Great Stambridge

33. GREAT STAMBRIDGE. (F.c.)

(O.S. 6 in. ^(a)lxx. S.E. ^(b)lxxi. S.W.)

Great Stambridge is a small parish on the estuary of the River Roach, 4 m. N.E. of Southend-on-Sea. The church is the principal monument.

Ecclesiastical

^a(1). Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints stands in the S.W. corner of the parish. The walls are of ragstone, flint and septaria-rubble with some pudding-stone and brick and with dressings of Reigate and other limestone; the roofs are covered with tiles and slates. Parts of the Nave and Chancel are of pre-Conquest date. The South Aisle was added c. 1300, and in the 14th century or earlier the greater part of the chancel was re-built. The West Tower is a 15th-century addition and the North Porch is probably of the same date. The chancel-arch has been removed and a modern Vestry and Organ-chamber erected on the N. and S. side of the chancel respectively.

The pre-Conquest origin of the church gives it some architectural interest.

Architectural Description—The Chancel (24 ft. by 17 ft.) has an E. window, all modern except the splays and chamfered two-centred rear-arch which are probably of the 14th century. In the N. wall is a 14th-century doorway with chamfered jambs and two-centred head with a moulded label. W. of the doorway the wall is of pre-Conquest date with an external set-back about 9 ft. from the ground; high up in the wall is the relieving-arch or head of a pre-Conquest window. The existing window is modern except for the splays. In the S. wall is a modern arch and window.

The Nave (40¾ ft. by 20½ ft.) has in the N. wall three windows, the easternmost a much repaired square-headed window, probably of 13th-century origin; the other two windows are of the 15th century and each of two cinque-foiled lights in a square head with a moulded label; between them is a late 14th or early 15th-century doorway with moulded jambs and two-centred head with a moulded label. The N. wall is of rag and puddingstone and is of pre-Conquest date. At about 9 ft. from the ground is a rough external offset, continued along from the chancel. Immediately E. of the second window of the nave and above the offset are the remains of one external splay of a pre-Conquest window and immediately W. of the porch is a patch of yellow septaria-filling which suggests the previous existence of a similar window. The S. arcade is of c. 1300 and of three bays with two-centred arches of two hollow-chamfered orders resting on octagonal piers and semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases of varying detail, the arches have on the N. side a moulded label. The S.W. angle of the nave retains the pre-Conquest walling of rag and pudding-stone.

The South Aisle (7¾ ft. wide) has been partly refaced and partly cemented over externally; the windows are modern.

The West Tower (about 9 ft. square) is of 15th-century date and of three stages with an 18th-century embattled brick parapet and two courses of flint and stone chequer-work above the plinth. The tower-arch is pointed and of two continuous chamfered orders, the inner interrupted by moulded capitals. In the W. wall is a 15th-century doorway with chamfered jambs and two-centred head and external label now covered with modern cement. Above is a 15th-century window of three cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label. The bell-chamber has in the E. wall a single-light window with a two-centred head and moulded label; in the S. wall is a similar window. There are probably other windows in the N. and W. walls, and a second in the E. wall, now obscured by a thick growth of ivy. On the face of the S.W. buttress is a cross of red and yellow bricks.

The North Porch (9½ ft. by 7¾ ft.) has a two-centred and chamfered outer archway in a square moulded outer order, probably of 15th-century date. The walls have been refaced externally with modern brick and plaster. The roof is of the 15th century and of two bays with cambered tie-beams supported by four-centred arched braces carrying king-posts with curved struts and a central purlin.

Fittings—Font (Plate, pp. xlii–iii): octagonal bowl with concave sides, one blank, the others each with a quatre-foiled circle enclosing (a) a four-leafed flower, (b) shield with fleur-de-lis, (c) a four-leafed rose, (d) shield with the letter W surmounted by a crown, (e) eight-leafed flower, (f) shield with four bars, (g) shield with three pierced molets and a border; moulded under-edge and hollow-chamfered base, late 15th-century. Monuments: In churchyard—on N. side, (1) to Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarah Sharp, 1680, head-stone; (2) to Sarah, daughter of the above, 1680, head-stone. Niche: By W. door of tower—with chamfered jambs and four-centred head, probably 15th-century. Piscina: In chancel—with moulded ogee head and jambs and corbelled-out basin resting on a man's head and having tapering trefoiled traceried panels, 14th-century. Plate: includes an Elizabethan cup, date-mark obliterated. Recess: In N.E. corner of nave across the angle—with rounded chamfered head, of 15th-century date, probably formerly part of rood-stairway.

Secular

Homestead Moats.

^a(2). At Great Stambridge Hall, ¼ m. S.E. of the church.

^a(3). At Hampton Barns, nearly 1 m. E.N.E. of the church.

^a(4). Shepherd and Dog Inn, at Ballards Gore, nearly 1½ m. N.N.E. of the church, is of two storeys, timber-framed and plastered; the roofs are tiled. It was built in the 15th century and is of T-shaped plan with the cross-wing at the E. end. In the 17th century the roof to the W. wing was raised and an upper floor and chimney-stack inserted; modern additions have been made on the N. and W. The S. end of the E. wing has a projecting upper storey and the main chimney-stack is of 17th-century date. Inside the building some of the rooms have exposed ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good.

^a(5). Cottage, 100 yards W. of (4), is of two storeys, timber-framed and weather-boarded; the roofs are tiled. It was built in the 16th century and has modern additions on the S. The E. end of the original building has a projecting upper storey with a moulded bracket at the N. end.

Condition—Good.

Unclassified

^b(6). Red Hills, two on Wallsea Island, S.W. of Oldpool Farm. Another has been located at the E. end of the island.