Description

SP 80 SW GREAT AND LITTLE HAMPDEN GREAT HAMPDEN

5/31 Church of St Mary
Magdalene
21.6.55

GV II *

Parish Church. C13-C15, much restored C19. Flint with stone dressings,
C20 tile roofs to nave and chancel, leaded aisles. Nave, aisles, tower
in W. bay of S. aisle, S. porch, chancel. Tower much rebuilt C19, of
2 stages with battlemented parapet. Bell-chamber has C19 2-light
traceried openings, each with pair of quatrefoils above; lower stage has
lancets. At W.end of nave is a 3-light window with reticulated tracery,
partly old. Late C15 Clerestory with 4 bays of 2-light traceried windows,
all with 4-centred heads and hoodmoulds, those to S. of clunch. Aisles
have late C14-C15 3-light traceried windows, mostly restored. N.aisle
has sill course broken up over moulded doorway. C13 S. doorway with
small 2-centred chamfered arch and stoun to right. C15 S. porch has
double chamfered arch, small rectangular openings to sides, stone benches,
and fine roof with moulded timbers, queen struts and arched wind-braces.
Moulded wooden cornice with carved rosettes and heraldic shields. 2-bay
chancel also has 3-light traceried windows, larger to east with sill course
below. C18 memorial tablet with flanking pilasters and arched cornice
to centre of N. Mall. Interior: nave has C14 arcades, the N.arcade of
4 bays and the S. of 3 bays, all arches moulded on quatrefoil piers with
moulded caps, the label with restored carved head stops. C15 roof with
traceried spandrels on restored carved stone angel corbels. S. aisle
has moulded arch to tower, carved stone corbels flanking E. window,
and cinquefoil piscina. Both aisles have long squints to chancel.
Moulded chancel arch on moulded piers with similar imposts. Trefoil
piscina; canopied niches flanking altar renewed C19. Fittings: fine
C13 font, the round bowl with shallow scallops, fleuron frieze and cable
mouldings at base, the broad central cable with interlace ornament; early
C16 pews with linenfold panels and moulded top rail in nave; C17 altar-table
with turned baluster legs; painted hatchments; C19 and C20 dado panels,
some carved; C19 and C20 glass. Monuments: 1) to John Hampden d. 1643,
erected by Robert Hampden 1756: marble wall monument with sarcophagus, mourning
putti and oval panel above showing oak tree with coats of arms and John Hampden
fatally wounded at battle of Chalgrove Field. 2) marble wall monument
to Thomas Kempthorne 1736 and wife Anne (Hampden), with profile portrait
medallions and Rococo swags. 3) tall wall tablet by Nicholas Stone,
inscribed with John Hampden's epitaph to his wife Elizabeth d. 1634.
4) wall tablet to Richard Hampden and wife 1662 with flanking Ionic columns,
carved side scrolls and segmental pediment. 5) C18-early C19 memorial
to mother of Thomas and John Trevor. Small brass inscription panels and
coats of arms to William Hampden 1597 and William Hampden 1612. Detached
brass panels of children.
John Hampden, Parliamentarian, is supposed to be buried in the churchyard.

RCHMI p. 160-162 Mon.l.
Records of Bucks. XX p.525-7

Listing NGR: SP8484502369

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17540974

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)