Thornborough

206. THORNBOROUGH.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xiii. S.E. ^(b)xiv. S.W.)

Ecclesiastical

^a(1). Parish Church of St. Mary, stands in the middle of the village. The walls are of stone rubble, partly coated with thin cement and partly with rough-cast; the aisle has a brick plinth; the dressings are of stone, and many of the windows have been treated with a thin wash of cement. The roofs are covered with lead, except that of the chancel, which is tiled. Of the church existing on the site early in the 12th century the only remaining evidence is some herring-bone rubble work at the bottom of the S. wall of the Nave. The North Aisle was added c. 1240, and the Chancel was re-built towards the end of the 13th century; the aisle was widened possibly in the 14th or 15th century. The windows of the clearstorey were inserted in the N. wall of the nave in the 14th century; the West Tower was added early in the 15th century, and the South Porch late in the same century. Windows were inserted in the chancel, nave and aisle during the 15th and 16th centuries; the tower arch was altered or re-cut in the 17th century, and the N. wall of the aisle re-built in the 18th century. The church was restored in the 19th century, and the North-West Vestry is modern.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (27 ft. by 13½ ft.) has a late 13th-century E. window of three lights and intersecting tracery in a two-centred head with a plain external label; below the window is a moulded external string-course. In the N. wall, at the W. end, is a low-side window of early 14th-century date, and of two trefoiled lights, with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, which has a moulded external label with mask-stops; the lower half of the window is blocked. In the S. wall are two 15th-century windows; the eastern is of slightly later date than the other, and of three cinque-foiled lights, with very small cusps, under a flat four-centred head with a moulded external label; the western window is of two trefoiled ogee lights and trefoiled tracery under a square head and moulded external label which has volute-stops; between the two windows is the upper part of a third window of the 15th century, similar to the western window, but with a flat triangular head; the lower part of the window has been cut away, and replaced by a 17th-century doorway, which has a segmental head, and jambs with a small edge-roll: between the doorway and the western window, inside, are traces of a blocked doorway. The two-centred chancel arch is of one chamfered order, and is probably of late 13th-century date. The Nave (52½ ft. by 19 ft.) has a plain parapet with grotesque gargoyles. The N. arcade is of c. 1240 and of four bays; the two-centred arches are of two chamfered orders with a plain label in the nave; the pillars are octagonal, and have moulded bases and capitals; the responds are chamfered, and have small attached semi-octagonal shafts, with moulded capitals and bases similar to those of the pillars, except the base of the E. respond, which is modern; E. of the arcade is the 15th-century upper doorway of the former rood-loft; it has a pointed head. In the S. wall are three windows; the easternmost is of late 15th-century date, and of three cinque-foiled lights under a transom and tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded external label; the rear arch is four-centred: the second window is large, and of early 16th-century date; it is of three cinque-foiled ogee lights and tracery in a flat four-centred head with a moulded external label; the third window is similar to the easternmost window, but with slightly different tracery in a flat four-centred head: between the western windows is the S. doorway, of late 14th or early 15th-century date, with moulded jambs and four-centred head under a moulded external label. The clearstorey has, in the N. wall, three windows; the eastern and western are quatre-foiled circular windows of the 14th century; the middle window is also circular; externally it is entirely modern. The North Aisle (10 ft. wide) has, in the E. wall, a 15th-century window of two trefoiled four-centred lights and tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded external label. In the N. wall are three windows; the easternmost is of the 15th century, and of three trefoiled lights and tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded external label; the second window, also of the 15th century, is of two trefoiled lights, with a sexfoil in a four-centred head and a moulded external label; the third window is of the 14th century, and of two trefoiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head; the moulded external label has head-stops covered with cement: between the two western windows is the 15th-century N. doorway which has moulded jambs and four-centred head; the moulded external label is partly broken and partly restored with cement. In the S. wall, E. of the arcade, is a 15th-century doorway with a four-centred head, opening into the staircase leading to the former rood-loft, of which the winding steps still remain. The West Tower (12 ft. square) is of three stages, with a chamfered plinth, square angle buttresses rising to the third stage, and an embattled parapet. The tower arch is of early 15th-century date, partly altered or re-cut in the 17th century; it is two-centred, and of three chamfered orders; the outer order has broachstops at the base, the inner orders have shallow moulded bases and moulded capitals, the N. capital being restored; the S. capital and the bases are probably of 17th-century workmanship. In the N. wall is a modern doorway opening into the vestry. The early 15th-century W. doorway has moulded jambs and pointed head; the rear arch is semi-circular: the W. window, above the doorway, is of the same date, and of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head; the external label is moulded and the rear arch is semi-circular. The N., S. and W. walls of the second stage have each a single trefoiled light under a square head, of early 15th-century date. In each wall of the bell-chamber is a window similar to the W. window of the ground stage. The South Porch has diagonal buttresses, and a stone and brick plinth. The outer doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred arch in a square head; the large external spandrels are plain; internally the stonework is of the 15th century, externally it is of later date and of a soft fine limestone, marked with circular holes possibly made by bullets: above the doorway, is a niche (see Fittings) and a low gable with a moulded string-course and coping. In each side wall is a 15th-century window of two cinque-foiled lights under a square head; against each wall is a stone bench. The Roof of the chancel is ceiled with plaster; below the ceiling are visible the chamfered wall-posts of four trusses, probably of a 16th or 17th-century roof; they are supported by plain wood corbels. The roof of the nave is modern, except some carved bosses of early 16th-century date. The S. porch has a 15th-century roof of two bays with moulded cambered tie-beams, moulded ridge, purlins and wall-plates.

Fittings—Brasses and Indents: In nave—on slab of Purbeck marble, (1) of William Barton, 1389, two figures, man in fur-lined gown, woman in veil head-dress, inscription in black-letter, indents of two shields. In N. aisle—on sill of middle window in N. wall, (2) to John Crowche, 1473, "capellan' qui quondā hic celebravit p~ ai~ab~s Joh~s Barton' senioris et junioris"; on sill of E. window, (3) to Dorothy, wife, first of John Butcher, and afterwards of John Stevens, 1685; (4) to John Woollhed, 1709, and (5) to Elizabeth his wife, 1696, inscriptions only. Chair: In chancel—with shaped arms, turned legs and arm-posts, incised back, early 17th-century. Chests: In vestry—two, both with plain strap-hinges, one with three locks, probably 16th or 17th-century. Communion Table: In chancel—with turned legs and moulded rails, early 17th-century. Door: In N. aisle—in N. doorway, of feather-boarding, with plain strap-hinges, probably 15th-century. Glass: In chancel —in tracery of S.W. window, fragments, including small figure of saint holding a spear, lower part of another figure, and part of inscription, 15th-century: in quatrefoil of N.W. window, quarries surrounding shield, probably 15th-century. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Floor-slab: In churchyard —in front of W. doorway, to Robert Jefs, 1689. Niche: Over entrance of S. porch—cinque-foiled, in square head, of brown stone, 15th-century, much perished. Stoup: In porch—E. of S. doorway, octagonal stem with trefoiled panels on base, 15th-century, base much perished. Tiles: In nave and N. aisle—in floor, at E. end, considerable number, painted and glazed, designs with flowers, etc., probably 15th-century, many much worn.

Condition—Fairly good; some of the stonework perished on the surface, probably from use of cement wash.

Secular

^a(2). The Manor House, 50 yards E. of the church, is of two storeys, built of stone, possibly late in the 17th century and subsequently restored and altered. The roofs are tiled. The plan consists of a half H-shaped block, the projections extending towards the N.E., and a wing extending towards the S.W. Two chimney stacks are of late 17th-century brick, one with three shafts, and the other rectangular.

The N.W. wall of the garden is contemporary with the house; it is faced with stone and has a stone coping; the inner side is of red and blue bricks, partly set in a diamond pattern in blue headers. The gate-pillars are of stone with moulded stone caps, the opening is partly blocked, but the original gate-hooks remain in the pillars.

Condition—Good.

High Street, S. side

^a(3). The Manor Farm, 180 yards W.N.W. of the church, is a house of two storeys with a small cellar, built of stone rubble in the second half of the 16th century; at the N.W. corner, a small 17th-century building, originally separate, now forms a wing of the house, and has walls of stone, except the N. end, which is timber-framed, with brick filling, partly modern; small modern additions have been made at the back and W. end of the house. The roofs are tiled.

The 16th-century fireplace in the original hall, and the moulded beams in the ceilings are worthy of note.

The plan of the original house is T-shaped; the vertical wing, extending towards the W., has a projecting porch on the S. side, and contains the original hall and the kitchen; the transverse wing contains the present entrance hall, with a room on each side of it. The N.W. wing forms an outer kitchen. Towards the W. end of the S. Elevation is the gabled two-storeyed porch, which has, on the ground floor, on each side, an original single-light window, rebated and chamfered, with a moulded label; the inner doorway has a moulded wood frame; the gabled S. end of the transverse wing has a rectangular incised sundial under the gable. On the N. Elevation both wings are gabled. The N.W. wing has two 17th-century windows in the E. wall, and two in the W. wall, each of three lights, with chamfered wood frames and mullions.

Interior:—In the 16th-century house the dining-room, originally the hall, has a massive moulded ceiling-beam and stop-chamfered joists; the large open fireplace, of stone, has moulded jambs and depressed head with flat sunk spandrels. The kitchen and another room have large ceiling-beams similar to that in the hall, and other ceilings have exposed timbers. The door in the inner doorway of the porch is of studded battens with strap-hinges and a drop-handle knocker. On the first floor some of the rooms have original oak floors, and there are doors of moulded oak battens; the landing has a moulded beam in the ceiling and another against the wall. The 'Court Room', over the original hall and the kitchen, has a massive roof-truss, with segmental bracing below the collar-beam; in the middle of the soffit is a circular projection carved with a star pattern. The room over the dining-room has plain moulded panelling, apparently partly old. The 17th-century wing has, on the ground floor, a large open fireplace with a chamfered cambered lintel: on the first floor some of the constructional timbers are visible in the walls.

Condition—Good.

Monuments (4–11)

These buildings are all of two storeys, and of the 17th century. The walls generally are of stone rubble, and most of them have been restored. The roofs are almost all thatched or tiled.

N. side

^a(4). Cottage, with a modern shop at the E. end, about 100 yards N.E. of the church. The roof is covered with slate. The central chimney stack has two shafts built of 17th-century brick.

Condition—Good.

^a(5). House, 80 yards N. of the church. A modern wing has been added at the back. The original central chimney stack has been restored at the top.

Condition—Fairly good.

^a(6). The New Inn, about 100 yards N.N.W. of the church. The upper storey is almost entirely timber-framed, with brick filling of the 18th and 19th centuries. The plan consists of a rectangular block, with a small wing at the back. In front, on each floor, is an original window, of two lights, with moulded wood frame and mullion; the lower window has two small square bars of wood set diagonally in each light; both windows are now blocked. The small central chimney stack is of early 17th-century brick, and the rectangular chimney at the N. end of the building is also probably original. Interior:—One room has a wide open fireplace, and there is one door of original moulded battens.

Condition—Good.

Lower End

^a(7). Cottage (see Plate, p. 280), now two tenements, on the S.W. side of the road, 330 yards W.N.W. of the church. The window frames, of wood, are probably of the 17th century. The lower part of the central chimney stack is of stone, the upper part of thin bricks, restored at the top.

Condition—Fairly good.

^a(8). Cottage (see Plate, p. 280), 50 yards N.W. of (7). The window frames, of wood, are probably original. The central chimney stack is partly of thin bricks.

Condition—Fairly good.

^a(9). Cottage, formerly three, now two tenements, 40 yards S. of the church. The central chimney stack is of stone, with a rectangular shaft of thin bricks, in bad repair at the top. Interior:—On the ground floor there is one wide open fireplace; some early 17th-century panelling remains, part of it being re-used as a screen on the first floor.

Condition—Poor.

^b(10). Cottage, on the S.E. side of the village green, 330 yards S.E. of the church. The walls are timber-framed, with braces to the main posts, and filling of plaster, restored with brick. The central chimney stack is of brick, restored at the top.

Condition—Fairly good.

^b(11). House and Bakehouse, on the S. side of the Nash road, about 380 yards E.S.E. of the church. The House has some small modern additions. Two of the windows have plain wood frames and ornamental casement fasteners, possibly of late 17th-century date. The three original chimney stacks are of brick. Interior:—On the ground floor there is one large open fireplace.

The Bakehouse, S. of the house, has an original chimney stack of brick. Interior:—On the ground floor the large oven has a chamfered lintel, and the ceiling has a chamfered beam and exposed joists.

Condition—Good.

^b(12). Stocks, on the S. side of the village green, are of oak, with two posts and two crossbars which have four holes; the posts and crossbars are covered at the top with iron bands. They are possibly of the 17th century.

Condition—Much weatherworn.

^a(13). Thornborough Bridge, crosses the river Ouse, between the parishes of Thornborough and Buckingham. It was built of stone in the 14th century, but has been much re-built and restored with stone and with some modern blue bricks.

The bridge is the only mediæval example of its class in the county.

The structure is about 165 ft. long by 12 ft. wide, and consists of six arches; the third and fourth arches have wide chamfered ribs dividing the vaults into four bays; the third from the E. side is a drop arch, and has a moulded label on the N. and S. faces; the fourth arch is four-centred, with a much perished label on the N. and S. faces; the labels and ribs are apparently of the 14th century. The second and fifth arches are four-centred with chamfered edges, and have each a moulded label on the S. face only; the vaulting is not ribbed. The first and sixth arches are at some distance from the others and are plainer. The piers between the four central arches have split-waters on the S. face, carried up to the road level. Between the fifth and sixth arches, on the N. face, is a wide rectangular projection, probably intended to form a refuge at the road level. The parapets are modern and follow the shape of the split-waters, etc. In the middle of the bridge is set the boundary stone of the two parishes.

Condition—Good.

Unclassified

^a(14). Thornborough Mounds; two large bowl barrows on the N. side of the Buckingham road, ¾ mile W.S.W. of the church. The western barrow is about 16 ft. high and 120 ft. in diameter at the base; the eastern is about 13 ft. high and 90 ft. in diameter. One of the barrows was opened c. 1840 by the Duke of Buckingham, and a rough stone floor with fragments of pottery and glass, a gold ornament and ring, and traces of iron weapons were found (Lipscomb, History of Buckinghamshire, iii, 115, Records of Buckinghamshire, v, 355).

Condition—Good.