St Nicholas, Dersingham, Norfolk.

The chancel of Dersingham was built in the early c14. To the west of the priest's door in the south chancel wall there are two large Decorated windows set above a wide string course. The westernmost window is close to the west end of the chancel but externally the lintels of both windows are currently about 1.8m above local ground level, while internally they are a little closer to the chancel floor. It may be that the local ground level outside has been lowered at some stage, possibly to provide better drainage from the down-pipes. The low side window seems to have been installed later, and has been incorporated below the westernmost light nearest to the west end chancel. The frame, which straddles the string course, is square, while the infill is a pretty set of four quatrefoils carved from a single block of stone. The official list entry on the Historic England website suggests that this may be for external access to a sanctus bell. This seems a little fanciful. Why go to such extraordinary lengths to create a specific (and elaborate) opening just to run a rope out to a bell hanging somewhere on the chancel wall when a window already existed? In fact this example at Dersimgham would seem to debunk a great many of the theories developed to explain the existence of low side windows. Only the Confessional Theory, and (at a stretch) the Sanctus Bell, and Ventilation Theories would appear to fit an apature with such small openings. Internally the wall beneath the westernmost light has been lowered and splayed creating a suitable seat. The rebate for a shutter is still clearly delineated, and there is evidence on the west jamb of hinge positions.

St George, Saham Toney, Norfolk.

The church is c13 and c14, restored in 1864.¹ The simple rectangular low side window is an independent opening below the chancel's westernmost window. Though a little further east than normal, it may have been found easier to lower the internal splay of the existing window than attempt to create a new opening further west. Externally the aperture is blocked. Internally a bolted wooden shutter is still in situ.

1. Historic England website official list entry.

St Andrew, West Bradenham, Norfolk.

The church is c13 and c14. The small rectagular low side window in the south wall of the chancel has been installed independetly of the high westernmost window (approx. 2m above fround level). Internally the spaly of the low side window abuts the respond of the chancel arch. Externally the jambs, lintel and sill are formed from regular chamfered blocks. There is a simple angular hood mold. The window is blocked with float-finished cement or concrete.

St Martin's, Thompson, Norfolk.

St Martin's was built in the first half of c14, restored 1910-13 and 1974.¹ There are two Decorated windows high in the south chancel wall, and although the westernmost window is close to the junction with the nave, it is too high to serve as a confessional. The two corresponding windows in the north wall are now blocked up. The church has an air of redundancy and neglect (as at the time of writing the Church of England website states that services are held at St Martin's only every six weeks). The low side window is an independent rectangular opening with a rough stone frame. It is now blocked with flint and mortar. Internally it would have butted hard up against the respond of the chancel arch, but today all internal features have been obliterated.

1. Historic England. Official list entry.

St Nicholas, Ashill, Norfolk.

The chancel of St Nicholas's is early c14.¹ The westernmost window, also of that date, is close to the west end of the chancel but rather too high to function as a confessional. A new simple rectangular aperture was intalled below this window, utilising its sill to make installation realtively straight-forward (the low side window does not have an independent lintel, but is is distinct from the earlier window above). This is clearly alater addition, and not as part of the original build, otherwise the original window would have been created specifically for the purpose of confession. The window is now blocked with flint.

1. Historic England website. Official List Entry.

St John the Baptist, Blisworth, Northants.

There are two low side windows at St John's, one on each side of the chancel in the usual location. However, they are quite distinct in character. The south side of the chancel is c13, having two low y-traceried windows of that age either side of a buttress. These are likely to be original. Further west in the south wall is a much larger late c14 Perpendicular three light window, set higher in the wall than the other two. Below this and slightly further west is a simple square low side window, now blocked. On the north side of the chancel there are two three-light late c14 or early c15 Perpendicular windows similar to that in the south wall. The westernmost window is very close to the west end of the chancel. Below that is another low side window. This is more elaborate and refined than the one on the south side; a small lancet having a cusped ogee head and cut spandrels. This is also now blocked up. It is likely that the north low side window was installed first (the main entrance of St John's is on the north side, and it is from that side that the church is approached from the High Street). However, this is not entirely clear. The east and north sides of the chancel were rebuilt in the late 14th century. Whether the north side low side window was part of the original c13 build is hard to say. What is clear is that the low side window on the south side is more roughly executed, and all the Perpendicular windows are too high to function as confessional windows, necessitating the installation of new apertures below them.¹ Continued on next slide..

1. Historic England website official list entry.

St Mary, Troston, Suffolk.

St Mary's is c13 and later.¹ The chancel is clearly earlier than the nave, having three tall lancets on the south side, and two on the north. All these lancets are too high to function as a confessional window, but both the south and north lancets at the western end of the chancel are close enough. In the event only the south wall was furnished with a low side window. This is a simple rectangular opening below the westernmost lancet which is now blocked. Internally the original splay of the window has been lowered and a low seat formed. Interestingly the original window sill has been partially retained to act as a hood over the new low window. The wooden shutter and iron bars are still in situ, and, judging by their condition, are original.

1. Historic England Official List Entry

St Mary, Lillington, Warwickshire.

Lillington is now completely subsumed by Leamington Spa, but up until WW2 was a distinct village in its own right. Much of St Mary Magdalene was rebuilt in 1847, and the chancel extended in 1884. The chancel still has c13 elements (possibly older), and at its south west corner an ogee headed lancet, somewhat high in the wall. Below this, and clearly later, is a nearly square opening whose jambs, sill, and lintel are formed from single chamfered blocks of sandstone. The iron bars are still in place and appears original.