BLACKHEATH HUNDRED
��EWHURST
��The nave is lit on the north by three windows, all of two rounded lights. The first and third are very rough and probably very late. The middle one is of better workmanship, has spandrel sinkages, and is of 16th-century date. It is placed higher in the wall than the others in what is apparently the round- headed internal reveal of a 12th-century window which has been partly cut away to allow for this. The heavy coats of plaster, both inside and out, however, make this a little uncertain. On the south is a window of late 15th-century date of two wide trefoiled lights with sub-mullions over and a segmental main head, and of the same character as the east window of the south transept. West of this is the south door. This is of izth-century date, though somewhat restored. It is of rather rough workman- ship, with a semicircular head of two non-concentric orders, the inner, which is square, being a little below the outer, which is rather awkwardly worked with a pair of rolls and a chamfer. The jambs hare circular shafts with plain cushion capitals and cone bases. The west window of the nave is of 15th- century date and has three cinquefoiled lights with sub-mullions over and a two-centred main head. Under the window is the west door, which is of the same date. It has a two-centred head and a con- tinuous hollow chamfer, and is of chalk, almost the only use in the church of this material. In the south jamb are the remains of a holy-water stoup. Covering this door is an open timber porch of late 15th-century date, with a scalloped barge-board and a rounded arch of entrance, but otherwise of the plainest design. The nave walls are of rubble, plastered and ruled with sham jointing to represent 1 2th-century masonry.
The roofs of the chancel and the north transept are quite modern, and that of the north transept is partly modern, but also retains some moulded beams of late 16th-century date. The nave has its late 16th-century roof complete. It is ceiled with a plaster barrel vault and has moulded tie-beams and wall plates and strutted king-posts.
The font has been very much restored with roman cement, but the square bowl appears to be of izth- century date and is of very crude design. The flat faces are ornamented with saltire ornaments of clumsy rolls. The four supporting columns are modern.
The pulpit is a fair example of early I yth-century work. It is octagonal with two stages of panelling in each face, the lower forming an arcade of enriched arches and the upper carved with arabesques in flat bands. The altar-table is of late I yth-century date with fluted legs, an inlaid top and a carved rail de- corated with cherub-heads. The altar-rails are a good example of early 1 8th-century church fitting. They are returned on the flanks to form three sides of a square with rounded and mitred corners. The hand- rail is broad and moulded and is carried on panelled posts and twisted balusters. In the chancel are a pair
��of handsome carved chairs of late I yth-century date, and, possibly, foreign workmanship. In the nave are four painted tablets of the commandments and texts. These are inclosed in handsomely carved frames of late i yth-century design. These and the altar rails were brought from Baynards in i8yg and were the gift of Mr. T. L. Thurlow. The font cover is from the same donor and is partly made up of some I yth- century consoles.
At the north-west of the nave is a small vestry cut off from the rest of the nave by a screen in part made from the I yth-century clerk's desk. There are no monuments.
In the east window of the chancel are three shields of arms. The first of these is the arms of Rev. Thomas Thurlow of Baynards Argent a cheveron between couplecloses sable with three portcullises argent on the cheveron, impaling Argent a lion in a double tressure counter-flowered azure, for Lyon. Above is the crest of Hovell A golden greyhound lying down with collar and line sable. The second shield is Onslow quartered with Harding of Knowle Argent a bend azure with three martlets or thereon. The third shield is : Or a fesse cheeky azure and argent and a bend engrailed gules all within a double tres- sure counter-flowered gules, for Stewart, with a scut- cheon of pretence Azure a bend between six scallops argent, for Freshfield.
The tower contains a clock and six bells. The treble and second were cast by Mears of London in 1839. The third is inscribed ' Sancte Petre Of' in black-letter smalls and capitals and bears the leopard's face, cross flory and coins of John Saunders. The fourth has the same marks and is inscribed ' Sancte Johannis Ora Pro Nobis.' The fifth and tenor were cast by William Eldridge in l6yi.
The first book of the registers contains all entries from 1614 to iyig. The second contains all entries from iyzo, baptisms and burials running to 1803 and 1810, and marriages to 1773. The latter, after iy54, are entered in manuscript, but in the form of the printed book. A third book, a printed one, continues the marriages to 1812, and a fourth book carries the baptisms and burials to 1812.
The advowson belonged in 1206 ADVQWSQN to Merton Priory. 95 At that date William Brews disputed the pre- sentation, but judgement was given for the priory. The latter retained the advowson until its dissolution. 96 The living was not appropriated, but paid a pension to the priory. This pension was granted in 1541 to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury," while the king retained the right of presentation. The advowson remained thencefoiwird with the Crown."
Smith's Charity is distributed as in CHARITIES other Surrey parishes. A Mr. Wors- fold gave, at an unknown date, a rent- charge of 1 z/. SJ. for teaching poor children.
��85 Curia Regis R. 4.2, m. 17. 98 Winton Epis. Reg. ; Egerton MS. 1032, fol. 60 ; 2033, t'ol. 10, 91, &c.
��W L. and P. Hen. fill, xvi, 878 (59).
- Irwt. Bk. (f.R.O.) A. 79 i B. 197 ;
C. 3+7.
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