ST LAWRENCE. A brick W tower and a brick s porch, both Henry VIII and rare in the county. E.E. chancel, cut short and finished off in yellow brick later. It has S and N lancets and a two-light low-side window which is Dec. The three-bay N arcade is also E.E. Round piers and double-chamfered arches. On the S side only a two-bay chapel. This is Perp and probably of c.1505 (see below). Octagonal pier, the responds corbels in the form of a knot (cf. Little Paxton). - SCREEN. Original dado with tracery. More tracery used in the lectern. - BENCHES. Many, with traceried ends, better than most in the county. - STAINED GLASS. The S chapel SW window looks more complete than it is. It dates from the C15 and contains two female saints and made-up parts from a Resurrection etc., also a kneeling donatrix. All recently restored. - In the neighbouring window Netherlandish C16 and C17 roundels etc. - MONUMENTS. In the S chapel tomb-chest with shields and fleurons and against the back wall kneeling brass figures of William Taylard d. 1505 and wife (11 in.). The brass must once have been very handsome. There was a Trinity above, and there still are framing strips l. and r. each with three figures. - Alice Taylard d. 1513. Kneeling figure, 12 in. long.
DIDDINGTON. Its glory is in its windows, but nearly all it has is beautiful. A hamlet by a shady lane off the Great North Road, it had a heronry when we called and a glorious choir of singing birds in the trees of the churchyard.
For over 600 years the church has stood among this loveliness, with hideous gargoyles looking down from its 16th century tower. It has a plain font of the 13th century, a poor-box cut from solid oak 300 years ago, and 18th century pews carved with birds, animals, and flowers. There are eagles, beasts fighting winged monsters, and we noticed some lively squirrels. There are two 16th century brasses, one of Alice Taylard, a widow with her three sons and a Madonna keeping them company, and one of William Taylard and his wife kneeling at prayer. They are on an altar tomb, and with them are brass inscriptions engraved with figures of Christ and the two Marys, the two Johns, and St Catherine with her wheel. On one of the walls is a tribute to Thomas Gillman, a servant drowned in the Ouse while trying to save his master 200 years ago.
But it is for its windows that we come to Diddington; they have a lovely old medley of colour. They have glass ranging over four centuries, from the 14th to the 17th, making a gay splendour in the south chapel. They show scenes from the Prodigal Son, St Margaret in a blue gown ready for a dragon, St James in a beaver hat, and a Resurrection scene. There are two men in tall hats and jackboots, some peaceful cherubs and some fighting animals, one animal dressed in a man’s clothes. The oldest piece of all is a rare gem showing a dark face among ruby glass and a lovely woman’s head with netted hair.
For over 600 years the church has stood among this loveliness, with hideous gargoyles looking down from its 16th century tower. It has a plain font of the 13th century, a poor-box cut from solid oak 300 years ago, and 18th century pews carved with birds, animals, and flowers. There are eagles, beasts fighting winged monsters, and we noticed some lively squirrels. There are two 16th century brasses, one of Alice Taylard, a widow with her three sons and a Madonna keeping them company, and one of William Taylard and his wife kneeling at prayer. They are on an altar tomb, and with them are brass inscriptions engraved with figures of Christ and the two Marys, the two Johns, and St Catherine with her wheel. On one of the walls is a tribute to Thomas Gillman, a servant drowned in the Ouse while trying to save his master 200 years ago.
But it is for its windows that we come to Diddington; they have a lovely old medley of colour. They have glass ranging over four centuries, from the 14th to the 17th, making a gay splendour in the south chapel. They show scenes from the Prodigal Son, St Margaret in a blue gown ready for a dragon, St James in a beaver hat, and a Resurrection scene. There are two men in tall hats and jackboots, some peaceful cherubs and some fighting animals, one animal dressed in a man’s clothes. The oldest piece of all is a rare gem showing a dark face among ruby glass and a lovely woman’s head with netted hair.
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