The following is taken from Revd. Alfred Suckling’s book, ‘Memorials of the antiquities and architecture, family history and heraldry of the County of Essex’ (John Weale, London, 1845).
With the church of Stondon Massey commences my eleventh volume of “Antique and Armorial Collection;” - and I hope opportunity sufficient will be afforded me to devote its entire contents to the county of Essex, in which it is situated. Few districts offer subjects of higher interest; and although I must admit the want of the beauties of a stately cathedral, yet its remains of Roman castrametation - its castellated and its monastic ruins - its ecclesiastical and domestic structures - present, in singularity of design and construction, unparalleled examples of ancient art. The Roman works at Chesterford, considered by some as the most entire in England; the castles of Colchester and Hedingham; the Abbey of Waltham and the Priory of St. Botolph, both exceedingly curious specimens; the round church of Maplested; and above all, the wooden church of Greensted, perhaps a genuine instance of Anglo Saxon Architecture; the houses of Layer Marney and Audley these, and various others that might be justly adduced, will, I think, bear me out in asserting that the county of Essex is not to be surpassed in the possession of those curious and interesting remains which constitute the riches of architectural antiquities. Nor will the church of Stondon Massey, upon a close examination, be considered as unworthy addition to such a list. Although its south side makes a drawing of but little apparent interest, yet its northern façade, uninjured by modern innovation, presents a remarkable display of the peculiar architecture of Anglo-Norman times, than I have hitherto met with. Three small round-headed loop-holes placed, with the most jealous precaution, in the very uppermost portion of the wall, alone admit light from this side of building; while a similar number, in a situation exactly corresponding, originally pierced the south wall, of which two still remain ; the third has disappeared, having given place to a larger window in the nave, of a much more recent era. These six apertures, then, with one at the east and one at the west end, most likely of equal dimensions, afforded all the light which the devotees of that turbulent period thought it prudent to enjoy. The east end, I grieve to say, is now filled with a modern sash-window : the lancet-window, to be observed in the drawing, placed high up the gable, may he original, and was, perhaps, at first, round-headed, but I can offer nothing positive on this point, as recent masonry is apparent in this part of the edifice. Below are correct drawings of the interior and exterior of one of these loop-holes; the Saracenic or horse-shoe termination of which must not be suffered to pass unnoticed.
Though Stondon may he inferior in its masonry and finish to the celebrated church of Barfeston in Kent, it far exceeds that edifice, in my opinion, as an example of Norman Architecture. A reference to the drawings will show that the church of Stondon comprises merely a nave and chancel, of nearly the same width: its eastern termination was originally circular I cannot determine, as a modern brick wall forms the present gable.
In the interior are a few monuments, which may be thus briefly noticed. First, at the foot of two small figures, in brass, are the following lines in black letter: -
Who liste to see and knowe himselfe may loke upö this glase,
And view ye beaten pathe of death We he shall one day pase;
Wc way I Ramold Holingworth w pacient mind have gone;
Whose bodi here, as death hath changd, lieth covëed w this ston:
Thus dust to dust is brought againe, ye earthe she bath her owne,
This shall ye lot of all men be, before the trumpe be blowne.
Obiit 17 Aprilis, A°. 1573. Mors michi vita.
To the memory of Johanna Hollingworth, Spinster, Lady of the Manor of Stonedon Massey who died April 12, 1829, at Stonedon Place, in this parish, and was buried in the family at Thundridge, in the county of Herts.
On this monument are the arms of Hollingworth.
A mural tablet, inscribed to the memory of the families of How and Taylor, who resided at Stondon Place upwards of a century.
John Leigh, of Stondon Place, Gent., died 3rd of October, 1650.
Hic jacet Jacobus Crooke nuper hujus ecclesiae Rector, qui vitam Deo resignavit suam l die Mensis Martij, A.D. 1706, annoque aetatis suae 67.
At the west end of this church is a stone octagonal font, with the rose ornaments commonly met with in this shaped ornament; while a screen of wood divides the nave and chancel, which is in good preservation, but does not exhibit any peculiar tracery.
A frame of oak timber, however, which occupies a considerable portion of the western end, and sustains the present tower and bells, is entitled to observation, on account of its singular construction.
The north and south doors of the nave are perfectly plain, having neither column nor moulding in any part.
With the church of Stondon Massey commences my eleventh volume of “Antique and Armorial Collection;” - and I hope opportunity sufficient will be afforded me to devote its entire contents to the county of Essex, in which it is situated. Few districts offer subjects of higher interest; and although I must admit the want of the beauties of a stately cathedral, yet its remains of Roman castrametation - its castellated and its monastic ruins - its ecclesiastical and domestic structures - present, in singularity of design and construction, unparalleled examples of ancient art. The Roman works at Chesterford, considered by some as the most entire in England; the castles of Colchester and Hedingham; the Abbey of Waltham and the Priory of St. Botolph, both exceedingly curious specimens; the round church of Maplested; and above all, the wooden church of Greensted, perhaps a genuine instance of Anglo Saxon Architecture; the houses of Layer Marney and Audley these, and various others that might be justly adduced, will, I think, bear me out in asserting that the county of Essex is not to be surpassed in the possession of those curious and interesting remains which constitute the riches of architectural antiquities. Nor will the church of Stondon Massey, upon a close examination, be considered as unworthy addition to such a list. Although its south side makes a drawing of but little apparent interest, yet its northern façade, uninjured by modern innovation, presents a remarkable display of the peculiar architecture of Anglo-Norman times, than I have hitherto met with. Three small round-headed loop-holes placed, with the most jealous precaution, in the very uppermost portion of the wall, alone admit light from this side of building; while a similar number, in a situation exactly corresponding, originally pierced the south wall, of which two still remain ; the third has disappeared, having given place to a larger window in the nave, of a much more recent era. These six apertures, then, with one at the east and one at the west end, most likely of equal dimensions, afforded all the light which the devotees of that turbulent period thought it prudent to enjoy. The east end, I grieve to say, is now filled with a modern sash-window : the lancet-window, to be observed in the drawing, placed high up the gable, may he original, and was, perhaps, at first, round-headed, but I can offer nothing positive on this point, as recent masonry is apparent in this part of the edifice. Below are correct drawings of the interior and exterior of one of these loop-holes; the Saracenic or horse-shoe termination of which must not be suffered to pass unnoticed.
Though Stondon may he inferior in its masonry and finish to the celebrated church of Barfeston in Kent, it far exceeds that edifice, in my opinion, as an example of Norman Architecture. A reference to the drawings will show that the church of Stondon comprises merely a nave and chancel, of nearly the same width: its eastern termination was originally circular I cannot determine, as a modern brick wall forms the present gable.
In the interior are a few monuments, which may be thus briefly noticed. First, at the foot of two small figures, in brass, are the following lines in black letter: -
Who liste to see and knowe himselfe may loke upö this glase,
And view ye beaten pathe of death We he shall one day pase;
Wc way I Ramold Holingworth w pacient mind have gone;
Whose bodi here, as death hath changd, lieth covëed w this ston:
Thus dust to dust is brought againe, ye earthe she bath her owne,
This shall ye lot of all men be, before the trumpe be blowne.
Obiit 17 Aprilis, A°. 1573. Mors michi vita.
To the memory of Johanna Hollingworth, Spinster, Lady of the Manor of Stonedon Massey who died April 12, 1829, at Stonedon Place, in this parish, and was buried in the family at Thundridge, in the county of Herts.
On this monument are the arms of Hollingworth.
A mural tablet, inscribed to the memory of the families of How and Taylor, who resided at Stondon Place upwards of a century.
John Leigh, of Stondon Place, Gent., died 3rd of October, 1650.
Hic jacet Jacobus Crooke nuper hujus ecclesiae Rector, qui vitam Deo resignavit suam l die Mensis Martij, A.D. 1706, annoque aetatis suae 67.
At the west end of this church is a stone octagonal font, with the rose ornaments commonly met with in this shaped ornament; while a screen of wood divides the nave and chancel, which is in good preservation, but does not exhibit any peculiar tracery.
A frame of oak timber, however, which occupies a considerable portion of the western end, and sustains the present tower and bells, is entitled to observation, on account of its singular construction.
The north and south doors of the nave are perfectly plain, having neither column nor moulding in any part.
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