Building record 0222400000 - ST NICHOLAS' CHURCH, CUDDINGTON

Dimensions - Length 0028 m Width 0015m
C13. N AISLE WIDENED C.1330, S PORCH C14. W TOWER C15. N VESTRY C19. 2 BAY CHANCEL WITH NE VESTRY. 4 BAY NAVE WITH 2 BAY S CHAPEL & 2 BAY S AISLE, PORCH & 3 BAY N AISLE. W TOWER OF 3 STAGES WITH MOULDED STRING COURSES & EMBATTLED PARAPET(B7).
THOROUGHLY RESTORED 1858 (B2).
RESTORED BY STREET (B5).
WATCHING BRIEF - NEGATIVE (B8)
A watching brief was carried out during the buidling a a french drain and soakway. A small amount of pottery and parts of two decorated floor tiles (possibly Brill-Borstall industry) were recovered. 9 burials were also recorded with other disturbed bones. The footings of the tower were uncovered and shown to be tabular limestone forming a plinth projecting 0.30m beyond the tower wall. The footings on the north side of the tower were shown to be in poorer condition. The butresses were revealed to be of contemporary build with the tower. The burials were encountered in the soakaway excavations at levels between 0.35m-1.10m - five of the burials were adult and three of young persons. Three sherds of pottery were recovered - dish rim 16-17th century, sherd from a 13-15th century Brill-Boarstall jug, and a base-angle sherd from medieval cooking pot. The floor tiles were both decorated with white-clay filled designs (B9).
Watching brief carried out by TVAS in January 2009 during removal of underfloor heating ducts and installation of a new floor identified two brick-built burial crypts beneath the north aisle, both probably of 18th and early 19th century date. Crypt 1 contained 5 coffins, the chamber measuring 2.5m X 2.6m and 2.2m high and was reached by a flight of 6 concrete steps. Crypt 2 contained 4 coffins (1 of a child), the chamber measuring approximately 3m X 2.5m and 2m high. See report for detail (B10).