33. ELLESBOROUGH.
(O.S. 6 in. (a)xxxiii. S.E. (b)xxxvii. N.E.
(c)xxxviii. N.W.)
Roman
a(1). Dwelling House, in the 'King's
field', near Nash Lee Farm, Terrick, about
11/8 mile N. of the church; the foundations of a
roughly built dwelling, Roman coins, and rude
potsherds were discovered in 1858. The site is
marked on the O.S., but locally nothing of it is
known. Plan by J.S. Stone, Records of
Buckinghamshire, ii., p. 53 (1858).
Condition—No remains visible above
ground.
Ecclesiastical
a(2). Parish Church of St. Peter and St.
Paul, stands on high ground, overlooking the
Vale of Aylesbury, nearly ½ mile W. of Butler's
Cross, and is built of flint, with stone dressings;
the roofs are covered with slate. The Chancel,
Nave, South Aisle, and South-West Tower
were built in the 15th century, but between
1854 and 1871 the walls were almost entirely
re-faced outside, the chancel, tower and S. aisle
were partly re-built, the South Vestry and Organ
Chamber added, and the building was generally restored.
Architectural Description—The Chancel
(30 ft. by 18 ft.) is modern, except the two-centred chancel arch, which is of the 15th
century and of two orders, the outer chamfered,
the inner moulded; the jambs are of the same
section as the arch, but are considerably
restored and have modern bases; the moulded
abaci are original, and continue as a string-course on both sides of the arch. The Nave
(52 ft. by 21 ft.) has, in the N. wall, three windows, in 15th-century openings, each of three
trefoiled lights and tracery in a two-centred
head; the stonework is almost entirely restored,
except the moulded rear arches; the 15th-century N. doorway, between the western windows,
is blocked; the jambs and two-centred arch are
of one moulded order. The S. arcade, also of
the 15th century, is of four bays, with octagonal
columns and semi-octagonal responds, having
moulded capitals and chamfered bases; the
arches are similar to the chancel arch, and
have moulded labels with head-stops in the
nave; further W., and opening into the tower,
is another arch, apparently of the same date
as the arcade, but of three moulded orders,
the outer orders dying into the wall; the
moulded label and head-stops are similar
to those of the arcade; the moulded abacus
of the respond is carried as a string-course
round the pier supporting the N.E. angle of
the tower; projecting from the string on the
N. side is the carved head of a bishop, crudely
re-cut. The W. doorway is modern, except the
15th-century rear arch, which has a moulded
segmental head, dying into chamfered jambs;
the W. window is of three lights and tracery in
a two-centred head; the opening is of the 15th
century, but almost all the stonework is modern.
The South Aisle (9 ft. wide) has, at the E. end,
a modern arch opening into the vestry. In
the S. wall are two windows; the eastern is of
three lights and tracery, entirely restored,
except part of the continuously moulded 15th-century rear arch and jambs; the western window is modern; the S. doorway, between the
windows, is modern, except the internal jambs
and segmental rear arch, which are chamfered,
and apparently of the 15th century, re-cut. The
South-West Tower (10½ ft. by 10½ ft.) is almost
entirely modern; the two-centred arch, opening
into the S. aisle, is of the 15th century and of
similar design to the arch opening into the
nave, but is of two orders; the label, in the
aisle, has head-stops. The rear arch of the
W. window is also of the 15th century, re-set,
and has a continuously moulded two-centred
head and jambs. Built into the walls of the
ringing chamber and supporting the floor above
it are ten 15th-century corbels; eight, carved
as angels with outstretched wings, holding
shields, are probably the corbels of the former
roof of the nave; the other two are large, and
each has a moulded abacus, and the carved head
of a woman in a 15th-century head-dress. The
South Porch is modern.
Fittings—Brasses and Indents: In S. aisle—
on S. wall, in recess, (1) to Thomas Hawtrey,
1544, and Sybell, his wife, date of death not
filled in, inscription only; (2) of man in
armour, and woman with pedimental head-dress, eleven sons and seven daughters, shield
with the arms of Hawtrey, apparently palimpsest, and indent of another shield; on the
same slab, (3) to Marye, wife of William
Hawtrey, 1555, inscription only; slab not original. Chest: in vestry, of polished oak, with
elaborate brass handles, clasps and locks, probably 17th-century. Glass: in E. window of
vestry, fragments of canopy and foliated border,
15th-century: in S. window of vestry, fragments, including symbol of the Trinity, head of
Christ with the crown of thorns, canopies, foliated diamond-shaped panes, etc., 14th and 15th-centuries, some pieces at the bottom apparently
foreign, of different design and style to the
others. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In S. aisle—in recess in S. wall, (1)
altar tomb of Bridget Croke [1638], recumbent figure in elaborate dress, white marble
(see Plate, p. xxviii.); tomb and pediment with
columns and entablature of the Composite order,
soffit of entablature carved in small panels,
cherubs' heads, etc., black and white marble,
inscription at back, undated, arms, in colours,
of Croke and Hawtrey, and Croke impaling
Hawtrey, the last on a lozenge. In chancel—
on S. wall, (2) black marble tablet to Robert
Wallis, formerly rector and patron of the
church, chaplain to the Duchess of Richmond,
1666. Floor-slabs: In S. aisle—(1) to Robert
Croke, 1671, inscription and arms; (2) to
Sir Robert Croke, son of Sir Henry Croke,
1680, inscription and arms; (3) to Susanna,
wife of Sir Robert Croke and daughter of Sir
Peter Vanlore of Tilehurst, 1685, inscription
and arms; (4) to Robert Croke, date invisible,
Latin inscription and arms, much defaced;
(5) to Sir Henry Croke, 1659, inscription and
arms. In chancel—on N. side, (6) to
George, son of William Hakewil, 1629, inscription and arms. Niche: in N. wall of nave, W.
of central window, with chamfered jambs and
trefoiled ogee head, 15th-century. Piscina:
in the chancel, with cinque-foiled pointed arch
having carved foliated spandrels in square
head, embattled cornice with carved flowers,
octagonal fluted basin with flower in centre,
shelf at back, and another on W. side,
carved underneath, 15th-century, much restored.
Plate: includes large cup and cover paten of
1669. Recess: W. of S. doorway, with sunk-chamfered jambs, probably 16th-century, much
restored (see Brasses). Miscellanea: inside S.
porch, over outer entrance, large corbel, carved
with bearded human head, probably 15th-century, re-cut, and not in situ.
Condition—Good, much restored and re-built.
Secular
a, b(3). Cymbeline's Mount (Mount and
Bailey) is situated in Chequers Park (see (8)
below) on a small spur about 530 ft. above O.D.,
⅓ mile S.W. of the church.
The work is a good example of its class, and
is especially interesting on account of the small
size of the baileys, and the natural strength of
its position.
The mount is circular, surrounded by a ditch,
and has a small but strongly defended bailey on
the S.E., and a still smaller and considerably
weaker bailey on the N.E. There is no indication of an entrance.
Dimensions:—Mount about 22 ft. high,
diameter, at summit, 42 ft., at base 130 ft.,
ditch from 1 to 1½ ft. deep. S.E. Bailey:
Area, including defences, about ½ acre; ditch
from 8 to 9½ ft. deep and from 37 to 45 ft. wide.
N.E. Bailey: Area, about ⅓ acre, including
defences; ditch from 2½ ft. to 6 ft. deep and
30 to 40 ft. wide.
Condition—Good, but slightly damaged by
trees and rabbit holes.
Homestead Moats
a(4). At Nash Lee.
a(5). In the grounds of Terrick House.
a(6). Apsley: house, barn and moat 1½ miles
N.N.W. of the church. The House is of two
storeys, built in the 16th and enlarged in the
17th and 19th centuries; it is timber-framed,
the original wattle and daub filling being
almost entirely replaced by 17th and 18th-century brick, now partly covered with modern
rough-cast. The roofs are tiled. The plan was
originally T-shaped, the head running N. and
S., and the stem extending towards the W.,
with a small staircase wing in the N.W. angle:
in the 17th century a small S.E. wing was
added and additions were made on the N. side
of the house in the 19th century. The S. front
has a modern porch in the middle, and E. of it
a small gable, in which the ends of the original
purlins of the roof can be seen; at the back the
two gables in the middle show timber-framing
and have original windows; the western gable
is much smaller than the other; the E. and W.
ends of the house are also gabled. Two of
the chimney stacks are square and of 17th-century brick; the western stack has a central rib on each face and two separate oversailing courses.
Ellesborough, Mount and Bailey Castle.
Interior:—On the ground floor the room
W. of the porch has in the ceiling two large
stop-moulded intersecting beams with smaller
moulded intermediate joists; the beams are
carried across the passages on the N. and E.;
in the same room is a wide open fireplace, now
partly blocked, and a 17th-century door of
moulded battens. All the other rooms on the
ground floor of the original house have moulded
beams in the ceilings and the timber construction is visible in the walls; the room E. of the
porch has a wide fireplace. On the first floor
one room has an original door, and another room
has a late 17th-century fireplace and overmantel
with bolection moulding, and some detached
early 17th-century panelling with bolection
moulding of later 17th-century date added on
the reverse side.
The Barn, S. of the house, is probably of the
16th century, and of one storey, framed with
rough-hewn timbers; the original wattle and
daub filling has been replaced by 17th and 18th-century brick, and modern weather boarding.
The roof is tiled. The plan is L-shaped, with
a covered way through the E. block; the W.
block was considerably lengthened in the 19th
century.
The buildings stand on the larger of two
islands surrounded by the Moat, which is from
50 to 60 ft. wide; the islands are connected by a
wooden bridge.
Condition—Of house, fairly good, poor in
some parts; of barn, poor; of moat, fairly good.
a(7). Grove Farm, house and moat, about
¾ mile N. of the church. The House is of two
storeys, built of brick late in the 17th century,
and subsequently restored and altered; the roofs
are tiled. The plan is of half-H shape. On
the S. front are four pilasters of rubbed brick,
now flush with the walls, but with a projecting
moulded string-course above them.
The Moat, E. of the house, is pear-shaped.
Condition—Of house, good; of moat, denuded
at the S. end.
b(8). Chequers Court, standing in a large
park, about ¾ mile S.S.E. of the church, is of
two storeys with an attic and cellars. The walls
are of brick with stone dressings, and the roofs
are covered with tiles and lead. The house is
reputed to be a mediæval structure much altered
or re-built in 1565, but beyond certain peculiarities of plan no traces remain of any work of a
date earlier than the second half of the 16th
century, and even the 16th-century plan has
been much obscured. A drawing on a plan
of the estate, dated 1629, possibly indicates
that the house then consisted of three ranges
built about a courtyard, of which the fourth or
S. side was enclosed by a wall with a gatehouse
in the middle. The N. and E. ranges retain
their 16th-century character; the W. range was
partly re-built in the 18th century; there is now
a complete S. range, which retains little original work. In the 19th century a hall was constructed in the courtyard. In the 20th century
a kitchen wing was added, projecting towards
the W., the whole building was skilfully restored, copies of old fireplaces and ceilings were
inserted, and a great quantity of 16th and 17th-century panelling, old fireplaces, overmantels,
other fittings and furniture were brought from
elsewhere.
The house is a fine example of a 16th-century
building.
The main entrance is on the E. where there
is a modern porch, opening into a small hall
(the Stone Hall), with the main staircase on the
W., and giving access under the staircase to
the Great Hall, formed out of part of the court;
on the S. of the Stone Hall is the Little Parlour
and on the N. the Cromwell Room, which is
L-shaped and occupies the N. half of the E.
range and a small wing projecting towards the
E.; in the angle of the wing with the E. range
is a small winding staircase carried up to the
attic floor. The N. range, W. of the Cromwell
Room, contains a number of small chambers,
and a garden vestibule approached by a corridor
on the inner side of the range. The S. range,
W. of the Little Parlour, contains the White
Parlour, the Study, and the Dining Room, which
is at the W. end and was formerly a kitchen and
scullery. The W. range contains the present
kitchens and offices. The Hall is carried up
two storeys, and is lighted by a lantern and by
a window on the W. side; on the S. side is an
oak screen with a gallery over it. On the first
floor an Ante-room corresponds with the
Stone Hall and the Great Parlour with the
Cromwell Room. The N. range contains the
Long Gallery, and in the S. and W. ranges are
bed rooms. The attic floor is divided into bed
rooms, etc.; the wing projecting from the E.
front has, on that floor, a chamber known as
the Prison Room; it is reputed to be that in
which Lady Mary Grey was imprisoned in
1565–7, and opens into the staircase communicating with the Cromwell Room.
The walls throughout are of red brick with a
stone-capped plinth and stone string-courses on
the N. and S. elevations; the brick parapet is
plain with stone copings, apparently modern,
and the gables are treated in a similar way, but
their original form is uncertain; the doorways
and windows are of stone; the bay windows and
the N.W. and N.E. angles have stone quoins.
The windows of the ground and first floors have
double transoms; those of the attic single transoms, and all are mullioned. The old chimney
stacks are of two designs: one with octagonal
shafts, the other with square shafts set diagonally, and both have plain brick caps.
The E. Elevation is somewhat irregular; the
projecting wing at the N. end is gabled, and in
the angle of this wing with the main front is
a large chimney stack, widened at the first floor
level and carried on moulded brick corbels; the
small staircase wing is also gabled. The main
front has two plain gables, and under the
southern gable is a modern porch of two storeys;
the entrance doorway is also modern; the windows are considerably restored, but have square
labels, which in many cases are much weathered.
In the plinth of the S. wall of the projecting
wing are three plain brick niches with four-centred heads. N. of the porch is an old rainwater head, possibly original, moved to its
present position from another part of the house
and restored.
The S. Elevation has been considerably altered
at various dates, and the windows are all
modern. The stone capping of the plinth is
only carried along the E. half of the wall, but
is continued in moulded brick.
The N. Elevation has been little altered,
and is more symmetrical than the E. elevation;
two large bay windows of two storeys divide it
into three bays, and there are five plain gables,
one over each bay window, one between them,
and one near each end of the wall; the windows
are without labels, but string-courses are carried over the heads of the windows of the lower
storeys; the bay windows have parapets with
battlements which have rounded tops; on these
appear, carved in relief, the following: an
eagle displayed with a scutcheon on its
breast, a checkered shield and a lion's head
razed above a haw-tree, the initials W.H. and
A.H. and the date 1565; the attic windows are
in the gables, and have traces of small pediments. The doorway opening into the vestibule in the N. range is original, and of two
moulded orders; the inner order has a four-centred head, with foliated spandrels, the outer
order is square, and has a label. The W.
Elevation has been much altered.
Interior:—In the Stone Hall is an original
doorway of stone, of two moulded orders, the
inner four-centred; the initials W.H. (for
William Hawtrey) appear in the spandrels; the
doorway of the staircase, in the W. wall, is also
original, and has a heavy moulded frame of
wood, with a square head. The Staircase, also
original, is enclosed and quite plain; it is in
three flights to the first floor, and has openings
to the Stone Hall and to the arcade of the
modern Hall, set with heavy, round, moulded
balusters; on the second half-landing is a mullioned and transomed window of two lights
similar to the external windows; it now opens
into the hall, but opened originally into the
courtyard. The Cromwell Room is lined with
panelling of c. 1600, brought from elsewhere,
and has two fireplaces, restored, or copies of
original work. In the bay window of the N.
front is some original glass with the arms of the
Hawtreys and their alliances. The Little
Parlour and Study contain some old panelling
made up to fit the rooms. The Dining Room is
lined with fine oak panelling, having arabesque
pilasters and an inlaid frieze of c. 1600, and was
brought from elsewhere. The Great Parlour is
lined with panelling also of c. 1600, but of
more elaborate design, and has a fireplace and
overmantel of about the same date, all brought
from a house in Ipswich. The Long Gallery
has, in the ceiling, a number of painted carved
oak bosses of the first half of the 16th century;
their origin is unknown. In the W. range,
in a corridor next to the courtyard, is a large
overhanging bay window of the 16th century;
it is of wood, mullioned and transomed, and
was removed from the same house in Ipswich
as the panelling of the Great Parlour. At the
top of the staircase, on the attic floor, is an
original doorway with a heavy oak frame,
similar to that in the Stone Hall; the door is
also original. In the Prison Room is an
original fireplace with a four-centred, moulded
head, and on the W. wall is a painted inscription of the 16th century. The house contains a
number of contemporary portraits of Oliver
Cromwell and his family, a remarkable life
mask of the Protector, and two of his swords,
which were brought to the house in the 18th
century.
Condition—Very good, much altered and
restored.
a(9). Cottage, now three tenements, about
60 yards S.W. of the church, is of two storeys,
built in the 17th century, but almost entirely
re-faced with modern brick; a little original
timber-framing is visible at the S. end. The
roof is thatched. Some of the ceilings have old
beams.
Condition—Fairly good, much altered and
restored.
c(10). Buckmore End Farm, nearly 1½ miles
S.E. of the church, is a timber-framed building
of two storeys and of late 17th-century date,
almost entirely re-faced with 18th-century
brick. The large central chimney stack is
original, and under it is a wide, open fireplace,
partly filled in. One room has old ceiling-beams.
Condition—Fairly good.
c(11). House, now two tenements, at the S.
end of Coombe, 5/8 mile S.E. of the church, is of
two storeys; the walls are of timber, brick and
flint; the roofs are thatched. It was built probably in the 16th century, but has been much
restored and altered. The plan is now L-shaped,
with the wings extending towards the E. and
S.; it extended originally further towards the
N.; at the end of the S. wing is a modern addition. The E. wing retains, on the W. front
and at the back, the original timber-framing;
the filling is of 18th-century and modern brick,
on the N. side the lower storey is almost entirely
of modern flint and brick; the upper storey has
original timber-framing with brick filling of
the 17th century and various later dates. The
S. wing has been re-faced with 18th-century
flint and brick. In the E. wing are original
ceiling-beams and joists and a large open fire
place, partly blocked; in the upper storey the
wide floor-boards are of old oak. The S. wing
has old ceiling-beams and an original door of
battens, with strap-hinges.
Condition—Fairly good.
Chalkshire
a(12). Malthouse Farm, about 100 yards
N.E. of the church, is of two storeys; the walls
are of late 17th-century brick with some brick
of an earlier date; a little timber-framing is
visible in the E. wall, and in the N. wall is the
date 1672 in blue bricks. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good, much altered and
restored.
a(13). Cottage, now two tenements, on the E.
side of the road, about 70 yards S. of (12), is of
two storeys, built of brick and timber in the
17th century; the roof is tiled. One room has a
wide, open fireplace, partly filled in, and an
open timber ceiling.
Condition—Fairly good.
Unclassified
b(14). Mound on Beacon Hill, ⅓ mile S. of
the church, 24 feet in diameter and 3 ft. high,
probably a tumulus, but has been used also for
a beacon.
Condition—Poor.