40. FULMER.
(O.S. 6 in. liii. N.E.)
Ecclesiastical
(1). Parish Church of St. James, in the
village, is built of red brick, the older part has
quoins and dressings of plaster, the modern
dressings are of stone; the roofs are tiled. The
Nave, West Tower and North Porch are part of
the church built c. 1610 by Sir Marmaduke
Dayrell (see Monuments), but some of the
fittings may be from the former church; the
Chancel, South Aisle and South Vestry are
modern.
The tomb of the founder in the chancel is a
good example of a 17th-century monument.
Architectural Description—The Chancel
is modern. The Nave (36 ft. by 18 ft.) has two
N. windows of c. 1610; the eastern is of three
plain pointed lights under a square head; the
other of two similar lights; both originally
had quoins of plaster; the N. doorway, possibly
original, has an oak frame and a flat lintel
inside. The S. arcade and the South Aisle are
modern. The Tower (9½ ft. square) is of three
stages, and has diagonal buttresses at the W.
angles, square buttresses at the E. angles,
and an embattled parapet. The tower
arch is pointed, plain and covered with plaster.
The W. window of the ground stage is pointed
and has a square rear arch; the second stage has
a similar W. window, and the bell-chamber is
lighted by four windows each of two pointed
lights. The North Porch is gabled and has a
four-centred outer archway. The Roof of the
nave is probably original, and has a plastered
collar-beam ceiling.
Fittings—Bells: six, 1st inscribed 'sancta
maria ora pro nobis IWS', probably by John
Saunders, c. 1540, and from the former church,
4th and 5th of 1617. Doors: in N. doorway, oak, with strap-hinges and scutcheon,
probably 15th-century and from the former
church: outer door of N. porch, of moulded
battens, 17th-century. Glass: in N.E. window of nave, four circular roundels, with
allegorical subjects, probably 17th-century.
Monument: In the chancel—of Sir Marmaduke
Dareil, knight, lord of the manor of Fulmer,
who was in the household of Queen Elizabeth,
and afterwards cofferer to James I. and
Charles I., and founder of this church, died
1631, and of Anne his first wife, daughter of
John Lennard, also to Mary their daughter,
wife of Sir Robert Gorges, knight; tomb in
round-headed recess, marble and alabaster, with
modern colour and gilding, recumbent effigies
of the knight in plate armour, and of his wife;
in front of tomb, kneeling figures, probably of
his two sons, their wives and children, with inscription; above arch, allegorical figures and
achievement of arms with helm, on each side of
achievement a funeral helm.
Condition—Good; the lower stages of the
tower are covered with ivy.