Soulbury

195. SOULBURY.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xx. S.W. ^(b)xx. S.E. ^(c)xxiv. N.W.)

Ecclesiastical

^a (1). Parish Church of All Saints, stands S. of the village. The walls are covered with cement and rough-cast; some ironstone is visible where the plaster has fallen off. The roofs are covered with lead, except that of the chancel, which is tiled. The Chancel was re-built, and the North and South Aisles were added in the second quarter of the 14th century, but the existence of an aisleless Nave of earlier date is indicated by a straight joint at the junction of the N. aisle with the nave at the E. end; the nave was possibly widened towards the S. when the aisles were added. In the second half of the 15th century windows were inserted in the S. aisle, and the South Porch was built. Early in the 16th century the nave arcades were entirely, and the aisles partly, re-built, the N. aisle being lengthened towards the W., the West Tower was added, the clearstorey built, and the nave and aisles were re-roofed. The church was restored in 1863.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (34 ft. by 19 ft.) has diagonal buttresses at the E. angles and buttresses against the N. and S. walls, all of the 14th century. The E. window is of three wide trefoiled lights under a two-centred head, all of early 14th-century date; the tracery is modern. In the N. wall are three windows; the easternmost is of three trefoiled lights with intersecting tracery forming quatrefoils in a two-centred head under an external label, all of early 14th-century date, much restored, partly with cement; the second window is of the same date as the first, of two trefoiled lights and a quatrefoil in a two-centred head, with an external label restored with cement: further W. is a priest's doorway, also of the 14th century; the jambs and two-centred head have a continuous moulding of unusual profile; the external label has moulded and foliated head-stops, and has been restored with cement: the third window is set low in the wall at the extreme W. end, and is of late 15th-century date, of two trefoiled lights and a quatrefoil in a segmental head; the external label has been repaired with cement, and has a head-stop at the E. end. In the S. wall are three windows; the easternmost is of early 14th-century date, of three trefoiled lights and net tracery in a two-centred head, which has an external label repaired with cement; the second is similar to the middle window in the N. wall, but is of two cinque-foiled lights, and the tracery is modern; the labels of both these windows have head-stops which are possibly modern; the westernmost window resembles the corresponding window in the N. wall, but the tracery is modern; in the W. splay is the opening of a squint from the S. aisle. A moulded internal string-course is carried round the walls from the E. splay of the westernmost window on each side; it forms the sill of the other windows and a label over the priest's doorway, and is of early 14th-century date, much restored; it is interrupted by monuments of a later date against the E. wall. The early 14th-century chancel arch is two-centred and of two chamfered orders, the outer order with broach-stops and the inner with roll-stops; the jambs have semi-octagonal pilasters with moulded capitals and very high bases. The Nave (31 ft. by 20½ ft.) has early 16th-century N. and S. arcades of two bays, with slightly four-centred arches of two chamfered orders, the inner order having fillets between the chamfers; the octagonal columns and the semi-octagonal responds have moulded octagonal capitals and moulded bases on tall plinths; at the E. end of the N. wall is the 15th-century doorway of the former rood-loft. The clearstorey has two N. and two S. windows of early 16th-century date, each of three rounded uncusped lights under a square head with a flat rear arch and square external label. The Aisles have 14th-century buttresses at the E. angles, and plain parapets. The North Aisle (11 ft. wide, extending to the W. end of the tower) has, in the E. wall, an early 14th-century window of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head; at the S. end of the wall, considerably above the floor-level, is a doorway with a four-centred head and rebated jambs, opening into the rood-loft staircase, of which the steps are still in situ. In the N. wall are three windows, the easternmost of early 14th-century date, and of three trefoiled lights with net tracery in a two-centred head; the other windows are of early 16th-century date, each of three uncusped lights and uncusped vertical tracery in a four-centred head with a moulded external label: between the two western windows is the N. doorway, with jambs and two-centred head of two continuously moulded orders, and with a moulded external label, all of early 14th-century date, much repaired with cement; at the W. end of the wall, outside, are traces of a former opening, of uncertain date. In the W. wall is an early 16th-century window similar to those in the N. wall. At the sill-level a moulded string-course is carried along the E. and N. walls, inside; it is of early 14th-century date, E. of the N. doorway, and modern further W. The South Aisle (11½ ft. wide) has, in the E. wall, a window of the same date and design as the 16th-century windows in the N. aisle. In the S. wall, at the E. end, is the opening of the squint into the chancel; further W. are two windows of late 15th-century date, each of three cinque-foiled lights in a four-centred head: W. of the windows is the early 14th-century S. doorway with jambs and two-centred head of one continuously and elaborately moulded order, with a moulded external label which has volute-stops, the eastern stop being restored; at the sill-level of the windows, from the E. end of the wall to the W. side of the doorway, is a moulded internal string-course of early 14th-century date, mitred and returned at the W. end. The West Tower (16 ft. by 15 ft.) is entirely of early 16th-century date; it is of three stages, with an embattled parapet; at the S.W. angle is a projecting octagonal stair-turret, carried up to the second stage. The ground stage opens into the nave and into the N. aisle by two arches, that opening into the nave being much higher than the other; they are each four-centred and of two orders; the outer order is chamfered and continuous, the inner order is hollow-chamfered and filleted, and rests on semi-octagonal pilasters with moulded capitals and chamfered bases. The W. window is of four uncusped lights with uncusped tracery in a three-centred head, and has a moulded external reveal. In the S. wall is a window similar to the W. window, but of three lights; in the S.W. corner is the doorway of the stair-turret. In the second stage is a square-headed loop-light and a disused clock. In each wall of the bell-chamber is a window of three uncusped lights, with uncusped tracery in a four-centred head, having a deep splayed external reveal of two orders, and an external label. In the turret are three loop-holes. The South Porch has an embattled parapet. The entrance archway is of late 15th-century date, two-centred, and of two continuously chamfered orders. In each side wall is a 15th-century window of two trefoiled lights under a square head. The low-pitched Roofs of the nave and aisles are of early 16th-century date, restored; that of the nave is of two bays with moulded purlins, ridge, principals and intermediates; the principals have plain wall-brackets resting on wooden corbels carved with small figures of angels holding shields, two of the shields being charged with a pastoral staff between the initials ' R.H.', in chief two molets, probably for Robert Hobbes, abbot of Woburn, c. 1529 to 1538. The lean-to roofs of the aisles have moulded wall-plates, principals and purlins; that of the N. aisle is of seven small bays, and that of the S. aisle of four bays. Some of the tie-beams in the ceiling of the tower are apparently old. The roof of the porch is of late 15th-century date, with moulded wall-plates and a bracketed ridge.

Fittings—Bells: seven; 1st and 3rd, by Henry and Ellis Knight, 1661; 2nd, by Chandler, 1697; 4th, inscribed ' Sancte Martine Ora Pro Nobis', 5th, inscribed ' Sancta Margareta Ora Pro Nobis', both by a predecessor of Roger Landen, name unknown, early 15th-century; 6th, by Bartholomew Atton, 1592; bell-cage old, bells not swung, and most of the wheels broken. Brasses and Indents: In nave—in large slab, (1) [? of John Mallet, 1516, and Alice his wife], figures of a woman and eight daughters, indents of a man's figure, group of sons (apparently two), inscription, and four small shields; (2) E. of (1), of John Turnay, 1502, and Agnes his wife, two figures, man in civilian dress, with inscription. Easter Sepulchre: See Recess. Font: octagonal, bowl with traceried sides, some with blank shields, 15th-century, two sides and stem modern. Glass: In chancel—in all windows, fragments made into borders, 14th and 15th-century; in second S. window, shield, azure strewn with crosses formy or, 14th-century, restored. In nave—in S. windows of clearstorey, a few quarries with foliated designs, early 16th-century. Locker: In S. aisle—at N. end of E. wall, with chamfered jambs and pointed head, 15th-century. Monuments: In chancel—at E. end of N. wall, (1) to Robert Lovett of Liscomb, 1699, and Penelope, his first wife, daughter of Thomas Aylett, 1688, also to Lawrence, his younger brother, 1698; marble monument of classical design, with weeping amorini and doves, erected in 1701 by Lettice, daughter of Robert Lovett and wife of Thomas Pigott, inscription, and shield with arms of Lovett, Aylett and Bulkeley; on S. wall, (2) of Sir Robert Lovett, knight, and Susan Brooke, his wife, daughter and heir of Richard Pate of Gloucester, 1609; alabaster monument in architectural design with two arches, under them kneeling effigies, of man in armour and ruff, and woman in black robe and fardingale, small effigies of two daughters, above them three shields, 1st, Lovett quartering Turville, 2nd, Brooke quartering sable a crosslet argent with a molet or in the fesse point, 3rd, arms of first shield impaling those of second shield, whole monument coloured, inscription partly illegible. Niche for image: In S. aisle—at N. end of E. wall, shallow, with trefoiled pointed head, 14th-century. Piscina: In S. aisle—at E. end of S. wall, set in projecting block of masonry, with cinque-foiled pointed head, no basin, 15th-century. Plate: includes large cup and standing paten of 1630, large flagon of 1672, large standing dish of 1678. Recess: In chancel—in N. wall, tomb-recess, probably used for Easter sepulchre, with slightly ogeed arch of two moulded orders, outer member of outer order forming label, early 14th-century, foliated finial modern.

Condition—Good; externally much disfigured by cement and rough-cast.

Secular

^b (2). Homestead Moat, fragment, and Fishpond, now dry, at Chelmscott, 1 mile E. of the church.

^{a, c} (3). Liscombe Park, house and chapel, nearly a mile S.E. of the church (see also (18)). The walls of the house are of brick and those of the chapel of stone, but almost all of them are covered with rough-cast; the roofs are tiled. The chapel was built c. 1350 and was formerly detached, but is now connected with the house by a modern corridor; it was used for some time as a storehouse, and allowed to fall into ruin, but has been restored, and is now used as a billiard room. The house is of two storeys and forms the N., E. and W. sides of a courtyard, the chapel being on the S. side at the W. end. The house was built probably in the second half of the 16th century, and was apparently much altered in the 17th and following centuries; the external covering of rough-cast and the complete alteration of the interior make it impossible to re-construct the history of the building in detail; the E. wing now forms stables, etc., but the ' washbox' in the middle was originally an entrance gateway; at the end of the wing is the coach-house, etc., which was built late in the 17th or early in the 18th century; the dining room at the S. end of the W. wing is said to have been the 16th-century hall, but this is not certain.

The 14th-century chapel, with its windows, is of especial interest.

The Chapel has angle buttresses, but those at the W. angles were partly destroyed when the modern corridor was built. The E. and W. gables are stepped, and probably of the 17th century; at the apex of the E. gable is a stone cross of the same date. A photograph taken before the last restoration shows two small stepped gables on the N. side, but the roof now has plain eaves. All the windows are of stone, and of mid 14th-century date, restored. The E. window is of three cinque-foiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head; the mullions are moulded, and the internal splay has small attached shafts with moulded bases and foliated capitals supporting a richly moulded two-centred rear arch, with a label. In the N. wall are two windows, each of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head. In the S. wall are two windows similar to those in the N. wall; further W. is the original doorway, now blocked, and high up at the W. end of the wall is a single trefoiled light, probably for a gallery. In the W. wall is a modern doorway, and, in the gable, an original foiled circular window. The Roof, of four bays, is old and has plain principals, collar-beams with curved brackets, wind-braces and large tie-beams, now encased; it is plastered between the trusses and at the level of the collar-beams. Fittings—Panelling: On all the walls, dado, moulded, 17th-century, brought from elsewhere.

The House is entirely covered with rough-cast, but the S. wall of the coach-house is of red and blue bricks of the 17th or 18th century. Elevations:— The central block has embattled parapets; on the N. front there are small turrets, rising from the ground, at the angles and on each side of a gable, in which is a stone shield with the arms of Lovett; the W. wing has stepped and curvilinear gables; at the S. end is a large chimney stack with six shafts set on a moulded base; two of the shafts are circular, two octagonal, and two square set diagonally, all apparently of the 17th century with restored moulded caps. The E. wing is plain, except in the middle where the 'wash-box' has a stepped gable on each side. On the courtyard side the central block has three lead rainwater pipes; one of them is dated 1665, another is of about the same period, and the third is dated 1774; the W. wing has five rain-water pipes; one head is dated 1639, another is of the same period, the third has the initials and date 'RLSP1670', the fourth is also of the 17th century, and the fifth is dated 1774.

In the courtyard is a very fine yew tree.

Condition—Good.

^b (4). Chelmscott Manor House, about 1 mile E. of the church, is of two storeys and an attic. The walls are partly of shaly limestone with clunch dressings, and partly of brick. The roofs are tiled. The greater part of the present house is of rectangular plan, running E. and W., and was apparently a 14th-century chapel and ante-chapel; the former house to which they belonged probably extended towards the S.; the great central chimney stack was inserted probably early in the 17th century, and the attic and roof are apparently also of 17th-century or later date.

The house is especially interesting on account of the 14th-century remains.

The present S. Front is of local shaly sandstone or ironstone, with patches of modern brick and some fragments of clunch; the E. half of the wall is covered with ivy; a doorway is set in the brick filling of a former opening, of clunch, with a chamfered arch, apparently a rear arch, indicating the existence at some time of a building extending towards the S.; in the W. half of the wall, externally, is a line of clunch, evidently the weathercourse of a gabled second S. wing. The W. wall is of shaly ironstone, patched with ironstone and other material, and has diagonal buttresses of clunch mixed with other stone. The E. wall is almost entirely of modern brick, much covered with ivy at the N. end; a straight joint 4 ft. from the S. end, where there are quoins of ironstone and clunch, shows the thickness of the S. wall. At each end of the building the roof is hipped, and there is a gabled dormer window; the ridge of the roof is now truncated, but the old ridge-line is shown by a small remaining gable-head, from which rises the central chimney stack of 17th-century brick.

Interior:—The principal doorway opens into a lobby S. of the central chimney stack, with a rough beam in the ceiling; the room E. of the stack was apparently the E. end of the chapel, and contains remains of 14th-century work; in the N. wall, at the W. end, is half a niche or possibly a squint, of clunch, with a cinque-foiled head; in the S. wall, at the W. end, is a similar niche, and near the E. end is a trefoiled niche with a shelf at the back, which was probably a piscina, though it is now without a basin: in the ceiling, running E. and W., is a moulded beam with a straight joint on each side of the western half, indicating a former transverse beam; under the W. end of the beam, over the fireplace, is a small curved bracket. The room on the W. side of the stack has a moulded beam running E. and W., resembling that in the E. room, and probably a continuation of it, with similar marks of a transverse beam, and a small curved bracket under the W. end; there are also two rougher beams, which are chamfered; the opening of the large fireplace, at the E. end of the room, is probably of early 17th-century date, but the woodwork is modern, except a curved bracket which lines with the moulded beam. A room at the W. end of the house has rough beams in the ceiling, one of them having, at the E. end, a small curved bracket similar to those in the other rooms. On the first floor most of the ceilings have rough beams. In the attic the roof-timbers are apparently of late 17th, or of 18th-century date.

Condition—Good.

Monuments (5–13)

These buildings are all of two storeys; almost all of them are of 17th-century origin and retain old timber-framing, but have been much restored and re-built with brick. The roofs generally are thatched. Many of the plans are rectangular.

^a (5). Cottage, E. of the church, was built probably at the end of the 16th century, and is of the central chimney type. The N. wall is covered with plaster.

Condition—Poor.

^a (6–7). Cottages, two, on the E. and W. sides of the road, about 165 yards N.E. of the church.

Condition—Poor.

The Green, E. side, from S. to N.

^a (8). Cottage, opposite to the Stewkley road, 250 yards N. of the church. It consists of a rectangular block, facing W., built of brick late in the 17th century, with a small wing of earlier date at the back, making the plan T-shaped; the wing is of timber and brick, and was much altered when the main block was built. The roofs are tiled. In front the windows have iron casements.

Condition—Good.

^a (9). Cottage, about 300 yards N.N.E. of the church. The walls have been entirely re-faced with brick, apparently of the 18th century.

Condition—Poor.

^a (10). Cottage, about 120 yards N.N.E. of (9). The timber-framed walls have some old plaster filling.

Condition—Poor.

^a (11). Cottage, N.W. of (10), is probably of late 16th or early 17th-century origin, and retains a little brick filling set in herring-bone pattern, but the walls are almost entirely of modern brick. The roofs are thatched and tiled.

Condition—Good.

W. side

^a (12). Cottage, almost opposite to (10), was probably originally of the central chimney type, but 18th-century additions and rebuilding have made the plan L-shaped. The roofs are tiled.

Condition—Fairly good.

^a (13). Winscott Farm, about ¾ mile S.W. of the church. The walls are partly covered with plaster. The plan is rectangular with a small wing at the back.

Condition—Good.

Hollingdon

^a (14). Hill Farm, about ½ mile N.W. of the church, is a house partly of two storeys and partly of one storey and an attic, built in the 17th century. The front is plastered; the N.E. end, and half the wall at the back are covered with rough-cast, through which the lines of the original timber-framing are visible; the rest of the walling is of modern brick. The roof is thatched. The plan is rectangular, facing S.E.; nailed over the back door is a carved panel of early 17th-century date, probably from a chest. The central chimney stack has grouped square shafts of 17th-century brick.

Interior:—In the room at the N.E. end is a little early 17th-century panelling and a 17th-century door with a frame of eight panels planted on battens. There are some old ceiling-beams and floor-boards.

Condition—Good.

^a (15). Cottages, two adjoining, E. of (14), form a rectangular block of one storey and an attic, built in the 17th century, and subsequently restored. The walls are of brick and timber, partly covered with plaster; the roofs are thatched.

Condition—Fairly good.

^a (16). Clayhill Farm, about ¾ mile N.W. of the church, is a small house of one storey with an attic and cellar, built of timber and brick, on a T-shaped plan, late in the 17th century. The roofs are thatched. The central chimney stack, of brick, is original. Interior:—The rooms on the ground floor have open joist ceilings and large beams.

Two timber-framed barns near the house are probably contemporary with it; the roofs are thatched.

Condition—Of house, poor; of barns, dilapidated.

^a (17). Cottage, W. of (16), is of two storeys, built in the 17th century. The walls are partly timber-framed with some original plaster filling, and partly of modern brick. The roof is thatched.

Condition—Fairly good.

Unclassified

^c (18). Moated Mound, at the S. corner of Liscombe Park, N.W. of Rocklane Farm. The mound is 7 ft. high, about 80 ft. in diameter at the base, and 40 ft. at the summit. It is surrounded by a dry ditch 3 ft. deep, with a causeway across the W. side.

Condition—Fairly good.