23. DUNTON (WAYLETTS). (C.c.)
(O.S. 6 in. (a)lxviii. S.W. (b)lxxvi. N.W.)
Dunton is a parish 5 m. S.E. of Brentwood.
Ecclesiastical
b(1). Parish Church of St. Mary stands
towards the S. end of the parish. It was re-built
in 1873, except for a part of the N. wall of the chancel
which is of 16th-century brick, and a 15th-century
framed truss, with a cambered tie-beam and curved
braces forming part of the bell-turret; part of the
old chamfered wall-plates are incorporated in the
chancel-roof.
Fittings—Bell: probably of 1712 but uninscribed. Chairs: two, one broken, with carved
backs and front rails, shaped legs, early 18th-century. Coffin: In churchyard—S. of the church,
stone coffin with shaped head, much damaged and
lower part of cover with stem of cross, 13th-century.
Plate: includes cup of 1563 with bands of
engraved ornament and cover-paten of 1567.
Table: In vestry—with turned legs cut down
and incised top rail, 17th-century.
Condition—Poor.
Secular
b(2). Homestead Moat, N. of the Rectory,
about ¼ m. N. of the church.
a(3). Wayletts, house, about 1 m. N. by E. of
the church, is of two storeys with attics. The
walls are of plastered timber-framing; the roofs
are tiled. It was built in the 16th century on a
rectangular plan and the upper storey probably
projected on the W. side but has been under-built
in brick at a later period. There is an original
chimney-stack on the S., diapered in black headers
and, towards the N. end of the building, a chimney-stack with a single diagonal shaft. Inside the
building some of the rooms have exposed ceiling-beams and there is some 17th-century panelling on
both floors. On the first floor is a blocked window
of two lights with a moulded mullion. The roof is
of the queen-post type.
Condition—Fairly good.
a(4). Southfields, house, about 1 m. N.E. of
the church, is of two storeys with attics. The walls
are of brick, and the roofs are tiled. It was built
early in the 18th century on an L-shaped plan with
the wings extending towards the N. and W. The
principal fronts were symmetrical, but some of
the windows have been blocked and others altered;
there is a plain projecting string-course at the
first floor level. The dormer windows have hipped
roofs. On either side of the blocked windows
above the entrance doorway are two sunk panels,
one with the initials C.T. and the other with the
date 1710.
Condition—Good.