Watton at Stone

140. WATTON AT STONE.

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

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Andrew and St. Mary, stands on rising ground S.W. of the village. It is built of flint rubble with stone dressings. The church, consisting of a Chancel, North Chapel, Nave with North and South Aisles and Porches and a West Tower was re-built in the 15th century, and all traces of any earlier history were destroyed. In 1851 the North Chapel was added and the whole church completely restored.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (38½ ft. by 22½ ft.) has an E. window, and two windows in the S. wall, of three lights each with tracery; only a few of the stones are old. A doorway in the S. wall, an arcade in the N. wall, and the chancel arch are modern. The Nave (54½ ft. by 22 ft.) has N. and S. arcades of early 15th-century date; they are of four bays with two-centred arches, of two moulded orders, and columns of four shafts, separated by hollows, with moulded capitals and bases. The two arcades are practically identical in detail. At the N.E. and S.E. angles are stair-turrets to the roof, which also served as the rood-loft stairs. Above the arcade, on each side, are four much restored clearstorey windows of two lights. The North Aisle (9 ft. wide) has in the E. wall a modern arch opening into the chapel, and in the S.E. angle is a blocked squint. In the N. wall are three traceried windows of three lights, much restored; the N. doorway and another small doorway, E. of it, are modern. The W. window is of two lights, much restored. The South Aisle (8½ feet wide) has an E. window of three lights; the other windows resemble those in the N. aisle. The S. doorway is of the 15th century; it has a two-centred arch, and is of two wave-moulded orders. The West Tower (14 ft. by 13 ft.) is of three stages with an embattled parapet, a S.W. stair-turret, and two square buttresses at each angle. The 15th-century tower arch is of three moulded orders. The W. doorway, the window over it, of three lights, and the bell-chamber windows, of two lights, are almost wholly modern. The North Porch (14 ft. by 9 ft.) is of two storeys; all the detail has been renewed. The South Porch (12½ ft. by 9 ft.) was completely re-built in the 19th century. The Roofs of the aisles are of the 15th century, much restored; they have moulded purlins, principals and wall plates, and some carved bosses.

Fittings—Bells: six; 2nd 1682. Brasses and Indents: in the chancel, of priest in quire cope, mid 15th-century: in N. chapel, of knight in armour, under a canopy, with marginal inscription in French and two shields; said to be of Sir Philip Peletoot, 1361; the upper part of the figure and the inscription restored in 1851: of knight in armour, said to be John Butler, 1514, with five shields of arms, early 16th-century: of civilian, late 15th-century: to Richard Boteler, of Stapleford, 1614, Anna his wife, daughter of John Mynne, of Hertingfordbury, 1619, and their only daughter Elizabeth, wife of Rowland Graveley, of Graveley, 1600; inscription, two shields and indents of a third: in nave, E. end, of a lady, mid 16th-century, lower part of figure missing, indents of husband, sons, daughters, two shields; two brass shields, one on a chief, a tau cross between two pierced molets (Drury, Colne or Riddlesworth?); second a sword bendwise (Kilpec?) quartering Boteler; part of inscription remaining:... Knyght late Lorde of Wodhalle whych deceased t...: in the N. aisle, headless figure of civilian, late 15th-century, with indents of two figures and marginal inscription: in S. aisle, of lady and shield, mid 15th-century. Chest: in the chapel, large, iron-bound, late 16th or early 17th-century. Monuments: in the chapel, slab with marginal inscription in French to Sir Robert de Gravele, 14th-century: alabaster slab incised and inlaid with the figures of Sir John Butteler, of Wudehall, in armour, date of death not filled in; his two wives, Elizabeth, 1471, and Custans, 14..., eight children, inscription and three shields of arms: in chancel, floor slab to John Saywell, rector, 1693: in N. aisle, slab with marginal inscription to Roger de Larabi, 14th-century. Piscina: in chancel, much restored, 15th-century. Sedilia: in chancel, in range with piscina, three seats with cusped canopies and spandrels, 15th-century, much restored.

Condition—Good, but much restored.

Secular

Homestead Moats

(2). At Watton Green, two. First, S. of the church; second, further S., fragment only remains.

(3). In Well Wood, there are traces of a circular moated enclosure, and in Chapel Wood, on the S., there appear to be defensive works of some kind, but it is impossible to obtain an accurate plan owing to the thickness of the plantation. The work is not shown on the Ordnance maps.

(4). Watton Place, on the W. side of the main street, about 700 yards N. of the church, is a late 16th-century building of two storeys and cellars, facing N.E.; the walls are of brick; the roofs are tiled. The plan is rectangular, but was probably L-shaped originally. At the E. end of the front are twin gables, which stand well above the eaves. The original brick chimney stacks remain, and one stack, between the gables, has twisted shafts with moulded caps. The entrance doorway and the windows are modern. In a room on the first floor is some late 16th-century panelling. In the cellars are several triangular-headed recesses in the walls, and at the end of a row of these in the N.W. wall there is a deep locker with an oak frame and rebate for doors; in the S. wall there is a blocked window. Two king-post trusses in the roof are original; one of them is buried in the S.W. wall, showing that the roof probably continued in that direction.

Condition—Good.

(5). House, on the N. side of the main road, near the middle of the village, is a timber-framed and plastered building, of late 16th or early 17th-century date, much repaired. It retains at the N.E. end an arched door-frame of oak, and the original beams, which appear to have supported an overhanging upper storey, are now incorporated in a modern addition. The red brick chimney stack is probably original.

Condition—Good.

(6). Cottages: in the village, two on the S. side of the road, built early in the 17th century, are of timber and plaster, with overhanging upper storeys supported on substantial beams; one cottage has a thatched roof; the other roof is tiled. A Cottage at the E. end of the village, also of early 17th-century date, has been re-faced and otherwise altered, but retains an original red brick chimney stack, and the old internal beams, re-cased.

Condition—Good.

(7). Broom Hall, about a mile N.W. of the church, is a two-storeyed farm-house of brick, built late in the 16th century. The plan is rectangular, with a small porch wing projecting from the N. front, opposite the central chimney stack. The principal rooms are on each side of the stack, and there is a small staircase at the back. The entrance doorway has moulded jambs and a four-centred arch with a square label. The windows of the first floor are original, and have brick mullions, nearly all restored, and four-centred heads. The chimney stack has a large, cross-shaped shaft. The interior has been altered, but the central newel of the staircase and, at the top, the turned balusters and a moulded handrail, are original.

Condition—Good.

(8). Watkins Hall, has over the front entrance an old beam, on which is the inscription:— WATTON HALL ALIAS I M WATKINS HALL 1636 The house has been re-built in plastered timber and brick, and the beam is apparently the only old feature which has been preserved.