A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



Beneath the window are two recesses; the first is about 

 3 ft. 6 in. in width, 2 ft. 7 in. to the springing of the 

 arch, and 3 ft. from the floor. The arch is segmental 

 and cinquefoiled with leaf sub-cuspings. Over the arch 

 is an ogee crocketed label with head slops and 

 foliated finial. The jambs are shafted with carved 

 capitals and moulded bases. Part is much decayed. 

 It may possibly have once formed a rcredo; over an 

 altar in the east wall. The other recess is 6 ft. 3 in. 

 wide with moulded jamb and segmental arch ; this 

 was probably a recess for a tomb. Both recesses are 

 of 15th-century work. An 1 8th-century arch in the 

 east wall opens into the organ chamber, and opposite 

 is an arch of two chamfered orders opening into the 

 north aisle. The clearstory is modern. 



The five-light window in the south wall of the 

 south transept is of modern stonework, all but the 

 inner jambs and rear arch, which have a 15th-century 

 double ogee moulding. A late 14th-century arch 

 with two chamfered orders opens into the south, 

 chapel, and on the west side is a plain arch opening 

 into the south aisle. In the south wall is a small 

 piscina with a moalded cinquefoiled arch of the 14th 

 century ; there is no bowl, and the mouldings are 

 much decayed. The clearstory is modern. 



The three side windows and the west one of each 

 aisle are all of modern stonework, as are also the north 

 doorway and the windows and archway to the south 

 porch ; the south doorway is of 14th-century work, 

 repaired. The roofs of aisles and south porch retain 

 many of their original ijih-century timbers. 



The west tower is of five stages with buttressed 

 angles, with embattled parapet and small lead-covered 

 spire. The tower arch is of three hollow-chamfered 

 orders, with splayed jambs having moulded capitals and 

 bases; it is of the 14th century. The west doorway 

 is of modern stonework, and above it is a window 

 with two cinquefoiled lights. The third stage has 

 narrow loop-lights on three of its faces ; the fourth 

 stage has a window of two trcioiled lights on the 

 north and east faces and clocks on the other two. 

 On each side of the belfry is a window of two 

 cinquefoiled lights with cusped opening in the head. 



The font is a fine example of the work of about 

 1380 ; the bowl is octagonal, and each side has a 

 sunk and moulded arched pane] with crocketed label 

 and contains a figure in high relief. The figures 

 represent the Annunciation (two panels), St. Margaret, 

 St. Christopher, St. Georg,-, St. Kathcrine, St. James 

 and St. John the Baptist ; at each angle are half 

 figures of angels, four with emblems of the Passion 

 and four with musical instruments ; behind each angle 

 is a crocketed pinnacle. Each face of the stem has 

 a square quatrefoiled panel ; the base is moulded and 



The oak pulpit is of the late 17th century ; it is 

 hexagonal with raised lozenge -shaped panels flanked 

 by beaded pilasters. The oak screen under the 

 western arch of the chapel is partly modern, but has 

 some good I jth-centnry tracery. In the south chapel 

 are some caned panelling of the late 1 7th century and 

 the communion rail (c. 1640} formerly in Benington 



On the east wall of the north transept is a brass 

 with the figure of a lady with inscription to Helen 

 daughter of John Cook, 1454, and also to her two 



husbands William Bramble and Richard Warburton, 

 and her son William Bramble. In the south transept 

 is a brass of William Pyrry (Pery) and his two wives 

 with inscription and portion of date 1 47- ; below each 

 wife are five sons and five daughters. On the north 

 transept floor are the brass of a lady without inscription, 

 but c. 1420, a slab with indents of a civilian and hit 

 wife under a canopy, c. 1400, and a slab with indent 

 of a floreated cross of the 14th century, said to be 

 from an altar tomb formerly in the north transept. 

 On the east wall of the south transept is a large 

 marble monument to Sir Richard Fanshawe, ban,, 

 1666 ; he was ambassador to Spain in the reign of 

 Charles II. In the south chapel is a monument to 

 Agnes wife of Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1680. 



There are eight bells : the treble by R. Phelps, 

 1735 ; the second and sixth by T. Mears, 1826; 

 the third and fifth by J. Briant, 179a ; the fourth 

 and seventh by R. Phelps, 1 7 3 1 ; the eighth by 

 T. Mears, 1834. 



The communion plate consists of a cup, 1618, 

 paten, 1 806, small cup, 1 806, two modern chalices 

 and patens, a spoon, a Sheffield plate paten, 1755. 



The registers are in six books as follows : (i) all 

 entries 1577 to 1653; (ii) all 1653 to .730 ; (it*) 

 burials 1678 to 1706; (iii) baptisms and burials 

 1730 to 1776, marriages 1730 to 1754; (iv) 

 baptisms and burials 1 776 to 1 812 ; (v) marriages 

 1754 to 1764 ; (vi) marriages 1764 to i8iz. 



CHRIST CHURCH consists of chancel, nave, 

 north and south aisles, porches and tower with spire, 

 containing one modern bell, and is built of stone in 

 the style of the 13th century. The living is in the 

 hands of trustees. 



HOLT TRINITY, War-wide, is a small building 

 of white brick with stone facings, in the [zth-ccntury 

 style, consisting of apsidal chancel and nave, transepts 

 and north tower containing one bell. The advowson 

 belongs to the vicar of Ware. 



Hugh de Grentmesnil, who 

 ADVOWSON founded the monastery of St. Evroul 

 in Normandy, gave the church of 

 Ware and the chapel of Thundridge with the tithes 

 and z carucates of land to the monks there. 76 This 

 grant was confirmed by Robert Fitz Parnel Earl of 

 Leicester, who granted also the whole tithe from the 

 park, viz. of sales [of woodj, pannage, herbage, stud, 

 hunting, and of all crops and profits, and the tithe of 

 food from his kitchen at Ware, the tithe also of all 

 sheep, lamb's wool, cheeses, young of geese, poultry 

 and sheep, and of wine belonging to the earl and 

 countess. 79 The church was attached to the priory 

 of Ware founded as a cell to St. Evroul. A vicarage 

 was ordained before 123 1, when, a dispute having 

 arisen between the parishioners and the Prior of 

 Ware, who had not seen to the proper serving of the 

 church, the matter was referred to the pope, who 

 appointed Roger [Niger] Bishop of London and the 

 Dean of St. Paul's to arbitrate. The prior had to 

 quitclaim a pension of 10 marks which he had been 

 trying to make the vicar pay, whilst it was settled 

 that if this pension were ever again claimed by a prior 

 the vicar was to claim the tithes of all mills in Ware 

 and Thundridge, the tithes of the park, and of sheaves 

 from certain specified portions of arable land. The 

 vicar was to have the small tithes and tithes of wood 



79 Dugdaii 



I. Lhc. ifFranct (H. Bound), 



