Sawbridgeworth

118. SAWBRIDGEWORTH.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xxiii. S.W. ^(b)xxx. N.E. ^(c)xxx. S.E. ^(d)xxxi. N.W. ^(e)xxxi. S.W.)

Ecclesiastical

^d(1). Parish Church of St. Mary the Great, S.E. of the town, is built of flint rubble with stone dressings; the walls of the chancel are coated with cement; the roofs are covered with lead. The Chancel, Nave, and the lower part of the West Tower were probably built in the 13th century. The South Chapel, the North Aisle, and the South Aisle were built in the first half of the 14th century. In the 15th century the clearstorey, the South Porch, and probably the belfry stage of the tower were built, and the nave was re-roofed. The whole building was restored and the chancel re-roofed c. 1870.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (44 ft. by 23½ ft.) has a five-light E. window, a window in the N. wall, and two in the S. wall, which are almost entirely modern. In the N. wall is also a 15th-century blocked doorway, which formerly opened into a vestry, now destroyed. At the W. end of the S. wall is a richly moulded two-centred arch of c. 1300, now hidden by the organ. The chancel arch is probably of the 13th century, repaired, with modern capitals and bases. The South Chapel has a completely restored E. window, and, in the S. wall, a blocked 14th-century window. At the W. end of the N. wall are the rood-loft stairs, with an upper doorway opening into the nave. The chapel has no structural division from the S. aisle. The Nave (58 ft. by 28 ft.) has walls probably of the 13th century; the 14th-century N. and S. arcades are of three bays and have two-centred moulded arches and pillars of quatrefoil section with moulded capitals and bases; the S. arcade was built probably twenty years later than the N. arcade, and the mouldings are less rich; S. of the chancel arch is the upper doorway of the rood-loft (see above). The North Aisle (11½ ft. wide) has E. and W. windows of three lights, and two N. windows of two lights, all of the 14th century, with moulded internal jambs and rear arches; the tracery is partly renewed, and the N. door way, of the same date, has been much repaired. The South Aisle (including the S. chapel, 73 ft. by 19 ft.) has an early 14th-century S. doorway, with 13th-century jambs, re-set; the windows are of the 14th century, but the tracery is modern. The Tower (19½ ft. by 17 ft.) is of three stages with an embattled parapet and a lead-covered spire. It is without buttresses, and has on the S. a brick stair-turret, probably added in the 16th century. The tower arch is of the 14th century with modern jambs. The 14th-century W. doorway, of two chamfered orders, and the 15th-century W. window, of three lights, have been repaired; the four bell-chamber windows, of two lights, are also of the 15th century, repaired. The South Porch has a two-centred doorway and two windows, which are almost entirely modern. The Roofs of the aisles are of the 15th century, and have moulded ribs and carved bosses; the roof of the porch and the ceiling of the ground-stage of the tower are of the same date.

Fittings—Bells: nine; 9th 1664. Brasses: in the chancel, of Geoffrey Joslyne, 1470, and his two wives, with imperfect inscription: in the nave, brasses of twelve sons and six daughters, and shield; Chauncy, with quarterly 1 and 4 on a chief a lion passant, 2 and 3 a lion rampant over all a bend, late 15th-century; possibly belonging to the Joslyne brass: indents of man and two wives, brass shield with arms of Chauncy, imperfect inscription, and indents of four shields: in S. chapel, brasses of knight and lady, said to be John Leventhorp and his wife, c. 1433, two shields, of England and France, and England with label of France; no inscription: in S. aisle, of lady in mantle, c. 1500, and three shields, with arms of Leventhorp: indent of man and one shield, no inscription, said to be of Thomas Leventhorp and Joan (Dalison), his wife: of Edward Leventhorp, died 1551, and his wife, figures of man in armour, lady in Elizabethan dress, and inscription, brass laid down c. 1600: indent of woman, 15th-century: in the N. aisle, brasses of two shields, and inscription to William Chauncy, probably early 16th-century: in tower, of Mary, wife of Edward Leventhorp, 1566, figure and inscription: of man and woman, in shrouds, 15th-century, with arms of England quartering France. (See also Monuments.) Chest: in the tower, large, of oak, with five locks, probably early 17th-century. Door: in the S. aisle, of oak, with traceried panels and some original ironwork, late 14th or early 15th-century, repaired. Font: octagonal, with quatrefoil panels, c. 1400, repaired. Monuments and Floor Slabs: in N.E. corner of chancel, altar tomb, of John Joscelyn, 1525, and his wife, recumbent effigies, much defaced, with inscription on alabaster slab in the wall above tomb: on N. wall of chancel, of Sir Walter Myldemaye, 1606, his wife, 1605, and his son; white marble, three kneeling figures: to George, Viscount Hewit of Gowran, 1689, large monument: in S.E. corner of chancel, tomb, late 15th-century, Purbeck marble, with tracery and sculptured canopy on carved, engaged pillars; indents for brasses at back of recess below canopy; spaces for brass shields in the tracery in front: in S. chapel, monument of Sir John Leventhorp and his wife, 1625, recumbent effigies; three children, kneeling figures, in front: on E. wall of nave, of Sir William Hewet, 1637, and his wife, 1646, half-figures, in architectural setting: on floor of nave, slab, to Thomas de Aungervil, Rector, 14th-century, with marginal inscription: near chancel arch, slab with incised figure, possibly of a nun, Purbeck marble, marginal inscription illegible; early 14th-century: in S. aisle, slab with illegible inscription, 14th-century: in the tower, monument to Sir Thomas Hewytt, 1662. Niches: in N. aisle, with square bracket: in S. aisle, with cinque-foiled head and moulded jambs, probably modern stonework, containing mediæval stone mortar. Panelling: incorporated in pews, N.E. corner of nave, early 17th-century. Piscina (?): in N. aisle, cinque-foiled recess in square head, 15th-century, much restored. Pulpit: of oak, dated 1632. Poor-box: in S. aisle, probably c. 1600. Rood Screen: traceried oak, 15th-century. Seating: in the nave, several linen pattern bench ends, rails and backs, early 16th-century.

Condition—Good.

Secular

Homestead Moats

^a(2). In Matham's Wood.

^d(3). At Parsonage Farm, a narrow ditch enclosing 7¼ acres.

^b(4). At Actons, fragment.

^c(5). In Gilston Park.

^e(6). Pishiobury, about a mile S. of the church, is a three-storeyed square brick house, with a central courtyard, now roofed in. It has an embattled parapet, and the roof is slated. The house is said to have been built originally at the end of the 16th century, but, after a fire, was practically re-built by James Wyatt in 1782, much of the old material being re-used. Interior: in the entrance-hall is some 16th-cen tury oak panelling, and the dining-room also has oak panelling, with mitred mouldings, said to have been brought from the servants' hall, and a carved stone fireplace inlaid with marble discs, which has an iron back with the Stuart Royal Arms, dated 1635; the carved oak overmantel, with three round-headed panels flanked by pillars supporting a frieze and cornice, is of c. 1630. In the servants' hall there is a dado of 16th-century panelling, with stop-mouldings, and a fireplace of the same date, with a frieze above the arch, carved with grotesque animals and conventional foliage. The Stables and a Barn S. of the house are of late 16th or early 17th-century date. Near the lake E. of the house, is the late 16th-century carved head of a niche which belonged to the original building.

Condition—Good.

^d(7). Cottages, several, on both sides of Bell Street, are probably of the 17th century; they are built of timber and brick, coated with cement, and have projecting upper storeys; the roofs are tiled. One cottage on the S. side of the street has original brick chimneys, and another, at the corner of Knight Street, has a moulded beam supporting the upper storey.

Condition—Fairly good; the cottage at the corner of Knight Street is out of repair.

West Street, N. side

^d(8). Crump's Farm, on the N. side of West Street (formerly Clay Lane), 1¼ miles W.N.W. of the church, is a red-brick building of two storeys and attics, and in a plaster panel over the front door is the inscription IKA 1628. The original building was probably rectangular, with a central chimney stack, and had timber-framed walls, but early in the 18th century a wing was added at the S. end, making the plan L-shaped; the main part was lengthened by the addition of a brew-house at the N. end, and the walls were encased with red brick. The door in the W. wall opens into a lobby by the side of the central chimney stack. Interior: The kitchen has a large open fireplace and original oak ceiling joists, with ogee-stopped chamfered edges. The wall between the kitchen and the brew-house was evidently the original outside wall, and is of timber, covered with straw and plaster. In the stair-hall is a little painted oak panelling of early 17th-century date, and there are several original ledged and battened oak doors with old hinges.

Condition—Good.

^d(9). Great Beazleys, a little over a mile W.N.W. of the church, is a small cottage which incorporates a fragment of an early 17th-century timber-framed farmhouse of two storeys; the walls are plastered; the roof is covered with pantiles; at the E. end is the original chimney stack of thin bricks. The W. half of the house is modern. The entrance, in the S. wall, opens directly into the only old room on the ground floor, which has a large open fireplace, partly blocked, and an original open timber ceiling; on the heavy middle beam is cut the inscription I.R. 1612. All the windows and doors are modern.

An old Barn, E. of the house, is built of sundried mud bricks, each about 14 in. by 6 in. The plan is rectangular, lying N. and S., with a large doorway in the middle of the W. side, and a smaller doorway in a small central projecting bay on the E. side. The original W. wall, S. of the large doorway, has been replaced by modern timber-framing. In the roof are two old tie-beams.

Condition—Of house and barn, poor.

S. side

^d(10). Little Beazleys, a little over a mile W.N.W. of the church, is a small rectangular building of two storeys, facing N., with timber-framed and weather-boarded walls; the roof is thatched, and the central chimney stack is built of thin bricks. The N. front has the initials and date, T.D. 1662, carved over the entrance, and the mullioned windows on the ground floor are probably original; there are no windows on the upper floor. The E. and W. ends have half-hipped gables, with a window in the W. gable. At the back of the house is a dormer window. The kitchen, E. of the central chimney stack, has a large open fireplace, with brick jambs and a good moulded oak lintel; both the rooms on the ground floor have old, open timber ceilings.

Condition—Fairly good.

^d(11). Three Mile Pond Farm, on the main road, about ¾ mile N. of the church, is a 17th-century house of two storeys and a cellar; the roofs are tiled; the roof of the western half, some feet higher than the other, is hipped, and has a small dormer window. The plan is rectangular, and the walls are timber-framed, the N. front being pargetted; on the S. the lower storey is covered with weather-boarding. Many of the windows in the N. front are blocked. The interior retains the original beams.

Condition—Fairly good.

^e(12). The Hand and Crown Inn, S. of the village, is a two-storeyed building of late 16th-century date, with some 19th-century additions. The walls are of plastered timber, and the roof is tiled. The upper storey projects, and on the N. front are three gables and a gabled porch. The chimney stack is original and has engaged square shafts. On the S. side there is an original window, now blocked; the windows on the N. are modern. Interior: Two four-centred fireplaces, some oak doors and moulded oak panelling remain.

Condition—Fairly good.