Pevsner on Sawbridgeworth

ST MARY THE GREAT. A big church, un-embattled except for the W tower. The tower seems to be C14 (see the tower arch) but was much repaired in brick in the C16. At that time a low stair-turret was added (cf. Hunsdon). The earliest remaining evidence of the history of the building is, according to the Royal Commission, a S arch in the chancel, now hidden. This is supposed to be c. 1300. The N aisle windows must be early C14 (E window replaced but probably correctly). The date goes well with the quatrefoil piers and chamfered arches of the N aisle arcade. The piers are the same in the S arcade but the arches seem a little later; and the doorway looks indeed later too. - FONT, c. 1400. Octagonal, with panelled stem and shields in quatrefoil panels on the bowl. - PULPIT, 1632, but still Jacobean in style. - SCREEN. C15. On each side of the entrance one very broad four-light division with panel tracery. - STAINED GLASS. E window, 1864, by Hardman, much less disciplined than at the time when Pugin designed for him. - MONUMENTS. The church is a veritable storehouse of monuments; The following fifteen deserve attention. In the CHANCEL Reassembled (?) recess for a tombchest with three shields in richly cusped quatrefoils. Shafts to the l. and r. with diagonal honeycomb decoration. Ogee arches along the top and cresting above. Indents for brass at the back. Probably early C16. - Brass to Geoffrey Joslyn d. 1470 with two wives, the figures 2 ft long. 1 Plain tombchest with almost completely defaced figures of John Joscelyn d. 1525 and his wife. - Epitaph to Sir Walter Myldemaye d. 1606, wife and son, with the usual kneeling figures. - Large standing wall monument to George, Viscount Hewyt, d. 1689. Life-size standing figure a la Louis le Grand, one hand on hip, the other on a helmet. Red marble columns l. and r., and trophies outside them. Curly broken pediment on top. On the plinth two putti hold the inscription. - In the S CHAPEL. Magnificent large Brass to John Leventhorp d. 1425 and wife, the frontal figures life-size. - Standing wall monument to Sir John Leventhorp d. 1625 and wife. The two effigies, the lady in front, her husband behind and a little higher, lie under a deep coffered arch with Victories in the spandrels. Columns on the sides, fourteen kneeling children in relief on the plinth. - Jeremiah Milles d. 1797 and his wife d. 1835, by Ternouth, with a kneeling mourning woman. - In the NAVE. Late C15 fragmentary Brass; twelve sons and six daughters only. Brass to John Chauncy (?) d. 1479 and his eight sons. - Sir Walter Hewyt d. 1637 and wife d. 1646, epitaph of black and white marble. Very unusual design. The two demi-figures in one oval medallion hold hands. White columns with black capitals l. and r. White gable of two concave curves a la chinoise. - Viscount Jocelyn d. 1756, excellent bust before grey obelisk. At foot tondo with mourning justice. By Bacon (born in 1740 ; so the recoverment must be a good deal later than the Viscount’s death). - In the S AISLE; Brass of Edward Leventhorp d. 1551 and wife. He is in armour. - Brass of a woman, 2 1/2 ft long, c. 1600. - Inside the TOWER: C15 Brass to man and woman in shrouds. - Big Elizabethan Brass to Mrs Mary Leventhorp d. 1566. - Standing wall monument to Sir Thomas Hewit d. 1662, signed by Abraham Story. Black and white marble in a grand Baroque manner. Segmental pediment. Large inscription held by two putti.

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