Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Upper Tysoe

The earliest parts of the Church of England parish church of The Assumption of the Blesséd Virgin Mary are two blocked windows on the south side of the nave, which date from late in the 11th century.The south aisle of the nave was added in the middle of the 12th century. In the 13th century the south arcade was extended from three bays to four and the three original arches were altered to give them a pointed Gothic shape. The north aisle was added later and is Decorated Gothic. The nave has a clerestory that was added in the 14th century. In the 15th century the south porch was added, new Perpendicular Gothic windows were inserted and the present west tower was built.The west tower has a ring of six bells. Richard Sanders of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire cast the treble, second, third and tenor bells in 1719. Abel Rudhall of Gloucester cast the fourth bell in 1750. Matthew III Bagley of Chacombe, Northamptonshire cast the fifth bell in 1782. The church has also a Sanctus bell cast by William Blews and Sons of Birmingham in 1866.In 1854 the church was restored under the direction of the architect George Gilbert Scott. The church is a Grade I listed building. In the churchyard is a 15th-century preaching cross, which is a Grade II* listed building.Church. Late C11 origins, with late C12, C13, C14 and C15 alterations and
additions. Restored 1854 by Gilbert Scott. Squared, coursed ironstone. Parapeted
roofs. Chancel, nave with clerestory, north and south aisles and west tower.
Chancel of 2 bays with offset buttresses, plinth and parapet. To east a 5-light
cusped C15 window within hollow chamfered surround. 2 further 3-light cusped windows to south, and one to north, with hollow chamfered surrounds. To north a C19 vestry with 2 reticulated windows and plank door within pointed arch. Nave of 4 bays with pierced quatrefoil parapet to south, wavy line to north. Corbel table below of carved animal heads. Pinnacles with cusped panels and crockets.Aisles have plinth, coped parapet, offset diagonal buttresses and gargoyles to
north. To centre of south aisle a plank door within late C12 round headed arch
of 2 orders of shafts with rings, and water-leaf capitals with lozenge and
nailhead mouldings in the arch. Above an Agnus Dei panel in bas relief with carved corbel to either side, that to right a beakhead. C15 porch with double chamfered arch and moulded imposts. Double plank doors. To left of door a C20
two-light window. To right a C14 three-light reticulated window with hood mould and label stops. To far right a C15 three-light square-headed window with cusped lights, hood mould and carved label stops. To north aisle a plank door within moulded, pointed arch with hood mould and label stops. To left and right of
porch a C14 three-light reticulated window. To far left a three-light window of intersecting tracery. Windows have hood moulds and label stops. To west of North aisle a single round-headed light.
Renewed 2-light reticulated window with hood mould and label stops to west of south aisle. Clerestory has eight C14
square-headed 2-light windows to north and south of differing cusped tracery.
All have dropped hood moulds and label stops. To east gable end a C17 sanctus
bell turret. West tower of 4 offset stages with plinth, buttresses and battlemented parapet with pinnacles. To south a blocked round-headed arch and
round-headed light to west. To third stage a late C12 corbel table, with a small
single light below to north and south. Fourth stage has 2-light cusped bell
chamber openings wiht hood moulds and label stops. Cusped panels to each corner,
and gargoyles below parapet. Interior: C15 many-moulded chancel arch. Nave
arcade of 4 bays. To south C12 round piers with scalloped and round capitals on square abaci. Responds to east and west. 2 blocked C11 openings above. North arcade has C15 octagonal piers with double-chamfered arches and responds, that to east with small cusped piscina. Pointed doorway to north. C15
triple-chamfered tower arch, now blocked. Roofs mostly C15, partly restored.Nave and aisle roofs are supported on C15 carved corbel heads. In chancel a tomb to William Clarke, died 1618. In north aisle wall a C12 tomb in C14 cusped ogee recess, with finial. In east wall of south aisle a memorial tablet to Ralph
Wilcox, died 1659. In north aisle wall a brass to Thomas Mastrupe, dated 1463.
In east wall of north aisle brasses to the Browne family, dated 1598 and 1611. A
tablet in porch, dated 1662. 2 further C17 tablets in external porch wall. In nave a late C14 octagonal stone font with reliefs of the Virgin and Child, the Baptism of Christ and various saints in crocketed ogee gables.