Whitchurch

221. WHITCHURCH.

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

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, stands E. of the village. The walls are partly of limestone rubble and partly ashlar faced. The roofs are covered with lead, except that of the S. porch, which is tiled. The church existing on the site early in the 13th century probably consisted of a chancel and aisleless Nave; early in the 14th century the Chancel was re-built, probably outside the lines of the former chancel; immediately afterwards the North and South Aisles were added, and the West Tower was built; a N. Vestry, since destroyed, was also added at the same time. The South Porch was built probably in the 15th century; at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century the clearstorey windows were inserted and the church was re-roofed. The S. porch was restored with cement and plaster in 1657, the date inscribed on a panel over the doorway. Many small alterations and repairs were carried out during the 19th century, and the whole building was restored in 1911.

The church is a fine example of 14th-century work. The font, dated 1661, and the 17th-century cover with counterpoises (see Plate, p. 45) are interesting.

Architectural Description — The Chancel (38 ft. by 20½ ft.) has a plain brick parapet of the 18th century, but is otherwise entirely of early 14th-century date. The E. window is of three trefoiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head with an external label; the jambs, mullions and rear arch are moulded. In the N. wall are three windows, each of two trefoiled lights with a sexfoil in a two-centred head: between the two eastern windows is a doorway, now blocked, but originally opening into a vestry; the jambs and two-centred head are continuously moulded internally and the internal label is also moulded. In the S. wall are three windows and a doorway similar to those in the N. wall, but the mouldings of the doorway are external. The two-centred chancel arch is of two moulded orders; the inner order has moulded capitals, somewhat defaced, and the moulded abacus is continued across the outer order; the bases have been almost entirely cut away, and have slots for a screen; the apex of the label on the W. side has been cut away; on each side of the arch, a little above the capitals, is a corbel for the former rood-beam. The Nave (52½ ft. by 20½ ft.) has a plain parapet. The N. and S. arcades are each of four bays, and of early 14th-century date; the N. arcade has two-centred arches of two chamfered orders, with octagonal columns, moulded capitals and bases; the E. respond is semi-octagonal, and the westernmost arch dies into the E. wall of the tower. The S. arcade is similar to the N. arcade, but the detail of the moulding is of slightly earlier date, and the columns with their capitals and bases are circular; the abaci are octagonal. The clearstorey has, on each side, three windows of late 15th or early 16th-century date, each of two cinque-foiled lights under a square head with an external label. The North Aisle (13 ft. wide) has, in the E. wall, an early 14th-century window of three trefoiled lights with flowing tracery in a two-centred head, all moulded, but the design is curiously distorted and awkward. In the N. wall are three windows; the easternmost is of the same date as the window in the E. wall, and of three trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head; some of the cusping of the tracery has been cut away; the second window, also original, is of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head; the third window is of three pointed lights, apparently of old material re-used in the 18th century: between the two eastern windows is the early 14th-century N. doorway, with jambs and two-centred head of two continuously moulded orders. In the S. wall, over the arcade, are head-corbels of stone which supported the former roof. In the W. wall is a window of the same date and design as the middle window in the N. wall. The South Aisle (10½ ft. wide) has, in the E. wall, traces of a circular window, now blocked and set in the remains of a window with a two-centred head, all apparently made up of old material. In the S. wall are three windows of late 15th or early 16th-century date, each of three cinque-foiled lights; the two eastern have square heads, with external labels, and have been considerably restored; the westernmost window has a flattened four-centred head with a moulded external label: between the two western windows is the S. doorway, of early 14th-century date, with jambs and two-centred head of two moulded orders; the moulded label has head-stops which have been crudely re-cut. In the W. wall is a small lancet light, of 13th-century material, re-set. The West Tower (13 ft. square) only projects slightly further towards the W. than the aisles, and is of two stages, internally of three storeys, with a circular staircase in the S.W. corner; at the angles are square projecting buttresses; four of them are in the nave and aisles, and do not rise above the roof of the nave; the W. buttresses rise to the top of the lower stage and above them are small diagonal buttresses; the parapet is embattled. On the E. wall the weathering of the former high-pitched roof of the nave is visible, and on the N. and S. walls are offsets for the wall-plates of the original roofs of the aisles. The detail is almost entirely of early 14th-century date. The three two-centred tower arches open into the nave and aisles; the E. arch is of three chamfered orders, the innermost continuous, the two outer orders dying into the N. and S. walls. The N. and S. arches are curiously constructed to take the thrust of the nave arcades, and are considerably lower than the E. arch; each arch is of three chamfered orders. In the W. respond of the S. arch, opening into the staircase, is a doorway with chamfered jambs and shouldered head. The W. doorway is of early 13th-century date, re-set; the two-centred head is of three moulded and undercut orders with an external label; the rear arch is chamfered; each jamb has three shafts with foliated capitals, somewhat defaced: the W. window is of early 14th-century date, and of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head; under the mullion is a small bracket for an image; the jambs are deeply moulded and in them are niches for images (see Fittings); the external label has head-stops. In the second stage, in the S. wall, is a single lancet light set in a chamfered reveal with a square head. In the bell-chamber the four windows are each of two trefoiled lights with pierced spandrels under a square head and label; across the angles of the walls are squinch arches which indicate that there was formerly a spire or that one was contemplated. The South Porch has a four-centred entrance archway of two chamfered orders, the outer order continuous, the inner supported on small octagonal pilasters with crudely moulded capitals; it is possibly of the 15th century, but now entirely covered with cement; above it is a panel of plaster with ornament in low relief and the date 1657. The Roof of the nave is probably of early 16th-century date; it is low-pitched and of simple construction, with moulded tie-beams, intermediates and purlins and carved bosses; the wall-brackets are supported on wooden corbels or cantilevers, all much restored; on an original bracket is a carved shield with arms. The aisles have plain roofs of the same date as that of the nave.

Fittings—Bells: six and sanctus; 1st by Henry Bagley, 1680; 3rd and 4th, maker unidentified, 1619. Brackets, for images: In S. aisle—on each side of blocked E. window, plain. Tower—in sill of W. window, outside, small, carved with foliated and grotesque ornament, 14th-century (see also Niches). Brasses and Indents. Brasses: In S. aisle—(1) to Hannah, daughter of Thomas Scott, 1699; (2) to Thomas Scott of Creslow, 1699. Indents: In nave— (1) figures of a man and woman, inscription plate, four shields, and emblem, possibly of the Trinity; (2) figures of a man, woman and children, almost obliterated. Chest: In tower—panelled, with elaborately mitred raised moulding, some original brass scutcheons, mid 17th-century, out of repair. Communion Table: with plain turned columnar legs, carved top rail, 17th-century. Door: In S. doorway—plain, nail-studded, mediæval. In S. porch—in frame of 1657, door of later date. Font: circular bowl, of soft stone or painted plaster, moulded and carved with sprigs of foliage, inscribed, 'William Oliffe, Joseph Collett, churchwardens TR. 1661'; turned columnar stem, of wood. Font-cover: with curious moulded counterpoises, of wood, painted, 17th-century, formerly hung from W. arch of S. arcade, but is no longer in the church. Glass: In chancel—in N. wall, in upper part of easternmost window, symbol of the Trinity, in head of one light, foliated fragments; in middle window, in head of one light, border of blue and gold, towers, quatrefoils, etc.; in S. wall, in upper part of middle window, representation of 'a Pelican in her Piety'; in third window, in head of one light, foliated design; in N. aisle—in E. window, in head of middle light, foliated border and star of the Epiphany; all 14th-century, contemporary with the windows. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In chancel—under E. window, (1) to Bennett Gaudrey, 1660, tablet with inscription and hand pointing downwards; (2) to Martha, wife of Bennett Gaudrey, 1656, tablet with inscription and hand pointing downwards; on E. wall, (3) to Ann Gaderen, 1669, similar to the others. Floor-slabs: In nave— (1) to Luke Smythe, 1694. In N. aisle—(2) to Sir Edward Smythe, knight, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Ireland, Lord of the Manor of Whitchurch, inscription in Latin, with arms; (3) to Frances, daughter of Thomas Topping and wife of Augustin Bruloe, 1700. Niches: In nave— in E. respond of N. arcade, roughly worked; in E. wall, S. of chancel arch, with trefoiled head, early 15th-century. Tower—in external jambs of W. window, niches, two, with elaborately carved cinque-foiled canopies, 14th-century; above W. window, niche, with cinque-foiled head, 14th-century. In S. porch—over S. doorway, with curiously carved crockets, 14th-century. Paintings: discovered during the restorations of 1911. In chancel—on E. wall, N. of E. window, representation, in red with black outline, of large canopied niche with ogee head and carved foliated finial, above it two tall crocketed pinnacles, one below the other, background of niche filled with stars, some traces of further painting with pale blue line, 15th-century. In N. aisle—on N. wall, probably a representation of St. Margaret, figure of woman in elaborate gown and cloak (?) red and white, holding a rose and standing on a dragon (depicted as a wyver), with a long spear thrust through its mouth, head and left arm of woman's figure missing; W. of figure traces of cushion with diaper ornament and tassels, and patches of colour, possibly wings of angel, below dragon band of diaper ornament with lions' heads in the pattern, late 15th-century, probably palimpsest, traces of colour of earlier date where head of woman's figure has been removed. Piscinae: In chancel—in range with sedilia, with pointed moulded head and shafted jambs, the moulded capitals and bases have been restored, two drains, 14th-century. In S. aisle—two recesses, probably for piscina and credence table, one with round head, the other square, W. jamb formed by old jamb stones of a window. Plate: includes flagon of 1681, two standing patens of 1669, two cups of 1669, salver of 1668 and cup of 1569, dated 1570. Poor-box: In nave—at W. end, N. side, roughly turned baluster shaft with hollow top, iron lid, two locks, early 17th-century. Pulpit: hexagonal, with square and diamond-shaped panels, in raised moulding. Seating: In chancel —standards of stalls with sunk tracery and poppy-heads, having shields with molets and with pastoral staff in pale between initials 'R. H.' and two molets, probably for Robert Hobbes, Abbot of Woburn, c. 1529–1538. Sedilia: In chancel— in range with piscina, triple, in single moulded stilted segmental head of one moulded order with shafted jambs, having moulded capitals and bases, 14th-century. Miscellanea: In chancel—bench and reading-desk, made up of 17th-century material.

Condition—Good.

Secular

(2). Bolebec Castle (Mount and Bailey), is partly included in the garden of the Grange, about 300 yards W. of the church and 450 feet above O.D.

The remains are especially interesting on account of the plan and the treatment of the site.

The work covers about 4 acres and consists of a natural eminence which has been artificially scarped to form the defences of the mount, with a triangular shaped bailey on the N., now separated from the mount by a road. The Mount is defended by a scarp 21 ft. high, surmounted in some places by a slight rampart and having a broad external ditch, now altered to a platform, below which is a second scarp 14 ft. high. A path ascends the mount on the W. side and on the summit are traces of foundations of buildings. The Bailey stands N. of the mount on somewhat higher ground, in the garden of the Grange; it is defended by a rampart 15 ft. high, which has been recently destroyed for a space of 45 ft., and a ditch, now partly obliterated.

Condition—Of mount, fairly good; of bailey, bad.

(3). Cottages, five, on the W. side of the churchyard, form a two-storeyed building of L-shaped plan, the wings extending towards the S. and W. The walls of the W. wing are partly of stone; the rest of the walling is timber-framed with brick filling, and has been partly restored; the roofs are tiled. The building is of the 17th century; on a modern brick is the date 1661. At the N. end of the E. elevation the upper storey is gabled, and has a window with a small pediment of moulded brick. Two original chimney stacks are of brick; one of them has been partly restored. Interior:—Some rooms have old ceiling-beams, and there is one wide fireplace.

Condition—Fairly good.

High Street, E. side

(4). 'Lime Cottages' (see Plate, p. 317), a house at the S. corner of Church Meadland Lane, about 100 yards W. of the church, is of two storeys. The walls are partly of brick and probably partly of stone, with some timber-framing, but are heavily plastered and whitewashed; the roofs are tiled. The plan is roughly L-shaped, the wings projecting towards the S. and E. The house is apparently of 15th-century origin, but was considerably altered about the middle of the 17th century, and a one-storeyed addition was built at the E. end of the E. wing apparently in the 18th century, when many sash windows were inserted; the modern alterations and repairs have obscured the early history of the building, but the hall was probably in the E. wing.

The house is interesting on account of the traces of mediæval work.

On the N. Front the end of the S. wing is gabled and there is a second gable at the other end of the elevation; the first floor projects between the gables, and under the W. end of the projection is a doorway, of stone, with a pointed chamfered head, apparently of the 15th century; E. of the doorway are two mid 17th-century windows, each of three transomed lights with plain wooden frames and iron casements; on the first floor are two mid 17th-century windows each of three lights; the middle lights have circular heads with pierced spandrels, and the narrow flanking lights are transomed; under each gable is a window similar to the 17th-century windows on the ground floor. The chimney stacks of the S. wing are of brick and have plain square shafts with offsets. The other elevations have been much altered; the S. gable of the S. wing was re-built with brick about the middle of the 17th century and is of curvilinear form.

Condition—Poor.

(5). The Priory (see Plate, p. 317), now two tenements, 70 yards S.E. of (4), is of two storeys, built late in the 15th century on a rectangular plan; modern additions have been made at the back and E. end. The walls are partly of stone, and partly timber-framed, with brick filling which is almost entirely modern. The roofs are tiled.

The large 15th-century truss in the roof is especially noteworthy.

In front the upper storey projects and the ends of the supporting joists are exposed; the doorway at the S. end of the front has an original moulded frame, and the door is of studded battens with strap-hinges. At the N. end of the house is a projecting chimney stack; the lower part is of stone, the upper part and the two square shafts set diagonally, are of brick.

Interior:—On the ground floor, at the N. end, one room has two large moulded intersecting beams in the ceiling, and a moulded cornice; another room has an original fireplace with moulded stone jambs and four-centred arch in a square head with plain spandrels. At the S. end of the building two rooms have large chamfered ceiling-beams, one of them with exposed joists. The staircase in the S. half of the building has some early 17th-century panelling, and on the upper landing is a little bolection-moulded oak panelling, also of the 17th century. On the first floor is visible the original central truss of the roof, which has a large cambered tie-beam, four-centred braces, and spandrels filled by open panels with four-centred heads; the mullions dividing the panels are modern; the wall-posts are moulded: in the wall at each end of the original house is a large cambered tie-beam. Some of the floor-boards are old.

Condition—Good; partly under repair at time of visit (April, 1912).

(6). House, now two tenements, 150 yards S.E. of (4), is of two storeys, built probably in the second half of the 16th century; at the N. end and back are modern additions. The walls are covered with plaster and rough-cast; the roofs are tiled. In front the upper storey projects. The central chimney stack has been re-built, and another stack is partly original.

Interior:—On the ground floor the principal room has two large moulded intersecting beams in the ceiling, and similar beams in the walls; the wide fireplace is partly blocked, the chimney corners forming cupboards; other rooms have plain ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good.

(7). House, now two tenements, in a by-lane 170 yards S. of the church, is of two storeys, built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century on an L-shaped plan; the wings project towards the N. and W.; the W. end of the W. wing was added or re-built in the 18th century. The lower storey throughout and both storeys at the N. end are of stone, laid in thick and thin courses alternately; the other walls of the upper storey are of brick, in front of the 18th century, on the E. side modern; on the W. side of the N. wing the brickwork is of the 17th century, with pilasters, and between them a deep moulding under a small window, now blocked. The roofs are tiled. At the N. end the gable, has two rows of square openings for a dove-cot; the projecting chimney stack is original and of stone with two low square shafts of brick, and set diagonally; the chimney stack in the W. wing is also original. Interior:—In one room is a wide fireplace, partly blocked, and in the ceiling is a chamfered beam.

Condition—Very poor; in need of repair; unoccupied.

(8). House, now two tenements, 300 yards S.E. of (4), is of two storeys, built of timber and brick late in the 16th or early in the 17th century, but the walls of the lower storey have been almost entirely re-faced with modern brick. The roofs are tiled. On the W. front, at the N. end, the upper storey projects, and the brick filling is set partly in herring-bone pattern; the middle window has a moulded sill, and below it are three raised lozenges over a small plain pediment; one small window is original but now blocked; it is of two lights with a moulded mullion. At the back is a window with a sill of moulded brick. The central chimney stack is original, and has a rectangular shaft with projecting nibs. Interior:— On the ground floor there is an open timber ceiling and a wide fireplace, partly blocked.

W. side

(9). The Cock Inn, 200 yards S. of the church, is of two storeys, built c. 1550, apparently on a rectangular plan; at the S.E. end is an 18th-century extension, and at the back are modern additions. In the middle of the N.E. front the upper storey projects, and the whole wall has been covered with modern cement. At the N.W. end the lower storey is of modern brick; the upper storey has early 17th-century brick filling. The roofs are tiled. The central chimney stack is of brick, probably of early 17th-century date.

Interior:—The tap-room, W. of the chimney stack, has moulded intersecting beams in the ceiling; one beam is probably the middle beam of a larger room built before the fireplace was inserted, as apparently it is carried through the stack and re-appears in a passage on the E. side; the large open fireplace has moulded jambs and four-centred head, partly hidden by a modern lintel. Other rooms have chamfered or encased beams.

Condition—Good.

(10). House, 100 yards N.W. of (9), is of two storeys, the upper storey partly in the roof; the walls are covered with cement; the roofs are tiled. It was built in the middle or the second half of the 16th century, but has been much altered. The plan was originally rectangular, probably with only two rooms on the ground floor, having a chimney stack between them; an 18th or 19th-century addition has been made at the back.

An original fireplace with carving is noteworthy.

Interior:—On the ground floor, in the room S. of the chimney stack, is a large open fireplace of the 16th century; a beam with a cambered soffit forms a very flat four-centred head; the spandrels have cusped panels and are carved with arrows, molets and roses; above the fireplace is a gun-rack, and a shield of fantastic outline with a lance notch; on the shield is a rose and a crown in relief, all heavily painted, and probably of plaster; in the ceiling are two heavily moulded intersecting beams. On the first floor the timbers of the roof are visible, and the purlins have rough curved wind-braces.

Condition—Good; much altered.

Monuments (11–26)

These buildings are almost all of two storeys. The walls generally are timber-framed, with brick filling; the roofs are tiled or thatched. Most of the buildings are of the 17th century, they have all been restored, and many of them enlarged and altered.

High Street, W. side (cont'd.)

(11). House, now two tenements, almost opposite to (5), is of two storeys and an attic. The plan is rectangular, and consists of a 17th-century block facing the street, a wing at the back built probably in the 18th century, and a modern addition in the angle between them. The attic is modern, and the N.E. front has been entirely re-faced with modern brick; at the N.W. end the brick filling is covered with whitewash. Interior:—Some of the ceilings have chamfered beams; the wide fireplaces have been partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

(12). House, now dwelling house and shop, 20 yards N.W. of (11). The upper storey is partly in the roof. All the brick filling is covered with pink wash. The plan is L-shaped; the main block faces the street, the wing projects towards the S.W. The N.E. front is gabled at each end, and has no windows in the upper storey. The central chimney stack in the main block is partly of early 17th-century date, and the stack in the wing is also original.

Interior:—On the ground floor the room at the N.W. end, now the shop, has a large open fireplace, not in use, and an open timber ceiling with chamfered beams; the room in the wing has a similar ceiling.

Condition—Good.

(13). Cottage, now two tenements, opposite to (4). The upper storey is partly in the roof. The plan is L-shaped, the wing at the back being modern; part of the E. front is of modern brick, and the brick filling in the rest of the wall is whitewashed. The central chimney stack is of 17th-century brick.

Interior:—There is a large open fireplace with spaces for corner-seats; the ceiling-beams are stop-chamfered.

Condition—Fairly good.

(14). Cottages, two, now one tenement, and Barn, at the N.W. corner of (13). The Cottages are probably of late 16th or early 17th-century date, though the date 1524 has been cut on a beam in front of the building. The upper storey is partly in the roof. In front the brick filling is whitewashed. At the back is a modern addition. Interior:—On the ground floor the ceiling-beams are chamfered; on the first floor the original timbers of the roof are visible, and the purlins have curved braces.

The Barn is attached to the building at the S.W. corner, and is of the same date.

Condition—Fairly good.

The Oving road, N. side

(15). The Old School House, 270 yards W.N.W. of the church, was built in the second half of the 16th century; at the back is a small modern wing of one storey. The walls are covered with rough-cast or plaster; at the W. end the lower storey is of ashlar. On the S. front the upper storey projects; the bressumer is covered by a modern board, but below it are the original curved brackets. At the E. end is an open covered portico divided from the interior by a modern brick wall, the entrance being at the N. end of the wall. At the W. end, on the first floor, is an original oriel window of four lights, with moulded jambs and mullions. At the back, on the first floor, the middle window is original and of two lights, now blocked.

Interior:—On the ground floor the principal room has a moulded ceiling-beam and a fireplace with moulded jambs and four-centred head. On the first floor is a fireplace with an original raised hearth of glazed tiles and an oak curb, but the fireplace has been altered.

Condition—Good; much restored.

(16). House, at the E. corner of a lane 100 yards W. of (15), has been almost entirely re-built, but on the W. side is a blocked doorway with moulded jambs and lintel bearing the date 1678. The walls are of stone, except the S. front, which is of brick. The plan is L-shaped.

Condition—Good.

(17). Whitchurch House, at the W. corner of the lane, opposite to (16). The plan is now E-shaped; the main block, facing S., is of early 17th-century date, except possibly at the back where it may have been enlarged, early in the 18th century, to the level of wings which made the original plan of half-H shape; the present N.E. and N.W. wings were built probably in the 18th century, when the central porch was added; both wings have been lengthened by modern additions. On the S. front the lower storey is of Oving stone, and the upper storey covered with rough-cast; W. of the entrance doorway is a small original window with stone jambs and head; it formerly lighted a cupboard on the S. side of the central chimney stack, but is now blocked; the stack is partly of early 17th-century brick, and has small pilasters on three sides. The W. end of the original block has a projecting chimney stack of stone. with two square shafts, set diagonally, of 17th-century brick. The E. end is covered with rough-cast. At the back the wall of the main block is covered with rough-cast, and W. of the central porch are three gables, two of them being visible over the N.W. wing which is of one storey.

Interior:—The hall on the E. side of the central chimney stack has stop-chamfered intersecting beams in the ceiling; on the W. wall is a dado of early 17th-century oak panelling. The two rooms W. of the chimney stack have chamfered ceiling-beams, and in a lobby W. of the westernmost room is an original moulded bracket supporting the ceiling-beam. The cupboard S. of the chimney stack has an original battened door. In the N.W. wing two trusses are exposed in the roof. The N.E. wing has on the ground floor an open timber ceiling, and on the first floor the old timbers of the roof are visible. The attic space in the main block is not used; at the W. end is a 17th-century window, now blocked, and visible only inside, the iron frame has an ornamental fastening and diamond-shaped quarries. The roof has braced collar-beam trusses.

Condition—Good.

(18). House, set back from the road, W. of (17). The walls are chiefly of stone, and one wall is hung with tiles. The plan is rectangular, with a small N.E. projection and a central chimney stack. In the E. wall on the ground floor is a window of early 17th-century date and of one light, with moulded stone jambs and head; on the first floor is a similar window of two lights, with a moulded mullion. In the W. wall on the first floor is a window of two lights, similar to those in the E. wall, but now blocked. The central chimney stack has grouped square shafts built of 17th-century brick.

Interior:—On the ground floor the principal room has intersecting chamfered ceiling-beams and a large open fireplace; some of the other rooms have old ceiling-beams, and one ceiling has exposed joists. On the first floor the timber construction of the walls is visible.

Condition—Good.

(19). House, now two tenements, at the W. end of the town, ³/8 mile W.N.W. of the church. The upper storey is partly in the roof. On the S. front the timber-framing is covered with cement, and a little of the 17th-century brick filling is of herringbone pattern; at the W. end the head of the gable is weather-boarded. The plan is rectangular, with a central chimney stack, and there is a low modern addition at the back.

Interior:—Some of the ceilings have stop-chamfered beams. A large open fireplace remains, and the oak door at the foot of the staircase is of late 17th-century date.

Condition—Fairly good.

S. side

(20). Bolebec House, about 500 yards W.N.W. of the church. The 17th-century walls are of stone, considerably restored, and the modern wing at the back is of brick. The entrance doorway has an old battened door which has been re-planed.

Interior:—In the hall is some early 17th-century panelling, partly plain and partly carved, brought from elsewhere. One room has an open timber ceiling.

Condition—Good.

Market Hill, N. side

(21). House, about 280 yards W. by N. of the church. The plan is rectangular, with a central chimney stack, and on the ground floor was originally divided into two rooms. In front the lower storey is of stone covered with whitewash; the upper storey projects and the 18th-century brick filling is also whitewashed. At the W. end the brick filling is of late 17th or early 18th-century date. At the E. end the lower storey is of stone. The W. half of the wall at the back is of modern brick. The central chimney stack is of 17th-century brick.

Interior:—On the ground floor the ceilings have rough beams; in the room E. of the central chimney stack is a wide fireplace, possibly of the 16th century, re-used; it has moulded stone jambs and four-centred arch in a square head with carved spandrels.

Condition—Good.

S. side

(22). House (see Plate, p. 61), nearly opposite to (21), was built c. 1600; the walls are partly of stone, and have been restored with 18th-century and modern brick. At the E. end the original brick filling of the gable is set in herring-bone pattern, and there are two original windows, each of three lights with moulded jambs, mullions and head of stone; the lower window is blocked; at the back are two similar windows, each of two lights. The central chimney stack has two attached square shafts, built of original brick. Interior:—Some of the ceilings have old beams, and there is one wide fireplace, partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

Castle Lane, S. side

(23). Cottage, about 260 yards W. of the church. On the N. front the vertical timber-framing is closely set; on one timber are small incisions possibly intended for the date 1641; the brick filling is whitewashed and there are traces of a former doorway and window. At the back, part of the wall is of late 17th-century red and black bricks, and the rest of whitewashed brick, apparently of the 18th century.

Condition—Good.

(24). Cottage, E. of (23). The plan is now L-shaped. The 17th-century building was probably rectangular, and the wing at the back added in the 18th century. The walls are partly of stone, those of the wing are covered with cement. The central chimney stack in the main block is also probably of the 18th century. Interior:—In the ceiling are stop-chamfered beams.

Condition—Good.

(25). Cottage, E. of (24). The W. end is of stone with a gable of 17th-century brick; the filling of the other walls is partly of plaster, and there is a modern addition at the back. Interior:—One room has a stop-chamfered ceiling-beam, and in another room is a wide fireplace, partly blocked.

Condition—Fairly good; the E. wall bulges badly.

(26). Cottage, now three tenements, N.E. of (25). The plan is L-shaped; the main block is probably of early 17th-century date, the W. part being apparently an addition to the original building; the wing at the back is modern. The S. front is of modern brick; near the W. end is a blocked window with an old frame of oak. At the W. end the lower storey is of stone; the filling of the gable is of whitewashed brick; on the first floor a window has a frame of old oak, and above it is a late 17th or early 18th-century entablature and pediment of brick, probably brought from elsewhere. The central chimney stack is of thin bricks.

Interior:—On the ground floor there is one large fireplace with an original oven, and the ceiling-joists are chamfered. At the W. end of the building are some old stone stairs.

Condition—Not very good.