N arcade [of the] late C12. The S arcade … possesses piers of an odd Perp shape. Specially cared for in the late Middle Ages (cf. Holme); the Bartons' coat of arms … appears on a buttress on the N aisle. Monument to John Smithe d.1583. Pulpit probably late C17, perhaps contemporary with the altar rails. (1)
Transitional … wall piers [in] the north arcade. The tower appears to be of the 14th century. The north aisle was probably rebuilt in the 15th century, and the south aisle, porch, clerestory and nave roof then added. The chancel appears to have been rebuilt about the 16th century. (2)

The earliest surviving part of the church is the north arcade and lower part of the tower, which date from the late-12th and late 13th century respectively. The church was extended and altered in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. It was restored in 1906-7 by Messrs A Woods and Sons under the direction of the architect Charles Hodgson Fowler of Durham. Hodgson Fowler was a student and later assistant of Sir George Gilbert Scott, and Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Comprises a western tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel and south porch. The majority of the church is constructed from dressed stone blocks, with the exception of the lowest stage of the tower which is built of coursed rubble stone. More specifically, the nave, chancel, south aisle and porch are constructed from Skerry Sandstone, as is the upper states of the tower. The north aisle, as well as dressings and decorative work is exe-cuted in Lincolnshire Limestone and Magnesian limestone. Only the lowest stage of the tower is con-structed from Lias rubble stone.7 The windows of the chancel and north aisle have chamfered stone mullions, some of which contain fragments of medieval stained glass. The buttresses of the 16th century north aisle bear the coat of arms of the Barton family (three stags heads contained within a shield).8 The church has crenelated parapets throughout which conceal shallow-pitched roofs behind. The tower features carved gargoyles on its uppermost stage, and stone grotesques also feature on the corners of the nave and chancel (Figure 4). As mentioned above, the lowest stage of the tower (13th century) is constructed from rubble stone with dressed stone quoins, the upper stages (14th century) above are constructed from dressed stone and are in noticeably bet-ter condition than the lower stage. A small lean-to structure attached to the western side of the north aisle is an early 20th-century boiler house, which is semi-subterranean. Interior - The church has a traditional plan with the altar located at the eastern end. Entering through the south porch, the inner south doorway has a chamfered and rebated head
and hood mould and retains a 15th-century plank door. The nave is three bays long with a clerestory. The north arcade contains the earliest fabric in the church, dating from around 1190.9 Two of the piers in the north arcade are octagonal and feature water-leaf capitals, these are thought to be the earliest octagonal piers in Nottinghamshire.10 The 15th century south arcade has two unequal-sided octagonal piers running directly into arches, engaged flanking shafts with round bases and octagonal capitals. The south aisle also contains an octagonal stone font inscribed with a date of 1662 on the stem. The shallow-pitched nave ceiling is 15th century in date and has moulded arched tie beams on moulded curved brackets. It also has moulded purlins and foliate bosses. Alternate brackets have figures holding shields.11 The chancel, which is two bays in length, is separated from the nave by a heavily moulded 15th century rood screen with a canopy forming the rood loft. The carved rood itself was added in the 20th century. The chancel contains a restored 15th century piscina with an elliptical head and also an aumbry set within a 19th century surround, in the Decorated style, with crocketed pinnacles and ogee finial.12 There are a number of stained-glass windows including the west and north windows of the north aisle which contain fragments of 16th century glass panels with the
Barton rebus.13 The east window of the north aisle dates from 1938 and replaced an earlier medieval window which contained the Barton arms.14 The south aisle has to the east, a window with further fragments of 16th century stained glass also depicting the Barton rebus. The east window of the chancel dates from 1905 and was installed in memory of Rev. Francis Oswald Colley who instigated a major restoration of the building in 1904, but sadly died before it was completed in 1907.15 The west window of the tower has stained glass dating from 1907 and dedicated to St Paulinus.16 The church also contains a number of monuments, including a pyramidal memorial to John Smithe (d.1581) which is located in the chancel, and two funerary hatchments to William Dickenson (d.1822) and his wife Harriet (d.1805).17 William Dickinson, born William Dickinson Rastall, was the son of the vicar-general of the church of Southwell. He became a successful lawyer but would also distinguish himself as a historian, writing histories of both the town of Southwell in 1787 and Newark in 1806. William and his wife were residents of Muskham Grange (demolished 1964).18 An early 20th century organ and organ case has been inserted into the top of the tower arch, with a further 20th century timber screen filling the arch below. (3)

Listed buildings slides, 6 slides (Photograph). SNT2648.

<1> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 211-2 (Monograph). SNT4.

<2> Thoroton Society, 1902, TTS, p 57 (Published document). SNT329.

<3> Historic England, 2021, ST WILFRID'S CHURCH, NORTH MUSKHAM -Investigation of Evidence for External Render and Statement of Significance (Unpublished document). SNT5530.