Two villages, one ancient parish
East and West Hanney lie on the clay of the northern Vale, about three miles north of Wantage, near the Letcombe Brook. The old parish of Hanney also took in the chapelry of Lyford. West Hanney kept the medieval parish church; East Hanney’s church of St James the Less is a Victorian building in a plain 13th-century style, with lancet windows and a bellcote.
St James the Great
The north wall of West Hanney’s nave dates from about 1150, when the church was probably a simple aisleless building. Its north doorway of that date is the church’s showpiece, with a round arch, a label of zigzag ornament, and spirally fluted shafts with foliage capitals. Unusually, the tower stands on the north side of the nave; it was added late in the 12th century and its lower stage was once a chapel. The chancel arch and south transept are 13th century, the south aisle and arcade 14th century, and the chancel was rebuilt in the mid-15th century. The Victorians raised the nave walls and added a clerestory and porch, and the top of the tower was rebuilt in brick in the late 19th century to reduce its weight.
Brasses and fittings
The chancel holds a notable group of brasses to the gentry of the parish:
- A large figure of a priest in mass vestments, one of the earliest brasses in the church.
- John Cheney (died 1557), in armour.
- John Ashcombe (died 1592) and his wives, and Oliver Ashcombe of Lyford and his wife Martha, both died 1611, with their children.
- Sir Christopher Lytcot (died 1599), Sheriff of Berkshire, who was knighted by Henry IV of France at Rouen.
- Francis Wellesbourne of East Hanney (died 1602) and his two wives.
The font is a massive late 12th-century cylinder decorated with upright rows of small rosettes. The pulpit, communion table and rails are Jacobean, and the bell frame is inscribed with the names of the churchwardens and carpenter who made it in 1605. The six bells were cast or inscribed in 1702, one reading ‘God save Queen Anne’.
Visiting
The church stands on Church Street in West Hanney. It is a working parish church; check with the parish for opening. West Hanney’s village cross stands nearby (Grade II).
Nearby
Charney Manor is about three miles west, and Lyford, whose Ashcombe family appear on the brasses, is just to the north-west.