Sandridge

An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Hertfordshire. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1910.

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'Sandridge', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Hertfordshire, (London, 1910) pp. 199-200. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/herts/pp199-200 [accessed 19 March 2024]

In this section

116. SANDRIDGE.

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

Ecclesiastical

c (1). Parish Church of St. Leonard, stands on the N.E. side of the village, 2½ miles N.E. of St. Albans. It is built of flint with stone dressings, and has Roman bricks in the walls; the roofs are tiled, except those of the aisles, which are covered with lead. The earliest parts consist of the eastern angles of an aisleless Nave of early 12th-century date, and part of a Roman brick chancel arch, probably the remains of the church consecrated by Losinga, bishop of Norwich (1094–1119), though the use of Roman material suggests a pre-Conquest date. The Aisles were added c. 1160–70, and a West Tower at the end of the same century. The Chancel was re-built between 1396 and 1401, and a stone screen was inserted below the chancel arch; in the 15th century the South Porch was added, and the aisles were restored. The tower fell c. 1688, was re-built in brick in 1837, and replaced by the present tower in 1886, when the church was repaired. At the same time the nave clearstorey was built and the roof renewed, the E. wall of the nave above the chancel arch was replaced by a pierced wooden framework, and the aisles were extended towards the W. The North Porch is also modern.

The details throughout the church are interesting, more especially at the E. end of the nave, where the original Roman brick chancel arch remains above the 14th-century stone screen.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (36 ft. by 17½ ft.) has an E. window of three lights with modern tracery, and the N. and S. walls have each two windows of two cinque-foiled lights under segmental heads. Between those in the N. wall is a plain doorway, originally external, but now leading into the vestry. The original chancel arch has a semi-circular head, and the screen below it consists of a central doorway, with moulded and enriched jambs and a pointed head; on each side are three pierced cinque-foiled lights, and in the tympanum of the brick arch are two similar lights. On the E. side of the screen the small spandrels of each light are enriched with carving, and on each side of the doorway is a stone bench-end with a figure carved in high relief on the sloping arm. The Nave (40 ft. by 21½ ft.) has N. and S. arcades of three bays; the semi-circular arches are of two orders with edge rolls, and the octagonal shafts have moulded bases and square scalloped capitals. The North Aisle (7 ft. wide) has an E. window and two N. windows of the 15th century, each of two cinque-foiled lights under a square head. The N. doorway is of the 12th century, with a round arch of two orders, the stonework much restored. The South Aisle (7½ ft. wide) has windows similar to those of the N. aisle, and a 15th-century S. doorway, partly restored. The South Porch retains a little 15th-century stone work, but has been much restored. The West Tower (13 ft. square) is of three stages, with an octagonal shingled spire; the lofty E. arch of two orders is of late 12th-century date, and has angle shafts in the jambs and foliated capitals. All the Roofs, except that of the nave, contain some old timbers.

Fittings—Font: cylindrical, carved with an arcade of small intersecting arches and shafts, late 12th-century. Piscina: in the chancel, 14th-century, much restored. Screen (see Chancel). Tiles: in floor of chancel, 15th-century, glazed, many much worn. Miscellanea: quoin at S.E. angle of the chancel, part of an old sun-dial.

Condition—Good throughout.

Secular

a (2). Bride Hall, now a farm house, stands at the N. end of the parish about 1¼ miles N.E. of Wheathampstead. The walls are of 2¼-inch red bricks, and the roofs are tiled. It was built early in the 17th century, and the plan is E-shaped, with the addition, at the back, of two small projecting wings containing stairs. An entrance passage divides the house into two parts, the hall and living rooms being on the W. side, and the kitchen and offices on the E. All the windows of the front have been restored, apparently with wood, and are now painted, but at the back some of the original windows remain, with chamfered brick jambs and mullions, and four-centred heads to the lights. There are two original chimney stacks, and a third is re-built with old material. The two-storeyed central porch has a moulded brick doorway with a four-centred arch, and a modern outer door; the inner door is original. The hall has a large open fire-place, now partly filled up, with a moulded wood lintel above it, and in the ceiling is a large moulded beam; other rooms have rough ceiling beams, and many of the original solid oak door frames and batten doors remain; the kitchen has a wide fireplace. Both the staircases have circular wood newels with short rails at the top, and turned balusters.

Condition—Good.

b (3). Waterend Farm, originally the manorhouse of Waterend, stands on the N. bank of the river Lea, about 3 miles N.E. of the village, and about 1½ miles E. of Wheathampstead. The house is of two storeys and an attic; it is said to have been built by Sir John Jennings, c. 1610, and appears to be of the 17th century, though the date 1549 is cut on a rafter in the attic; the walls are of red brick, with large moulded brick string-courses between the storeys; the roof is tiled.

The building is a good example of an early 17th-century house on an E-shaped plan. The chimney stacks are especially noticeable.

The W. front has three slightly projecting windows, with stone mullions and transoms, carried up to the attic, and above them are three steep straight gables, with moulded coping. At the back are three large chimney stacks, with groups of octagonal shafts, which have moulded bases and caps. The interior has been much altered, but in the kitchen is a wide, arched fireplace, and there is an original oak newel staircase of plain character.

Condition—Good.

Unclassified

b (4–5). The Devil's Dyke and The Slad (Boundary Dykes, or Lines of Entrenchment), partly enclose an area of about 90 acres, lying on the S. side of the river Lea, ¾ mile S.E. of Wheathampstead, about 300–360 ft. above O.D. The Devil's Dyke is a cutting or ditch, with a slight rampart on the E., and a slighter counter-scarp on the W., the whole diminishing gradually in size from the middle to the ends, which run out to the natural ground level. Nearly parallel to the Devil's Dyke, at a distance of 1,800 ft. to the E. is The Slad, a slighter work without a rampart. The bottom of the entrenchment is wet, as it is in heavier soil; it continues S. to form a single line of moat with low banks, bending round W. towards the Dyke.

Dimensions—Devil's Dyke: Length, 1,400 ft.; greatest width, 130 ft.; greatest depth, 35 ft. The Slad: Length (N. part) 1,200 ft., (S. part, the moat) 1,500 ft.; greatest width, 80 ft.; greatest depth, 15 ft.

Condition—Good.

c (6). Beech Bottom (Boundary Dyke, or Line of Entrenchment), extends from the N. end of Bernard's Heath along a shallow valley, N.E. as far as the road from St. Albans, at an average level of 320–340 ft. above O.D. It consists of a single ditch or cutting of nearly symmetrical section, diminishing gradually in size towards the extremities, which run out to the natural ground level.

Dimensions—Total length, 5,000 ft.; greatest width at crest, 105 ft.; greatest depth, 32 ft.

Condition—Good.