Weeley

94. WEELEY. (F.d.)

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xxxviii. N.W. ^(b)xxxviii. N.E.)

Weeley is a small parish and village 4½ m. N. of Clacton.

Ecclesiastical

^b(1). Parish Church of St. Andrew stands near the middle of the parish. The church was entirely rebuilt in 1880 with the exception of the early 16th-century tower, which is of red brick the lowest 10 ft. being built of large bricks (11¼ in. by 5¼ in.) and the upper parts of brick of normal size.

Architectural Description—The West Tower (11 ft. square) is of three stages (Plate, p. 221) with diagonal western buttresses and a turret at the S.E. angle having two loops each fitted with a 17th-century turned baluster of oak. There is a little diapering in black brick and the embattled parapet has modern tops to the merlons. The two-centred tower-arch is of three chamfered orders dying on to plain responds. The W. window is of three cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded label and headstops. The W. doorway has splayed jambs and two-centred arch of two moulded orders. The bell-chamber has in each wall a window of two four-centred lights in a square head with a moulded label.

Fittings—Bells: two; 1st by Robert Burford, c. 1400, and inscribed "See. Michael" and "Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis"; 2nd by Thomas Bullisdon, c. 1500, and inscribed "Sancte Edwarde Ora Pro Nobis" and "Pray for Vyllam Brooke and Agnes his Wyff." Font: octagonal bowl with quatrefoiled sides enclosing blank shields and foliage, much re-cut, moulded underside with square flowers, stem with traceried panels, 15th-century. Plate: includes small cup and cover-paten, cup with band of incised ornament, late 16th-century. Miscellanea: In chancel—shaft with scalloped capital, Barnack stone, re-cut, 12th-century, now used for credence table.

Condition—Good.

Secular

^a(2). Homestead Moat, at Willow Lodge, about 1,000 yards S.S.W. of the church.

^a(3). Barn and moat, at Guttridge Hall, 1 m. W.S.W. of the church. The Barn is timber-framed and probably of the 15th century. It is of five bays with aisles and king-post roof-trusses.

The Moat is fragmentary.

Condition—Of barn, fairly good.

^b(4). Foundations, at Weeley Hall, N. of the church, are of red brick and probably of the 16th century. Some arches of the former cellars remain and adjoining them are brick garden walls, probably of the 17th century.

Condition—Bad.

Monuments (5–8).

The following monuments, unless otherwise described, are of the 17th century and of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered or weather-boarded; the roofs are tiled. Some of the buildings have exposed ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good, or fairly good.

^a(5). Black Boy Inn, ¾ m. N.W. of the church, has been practically rebuilt but incorporates some old timber-framing.

^a(6). Ash Farm, house, 100 yards E. of (5), was built early in the 16th century with cross-wings at the E. and W. ends. The E. cross-wing has been destroyed and there is a 17th-century wing added on the N. of the main block. The upper storey projects on the N. side of the main block and at the N. end of the original cross-wing where it has curved brackets and an original moulded capital under one of them. The gable of the wing has original barge-boards with much weathered carved foliage. Inside the building the main block has an original cambered tie-beam with curved braces.

^a(7). Cottage, on W. side of road, 300 yards S. of (5), was built probably early in the 16th century with a cross-wing at the N. end. The upper storey projects at both ends of the cross-wing.

^a(8). Pond Farm, 700 yards S.W. of the church, has an 18th-century addition on the N.E.