Towersey

89. TOWERSEY.

(O.S. 6 in. xxxvi. N.E.)

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Catherine, in the middle of the village, is built of limestone rubble in thin flakes, with dressings of a similar, but finer material; the rubble in the walls of the chancel is irregular, with wide joints; that in the walls of the nave is more regular and closely set. The Chancel is all that remains of an early 13th-century church; the present Nave appears to have been built c. 1340, probably outside the lines of an older nave. The shallow North Transept, little more than a recess, is also of c. 1340, but has been much restored, and originally may have been deeper. In the 19th century the whole church was restored, the W. wall apparently re-built, and the South Tower built to replace a 14th-century S. porch, which was destroyed, except the entrance, now re-used in the tower.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (17½ ft. by 13 ft.) has an E. window of c. 1340, of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a pointed head. In the N. wall is a 13th-century window of lancet type, the rear arch, originally semi-circular, having been cut to a roughlypointed form, probably in the 18th century; the deep external rebate may be also work of that date; in the S. wall, at the E. end, is a similar window, which has been defaced in much the same way, and at the W. end is a window of two square-headed lights, of uncertain date. The chancel arch, of c. 1340, is of two chamfered orders dying into the walls of the chancel, and has a moulded label on the W. side. The Nave (56 ft. by 24 ft.) has two E. windows, of c. 1340, flanking the chancel arch; they are similar to the E. window of the chancel, but are more finely worked; the label of the chancel arch is carried along the E. wall, and forms an internal label over the windows. In the N. wall, at the E. end, is an arch of c. 1340, opening into the transept; it is of two chamfered orders dying into the wall, and has a moulded label; W. of the arch are two windows, each of two lights with a 14th-century head, the rest is modern; between the windows is the 14th-century N. doorway, of two continuously moulded orders with internal and external labels. In the S. walls are two windows with a doorway between them, all precisely similar to those in the N. wall. In the W. wall is a large window of three cinque-foiled lights and tracery; it is of two orders externally, the outer order and label are of c. 1340, but probably re-set, as the rest of the window and practically the whole of the W. wall appear to be modern. The North Transept (12 ft. wide, 4 ft. deep) has a N. window of three trefoiled lights, with crude tracery of uncertain date; the moulded rib of the rear arch and the internal and external labels are of the 14th century. The walls externally have been completely re-faced. The South Tower, of three stages, is modern. The ground stage forms a porch, in which is re-set the entrance archway of a porch of c. 1340; it is of two chamfered orders with a moulded label. The Roof of the chancel is of the 15th century, of two bays, steep-pitched and of collar-beam construction, with curved braces, a moulded external wall-plate under the eaves, and a moulded and embattled internal wall-plate; it is ceiled with plaster on the rafters and collar-beams.

Fittings—Bells: four, 1st by Richard Keene, 1695, 2nd, 3rd, 4th by Ellis Knight, 1627, sanctus, late 17th or early 18th-century; stock old, in rather poor condition. Door: In S. doorway, modern, but with old wrought-iron hinges having foliated ends, probably 14th-century. Font: cylindrical, of shelly oolite, no trace of staple, but probably mediæval, possibly originally a drinking trough. Piscina: in the chancel, in square chamfered recess, square bowl in multi-scalloped capital of small pillar, 12th-century. Plate: includes cup with date-letter, much worn, for either 1570 or 1574. Pulpit: hexagonal, each face in two stages, upper panels with conventional foliage and sunk scrolls, lower panels with small semi-circular arches and turned drops, early 17th-century; original standard with moulded styles and rails supporting modern sounding board. Recess: under N. window of chancel, small, with roughly rounded head, uncertain date. Seating: four poppyhead bench ends, 16th-century. Miscellanea: on transept arch and on rear arch of transept window, mason's mark appearing several times.

Condition—Good; much restored.

Secular

(2). House, on the W. side of the road, about ¼ mile S.W. of the church, is of two storeys, built probably in the 16th century, and enlarged in the 18th century. The walls are timber-framed, with wattle and daub filling, repaired with 18th-century brick. The roof is thatched. The square chimney stack is probably original.

Condition—Poor.

(3). The Retreat, on the W. side of the road, N. of (2), is a two-storeyed house, built in the 16th century, and subsequently much repaired and restored. The walls, except at the back of the house, retain the original timber-framing with filling of wattle and daub, which has been partly re-placed by brick of various dates; the wall at the back is partly of 18th-century stone rubble and partly modern. The roof is thatched. At the W. end of the N.E. front the upper storey projects, and has moulded brackets and feet to the rafters. The central chimney stack has square shafts of 17th-century brick. Interior:—The constructional timbers are visible, and two rooms have large open fireplaces, partly blocked.

Condition—Fairly good.

(4). Ye Olde House, now two tenements, on the W. side of the road, N. of (3), is of two storeys, built probably in the 16th century, subsequently much repaired and altered. The walls are of 18th-century stone rubble and brick, except the W. wall, which is of original brick and timber, partly restored in the 18th century; the original timber-framing also remains in a gable on the E. front and in part of the upper storey on the S. side. The plan is L-shaped, the wings extending towards the N. and E. On the S. side is a chimney stack with grouped square shafts; the base is of 16th-century brick; the stack at the back of the house is also original. The roofs are tiled. Interior:—The open fireplaces have been partly blocked.

Condition—Fairly good.

(5). House, adjoining (4), is of two storeys, built in the 16th century, and timber-framed, with filling of wattle and daub; the walls of the western half of the house have been re-faced with modern stone rubble. The roof is thatched. Interior:—All the timber construction is visible, and there is one original door of moulded battens.

Condition—Poor.

(6–12). Cottages, seven, 300 yards S.E. of the church, and a short distance S. of the main road, are all of two storeys, built in the 16th century, except the two western and one of the eastern cottages, which are of the 17th century. They are nearly all timber-framed, with filling of wattle and daub, or brick, partly restored with 18th-century and modern brick; the westernmost cottage has S. and W. walls of stone rubble and a chimney stack of 17th-century brick; of the other 17th-century western cottage only half the building remains; the chimney stack, formerly central, now on the W. side, is original. The eastern 17th-century cottage has walls of stone rubble covered with plaster, ornamented with sunk designs; the central chimney stack is of original thin bricks. All the roofs are thatched. Inside some of the cottages are large open fireplaces.

Condition — Of the westernmost cottage, fairly good; of the others, poor.

(13). House, about 350 yards N.E. of the church, is of two storeys, built in the 17th century; the S.W. side and the lower storey at each end of the building are of 17th-century stone rubble; the gables are timber-framed, with a filling of wattle and daub. The N.E. side is of 17th-century brick, restored with modern brick. The roof is thatched.

Condition—Fairly good.

(14). Upper Green Farm, about 300 yards N.E. of the church, is a two-storeyed house, built early in the 17th century, restored and enlarged in the 19th century. The walls are almost entirely timber-framed, with filling partly of the original wattle and daub and partly of 17th-century brick, some of it set in herringbone pattern. The S. wall and the S. end of the W. wall have been re-faced with modern brick, and the E. wall is covered with plaster. The roof is thatched. The central chimney stack has square shafts of thin bricks. Interior:—There are some original beams in the ceilings and walls, and a large open fireplace with an oven, partly blocked.

Condition—Poor.

(15). House, now two tenements, W. of Upper Green Farm, is of two storeys, built in the 16th century, and much restored in the 18th century. The N. end and part of the E. side retain the original timber-framing and filling of wattle and daub; the other walls were re-faced in the 18th century with brick and stone rubble. The roof is thatched. The central chimney stack has square shafts of thin bricks. Interior:—The constructional timbers are visible, and there are two large fireplaces, partly blocked.

Condition—Fairly good.

(16). Church Farm, W. of (15), is a house of two storeys, built probably in the 16th century, much restored in the 18th century and enlarged in the 19th century. The 16th-century timber-framing remains, but the original wattle and daub filling is visible only above a modern addition on the W. side; in the other walls it has been replaced by 18th-century brick; the gable on the E. side is covered with plaster. The N. wall is modern. The roof is tiled. Only the foundations remain of the original hall at the N. end, with a chimney stack on the W. side, now in a ruinous condition; it has, in each storey, traces of a brick fireplace, covered with plaster. The central chimney stack is original, with arched panels and a moulded cap. Interior:—There are two large open fireplaces, partly blocked, and one original door.

Condition—Fairly good.

(17). House, now two tenements, about 100 yards N.E. of the church, is of two storeys, built in the 17th century, restored and enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries. The original timber-framing remains at each end, with filling of 18th-century brick; the other walls are re-faced with 18th-century stone and brick. The roof is tiled. The chimney stack at the N. end is of original thin bricks, with diagonal shafts on a square base. Interior:—The constructional timbers are visible, and there is a large open fireplace with a moulded stone bracket above it.

Condition—Fairly good.

(18). House, N.W. of (17), is of two storeys, built in the 16th century, subsequently much altered and enlarged. The plan is L-shaped, the wings extending towards the S. and W., with a modern addition on the E. side. The W. wall retains the original timber-framing and filling of wattle and daub; the other walls are almost entirely re-faced with 18th-century and modern brick. The roofs are thatched. The upper storey on the W. side of the S. wing has a slightly projecting bay window, with original oak mullions, now blocked; on the ground floor below it is the remaining sill of a similar window. The large projecting chimney stack on the E. side is original. Interior:— The constructional timbers are visible, and there is one large open fireplace. An outhouse, at the W. end of the W. wing, has walls of clay.

Condition—Fairly good.

(19–20). Houses, two, S.W. of (18), are each of two storeys, built early in the 17th century, and timber-framed; the eastern house (19) retains the 17th-century brick filling, partly set in herringbone pattern, but restored with modern brick. The projecting chimney stack at the S. end is original. The western house (20) has wattle and daub filling, much restored with modern brick. The roofs of both houses are thatched. Inside the eastern house there are original ceiling-beams and one large open fireplace.

Condition—Of both houses, fairly good.

(21). Lower Green Farm, W. of (20), is a two-storeyed house, built early in the 17th century, and timber-framed; the original wattle and daub filling remains, except in the southern part of the house, which has been re-built with 18th-century stone rubble. The central chimney stack is original. The roof is thatched. One room has a large open fireplace.

Condition—Fairly good.

(22). House, now two tenements, N.W. of Lower Green Farm, is of two storeys, built early in the 17th century, and much restored in the 19th century. The back and the E. wall retain the original timber-framing, with brick filling. In front the upper storey is timber-framed, but the filling and the rest of the wall are of modern brick. The W. wall is also modern. The eastern chimney stack is of 17th-century brick. The roof is thatched.

Condition—Fairly good.

(23). House, on the S. side of a by-road, about 200 yards N.N.W. of the church, is of two storeys, built early in the 17th century, of timber and brick, restored and enlarged in the 19th century. The N. and S. walls are covered with plaster. The roof is thatched. In the N. wall is one, and in the S. walls are two original windows with oak mullions. The chimney stacks are of 17th-century brick. In one room is a large open fireplace with an oven.

Condition—Fairly good.

(24). Quash Farm, N.W. of (23), is a house of two storeys and an attic, built early in the 17th century; the E. wall retains some of the original timber-framing with 18th-century brick filling; the other walls are of 18th-century brick and stone rubble. The roofs are tiled. The plan was originally L-shaped, but has been altered by modern additions. In the E. wall, on the ground floor, are two original windows, now blocked. The central chimney stack is of thin bricks. Interior:—The constructional timbers are visible, and there are some large open fireplaces, now partly blocked.

Condition—Fairly good.

(25). Grange Farm, house and barn, about ½ mile N.E. of the church. The House is of two storeys and an attic, built probably in the 16th century, and subsequently enlarged and restored. The walls are partly timber-framed with filling of 18th-century brick, partly of stone and brick; the roofs are tiled. On the S. front is a gable covered with modern rough-cast. A large chimney stack at the S.E. end of the original building has three square shafts with a moulded base, all of 17th-century brick; the top is modern. Inside the house are large chamfered beams in the ceilings, and under the original chimney stack is a large open fireplace.

The Barn was built probably late in the 15th or early in the 16th century, of stone; the roof is tiled. In the W. wall is an original doorway, now blocked; it has moulded ashlar quoins in the jambs and a segmental head of wood, in one piece, also moulded; on the S. jamb is an incised sundial and the N. jamb has traces of two similar sundials. The other original doorways are also blocked, except one at the E. end in the N. wall, and the present doorways are of the 18th century. At each end of the building and at the S. end of the E. wall is a narrow lancet window. The interior of the barn is divided into five bays with side aisles; the roof is of elaborate design with trusses of massive, roughly hewn timbers, each truss supported by two large roughly squared posts, which rest on bases formed of stone slabs in two layers.

Condition—Of house and barn, fairly good.

(26). Stocks, on the N. side of the road, S. of the church; the uprights, the lower rail, and part of the upper rail on a swivel hinge, remain.

Condition—Poor.