Burlescombe Devon
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burlescombe, Devon 
The original c1281 church was rebuilt mostly of local stone in stages chiefly during the reign of Henry VII (1485–1509) with some early 16c modernisation including the  addition of the chancel screen  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/3y70694u9q">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/3y70694u9q</a>
It consists of a nave and chancel under a continuous wagon roof, north and south aisles, two stage west tower and north porch.   The original nave and chancel probably occupied the present nave and both aisles are built full length. 
The north aisle with north Ayshford chapel contains monuments and gravestones to the family lords of the manor who lived at and built nearby Ayshford Court  c1500. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/37EXnaZ8xW">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/37EXnaZ8xW</a>
Elizabeth Ayshford 1635 kneels with her husband Arthur  <a href="https://flic.kr/p/A2bxBq" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/A2bxBq</a>  Also Roger Ayshford 1610 &amp; wife Elizabeth Michell 1608  <a href="https://flic.kr/p/z7rHp7" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/z7rHp7</a>   (They also had a small chapel of ease in their grounds)  They owned much of the parish until as recently as 1939, and were benefactors of the church.  They also built the local school opened in 1859, eleven years before the Education Act of 1870 which saw the establishment of so many village schools.
In the chancel is the table tomb with painted angels holding shields of William Ashford who died in 1508 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/63E8p08L4W">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/63E8p08L4W</a>
The south aisle overlaps the tower and at this point there is a large blocked Beerstone 2-centred arch of unknown function.   The two stage tower with a semi-octagonal stair turret in the north-west corner is surmounted by wrought iron weather vane - this and the north porch were refurbished in 1677.   
The chancel contains Hamstone windows with Perpendicular tracery, one on the south side is square-headed and there is also a narrow blocked priests doorway. 

Restored &amp; renovated in 1843. with new carved oak pews and stained glass windows 
Also In the 19c the south external rood stair was converted to a chimneystack but was restored in the next century to its  original form with plain Beerstone doorways;   In a corresponding position in the north aisle there is a
round-backed alcove. 



burlescombe church devon owe ftoer