St Edmund And St Mary

The nave is of coursed rectangular blocks of indurated conglomerate with lacing courses and quoins of Roman brick and tiles, with some pebble rubble.

S aisle of pebble rubble with some reused conglomerate and Roman brick and tile from the S wall of the nave.

Roof of handmade red clay tiles.

Nave late C11, chancel enlarged before C16, S aisle C15, S chapel Cl6, N chapel early C17, W-tower c1500, N organ chamber C19, attached church hall to N, C20.

CHANCEL: has an E wall of red brick in irregular Flemish bond, probably late C17, with a C19 window.

In the N wall opening into the N chapel is an early C17 4-centred brick archway of 3 chamfered orders, with C19 jambs

On the S side is a C16 brick arcade of 3 bays with 4-centred arches of 3 chamfered orders on octagonal pillars and semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases

N CHAPEL: is early C17, repaired in the early C19.

The N and W walls are of early C17 brick in English bond with diaper patterns of black headers.

S CHAPEL: is reported to have been built as a chantry chapel in 1556 The RCHM reported a stone in the E wall carved with the initials W.P. and A.P. and a shield carved in relief with the Petre arms

NAVE: has a NW angle of Roman bricks.

Further W is the partly restored and scraped late C14 N doorway with moulded jambs and 2-centred head and label.

The roof is C14/15, of crownpost construction, comprising 27 rafter couples all with soulaces, 3 hollow-chamfered straight tie-beams, and 3 octagonal crownposts with moulded capitals and bases and 4-way bracing

The S wall of the S aisle has 2 windows, C19 except the splays and chamfered segmental-pointed rear-arch of the eastern window, which are probably C15.

Further W is the C15 S doorway with jambs and 2-centred head in 2 chamfered orders, restored externally

FITTINGS: in the S wall of the S aisle is a C15 piscina of clunch with a round basin and chamfered 2-centred head.

Under the arch of the N chapel is a wrought-iron screen of plain pointed strikes with 3 stanchions surmounted by urns, gate towards the W end, late C17/early C18.

On the N wall of the nave, W of the C19 pulpit, is a wrought-iron holder for an hour-glass, early C18.

There are 5 bells, the third by Peter Hawkins, 1610, the fifth by Miles Graye, 1660.

In the chancel is a small brass of a shield of arms, with indent for missing figure, probably of Eustace Bernard, early C16, and 2 other indents for inscription-plates.

MONUMENTS: in the chancel on the S side, monuments (1) of Sir William Petre, Privy Councillor to Edward VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, 1571-2, and Anne (Browne) his second wife

In N chapel (2) to Mary, widow of Robert, Lord Petre, 1684-5, plain grey marble altar-tomb (illustrated in RCHM, 138) with panelled sides and a top of polished touch with lozenge of arms

(3) of John, Lord Petre of Writtle, 1613, Mary (Waldegrave) his wife, and Katherine, daughter of Edward Somerset, Early of Worcester and wife of William, second Lord Petre, 1624

monument erected by William, second Lord Peter

elaborate wall-monument of alabaster and marble, and of three bays with plinth and canopy

against plinth kneeling figures in high relief of four daughters and eight sons

in the centre bay on raised base figures of man in armour, and woman, both with fur-lined cloaks and kneeling at a prayer-desk

in side bays at a lower level kneeling figures of a woman on the N and a man on the S, similar to those of the centre bay

In S chapel on E wall, (4) of Robert Petre, 1593, of various marbles with kneeling figure of man in plate armour under a round arch and flanked by Corinthian columns supporting an entablature with achievement of arms, painted and gilt

(5) of Capt. John Troughton, 1621, marble tablet with oval panel carved in high relief with bust of man in enriched armour with diagonal sash

(2) to Frances, wife of James Austin, 1698, and James Austin, 1699, in black marble with moulded edge and achievement of arms

in the N chapel (5) to John Petre, 1669, in black marble with shield of arms

(6) to Brigite (Pynchon), widow of William, Lord Petre, 1694, in black marble with shield of arms

In the N chapel is a painted royal arms of Charles II dated 1673, and 2 C18 benefactions boards.