew's Church Tower Survey, Wissett

A survey to record the round tower of St Andrew's Church, Wissett was undertaken in advance of the replacement of the 15th century bell frame. The tower is a fine example of Norman craftsmanship and both the tower and nave were constructed simultaneously during the mid-12th century. The fabric of the tower gives a clear insight on how the masons worked; how the windows were constructed and their building schedule. This showed twelve clear annual construction lifts, but suggest a cessation of work after the construction of each of the storeys, at which point the building may have been temporarily roofed to enable it to have been used. The belfry was enlarged and the tower height was raised in the 15th century to accommodate the (now) former bell frame. Evidence of the original wall plate, which may have also served as the bell hanging, indicated the lower level from which the original roof was raised. The body of the church was also extensively remodelled and enlarged. Part of these changes included the addition of the spiral stair which altered the access to the first floor tower room which had previously only been accessible via a ladder through a high door in the gable end of the nave. This door was blocked and it is likely that the use of the whole tower changed at this time from one occupied by the priest alone, to an integral part of the function of the church, housing the bells (S1). Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous Not known, Future Not known Associated Identifiers: HER event no. WSS 012 Sitecode WSS 012 Contracting Unit No. 2010/012 NMR No. 1551600 Project Type: Building Recording Methods and Techniques: 'Annotated Sketch', 'Measured Survey', 'Photographic Survey', 'Survey/Recording Of Fabric/Structure' Reason for Investigation: Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPS Site status: Listed Building Current Land use: Other 2 - In use as a building PROJECT LOCATION Area 50 Square metres Grid Reference: TM36607929 Point PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body Design originator: Robert Carr Director/Manager: David Gill Supervisor: David Gill DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service ID: WSS 012 Contents: 'Survey', 'other' Media: 'Images raster / digital photography', 'Survey', 'Text' PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service ID: WSS 012 Contents: 'other' Media: 'Report', 'Section', 'Survey ', 'Unpublished Text' BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Archaeological Survey Report, Tower Survey, St Andrew's Church, Wissett, WSS 012 Author(s)/Editor(s): Gill, D. Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS Report No. 2010/012 Date: 2010 Issuer/Publisher: SCCAS Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds Description: A4, comb bound, white card covers, in colour.