St James' Church Edgecote

The church was built early in the 13th century in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles in coursed limestone and ironstone rubble with an ashlar tower with lead roofs. A projection to the north adjacent to the nave and chancel contains a 17th century manorial pew. Of the imposing monuments 4 are monuments to the Chauncy family by Rysbrack.

The tower leadwork had graffiti with 18th century dating and this leadwork was now at the end of it’s useful life. During the leadwork replacement the graffiti was retained, isolating areas and refixing over the new leadwork.

The tower was in a very poor state with vegetation taking hold in areas of the parapet and large voids in the tower north wall requiring a considerable quantity of lime mortar grouting. The existing tower timber structural members were in an advanced state of decay with hidden voids at the heart of the timbers. Substantial stiffening was required and steel stirrup supports were introduced extending into the adjacent walls.

Other works comprised the releading of the conical form to the roof whilst retaining the existing form, repairs to the tower roof decking, the strengthening of the bell frame, stonework repairs and the repointing of the tower walls. The timber belfry louvres were reinstated and corroding iron within the existing stonework was also carefully removed whilst minimising the loss of the adjacent material. The tower also received lime method consolidation.

To the manorial pew roof, leadwork renewal was also undertaken, with associated repairs to the decking and structure and the forming of new chutes. To the vestry, further conservation works were carried out to the lead gutters and associated gutter boarding and the releading of a high level window in the north wall and new ventilators.

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