123. CLIFTON REYNES.
(O.S. 6 in. (a)ii. S.E. (b)v. N.E.)
Pre-historic
a(1). British Pit Village, about 450 yards
N.E. of the church. Several pit dwellings have
recently been discovered on the site during quarrying operations N. of the railway; fragments of
bone and pottery also have been found.
Condition— The dwellings have been
destroyed in the course of quarrying.
Ecclesiastical
b(2). Parish Church of St. Mary, stands W.
of the village. The walls are of limestone rubble,
those of the chancel being of thin shaly stones
with much mortar and those of the S. aisle having
a thin coat of mortar. The roofs are covered with
lead, except that of the N. chapel which is tiled.
The West Tower was built in the 12th century,
when the church probably consisted of a chancel,
nave and tower. In the 13th century North and
South Aisles were added, extending to the W. wall
of the tower, and the tower arch was re-built;
c. 1330 the North Chapel was added, and c. 1340
the Chancel was re-built and widened towards
the S.; c. 1350 the chancel arch was widened
and the N. and S. arcades of the Nave were re-built
without widening the nave; c. 1380 the tower
arch was altered, the 13th-century capitals being
re-used as bases. Early in the 15th century the
clearstorey was built, an embattled parapet
and new roof being added to the nave, and an
embattled parapet to the S. aisle. The South
Porch was built possibly in the 16th or 17th
century. The N. aisle, except the arcade and the
W. wall, was re-built in 1801. In the 19th century
the building was partly restored, and the arch at
the W. end of the N. chapel was inserted in 1905.
The church is a good example of 14th-century
architecture. Among the fittings are some exceptionally fine 14th-century effigies of wood (see
Plate, p. 43) and stone; the brass of 1428, and the
mediæval painting and glass are also of interest.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (30 ft.
by 15 ft.) has diagonal buttresses at the E. angles,
and a modern embattled parapet; the internal
face of the walling is not plastered. The E. window is of three cinque-foiled lights under a square
head with sunk spandrels and a moulded external
label; the jambs and mullions up to the original
springing level are of c. 1340; the head and upper
part of the window were altered late in the 15th
century. In the N. wall, opening into the N.
chapel, is an arcade of two bays and of c. 1330;
the two-centred arches are of three orders, the
innermost order being moulded; the two outer
orders are chamfered and are continued down the
E. respond; both responds have semi-octagonal
shafts with moulded bell-capitals and bases, and
are partly hidden by the tombs under the arcade;
the octagonal pillar has a capital and base similar
to those of the responds. In the S. wall are three
windows; the two eastern are of c. 1340, and each
of two cinque-foiled ogee lights with a quatrefoil
in a two-centred head, which has a plain external
label; one label is much broken and all the stops are
defaced; the rear arches are moulded and have
head-stops; the third window is a low-side single
light of c. 1340 with a transom and a two-centred
cinque-foiled head, under a plain external label with
a head-stop on the E. side; the W. stop is broken;
the jambs are moulded below the transom and
chamfered above it, and the transom has been
externally restored: between the two eastern
windows is a doorway of mid 14th-century date;
the jambs and two-centred head are of two moulded
orders, with internal and external labels; the
internal label has stops carved as the heads of
animals. On the E. and S. walls, below the windows, is an internal string-course, broken for the
doorway. The chancel arch, of c. 1350, is two-centred and of two orders, the inner order moulded,
the outer chamfered; the jambs have clustered
shafts with moulded bases and capitals; the bases
are much damaged. The North Chapel (25 ft. by
10 ft.) has, in the E. wall, a window of two pointed
lights under a two-centred head; the tracery
and external stonework are modern; the two-centred rear arch and internal jambs are probably
of the 14th century and are of rough workmanship.
In the N. wall is a recess (see Fittings). The Nave
(31 ft. by 12½ ft.) has a 15th-century embattled
parapet and a moulded string-course with flower
ornament; the E. wall has a low gable, also
embattled. The N. and S. arcades are of c. 1350,
and each of three bays with acutely pointed arches
of two moulded orders and a three-quarter hollow
between the orders; the moulded labels have
uncarved stops; the pillars and responds have
clustered shafts with moulded bases and capitals
of similar detail to those of the chancel arch. Over
the second pillar of the S. arcade, in the haunch
of the arch, is a small square opening with rolledges and holes for a grating; in the N. wall
opposite there was possibly a similar opening.
The clearstorey has two N. and two S. windows,
each of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a
two-centred head; three of the windows are of
early 15th-century date; the N.E. window is a
rough copy of the others; in the E. wall is a similar
window of early 15th-century date. The North
Aisle (46 ft. by 12 ft.) was re-built in 1801; the
date is inscribed on a stone over the N. doorway;
the W. end is cut off by a timber-framed partition,
and is used as a coal cellar. The South Aisle
(45½ ft. by 12 ft.) has a 15th-century embattled
parapet, partly restored; below it is a moulded
string-course carved with flowers and leaves, and
with figures of beasts at the E. and W. angles. In
the E. wall is a 14th-century window of three pointed
lights with intersecting tracery in a two-centred
head, which has a moulded external label; the rear
arch and inner jambs are chamfered; on the N.
side of the window is a 15th-century squint into
the chancel, with a cinque-foiled pointed head. In
the S. wall are two windows; the eastern is of the
15th century, and of three cinque-foiled ogee lights
and tracery under a square head with a moulded
external label: the second window is a 13th-century lancet; the internal jambs and rear arch
are covered with plaster: between the windows
is the S. doorway, probably in a 14th-century
opening, but with modern jambs and two-centred
head; the label is old and the stops have been cut
away; over the doorway is a rough relieving arch.
In the W. wall is a lancet window, probably of the
13th century, with a plain external label, much
damaged. The West Tower (about 11½ ft. by 11 ft.)
is of three stages, with an embattled parapet, much
restored. The tower arch is probably of c. 1380; it
is two-centred and of three orders; the chamfered
outer order is continuous, the two inner orders are
moulded, and carried on moulded jambs, with
bases which are evidently the 13th-century capitals
adapted and partly re-cut; the present moulded
capitals are similar to those of the nave arcades;
the label on the E. side is also moulded. In the
W. wall is a window of late 15th or early 16th-century date, of three cinque-foiled lights under a
three-centred head with a moulded external label.
The second stage has plain round-headed openings
of the 12th century in the E. and W. walls. The
bell-chamber has, in each wall, a single-light window of c. 1300, with a trefoiled pointed head and
a plain label which has mask-stops. The South
Porch is deflected towards the E. and has a plain
two-centred entrance archway with chamfered
jambs, of the 16th or 17th century. The Roof of
the nave is of three bays with moulded tie-beams
supported by plain braces on wood corbels; the
purlins and ridge are roughly chamfered; on the
E. tie-beam are the initials and date 'H O R W C W
1637'; the date is probably that of the whole roof.
Parish Church of St Mary, Clifton Reynes
Fittings—Bells: six, 2nd-6th by John Hodson,
1664. Brackets: In chancel—on E. wall, N.
of window, large, square, with chamfered edge,
below it a plain rough projecting stone; on E.
side of chancel arch, near S. capital, projecting
splayed piece of timber. Brasses and Indents:
In N. chapel—(1) of Sir John Reynes, 1428, figure
of man in armour, wearing besagues, plate bevor
over mail, bascinet, etc., imperfect, part of the legs
missing, inscription and four shields of Reynes,
checky a quarter, scored for colour, (ermine);
(2) of man and woman, figures in shrouds, at
corners four shields of Reynes, and Reynes
impaling a saltire engrailed, for Tyringham, indent
of inscription plate, c. 1500. Chairs: In chancel—
two, one with carved back, shaped arms, turned
legs and supports for arms, moulded top rail
c. 1630; the second, similar to the first, with
panelled carved back, plain foot rail, c. 1660.
Communion Table: with plain turned legs, slightly
moulded top rail, plain foot rail, 17th-century,
angles strengthened by short iron straps. Font
(see Plate, p. 45): octagonal bowl with small
shaft at each angle, moulded lower edge with
carved faces and roses; in each side of bowl
slightly sunk niche with carved figure of saint, etc.,
(1) St. Katherine with wheel and sword, (2) St.
Michael, with wings, holding shield and spear,
dragon at feet, (3) St. Paul with sword and book,
(4) representation of the Trinity, (5) St. Peter with
keys and book, (6) St. Barbara holding a tower,
(7) St. Margaret, crowned, piercing with spear the
dragon at her feet, (8) the Virgin and Child;
octagonal stem with traceried panel of different design in each side, base moulded; late 14th-century.
Glass: In chancel—in upper part of S.W. window,
figure of bishop, in Mass vestments, with mitre
and crozier, set in panel with border of fragments,
including parts of two leopards (or lions passant),
crocketed pinnacles, foliage, and part of inscription;
in head of window, a leopard's head, crocketed
finials, roses, tracery, and other fragments, all late
14th-century, said to have been brought from
Emberton Church in the 19th century. In nave—
in E. window of clearstorey over chancel arch, in
N. light, part of figure of saint, head with nimbus,
hand holding book, and other fragments; in S.
light, head and hand of figure of saint, and various
fragments; in head of window, and below remains
of figures, crocketed finials, and quarries bearing
a lion, a fleur de lis in lozenge, foliage, etc.; in
quatrefoil of tracery, three crocketed finials with
a rose in the middle; all early 15th-century; in
N.W. window of clearstorey, W. light almost
complete, with ornamental quarries and border,
in the middle a shield of Reynes, impaling Reynes;
E. light with border at the top, and in the middle
a shield set inside out, gules a cheveron between
three scallops or for Chamberlain, impaling
Reynes; all early 15th-century. Monuments and
Floor-slabs. Monuments: In N. chapel—in N.
wall, (1) tomb recess, with segmental pointed
head of two orders, the outer order moulded,
the inner cinque-foiled and sub-cusped, moulded
label with carved head-stops, jambs with three
engaged shafts having moulded capitals and
bases, early 14th-century; set in recess, two carved
wooden effigies of 1300–1310; of man with legs
crossed, hand on sword, wearing long loose surcoat,
hauberk, camail, etc.; of woman in head-veil,
wimple, gown, and sleeveless super-tunic; under
eastern arch of chapel arcade, (2) altar tomb, c. 1375,
with two stone effigies, of man in armour, wearing
bascinet with camail laced up to it, tight gipon
over hauberk, articulated pauldrons, arm-pieces,
gauntlets with gadlings, leg-pieces and sollerets;
of woman wearing sideless gown, pleated skirt,
and long cloak, hair elaborately dressed; sides
of tomb each set with eight niches having crocketed
trefoiled heads, in each niche small figure, of man
and woman alternately, two of the men in long
cloaks over armour, the others in different civilian
dress, all somewhat coarsely cut but of unusually
good design, several considerably defaced; above
each figure a shield with the following arms:—
a cheveron between three scallops for Chamberlain,
ermine a fesse three mill-rind crosses thereon for
Paynell, a saltire engrailed for Tyringham, ermine
a chief indented for Morteyne, three arches for
Arches, three harts passant at gaze for Greene,
bezanty with an ermine quarter for Zouche, a chief
with a lion passant thereon for Brok, three stirrups
with their leathers for Scudamore, three plain
crosses fitchy a chief with a demi-lion thereon for (?),
a cross engrailed possibly for Drayton, a scutcheon
and an orle of martlets for (?), a fesse between six
crosses formy for (?): under western arch of arcade,
(3) altar tomb of 1320–1330, with two carved
wooden effigies, of man, legs crossed, hand on
sword, wearing ridged bascinet, camail, long
gambeson with pointed skirt, hauberk with pointed
skirt, embattled skirt of cuirass or haketon also
visible, and possibly a fifth body-garment between
the cuirass and surcoat, surcoat short in front with
long tail behind, mail hose, leather breeches to
knee, small shield; effigy of woman wearing gown
with tight sleeves, apparently short jacket with
short loose sleeves and sideless super-tunic, wimple
and head-veil; sides of tomb panelled, with quatrefoils containing shields with the following arms:—
Arches, Chamberlain, Chamberlain impaling Reynes,
two lions passant with a label possibly for Ekeny,
Drayton (?), Paynell, Greene, Tyringham impaling
Reynes, and Zouche. Floor-slabs: In chancel—
(1) to Anna Bernar . . . . 1632, incomplete;
(2) to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Pepys, rector
of the parish, 1680; (3) to . . . . apparently one
of the Fryer family, almost illegible. In N. aisle—
(4) to Mary Dennis, 1652, incomplete; (5) to
. . . . . Dennis, (?) 1637, incomplete; (6) to
Peter, son of Samuel Pepys, M.A., Fellow of
Emanuel College, Cambridge, 1684. Paintings:
In nave—over chancel arch, remains of representation of a 'Doom', in black outline, central
figure of Christ sitting on a rainbow, with an
archangel on the left side, and figures of the dead
rising on the right side, barely visible, 15th-century;
over N. arcade, traces of texts in black-letter, red
outlines, probably 16th-century. Piscinae: In
chancel—with pointed cinque-foiled head, moulded
jambs, round basin, probably mid 14th-century,
sill restored. In S. aisle—plain square rough
recess, chamfered edges, round basin. Plate:
includes cup, of 1692, and stand paten without date-letter, bearing same maker's mark as
cup. Sedilia: In chancel—in range with piscina,
three, separated by circular shafts with moulded
capitals and bases, shaft between E. sedile and
piscina, half-shafts at the back of recesses and
against W. jamb, quarter-shaft in W. corner,
two-centred trefoiled and sub-cusped moulded
heads, moulded label with old head-stop at W. end;
mid 14th-century. Stoup: In porch—N.E. corner,
plain round bowl, of grey stone, probably 15th-century. Miscellanea: In N. aisle—at W. end,
worked stones, fragments, including (1) five stones
of moulded jamb of recess, probably 15th-century;
(2) traceried panel probably from altar or tomb,
14th-century; (3) panel similar to (2); (4) part of
edge of moulded slab, 15th-century; (5) part of
string-course, 14th-century (?), (6) chamfered
stones, probably part of window; (7) large slate
slab, with moulded edges, probably 16th-century,
all detached; built into thin wall of coal-cellar,
three quatrefoils formerly with shields, one shield
remaining charged with two bars, probably
15th-century. S. aisle—on lower quoins of E.
face of S.E. angle, two sundials, scratched.
Condition—Good; except the S. windows of
the clearstorey which are badly weather-worn
outside.
Secular
Homestead Moats (3–4)
b(3). At Wood Farm, about 2⅓ miles S.E. of
the church. Not shown on the Ordnance Survey
maps.
b(4). 350 yards W. of Top Farm.
Monuments (5–9)
These buildings are almost all of two storeys,
and all of the 17th century. The walls generally are
of stone rubble; the roofs are tiled or thatched.
b(5). The Rectory, S. of the church: the E.
wing with a cellar under it, is said to be of earlier
date than the rest of the house, but no detail
remains to show when it was built. The whole
house has been restored, and a low modern
extension added on the N. side. The plan is
L-shaped, the wings extending towards the S. and
E. Some of the chimney stacks are of thin bricks.
Interior:—On the ground floor there are some
chamfered ceiling-beams and an open fireplace.
Condition—Good.
b(6). The Robin Hood Inn, about 430 yards
S.E. of the church. The N. front is of red bricks
with black headers. Two of the chimney stacks
are original.
Condition—Good.
b(7). House, on the N. side of the road, 350
yards S.E. of the church. The plan is L-shaped.
Two chimney stacks are of 17th-century brick.
Condition—Good.
b(8). Dovecot (see Plate, p. 145), 70 yards N.E.
of (7): a circular building with a slight off-set near
the top of the walls; the roof is thatched and has
a small lantern in the middle. Interior:—Fitted
with many nests in the thickness of the wall.
Condition—Bad, probably to be pulled down.
b(9). Outhouse, about 580 yards E.S.E. of the
church: a small rectangular building, said to
have been the kitchen of the former manor-house.
Interior:—There is one wide open fireplace.
Condition—Bad; the doors and windows are
unsafe.
Unclassified
b(10). Enclosure, at the E. end of the village,
of simple plan, nearly rectangular in shape, the
defences consisting of a single rampart and ditch.
Condition—Much denuded.