Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin
This is one of the most elaborate parish churches of Suffolk.  Carving truly dominates the interior.  The chancel shows a 15th-century extant rood screen (but without the cross) having the canopy of honor for the rood still extant over the chancel arch.  The 15th century nave has a double hammerbeam roof with pierced wood designs and multiple representations of angels. A hammer beam construction consists of the horizontal projection of the roof beam from the wall, braced by a curving strut that rest on wall posts.  A vertical post from the end of the beam projects upward, meeting the rafters; another curves over the open space and comes down on the hammer beam on the opposite side.  A double hammer beam system adds a second row of horizontal beams with their upper and lower braces.  The pews are well preserved, and some match the roof in complexity.  Animals decorate the lower sections of the pew ends.

WO1 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, view of interior looking east

WO2 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, view of interior ground level,looking east

WO3 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, roof and canopy of honor

WO4 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, detail of double hammerbeam roof

WO5 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin. detail of angel socle for roof

WO6 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, location of altar once showing pilgrimage statue of Our Lady of Woolpit.  14th-century piscina for washing hands during mass.

WO7 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, pews, 1486

WO8 Woolpit (Suffolk), Church of St. Mary the Virgin, detail of pew end, 1486