Weston Underwood

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire, Volume 2, North. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1913.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Weston Underwood', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire, Volume 2, North, (London, 1913) pp. 316-318. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/bucks/vol2/pp316-318 [accessed 18 March 2024]

In this section

219. WESTON UNDERWOOD.

(O.S. 6 in. v. N.W.)

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Laurence, at the S.W. end of the village, is built of stone rubble with stone dressings; the roofs are covered with slate and with lead, except that of the N. porch which is tiled. Three bays of the Nave are of the 12th century; a fourth bay was added at the W. end and the North and South Aisles were built about the middle of the 13th century; the chancel arch was re-built c. 1330, and the whole chancel c. 1380. The three eastern bays of each arcade of the nave were re-built c. 1400, and at the same time new windows were inserted in the aisles, and the clearstorey was added. In the middle of the 15th century the West Tower and North Porch were added. The whole building was restored late in the 19th or at the beginning of the 20th century.

The 14th-century E. window with contemporary glass is noteworthy.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (28½ ft. by 15 ft.) has an E. window of c. 1380, partly restored; it is of three cinque-foiled ogee lights with elaborate tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded external label. In the N. wall are two windows of c. 1380, each of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head which has a moulded external label; the western window has a transom with two square low-side lights under it, now blocked: between the windows is a doorway of the same date, with chamfered jambs and two-centred head. In the S. wall are two windows of the same date and design as those in the N. wall, but the jambs and mullions are moulded; the low-side lights are blocked, and part of the tracery is modern. The chancel arch was re-built c. 1330, possibly with many of the stones from the former arch, re-cut; it is two-centred, and of two chamfered orders; the jambs have clustered shafts with moulded bases and capitals. The Nave (44 ft. by 17 ft.) has N. and S. arcades each of four bays, with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders; the columns are circular and the E. responds semi-circular; the W. responds are chamfered; the two eastern columns and responds of each arcade have moulded capitals and bases of c. 1400, but the shafts are partly of 13th-century material, re-used; the westernmost column of each arcade is of the 13th century, with the original moulded base, much mutilated; part of the moulded capital is original, and the abacus is of c. 1400; the W. responds are of the 13th century; over the N.E. respond is an opening with a pointed head, formerly giving access to the rood-loft. The clearstorey has, on each side, three windows, of c. 1400, each of two trefoiled lights, with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head under a plain external label. The North Aisle (9 ft. wide) has, in the N. wall, two windows of c. 1400, each of three trefoiled ogee lights and tracery, under a square head with a moulded external label; the mullions of the eastern window are modern: between the windows is the 14th-century N. doorway, which has moulded jambs and pointed head with a plain external label. The South Aisle (10 ft. wide) has, in the S. wall, two windows of the same date and design as those in the N. aisle; between them is a 13th-century doorway with chamfered jambs and pointed head; the moulded external label has grotesque headstops; one stop is much worn. The West Tower (10½ ft. square) is of two stages, the lower stage being of two storeys, with a moulded plinth, diagonal W. buttresses, a staircase in the N.W. angle and an embattled parapet. All the detail is of mid 15th-century date. The two-centred tower arch is of two chamfered orders; the inner order of the jambs have moulded bases; the doorway opening into the staircase has chamfered jambs and four-centred head: the W. doorway has been much restored; it has a pointed head of two chamfered orders with a moulded external label; the outer order of the jambs is square: the W. window, also much restored, is of two cinque-foiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded external label. In the upper storey of the lower stage the N. and S. walls have each a single trefoiled light. The bell-chamber has, in each wall, a window of two lights similar to the W. window of the lower stage and much restored. The North Porch (9 ft. by 7 ft.) has detail of mid 15th-century date. The outer entrance has moulded jambs and two-centred arch with a moulded external label; in each side wall is a single trefoiled light. The flat, lean-to Roofs of the aisles have some old principals with curved wall-brackets, and part of the purlins have beaded edges, but most of the timbers are modern.

Fittings—Bells: six; 1st to 5th by Henry and Matthew Bagley, 1687; cage, with initials 'T.E.', probably 17th-century. Brasses and Indents: In chancel—nailed down to modern wood floor, (1) to John Olney, knight, 1405, and Denise his wife, marginal inscription, with symbols of the four Evangelists at the corners, much broken, set in wrong order, and some parts missing, records that John Olney 'parva fuit antiqua capella ruens . . . . insuper a papa perquisivit qd . . . . jure sepulture gaudeat iste locus . . . .' one shield with arms, a fesse embattled. In S. aisle—at E. end, (2) of Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Hussey and wife first of Walter, Lord Hungerford, and afterwards of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 1571, figure of woman in elaborate gown with slashed sleeves, head missing, group of five daughters, inscription and four shields with arms, 1, Throckmorton; 2, Hussey; 3, Throckmorton with quarterings impaling Hussey; and Fortescue; 4, Hungerford impaling Hussey; indent of a fifth shield. Chest: In N. aisle—at E. end, iron-bound, and with strap-hinges, marked, in nail heads, on lid initials, 'i.h.', on front, date 1662. Communion Table and Rails: table with moulded top, twisted legs and moulded foot rail, late 17th-century; rails, with large moulded top rail and twisted balusters, late 17th-century. Doors: In S. aisle—in S. doorway, of plain battens, with strap-hinges; in tower—in W. doorway, similar to S. door; both possibly 17th-century. Font and Font-cover: tapering octagonal bowl with moulded lower edge, stem octagonal, in each face a trefoiled ogee panel with shield of arms, 1, a cheveron with three fleurs de lis thereon; 2, six piles; 3, a fesse embattled between six crosslets fitchy with three crescents on the fesse, for Olney; 4, a fesse; 5, a fesse embattled with three crosslets fitchy in the chief; 6, a cross, for Hussey; 7, a fesse embattled charged with a pierced molet; 8, two bars with three roundels in the chief for Hungerford; 15th-century: cover of wood, octagonal pyramid, with moulded ribs and turned top, 17th-century. Glass: In chancel—in tracery of E. window, eleven panels, containing figures, etc.; (1–7) on red or blue backgrounds, with white and yellow borders, 1, bishop with nimbus, holding staff; 2, St. Peter with keys and book; 3, St. John the Baptist, holding lamb and long cross, a sheep at his feet; 4, St. John the Evangelist with chalice and serpent; 5, St. Lawrence, wearing deacon's vestments, and holding a gridiron; 6, St. Paul with sword; 7, the ascending figure of Christ, with rays of the sun at the top of panel; 8, and 9, N. and S. of 7, each an angel swinging censer and holding incense boat; 10, and 11, in apex of window each a yellow and white rose, with blue band, on red background with yellow and white border; other panels with ornamental-patterns; all of c. 1380, partly restored, except 8, which is apparently entirely modern: in N.E. window, in head of each light, turreted and gabled canopies, c. 1380: in N.W. window, in quatrefoil of tracery, leaves and a rose, c. 1380: in S.W. window, in quatrefoil, leaves and two interlacing squares, also c. 1380. Locker: In chancel—in N.E. corner, plain, probably old. Monument: In S. aisle—on E. wall, (1) to Thomas Throckmorton, 1614, Sir Francis Throckmorton, kt. and bart., 1680, Francis, son of Sir Francis Throckmorton, 1676 (heart burial), Robert, son of Sir Robert Throckmorton, bart., 1688, also two 19th-century inscriptions to members of the Throckmorton family, large monument, grey and white marble. In churchyard—on S. side, (2) tomb of Ann Neachells, 1672; on N. side, (3) tomb of John Dery, 1683; (4) headstone to Elizabeth Fisher (?), 1694. Painting: In chancel—on N. jamb of chancel arch, in nave—on columns of the arcades, traces of colour. Piscina: In chancel— large, with chamfered jambs and cinque-foiled two-centred head, large octofoil basin, probably late 14th-century, basin restored with cement. Plate: includes cup and cover paten of 1700. Sedile: In chancel—ledge of S.E. window brought down low, seat of cement. Tiles: In chancel—in sill of locker, red and brown.

Condition—Good; the mortar in the joints of the external walls is crumbling away, except in those of the tower.

Secular

(2). Homestead Moat, 300 yards S.E. of the church, now dry; E. of the moat is a rectangular depression, apparently artificial.

Monuments (3–7)

These buildings are almost all of two storeys; they are all of the 17th century, but have been considerably restored. The walls are of stone; the roofs are tiled or thatched.

Main road, W. side

(3). Cowper's House (see Plate, p. 317), 200 yards N.N.E. of the church, is of two storeys with a cellar and an attic. The plan is rectangular. The S.E. front has a plinth, and, between the storeys, a moulded string-course. In the S.W. wall is an original mullioned window, with a moulded label, now blocked; the cellar is lighted by two windows each of two lights, with stone frame and mullions. One chimney stack is of 17th-century brick.

Condition—Good.

(4). House (see Plate, p. 317), now two tenements, N.E. of (3), is of two storeys and an attic. The plan is rectangular, with a central chimney stack, and with modern additions at the back. The S.E. front retains seven original windows, with mullions and labels of stone; the gabled dormers are modern. Interior:—The ceilings have stop-chamfered beams, and there are two open fireplaces, one being partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

E. side

(5). Park Farm House, in a lane on the E. side of the main road, about 200 yards N.E. of the church, has been considerably altered and enlarged. The plan is now L-shaped. The chimney stacks are of original brick.

Condition—Fairly good.

(6). Cottage, 230 yards N.E. of the church. The steep-pitched gables have moulded kneelers, and the chimney stacks are of original brick.

Condition—Fairly good.

(7). House, in a lane on the E. side of the main road, 400 yards N.E. of the church, is of two storeys and an attic. The plan is L-shaped; the longer wing, projecting towards the E., was built in the first half of the 17th century, and the shorter wing, extending towards the S., was added probably at a later date. The N. front retains some original windows with stone frames and mullions; at the E. end is a similar window. The gables have moulded kneelers, and at the W. end is a large stepped chimney stack of stone, with modern brick shafts. Interior:—There are original beams in the ceilings, and the 17th-century staircase has turned balusters, and newel posts with round heads.

The gate opening into the garden has stone posts, probably contemporary with the house, but now covered with ivy.

Condition—Good.

(8). House, at Weston Manor, 550 yards N.E. of the church, and Gate-posts in the grounds. The House consists of a small rectangular block, built late in the 17th century, now attached to an 18th-century stable, and much altered; the walls are of stone rubble; the roof is covered with tiles and with slate. The S. end has two gables; a few of the windows are original and have solid frames with metal casements and leaded glass.

The Gate-posts are possibly of c. 1700; one pair stands at the main entrance to the park, and another pair N. of the 17th-century house; they are of stone, with panelled sides and moulded plinths and cornices; each post has a pineapple pinnacle, also of stone. (See Plate, p. 74.)

Condition—Good.

(9). Village Cross, base, 400 yards N.E. of the church. It is probably of the 15th century, and is roughly square, with hollow-chamfered corners; in the middle is a round hole for the shaft of the cross.

Condition—Good.