11. BOVENEY.
(O.S. 6 in. lv. N.E.)
Ecclesiastical
(1). Church of St. Mary Magdalene,
stands on the N. bank of the Thames, about 1½
miles W. of Eton. The walls are of chalk
rubble, garreted with small flints, and have been
strengthened by modern buttresses at the
angles; the dressings are of sandy limestone
and clunch; the roof is tiled. It is a small rectangular building of 12th-century origin, but
most of the detail is of later date.
The remains of the mediæval alabaster
figures (see Miscellanea below) are of interest.
Architectural Description—The building
(51 ft. by 19 ft.) has walls 3 ft. 4 in. thick.
The 16th-century E. window, which is unusually
high up, is of two four-centred lights under
a square head; above it is the outline of a
pointed window of earlier date. In the N. wall
the eastern window, possibly of the 13th
century, is a small rectangular light with rebated and chamfered external jambs; the
splayed internal jambs and almost semi-circular
rear arch are of clunch: the second window,
almost in the middle of the wall, is of the 15th
century, and of two cinque-foiled lights with
traceried spandrels under a square head; the
two-centred segmental rear arch and the central mullion are of modern limestone; the rest
of the window is of clunch: the N. doorway
has jambs and two-centred arch of two chamfered orders, and is probably also of the 15th
century. In the S. wall the two eastern
windows resemble the 15th-century N. window,
but the external stonework is modern, except
the lower half of each jamb; the internal jambs
have old quoins: the third window, near the
W. end of the wall, beyond the S. doorway, is
a small rectangular light of similar section to
the 13th-century N. window, with jambs of
clunch and a lintel of soft sandy limestone,
which has weathered badly: the S. doorway is
similar to the N. doorway, but has a 15th-century label. In the W. wall, high up, is a
small lancet window, probably of the 12th century, with a head of much-weathered sandy
limestone, and jambs of clunch. The bell-turret at the W. end rises above the roof and
is carried on a framework which rests on the
ground; much of it is enclosed in plaster and
gives an apparent additional thickness to the
walls at the W. end. The Roof is ceiled with
plaster at the level of the collar-beams, but four
plain old tie-beams of oak are visible.
Fittings—Bells: (inaccessible) said to be, 1st,
by Ellis Knight, 1631, 2nd, by Ellis Knight,
1636, 3rd, probably 16th-century. Brackets:
in N. wall, moulded stone corbel, with carved
vine-leaf enrichment, 15th-century. Communion
Table: of oak, with plain, turned legs, possibly
late 17th-century. Font: plain, tapering cylindrical bowl, of limestone, with projecting edge-roll, possibly re-cut, base, in two courses, same
width as bottom of bowl, apparently of clunch,
covered with old whitewash, possibly 13th-century, the base older than the bowl. Panelling:
in chancel, oak, raised panels, mitred joints,
without capping, late 17th-century: on N. and
S. walls of nave, plainer, unmoulded, probably
same date: on N. wall, W. of N. doorway, with
fluted frieze, early 17th-century. Pulpit: made
up of panelling similar to that W. of N. doorway, early 17th-century. Screen: dividing
nave and chancel, low, made up of old pieces
of oak, on each side of middle opening taller
post with 15th-century poppyhead, from a seat,
roughly set on it, above middle rail of screen
fluted frieze of 17th-century panelling added
in the 19th century, set reversed, with the edge
shaped to form cresting. Seating: in nave,
eleven oak benches with shaped standards, probably early 16th-century, some of the standards
modern. Miscellanea: detached, set in frame,
under glass, fragments of small sculptured
figures, alabaster, with traces of colour and
gilding, possibly part of reredos, representing
several scenes, including the Assumption,
Crucifixion, Resurrection, etc., possibly 15th-century.
Condition—Good.
Secular
(2). Boveney Court, 240 yards W. of the
church, is almost entirely modern, but the N.W.
wing is of early 17th-century date; the walls are
probably of brick, covered with rough-cast; the
roofs are tiled. The position of a large truss at
the E. end of the roof seems to indicate that
the wing was formerly part of an L-shaped
building. The S. Elevation retains the original
central porch, of stone, repaired with cement;
the door is original. The N. Elevation has, on
the ground floor, mullioned windows, apparently original, covered with plaster. At the
W. end is a chimney stack of old thin bricks,
with two square shafts set diagonally and
coated with cement. Interior:—The kitchen
has a heavy moulded oak joist in the ceiling;
the westernmost room has an arched fireplace
of plastered brick and, in the window, a small
piece of old glass. Other stop-chamfered
ceiling-beams indicate the position of a narrow
central hall, with the front door on the S. and
a room on each side. In the modern part of
the house one room has oak panelling and
carved roundels of the 17th and 18th centuries,
all brought from elsewhere. The hall has an
overmantel partly made up of 17th-century
panelling. Some of the windows have heraldic
glass, probably of the 17th century.
Condition—Good.
(3). House, 1/8 mile N. of the church, on the
N. side of the road, is of two storeys, built
probably in the 17th century, and timber-framed; the brick filling is of later date, partly
modern, and there are modern additions at the
back; the roof is tiled. The building was possibly
originally a farmhouse, with cottages attached
to it. The plan of the old part is L-shaped, with
the space between the wings filled by a modern
sitting-room and staircase; the original plan
was probably T-shaped, as foundations have
been discovered E. of the short wing of the L.
The W. front is gabled at the S. end, and has
four dormer windows. The ceilings on the
ground floor have been made up partly with old
timbers from elsewhere, and some original timbers are exposed in the roof.
Condition—Good.
(4). Cottage, W. of (3), on the opposite
side of the road, is probably also of the 17th
century, and built of brick and timber. The
roof is tiled.
Condition—Good.