West Thurrock

100. WEST THURROCK. (B.e.)

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

West Thurrock is a parish adjoining Grays Thurrock on the W. The church is interesting.

Ecclesiastical

Parish Church of St. Clement (Plates, pp. 147, 167) stands in the S.E. corner of the parish on the N. bank of the Thames. The walls are of flint and ragstone-rubble with dressings of Reigate stone; parts of the tower are of brick; the roofs are tiled. The 12th-century church, as shown by excavation in 1912, consisted of an aisleless chancel (conterminous with the later nave) a round nave and a W. porch. The North and South Aisles were begun c. 1200, the arcades being a little later in date. In the middle of the 13th century a Chancel with North and South Chapels was built to the E. of the pre-existing chancel, which was then converted into part of the nave. In the 14th century the arcades between the chancel and N. and S. chapels were re-built and the S. chapel was lengthened. The rebuilding of the chancel-arch followed, and the aisle walls of the nave appear to have been raised about the same time. The circular nave was taken down late in the 15th century and a massive West Tower built in the centre of it. In 1640 the tower was repaired. The S. aisle was repaired in 1711, to which date may be assigned the brick buttresses on the S. wall and perhaps the S. doorway; the top stage of the tower was added or re-built in the 18th century. The S. chapel, which is now used as a vestry, was re-built late in the 18th or early in the 19th century, and the E. wall of the chancel was largely reconstructed during a recent restoration.

The church is of particular interest as one of few churches in the country that are known to have had a circular nave.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (34 ft. by 16½ ft.) has in the E. wall a window, all modern except the two-centred rear-arch and the dressings to the splays, which are of the second half of the 13th century. In the N. wall is a 13th-century single-light window with a trefoiled head; externally it is repaired with cement. The N. arcade is of early 14th-century date, and of two bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders; the octagonal piers and semi-octagonal responds have moulded capitals and bases. In the E. end of the S. wall is a single-light window similar to the corresponding one in the N. wall but entirely modern externally; further W. is a 13th-century doorway with a two-centred head; it was blocked in the 14th century, when the S. chapel was extended; the S. arcade is similar to the N. arcade. The late 14th-century chancel-arch is built over the E. wall of the original chancel and is two-centred and of two chamfered orders, the inner being of re-used 13th-century stones; the semi-octagonal responds have moulded capitals and bases; the greater part of the base to the S. respond has been cut away.

The North Chapel (20¾ ft. by 14¾ ft.) has in the E. wall a 13th-century window of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head with a moulded label; below the window, internally, is a moulded string-course, partly broken away; a set-back in the wall a few inches above the window marks the line of the original roof. In the N. wall is an early 14th-century window of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head; further W., and set in the lower part of a 13th-century window, of which the quatrefoil remains in the head, is a 14th-century window of two cinque-foiled lights with tracery in a square head; the hollow-chamfered rear-arch springs from moulded corbels. The archway into the N. aisle is of mid 13th-century date and of one chamfered order; the N. respond has stop-chamfered angles and a moulded impost, cut off flush with the wall-face on either side; on the S. the arch springs from a moulded impost carried on two shaped corbels.

The South Chapel (21 ft. by 10 ft.) has modern E. and S. walls. The archway to the S. aisle is of the same date and similar detail to the corresponding archway into the N. aisle; it has been strengthened on the W. by a modern arch, which hides the W. corbel on the N. respond; the E. corbel is broken away.

The Nave (25 ft. by 16¾ ft.) occupies the site of the original chancel, but is slightly wider, the centre lines of the arcades coinciding with the respective outer faces of the side walls. The N. arcade is of early to mid 13th-century date and of two bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders springing from a circular column, semi-octagonal E. respond and semi-circular W. respond; all with moulded capitals and bases; the E. respond has been partly cut away. The 13th-century S. arcade is similar but somewhat later than the N. arcade, with different detail; it has possibly been reconstructed in the 14th century, partly with the old material; the E. respond is semi-circular.

The North Aisle (10½ ft. wide) has in the N. wall a two-light window, all modern except the two-centred rear-arch and some of the dressings to the splays, which are of the 14th century. The N. doorway is of c. 1200, but, with the exception of the chamfered inner order of the two-centred head and the segmental rear-arch, has been re-built. In the W. wall is an original window of a single pointed light; the sill is modern. On the outside face of the W. wall can be seen the level of the original roof.

The South Aisle (9½ ft. wide) has in the S. wall a two-light window, all modern except the moulded two-centred rear-arch and the re-cut dressings to the jambs, which are of the 14th century; the S. doorway is of the 18th century except for the chamfered splays and segmental rear-arch. In the W. wall, above a set-back at the level of the springing of the S. arcade, is the N. jamb of a blocked window of c. 1200.

The West Tower (15½ ft. square) is of three stages with an embattled parapet. The walls are of alternate bands of Reigate stone and knapped flint, except the top stage, which was added in 1640 and is of brick. Internally it is in two storeys, the lower sub-divided by a modern gallery. The late 15th-century tower-arch is two-centred and of two chamfered orders springing from semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and mutilated bases, the arch has two modern orders on the W. side. In the S. wall is a window of one trefoiled light. In the W. wall is a late 15th-century doorway with moulded jambs and two-centred head; above it is a partly restored window of the same date and of two cinque-foiled lights in a square head. The second stage has in the W. wall a similar window to the one below. The 18th-century bell-chamber has in the E. and S. walls a single, and in the N. and W. walls a two-light window, each with a segmental head. The tower stands partly on and partly within the foundations of the 12th-century round nave, which had an internal diameter of 25 ft. Within the area a round foundation, probably of a large font, was found, and there were traces of the former existence of a timber W. porch.

Fittings—Bells: three, by John Clifton, 1632. Brasses and Indents. Brasses: In chancel— (1) of Humphrey Heies, 1584, and his son, 1585, with figures of man and son in civil dress and long punning inscription in Latin; almost entirely hidden by seating; (2) to Katherine (Heies), wife of . . . Redinge, 1591, with indent of woman. Indents: under altar—of Nicholas Ferobaud [Dean of Hastings College, c. 1315], half-figure of priest with foliated cross under, resting on a beast, marginal inscription in Lombardic capitals. Coffin: In N. chapel—under effigy, of Purbeck marble, with shaped head and three drain holes, 13th-century. Coffin-lids: In N. chapel—at E. end, (1) of Purbeck marble with raised foliated cross and moulded edge, probably belonging to coffin described above, much defaced, 13th-century; (2) of Purbeck marble, upper part only, with double hollow-chamfered edge, 13th-century. Communion Rails: of oak, with moulded top and bottom rails, turned balusters in shape of small Doric columns with moulded band round middle, thicker balusters at ends and middle, 17th-century. Doors: In N. aisle—in N. doorway, of feathered battens, late 15th-century. In S. aisle —in S. doorway, of oak with pointed head and nail-studded battens with moulded ribs on heavy trellis-framing, 15th-century. Font: octagonal bowl with moulded edge and under-side, on each face, in square panel a quatrefoil containing shields alternating with a rose, a four-leaved flower, Agnus Dei and a sun; stem panelled and base moulded, 15th-century. Glass: In chancel—in head of E. window, miscellaneous fragments including foliage and tabernacle-work, late 13th or early 14th-century; in N. window a number of quarries, with rosettes and borders, late 13th-century. In N. chapel—in E. window, in quatrefoil of head, small portion of subject with two men and a woman, in three lower foils, diapered glass with foliated pattern, late 13th or early 14th-century. In second window in N. wall, in traceried head of each light, small flower, in situ, 14th-century; in quatrefoil in head of window, foliated design, late 13th-century. In N. aisle—in N. window, fragments of drapery and crossed hands of a figure, 14th-century. In S. aisle—in S. window, small tonsured head, 14th-century. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments (Plate, p. 172): In N. chapel, formerly in S. chapel—(1) of [Sir Christopher Holford, 1608], on modern base, alabaster reclining effigy of man in plate-armour of the period, ornamented with arabesques, badly mutilated; (2) of wife of above, on similar base, alabaster figure of woman in close-fitting bodice, farthingale and widow's hood, figure partly defaced. Floor-slabs: In chancel—S. side, (1) to William Clarke, 1630; (2) to Elizabeth Tibballs, 1674. Niches: In N. chapel—two on either side of E. window with two-centred heads and square jambs, mid 13th-century. Painting: In nave—on E. respond of S. arcade, remains of red paint. Panelling: In vestry—on E. and S. walls, with fluted frieze, early 17th-century. Piscinae: In chancel (Plate, p. xlv)—in S. wall, with trefoiled head and gabled label, two sex-foiled drains with funnel-shaped corbels terminating in knot, stone shelf above, 13th-century. In N. chapel, in E. wall, with hollow-chamfered jambs and pointed trefoiled head, septfoiled drain and slot above for shelf, 14th-century. Plate: includes cup of 1564. Tiles: In N. chapel—re-set on N. wall numerous pattern-tiles, fleur-de-lis, foliated designs, eagle and a leopard, early 14th-century. Miscellanea: In S. aisle—in W. wall, square stone with sunk circular panel with some geometrical pattern in the middle. In N. aisle—above N. doorway, crowned head with curled hair, 14th-century. In W. tower, above W. window, rectangular panel, much worn.

Condition—Fairly good.