Wotton Underwood

101. WOTTON UNDERWOOD.

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)xxvii. N.W. ^(b)xxvii. N.E. ^(c)xxvii. S.W.)

Ecclesiastical

^a(1). Parish Church of All Saints, about 2½ miles N.E. of Brill, is built of rubble, that in the walls of the chancel being coursed; the roofs are covered with lead. A 12th-century church possibly existed on the site, as a lintel over the W. doorway of the Nave is of that date, but no other detail of the same period remains. The history of the building has been much obscured by drastic restorations carried out in the 19th century, when all the internal stonework was re-worked, but the Chancel appears to have been re-built early in the 14th century; the S. chapel was built by William Grenville in 1343, as recorded on a modern inscription in the S. aisle; the walls of the chancel were heightened, and possibly the nave was widened towards the N. in the 15th century; the West Tower was re-built in early 13th-century style at the beginning of the 19th century, and in 1867 the South Aisle was added and the South Chapel re-built by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. The North Vestry is modern.

Architectural Description— The Chancel (28 ft. by 16 ft.) has an E. window of three lights and tracery; the rear arch and internal label are possibly of the 14th century, but the rest is modern; the string-course below the window, inside, may be also of the 14th century. The N. and S. walls have each a window of one trefoiled light, apparently of the 14th century, much restored; W. of each window is a modern arch, that on the N. opens into the vestry, that on the S. into the chapel. The chancel arch is two-centred, of two chamfered orders, with splayed jambs, possibly of the 14th century; the moulded capitals are apparently modern. The Nave (41½ ft. by 21 ft.) has, in the N. wall, three windows, each of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil under a four-centred head; externally the stonework is of the 15th century and internally it is apparently modern. The N. doorway, also of the 15th century, has moulded jambs and four-centred arch. In the S. wall is an arcade of three bays and a window, both modern. In the W. wall is a modern doorway with a square head formed by a stone lintel, diapered on the face, and of the 12th century, except the S. end, which is modern; the soffit and back have been re-tooled. The South Aisle, the South Chapel and the West Tower are entirely modern.

Fittings— Bells: six, 18th and 19th centuries, and sanctus, possibly 17th-century. Brasses and Indents: In S. aisle—at W. end, in black marble slab, of Edward Greneveile (Grenville), 1585, and Alice, his wife, daughter of William Haselwood, two figures, man in long gown, woman in ruff and close-fitting head-dress, chrisom child between them, inscription in verse, incised marginal inscription, giving names and date, indents of three shields. Chest: in W. tower, plain, of oak, now painted. Monuments: In S. aisle—in modern recess at W. end, (1) recumbent effigy, in stone, of lady in ruff and close-fitting head-dress, etc., with veil, 16th-century, hands modern, modern inscription cut in slab, to Agnes de Wightham, wife of William de Grenevyle, 1386; on W. wall, on modern brackets (2) small kneeling figures, stone, man in plate armour, puffed cuisses and ruff, woman with full skirt and ruff, 16th-century; on N. wall, over arcade, (3) two carved stone shields with arms of Grenville, probably late 17th-century; on S. wall, tablets (4) to Eleanor, daughter of Richard Grenville, 1688; (5) to Richard Grenville, 1665, black marble, with arms in white marble. Piscina: in the chancel, sexfoil basin, probably 14th-century, rest modern. Plate: includes cup and cover paten of 1589.

Condition—Good; much restored.

Secular

^{a, b}(2). Moat Farm, house and moat, about 1¼ miles N.E. of the church. The House is of two storeys, built early in the 17th century, and now much restored. The walls are of brick, almost entirely modern; the roofs are tiled. The plan consists of a rectangular block, facing S., with two wings projecting towards the N. Near the middle of the main block is an original chimney stack with four square shafts, and another stack at the E. end is probably old, but is hidden by ivy. Two rooms have original ceiling-beams and wide fireplaces, partly blocked.

Of the Moat only fragments remain.

Condition—Of house, good, but the ivy on the chimney stack may cause damage.

^a(3–5). Cottages, three, about ½ mile N. of the church, are each of two storeys, the upper storey partly in the roof, built of brick and timber in the 17th century, and partly re-faced with modern brick; the roofs are tiled. Two of the cottages have old windows and chimney stacks.

Condition—Fairly good.

^c(6). Cottage, near the smithy at Wotton Row, ³/8 mile S.W. of the church, is of two storeys, built in the 17th century, and timber-framed, with brick filling; the roofs are tiled. At the S. end is a small modern addition and an original chimney stack with two square shafts; under the stack is a wide fireplace partly blocked.

Condition—Good.

Wycombe, Chepping Rural, High and West, see Chepping Wycombe Rural, High Wycombe and West Wycombe.