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St Andrew, Hurstbourne Priors

Postcode: RG28 7RN Grid Ref: SU838466 CHR No: 641295

St Andrew's, Hurstbourne Priors 

Photo 1: Exterior of St Andrew's, Hurstbourne Priors

The church is Grade II* listed. It is on the site of a Saxon church, recorded as being consecrated in 820 AD. The present building dates from the 12th century, and the fine west doorway dates from this time, c1130, and was originally from the nave north wall (Photo 2). The north chapel was added in the 16th century, the south transept in the 18th century, and the nave rebuilt and west tower added in 1870. The chancel has been heavily restored but retains the original chancel arch, now leading into the north chapel, and the 13th century priest’s doorway with continuous roll moulding.

West doorway

Photo 2: West doorway

Dominating the interior is the fine Elizabethan monument between the chancel and the north chapel which commemorates Sir Robert Oxenbridge and his wife (Photo 3). They are portrayed as two recumbent effigies, with their kneeling children on both sides of the monument.

Oxenbridge family monument

Photo 3: Oxenbridge Monument.

Graffiti Summary

The church interior

Due to the extensive restoration of the building, no early graffiti was found in the interior of the church. The only graffiti found was on the wooden casing of the church organ. The organ was installed in 1906, so the graffiti dates to the twentieth century and was probably made by the young men who pumped the organ bellows before the installation of electricity. The pencil markings “Full” (Photo 4) and “E” (for empty) are evidence of this. The graffiti also includes a roughly drawn figure, and the initials JC and W.R.T.

The wooden organ casing with graffiti

Photo 4: The Organ Casing with graffiti

The church exterior

Earlier graffiti was found on the church exterior, mostly around the north and south doorways of the chancel. On the east side of the north chancel doorway are the initials IEA, dated 1860 (Photo 5), and some fainter marks including a possible cross. There are some undated initials in the same area: R, DC, AH and RP.

Initials on the north doorway 

Photo 5: Initials on the north doorway of the chancel

On the west side of the blocked south or priest’s door (Photo 6), is a fine scratch dial or mass dial, which was recorded by AR Green in 1943 in his summary of Hampshire mass dials. These dials consist of a hole into which a stick or gnomon was inserted, and the resulting shadow cast by the sun onto one of the radiating lines beneath would show the time. It is thought these dials were for the use of the priest to show him when services were due.

Mass dial 

Photo 6: Mass dial

There are also crosses incised into the east and west jambs of the doorway (Photo 7). These would have been made by worshippers entering the church, as symbols of prayer and devotion.

Cross on   

Photo 7: A cross on the door jamb

Survey Archive

58 photographs were taken during the survey. All images and record sheets are held by the Hampshire Field Club Medieval Graffiti Project archive and are available on request. A copy of this report has been lodged with the Hampshire Historic Environment Record and with the church, and reports have been posted on the HFC website.

Disclaimer

This document has been prepared for the titled project or named part hereof and should not be relied upon or used for any other project or assessment without the permission of the Hampshire Medieval Graffiti Project or the church.

The full report is available as a PDF download.

Surveyors: Mark Barden, Ron Brading, Karen Parker, Karen Wardley.

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