142. GROVE.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xxiv. N.E. ^(b)xxiv. S.E.)

Ecclesiastical

^b(1). Parish Church of St. Michael, stands about 1¾ miles S. of Linslade. The walls are of stone with a thin coating of plaster; the roof is tiled. The building is of rectangular plan, with detail of the 14th century, but some of the walls were built possibly before that date. Foundations discovered on the E. side of the churchyard indicate the former existence of a chancel, but no trace of a chancel arch remains in the E. wall. The E. and W. gables were re-built, the N. porch was added and the church generally restored in 1883.

Architectural Description—The Church (29½ ft. by 18 ft.) is without structural divisions. The E. window is modern, except the N. jamb, which is of the 14th century. In the N. wall is a 16th-century doorway with chamfered jambs and depressed four-centred head. In the S. wall is a window of two lights under a square head, also of the 16th century; W. of the window is a jamb and part of the head apparently of a doorway, almost hidden by a modern chimney. The W. window is of three trefoiled lights and tracery, of the 14th century, much restored. The bell-chamber at the W. end is modern.

Fittings—Bells: one, said to be by Anthony Chandler, 1676. Font: circular tub-shaped bowl moulded at the top and bottom, broken across the middle, 12th-century, small cemented pedestal modern. Niches: In E. wall—one on each side of window, with moulded jambs and cinque-foiled head, 14th-century. Piscinae: In E. wall—under niche on N. side of window, with moulded jambs and cinque-foiled head, 14th-century, restored, basin modern; in S. wall, recess only, with chamfered jambs and trefoiled head, 14th-century. Plate: includes pewter flagon with lid, dated 1670. Miscellanea: In W. gable, outside, stone said to bear the date 1620, now illegible.

Condition—Fairly good, much restored, large crack in the S. wall, apparently due to comparatively recent settlement, as it shows in the cement on the wall inside.

Secular

^a(2). Homestead Moat, 200 yards N.E. of the church, partly natural.