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St Andrew

Earls Colne

Essex

C16, with earlier origin, and much rebuilding and restoration, c.1864.

Architectural Features

Flint rubble with limestone dressings, and some red brick in English bond, roofed with handmade red plain tiles.

Nave of unknown origin, possibly C13, Chancel

S aisle c.1340, W tower c.1460, partly rebuilt in 1534, N aisle, N chapel, and S chapel C19.

S porch C19, retaining the C15 roof.

The fabric of the Chancel is medieval, but no original features are apparent

The S arcade, c.1340, is of 3 bays with 2-centred arches of 2 moulded orders

The roof of the Nave is C16, in 5 bays, with moulded principals, collars, and arch-braces to them, hollow-chamfered wind-braces, saltire bracing above the collars, and a carved boss on each collar.

The N chapel has a reset window of c.1340, partly restored, of 2 trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a 2-centred head.

The S chapel is C19, with some C14 moulded voussoirs re-used in the W arch.

The S aisle has in the S wall 2 restored C14 windows, each of 2 cinquefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in a 2-centred head, with moulded label and rear-arch

further W is the S doorway, with C14 splays and moulded 2-centred rear-arch

The roof of the S aisle is late C14, of 6 bays, with moulded wallplates, principals, collars and purlins, and a carved boss on each collar

the 1534 rebuild is in red brick.

The C15 tower-arch is moulded and 2-centred, and springs from moulded and shafted responds with moulded capitals to the shafts.

to either side of it is a C15 moulded string course with carved flowers and heads.

The second stage has in the E and W walls a single C15 light with a trefoiled head

The bell-chamber has in the E, S and W walls a C15 window of 3 cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a square head.

In the N wall is a restored early C16 window of 3 cinquefoiled lights in a square head.

in the middle of the E and W sides is a carved achievement of arms

below the E one is the date 1534 and the regnal year H.8.25.

The stair-turret has an early C16 doorway of brick with a 4-centred head, and a parapet with flint inlay and the de Vere molets.

The weather-vane is late C17 or early C18, with a copper corona and cock.

Monuments.

In the S chapel and S aisle are monuments (1) of Richard Harlackendon, 1602, and Elizabeth (Hardres), Elizabeth (Blatchendon), Jane (Josceline) and Anne (Dewhurst), his wives, small painted wall-monument of alabaster with kneeling figures of man and wives flanked by pilasters supporting an entablature, achievement and 4 shields of arms, restored early in the C18, (2) to Jane and Mabell Harlackendon, 1614, plain rectangular tablet, (3) to John Eldred, 1646, rectangular tablet with marble frame and cornice, supported on 2 stone heads, (4) to Mehetabell, daughter of Edward Eileston, 1657, oval tablet with white marble frame, (5) to John Eldred, 1709, plain stone, removed from Little Birch, (6) to Samuel Tufnell, 1722, and members of the Cressener family, (7) to Daniel Androwes, 1681, his widow Mary, 1729, white marble table with coat or arms, (8) to John Eldred, 1682, his son John, 1717, and his son John, 1732, white marble tablet with coat of arms, removed from Little Birch, (9) to George Biddulph, 1726, his widow Frances, 1753, and his niece Elizabeth Wale, white marble tablet with coat of arms, (10) to John Wale, 1761, his wife Anne, 1770, and Richard Wale, 1761, black marble tablet in white marble surround, with coat of arms above, and below a roundel with a winged Mercury carved in low relief by I.F. Roubiliac, (11) to Henry Anderson, 1823, white marble on grey marble with side-scrolls, (12) to Anne (Carwardine) Probert, 1836, white marble urn on black marble.