Rivenhall Manor House

These two photos were taken a couple of years ago. The house has a long history. Eustace III of Boulogne, who was born in 1050 and fought in the crusades, passed Rivenhall Place on to his daughter, Matilda, who went on to marry Stephen, King of England. The couple were the second wealthiest in England, save for the ruling King and Queen of the day (Stephen came to the throne ten years after their marriage). Matilda played a large part in running their estates in Kent and Boulogne. She brought vast lands into their marriage, which enabled her husband to secure a major trade route between England and France.

The second photo is of Cressing Church. Both St Barnabas and All Saints are part of the Benefice of Coggeshall, Cressing, Bradwell and Stisted. Built between the 12th and 15th Centuries, then extended and restored in the 19thC, All Saints is mainly of coursed flint rubble containing some brick and tile. The south wall of the Chancel is partly of red brick, with dressings of limestone and clunch (a traditional building material of chalky limestone rock used mainly in eastern England and Normandy), roofed with handmade red plain tiles. The north vestry is of gault brick (a thick, heavy clay, the first use of which was recorded in 1575) in Flemish bond.

The Nave is thought to be 12thC, on a Saxo-Norman foundation; the Chancel early 13thC, with the south wall rebuilt in the early 16thC. Other identified dates for construction are; bell-turret 14th/15thC; the North vestry 1823 and the southern porch in the 19thC. The eastern wall of the Chancel is rendered externally, with a stone plaque in the gable dated 1833; the window is 19thC; the diagonal north-east buttress is 19thC built of red brick. Windows are of mixed origin, some 13thC lancet, 15th and 16th cinquefoiled lights with a quatrefoil and moulded label; 2 14thC trefoiled ogee lights with quatrefoiled tracery and some from the 19thC.
Both buildings are much loved by me as I see them throughout the seasons as I walk the footpaths around my village.