Records of Buckinghamshire (Volume 4) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870. Excerpt: ... ST. MARY'S CHURCH, CHESHAM, BUCKS. BY MR. JOHN CHAPPLE. The Church of Chesham Leicester, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has recently undergone extensive repair and entire refitting under the direction of George Gilbert Scott, Esq., R.A., was re-opened, December 9th, 1869, by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, being his last act in the diocese previous to his translation to the see of Winchester. It is a cruciform structure, and consists of a nave with north and south aisles, central tower, north and south transepts, and choir or chancel. There are also a south porch with parvise and turret adjoining the same. The present church is erected on a site, on part of which formerly stood a structure differing materially in plan and, of course, in architectural detail. The ancient church consisted of tower, transepts, nave, and choir; the whole of which have disappeared, with the exception of a part of the north transept, in the west wall of which is half of a Norman window, dating from the early part of the twelfth century. The external length of the whole building from east to west is 132 feet 6 inches; width between the outer faces of transept walls, 66 feet; width across the nave and aisles internally, 51 feet 11 inches; height of tower, 64 feet; and of tower and spire, 103 feet 9 inches. The axis of the chancel points 10 to the south of east. In the early part of the thirteenth century a reconstruction of the whole structure was made; the north and south walls of the nave were demolished, and in their place were erected five bays and also north and south aisles: these latter were subsequently altered, as will be hereafter noticed. Evidence of the simultaneous erection of these parts is shown particularly by the continuation of the same line of ashlar fr...