Thornton

207. THORNTON.

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

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Michael and All Angels, stands at the N. end of the village; the walls are of stone rubble; the roofs are covered with lead. It consists of a Nave, South Aisle and West Tower, built in the 14th century and a North Aisle, re-built in the 19th century, when the church was restored; the rest of the former building has been destroyed, except the 14th-century chancel arch and N. arcade.

The 15th-century alabaster effigies in the tower are noteworthy; the brass of Robert Ingylton, 1472, in the nave, is especially interesting on account of the quadruple canopy.

Architectural Description—The Nave (39 ft. by 12 ft.): The S. wall has a parapet with trefoiled ornament visible above the wall of the aisle. At the E. end, inside, is the 14th-century chancel arch, which is two-centred, and of two chamfered orders with moulded stops; set in the wall under the arch is a window of three lights and tracery in a two-centred head, all modern, except the jambs and outer order of the head, which are of the 14th century, and probably part of the former E. window of the chancel. The 14th-century N. arcade is of four bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders which have plain labels and stops in the nave and aisle; the octagonal pillars and semi-octagonal responds have moulded capitals of slightly varying detail; the bases are hidden. The S. arcade is similar to the N. arcade, but the detail of the capitals is slightly different. Between the old roof and the modern ceiling are six circular clearstorey windows, of the 14th century, now blocked. The North Aisle (39 ft. by 8 ft.) was re-built in 1850; in the three windows in the N. wall are re-set some of the original stones. The South Aisle (39 ft. by 8 ft.) has, in the S. wall, three windows, each of two lights and tracery, which retain some original stones. The West Tower (10 ft. square) is of three stages with an embattled parapet, supported by a corbel table with carved heads and animals. The detail is of the 14th century, except where modern. The tower arch is two-centred and of three chamfered orders; a modern gallery has been inserted in the arch. The W. doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred head, with a moulded label which has head-stops; the window, above the doorway, is entirely modern, except the jambs. In the S. wall, externally, is a modern doorway opening into the modern staircase in the thickness of the wall, which leads to the ringing-chamber. The second stage is lighted by two small trefoiled windows, and has a small square-headed opening which now leads into the space between the roof and the modern ceiling, but formerly opened into the nave. The bell-chamber has, in each wall, a window of two trefoiled lights, with the head pierced and afterwards filled in; the head of the window in the E. wall is modern. The Roofs are modern, but above the ceiling of the nave are two 15th-century trusses, the struts forming drop arches which have carved bosses.

Fittings—Bells: three; 1st, inscribed 'Sint Pro Elya Michael Deus Atque Maria', 14th-century; 2nd, from the Chandler foundry at Drayton Parslow, 1635; 3rd, inscribed 'Sum Rosa Pulsata Mundi Maria Vocata', by Richard Hille, early 15th-century; bell-frame old. Brasses: In nave— at E. end, (1) of Robert Ingylton, 1472, and his three wives, figures of man in plate armour, and three women in butterfly head-dresses, below figures ten daughters, six sons and inscription, above figures four shields with arms—1st, quarterly, 1 and 4, two crowned lions passant, 2 and 3, a sword pointing down, 2nd, quarterly, 1 and 4, a cheveron engrailed with a molet thereon for difference between three tons with flames issuing from the bung-holes for Ingleton, 2, a lion, 3, crusilly three griffons' heads razed, 3rd, a lion, 4th, ermine a cheveron with three fleurs de lis coming out of leopards' heads, above shields a quadruple canopy with crocketed pinnacles; (2) of Jane, daughter of Robert Ingleton, wife first of Humfrey Tyrrell, and afterwards of Alexander St. John, 1557, figure in close-fitting head-dress and cloak, two inscriptions in Latin, one of them marginal, and four shields bearing arms, with names inscribed below them, 1st quarterly, inscribed Humphrey Tyrrell of Wokenton, 2nd quarterly, inscribed Jane, daughter and heir of Robert Ingylton, 3rd quarterly, inscribed George Terrell, son and heir of Humfrey and Jane, 4th 1 impaling 2, inscribed Humfrey Tyrrell, Jane Ingylton. Chest: In tower—of iron, with bands, probably late 17th-century. Monuments: In tower—on each side of W. doorway, on modern base, alabaster effigy, said to be of John Barton, junior, and Isabel his wife (see Plate, p. 43), figure of man in plate armour, of woman in sideless gown, mid 15th-century. Plate: includes cup and cover paten, without date-letter or hall-mark, possibly 17th-century.

Condition—Fairly good, except tower, though covered with ivy; the buttresses of the tower are falling away.

Secular

(2). Tyrelcote Farm, ¾ mile S.E. of the church, is a house of two storeys, built partly of stone and partly of brick, probably late in the 17th century; the roof is tiled. The plan is rectangular, facing N., and at the E. end is a modern addition. In front are two bay windows, a moulded stone cornice and a brick parapet; at each end of the original building is a chimney stack of old thin bricks. Interior:—One room has a wide open fireplace.

On the W. is an outbuilding apparently of the same date as the house; the walls are of brick.

Condition—Good.