Foscott

134. FOSCOTT.

(O.S. 6 in. xiii. N.E.)

Roman

(1). Dwelling-house, remains, about ½ mile S.E. of the church, and close to a small stream which flows into the river Ouse. The site was excavated in 1837–40 and possibly disturbed at other times. The remains are those of a house of considerable size, and the discoveries include baths with leaden pipes, a large walled tank, two tessellated pavements, flue-tiles and many smaller objects. Coins found show that the house was inhabited during the early years of the 4th century A.D. One of the pavements has been placed in the 'Queen's Temple' in Stowe Park (see Stowe). (See Gentleman's Magazine, 1838, Part I., p. 302; 1841, Part I., p. 81; 1843, Part I., p. 303. Records of Buckinghamshire, Vol. V., 1885, Part I., p. 355.)

Condition—Of structural remains, underground.

Ecclesiastical

(2). Parish Church of St. Leonard, stands about ¾ mile N.E. of Maids' Moreton Church, and is built of limestone rubble; the roofs are tiled. The Nave and part of the S. wall of the Chancel are of mid 12th-century date; about the middle of the 14th century the chancel was widened towards the N., and probably also lengthened, and the chancel arch was re-built. Late in the 15th century the South Porch was added. The whole church was restored in the 19th century.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (19 ft. by 15½ ft.) has, at the S.E. angle, a pilaster buttress apparently of the 12th century, which has been scraped and probably re-set. The 15th-century E. window is of three cinque-foiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head. There are no openings in the N. wall. In the S. wall are two windows; the eastern is of two uncusped pointed lights in a pointed head; the opening is probably of the 14th century, but the mullion and head are modern and the jambs have been altered; the western window is now of two small lights with square heads, placed low in the wall, but the rear arch is at the same level as that of the eastern window: a small doorway, between the windows, is of the 14th century, and has a pointed head with an external label which has mask-stops, one carved as the head of a man in a liripipe hood, the other as the head of a woman in a wimple. The 14th-century chancel arch is two-centred and of three chamfered orders; the innermost order rests on moulded corbels carved with ball-flower ornament; the jambs are square. The Nave (32½ ft. by 18 ft.) has, in the N. wall at the E. end, a 14th-century window originally of two lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, but the mullion and tracery have disappeared, and all the stonework is much defaced; the N. doorway, now blocked, has a plain two-centred head of late 14th or early 15th-century date, but the plain jambs and imposts are possibly of the 12th century. In the S.E. corner are the stairs to the former rood-loft, set in a small square projection and lighted by one small loop; the stairs and both doorways are complete. In the S. wall are two windows, the eastern a single light, and much defaced, but probably originally of the same date and design as the N. window; the western window is of the 15th century, and of two trefoiled lights under a flat head, with a deep external reveal: between the windows is the 12th-century S. doorway, with a moulded semi-circular head and a carved and moulded label, partly cut back; the jambs are square, with moulded imposts. In the W. wall is a pointed light, of uncertain date and probably altered from another shape; above it is a similar window. The South Porch has a four-centred entrance archway of two chamfered orders, and of the 15th century. The Roofs are modern, but four 14th-century corbels, carved as grotesque heads, remain in the nave.

Fittings—Bells: one, now in nave—hung in upper window in W. wall, probably 14th-century. Brass: In chancel—to Edward Grenvile, 1661, inscription and shield with arms, a cross with five roundels thereon. Communion Table and Rails: table with turned baluster legs, apron carved with inscription recording donation by Samuel Wastel, 1633; rails moulded, with panelled posts and turned balusters, mid 17th-century. Glass: In chancel—in S.E. window, fragments, painted, head of woman, and bones, early 16th-century. Paintings: In nave—on N. wall, traces of texts, probably 16th-century. Plate: includes cup and cover paten of 1632, the cup having inscription and date 1633. Piscina: In chancel—with cinque-foiled head, 15th-century. Pulpit: made up of panelling, early 17th-century. Stoup: In S. porch—E. of S. doorway, niche with four-centred head, projecting semi-octagonal basin, partly defaced. Miscellanea: Nave—in N. wall, at W. end, outside, near the ground, stone, with roughly incised circle surrounding cross or saltire.

Condition—Fairly good, but with much ivy which will soon cause damage.

Secular

(3). The Manor House, about 150 yards N. of the church, is a large building of two storeys and an attic; the walls are of squared stone rubble; the roofs are tiled. It incorporates the remains of a 17th-century house, said to have been built c. 1640, but so much modern alteration and rebuilding has been done, that it is difficult to trace the extent of the original work; the S.E. half of the main block is apparently of the 17th century, and the greater part of the N.W. half may be also of that date. The S.E. front, facing the garden, is divided into three bays by four sets of Doric pilasters; two rain-water pipes have grotesque heads of stone. In the middle of the main block are two large chimney stacks with original square plinths of brick, capped with stone; the shafts are modern.

Interior:—The library, in the E. corner of the house, has an old chamfered beam in the ceiling. The staircase, rising from the ground floor to the attic in the N.W. half of the main block, is of c. 1640, but possibly not in situ; it has a close string, moulded handrail, turned balusters and square panelled newels with moulded urn-shaped finials, surmounted by balls and pierced pendants.

Condition—Good, very much altered.