St Mary’s Church, Totnes

The Grade 1 listed Church of St Mary has stood at the heart of Totnes for over 500 years. A significant landmark with its red tower and defining pinnacles that reach above the neighbouring buildings. Of particular interest are the magnificent C15^th sandstone roof screen, the Kempe stained glass window, the Willis organ, the restored oak waggon roof, the fine brass candelabrum in the nave, the Blackhall monument and the memorial plaque to Walter Venning, Russian prison reformer.

In the C21st century it has been reimagined as a community hub and arts and performance space in addition to its religious offerings. Made possible with Heritage Lottery Funding and a long list of other funders.

In just a few weeks, the entire nave was stripped out, the pews removed, identified and sorted through for refurbishment and reinstatement to new location. The floorboards of the pew platforms taken up, and all existing tiles lifted, revealing the earth underneath.

Reinforced Limecrete with a dampproof membrane underneath was laid for areas to be tiled, of which there were 19,000 red and black quarry tiles laid.

Structural repair works were undertaken to the south aisle column base. Cement had been used previously causing pressure fractures.

The servery was created in European oak and finished in Osmo clear matt top oil with painted glass splashback. Howdens Shaker style kitchen cupboards installed. Chair storage was created on the west wall to match servery, WC and north lobby detailing.

Glazed and part-glazed lobbies were created to the north and south entrances. Fabricated in oak, toughened glass set within rebated oak frame with the  construction of a permanent ramp to the south entrance.

The font hood was carefully removed, the bowl, stem and plinth were dismantled, mortars cleaned and carefully removed from the north west aisle and reassembled in the south west aisle.

St Mary’s are aiming to become a carbon zero building. Solar panels were installed to the south aisle roof by specialist solar panel installers. Solar panel posts were created from marine ply laminated blocks and covered in code 5 lead to support the panels on the roof.

Herschel Halo infrared ceiling mounted chandelier style heaters were installed by electrical contractors. This energy efficient church heating is not only ideal for the creating a comfortable environment but also beneficial for protecting historic interiors and artefacts.