St. George's Church, Hatford
St. George's Church in Hatford consists of a chancel 24 ft. 6 in. by 15 ft. and a nave 40 ft. 6 in. by 14 ft. These measurements are internal. The building is probably substantially of 12th century date, but the nave was apparently lengthened in the 13th century, and late in the same century the east wall of the chancel was rebuilt. The nave is now roofless and the building is disused. The chancel has a late 13th or early 14th-century east window of three trefoiled lights under a pointed head. In the north wall is a round-headed 12thcentury light, and further west a plain square-headed window of late date. In the south wall is a late 13thcentury window of two lights and a pointed head, and below it is a trefoil-headed piscina. Further west are a small round-headed priest's doorway and a singlelight window. The mid-12th-century chancel arch is of two plain semicircular orders, of which the inner rests on small circular shafts with fluted capitals and moulded bases; the north side has been restored. The nave has on the north side a square-headed four-light window; the two eastern lights are original and had a quatrefoil over, which has now been destroyed. Further west is a single trefoiled light and a blocked door with a pointed head of the 13th century. In the south wall are two windows similar to those opposite, and the 12th-century south doorway is of two half-round orders, the inner plain and the outer with cheveron ornament, and resting on side shafts with fluted capitals and square abaci; the arch has a chamfered label, and some old ironwork remains on the door. In the west wall is an unusually tall twolight window of late 13th-century date with a quatrefoil in a pointed head. The west end of the nave is blocked by the Doric portico of a modern monument to the Rev. Samuel Paynter (1893). The exterior is much overgrown with ivy, and at the south-west angle is a square stone sundial. In the north wall of the chancel under a moulded segmental-pointed arch with a moulded label, all of the 14th century, is a freestone effigy of a man in a long loose cloak holding a heart in the hands and with the feet upon a dog; the figure is carved in very high relief. On the floor is a brass inscription to Francis Pigott (1614) with three coats of arms: the first, three picks, for Pigott, impaling a cheveron between three cups, for Butler of Aston, referring to himself and his wife Margaret Butler; the second, Pigott impaling a cheveron engrailed and a chief with two molets thereon, for his grandfather, Thomas Pigott of Whaddon, who married Elizabeth Ewarby of Great Missenden; the third, Pigott impaling Yate of Lyford, for his father and mother. There are also brass inscriptions to Margaret wife of Francis Pigott (1637) and Martha wife of Alban Pigott (1629). A floor slab commemorates Judith wife of Alban Pigott and daughter of William (Paul) Bishop of Oxford, with a shield of Pigott impaling a cross engrailed with five stars thereon. There is also a slab to Alban Pigott (1679). Against the east wall is some Jacobean oak panelling. On the plaster to the west of the south door of the nave are remains of tempera painting in red, probably of the 13th century; two heads of saints are still visible, with arches, diapering, &c. A mediaeval bell formerly belonging to this church is now at St. Paul's, Finchley. The plate includes a cup and cover paten (both London, 1581), the former with chased ornament round the bowl and the latter inscribed 'Hatforde in the county of Berc, 'a paten, without mark, inscribed 'The gifte of Isabell the wife of William Eales Rector of this church 1640,' and a modern set. The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1540 to 1812; (ii) marriages 1803 to 1812. burials 1539 to 1812; (ii) marriages 1803 to 1812. Historical information about St. George's Church is provided by 'Parishes: Hatford', in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London, 1924), pp. 461-463. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp461-463 [accessed 3 March 2023]. St. George's Church is a Grade II* listed building. For more information about the listing see THE OLD CHURCH OF ST GEORGE, Hatford - 1284666 | Historic England. For more information about St. George's Church see Parishes: Hatford | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk). |
