St Margaret's Church, Abbotsley

The church is constructed mainly in pebblestone, with dressings in stone and clunch. It is roofed in stone and lead. Its plan consists of a nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, a north porch, a chancel with a north vestry, and a west tower.[4] The tower is in four stages. It is set on a plinth, and has four buttresses and a staircase at the southwest angle.[1] In the lowest stage is a west door, above which is a three-light window. The third stage contains one-light windows in the north and west walls, and a quartrefoil window in the south wall. There is a two-light bell opening on each side of the top stage.[4] The summit has a battlemented parapet, with gargoyles in the centre of each side.[1] At the corners, rather than pinnacles, there are statues of kings.[4] These are said to represent the English kings Harold and William the Conqueror, and the Scottish kings Macbeth and Malcolm III.[1][2][5]

The north aisle has a 14th-century two-light window in the west wall, and two similar windows in the north wall. Also in the north wall is a doorway, and a niche with a pointed head. In the east wall is a 15th-century three-light window, and two brackets supported by carved angels. The clerestory has five two-light square-headed windows on each side. In the north wall of the chancel are a two-light window and a small door. The west wall of the vestry contains a re-set 15th-century niche with a crocketed canopy, and another bracket supported by angels. The chancel east window has three lights, and in the south wall is a two-light window. In the east wall of the south aisle is a three-light window. The south wall contains two two-light windows, and a doorway with a 16th-century stoup to its east. In the west wall is another two-light window.[4]

Both arcades have four bays. The piers of the north arcade consist of four grouped shafts, while those of the south arcade are octagonal. In the south wall of the chancel is a piscina and a sedilia. In the south wall of the south aisle is an elaborately carved tomb recess dating from the 14th century. Above the recess are two coats of arms. The 13th-century font consists of a tapering octagonal limestone bowl set on an octagonal base. Under the chancel arch is a 16th-century oak screen with three bays, including the central opening.[1] There is a ring of five bells, the oldest being dated 1575.[4]