St Giles

Mixed rubble with dressings of limestone and Reigate stone, and red brick in English bond, roofed with handmade red brick tiles.

The nave is of late C11 origin

the only visible evidence is the use of Roman bricks and tiles in the NE quoin, and the re-use of indurated conglomerate in the C13 aisle walls

W end 1653.

N and S aisles built in mid-C13, but N aisle re-faced and S aisle rebuilt in 1889.

Belfry in W end of nave, C15.

NAVE: the nave has a mid-C13 N arcade of 3 bays, partly restored and re-set, with 2-centred arches of 2 chamfered orders

the round columns have moulded bell-capitals, the eastern carved with stiff-leaf foliage and a head with foliage held in the mouth

the E respond is semicircular and has a semi-octagonal moulded capital with C15 detail

re-set below it is a carved corbel, much defaced

above the recess is the date 1653 in moulded brick.

The W window is C15, re-set and restored, of 2 cinquefoiled lights with recessed spandrels, square head, moulded label, and chamfered 4-centred rear-arch

each light has 5 wrought-iron horizontal bars of C17 or C15 origin, with renewed vertical bars.

The roof of the nave has been rebuilt, retaining 3 C15 crownposts and some other components

The E wall is of C13 construction, with reused rubble from the former N wall of the nave, including indurated conglomerate, Roman bricks and tiles, and field stones, roughly coursed.

There are 2 C13 single-light windows with trefoiled heads, re-set

Between the windows is a C13 doorway with chamfered jambs and 2-centred arch, also seriously weathered

BELFRY: the C15 timber belfry is inside the W end of the nave, with 2 timber shores extending into each aisle, integrated with the roof of the nave

FITTINGS: panelled wooden reredos, c1730, with paintings of Moses to left, Aaron to right, and carved and gilt foliage and cornice, restored.

Font with octagonal bowl, each face with a square panel enclosing carvings of 3 fishes, compass, square and mallet, a formy cross, flowers and foliage, moved from Hutton Parish Church (qv) in 1873 (the previous font is illustrated in Quarterly Papers on Architecture (ed. Weale), 1845.

This font was installed in 1890 and was first used by my ancestors.

© Lorna Cowan

MONUMENTS: (1) in chancel to Edmund Peert [1676], white marble tablet with knotted drapery, tassels and achievement of arms, (2) to John Prescott, 1750, white and grey marble tablet with blank shield, (3) to Henry Blencowe, 1765, white marble tablet with achievement of arms and moulded segmental pediment, (4) to Henry Prescott Blencowe, 1787, and Elizabeth his widow 1843, black and white marble with fluted pilasters and brackets, paterae and moulded open pediment.

Floor-slabs in Chancel (1) to Edmund Peert, 1676, black marble with shield of arms, (2) to Alexander Prescott, 1701, limestone with shield of arms, (3) to Alexander Prescott, 1731, white marble, (4) to Alexander Prescott date illegible, limestone with shield of arms, (5) to Mary daughter of Francis Woolmer, 1707, limestone, and (7) one other, limestone, much eroded.

Benefactions boards in S chapel, C18, with moulded frames and reversed curves at corners (1) concerning Endimion Canning, 1681, (2) concerning John English and Amey his wife, 1790.