Church of St Giles, Great Hallingbury (EHER 4423)

Church, partly built with Roman material. A Saxon cinerary was found under the church floor in the 19th century. The walls are of flint-rubble with dressings of Barnack stone, clunch and Roman brick; the roofs are tiled. The reconstructed chancel-arch is of late 11th century date and the south-west window of the nave is of the same period. The chancel was rebuilt late in the 13th century. The west tower was added about 1400, and rebuilt in 1874 when the north chapel and north aisle were added and the south porch added or rebuilt. Taylor suggests that the constructional techniques used in the chancel arch are reminiscent of the Saxo-Norman overlap rather than being entirely post-conquest.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 4423, 4424, 4425, 4426, and 38007. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The church of St Giles, formerly an early Norman or late Saxon building with much Roman brick: but rebuilt throughout in 1874, except for the tower and chancel arch; the latter is remarkable being wholly constructed of Roman tile or bricks. <1> Flint-rubble walls, dressings of Barnack stone, clunch and Roman brick. The reconstructed chancel arch is late 11th century. The chancel was rebuilt late in the 13th century. In about 1400 the west tower was added or rebuilt. The windows are 11th, 13th and 14th century. There is a doorway of about 1400 and brasses of 1440, 1480, 1520 and 1528. Also there are indents of the 14th century and there are fragments of 15th century glass in a glass case in the tower. In the nave there are small, alabaster 15th century images. Chancel and nave said to have been rebuilt in 1874 when the north chapel and north porch were added and the south porch added or rebuilt. Bells of 1542, 1713. There is a late 16th century brass and 16th century helms. Plate of 1661 and 1675. Roman brick in walls. A west window of the nave is an 11th century, single-light, round-headed window, all of Roman brick. Also the chancel arch. <2> The west tower is 15th century. There is a piscina high up, apparently to serve the rood-loft. Externally all Victorian of 1874. <3> Tower of 3 stages with thin diagonal buttresses. The piscina is rare. Much rebuilt and remodelled by G E Pritchett in 1874. Octagonal shingle spire is of 1873. Fine late 11th century chancel arch and west window and 14th century west tower (RCHME 2). Grade II*. <4> The church contains Roman tile. <5> March 1950. Field survey. A large quantity of Roman brick and tile has been used in the construction of this church. A cinerary urn is exhibited inside the church and an adjoining notice board states that it "was found under the church floor" presumably when the church was rebuilt in 1874. <6> July 1973. Field survey. The details of the church and its Roman 'brick' chancel arch are as described. It is possible the Roman material came from the settlement at Bishops Stortford. Although not on public display the 'cinerary urn' is still held at the church and is a decorated (painted) rough black-ware vessel of probable Saxon origin. <7> <8> See also: <9> - <13>