Wooburn

99. WOOBURN.

(O.S. 6 in. xlvii. S.E.)

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Paul, in the village, has walls re-faced with modern flint; the dressings are of stone; the roofs are covered with lead, except that of the N. chapel, which is tiled. The Nave is partly of late 12th-century date; c. 1360 the North Chapel was added, and the Chancel was probably re-built at the same time. The West Tower was built in 1442. The North and South Aisles were re-built in the 19th century, and the church was restored inside in 1856–7, outside in 1868–9, when the clearstorey was added. The floor of the chancel appears to have been raised.

The 14th-century windows of the N. chapel are noticeable.

Architectural Description— The Chancel (29½ ft. by 14½ ft.) has an E. window of three lights; part of the moulded rear arch may be old, but the rest is modern. In the N. wall, opening into the chapel, is a 14th-century two-centred arch, of two moulded orders, with halfoctagonal jambs, which have moulded bases and capitals. The two windows in the S. wall and the chancel arch are modern. The North Chapel (30 ft. by 14 ft.) has a 14th-century E. window of three foiled ogee lights and tracery. In the N. wall are two 14th-century windows, each of two trefoiled ogee lights and tracery, and a modern doorway. All the windows have been partly restored externally with cement. At the W. end, opening into the N. aisle, is a 14th-century two-centred arch of two moulded orders. The Nave (52 ft. by 19½ ft.) has N. and S. arcades of four bays, with circular columns, which have moulded bases and capitals; the pointed arches are of one square order, plastered, with old labels in the aisles and modern labels in the nave; the N. arcade is apparently of late 12th-century date, but has been re-tooled and plastered; the capitals are re-cut, or modern; of the S. arcade only the W. respond and the westernmost column are original. The Aisles (N. aisle 10 ft. wide, S. aisle 12½ ft. wide) are modern. The West Tower (14 ft. square) is of three stages, with a S.E. stair-turret, and an embattled parapet. The 15th-century tower arch is heavily moulded; the capitals and bases are moulded. In the S. wall, opening into the stair-turret, is a small 15th-century moulded doorway, with a four-centred head; one of the steps in the turret appears to be part of the capital or base of a clustered column of early date. The W. doorway, the W. window and the windows of the bell-chamber are all modern. The Roof of the chancel is of the 16th century, but has been restored; that of the N. chapel is partly of the 15th century, but the colour decoration is modern; the roof of the nave has old tie-beams.

Fittings—Brasses and Indents. Brasses: in the chancel—(1) of Thomas Swayn, S.T.B., prebendary of Aylesbury, and chaplain to William Atwater, Bishop of Lincoln, 1519, figure of priest in processional vestments, inscription in Latin; (2) of Arthur, infant son of Philip, Lord Wharton, 1641, small square plate, with representation of altar tomb and figure of child on it, inscription, lozenge with shield of arms and motto, see brass (8); (3) of man in shroud, with scroll, inscription in English verse, no date, four shields and representation of the Trinity, space left for a second brass, but no indent, probably c. 1520. In N. aisle—at E. end, (4) to Hugh Robertson, vicar of the parish, 1614, inscription in Latin; (5) of John Godwyn, 1488, and Pernell his wife, 'first founders of the Stepull of Obourne Deyncourt', figure of civilian, inscription, indent of woman's figure and two small indents, possibly of children; (6) of Christopher Askowe, Margery his wife, and William, son of Margery, two figures, man in civilian dress, indent of child, undated inscription, probably c. 1510—figure of man, and inscription partly cut off for modern seats. In N. chapel—(7) to Maud and Margaret, wives of Thomas Sothewyk, inscription only, in Latin, undated, probably late 15th-century. In S. aisle—at W. end, (8) to Arthur, son of Lord Wharton, imperfect marginal inscription on broken slab, and indents of small square plate, lozenge and inscription, see brass (2). Chests: in N. chapel, one plain with elaborately carved feet, late 13th-century, lid modern: another, smaller, plain, with iron straps, 17th-century. Doors: in W. doorway of tower, double, with strap-hinges, 17th-century: in turret, plain, modern face nailed on to it: in ringing-chamber, plain, with strap-hinges. Locker: in N. wall of chancel, square, slightly rebated jambs and head. Monuments: In chancel—on N. wall, to Philip, Lord Wharton, 1695, Elizabeth and Anne his wives, inscription and arms, large tablet of white marble, with classic detail. Piscinæ: in the chancel, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled head, stone shelf, circular basin, 14th-century: in S. wall of N. chapel, with plain chamfered jambs, and arched head and circular basin, 14th-century. Recess: below S.E. window of chancel, plain, small, with chamfered jambs and two-centred head, covered with plaster. Miscellanea: in N. chapel, table with turned legs and rails, probably 17th-century, top modern.

Condition—Good, much restored.

Secular

(2). Deyncourt Farm, W. of the church: the remains of a manor house which belonged to the Deyncourt family, now outbuildings, with four cottages at the W. end, built of flint and clunch, brick and timber; the roofs are tiled.

The remains of a 15th-century doorway and window in one of the cottages, the 15th-century open timber roof in the outbuildings, and the 16th-century oriel windows are of especial interest.

The original plan cannot be determined, but the three western cottages are said to have been a chapel; they form a rectangular block, facing S., and are of two storeys. The two cottages at the W. end appear to have been built in the 15th century; in front, part of the wall is of flint and clunch in chequer pattern; one doorway has 15th-century moulded jambs, much worn, and over the lintel is the moulded stone transom of a two-light window, apparently of later date than the doorway; one window has a stone jamb similar to those of the doorway. The W. wall is of flint with a little clunch, and has a projecting chimney stack of brick. The third cottage, and the fourth, which is set back from the others, have been entirely re-faced with modern brick. The outbuildings are of the 15th century, and include the hall, now divided into two storeys and used as stables and hay loft. The S. wall is timber-framed, with brick filling, some of it set in herringbone pattern; the filling was originally partly of lath and plaster. Much of the lower part of the S. wall has been removed to make wide openings, and an open shed with a lean-to roof has been built against it; in the upper storey, partly hidden by the lean-to roof, are two blocked oriel windows of the 16th century, each of four lights, with moulded mullions, heads and sills of wood; the head of a third window also remains, and the position of a fourth can be traced. The N. wall is of brick and was re-built in 1610, the date being shown in black bricks; in the lower part of the wall are seven small shallow recesses, five with triangular heads and two with square heads. The upper storey has a fine trussed rafter roof of four bays.

A large barn, adjoining the E. end of the 15th-century outbuildings, and projecting towards the S. is probably of the 16th or 17th century. It is built of timber, with brick filling at the N. end. The queen-post roof has massive trusses, supported on large posts.

Condition—Bad; in need of general repair.

(3). The Royal Oak Inn, S. of the church, is of two storeys, built probably in the 17th century, of brick and timber; the brick has been considerably restored; the roofs are tiled.

The 17th-century figures, of carved wood, fixed to the front of the building, are said to come from the church, and to represent an architect and a builder; they have round caps and high boots; one holds a compass and rule, the other a staff, and apparently a shield. Inside the house the original timbers are visible. A barn at the back of the house is probably of the 16th century, and is of timber construction, weather-boarded; one of the internal partitions is of wattle, and the roof has queen-post trusses supported on large posts.

Condition—Of house, good; of barn, fairly good.

Wooburn Green

(4). Cottages, several, and the following buildings (5–8) on the S. side of the green, are all of two storeys, built of brick and timber in the 17th century, and now generally much restored; the roofs are tiled.

(5–8). The Bull Inn retains some of the original brick and timber at the back and at the E. end. A room on the ground floor has a large open fireplace. The Red Cow Inn has an original central chimney stack, with three square shafts of thin bricks. House, now three cottages, opposite the Methodist Chapel, is of brick and timber; the plan is L-shaped, and the upper storey projects at one end. The chimney stack is of thin bricks. Cottage near the vicarage, retains some 17th-century brickwork.

Condition—Of all the buildings, good.