St. Nicholas Bradfield - The Exterior

A general view of the south elevation of the church of St. Nicholas

I first saw St. Nicholas' church in High Bradfield when I went to explore the geology around the nearby Rocher End Brook with the newly established South Yorkshire RIGS Group, but I only have recollections of its magnificent setting high above the upper Loxley valley.

A general view of the east end

Having seen it again for the first time in over 20 years, at the end of a full year spent exploring the mediaeval churches in and around South Yorkshire, I immediately recognised its Perpendicular Gothic style architectural elements – the castellated parapets, pinnacles and the window tracery.

A general view of the north aisle and clerestory

A quick walk around its exterior, however, shows that the windows to the tower have Y-tracery, which is in the Decorated Gothic style and attributed to the 14th century, and the windows to the clerestory and to the north aisle are all flat headed; however, although I didn't study the masonry in any detail, all of the gritstone ashlar appears to be generally similar in style and colour and there are no obvious variations that indicate different phases of building.

A gargoyle

Various gargoyles drain the roofs to the aisles, with that to the south depicted with its mouth being pulled wide open, as is very often seen in mediaeval churches of the same age. Also, a couple of fine grotesques flank the east end of the chancel and, although weathered, the forms of a dragon and a dog can still be easily recognised.

Grotesques

In the churchyard, the majority of the graves are simple inscribed slabs or chest tombs as can be seen around the majority of the churches that I have visited, and date from the Victorian period, but there are also a few 17th century inscribed slabs set into the path that leads to the porch.

17th century grave slabs