St. Mary, Standon.
Thirteen steps to heaven.
The village street is a feast for the eyes, with not one building spoiling the scene; branching from the main road from Ermine Street to Bishops Stortford, swelling and curving past the church on its way towards Great Bardfield. Every century seems to have left its mark, and timber frame sits besides Georgian brick in a happy melange of styles, an architectural patchwork quilt. Nothing here is so brash as to call attention to itself, all is neighbourly and settled, perfect in a quiet English way, without being dull. Connections at court led to James I staying two days at Standon Lordship en route to London, probably wondering what sort of welcome he’d receive as a Scotsman taking the throne. The street spreads wide before reaching the church, and lively village fairs are still held here as they have since the days of the Hospitaller knights, who had a Commandery here until the dissolution of the monasteries. To the south of the church stands the school they may have built, timber and brick nogging with jettied upper storey, which was in use as such until the 1960s.
Thirteen steps to heaven.
The village street is a feast for the eyes, with not one building spoiling the scene; branching from the main road from Ermine Street to Bishops Stortford, swelling and curving past the church on its way towards Great Bardfield. Every century seems to have left its mark, and timber frame sits besides Georgian brick in a happy melange of styles, an architectural patchwork quilt. Nothing here is so brash as to call attention to itself, all is neighbourly and settled, perfect in a quiet English way, without being dull. Connections at court led to James I staying two days at Standon Lordship en route to London, probably wondering what sort of welcome he’d receive as a Scotsman taking the throne. The street spreads wide before reaching the church, and lively village fairs are still held here as they have since the days of the Hospitaller knights, who had a Commandery here until the dissolution of the monasteries. To the south of the church stands the school they may have built, timber and brick nogging with jettied upper storey, which was in use as such until the 1960s.
The church lies on a steep slope, which led to some architectural oddities. The Fourteenth century nave has a west porch facing the street, whilst the chancel is built considerably higher back up the hill. In the fifteenth century a tower was built, but standing alone to the south of the chancel; its massive buttresses show worries about its sliding downhill. The top stage was rebuilt in brick, probably during the Victorian restoration, with a Hertfordshire spike on top; the cement coating is falling off and in need of repair. The chancel is thirteenth century, but most of the windows are unwise replacements in that style, leaving the interior in Stygian gloom that the more sensible fifteenth century masons had once banished with a big east window.
Inside, the mid fourteenth century nave has Decorated windows to the aisles, flowing tracery to the west, though all was much was rebuilt by George Godwin in 1865. Uniquely, thirteen steps lead up to the chancel arch, which sits between two squints enlarged by Godwin when he rebuilt the arch with three orders of polished pink marble shafting on each side. The stiff leaf capitals and dog tooth mouldings are original Early English work. In the south aisle stands the font of about 1200, an unusual design with foliage wrapped around the octagonal bowl above the eight keyhole arches of the base. In the north aisle stands the chest tomb of John Field, a merchant of the Staple of Calais who died in 1474. Two brasses show him in rich robes suitable for such an important wool merchant, standing on a flowery hillock next to his son, who wears armour. Remains of the shields on the tomb show the arms of the Staple, and Field’s merchant mark. Below stand their children, particularly elegantly portrayed.
Up in the chancel stand two big alabaster tombs, made in the workshops of the Flemings at Southwark in London, expensive and up to date with their Renaissance detail. These are both members of the Sadlier family, important courtiers who lived at the Lordship nearby. Sir Ralph lies under an arch carved with Victories in the spandrels, with his sons and daughters lined up along the front. He died in 1587, and above him hangs all that is left of his funerary armour, a pole axe, the hilt of a sword, and an immensely long pole with the banner of Scotland on the end. This standard was supposedly won in the battle of Pinkie near Musselburgh, the last big battle between the Scots and the English in 1547. Sir Ralph was treasurer of the army, and the iron bound chest in the church is said to be that in which he carried the coin to Scotland. The soldier’s wages were £26,000, and costs of the journey to Scotland and back £13,000, so it must have been one of several chests. His wife does not appear on the monument; he’d married a widow whose husband returned eleven years later and caused no end of trouble: it was eventually all legitimised along with his children, but may have been too sore a point to mention on the tomb. Opposite lies Sir Thomas with his wife, their tomb is deeper and with a coffered arch within two columns, a son and daughter kneeling on the front. The daughter wears an amazing headdress, similar to women at Broxbourne, with a big flat peak curling over her head. When Sir Thomas gave hospitality to James I one wonders what the Scottish king made of the captured standard of his mother’s army, or of his host’s father having been both her jailor and one of those who sentenced her to death; perhaps gaining the English throne was salve enough for old wounds.
I’ve found this open now and again, but don’t depend on it; best ring the vicar on 01920 821390 and check first.
All rights reserved for this entire site. Copyright reserved to stiffleaf for all text and images, which may not be reproduced without my permission.
I’ve found this open now and again, but don’t depend on it; best ring the vicar on 01920 821390 and check first.
All rights reserved for this entire site. Copyright reserved to stiffleaf for all text and images, which may not be reproduced without my permission.