Oldfield Collection

Volumes of topographical drawings by Henry George Oldfield (died c1791)

Hertfordshire Topography

Illustrated by

A Collection of

Drawings

Of Churches

Monuments

Gentlemen's, Seats

Antiquities &c.

Outline of Contents

And

General Index

To

"Hertfordshire Topography"

(Compiled A.D 1889)

Preface

The method adopted in compiling this outline of contents of "Hertfordshire Topography Illustrated," needs some explanation.

I have classified this Collection under two main heads, viz, Views and Drawings

The pictures of Churches and Houses and such like, I have classed as Views; those of Arms Screens Monuments, focet & c as Drawings, since these last as a rule represent but one face of the object - in elevation, not in perspective.

The "Outline of Contents is drawn up to answer a two-fold purpose

1. To correctly note what is depicted on each page, and any information given by the Artist concerning the same.

2. To supply as far as the Arms are: concerned what is lacking in the original. In many cases shields of Arms were depicted but the names of the bearers of those arms was ommitted. In every case where I have been able so to do I have supplied the names. Sometimes in the original the Arms are Blazoned, sometimes not wherever the Blazon is not given by the Artist I have given it in the Outline when working the Arms, when the name could not be supplied. I have not Blazoned Volume ix.

In describing the point of view from which the churches are drawn, I have assumed for the sake of convenience, that the building follows the rule of standing East and West

Memorials of the Dead

I have classified as-

1. Altar Touibs, 2 Mouvements - ie. Structures other than Altar Touibs, built against a wall and rising from the floor. 3 Mural Mouvements - ie. slabs or Lablets built into the wall but, not reacting the floor like. 4. Gravestones 5. Brasses.

In the case of some of the Brasses and Mouvements the Inscription is drawn, but in the majority of cases it is simply written out. A distinction must therefore be noted between the expressions - "Inscription", and "Inscription written out."

Arms. It is this branch of the work that has entailed the greatest labour, as a very large number of the drawings had no names attached to them Though the various county Histories have been overhauled and use made of a variety of other sources of information, the indentification is still far from complete, but some substantial results in the direction of completeness have been achieved.

The Arms shown in these Drawings comprise.

1. Arms on Mouvements of all kinds

2. "Hatchments," or as the Artist most frequently calls them - "Atchievments and which last term I have invariably used for distinguishing them from other shields of Arms

3. Wherever the Artist has noted Arms as being "in a Window" I have classified them under the heading of Stained Glass

From this Outline of Contents I believe that it is now possible to gather accurately the contents of every page in the Collection, which will I hope save the wear and hear of the Volumes in searching for the Drawings connected with the different parishes

As regards the Index I have endeavoured to be accurate and to provide for every description of cross reference that is ever likely to be needed.

In the "Brief notes" which usually face the views of Churches and Houses the Artist has mainly copied from Chauncey and Saturn, which will account for a few of the discrepancies between the drawings and the notes. But as regards the Houses he usually gives the names of the their owners and occupiers which forms a very interesting feature in these notes.

In closing this, the work of leisure time extending over some four years, I do it with very great regret. The work has been so congenial that it has been in reality recreation, and now that the last words have to be written one feels like parking from an old friend

It is worthy of note that this most interesting collection comprises no less than 127 Churches 210 Houses; Drawings of 60 Monuments, 32 Altar Tombs more than 200 funeral Monuments, 31 Gravestones, 59 fonts and 16 Sereens. There are Drawings of Shields of Arms on, no fewer than 529 pages, most of which have more than one coat - frequently four coats. Stained Glass, other than boats of Arms in shower or 14 pages.

These do not comprise all the Drawings, but they serve to show the great industry of the man, who drew them. Nearly all seem to be the work of one man, and present but very little variety of treatment leading one to infer that their execution was not extended over any great number of years. Nearly all the Drawings are original. The principal copies of other Drawings are - Bramfield Place, two of Ashridge, Aldenham House, and Cashiobury. There is a lithograph of the "Residence of Peter de Noüal."

It would be interesting to know more of this man who so usefully served his generation in depicting Hertfordshire as he knew it. He was not an Artist, but thanks to him we can to-day see for ourselves the things that were as they were.

J R Wilton Hall

Hon. Member of the St. Alban's Architectural and Archaeological Society.

December 1889

Donated to Hertfordshire Record Office in June 1950

[Acc 3731]