DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32039#0054
32
HISTOMCAL ACCOUNT OF TIIE CHURCH
into the oak-ribbed roof, to admit of this singular design of meretricious taste,
which forms a very striking contrast to the elegant semicircular oriel window in
the same room, shewn in Plates VII. VIII. and IX. ; and which contrast would
be quite sufhcient, independent of any other proof, to convince the advocates
of what is generally termecl Elizabethan Architecture, of the infinite superiority
of good taste prevalent in the fifteenth century. Buildings, in which the original
offices were contained, were then pulied down to the south of the left wing, at
x. x. x. x. Plate III., by which the present external south wall, which was
originally an internal division, has been exposed, ancl the head of the furthest
truss to the south was cut away, to form a hip to the roof, by which means the
rafters have pushed out, and endangered the east wall. The present possessor,
Sir Harry Burrard Neale, to whom this estate came by his marriage with Grace-
Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Robert Neale, Esq., whose father was the
purchaser from the Duke of Kingston, anxious to preserve this truly venerable
fabric, has intrusted the author with the necessary repairs.*
The Church at Great Chalfield, which is dedicated to All Saints, bears evident
signs of greater antiquity than the present Manor-House ; and, in 1308, a chapel
existed here, to which “ Walterus cle Chaldefeld” presented “ W ms de Cumbe,’
the walls of which, the author presumes, still remain, forming the body of the
present church,—the west window having been an insertion, and the bell-turret
an addition of a latter date. The porch, also, which is peculiar, and of elegant
design, seems to have been added, together with the present west doorway, about
the time of Henry VII. Thomas Tropenell, who built the manor-house, erected
a beautiful chantry chapel to the south, and enclosed it with a rich stone screen,
of excellent workmanship, adorned with the arms of his family, shewing its descent
from the Percys, to the time of erection (see Plates V. and VI., Ecclesiastical
Architecture, ancl descriptions). A chancel must have existed eastward of the
present churcli, which has been rebuilt, and in 1775 added to, southward, to the
extent of the chantry chapel, when an arch was cut through the east wall of this
chapel, by which the cornice of the ornamental oak ceiling was injured. The
floor of the church was raisecl one foot eight inches, in 1765,f and the whole
* See Preface to tlie second edition.
f The Parcliment Register, now in tlie church, commences in 1545, 25 January, “In die conversionis Sancti Pauli,”
and the following' are the entvies concerning the church repairs : —
“ The Church of Chalfield Magna was set in good repair, a.d. 1719: — viz. the roof was new laid, and a large ”
“ huttress set up on the north side ; and the body of the church was new ceiled.”
“ John Lewis, Rector.”
“ Tho s. Miles, Cliurch Warden”
HISTOMCAL ACCOUNT OF TIIE CHURCH
into the oak-ribbed roof, to admit of this singular design of meretricious taste,
which forms a very striking contrast to the elegant semicircular oriel window in
the same room, shewn in Plates VII. VIII. and IX. ; and which contrast would
be quite sufhcient, independent of any other proof, to convince the advocates
of what is generally termecl Elizabethan Architecture, of the infinite superiority
of good taste prevalent in the fifteenth century. Buildings, in which the original
offices were contained, were then pulied down to the south of the left wing, at
x. x. x. x. Plate III., by which the present external south wall, which was
originally an internal division, has been exposed, ancl the head of the furthest
truss to the south was cut away, to form a hip to the roof, by which means the
rafters have pushed out, and endangered the east wall. The present possessor,
Sir Harry Burrard Neale, to whom this estate came by his marriage with Grace-
Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Robert Neale, Esq., whose father was the
purchaser from the Duke of Kingston, anxious to preserve this truly venerable
fabric, has intrusted the author with the necessary repairs.*
The Church at Great Chalfield, which is dedicated to All Saints, bears evident
signs of greater antiquity than the present Manor-House ; and, in 1308, a chapel
existed here, to which “ Walterus cle Chaldefeld” presented “ W ms de Cumbe,’
the walls of which, the author presumes, still remain, forming the body of the
present church,—the west window having been an insertion, and the bell-turret
an addition of a latter date. The porch, also, which is peculiar, and of elegant
design, seems to have been added, together with the present west doorway, about
the time of Henry VII. Thomas Tropenell, who built the manor-house, erected
a beautiful chantry chapel to the south, and enclosed it with a rich stone screen,
of excellent workmanship, adorned with the arms of his family, shewing its descent
from the Percys, to the time of erection (see Plates V. and VI., Ecclesiastical
Architecture, ancl descriptions). A chancel must have existed eastward of the
present churcli, which has been rebuilt, and in 1775 added to, southward, to the
extent of the chantry chapel, when an arch was cut through the east wall of this
chapel, by which the cornice of the ornamental oak ceiling was injured. The
floor of the church was raisecl one foot eight inches, in 1765,f and the whole
* See Preface to tlie second edition.
f The Parcliment Register, now in tlie church, commences in 1545, 25 January, “In die conversionis Sancti Pauli,”
and the following' are the entvies concerning the church repairs : —
“ The Church of Chalfield Magna was set in good repair, a.d. 1719: — viz. the roof was new laid, and a large ”
“ huttress set up on the north side ; and the body of the church was new ceiled.”
“ John Lewis, Rector.”
“ Tho s. Miles, Cliurch Warden”