5. ASTON SANDFORD.
(O.S. 6 in. xxxiii. S.W.)
Ecclesiastical
(1). Parish Church of St. Michael, stands
at the E. end of the village, and is built of
roughly squared, coursed limestone rubble, with
dressings of limestone and shelly oolite; the
roof is tiled. The Chancel inclines towards the
N., and appears to have been re-built in the 13th
century; the Nave is probably of earlier date,
but all the original work has been re-cut and
re-set, and the church practically re-built in the
19th century. The South Porch is probably of
the 18th century; the North Vestry and West
Bell-Cot are modern.
Architectural Description—The Chancel
(18½ ft. by 12 ft.) has three modern lancet lights
in the E. wall. In the middle of the N. wall
is a modern doorway opening into the vestry;
W. of the doorway is a single cinque-foiled light,
probably of the 14th century, but the external
stonework is modern or re-cut. The two windows in the S. wall are modern. There is no
chancel arch, but at the junction of the nave
and chancel is a modern truss of wood resting
on modern corbels, which takes the place of the
former arch; below it, on each side, there
are two slender shafts with roughly cut capitals, one capital, on the S. side, being carved
as a grotesque head; one shaft on each side is
not carried to the ground; all are apparently of
the 13th century, but have been much restored,
and probably re-set. The Nave (38 ft. by
14 ft.) has two windows in the N. wall; the
eastern is of two pointed lights with uncusped
spandrels in a pointed head, apparently of
the 14th century, re-cut and re-set early
in the 19th century; the western window is
modern: between the windows is the N. doorway, of 14th-century style, now blocked, and
apparently modern externally; the inner W.
jamb and half the rear arch are probably of
the 13th or 14th century. In the S. wall are
two windows, the eastern of two cinque-foiled
lights in an old opening, modern externally:
the western window and the S. doorway are
modern. In the W. wall is a blocked window
possibly of the 13th century, covered outside
by a 15th-century buttress. The Roof of the
nave is old, but of uncertain date, of plain
collar-beam construction.
Fittings—Bells: three, 1st, early 15th-century, cast at Wokingham foundry, inscribed
'Sancte Toma Or ▬', 2nd, 1675, by Ellis and
Henry Knight, 3rd, early 15th-century, cast at
Wokingham foundry, inscribed 'Sancte Clemes
▬ Ora Pro Nobis'. Glass: in middle light,
E. wall, of chancel, seated figure, possibly of
Christ, holding the box of nard, late 13th-century, hands and face much corroded. Locker:
in N. wall of chancel, rectangular, with rebated
edges. Plate: includes cup and cover paten
of 1661. Miscellanea: on two buttresses of nave,
W. and N.W., incised circles, about 7 in. in
diameter, possibly unfinished consecration
crosses.
Condition—Good; re-built.
Secular
(2). Homestead Moat, at the Manor House,
fragment.