Stony Stratford West

202. STONY STRATFORD WEST.

(O.S. 6 in. ix. S.W.)

Roman

(1). Plaques, Horse-trappings, Fibulae and other objects, were found in 1789 in an urn in Windmill Fields, on a site not exactly recorded, but said to be about ½ mile N.W. of the church; they are now in the British Museum. The plaques are of silver and leaf-shaped, and three of them have inscriptions showing that they were dedicated, one to Jupiter and two to Mars; the horse-trappings are of bronze and the fibulae of enamelled bronze. The plaques are apparently dedications, and possibly belonged to some temple in the neighbourhood which has not yet been discovered. It is perhaps more probable that they formed part of the furniture of some Roman military 'shrine' which was moved with the army, and that they were buried or lost at Stony Stratford in connection with some battle or disaster. No other Roman remains seem to have been found in the precise neighbourhood.—(Lysons Reliquiæ Britannico-Romanæ, Vol. II.).

Ecclesiastical

(2). Parish Church of St. Giles, in the middle of the town, was re-built in 1776, altered and enlarged in the 19th century. Of the former structure only the late 15th-century West Tower remains. The walls are of squared stones.

Architectural Description—The West Tower is of four stages, with pilaster buttresses at the angles and an embattled parapet. All the original detail is of late 15th-century date. The tower arch is two-centred and of two moulded orders; the jambs have circular shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The W. doorway is of one widely splayed moulded order, with a four-centred head; the window above the doorway is modern. In the third stage the W. wall has a sunk circular panel in a square frame, and above it a single loop light. The four windows of the bell-chamber are each of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head.

Fittings—Chest: In N. aisle—with traceried front and cusped feet, 15th-century, lid probably 17th-century. Miscellanea: In vestry—desk, of wood, front and sides carved with dragons and arabesque patterns, early 17th-century.

Condition—Good; almost entirely re-built.

(3). Baptist Chapel, on Horsefair Green, has been entirely re-built, but contains a window frame and fittings, of the 17th century, from the former chapel on the site. The window frame is preserved in the vestry; it is plain and solid, of wood, rebated, and apparently of late 17th-century date.

Fittings—Communion Table: In vestry—with plain turned legs, early 17th-century. Miscellanea: In vestry—candle-sconce, of brass, dated 1607; candlesticks, four, two of wood, early 17th-century; two, of brass and wood, 17th-century.

Condition—Good.

Secular

Market Square, S.W. side

(4). The King's Head Inn, 150 yards S.S.W. of the church, is of two storeys, built c. 1600. The walls are probably of brick, but are heavily covered with plaster; the roof is tiled. The plan is rectangular, with a large central chimney stack, and probably consisted originally of two rooms on each floor. The chimney stacks have been re-built. Interior:—The wide fireplaces have been blocked, except that on the S. side of the central chimney stack, which retains a moulded beam, partly covered.

Condition—Good; much altered.

(5). House, N.E. of (4), is of two storeys; the walls are of stone rubble; the roofs are tiled. The greater part of the building is of 1790, but a wing at the back is of the 17th century, much altered; it retains an original chimney stack built of thin bricks, with strip pilasters.

Condition—Good; much altered.

High Street, W. side

(6). House, now two shops, at the S.E. corner of Church Street, is of two storeys and an attic, built probably in the 17th century, apparently on an L-shaped plan, but almost entirely re-built with brick in the 18th century; at the end of the range facing the High Street are remains of the original timber-framing. The roofs are tiled. On the side facing Church Street is a chimney stack built of old bricks.

Condition—Good; re-built.

(7). House, now two shops, Nos. 95 and 97, is of two storeys, built probably in the 15th century, and timber-framed, but almost entirely re-faced or re-built with brick in the 18th century. The roofs are tiled. The only clear evidence of the original date is a wooden archway, which divides the block facing the street, and has moulded jambs and flat head with angle-braces. There are some indications that the upper storey formerly projected, and that the hall was possibly on the first floor, with an open timber roof. At the back of the house are projecting wings, and a continuation towards the N. has been recently destroyed.

Interior:—At the N. end are remains of wall-posts and of an open timber roof, now obscured by alterations of later date.

Condition—Poor; much altered.