St Oswald

Tower: late C12/early C13 to bottom three stages, which have prominent stepped angle buttresses and an integral stair turret to south west corner

scattered lancet and narrow round-headed openings either original or C17 with rectangular opening to first stage on south side

below this is a slightly cambered doorway with nail-studded plank and muntin door and lintel recording the names of the church wardens in 1692

blocked doorway beneath [obscured by ivy at time of re-survey ] probably c.1662.

in angle with tower and actually belonging to south aisle is a late C17 window

south transept also has a late C19 Decorated-style window, although the stonework like that of south aisle is of medieval or C17 appearance, late C19 vestry projecting to east.

Chancel and flanking chapels probably late C17 and present three gables to Church Street, windows all C19, although east window with its curious mixture of reticulated and panel tracery is said to be an 1861 copy of an earlier window

buttressed north aisle has three late C19 windows with panel tracery on north side and one on west, probably copies of late C17 windows, west bay on north left blind.

south aisle and transept arches also by Street but the pointed three bay arcades with octagonal pillars to chancel are either late C14 or C17

round-headed doorway to north side of tower has late C12 appearance but is probably C17.

Most of fittings and furnishings including font by south door, stone pulpit, marble reredos and wooden parclose screens to chancel by Street but octagonal font with spread-eagle carving to one of sides in north aisle is dated 1662

long oak chest with iron hinges in north transept and chest with traceried decoration in south transept probably both partly medieval

some C16/17 panelling is re-used in one of chancel benches and there is a small panel fixed to east wall of tower

stained glass all mid to late C19 and south transept war memorial and reredos by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Monuments: north aisle: Hugh Yale and wife, large wall monument against north wall with two large kneeling figures in round-arched recess facing each other over mutilated prayer desk, columns with crude acanthus decoration to capitals, the whole surmounted by strapwork achievement with flanking obelisks and coat-of-arms and skull-and-cross-bones to centre

A stone monument to Hugh Yale (†1616) a kinsman of the founder of Yale University in the USA, and Dorothy (also †1616) his wife.

© Mike Searle

good collection of C17 to C19 commemorative brass plates and wall tablets fixed to north and east sides of tower

further C18 wall memorials in north chancel chapel where there is also a possibly C17 chest.