Wendover

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire, Volume 1, South. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1912.

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'Wendover', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire, Volume 1, South, (London, 1912) pp. 304-313. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/bucks/vol1/pp304-313 [accessed 26 April 2024]

In this section

94. WENDOVER.

(O.S. 6 in. (a)xxxiv. S.W. (b)xxxiv. S.E. (c)xxxviii. N.W. (d)xxxviii. N.E.)

Ecclesiastical

a(1). Parish Church of St. Mary, ⅓ mile S.S.E. of the village, is built of flint with stone dressings; the roofs are tiled, except those of the aisles and tower, which are covered with lead. Of the building which existed in the 13th century the only remaining details are the capitals and bases of the W. columns and responds of the nave arcades. The church was entirely re-built in the first half of the 14th century, and then consisted of the Chancel, Nave with North and South Aisles, apparently a N. vestry and the West Tower. The chancel was repaired in 1839, and in 1869 the whole building was considerably restored, and the North Chapel, Vestry and Organ-Chamber were built, the South Chapel and the North and South Porches were added, the chancel arcades, the N. doorway of the N. aisle, and the W. buttresses of the tower were renewed.

The 14th-century capitals of the nave arcades, the S.E. window of the chancel, and the S. doorway of the S. aisle are all worthy of note.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (39 ft. on N. side, 40 ft. on S. side, by 19 ft. at E. end, and 17 ft. at W. end) is not central with the nave, and inclines towards the N. The E. window of three lights is modern, except the internal jambs and chamfered two-centred rear arch. In the N. wall, at the E. end, is a 14th-century window of two lights, with a moulded external label; all the tracery is modern: W. of the window, opening into the vestry, is a doorway, probably of the 14th century, with moulded jambs and two-centred arch: the W. end of the wall is pierced by a modern arcade of two bays; on the wall between the doorway and the arcade is a 14th-century moulded string-course with a modern head-stop at the E. end. In the S. wall, at the E. end, is a 14th-century window of two trefoiled ogee lights and tracery in a two-centred head, with an external label which has large foliated stops; W. of the window is a small 14th-century doorway with a moulded two-centred arch dying into modern jambs; the W. end of the wall is pierced by a modern arcade of two bays; between the arcade and doorway is a string-course similar to that on the N. wall. The early 14th-century chancel arch is of two chamfered orders, and was originally two-centred, but has sunk to a slightly four-centred form; the jambs have each three attached shafts on a moulded base; one base is modern, and the other restored; the capitals are moulded. The North Chapel, Vestry and Organ-Chamber (27 ft. by 16½ ft. at the E. end, by 18 ft. at the W. end) are modern, but two 14th-century windows have been re-set in the E. wall and two in the N. wall; they are almost entirely restored, except parts of the jambs and the moulded rear arches; the windows in the E. wall and the eastern window in the N. wall are each of two lights; the western window in the N. wall is a single cinque-foiled light in a square head and is less restored than the others. The South Chapel is modern, but the E. window is of the 14th century, re-set and much restored, the internal jambs and rear arch have been re-cut; it was probably the E. window of the S. aisle. The Nave (64½ ft. by 18 ft.) has N. and S. arcades of five bays; the 14th-century arches are two-centred, and of two moulded orders, with moulded labels in the nave, which have carved head-stops; some of the stops are modern; the columns are square in plan, with an attached segmental shaft on each face; the responds are similar to the columns; the E. respond and the first three columns of each arcade are of the 14th century, and have moulded bases, much restored, and bell-capitals, finely carved with foliage of various designs and small grotesque heads, etc. (see Plate, p. xxiv.); the fourth column in each arcade and the S.W. respond have 13th-century moulded circular bases on square plinths, and moulded octagonal capitals, the base of the N. column has been restored; the N.W. respond has a 13th-century base and a moulded 14th-century capital. In the upper part of the N.E. respond is the four-centred doorway of the former rood-loft, probably of 15th or early 16th-century date. The clearstorey has, on each side, five windows, each of two lights in a square head, entirely modern except the internal splays. The North Aisle (10 ft. wide) has, in the N. wall, four windows of early 14th-century date, each of two uncusped lights and a circular quatrefoil in a two-centred head, with moulded external labels and moulded rear arches, all much restored externally and the original work re-cut; between the third and fourth windows is a modern doorway. The South Aisle (10 ft. wide) has in the S. wall, four windows, all originally of the 14th century, but now entirely restored except the inner jambs and moulded rear arches, and some stones in the external jambs and sills; between the third and fourth windows is a doorway of c. 1320, with richly moulded jambs and two-centred arch, enriched with a row of carved ball flowers and fourleafed ornaments set alternately; the chamfered inner member, and the jambs are almost entirely restored; the moulded external label is original, the carved head-stop on the W. side is modern and the other has been re-cut. The West Tower (13½ ft. by 13 ft.) is of two stages, the lower stage being of two storeys, with a S.E. stair-turret, and a modern embattled parapet; at the foot of the parapet on the S. wall is a late 15th-century grotesque head, formerly a gargoyle, but the mouth is blocked. The 14th-century tower arch is two-centred and of three chamfered orders, the innermost order stilted; the jambs have three clustered shafts with moulded capitals, the S. jamb being entirely modern. The W. window is modern, except the chamfered jambs and the moulded external label with return stops, which are of the 14th century; the rear arch is also original and of two moulded and chamfered orders, the outer order being a two-centred drop arch, the inner order four-centred. In the S. wall, opening into the stair-turret, is a two-centred doorway with stop-chamfered jambs. The second storey has, in the N. wall, a 14th-century lancet window with shafted jambs, considerably restored; in the S. wall is a lancet window of the same date, with chamfered jambs and head, and a moulded rear arch; in the E. wall, visible internally, is a square opening with chamfered jambs, now blocked. The second stage has, in each wall, a window of two trefoiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head, modern externally; in the E. wall there is also a small pointed opening with a small bell hung in it. On the N. wall, partly hidden by the clock, is a stone slab inscribed, I G R A......1708.

Fittings—Bells: six, 1st, 1633, 3rd, 1631, 4th, 1633, 5th, 1623, all by Ellis Knight; bell-frame, old. Brasses: In S. aisle—on S. wall, (1) of William Bradschawe, 1537, and Alice his wife, kneeling figures, with names inscribed above them; below them figures of nine children, with name of each child, below children, names of twenty-three grandchildren. In vestry—on the S. wall, (2) small scroll inscribed in black-letter, 'Ihū: thy: Grace' Locker: in E. jamb of doorway of bell-chamber, with rebated jambs and four-centred head. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Floor-slabs—in the tower—(1) to William Hakewill, 'sometime solicitor to Queen Anne', 1655, inscription and arms; (2) to Mrs. Elizabeth Hakewil, 1652; (3) to—(name illegible), 1648; (4) to John Sta— 1661, and —, wife of John Stace, 1662, inscription and arms; (5) to Henry Playstow, 1674/5 (6) to Thomas Machell, 1698, another illegible. Piscinæ: in the chancel, with roll-moulded sill, jambs and shouldered head, circular basin, 13th-century: in S. aisle, with moulded jambs and trefoiled head, chamfered shelf and plain circular basin, 14th-century. Plate: includes cup of 1569; cup and cover paten, cover dated 1571, hall-marks almost obliterated, bowl altered and new rim added. Stoup: near S. doorway of S. aisle, remains, with chamfered lintel, circular basin. Miscellanea: near S. doorway, built into the wall, outside, fragment of carved stone, 13th-century.

Condition—Good, much restored; upper stage of tower needs repair.

Secular

d(2). Moated Site, with traces of an outlying enclosure, in Brays Wood, 3 miles S.E. of the church, is situated 600 ft. above O.D. It has a slight rampart and outer bank, and is further protected on the S.W. by a second ditch. There is an entrance on the S.W. and another on the N.E., and in the S.W. corner are what appear to be the foundations of a small rectangular building; 16th or 17th-century tiles were found recently on the site. Enclosing it on three sides are the remains of a larger work of inferior strength, consisting of a shallow ditch, with a slight bank in places. A plan drawn in 1856 shows a further extension of this work towards the E., and the ditches of both sites communicating with each other. Area—Of inner work, 1 acre; outer work approximately 2⅓ acres.

Condition—Fairly good.

Pound Street, N. side, from E. to W.

a(3). Cottage, of two storeys, the upper partly in the roof, built probably late in the 16th century, and timber-framed; the filling is of modern brick, and there is much ivy on the walls. The roof is tiled. At the back and on the E. side are low modern additions. At the W. end is a chimney stack of thin bricks; the stack at the E. end is modern above the roof Interior:—On the ground floor both rooms have open timber ceilings with stop-chamfered beams, and there is one large fireplace, partly blocked. The timbers of the roof are visible, the trusses forming the sides of the upper rooms, with large curved braces from floor to ridge, and the purlins have curved braces.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(4). House, now two cottages, is of two storeys, built in the first half of the 17th century, of brick and timber, now much covered with ivy; the front was re-faced with brick in the 18th century, and there is a modern addition at the back. The roof is tiled. The plain chimney stack at each end of the building is original. Interior:—On the ground floor there are two large fireplaces, with corner-seats converted into cupboards; one has the original recess for tinder-box. In the ceilings are rough chamfered beams, and some old oak steps have been re-used in the back staircase at the E. end of the house.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(5). Cottage, of two storeys, built early in the 17th century, and timber-framed with brick filling, partly whitewashed, and much covered with ivy. The roof is thatched. At the W. end is a large gateway; the wall above it, in front, is covered with weather-boarding; next to the gateway, on the W. side, is a chimney stack, partly original, built of stone, flint, and brick. There is a modern addition at the back. Interior:—On the ground floor there is a chamfered beam in the ceiling, and an open fireplace, now blocked.

Condition—Poor; the floors are rotting, and the plaster of ceilings is falling away.

a(6). Cottage, of two storeys, dated 1621 on the bracket of a beam inside the house; a small wing at the back was added probably later in the 17th century. The S. front retains the original timber-framing, with brick filling probably of a later date. On the E. side the upper storey is original, and has plaster filling; the projecting chimney stack is of thin bricks. The wing at the back is timber-framed, with brick filling probably of the 18th century. Interior:—On the ground floor the ceiling has a stop-chamfered beam with a post and moulded bracket, dated 1621. The wide fireplaces are blocked.

Condition—Fairly good; but interior somewhat damp.

a(7). House, now forming part of the Shoulder of Mutton and Railway Hotel, and adjoining (6) at the W. end, is of two storeys and an attic, built probably in the first half of the 17th century, and re-faced with brick in the 18th century. The E. gable, above the adjoining cottage, shows the original timber-framing and brick filling. The plan is L-shaped. The central chimney stack is of 17th-century brick. On the ground floor some original beams remain in the ceilings, and the open fireplaces are partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

S. side, from W. to E.

a(8–13). Houses and Cottages, six, forming several tenements, are all of two storeys, except one house and a cottage near the W. end of the street, which have attics; all built in the 17th century, of brick, or timber and brick, considerably restored, and partly covered with plaster; the roofs are tiled, except one, which is thatched. Some of the chimney stacks are original. All the buildings have open fireplaces, some of them partly blocked, and nearly all have chamfered beams in the ceilings.

Condition—All fairly good.

London Road, E. side

a(14). The King and Queen Inn is of two storeys and an attic, built probably early in the 17th century, of timber and brick, now much restored and altered. The roofs are tiled. The plan, originally rectangular, with a central chimney stack, is now L-shaped, modern additions having been made at the N. end and at the back. Inside the house is a large open fireplace, and some of the ceilings have chamfered beams.

Condition—Good.

W. side

a(15–18). Cottages, four, the westernmost now two tenements, are all of two storeys, built in the 17th century, of timber and brick, restored with 18th-century or modern brick, and partly covered with plaster. The roofs are tiled. All the cottages were originally of central chimney type, but three have modern additions; some of the original stacks remain. In front, the upper storeys of the two northern cottages formerly projected, but have been under-built. One cottage has an open timber ceiling and the others have chamfered ceiling-beams.

Condition—Generally poor, but structurally substantial.

High Street, S. side, from W. to E.

Wendover, Plan Shewing Positions of the Monuments Described.

a(19). House, now Bosworth House, and a second dwelling, is of two storeys, with a cellar and an attic, built of brick and timber, probably early in the 17th century, but almost entirely re-fronted with modern brick. The original plan was rectangular, possibly with a small central wing at the back, which is now enclosed by modern additions. On the N. front the upper storey formerly projected, but has been under-built, except at the E. end. Three chimney stacks are built of old thin bricks; the westernmost has three circular shafts with moulded bases, the top probably has been altered. The second dwelling has chamfered beams in one room, and in a modern room at the back is some 17th-century panelling, now painted and used as a partition. Under a covered gateway at the E. end of Bosworth House is a stone pillar piscina, probably of the 15th century.

Condition—Of house, good; of piscina, much broken and weather-worn.

a(20). House, now a shop and part of the King's Head Inn, is of two storeys and an attic, built probably c. 1580, but much altered. The front is covered with plaster, but has three original gables with moulded barge-boards and pendants. A wing at the back, built of red brick with black headers, is probably of late 17th-century date. Inside the house are some old ceilings, a large fireplace, partly blocked, and a staircase, which is possibly of late 17th-century date, but now thickly varnished.

Condition—Good.

a(21). The Red Lion Hotel, of two storeys and an attic, was built of timber and brick early in the 17th century, but the timber-framing has been recently almost entirely renewed and refilled with the old bricks; a wing at the back has been also re-built with old bricks; re-set in a gable at the S. end is a tablet with the date 1669 and the initials W.R.F. At the W. end of the main block is an original chimney stack and a large covered gateway. Inside the house the W. room has a large open fireplace, with corner seats and oak lintel, and some of the ceilings have old beams.

Condition—Good; much altered and restored.

a(22). House, probably originally a farmhouse, now two shops, was built apparently in the 17th century on an L-shaped plan, with timber-framed walls, which are now encased in late 17th or early 18th-century and modern brick, except one wall at the back. At the W. end, opening into the yard at the back, is a large gateway, and a chimney stack, which is built of 17th-century brick. At the S. end of the wing at the back is another 17th-century chimney, with a large open fireplace under it. The western shop has a heavy stop-chamfered beam in the ceiling.

Condition—Good.

a(23). House, now two shops, is of two storeys, built probably early in the 16th century, but altered and enlarged in the 17th and 19th centuries. The walls are partly timber-framed, partly covered with plaster or re-faced with modern brick. The upper storey apparently projected in front and at the E. end, which is gabled, and retains old timber-framing, with brick filling probably of later date. The roofs are tiled. Between the two shops is a chimney stack of early 17th-century brick. One shop has a large fireplace with the original chimney-corner seats, now enclosed in cupboards, and in the ceiling is a moulded beam, probably of early 16th-century date.

Condition—Good; much restored and altered.

N. side

a(24–25). Houses, now three tenements, are of two storeys, and the E. tenement has a cellar and attic. The walls are chiefly of brick; the roofs are tiled. The E. and W. tenements are probably of early 17th-century date, and show old timber-framing in some of the walls. The W. tenement is of L-shaped plan, with the wings extending towards the N. and W.; the front is partly of brick, and partly covered with plaster; at the junction of the wings is an original chimney stack. The E. tenement, of rectangular plan, was re-fronted with brick late in the 17th century, and has a moulded wood cornice. The space between the E. and W. tenements appears to have been enclosed in the 18th century, and now forms the middle dwelling. There are modern additions at the back. Interior:—Some of the rooms have chamfered ceiling-beams and open fireplaces, partly blocked. In a passage, on the ground floor, is a piece of early 17th-century panelling. In the E. tenement the staircase from the first floor to the attic is of old oak, and three oak battened doors are original.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(26–27). House, now two tenements, and The Two Brewers Inn adjoining it, on an island between the High Street and Back Street, are each of two storeys, probably of early 17th-century date, now much restored and altered. The fronts are covered with plaster; at the back are modern additions, but the original walls show between them, and are timber-framed, with brick or plaster filling. The W. wall of the house is of red brick with black headers, probably of late 17th-century date. The roofs are tiled. The inn has a chimney stack re-built with 17th-century brick. Inside the house is a large open fireplace, partly blocked, an open timber ceiling with a rough stop-chamfered beam, and a cupboard door of mid 17th-century date with late 16th-century hinges inside it. The inn has a large open fireplace, now altered, and a stop-chamfered beam in the ceiling.

Condition—Of house, fairly good; of inn, good.

a(28). Vine Tree Farm, on the N. side of Back Lane, is of two storeys, built of timber and brick probably c. 1600, and re-fronted with brick and stone, probably early in the 18th century; at the E. end the brick filling has been partly renewed, the foundations are of flint, and there is a half-hipped gable; a similar gable at the W. end shows above the adjoining house. The original plan was L-shaped, with the wings extending towards the N. and E., and probably a staircase wing in the angle between them; modern additions have been built at the back. At the junction of the wings is a chimney stack of old thin bricks. Inside the house, on the ground floor, the ceilings have old beams with broach stops and there is a wide, open fireplace with chimney-corner seats. The roof-timbers, above the ceiling of the first floor, indicate that there was formerly an upper hall of two bays in the main part of the house; the central truss has a tie-beam with curved braces above and below it; those above it are chamfered and have broach stops; the purlins have curved wind-braces.

A barn, N.E. of the house, is probably of the same date, and has similar trusses in the roof.

Condition—Good.

Aylesbury Street, W. side, from S. to N.

a(29). House, now a shop, is of two storeys, built of timber and brick, probably early in the 17th century, on a rectangular plan, and restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. The roof is tiled. In front the upper storey is covered with plaster and formerly projected, but has been under-built with brick. Inside the house there are open fireplaces, partly blocked, and the ceilings have stop-chamfered beams.

Condition—Good.

a(30). House, a two-storeyed rectangular building, is of late 16th or early 17th-century date, with modern additions at the back. The front is timber-framed, with modern brick filling in the lower storey and plaster filling in the overhanging upper storey. At the S. end the gabled upper storey is visible above the adjoining Fire Station, and is covered with rough-cast. The roof is tiled. At the N. end is a chimney stack built of old thin bricks.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(31). House, adjoining (30) at the N. end, is of two storeys, built probably in the first half of the 17th century, but re-fronted with modern brick and flint; at the back the wall has been re-faced with late 17th-century brick, except the gable, which has old timbers. The roof is tiled. Inside the house are two 17th-century doors of moulded battens with original hinges.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(32). House, of two storeys, built probably early in the 17th century, re-fronted with brick late in the 18th century, and restored in the 19th century; some old timber-framing remains at the back. The roof is tiled. The original plan was L-shaped, the wings extending towards the N. and W.; the angle between them is now filled by a modern addition. At the N. end is a large covered gateway and at the S. end is a chimney stack built of old thin bricks. Inside the house there are old ceiling-beams and a large fireplace, partly blocked. The original staircase is not in use, and from the ground to the first floor only the central newel remains, now enclosed in a cupboard.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(33). House, now two tenements, one a shop, is of two storeys, built of timber and brick probably early in the 17th century, now refronted with modern brick. The roof is tiled. The plan was originally T-shaped, the central wing extending towards the S., but 18th-century and modern additions have been made at the back. The central chimney stack is original. Inside the house there are chamfered ceiling-beams and a large fireplace, partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

a(34). Ivy House, is of two storeys, built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century, on a rectangular plan; a S.W. wing, with a small staircase wing on the N. side, was added later in the 17th century, a N.W. wing at the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century, and there are also modern additions. The E. front is covered with cement; the overhanging upper storey has been under-built, but the doorway remains in its original position; the N. end of the main block is gabled and timber-framed, with modern brick filling. The S.W. wing has old timber-framing, with modern brick filling, and, at the W. end, a half-hipped gable; the staircase wing is also gabled. The N.W. wing is of brick, and has two gables on the W. side. The roofs are tiled. The main block and the S.W. wing have central chimney stacks of old thin bricks. Inside the house there are stop-chamfered beams in the ceilings; the main block has a wide, open fireplace, with the chimney-corner seats enclosed in cupboards; in the S.W. wing is another large fireplace, with a stop-chamfered lintel, and in the N.W. wing a cupboard has a 17th-century door with original strap-hinges.

Condition—Good.

E. side, from N. to S.

a(35). The Grange, is a house of two storeys and an attic; the walls are of brick, covered with rough-cast; the roofs are tiled. It was built towards the end of the 17th century, probably on an L-shaped plan, with the wings extending towards the S. and E., and possibly with a small staircase wing in the angle between them. During the 18th century the house was enlarged towards the S., making the plan rectangular, and there are modern additions at the N. end. On the W. front are two gabled dormer windows, and an original central chimney stack with four square shafts built of brick. Inside the house there are some old ceiling-beams, and the staircase from the first floor to the attics is probably original.

Condition—Good.

a(36). House, of two storeys, built probably late in the 16th or early in the 17th century, on a rectangular plan; a N.E. wing was added later in the 17th century, making the plan L-shaped; in the 18th century the house was re-fronted, the roofs were altered and the attic windows destroyed; subsequently a covered gateway at the E. end appears to have been heightened, and the N.E. wing was lengthened. The original walls are timber-framed, partly covered with cement, and have brick filling; the front is of red brick with black headers; the roofs are tiled. The original block has an old central chimney stack with six grouped octagonal shafts, all covered with cement, and an original N.E. stack, with four square shafts set diagonally. Inside the house there are several original panelled doors, of oak, all with ornamental ironwork, and two with cock's head hinges. Two of the rooms have old ceiling-beams with moulded stops, and some of the original timbers of the roof have been retained; the position of the former attic windows can be traced by the notches in the purlins.

Condition—Good.

a(37). Chiltern House, is of two storeys, built of timber and brick probably early in the 17th century, on an L-shaped plan, re-fronted with red and black bricks in 1725, the date appearing on a lead rain-water head; a N.E. wing was added late in the 18th or early in the 19th century, and there is a modern addition at the end of the original S.E. wing. The roofs are tiled. Near the S. end of the main block is an original chimney stack with three square shafts, set diagonally. A covered gateway at the S. end is higher than the level of the first floor, probably to admit stage coaches, and may be a 17th-century addition. Inside the house the original oak staircase remains, and there are wide fireplaces, partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

a(38). The Temperance Hotel, is of two storeys. The front is covered with plaster, and has a large covered gateway at the E. end; the other walls are of timber and brick; the roofs are tiled. It was built probably in the middle of the 16th century and was of central chimney type; a S.E. wing was added early in the 17th century, making the plan L-shaped, and there are modern additions at the back. The square central chimney stack is of old thin bricks, and has moulded projecting courses about half-way up the shaft. In the original part of the house the S. room on the ground floor has, in the ceiling, two 16th-century moulded beams, one crossing the other, and a stop-chamfered beam, with notches in them, showing that the upper storey formerly projected; the wide fireplace has been partly blocked. On the first floor, on each side of the chimney stack, is an original stone fireplace with moulded jambs and a flat arch, now painted. In the S.E. wing the room on each floor has oak panelling of c. 1620, also painted; the door of a cupboard in the upper room is of similar panelling, and has small hinges with trefoiled ends. The roofs have wind-braced purlins, but the original trusses have been altered.

Condition—Fairly good.

a(39). The Red House, is of two storeys, built probably in the 17th century, but much altered early in the 18th century, when the front part of the house appears to have been completely re-built, and there are modern additions at the back. The walls are of brick with a few old timbers showing in the head of a small gable at the back. One room is lined with panelling of c. 1630, with fluted frieze, moulded architrave and cornice, all of oak, now painted. Another room has a ceiling-beam, probably of early 17th-century date, supported on contemporary posts and curved brackets.

Condition—Good.

a(40). House, now a shop and bakehouse, formerly four cottages, at the corner of Aylesbury Street and the Tring road, was built probably early in the 17th century, but has been almost entirely re-faced with 18th-century and modern brick; the N. wall of the N.E. wing is of old timber-framing, with whitewashed brick filling, and at the E. end, above a modern addition, is a gable covered with tilehanging. On the ground floor all the rooms have old ceiling-beams, one moulded, and in the N.E. wing is an old oak staircase.

Condition—Fairly good.

Tring road, N. side

a(41–45). Coldharbour Row (see Plate, p. 12), eleven cottages, probably formerly five houses, each of two storeys, the upper storey partly in the roof. They were built probably before 1620, except the third cottage from the W. end, which was added probably late in the 17th century. In front the walls are timber-framed, with brick filling of later date; at the back are modern additions; the roofs are thatched. Five of the chimney stacks are original. Interior:— Many of the original ceiling-beams and some open timber ceilings remain; the wide fireplaces have been partly blocked, but some retain the original chimney-corner seats. One cottage has a 17th-century battened door, and another cottage has a panelled door of c. 1630.

Condition—Poor.

S. side

a(46). Brook House, was built probably before 1620, but was enlarged and much altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. The walls are almost entirely of brick, partly covered with plaster; in the middle of the W. end the gabled upper storey projects, and is timber-framed. At the E. end on the first floor there are blocked windows, with others above them, indicating the former existence of an attic. In one room is a wide, open fireplace with a three-centred arch, now restored with cement.

Condition—Good.

a(47). Bank Farm, is a house of two storeys and an attic, built almost entirely of brick; the roofs are tiled. The plan is rectangular, facing W., with a small S.E. wing. The main block apparently formed part of a much larger building, probably of the 15th century; the W. half was re-built with red and black bricks late in the 17th century; the S.E. wing was added probably in the 18th century.

The remains of the original open timber roof are worthy of note, and there are some 16th-century moulded beams in a room on the ground floor. The W. elevation is a good example of late 17th-century design.

The W. Elevation has a moulded brick string-course over the windows on the ground floor, and a plaster cornice; the doorway has a plain hood; seven of the windows are blocked, and the four others have sash frames; the attic is lighted by two gabled dormer windows. The N. Elevation is gabled, and has a chimney stack of late 17th-century brick, partly re-built; on the S. Elevation the main block has a similar chimney stack and two gables; the eastern is smaller than the other, and is set back from the face of the wall; it is of brick and timber, and probably original; the S.E. wing also has a gable of brick and timber.

Interior:—On the ground floor is a late 17th-century fireplace, partly blocked; the N.E. room, now the kitchen and a passage, was probably originally part of the hall, which was possibly open to the roof; the ceiling, with fine moulded beams, was inserted in the 16th century, but there may have been a dividing floor originally, as there is a considerable space between the ceiling and the floor above it. A 16th-century door of moulded battens opens into a room S. of the passage. The principal staircase is in the middle of the 17th-century block, and has twisted balusters of late 17th-century date. On the first floor, in the N.E. room, are three trusses of the original roof; of the hall only one arched tie-beam remains; it is set low in the present room, but the roof is high enough to have been that of an upper hall if the original floor was at the lower level indicated by the 16th-century ceiling; the E. bay is cut short, and the roof may have extended further towards the E; the wind-braces form two tiers of pointed arches between the purlins; several braces have disappeared.

Condition—Good.

a(48). Hazeldean, on the W. side of the road to St. Leonards, is a two-storeyed house, built probably in the 16th century, but it has been completely altered or re-built and the original plan entirely obscured. The front block is of 18th-century brick; the N.W. wing is partly of late 17th-century brick, partly modern, and at the W. end are some re-used bricks, probably of the 16th century; some are 11 inches long, others 13½ inches, and one brick is 20 inches; all are 2¼ inches thick. Inside the house is a large, open fireplace with an oak lintel, and there are three 17th-century doors of moulded battens.

Condition—Good.

a(49). Wellwick Farm, house and barns, about 1½ miles W.N.W. of the church. The House is of two storeys with an attic and cellars, partly of flint and stone, partly of brick. It was built in 1616, the date inscribed on two of the chimneys, but is of 16th-century design; in the 18th century the S. front was re-faced with brick, and in the 19th and 20th centuries the whole building was much restored, and substantial brick buttresses were added. The roof is tiled.

The original chimney stacks are noticeable, as they are of good design and well preserved.

The plan is rectangular, facing S., with a low modern addition on the N.E. From the appearance of the roof the S. Elevation was probably originally gabled, but now has a plain 18th-century brick parapet; the central doorway is of the 17th century, and has moulded stone jambs and four-centred arch, with sunk spandrels in a square head; above it is a stone panel enclosing a shield carved in low relief with the arms, a cheveron between three hats of estate, over the shield a helm and mantle with crest, now broken, apparently an arm holding an arrow. The cellar has a blocked window. On the first floor, in the middle, is an original stone window, of three lights with moulded jambs and mullions, now blocked. E. Elevation:—The lower floors are original, of flint with brick quoins, but the head of the gable is of brick; on the second floor is an original stone window, of three lights, the side lights being blocked; in the middle of the gabled part of the wall is a projecting stepped chimney stack of thin bricks; it has a square base, moulded at the top, and four octagonal shafts which have moulded bases and caps with projecting spurs at the angles; on the S. face is a moulded panel, enclosing a brick slab, with the initials and date E B. 1616. The N. Elevation is of flint with brick dressings, and has three gables with stone copings; in the W. bay, on each floor, is a small original stone window, with a moulded string-course as a label above it; on the upper floors are similar windows, now blocked; the two lower windows are not in line and evidently lighted the staircase; in the E. bay, on the ground floor, is an original stone window, of two lights, one now blocked with brick; the upper windows are similar to those in the W. bay; the cellar has a blocked window. The projecting chimney stack, in the middle bay, has three shafts in a row, similar to those on the E. elevation, and below them a panel with initials and date A1616W. The W. Elevation, at the N. end, is of flint mixed with brick; at the S. end it has been re-faced with 18th-century brick; on the second floor at the N. end is an original stone window of three lights, the side lights now blocked; the projecting chimney stack is S. of the centre line, and has four shafts similar to those on the E. elevation, apparently re-built with the original bricks.

Interior:—In the N.E. corner of the main block, the oak staircase from the ground floor to the attic is original, except a few deal treads and risers at the foot; the large central newel is rectangular; there are no handrails or balusters. The second staircase is of the 18th century. In the attic, now disused, is an original fireplace, with a stop-chamfered oak lintel.

Two large rectangular Barns, S.E. of the house, are at right angles to each other, and form an L-shaped building, probably erected a few years later than the house. The larger barn is of five bays, and timber-framed, with filling of thin bricks; the E. wall is partly restored; the N. and S. ends are gabled; the open roof has braced tie-beams and is thatched. The smaller barn is of similar construction to the other and also has an open timber roof. At the W. end is a small two-storeyed Outbuilding, also of 17th-century brick and timber, with original chamfered floor joists.

Condition—Fairly good.

b(50). The Hale, nearly 1½ miles E. of the church, is a house of two storeys and an attic, built probably in the 17th century, but much altered in the 18th century and subsequently. The walls are covered with rough-cast; the roof is tiled. One chimney stack is built of thin bricks, probably of the 17th century. Inside the house one room on the ground floor has a moulded ceiling-beam, and on the first floor is an oak panelled door of early 17th-century date.

Condition—Good.

c(51). Dean Farm, nearly two miles S.S.E. of the church, is a two-storeyed house, built probably in the 17th century, but much re-built and altered in the 18th century and subsequently. A little original timber-framing remains on the E. side, but the other walls are entirely of 18th-century or modern brick; the roof is tiled. The central chimney stack, of 17th-century brick, has been repaired. Inside the house are some old ceiling-beams, one moulded, and a large open fireplace.

Condition—Good.

c(52). House, now two tenements, near King's Wood, about 2¼ miles S. of the church, is of two storeys, built in the 17th century, but subsequently much altered and enlarged; the roofs are tiled. The N. and S. walls retain the original timber-framing, but most of the brick filling is of the 18th century or modern. Each tenement has old ceiling-beams and a wide, open fireplace.

Condition—Poor.

a(53). The Marquis of Granby Inn, at World's End, 1 mile N. of the town, is of two storeys and an attic, built probably late in the 16th century and encased in brick in the 18th century; modern extensions have been added at the S. end and at the back. Inside the house one room has an open fireplace, and the original timbers are visible in some of the walls; the roof has heavy tie-beams and wind-braced purlins. There are some brick and timber buildings of uncertain date N. of the house.

Condition—Fairly good.

Unclassified

b, d(54). Grim's Ditch (see also Aston Clinton, Bradenham, Buckland, Drayton Beauchamp, Great and Little Hampden, Great Missenden, Lee, Monks Risborough and Princes Risborough). The ditch first appears in the parish in a pasture field S.W. of Lane's End, and runs through Oaken Grove, where the rampart is 6 ft. above the bottom of the ditch, which is 38 ft. wide. The course of the ditch can be faintly seen in the field on the S.W. and becomes quite distinct in Baldwin's Wood, where dew-ponds have formed in the ditch; at the corner of Mercer's Wood it turns due S. and dies out at the end of Great Widmoor Wood.

Condition—Good.

a(55). Trackways and small Tumulus on Bacombe Hill, 5/8 mile W. of the church.

Condition—Of tumulus, much denuded.