Tingewick

208. TINGEWICK.

(O.S. 6 in. xiii. S.W.)

Roman

(1). Villa, in a field called Stollidge, near Grove Hill Farm, about 200 yards from the river Ouse, and ½ mile N.E. of the church, was partly excavated in 1862. Walls, drains, wall and floor plaster, tiles and many small objects were discovered, indicating a fairly large, but not very splendidly furnished dwelling, possibly a farmhouse. The coins are mostly of early 4th-century date, and show that the house was occupied, at any rate, at that time (Records of Buckinghamshire, iii., 33). The Ordnance Survey marks the site, but only as a place where coins were found; there is, however, no doubt about the building. On the road from Tingewick to Brill, a little beyond the church, and about ¾ mile S.W. of Grove Hill, remains were found in 1870 of brickwork, tiles, etc., which were supposed to be part of a Roman bath and hypocaust (Records of Buckinghamshire, iv., 36), but it is very doubtful if they are Roman.

Condition—No structural remains above ground. Many of the objects found in 1862 are now at Grove Hill Farm.

Ecclesiastical

(2). Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene, stands at the E. end of the village. The walls of the chancel and W. tower are of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings; those of the N. aisle are of rough rubble, all of grey limestone. The roofs are covered with slate. The three eastern bays of the Nave were built probably in the 12th century. The North Aisle, of four bays, was added in 1200–1210, and the nave was then lengthened. Late in the 15th century the Chancel was re-built and the West Tower added. The N. aisle was partly re-built and apparently widened in the 17th or 18th century. In the 19th century a South Aisle and South Porch were added, the nave was widened about 6 in. towards the S., and the church was restored.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (30 ft. by 16 ft.) is entirely of the 15th century. Internally the plaster has been stripped from the walls. The E. window is of three cinque-foiled lights with tracery in a four-centred head; the internal and external reveals are moulded. In the N. wall, at the E. end, is a window of two cinque-foiled lights under a square head, with a moulded external label, and further W. is a similar though smaller window with tracery. In the S. wall are two windows similar to the first window in the N. wall, but the sill of the eastern window is carried down low to form a sedile, and the other window is smaller than that in the N. wall: between them is a small doorway with a four-centred arch under a square head. Nearly the whole of the E. wall of the nave was cut away when the chancel was re-built, and the four-centred chancel arch, of two chamfered orders, is set a little E. of the E. line of the nave, and rests on moulded corbels. The Nave (46 ft. by 18 ft.) has a N. arcade of four bays of 1200–1210. The three eastern bays have semi-circular arches of one slightly chamfered order with a serrated label; the square E. respond and the circular columns have moulded capitals; the easternmost column has a moulded base, but the base of the second column has been cut away; the fourth bay is separated from the third by a rectangular pier and the fourth arch is similar to the others, but is two-centred, and rests on moulded abaci. The S. arcade is modern. The North Aisle (8 ft. wide): The walls have been stripped of their internal plaster. In the E. wall is a window of which the position, S. of the axis of the aisle, possibly indicates that the aisle was widened about 2 ft. either in 1634 (see Fittings, Miscellanea, inscribed stone) or in the 18th century; the window is of two uncusped lights, with a pierced spandrel in a two-centred head, and is of the 15th century. In the N. wall, 2½ ft. from the E. end, is a straight joint with quoins; further W. are two windows; the eastern is a single light and of peculiar form, the head being three-centred or semi-circular, but with a rough two-centred label, partly of yellow sandstone; the jambs, of grey limestone, are apparently made up of pieces of the moulding of a 12th-century abacus; the rear arch is three-centred: the second window is formed by the two-centred head of the N. doorway, which is now blocked up to the springing; the head is of yellow sandstone, and the chamfered jambs are of grey limestone. The W. window is similar to the eastern window in the N. wall, but the external stonework is modern. In the N.E. angle are traces of a doorway to the former rood-loft. The West Tower (12 ft. by 11 ft.) is entirely of the 15th century, and is of three stages with an embattled parapet, diagonal buttresses at the W. angles and a square S.E. stair-turret rising to the second stage. The two-centred tower arch is of two chamfered orders and is set a little N. of the axis of the nave. At the E. end of the S. wall, opening into the stair-turret, is a doorway with chamfered jambs and pointed head. The W. doorway is of two orders, the inner being two-centred and the outer square, with a label having octagonal stops: the spandrels are only outlined with an incised line, and are apparently unfinished. The W. window is of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, much restored or modern. In the S. wall of the second stage is a single cinque-foiled light. The bell-chamber has, in each wall, a window of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head. In the string-course of the parapet are eight gargoyles, those in the middle of each wall being grotesque and those at the angles plain. The stair-turret has square-headed and trefoiled loop lights and a stone weathering.

Fittings—Bells: five and sanctus; 1st, by Robert Atton, 1627; 2nd, by Bartholomew Atton, 1591; 3rd, inscribed 'Nomen Magdalene Campana Gerit Melodie', by John Walgrave, 15th-century; 4th, by Robert Atton, 1623; sanctus, by Robert Atton, 1622. Brass: In chancel—on N. wall, in stone frame, of Erasmus Williams, 1608, rector of the parish, elaborately engraved plate with half figure and symbolic composition, explanatory verse by 'R. Haydock'. Communion Table: with turned legs, simple design, plain apron and foot rail, heavily built, late 16th-century. Font: octagonal basin of shelly oolite, with staple marks, probably mediæval. Monument: In chancel—on N. wall, to Anna (Loggin), wife of Thomas Oldys, rector of the parish, 1696, with crude Corinthian columns, and entablature with broken pediment of clunch, slate slab with inscription. Piscina: In chancel— with cinque-foiled head in moulded rectangular reveal, projecting basin, 15th-century. Sedile: see S.E. window in chancel. Miscellanea: Alms-shovel, rectangular, with handle, crude notching and moulding, inscribed 'W.W. 1676'. S. aisle—built into modern S. wall, outside, stone inscribed '163 [symbol]HPEMEDE^G' In tower—clock, date uncertain, possibly 16th or 17th-century.

Condition—Good.

Secular

Monuments (3–10)

These buildings are all of the 17th century, and of two storeys; the walls generally are of stone; the roofs are thatched. All have windows with old metal casements, and original chimney stacks of brick, except (4) which has modern stacks.

High Street, N. side

(3). Cottage, 270 yards S.W. of the church, is a long rectangular building, partly timber-framed with wattle and daub filling, partly of stone and partly of brick.

(4). House, about 160 yards W. of (3), was built in 1690 on a rectangular plan; the date, with the initials 'V.W.H.', is inscribed on a stone in the S. wall.

S. side

(5). The Post Office, ¼ mile W.S.W. of the church, has a central chimney stack.

(6). House, at the N.E. corner of Gorrell Lane. The walls are covered with modern plaster.

Stockley's Lane, S.E. corner

(7). House, built partly of brick. The plan is L-shaped, with a low modern addition at the back.

S. side

(8). House, at the E. corner of Wood Lane, 50 yards W. of (7). One of the external doors is of 17th-century panelling. Inside the building is a wide fireplace, partly blocked.

(9). House, at the W. corner of Wood Lane. The walls have been partly re-faced with modern brick.

(10). Cottage, about 500 yards S.W. of the church.

Condition—Of all, good; (6) and (9) have been much restored and altered.

Unclassified

(11). Dam, about ²/3 mile S.S.W. of the church, and E. of Tingewick Woods. A strong bank, with a return at the S. end, has been thrown across a small tributary of the Ouse. The bank is 7 ft. high and about 100 yds. long and is now pierced for the passage of the stream.

Condition—Good.