Theydon Mount

94. THEYDON MOUNT. (C.d.)

(O.S. 6 in. lviii. N.E.)

Theydon Mount is a small parish 2½ m. S.E. of Epping. The Church and Hill Hall are both important monuments.

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Michael stands in the grounds of Hill Hall. The walls are built of red brick with sham dressings of plaster, partly restored in modern cement; the roofs are tiled and the small spire is shingled. The church is said to have been struck by lightning and to have been completely re-built by Sir William Smyth, Sen., probably at the end of the 16th century. The Chancel, Nave, Tower and South Porch are all of this date.

The church is an unusually complete example of the period, with mixed Gothic and Classic detail. Among the fittings, the monuments form a remarkable series, and the 17th-century font is of a very rare form.

The Chancel (22 ft. by 15 ft.) has a moulded plinth and a moulded coping to the E. gable, which is truncated at the top and surmounted by a small circular pinnacle. The E. window is of three lights with moulded jambs and mullions and intersecting tracery in a two-centred arch with a moulded label. In the N. wall is a window, now blocked, of similar detail and of two lights in a four-centred head with a square label. In the S. wall is a similar window but not blocked. The chancel arch is plastered and is moulded and two-centred; the responds are semi-octagonal with a modern capital on the N. and with the mouldings of the capital cut away on the S.

The Nave (37½ ft. by 19½ ft.) has an E. gable similar to that of the chancel. The N. and S. walls have each two windows, all uniform with the S. window of the chancel and covered externally with modern cement. Further W. in the S. wall is a doorway with moulded four-centred arch, cut into for a modern door, and with moulded classic imposts and double-chamfered jambs.

The West Tower (11 ft. by 10½ ft.) is of three stages (Plate p. 271), with a moulded plinth and embattled parapet, and a S.E. stair-turret rising only to the base of the bell-chamber; the turret is finished with a semi-circular pediment dentilled and corbelled out, and with a lower corbelling to bring the widely chamfered angles to a square below the head; the stair has solid oak steps and newel, and is lit by two damaged quatrefoil openings. The moulded and two-centred tower-arch has semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and base; the lower part of the N. respond has been cut away. In the S. wall is a doorway with chamfered jambs and four-centred arch, opening into the stair-turret. The W. window is uniform with the E. window, but has a transom. The second stage has in the N. and S. walls a single four-centred light in a square head. The bell-chamber has in each wall a window of two four-centred lights in a four-centred head with a moulded label.

The South Porch has a curvilinear gable with a moulded coping. The four-centred outer archway has double-chamfered jambs and classic imposts; flanking the arch are classic pilasters standing on the imposts and supporting an entablature and pediment. The E. and W. walls have each a modern window.

The Roof of the chancel has four old curved principals and old rafters. The roof of the nave is ceiled and that of the S. porch has some old rafters.

Fittings—Bells: one, by John Clifton, 1635. Chest: In tower with feet, two iron straps, lock broken, two staples, 17th-century. Door: In S. porch—of moulded battens, some renewed, nail-studded, 17th-century. Font: In nave—against W. splay of S. doorway, of black and coloured marble, pilaster stem with moulded base and foliated capital supporting a moulded rectangular bowl; against the wall, above the bowl, a niche with flanking pilasters, and shell head with a mask, and foliated spandrels under a moulded cornice; first half of the 17th century. Funeral Achievement: In chancel—on S. wall, consisting of helm with Smyth crest, tabard, said to have Smyth arms and a wooden cartouche shield, now under tower, with quartered arms of Smyth; all probably of monument (4) below, 1668. Glass: temporarily unfixed, small shield of Smyth, 17th-century. Monuments: In chancel—against N. wall (1) of Sir Thomas Smith, 1577, Lord of the Manor, Councillor to Edward VI. and Elizabeth, Chancellor of the Garter, etc., etc., and to "Philip," his wife, 1578; alabaster effigy (Plate p. 235) reclining on right elbow in armour, with mantle of the Garter, etc., on panelled altar-tomb flanked by Ionic pillars, supporting entablature above wall-arch, enclosing tablet and shield of arms and surmounted by black marble obelisks and achievement of arms; (2) of Sir William Smith, 1631, son of Sir Wm. Smith, Sen., and his two wives, Helegenwagh (daughter of Lord Conway), and Anne (Croft); recumbent alabaster effigy (Plate p. 230) in armour on altar-tomb with panelled sides and four shields of arms; on wide panelled pedestal against wall, kneeling figures of two wives and son; against S. wall (3) of Sir William Smyth, 1626, and Bridget, his wife, alabaster and dark marble monument (Plate p. 234), consisting of altar-tomb with moulded plinth and cornice, and in front, kneeling figures of three sons and four daughters with prayer desk; on altar-tomb, recumbent effigy of lady reclining on left arm; on higher base behind, recumbent figure in armour holding sword; semi-circular canopy with enriched responds flanked by black marble Corinthian columns supporting an enriched entablature, surmounted by three shields of arms; (4) of Sir Thomas Smith, Bart., 1668, alabaster recumbent effigy in armour, reclining on left arm, on alabaster and dark marble altar-tomb enriched with consoles and cherubs' heads at the angles and an achievement with plain shield at the E. end; (5) to Sir Edward Smyth, Bart., 1713, and Jane (Vandeput), his wife, 1720, white veined marble tablet with broken pediment, two flaming urns, and shield of arms. Paintings: In nave—over chancel-arch, the Commandments; on S. wall—the Creed and Lord's Prayer; all in black letter and of c. 1600. Panelling: In nave—panelled dado throughout, with moulded rail, c. 1600; similar panelling under tower. Plate: includes cup, with bands of incised running ornament and paten, both of 1614; large standing dish, inscribed and with shield of arms, 1698. Reredos: Flanking E. window—of oak with coupled and fluted Corinthian pilasters supporting enriched entablatures surmounted by seven candlesticks; panelled dado continued behind altar; late 17th-century. Seating: In nave—nineteen benches with moulded rails and panelled ends, c. 1600. Paving: In chancel—paving of black and white stone set diagonally, probably c. 1700.

Condition—Fairly good.

Secular

(2). Hill Hall, ¼ m. N.W. of the church, is partly of two and partly of three storeys. The walls are of red brick with stone dressings; the roofs are tiled. The house is said to have been built by Sir Thomas Smyth, who died 1577, and the main quadrangle was probably set out at this period with an entrance in the N. and Great Hall in the S. range. There was also a gatehouse in a W. extension of the N. range and probably opening into a kitchen courtyard; this has been much altered. Probably early in the 17th century projecting angle wings of three storeys were added at the N.E., S.E. and S.W. corners and the W. range perhaps widened. Early in the 18th century the E. range was widened and the E. front re-built; the upper part of the N. front was also remodelled. C. 1768, various alterations were made to the W. range, and c. 1815 classic details in cement were added to the court-yard and the S. front. C. 1844, the W. range was again altered and the existing W. extension of the N. range built.

The house is interesting mainly for its early 18th-century work.

Elevations—The N. Front is of original brickwork up to the eaves, just below which is the original parapet string-course; the windows are also original and are mostly. of two transomed lights with moulded jambs and square heads; in the middle of the front is the original doorway with stop-moulded jambs and four-centred arch. A semi-octagonal buttress at the W. end of the front appears to be the original angle of the building. The early 18th-century alterations include the eaves-cornice and central pediment with grouped modillions, the panelled upper parts of the chimney-stack and the tetrastyle Doric portico in front of the doorway; the pediment has a cartouche of the Smyth arms, and roof has five dormers and a timber clock-turret.

The E. Front is entirely of early 18th-century date, except the brickwork of the two angle wings, which is of early 17th-century date. The main block is divided into three main bays by four engaged Doric columns, and is finished with a balustraded parapet ornamented with urns and having a large central pediment with a cartouche of Smyth impaling Hedges (for Sir Edward Smyth and Anne, his wife). The angles are rusticated and the windows have rusticated jambs and keyed segmental heads. Two rain-water heads are dated 1714. The two angle wings are of three storeys with rusticated angles and panelled parapets.

The S. Front (Plate p. 236) is mainly of original brickwork with rather later angle wings. The main block has three original gabled dormers. All the openings and the ornamental details have been remodelled or added early in the 19th century, except a panelled 18th-century chimney-stack with a large sundial on the face. The terrace-wall between the angle wings is also of the 18th century.

The W. Front has no detail work of earlier date than the middle of the 18th century, except a 17th-century chimney-stack with two diagonal shafts.

The modern W. extension of the N. range incorporates part of an original building with a projecting semi-octagonal stair-turret, the angles of the upper part of which are corbelled out almost to a square on plan; it is probably part of a former gatehouse.

The Courtyard (about 60 ft. square) has all four walls of brickwork, largely original, except for the S. half of the W. side. In the N.E. angle is an original semi-octagonal brick turret. The windows on the N. side (Plate p. 237) are probably original and there is an original doorway with moulded jambs and four-centred arch. The rest of the openings and all the ornamental work of the court-yard are modern.

Interior—The N. range has in the easternmost room (A) a late 16th or early 17th-century fireplace of stone, flanked by fluted oak pilasters with carved figures supporting an entablature; the overmantel has enriched pilasters and arched panels with foliated spandrels and enclosing Tudor roses; above the main entablature is a detached achievement of the royal (Stuart) arms. At (B) is an early 17th-century staircase with turned balusters, moulded string and rail; the upper newels have moulded pendants. In the windows of the corridor of this range are various armorial panels and fragments in stained glass, including two Tudor royal arms, eleven shields of arms, some foreign; two crowned badges of Henry VIII; figure subjects and a sea fight, all 16th or 17th century; a flower design and a girl's head, probably 14th-century. In the S. range is the Great Hall (C) with a modern colonnade on the N. and W. sides. The pavement of black marble and stone is probably of early 18th-century date, and in the S. wall is an original fireplace of brick with a three-centred arch and flanked by Doric pilasters supporting an entablature; the frieze has gilded stags'heads with festoons of flowers, and in the pediment is a bust, said to be of Sir Thomas Smyth; in the space below the entablature are four painted shields of Smyth heraldry. The staircase in the S.E. wing (D) is of early 18th-century date with turned and twisted balusters, moulded handrail, and carved brackets to the string; the walls have bolection-moulded panelling of the same date.

Condition—Good.