St Mary's Church in Whaddon sits atop a hill in the village of Whaddon. There was a Saxon church here before the Conquest. Whaddon is an old Saxon name meaning Wheat Hill. The aspect is quite striking.
The church is constructed out of rubble walls with ashlar dressings. The church consists of a chancel and nave with, to the north an aisle, chapel and porch, to the south an aisle & porch, and to the west a tower. Dedicated to St Mary, the church was originally constructed in the early 1100's when the chancel and nave were constructed. Over the centuries the church has been expanded to its present dimensions. The bell tower is home to 6 bells.
The original 12th century nave pillars exist and the font dates to the 13th century. The chapel has a double chamfered arch and a 14th Century roof. The altar rails are early 17th Century as is a stone tablet with brasses of Margaret Myssenden and a skeleton. The Lady Chapel contains 2 tombs. One is for Thomas Pigott "Serjant - at - Law" and another for one of Queen elizabeth I's advisers and one of the men who tried Mary Queen of Scots. In 1854 some murals were uncovered, now lost, which depicted medieval scenes, the principal being the murder of St Thomas a Beckett.
On to the cache. Only a black magnetic nano, I'm afraid so you'll need to bring your own pen / pencil / crayon.
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
To view the church micro stats page, please click here