Shephall

120. SHEPHALL.

(O.S. 6 in. xx. N.E.)

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Mary, stands at the N.E. end of the village, about 2 miles S.E. of Stevenage. It is built of flint with stone dressings, except the E. wall of the chancel, which is of brick; the roofs are tiled. The whole building has been much restored, and it is impossible to trace its history, but the walls and roof trusses of the Nave and Chancel are probably old; the earliest detail is the 14th-century wood truss which takes the place of a chancel arch. The North Aisle was added in 1865, and the S. wall re-built about the same time. The South Porch, the North Vestry and the Bell Turret are also modern.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (21½ ft. by 13 ft.) has an old window of three uncusped lights in the N. wall, and a tall, low-side window in the S. wall; both of uncertain date. All the other windows are modern. The wooden truss which takes the place of a chancel arch is of c. 1340, and has arched braces and a collar beam. The Nave (42 ft. by 17½ ft.) has a modern N. arcade of three bays; in the S. wall are two windows of two lights each, with tracery and square heads of 15th-century style, but most of the masonry is modern. The S. doorway and W. window are modern. The Roof of the chancel has moulded wall-plates, and that of the nave has arched trusses (except one at the W. end), probably of the same date as the truss between the chancel and nave. Both roofs have plaster ceilings between the trusses.

Fittings—Brasses: on the S. wall of the chancel, inscriptions to George Nodes, Serjeant of the Buckhounds to Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary and Elizabeth, 1564: to Margaret Nodes, his wife, 1582. Chest: at W. end of N. aisle, cut out of a solid log. Font: modern; in the churchyard is the old font, thickly covered with ivy. Monuments and Floor Slabs: in N. aisle, to John Rudd, Rector, 1640, mural tablet, alabaster, with painting above it representing him as a shepherd: on S. wall of chancel, to Jane Nodes, 1697: at W. end of N. aisle, to Susan Nodes, 1695: in the nave, to George Nodes, 1697, and his wife, 1682: two 17th-century floor slabs, to members of the Nodes family. Painting: in N. aisle (see Monuments). Piscinae: in S. wall of chancel, recess with cinque-foiled head, 14th-century: in sill of window near it, square drain. Recess: in E. wall of N. aisle, square, containing piscina drain. Screen: in the chancel, 15th-century, with modern lower panels, cresting, etc.

Condition—Good, owing to complete restoration.