ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE 



Surrey possesses in the case of Compton church an almost unique 

 instance of a double chancel, i.e. a loft or chapel, with the chancel 

 proper forming a sort of vaulted undercroft below — the whole of late 

 twelfth century date. 



There are now remaining fifty stone-built western towers of 

 mediaeval date, and allowing for rebuildings since the sixteenth century, 

 there must at that time have been at least twenty more occupy- 

 ing that position. They may be divided into two groups — those of 

 early date, about twenty in number, ranging between the end of the 

 eleventh and the middle of the fourteenth century, and a later group, 

 of more architectural pretensions. Compton and Wotton (late eleventh 

 century), Cobham (twelfth), Merstham (thirteenth) and Cranleigh and 

 Horsell {c. 1330), belong to the first group ; while to the second may 

 be assigned the following : Reigate {c. 1370), Lambeth (1377), Bedding- 

 ton (f. 1399), Putney (c. 1420), Stoke-by-Guildford {c. 1420), Ewell 

 {c. 1420), Worplesdon {c. 1420), West Moulsey {c. 1420), Croydon 

 {c. 1430), Ockham (c. 1450), Send (c. 1460), Leatherhead (c. 1480), 

 Ashtead {c. 1500), Farnham (c. 1500), Richmond (c. 1500), Mort- 

 lake (1543). The following seven churches have flanking towers, i.e. 

 towers built on the north or south side of the church, generally in a 

 transeptal position, viz. : Bramley (thirteenth century). West Clandon 

 (thirteenth century), Fetcham (twelfth century), Godstone (thirteenth 

 century), Limpsfield (late twelfth century), Lingfield (fourteenth century), 

 Wonersh (late eleventh century). The solitary round tower of Surrey 

 — that belonging to the destroyed church of Tooting — stood on the 

 north of the nave. 



About thirty of the churches of the county have, instead of a stone 

 tower, a wooden tower or turret, the generality being placed at the west 

 end of the church, on a framework from the walls or tie-beams, and 

 rising only a short distance above the roof, crowned with a squat cap, 

 shingled or boarded. Others are larger and are carried higher, 

 terminating in lofty spires, and these rest upon huge beams and posts 

 standing upon the floor of the church : Alfold, Great Bookham, Buck- 

 land, Byfleet, Crowhurst, Dunsfold, Elstead, Horley, Tandridge and 

 Thursley are the principal examples. Elstead and Tandridge are the 

 oldest, possibly thirteenth or fourteenth century, while Alfold and 

 Thursley are the latest, being late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. 

 In the south-east corner of the county are three towers of timber con- 

 struction, at Burstow, Home and Newdigate ; they are external on 

 three sides at the ground level, the massive framing being covered with 

 weather-boarding. These are all of late construction, and are so similar 

 in design and detail that all may be the work of the same body of 

 carpenters. Shingled spires are commonly found in conjunction with 

 a great many of the stone towers. 



Many stone examples of mediaeval porches survive, mostly of 

 very plain character, but those built of timber are almost as numerous. 

 The porch at Merrow retains a fifteenth century barge-board, and 



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