The church is a
grade I listed building of 14th century origin. Of
special interest are the north chancel and chapel, both built of
brick and dated by a brass inscription 1532. The triumphant
entry of brick into church buildings is a significant sign of
the Tudor age. Of particular interest also are the two
16th century stained glass windows of Flemish
origin showing scenes from the passion.
Wyddial was called
Widihale in the Domesday Book, and was
given by William I to Hardwin de
Scalers. The walk from
Buntingford up the hill to the ruined
church at Layston, and thence to this
village, leads through some of the quietest spots in the county.
The church stands on high ground a few yards N. from the road and
about 1 mile W. from the river Quin. It
was restored sixty years ago; but still retains two
seventeenth-century stained-glass windows in the aisle, and two
Jacobean screens. The little N. chapel of brick was built by one
George Canon in 1532. The brasses include (1) to George
Gyll, Lord of the Manor (d. 1546); (2)
to Dame Margaret (Plumbe), a daughter
of Sir Thomas Neville, Kt., and wife to Sir Robert
Southwell, Master of the Rolls (d.
1575). There are many memorials to the
Goulston family, several of whom were
Lords of the Manor; that to Sir Richard
Goulston (d. 1686)
bears a long inscription in Latin.
Wyddial Hall, in a small park close to
the church, was the property of the
Goulstons.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would
just ask that you could let
Sadexploration know first so he can
keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid
duplication.