Acton Beauchamp

AN INVENTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN EAST HEREFORDSHIRE

ACCREDITED TO A DATE BEFORE 1714 Arranged by Parishes

(Unless otherwise stated, the dimensions given in the Inventory are internal. Monuments with titles printed in italics are covered by an introductory sentence to which reference should be made. The key-plans of those churches which are not illustrated by hatched plans are drawn to a uniform scale of 48 ft. to the inch, with the monumental portions shown in solid black.)

1 ACTON BEAUCHAMP (D.b.)

(O.S. 6 in. XXVIII, N.E.)

Acton Beauchamp is a small parish on the Worcestershire border 4 m. S.E, of Bromyard, formerly in Worcestershire. The carved stone in the church is the most interesting feature.

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Giles stands in the W. angle of the parish. The walls are of local sandstone and the roofs are tiled. The S. doorway is of c. 1200 and was re-set when the whole church was re-built in 1819.

The pre-Conquest carved stone, re-set in the tower, is of particular interest.

Architectural Description—The S. doorway, of c. 1200, has a round arch of two orders, the inner chamfered and continuous and the outer moulded and springing from detached shafts with moulded bases and abaci; the W. shaft has a scalloped capital and the E. shaft has a capital carved with three heads. The bell-chamber of the tower has in each face a lancet-window perhaps of c. 1200 re-set.

Fittings—Bells: three; 1st inscribed in Lombardic capitals "Sancte Gabrihel ora pro nobis," 2nd similar and inscribed "Sancte Petre ora pro nobis," both probably 15th-century. Font: octagonal bowl with moulded top, concave under side carved with large pateræ, plain stem and hollow-chamfered base, late 15th-century, much repaired in cement. Plate: consists of cup and cover-paten probably of late 17th-century date. Miscellanea: Incorporated in walls, various 12th-century worked stones. Re-used as lintel of S. doorway of tower, with segmental head of doorway cut out of it, tapering stone (3 ft. 7 in. by 13½ in. at top and 16½ in. at base, cut away at back and now 9 in. thick) with carved panel on face (Plate 18) of scrolled foliage with sheaths at branch-junctions, trefoiled and other leaves, bird and two beasts in the scrolls, probably part of 9th-century cross-shaft.

Condition—Rebuilt.

Secular

Monuments (2–9)

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

Condition—Good or fairly good, unless noted.

(2). Sinton's End Farm, house and barns 1,520 yards S.E. of the church. The House was built probably in 1633, on an L-shaped plan with the wings extending towards the S.W. and N.W. The S.W. wing was extended early in the 18th century. A piece of oak beam from the house and now preserved at Sevington in the same parish, is carved with the date and initials G.H. 1633. Inside the building, the early 18th-century staircase has turned balusters.

The Barn, S.E. of the house, is of five bays. The two-storeyed Outbuilding, N.W. of the house, is probably of the same period.

(3). Dawfields, cottage W. of Acton Green and about 1 m. E. of the church, has been partly refaced in stone.

(4). Cottage, 360 yards S.E. of the cross-roads at Acton Green, is of late 17th or early 18th-century date.

(5). Cottage, 250 yards S. of the road and about 1¾ m. E. of the church, has a late 17th-century panelled door. Inside the building are two moulded ceiling-beams.

(6). Cottage, on the S. side of the road 400 yards N.E. of (5), was built probably early in the 18th century.

(7). Wooton's Farm, house, nearly 1¼m. E. of the church, has been refaced in stone and added to on the N. side.

(8). The Hallets, cottage 750 yards N.N.E. of (7). Condition—Poor.

(9). Halfridge Farm, house and barn about ¾ m. N.E. of the church. The House has been partly refaced in stone. The Barn, S.W. of the house, is of late 17th or early 18th-century date.