Tower Of The Old Church Of All Saints

TRING RURAL CHAPEL LANE SP 8915 (North side) Long Marston 8/120 Tower of the Old Church 30.11.66 of All Saints GV II* Church tower. C15 (rest of church demolished 1883 and features incorporated in new Church of All Saints in Tring Road (q.v.)). Flint rubble faced with uncoursed knapped flint chequered with Totternhoe stone and with dressings of the same stone. C18 red brick crenellations and some restored heads to top openings. A slender square tower of 2 stages with diagonal buttresses and offsets, string course below upper stage, and low plinth. Small bell-stage openings, that on N complete with 4-centred pointed head and blind spandrels. Large W window of lower stage of 3 cinquefoiled lights with remains of leaded glazing. Narrow chamfered slit window to upper stage on E and S. Tall chancel arch of 2 chamfered orders blocked in rough stonework with pointed arched head over battened door. The interior is plastered and there is a scarsement below the heavily beamed floor of the bell chamber just above head of W window. 2 pairs of bull-nosed stone corbels set in N wall. Roof structure decayed and rubbish but no fittings in base of tower. The church was a chapel-of-ease in Tring parish up to 1867 and formerly had an aisleless nave, chancel, and S porch which were demolished in 1883. An architect's report on the ruinous state of the church in 1881 is printed as appendix I by Vincent. (VCH(1908)291:RCHM(1911)223 no. 2: Pevsner(1977)245: Vincent(1983).

Listing NGR: SP8942515611