7. BOWERS GIFFORD. (D.d.)
(O.S. 6 in. lxxvii. N.W.)
Bowers Gifford is a parish 8 m. W.N.W. of
Southend-on-Sea.
Ecclesiastical
(1). Parish Church of St. Margaret (Plate,
p. xxxii) stands near the middle of the parish. The
walls are of ragstone-rubble with some flint and
Roman brick; the dressings are of Reigate stone
and the roofs are covered with slate. The whole
church, including Chancel, Nave and West Tower,
was re-built early in the 16th century except for the
S. wall of the nave which is thicker than the other
walls and is of uncertain date. The church has
been restored in modern times when the chancel
has been largely refaced and the South Porch
added.
Among the fittings the 14th-century brass is
noteworthy; this brass has been ascribed without sufficient evidence to Sir John Gifford, 1348.
The Church, Plan
Architectural Description—The Chancel (21 ft.
by 19 ft.) has no ancient features and is structurally
undivided from the nave.
The Nave (40½ ft. by 18½ ft.) has in the N. wall
two early 16th-century windows each of two
trefoiled lights in a square head with a moulded
label; further W. is the N. doorway, of the same
date and with moulded jambs, two-centred arch
and label. In the S. wall are two early 16th-century windows each of three cinque-foiled lights
in a square head with a moulded label; the S. doorway is similar to the N. doorway in date and
detail.
The West Tower (10 ft. square) is of early 16th-century date and of two stages surmounted by a
boarded timber superstructure and a low octagonal
spire also boarded. The two-centred tower-arch
is of two orders the outer moulded and continuous
and the inner hollow-chamfered and dying on to
the responds. In the W. wall is part of the rear-arch and the external relieving-arch of a former
W. doorway; above it is a window of one cinque-foiled light with a square moulded label. The
N., S. and W. walls of the second stage have each
a window of one trefoiled light with a square
moulded label; the floor of the second stage has
hollow-chamfered joists and is supported by braced
posts.
Fittings—Bells: two; 1st by Robert Burford,
c. 1400, inscribed "Sancta Katerina Ora Pro
Nobis," and 2nd by William Burford, 14th-century, and inscribed "Sit Nomen Domini
Benedictum." Brass: In chancel—c. 1340,
figure (Plate, p. 56) of man wearing surcoat,
and mail hauberk with skirts to knee and
loose sleeves to mid forearm, gambeson with
fluted sleeves, fluted breeches, shell shoulder
pieces and elbow roundels fastened with points;
no plate below knee cops, rowel spurs; heater-shaped shield with diapered field and six
fleurs-de-lis, head and part of right leg
missing. Door: In S. doorway—of two folds
with overlapping nail-studded battens, early
16th-century. Font: octagonal bowl with
moulded under-edge, plain stem and hollow-chamfered base, early 16th-century; font-cover:
old finial with facets and lozenge-ornament
painted gold, red and white, 16th or
17th-century. Piscina: In chancel — with
moulded jambs and trefoiled head, 15th-century.
Condition—Good.
Secular
Homestead Moats.
(2). At Bowers Hall, 600 yards N. of the church.
(3). At the Rectory, about ½ m. N.N.W. of the
church.