Munsley

59 MUNSLEY (D.d.)

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)XXXV, N.W., ^(b)XXXV, S.W., ^(c)XXXV, S.E.)

Munsley is a parish 4 m. N.W. of Ledbury, between the valleys of the Leadon and the Frome. The church is the principal monument.

Ecclesiastical

^b(1). Parish Church of St. Bartholomew stands in the N. part of the parish. The walls are of local sandstone rubble with dressings of the same material; the roofs are covered with stone slates. The church, consisting of Chancel and Nave, was built c. 1100. It was restored in 1863 when the S. walls were partly re-built; the bell-cote and South Porch are modern.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (18½ ft. by 16½ ft.) has some herring-bone work in the E. gable; the E. window, of c. 1100, is of one round-headed light. In the N. wall are two windows, the eastern of the 14th century and of one trefoiled light, partly restored; the western window is of c. 1100, partly restored, and of one round-headed light. In the S. wall are two windows, the eastern a 13th-century lancet-light and the western of the 14th century and of one ogee-headed light; the S. doorway is modern. The chancel-arch, of c. 1100, is semi-circular and of one plain order, with square responds and moulded imposts.

The Nave (37½ ft. by 20 ft.) has, in the N. wall, three windows, the easternmost of late 13th-century date and of two trefoiled lights with a pierced spandrel in a two-centred head; the middle window is a single round-headed light of c. 1100; the westernmost window is similar to the easternmost but with a modern head and mullion; the N. doorway, now blocked, has a flat segmental-pointed head. In the S. wall are two windows, the eastern of late 14th-century date, much restored and of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head; the western window is modern; the 14th-century S. doorway has sunk-chamfered jambs and segmental-pointed head. In the W. wall is a modern window.

Fittings—Bells: two, inaccessible. Chests: In nave—(1) dug-out chest with two cambered lids, staples and locks, 13th-century, locks later; (2) framed chest with ends carried down to form feet, 17th or early 18th-century. Coffin-lids: In nave—on E. wall, (1) with formy cross at top and foliated cross below, inscription, in Lombardic capitals, to Robert Chaumberleyn, 13th-century, cut for use as window-sill; (2) with cross-head in circle, 13th-century. Floor-slabs: In chancel—(1) to Benjamin Mason, 1665; (2) to Richard Skynner, 1707, Sarah, his wife, 1718–9, and Richard Skynner Jun., 1736, with achievement-of-arms; (3) to Catherine, wife of Henry Jones, 1656. Font: octagonal bowl with concave under - side, octagonal stem and octagonal to round base, 15th-century. Glass: In nave—in middle N. window, 15th-century fragments of borders, leaves, leopard's head, etc. In S. windows of nave, roundels and border, 14th and 15th-century. Inscription: In nave—on S. wall, stone with a number of cut letters of various sizes and of uncertain date and purport. Sundial: On S.E. angle of chancel—scratched dial. Miscellanea: Incorporated in S. wall of nave—stone with cut circles.

Condition—Good.

Secular

^b(2). Mound (Plan, p. xxvi), probably castle-mound, at Lower Court, 100 yards S.W. of the. church, rises about 6 ft. above the approach on the N.E. On the W. side is a dry ditch and on the E. a large marshy area, perhaps formerly flooded by the small stream which runs through it. To the S.W. of the mound is an L-shaped length of wet moat formerly enclosing an outer court.

Condition—Bad.

^b(3). Lower Court, house on the mound above described, is of two storeys with cellars; the walls are partly of brick and partly timber-framed and the roofs are tiled. It is mainly of 18th-century date but incorporates a 17th-century timber-framed wall.

Condition—Good.

^c(4). Paunceford Court, house, barn and remains of moat, ¾ m. E.S.E. of the church. The House is of two storeys with attics; the walls are of timber-framing and brick and the roofs are covered with tiles and slates. The timber-framed N.E. wing is of early 17th-century date; the main block was re-built in the 18th century and there are modern additions. Inside the building are some original chamfered ceiling-beams.

The Barn, S.W. of the house, is of the 17th century, timber-framed and of seven bays.

The Moat is represented only by a pond, S.E. of the house, with a dry continuation of the ditch beyond it and by remains of a ditch to the N. of the farmbuildings.

Condition—Of house, good.

Monuments (5–13)

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

Condition—Good or fairly good, unless noted.

^c(5). Cottage, on the S. side of the road at Waller's Green, over 1¼ m. S.E. of the church, has exposed timber-framing and a thatched roof.

^b(6). Vergons Cottage, on the N. side of the road, 1,500 yards S.S.E. of the church, has exposed timber-framing and a thatched roof.

^b(7). Orchard Cottage, two tenements, ¾ m. S.S.W. of the church, has exposed timber-framing.

^b(8). Pickerills, cottage, 800 yards S.E. of the church, has exposed timber-framing. The W. half is an 18th-century addition.

Condition—Poor.

^b(9). Moorend Farm, house and granary, 600 yards N.W. of the church. The House is partly of two storeys with attics and of irregular L-shaped plan. The middle part of the house was re-built in the 18th century. The older parts have exposed timber-framing. Inside the building is some original panelling, re-used to form an overmantel.

The Granary, N. of the house, is timber-framed and of two bays.

^a(10). Old Parsonage, cottage, 1,400 yards N. of the church, has exposed timber-framing.

^b(11). Barn, N.E. of Nupend Farm, 1,000 yards W. of the church, is of seven bays and of three periods of construction.

^b(12). White House, 1,400 yards W.N.W. of the church, was built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century on a T-shaped plan with the cross-wing at the W. end. Some of the timber-framing is exposed.

^b(13). Cottage, two tenements, on the N.E. side of the road, 300 yards S.W. of (12), has an early 18th-century extension at the E. end.