Anstey
St George's , Anstey is on high ground south-west of the village, just below the crest of the hill. It is of cruciform plan, built of flint rubble with clunch and Barnack-stone dressings, and is roofed with lead. The earliest parts are the central tower and about two-thirds of the nave, which belonged to a church of late 12th-century date. The 14th-century design and detail of this church are exceptionally interesting. The carved stalls, of early 14th-century date, are unusually early examples of woodwork.
The present Chancel and the North and South Transepts were built outside the original chancel and transepts late in the 13th and early in the 14th century. A little later the Nave was increased to its present length, and the arcades and aisles were added. In the 15th century the aisle walls were heightened, new windows inserted, and the top stage of the tower was added. At the end of the 15th century, the South Porch was built. The church, except the north aisle, was completely re-roofed and generally repaired in the 19th century, but fortunately without structural alteration.
The Central Tower (13 ft. square) is of three stages, with embattled parapet and has a small slated needle-spire. It is carried on four semi-circular arches; those on the north and south are plain, those on the east and west have a heavy ringed roll moulding and shafted jambs with simple capitals. In the second stage are small pointed doorways originally opening into rooms over the north and south transepts. Over the arch to the east are traces of the high-pitched 12th-century roof, and signs of the high-pitched 14th-century roof are visible externally on all four sides of the tower.
In the South Transept is a 15th-century arch to the aisle, and on the south-west is a circular turret lighted by a cross loop, with stairs to a room once over the transept; its floor level, like that of a similar room once over the north transept, is clearly marked.
The Nave is of four bays, with moulded drop arches on columns of four clustered shafts having plainly moulded capitals and bases. There are three quatrefoil openings in the clearstorey on each side, of the same date as the arcades. The roof of the north aisle is of the 15th century, with moulded principals, etc, and the ceiling of the ground stage of the tower is also of the 15th century, with moulded beams and wall-plates.
The Font is square with rounded corners, ornamented with curious figures of two-tailed mermen or figures holding up cloths, late 12th-century.
The lych-gate in the churchyard is mediæval, made of timber, in three bays; one bay has been made into a ‘lock-up,’ with red-brick walls.
Contact
The Vicarage
Great Hormead
Buntingford
Hertfordshire
SG9 0NT
01763 289258