| Crondall | ||
Bounded by the downs to the south, Crondall is situated along the "Harrow Way" which was a section of a route which ran from the Cornish Tin Mines to the Thames, and nearby is Barley Pound which is a mosaic pavement from Roman times and is commemorated on a tapestry in the church. A hundred and one gold coins "The Crondall Hoard" were found in 1828 as well as jewelled ornaments and a god chain. There are quite a few old cottages in the village centre and one the Old Meeting House was said to be the meeting house of the Plymouth Brethren and dates back to the 16th century. The Plume of Feathers is the oldest inn in the parish and stands opposite.
The church of All Saints was built at the end of the 12th century and here can be see the change from Norman to transitional architecture which occurred during its restoration and alterations. The floor of the chancel has the oldest brasses in the county dedicated to Nicholas de Caerwent who left this earth in 1381 and also another brass showing a skeleton dressed in a shroud can be found in the South transept this one read John Eager, des
March the XX, 1641 -
This is what is known as an "imp" memorial dedicated to John Eager who founded the grammar school at Alton. A further memorial is to Deborah Maxwell and says that she "died by her dress catching fire whilst her attention was engaged in writing'. Also inside the church are two coffin trolleys and a chest from around 1546 and an anchorite's cell Crondall also has its own ghost, this time it is a soldier from the Parliamentarian army who has been reported being seen riding a horse up the avenue and into the church.
Nearby is Barley Pound which is an 11th century earth and timber ring work and baileys fortress, and was founded by the bishop of Winchester. It can be found just south of the village off of Dippenhall Road, three miles to the west of Farnham on the A325 and Crondall Lane. |