Relhan Collection : 141a Fen Ditton church. S view

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>St Mary’s church is constructed from field stones and rubble, has Barnack limestone dressings to the tower and buttresses and is sited at the former commercial end of Fen Ditton, close to the Cam and a docking area. First recorded in 1217, it includes C12, C13, C14 and C15 additions. The chancel was restored 1775 and given new stained glass window and an altar rail from Ely cathedral. Despite more attempts at restoration during C19, in 1880-1 and 1888-9 major works were required and were undertaken by JL Pearson<i>. </i>These included rebuilding the walls of the tower, N aisle, and chancel, and restoring the S aisle, porch, and clerestory (ie the church was virtually rebuilt). The C14/C15 clunch windows were nearly all replaced and the E window inserted. Nevertheless, the church has preserved its C14 timber nave and chancel roofs. The wall materials were reused in this thorough rebuilding. In the churchyard the pyramidal monument, grave slabs and C18 headstones shown by Relhan remain. The tiled roofs of C17 alms houses across the road abut a new two-storey brick house of three bays, two storeys and attics, which also survive.</p><p>Davis EM pers comm; Woodger in Hicks 1997; RCHME 1972; VCH 2002; Wright 1991</p></p>