Sarratt

117. SARRATT.

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

Roman

^b (1). Building, in Church Field, near Sarratt Bottom Farm, possibly part of a dwelling house, found and planned in 1907. Other Roman foundations, etc., were previously noted near it.

Note.—The plan is reproduced by permission of the Victoria County Histories.

Condition—No remains above ground.

Ecclesiastical

^b(2). Parish Church of the Holy Cross, stands about ¾ of a mile S.S.W. of the village. It is a small cruciform building of flint with some Roman brick; the top stage of the tower is partly of brick; the dressings are of stone, and the transepts have plinths of roofing tiles laid horizontally. The roofs are tiled. The Nave, with North and South Transepts and part of the side walls of the Chancel, are of late 12th-century date. The chancel was lengthened in the 13th century, and again in the 14th century. The West Tower appears to have been added in the 15th century, and the top re-built in the 16th century. In 1865 short Aisles were added W. of the transepts, and the whole building was restored. The South Porch and Vestry are also modern.

This church, with a very short nave, is an unusual and interesting type of a small cruciform building of late 12th-century date, though it has been subsequently enlarged and altered.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (25 ft. by 13 ft.) has a modern E. window of two lights; the design is based on the 14th-century E. window, of which traces were found when an 18th-century window was removed; in the N. wall is a small modern lancet window, and in the S. wall a small square-headed window, probably of late 14th-century date, a modern lancet window, and a blocked doorway. Near the E. end is a plain roll string, running vertically, which was doubtless originally continued horizontally over the sedilia. The chancel arch, of late 12th-century date, is pointed, and of one square order. The Nave (28½ ft. by 16½ ft.) has an arch on each side opening into the transepts, similar to the chancel arch; W. of these are modern arches opening into the short aisles. The North Transept (12 ft. square) has a modern E. window and a 15th-century N. window of two cinque-foiled lights with a square head. In the South Transept (14 ft. by 13 ft.) the only old detail is the rear arch of the S. window. The West Tower (9 ft. square) is of two stages. The tower arch, probably of the 15th century, is of two continuous chamfered orders. In the S. wall is a small 15th-century window; the W. window is of two uncusped lights, and may be of the 13th century, re-set from the W. wall of the nave. The upper stage has brick quoins and window openings, except on the N. side, where the window and the E. quoin are of stone. The gables on the N. and S. are of brick. The Roof of the chancel is possibly of the 15th century, and has a hammer-beam truss at the E. end to clear the E. window. The beams in the roofs of nave and transepts are also old.

Fittings—Bells: three; 1st by Knight, 1606. Brasses and Indents: now kept at the rectory, three small fragments of late 15th-century brasses: in the chancel, indent of figure and inscription, much worn: in the S. transept, slab with indents of two figures, children and inscription. Locker: in N. wall of chancel, small, square. Monuments: on S. wall of chancel, to William Kingsley and his wife, 1611; the date 1502 painted on it is incorrect. Paintings: on E. wall of S. transept, series of New Testament scenes, much defaced. Piscinae: in the chancel, large, double, with central shaft, prob ably original and retains the W. drain; the E. opening was cut down to serve as a sedile in the 15th-century: in the same wall, 15th-century. Plate: includes cover paten of 1635. Pulpit: hexagonal, with carved linen pattern panels, a carved back and square tester, 17th-century. Recess: in N. wall of chancel, small, with modern head, possibly loculus for Easter Sepulchre. Seating: in the N. transept, partly of old oak. Tiles: under the altar, 15th-century. Miscellanea: in the churchyard, remains of font, 12th-century: coffin lid, with incised cross and scrolls, late 13th-century.

Condition—Good, but the external stonework of the N. window in the N. transept is decaying.

Secular

^b(3). Homestead Moat, at Marginia Wick, N.W. of the village, with an inner rampart.

Condition—Good.

^c(4). Rose Hall Farm, stands in an isolated position about 1½ miles N.N.W. of the church, and a mile N.W. of the village. It was built in the 17th century, and is of two storeys and a basement, with 19th-century additions on the E. side. The original walls are of brick, and the W. front is plastered above the brick plinth. The roofs are tiled. The plan is roughly rectangular, facing W., but the back is of irregular shape. The entrance door and a nail-studded oak door leading into the kitchen are original. In the centre of the kitchen ceiling is a small Tudor rose in plaster. The parlour has a low 17th-century panelled dado, with shallow fluted panels at the top. The plain oak stairs are original. The walls of the cellar are faced inside with brick and flint, and a patch of brickwork is said to mark the entrance to an underground passage. The small Outbuilding at the back of the house is also of the 17th century, and is of two storeys, built of timber and weather-boarded, except part of the E. wall which is of brick and timber. The roof is tiled, and the central chimney stack is built of 17th-century bricks. The interior is divided into two rooms by the chimney stack, in which is an open fireplace and a doorway, now blocked on one side.

Condition—Fairly good; some cracks appear in the back wall of the farmhouse.

^a(5). Whitedell Farm, in the hamlet of Belsize, about 1¼ miles N.W. of the village, is a small house of early 17th-century date. The walls are of timber and brick on a flint base, and the timbers used in the walls are unusually large for so small a building; the roofs are tiled. The central chimney stack, with square shafts, has been restored. In the E. front is a projecting central porch with an overhanging upper storey, and a small central wing projects from the back. All the windows are modern. There is a little 17th-century panelling in the parlour.

Condition—Fairly good.