Church Of St George

Church of St George

This is a now disused church in Esher, originally built in 1540. The building was significantly expanded and altered over the subsequent centuries: a south chapel was added in 1725-6, probably designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, and a north aisle chapel was added in 1812.

The main body of the church, comprising the nave and chancel, is constructed of stone with flint and tile laid in a chequerboard pattern. The brick aisle chapels have plain tiled roofs with Horsham slabs to the eaves. The building is topped with a square wood and weatherboard western bell turret with a hipped slate roof, louvred above, and a wooden and copper weathervane.

The plan comprises a nave and chancel with a north aisle chapel, a south chapel with an attached porch at the west end. The west front features double planked and ribbed west doors with a lancet window above, and a diamond-shaped wooden clock face. A plat band and brick plinth runs along the south side, and stone coped battlements crown the north aisle chapel. Windows to the nave, chancel and chapel are fitted with arched glazing bar sashes. The south porch has double planked doors.

The north and south sides of the chancel display aedicular-type wall monuments. Those on the south side have stone construction with illegible inscriptions; one is dedicated to John Cobbett, who died in 1755.

Interior

The nave and chancel are open to each other under a timber roof with tie and collar beams. The nave comprises 3 bays; the chancel has 2 bays fitted with crown-post trusses. An oak round pier arcade runs along the north side with moulded capitals and a panelled gallery between the piers. The south wall features a screen to the Newcastle pew, formed of two Corinthian angle piers and columns with a pediment above. A western gallery, dating from 1840-1 and the gift of Sir Thomas Lynch (Governor of Jamaica), is panelled with a central oval bow supported on thin fluted round wood columns. The Newcastle pew to the south is a square structure with a moulded panelled ceiling featuring a central octagonal panel and Greek-style moulding to the edge, with a coved form.

Fittings include four painted wood shields above the south wall, and a 20th-century circular scalloped marble font on a baluster stem. An 18th-century three-decker panelled pulpit with a tester is also present. The reredos is a fine pedimented work, panelled and articulated by Ionic pilasters, with turned baluster altar rails dated 1722 to the front.

Monuments

The south nave wall above the south door carries a monument to Barwell Brown (died 1820), in stone with moulded composite columns and a battlemented top. The centrepiece features an arched panel with rich tracery and foliage decoration. A further monument to Thomas Winchop on the south wall is a stone cartouche with centre inscription, winged putti to the top and a skull below.

The south chancel wall bears a monument dedicated to Elizabeth Ellis, dated 1804 and designed by Flannel R.A. It comprises a green marble ground with white marble above, featuring rich foliage carving and a Greek geometric pattern around the edge. Below this is a further monument to Elizabeth Ellis in Greek Revival style: a chest tomb pedimented with corner palmettes and dove carving. Above the window on the same wall is a tomb dedicated to Elizabeth Augustus (died 1757), in grey marble with a white rectangular panel, Greek geometric pattern, drapery cresting and two dogs flanking a shield.

The east wall, in its north half, displays a monument to Henry de Panthieu (died 1808) in grey and white marble. This is a two-stage aedicular-type work with a segmental pediment containing an oak tree, and a fluted centre panel. Below is a panel dedicated to John Panthieu (died 1817) on a square oak garlanded cill block.

The north chancel wall holds a tomb to Dame Mary Fowler (died 1738), designed by Henry Cheere. It is constructed in white stone as a rectangle with flanking scrolls, rich egg and dart moulding, and husk garlands down the sides. A projecting cill band features a cherub's head on the apron below.

The north aisle chapel, on its west wall, displays a monument to Leopold and Princess Charlotte, dated 1817 and designed by F.J. Williamson. It takes the form of a Venetian window with an arched centre panel depicting Prince Leopold and Princess Charlotte tending the poor. The flat-topped left panel shows the death of Princess Charlotte, while the right-hand panel depicts Prince Leopold accepting the Crown of Belgium. This monument was originally placed on a staircase at Claremont.