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I Location

II General Description

St Nicholas's has an aisled nave with no clerestorey. The S arcade is taller than the N and is entirely the work of R. C. Hussey (1864-65). Hussey's work dominates the N arcade too, but pier 3 of the four-bay arcade is original work of c.1200. The N aisle has been extended eastwards to form a chapel alongside the chancel, with a two-bay arcade between it and the chancel itself. This work is 14thc., as are the chancel and its arch and piscina. The west tower is early 14thc., to judge from the doorway and tower arch. The N nave doorway has been blocked and the S has a porch. Construction is of ashlar. Romanesque interest centres on the font; a spectacularly ugly piece, elaborately, if inaccurately carved, with similarities to the Buckinghamshire group.

IV Interior Features

2. Arcades

c. Nave

(i) N arcade

Four bays, pointed arches. The arcade is 13thc. with two deeply chamfered orders to each face. It is carried largely on the octagonal supports and elaborately moulded capitals of Hussey's restoration, except for pier 3 and its capital, which appear to be of c.1200 (but see comments). This pier is cylindrical with a simple convex chamfered base on a plinth, and the capital is the plainest of low block capitals with a roll necking and quirked chamfered impost block.

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

In S aisle towards E. The bowl is a very irregular tub carved with fluting, which terminates in a scalloped upper edge. Above this, the rim is carved with a series of indeterminately claw-shaped leaves, many broken off. The lower rim of the bowl is marked by a triple row of cable which projects like a shelf. The bowl is carried on an octagonal base in the form of an inverted eight-scallop capital. Each shield is dished and carved in relief with a symmetrical foliage design as follows:

1 (E face): Vertical stem terminating in a trilobed bud flanked by a pair of furled leaves. From the base of the stem grow a pair of stemlets terminating in furled leaves.

2 (NE face): A central fluted leaf flanked by two pairs of stemlets terminating in furled leaves.

3 (N face): A pair of stems forming a heart and clasped at the top. Below the clasp they terminate in a pair of small leaves within the heart. To either side is a stemlet terminating in a furled leaf.

4 (NW face): Symmetrical composition with three pairs of stemlets terminating in furled leaves, rising from the centre of the shield to form a pseudo-palmette.

5 (W face): A lily, the side stems terminating in tight spirals.

6 (SW face): Worn, similar to 1.

7 (S face): Similar to 2.

8 (SE face): A pair of symmetrical stems curving apart and each terminating in a furled leaf. Between them a large bud comprising a row of seven deeply fluted lobes.

The base stands on an octagonal moulded plinth. The stone is coated with a thick lime wash, and the bowl is lead lined.

Dimensions

VII History

Eydon was held from Hugh de Grandmesnil by another Hugh in 1086. No church was recorded.

Benefice of Woodford Halse with Eydon.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The font must be connected to the Aylesbury group, from which it copies all of its features without being an exact copy of any of them. It is certainly not the product of that highly-skilled workshop, as its inaccurate blocking out and straight-sided bowl amply demonstrate. The rogue N arcade pier and capital described above are so plain as to defy dating, but the form of the impost and an overall rough-and-ready solidity suggest to the present author a date well before the double-chamfered arcade they support, and a date towards the end of the 12thc. is tentatively offered.

IX Bibliography