History Part Two
St Laurence & All Saints, Eastwood, Essex
The following are the chief points of interest:
CHANCEL
Small (29ft. x l6ft.). Roof 14th Century, braced collar beams. The two tie beams are moulded. East window has been restored. Two windows in North wall - Eastern is mid 14th Century, the Western is earlier, 13th Century. South wall has two windows, the Eastern corresponding to the window in the North wall. The other is a low side window of the late 13th Century or early 14th Century with one pointed light, set in a wide 14th Century recess This window was probably unglazed with a wooden shutter and may have been used as a sanctus window through which the sanctus bell was rung at the Elevation of the Host.
On the East of this is a priests door, (recently replaced). There are traces of a piscina behind the panelling on the North wall.
The Chancel arch is 14th Century and above it are marks of an earlier roof. Below the arch are two ends of the rood beam which was sawn off.
There are no traces of a rood staircase.
Before the altar are 18th Century tombs of the Vassal family, former owners of Cockethurst Farm, and an effigy in brass of Thomas Burroughs dated 1600
NAVE
44ft x 20ft. Roof is 15th Century work with massive tie beams. Four of the trusses have octagonal crown posts of unusual workmanship for a village Church. When the roof was retiled in 1935, the 7" x 7" beams were as sound as when first placed there.
The nave was the original Norman Church, one of the original windows can be seen in the North wall and traces of two others are also visible.
There were probably three in each wall.
The first alteration to the original Church was the piercing of the South wall by three 13th Century Early English bays and the building of the South aisle. The octagonal columns have moulded capitals and bases and brick plinths. The angles of two columns have been flattened to give a view of the altar to the ringer in the tower and the easternmost arch has a curiously chamferred portion, the purpose of which is uncertain.
At the junction of this arcade with the chancel are two 13th Century recesses, one having been cut away and afterwards filled up, and the other pierced to allow access to the South aisle. A hagieoscope or squint has been cut in a very simple manner through the angle of the chancel wall giving a view of the high altar from the South aisle. The best alteration was the piercing of the North wall by two wide 14th Century arches. These arches have no supporting columns but spring from the wall direct and the eastern-most arch shows some of 13th Century capping, probably of a former recess cut away when the arcade was made.
The 15th Century great West window has modern (1978) stained glass depicting the life of Samuel Purchas, geographer, writer and Eastwood's most notable incumbent (1604-1614). (There is a detailed description in the Church.)
SOUTH AISLE
9ft 6in wide. Built 13th Century and altered in 15th Century when the roof was raised or upper part rebuilt to give a clerestory which was never completed. The two exterior gables on the south seem to support this idea. The addition to the height can be seen on the interior wall. The East window is of uncertain date and has been modernised. There are two windows in the South wall. The Eastern one is 14th Century with two trefoil lights and is square headed, with modern glass. The sill is a stone slab with a moulded edge, probably from a tomb or altar. The other window is one, wide pointed, 13th Century light (probably a lancet window reduced) with modern glass showing St. Laurence with gridiron.
This aisle was formerly used as a side chapel as the 14th Century piscina and aumbry indicate and may have been a Lady Chapel. There are slight traces or colouring on the pillar below the Eastern end of the arcade and holes which may indicate support for a statue. It has now been restored to use as a side chapel.
On the stonework level with the pews, are two scratched figures or graffiti, one of a knight and the other a curious serpent-like figure.
The ancient chest is situated in this aisle.
FONT
Remarkable for its unusual figure and peculiar form. It is the best example in Essex of a late Norman or Early English font, (late 12th Century), shown by the semicircular arcading round the drum interlaced to form pointed arches and by slender shafting.
CHANCEL
Small (29ft. x l6ft.). Roof 14th Century, braced collar beams. The two tie beams are moulded. East window has been restored. Two windows in North wall - Eastern is mid 14th Century, the Western is earlier, 13th Century. South wall has two windows, the Eastern corresponding to the window in the North wall. The other is a low side window of the late 13th Century or early 14th Century with one pointed light, set in a wide 14th Century recess This window was probably unglazed with a wooden shutter and may have been used as a sanctus window through which the sanctus bell was rung at the Elevation of the Host.
On the East of this is a priests door, (recently replaced). There are traces of a piscina behind the panelling on the North wall.
The Chancel arch is 14th Century and above it are marks of an earlier roof. Below the arch are two ends of the rood beam which was sawn off.
There are no traces of a rood staircase.
Before the altar are 18th Century tombs of the Vassal family, former owners of Cockethurst Farm, and an effigy in brass of Thomas Burroughs dated 1600
NAVE
44ft x 20ft. Roof is 15th Century work with massive tie beams. Four of the trusses have octagonal crown posts of unusual workmanship for a village Church. When the roof was retiled in 1935, the 7" x 7" beams were as sound as when first placed there.
The nave was the original Norman Church, one of the original windows can be seen in the North wall and traces of two others are also visible.
There were probably three in each wall.
The first alteration to the original Church was the piercing of the South wall by three 13th Century Early English bays and the building of the South aisle. The octagonal columns have moulded capitals and bases and brick plinths. The angles of two columns have been flattened to give a view of the altar to the ringer in the tower and the easternmost arch has a curiously chamferred portion, the purpose of which is uncertain.
At the junction of this arcade with the chancel are two 13th Century recesses, one having been cut away and afterwards filled up, and the other pierced to allow access to the South aisle. A hagieoscope or squint has been cut in a very simple manner through the angle of the chancel wall giving a view of the high altar from the South aisle. The best alteration was the piercing of the North wall by two wide 14th Century arches. These arches have no supporting columns but spring from the wall direct and the eastern-most arch shows some of 13th Century capping, probably of a former recess cut away when the arcade was made.
The 15th Century great West window has modern (1978) stained glass depicting the life of Samuel Purchas, geographer, writer and Eastwood's most notable incumbent (1604-1614). (There is a detailed description in the Church.)
SOUTH AISLE
9ft 6in wide. Built 13th Century and altered in 15th Century when the roof was raised or upper part rebuilt to give a clerestory which was never completed. The two exterior gables on the south seem to support this idea. The addition to the height can be seen on the interior wall. The East window is of uncertain date and has been modernised. There are two windows in the South wall. The Eastern one is 14th Century with two trefoil lights and is square headed, with modern glass. The sill is a stone slab with a moulded edge, probably from a tomb or altar. The other window is one, wide pointed, 13th Century light (probably a lancet window reduced) with modern glass showing St. Laurence with gridiron.
This aisle was formerly used as a side chapel as the 14th Century piscina and aumbry indicate and may have been a Lady Chapel. There are slight traces or colouring on the pillar below the Eastern end of the arcade and holes which may indicate support for a statue. It has now been restored to use as a side chapel.
On the stonework level with the pews, are two scratched figures or graffiti, one of a knight and the other a curious serpent-like figure.
The ancient chest is situated in this aisle.
FONT
Remarkable for its unusual figure and peculiar form. It is the best example in Essex of a late Norman or Early English font, (late 12th Century), shown by the semicircular arcading round the drum interlaced to form pointed arches and by slender shafting.
Copyright 2010 St Laurence & All Saints
Eastwoodbury Lane
Eastwood, Essex
Eastwoodbury Lane
Eastwood, Essex
Website byPaul McPherson