Dengie

21. DENGIE. (G.b.)

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

Dengie is a parish 5 m. N.E. of Burnham.

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. James stands on the W. side of the parish. The walls are of septaria, flint and pebble-rubble with yellow 14th-century and red Roman brick; the dressings are of limestone and the roofs are tiled. The Chancel and Nave were apparently re-built early in the 14th century but the walls of the nave may be substantially of earlier date. The church has been restored in modern times when the bell-turret was re-built and the North Vestry and South Porch added.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (26¼ ft. by 16¼ ft.) has an E. window, all modern except the 14th-century splays and re-set rear-arch. In the N. wall is a large blocked window with a smaller modern window, with re-used 14th-century material, set in the blocking; further W. is a modern archway. In the S. wall are two windows, the eastern is uniform with that in the N. wall, the western window is modern except for the splays and rear-arch which are probably of the 14th century; it is set low in the wall; between them is a modern doorway incorporating some old stones in the jambs and rear-arch. There is no chancel-arch.

The Nave (45 ft. by 18½ ft.) has in the N. wall two 14th-century windows partly restored and each of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; between them is the much restored N. doorway of the same date and now blocked; it has moulded jambs, two-centred arch and a modern label. In the S. wall are two much restored windows similar to those in the N. wall; the S. doorway is modern. In the W. wall is a 14th-century window, much restored and of three trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in an ogee head with a moulded label and head-stops; further N. is a small blocked 14th-century doorway with hollow-chamfered jambs and a two-centred head.

Fittings—Bells: two; 2nd by Thomas Bullisdon, c. 1500, inscribed "Sancta Maria Ora Pro Nobis" and "Sur Thomas Morys Vekery." Brass: In nave—figure of woman, two groups of children, indent of inscription-plate, c. 1520. Coffin-lid: In churchyard—with hollow-chamfered edge and traces of Lombardic inscription. Plate: includes cup of 1565 with two bands of engraved ornament. Stoup: E. of S. doorway, with plain pointed head and broken bowl, date uncertain.

Condition—Good.

Secular

(2). Dengie Hall, W. of the church, was re-built in the 18th century except for part of a 17th-century building at the back. It is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled.

Condition—Good.

(3). Keelings, house, 600 yards E. of the church is of two storeys, timber-framed, with modern brick; the roofs are tiled. It was built early in the 17th century and has a modern block on the S. side. There are two original chimney-stacks with diagonal shafts. Inside the building the ceiling-beams and joists are exposed.

Condition—Good.