Wyddial

149. WYDDIAL.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)viii. S.E. ^(b)ix. S.W.)

Ecclesiastical

^b(1). Parish Church of St. Giles, stands about 1½ miles N.E. of Buntingford. It is built partly of flint rubble with stone dressings, and partly of brick. The Nave is probably of earlier date than the Chancel, which appears to be of the 15th century, but both have been much re-built and it is almost impossible to date them with certainty. The West Tower was also probably added in the 15th century, before the chancel was built. The North Aisle with North Chapel is built of brick, and dated 1532 by a brass commemorating the builder; it is therefore a very late example of pre-Reformation church architecture. In the 19th century the nave and chancel were restored and practically re-built, a South Porch was added, and all the windows were replaced.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (23 ft. by 14½ ft.) has an obtuse two-centred arch of brick, opening into the N. chapel; it is of two double hollow-chamfered orders with octagonal responds and crude capitals. The chancel arch is of two moulded orders, the inner on engaged shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The E. window and all other details are modern. The North Chapel (18 ft. by 12 ft.) has an E. window of four cinque-foiled lights with tracery, under a four-centred moulded head, and an external label, all of brick. On the N. are two windows of three lights, with moulded brick jambs, heads and labels. There is no structural division between the chapel and aisle. The Nave (39 ft. by 19 ft.) has, on the N., a brick arcade of three bays, with two-centred arches of three chamfered orders; the columns, also of brick, consist of four half-octagonal shafts separated by hollows, with crude, moulded bell capitals. This arcade and the chapel arch were probably plastered originally, but are now colour-washed red, with 'tuck' pointing to represent narrow joints. All the detail of the S. wall is modern. The North Aisle (10½ ft. wide) has, in the N. wall, two brick windows of the same design as those of the chapel, a doorway of classical design, in stone, inserted in the 17th century, and a 15th-century window of two lights, also of stone, probably re-set from the nave; the W. window is of the 15th century, with tracery. A half-hexagonal mass of brickwork projects externally on the W., and suggests the existence of a former stair-turret, but there is no indication of this inside. The West Tower (10 ft. by 9½ ft.) is of three stages with an embattled parapet. The tower arch is of two orders, the inner carried on half-octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and bases; the centre of the arch is slightly S. of the centre line of the nave. The W. window is of two lights under a quatrefoil in a two-centred head. The bell-chamber windows are also of two lights with crude tracery, and are much defaced. The South Porch is modern. The Roofs of the chancel and nave are modern, and those of the N. aisle and chapel have modern ceilings, but may be original.

Fittings—Bells: four; 2nd probably 14th-century, with inscription to St. Katherine, 3rd possibly 14th-century, illegible inscription, 4th 1666. Brasses: in the chancel, on the N. wall, of Dame Margaret, 1575, widow of Sir Robert Southwell, Master of the Rolls, and wife of William Plumbe, half-figure, arms and inscription: in the floor, of John Gille, 1546, and his wife, eight daughters, arms and inscription, indent of sons: to George Gyll, 1568, and his two wives, inscription and broken shield with arms: to John Gill, 1600, and Joan his wife, inscription and arms: in the N. chapel, to Helen (Gulston), wife of John Joscelyne, 1640, arms and inscription: indent of civilian, lower part of figure brass, with indent of inscription said to be of George Canon, 1534: brass inscription (now kept at the Rectory) to George Canon, recording that he built the aisle in 1532, died 1534 (see also Monuments below). Communion Table: early 17th-century. Glass: in the N. windows of the aisle, late 16th-century, painted with scenes of the Passion; German or Flemish workmanship. Monuments: in the nave, painted inscription on board to Margery, wife of Anthony Disney, 1621: in N. chapel, on S.E., mural tablet and floor slab with brass inscription plate and shields, to Jane Gouldston, 1630: mural tablet and floor slab with brass punning inscription, to Richard Gulstone (spelt Goulston on brass), 1686: on the S.W., elaborate mural monument with broken pediment on twisted columns, to Sir William Goulston, 1687, with marble busts of Sir William and Frediswide, his wife: floor slab, also to Sir William Goulston, 1687. Screens: separating the chapel from chancel and aisle, elaborately carved and pierced, ornamented with grotesque figures and with a semi-classical cornice, early 17th-century. Seating: in the aisle, four pews of same date as the screens, and of similar, but plainer workmanship: in the nave, some reeded panels incorporated in modern seats.

Condition—Fairly good, except the tower, which is somewhat out of repair, and the chancel arch, which is settling to the S. There is a dangerous amount of ivy on the tower and aisle.

Secular

^b(2). Wyddial Hall, N. of the church, is a two-storeyed building of plastered brick; the roof is tiled. The house is of 18th-century design, but incorporates the shell of a late mediæval building, of which little detail remains. The cellars are built of early 16th-century brick, and have niches with inverted V-shaped heads, and windows of three lights with defaced stone mullions, possibly original. Some of the timbers of the roof appear to be mediæval material re-used, and some early 17th-century panelling remains.

Condition—Good; re-built.

^a(3). Corney Bury, stands about 1¼ miles S.W. of the church and 1 mile N. of Buntingford. It is a 17th-century building of two storeys and an attic; the walls are of red brick, and the roofs are partly tiled and partly slated. The plan is E-shaped, with the wings projecting to the N.W. Two lead rain-water heads remain, with the initials C. C. (Charles Crouch) and the date 1681; the Crouch family owned the manor of Corney Bury from about the beginning of the 17th century to 1690. On the N.W. front of the house are three curvilinear gables, one at the end of each wing and the third in the middle of the main block; the central porch was added late in the 17th or early in the 18th century, and has columns with Ionic capitals carrying a pediment. A shallow bay on the S.W. face was added late in the 18th century, but behind it is another original curvilinear gable. The plain square windows have wood frames; those at the end of the W. wing are blocked by a modern chimney stack; there are small circular lights in the gables. The interior has been much altered.

Condition—Good.

Unclassified

^b(4). Denehole, at Cave Gate.

END OF THE INVENTORY.