139. GREAT LINFORD.
(O.S. 6 in. (a)x. N.W. (b)x. S.W.)
Ecclesiastical
a(1). Parish Church of St. Andrew, stands
at the N.W. end of the village. The walls are
covered with cement, except those of the chancel,
which are of small squared stone rubble in courses,
and those of the S. aisle and porch, which are of
stone rubble. The roofs are covered with lead,
except those of the chancel and S. porch, which
are tiled. The lower stage of the West Tower is
of late 13th-century date; the rest of the church,
except the N. aisle, was re-built c. 1320, the South
Aisle being on the earlier foundations; the Nave
was widened towards the N. and probably
lengthened towards the E., and the North Porch,
now the vestry, was added, also c. 1320; the
short North Aisle was added, E. of the N. porch,
and of the same width, c. 1340. In 1706 the
Chancel was re-built and the chancel arch widened,
the whole building was considerably restored, and
the clearstorey was added, or had new windows
inserted in it; the South Porch and the upper stage
of the tower were also re-built or added. The
church was again restored in 1884–5, and the tower
arch filled in to strengthen it, on account of a
settlement of the foundations.
The N. arcade and the vaulted N. porch, both
of the 14th century, and the windows of the N.
aisle, also of the 14th century, but altered in the
18th century, are noteworthy.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (30 ft.
by 17 ft.) is entirely of early 18th-century date,
except the modern E. window, and a blocked
doorway in the S. wall, which is apparently of old
material, re-used, and has chamfered jambs and
segmental head; the moulded external label with
mask-stops is of the 13th century. The chancel
arch is two-centred and of two chamfered orders,
widened in 1706; the 14th-century responds have
been restored and have clustered shafts with
moulded capitals and modern bases. The Nave
(47 ft. by 21 ft.) has a N. arcade of c. 1340, and of
two bays; the responds have stop-chamfered edges,
and moulded semi-octagonal corbels supporting the
inner order of the arches; the E. corbel is embattled
and has ball-flower ornament, and both corbels have
been restored; the column is octagonal, and has a
moulded capital with a conventional leaf carved
at each angle; the base is moulded; the two-centred arches are of two chamfered orders: the
N. doorway, W. of the arcade, has chamfered
jambs, possibly of the 14th century; the head is
semi-circular, originally chamfered, but has been
badly damaged. The S. arcade is of c. 1320, and
of three bays with chamfered responds which have
moulded semi-octagonal head-corbels supporting
the inner order of the arches; the columns are
octagonal, with moulded capitals and bases, the
capital of the W. column is almost entirely restored,
and the base is damaged; the two-centred arches
are of two chamfered orders. The clearstorey has
four windows on each side, all of c. 1706. The
North Aisle (27½ ft. by 11½ ft.) has, in the N. wall,
two windows of c. 1340, originally each of four
lights and tracery in a two-centred head, now of
three lights, with mullions and transom inserted
in the 18th century; the only remains of the
tracery are the curved pieces in the apices; the
outer chamfer of the jambs and head is enriched
with four-leaf ornament, partly restored in the
eastern window; the moulded external labels have
carved head-stops, considerably defaced: internally
the wall is divided into two bays by 14th-century
arcading with attached shafts, which have moulded
bases and moulded capitals enriched with carved
squares of four-leaf ornament; the two-centred
arches are chamfered, but covered with plaster,
and the bases and shafts have been restored. The
South Aisle (6 ft. wide) has, in the S. wall, two
18th-century windows, but some of the stones in
the external labels are possibly of the 14th century:
W. of the windows is the S. doorway, with chamfered jambs and semi-circular head, entirely covered
with plaster. The West Tower (13 ft. by 12½ ft.)
is not central with the nave, and is of two stages;
the lower stage is of two storeys, with large diagonal
W. buttresses which are carried to the top of the
stage; the embattled parapet is covered with
cement. The late 13th-century tower arch is now
filled in; it is two-centred, of two chamfered orders,
and distorted by the settlement of the foundations;
each jamb has three attached shafts with moulded
capitals and traces of moulded bases; in the
blocking is a modern doorway. The N. and S.
walls have each a lancet window of late 13th-century date, covered externally with cement.
The W. doorway and window are of the 18th
century. The second storey has in the S. wall
two windows with semi-circular heads, externally
covered with cement. The upper stage has, in each
wall, a single light, probably of the 18th century,
and the N. and S. walls have each an additional
rectangular light, externally covered with cement.
The North Porch is of two storeys, and of c. 1320.
The lower storey has a two-centred entrance archway, slightly ogee, and richly moulded, with
shafted jambs and moulded capitals; the innermost capitals have been cut away and the
bases are hidden or destroyed; in the W. wall is
a single-light window, probably originally of two
lights and tracery; the elaborately moulded jambs
and two-centred head have been partly restored,
but the old work has been badly damaged, and the
external label destroyed; in the E. wall is a recess,
probably formerly a window similar to that in
the W. wall. The sexpartite vaulted ceiling has
chamfered ribs springing from carved heads, and
in the middle is a carved boss. The upper storey
has, in the N. wall, a single trefoiled light with
a plain external label; in the W. wall is a similar
light, and an internal recess in the E. wall was
formerly another window. The South Porch has
an outer entrance with chamfered jambs and two-centred head; the plain label has 14th-century
head-stops, but the rest of the stonework is probably
of later date; over the apex is a late 15th-century
corbel representing a winged half-figure holding a
plain shield. In the E. wall are set the heads of
two traceried openings, one inside and one outside,
each of two trefoiled lights, flat at the back; the
external opening has a plain label; the internal
opening is covered with plaster. The Roofs of the
chancel and nave have plastered ceilings; the S.
aisle has a plain lean-to roof of old timbers.
Fittings—Brasses and Indents: In chancel—
on N. side, (1) of Anne, wife of John Uvedall,
1611, two figures, man in long cloak and ruff,
woman in fardingale, figures of five sons and three
daughters, inscription. In nave—(2) of Roger
Hunt, 1473, and Joan his wife, two figures, man
in loose-sleeved gown, with belt and pointed shoes,
woman in high-waisted gown, marginal inscription
in Latin, and verse in English, two shields inscribed
with invocations, indents of sons and daughters.
In N. aisle—(3) of Thomas Malyn, 1536, and
Elizabeth his wife, two figures, man in furtrimmed cloak and square-toed shoes, woman in
pedimental head-dress, fur-trimmed gown, small
figure of one daughter, inscription; indent of one
son. Communion Table: In chancel—with turned
legs, plain rails, 17th-century, heightened for
present use. Communion Rails: with small turned
balusters, top rail moulded, possibly late 17th-century. Door: In N. porch—in outer entrance,
of two thicknesses of battens, with strap-hinges,
date uncertain. Glass: In N. aisle—in apex of
N.E. window, fragments, discoloured, various
patterns and two fleurs de lis, 14th or 15th-century.
Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monument: In N.
aisle—on W. wall, to Sir William Prichard, knight,
1704, Sarah, his wife, 1718, their son William,
1685, white marble, with cornice, cherubs' heads,
etc. Floor-slabs: In chancel—(1) to Edward
Harrison, 1676. In N. aisle—at W. end, (2) to
. . . . Prichard, probably 17th-century, broken.
Plate: includes cup and cover-paten of 1610.
Condition—Good; badly disfigured by removal
of tracery, etc., in the 18th century, also by
cement on walls; cement on W. wall of nave,
cracked; lower stage of tower, some internal
cracks, apparently not serious.
Secular
a(2). Almshouses and Schoolhouse (see Plate,
p. 61), E. of the church, form a long range of
buildings of one storey, with a larger rectangular
block of two storeys and an attic in the middle of
the range. They were built for six occupants
and a school, c. 1700; the central block is now the
schoolmaster's house, and has additions of later
date at the back. The walls are of stone; the
roofs are tiled. The N. and S. Elevations of the
one-storeyed range are of similar design, each
tenement having a single doorway and window on
each side; the central block has a doorway on the
ground floor, two windows on each floor, and on
the N. front two dormer windows lighting the
attic. At each end of the range and of the central
block there is a curvilinear gable.
Interior:—The central block contains an original staircase with carved oak balusters and rails,
some panelling of the same date, and a wide fireplace now partly blocked. On the first floor is a
door of old oak battens.
Condition—Good.
a(3). The Rectory, with barn, stable and
dove-cot, 180 yards S.S.E. of the church. The
House is of two storeys and an attic; the walls
are of stone; the roof is tiled. It was built
probably late in the 16th century, but in the S.
wing are some traces of a late 15th or early 16th-century building. The plan is E-shaped, the
wings extending towards the E., with a small
projection towards the W. at the N. end, and a
modern drawing-room built on to it. The hall,
with a staircase, is in the N. half of the main block,
and the kitchen in the S. half; the dining-room,
pantry, etc., are in the N. wing, the other domestic
offices in the S. wing. E. Elevation:—In the
middle is a small modern porch, and on the ground
floor, N. of the porch, is a late 16th-century window
of four lights with moulded jambs, mullions and
lintel of oak; above it, on the first floor, is a similar
window, and the attic is lighted by two hipped
dormer windows, each of two lights, and apparently
of the 17th century. At the end of the S.E. wing,
on the ground floor, is an old window of two
lights with frame and mullion of oak, partly
masked by an open framework supporting the
modern bay window above it. N. Elevation:
—Near the E. end is a projecting chimney stack
of stone with some courses of thin bricks at
the top, and a shaft of modern brick. S. Elevation:—The end of the main block is gabled, and
the side of the S.E. wing has an original chimney
stack of stone, restored with modern brick at the
top. W. Elevation:—The wall of the main block is
of brick, whitewashed, and covered with creepers;
the chimney stack at the back of the hall is of
stone with some late 17th-century brick, and a
head of modern brick. The end of the S.E. wing
is of stone with some plaster.
Interior:—The staircase in the main block is probably of late 17th-century date, with square newels
and turned balusters. The kitchen has chamfered
ceiling-beams, and in the S.E. wing is a moulded
door-frame with moulded base-stops, of early 16th-century date; in another doorway is a rough oak
door which has strap-hinges with fleur de lis ends,
of late 15th or early 16th-century date; above it,
in the ceiling, is a moulded joist, probably of the
16th century; another door, of moulded battens,
is of late 16th-century date. In the N. wing
the dining room has encased ceiling-beams. A
stone, probably of the 16th century, was found in
the garden and is now preserved in the house;
it is rectangular, carved on each side, and at one
end is a small deep basin with a drain and a
stone cover which is carved with a four-leafed
flower.
The Barn, S.E. of the house, is also probably
of late 16th-century date, and is of five bays,
built of stone; the roof is covered with slate;
adjoining the barn at the W. end is a Stable of the
same date, also built of stone; the roof is tiled.
The Dove-cot, S. of the house, was built in the
middle of the 17th century, and is square; the
walls are of stone; the pyramidal roof is tiled,
and has a lantern in the middle. In the S. wall
is a window, and the walls are lined inside with
stone recesses.
Condition—Good, but the E. and W. walls
of the house are overloaded with creepers.
Monuments (4–8)
These buildings are almost all of two storeys,
all are of the 17th century, and partly restored.
The walls are of stone, the roofs are thatched.
All the cottages have original chimney stacks of
brick.
High Street, W. side
a(4). The Nag's Head Inn and two adjoining
tenements, 260 yards S.E. of the church, are of two
storeys and an attic. A few old casement windows
remain. Interior:—On the ground floor are some
original ceiling-beams and a wide open fireplace,
now used as a recess.
Condition—Good.
a(5). Cottages, four tenements in one range,
450 yards S.E. of the church, are of one storey
and an attic. The chimney stacks are original.
Interior:—On the ground floor are some open
timber ceilings and other original beams.
Condition—Good.
E. side
a(6). Cottages, seven tenements in one range,
opposite to (5). They are of one storey and an
attic. Some old casement windows remain, and
there are gabled dormers on the W. front. Interior:—There are some wide open fireplaces, and
original stop-chamfered ceiling-beams.
Condition—Good.
a(7). Cottage, opposite to (4). A modern building
has been added at the E. end.
Condition—Fairly good.
b(8). Cottages, a long rectangular block of
tenements, ½ mile S.S.E. of the church. Interior:
—Some of the tenements have open fireplaces,
partly blocked, and open timber ceilings.
Condition—Fairly good.