Surrey Archaeological Collections
Surrey Archaeological Society, 2003. (updated 2023) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 379
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221
- How to cite using this DOI
SURREY ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS
The ancient roofs and heraldic bosses in Godalming Church
ALAN BOTT, JOHN GOODALL and KENNETH GRAVETT
The presence of scaffolding in the nave of the church for the month of November 1996, necessary for the re-wiring and re-illumination of the church, afforded a rare opportunity to gain access to the elaborate medieval, Tudor and 19th century timbers above the ceiling. The ceiling itself dates from 1840, but of the total 152 bosses and half-bosses which adorn it, 133 date from c 1500â1540. Of these, seventeen are carved only with foliage but 116 of them display coats of arms, badges and cyphers. It was possible to identify almost all of these. Some of the tinctures, which had been incorrectly overpainted either in 1840 or in 1964, were corrected. The opportunity was also taken to analyse the splendid timbers of the 14th century chancel roof and of the lead-clad spire, which was restored in 1988.The timbers of the tower, the 18th century bell frame (replaced in 1976) and the late medieval roofs of the tower, transepts and south chapel were also noted. Of the remaining roofs, those of the aisles and north chapel date from Sir Gilbert Scott's restoration of 1879 and that of the porch from its construction in 1911 by Samuel Welman. After a short discussion of the likely forms of the Anglo -Saxon and Norman roofs, which have now gone, each ancient roof is described in chronological order: chancel, tower and spire, Lady chapel, transepts and finally, the composite nave roof and ceiling with its Tudor bosses. The heraldry of the latter, with an armory, and inventory, concludes the survey.
