Wall Forming West Boundary Of Church Yard With Classical Gateway

The wall forms the west boundary of the churchyard and incorporates a classical gateway, dating to the mid-16th century and early 17th century. The wall is approximately 180 metres long and 3 metres high, constructed of red bricks in lime mortar, laid in an irregular English bond. The brickwork is moulded throughout. The northern section represents the lower part of the east wall of a 16th-century wing of Widfordbury, extending 2 metres in advance of the southern end of the current house's crosswing. This wing was likely built around 1556 following the Dissolution of Bermondsey Abbey and the transfer of the manor to secular ownership. The east face features a chamfered plinth, a dummy arrow slit with chamfered jambs, a four-centred arch with reserved chamfer moulding, and the ovolo moulded jambs of a former mullioned window. Two sides of a room containing a large fireplace remain at the north end on the west side. Further south is a wide four-centred arch.

The southern section of the wall, of early 17th-century date, originally closed one side of a forecourt. The ground rises on the churchyard side, with a moulded plinth and a brick-pilastered gateway with a full entablature in moulded brick. The wall has a corbelled saddle-back coping of bricks and is supported by later buttresses on the west side. The gateway, rising above the wall, has a segmental rere arch on the plain west side. The east face features a deeply moulded round arch with heavy moulded imposts indicating a former door opening westward. The pilasters are notable for being abruptly narrowed slightly below the necking of the moulded brick capital, appearing as a misunderstood representation of a Tuscan order. Moulded bases are present on the pilasters, and the pedestal is capped with tiles. The entablature projects over each pilaster and terminates as simple bands to the side. A blunt triangular top to the gate may be a later alteration. The wall and gateway showcase interesting examples of 16th and early 17th-century brick craftsmanship, forming part of an early brick mansion and a Renaissance courtyard wall. The structure contributes to a picturesque group including Widfordbury and the parish church within the conservation area, demonstrating group value.