Wormingford

100. WORMINGFORD. (C.b.)

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xviii. N.W. ^(b)xviii. S.W.)

Wormingford is a parish on the right bank of the Stour, 6½ m. N.W. of Colchester. The church, Church House and Jenkin's Farm are the principal monuments.

Ecclesiastical

^a(1). Parish Church of St. Andrew stands near the N. end of the parish. The walls are of flint-rubble with some admixture of brick; the dressings are of limestone and Roman brick, and the roofs are tiled. The Nave and the West Tower were built early in the 12th century. At the beginning of the 14th century the North Aisle was added and about the middle of the same century the Chancel was rebuilt. A South Porch was added in the 15th century. The church was generally restored in 1870 when the North Vestry and Organ Chamber were added and the South Porch rebuilt.

The W. tower and the N. arcade are interesting examples of their respective periods.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (31½ ft. by 19 ft.) has a modern E. window. In the N. wall are two mid 14th-century windows, much restored and each of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; between them is a modern opening. In the S. wall are two windows similar to those in the N. wall. The mid 14th-century chancel-arch is two-centred and of two orders, the outer moulded and the inner sunk-chamfered; the chamfered responds have each a semi-octagonal shaft with a moulded capital and base.

The Nave (41 ft. by 23½ ft.) has an early 14th-century N. arcade of four bays with two-centred arches of two moulded orders; the octagonal columns have moulded capitals and bases; the responds have attached semi-octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and bases. In the S. wall are three windows, the easternmost is of early 14th-century date, much restored and of two trefoiled ogee lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head; the second window is also of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a segmental-pointed head of mid 14th-century date; the westernmost window is modern, but incorporates some old stones; further W. is a blocked 12th-century window with a round internal head and Roman brick jambs; further E. some Roman bricks may indicate the position of a second 12th-century window; W. of the modern window is a mid or late 14th-century doorway with jambs and two-centred arch of two moulded orders; above the E. haunch of the arch, externally, is the line of the round head of the 12th-century doorway.

The North Aisle (8 ft. wide) is of mid 14th-century date and has in the E. wall a window of two trefoiled lights in a two-centred head almost entirely modern. In the N. wall are three windows similar to that in the E. wall and much restored; further W. is the N. doorway with chamfered jambs and restored two-centred arch. In the W. wall is a window of a single trefoiled light.

The West Tower (13½ ft. square) is of three stages with Roman brick quoins and an early 17th-century embattled parapet of brick, with crocketed pinnacles at the angles. The tower-arch is modern. The N., S. and W. walls have each a narrow early 12th-century window of brick with a round head. The second stage has a similar window in the S. and W. walls, but of 15th or 16th-century brick externally. The bell-chamber has in each wall a larger 12th-century window of brick and with a round head; that in the E. wall is partly covered by the nave roof and is now blocked.

The South Porch is modern, but has a reset outer archway of early 15th-century date, with moulded jambs and two-centred arch in a square head with a moulded label; the spandrels and label-stops are carved with the symbols of the evangelists each holding a shield with the arms—(a) a defaced coat impaling a lion rampant (?); (b) three cheverons for Clare; (c) a fesse indented between three martlets for Rokell; and (d) a lion rampant.

The Roof of the N. aisle is of early 16th-century date with moulded wall-plates and tie-beams with curved braces.

Fittings—Bells: four, said to be, 1st and 2nd by Richard Bowler, 1591; 3rd by Joanna Sturdy, 15th-century and inscribed "Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum I.S." Brasses and Indents. Brasses: In tower—(1) of civilian and two wives in large hats, indents of inscription-plate and groups of children, early 17th-century; (2) of civilian in long gown and pointed shoes, collar inlaid with lead, indents of inscription-plate and two shields, c. 1450. Indents: In tower—of woman, inscription-plate and four shields, 15th-century; (2) of inscription-plate. Font: In churchyard—octagonal bowl, 14th or 15th-century, much weathered. Floor-slab: In tower—to John Potter, 1710, with achievement of arms. Glass: In chancel—in N.W. window, borders, grisaille, tops of tabernacle work and a foliated roundel, 14th-century; in S.W. window, two shields of arms, probably for Hoskyns (Plate, p. 192), not in their original state but of 14th-century material; in tracery foliated roundel and grisaille, 14th-century, and a 16th-century shield of arms. Piscina: In chancel—with trefoiled ogee head and septfoiled drain, 14th-century, sill partly restored. Plate: includes Elizabethan cup with band of incised ornament. Screen: modern, but incorporating parts of moulded and buttressed posts, moulded rail, four trefoiled and sub-cusped heads with elaborate tracery, and sub-cusped ogee head with tracery, to doorway, 15th-century. Sedilia: In chancel—sill of S.E. window carried down to form seats, 14th-century. Stoup: In S. porch—with moulded jambs and four-centred head, 15th-century, bowl destroyed.

Condition—Good, much restored.

Secular

^a(2). Homestead Moat, at Bowdens, nearly 1 m. N.E. of the church.

^a(3). Garnons, house and moat, 1¼ m. E.N.E. of the church. The House is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built in the 17th century and has two gabled cross-wings at the W. end and a long outbuilding to the S.W.

The Moat partly surrounds the house and there are traces of an outer enclosure.

Condition—Of house, good.

^b(4). Wood Hall, house and moat, ½ m. S. of the church. The House is of two storeys, timberframed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built probably late in the 16th century with a cross-wing at the E. end. There are modern additions on the E. and W. The upper storey projects at the N. end of the cross-wing and has a bressumer carved with a form of guilloche ornament.

The Moat surrounds the house.

Condition—Of house, good, much altered.

^b(5). Rotchfords, house and moat, nearly ¾ m. S. of (4). The House is of two storeys, timberframed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built probably in the 15th century and has a 16th-century staircase-wing on the E. side. The house was much altered and refronted in the 18th century. The early 17th-century central and N. chimney-stacks have grouped diagonal shafts. Inside the building the middle room has a 16th-century moulded ceiling-beam and the N. room is lined with panelling of the same date. In the wall between the main block and the staircase are remains of an original window, with mortices for diamond-shaped mullions. On the first floor one room has early 17th-century panelling with a fluted frieze. The E. wing has an original king-post roof-truss.

The Moat partly surrounds the house.

Condition—Of house, good, much altered.

^a(6). Church Hall, N. of the church, is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built probably early in the 16th century with cross-wings at the N. and S. ends. Adjoining the N. wing is a small staircase-wing of red brick. The early 17th-century chimney-stack to the N. wing has grouped diagonal shafts. Inside the building the front room of the N. wing has an original moulded ceiling-beam and some late 16th-century panelling with fluted pilasters. The S. wing has remains of the original projecting upper storey, now under-built. A window in the main block has a roundel of 16th-century glass with a crowned double rose and the initials E.R. On the first floor is an original doorway with a three-centred head. The main block has an original king-post roof-truss and the N. wing has a cambered tie-beam.

Condition—Good.

^a(7). Church House, E. of church, is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered except the S. wing which is of red brick; the roofs are tiled. It was built in the 16th century and has crosswings at the N. and S. ends. The S. wing has a shaped Dutch gable at the W. end and two five-light transomed windows with square heads. In the S. wall of the same wing is a similar three-light window and in the E. wall are two more windows of similar character. The central chimney-stack has grouped diagonal shafts. Inside the building are some exposed ceiling-beams and an early 18th-century dog-gate to the staircase.

Condition—Good.

Monuments (8–13).

The following monuments, unless otherwise described, are of the 17th century and of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled or thatched. Some of the buildings have original chimney-stacks and exposed ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good, or fairly good.

^a(8). Cottage, 30 yards S. of (7).

^a(9). Cottage, 60 yards S. of (8), has exposed timber-framing externally.

^a(10). The Grange, house, about ¼ m. E. of the church, has been much altered and enlarged. Inside the building is some panelling of c. 1600, brought from elsewhere.

^b(11). Crown Inn, ½ m. S.S.W. of the church, has exposed timber-framing on the S. front.

^b(12). Jenkin's Farm, house, ½ m. S. of (11), was built c. 1583. Probably early in the 17th century the N. wall and the N. part of the W. front were refaced with brick. In the middle of the W. front is a porch with a projecting upper storey and a projecting gable both with carved bressumers; the angle posts of the ground floor have moulded capitals and curved brackets carved with the initials and date W.L. A.D. 1583. In the brick wall of the N. part of the front is a square-headed window of three lights, with a moulded label; a second window is now all modern except the label. On the first floor is a third window of two lights and now blocked. There are similar windows in the N. wall. At the back is an original window, now blocked, and with moulded mullions. On the first floor are two original projecting windows with moulded sills and mullions. The S. chimney-stack has the bases of two octagonal shafts. Inside the building are three original doorways with three-centred heads and one old panelled door.

^b(13). The Grove, house, about 1¼ m. S.E. of the church, is largely modern, but incorporates a rectangular block, probably of the 16th century.