Page:The Victoria History of the County of Surrey Volume 3.djvu/296

 A HISTORY OF SURREY

��church, the quire fittings, pulpit, &c., are modern. Besides the painted patterns on the chancel arch and the colouring still visible on the east wall of the south chapel, there are traces of extensive figure paintings in the nave. On the north-west column is a cross patee, no doubt a consecration cross, about 6 in. in diameter ; and on the same column is a female figure wearing a hat and wimple. These date from about 1 200. On the corresponding pillar on the south side was a figure of a bishop, in the attitude of benediction ; on the east face of the chancel arch pier on the south side was a painting of the Blessed Virgin and Child ; and along the whole of the south aisle traces of painting were visible, among which is said to have been a representation of the Martyrdom of St. Thomas of Canterbury and other scenes, of which a man drawing a sword was the most distinct figure. It seems likely that the story of St. Katherine, the patroness of the church, was here represented. Mr. Reginald Palgrave, writing in 1860, says : ' If this be so the easternmost com- partment represents the first act of her martyrdom, when an angel descending from heaven broke in pieces the instruments of torture. The figures to the right. . . with hands uplifted, and faces upturned, would form the astonished spectators of the miraculous interposition ; more in the centre appears the perse- cuting tyrant Maximin, distinguished by a crown and shield. The centre compartment is sadly destroyed ; but the forms of a colossal Virgin and Child are just traceable. The third division. . . would represent ' the saint's death by beheading, if the soldier drawing his sword may be thus interpreted.' M All except the first-named fragments have disappeared during the last forty years. Cracklow, writing in 1824, states that there were formerly ' some exquisite devices in stained glass, of which only a few fragments ' were then remaining. There are still in the east window of the south chapel figures of the Blessed Virgin and Child, St. Peter, and another saint. In the chancel and other windows the modern stained glass is of poor quality, but in the nave some glass recently put in is of better design and colouring.

The font, of Purbeck marble, in good preservation, dates from the end of the 1 2th century. It has a square body, with a circular basin, and elegant trefoil leaves filling the spandrels on the top. The sides, which overhang, have a shallow round-arched arcade, and rest upon a central drum and four angle-shafts, the whole standing on a moulded base and square moulded plinth. Altogether it is an exceptionally good example of a common type ; cf. Beddington, Great Bookham, Frensham, and Mickleham.

The oldest monument is a sadly mutilated stone effigy of a civilian, said to be that of Nicholas Jamys, mayor and alderman of London, and father to the first wife of John Elingbridge. Its date has been placed between 1420 and 1430. When this was discovered, in about 1 800, it was lying face downwards, the back of the slab forming part of the chancel pave- ment. It is described at that time as having the hands raised in prayer, and bright scarlet colouring on the robes, both of which details have disappeared.

There was also a bird with outspread wings at the

��feet, and the head was supported by two angels, but these have been almost destroyed by the ill-usage that the effigy has received. It would seem that the figure was habited in a scarlet alderman's gown bordered with fur, which can still be seen at the foot, and a very interesting detail remains in the gypciere, attached by straps to the waist girdle and hanging from the right side. This effigy now rests upon a very richly carved frieze or cornice, which itself lies loose upon the pavement of the north chapel. This, although its history is uncertain, may well have formed the cornice to the wall-tomb belonging to this effigy. It is about 1 8 in. high and 9 ft. in length originally, the upper part moulded, and the lower most beautifully carved with an undercut vine trail, a fine vigorous piece of work. In the middle is a demi-figure of an angel with curly locks, in alb and apparelled amice holding a plain ridged heater-shaped shield ; while at the left end is sculptured an heraldic casque bearing the crest of an eagle or falcon, perched upon a cap of maintenance, perhaps with reference to the deceased having filled the high office of mayor of London. Other fragments which may have formed part of this tomb are lying on the floor of the north aisle to the westward, and among them the richly-carved voussoirs of the 12th-century doorway above noticed. The tomb probably stood either in the western part of the north chapel, against its north wall, or else in the sanctuary of the main chancel.

In the chancel is a small brass to John Ballard and his wife. He is in civilian dress, and the wife in the ordinary costume of the period. The black letter inscription reads :

' Hie jacent lohes Ballard qui obiit xxi die marcii Anno dtli Millmb CCCCLXIIJ". Et Margareta uxT eiT qr aiJab3 pgicief de" amc9.'

On the high tomb in the recess in the eastern part of the north chapel, under a segmental moulded arch, is the following brass inscription in black letter :

' Hie jacet lohes Elinebrygge armiger qui obiit vnj die Februarii A dfli M O CCCC LXXIIJ. Et Isabella uxor eius que fuit filia Nichi Jamys quonda? Maioris et Alderman t London j que Obiit vn die Septembris A dfii MCCCC LXXU et Anna uxof eiT que fuit filia Johes Prophete Gentilman que obiit [blank] A dni MCCCC \blanK\ quoru? animabus ppicietur Deus.'

There were three figures above, but that of the husband, who was in civil costume, although described as esquire, has long been lost. The two wives are precisely similar as to figure and costume, and have scrolls proceeding from their mouths, bearing the ' invocation, ' Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus Miserere Nobis.' Beneath is a group of seven daughters, rather quaintly drawn, with ' butterfly ' head-dresses, but the corresponding group of sons has disappeared. The front of the tomb beneath the slab is ornamented with four large quatrefoils, containing heater-shaped shields, standing on a moulded plinth."

A grandson of John, Thomas Elingbridge, is commemorated by a brass effigy, together with that of his wife (originally in the north chapel, but now in the chancel), and the following inscription :

' Hie jacent Thorns Elinerugge Armiger alias dict.l Thorns Elyngbrigge filius et heres Thome

��94 Handbk. to Reigate, 128-9.

84 The Elingbridge family, who were settled at a place of the same name, a chapclry of Dodderhill, Worcs., at far

��back as the 1 3th century, spelt their name in at least fifteen different ways during three hundred years. Their arms are Cheeky argent and sable, and they were

22O

��settled in Surrey during the i;th and ifith centuries, having lands in Merstham, Carshalton and Beddington ; in all of the three churches they have left memorials.

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