The best traffic-free bike rides around Ashampstead Common

Mention should be made of the Norman ‘flower-pot’ font. These are fairly common in Berkshire and the design was probably copied from the Jewish stone jars used for ritual washing in the time of Jesus, and referred to in the Gospel of St John at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. Today a similar jar can be seen in the Orthodox Church in Cana.

Laurence Binyon, 1869-1943, whose ashes are buried with those of his wife Cicily by the beech hedge bounding the churchyard, is especially remembered for the words of his poem “For the Fallen”, quoted at Remembrance Day Services: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.” Those from the village who gave their lives in the two World Wars are remembered in the east window and on the Memorial on the outside wall.

Yes this area is famous for the giants and the yew tree, but let's not over look the beautiful little church. St Mary’ church in Aldworth dates back in part to around 1200. The oldest part of Aldworth Church is the lower half of the tower, which is in the style known as Transitional Norman and may be dated about the year 1200, but the site is probably much older. The original circular shape of the churchyard suggests an earlier pagan burying ground which can still be seen by a ring of holly trees to the east of the church. The church yard was extended to the beech hedge in the 1930s. The Jacobean pulpit was once in St Lawrence’s Church, Reading. For some reason it was no longer wanted there and was sold or given to Aldworth about the year 1740. The reading desk is also a splendid piece of carving, but its history is not known. It hardly looks as if it was originally intended for a church.

Historical landmark. The Yew tree in the churchyard is at least 1000 years old and though it has been struck by lightning and blown over in a storm it is still partly alive.

Effigy 8. Nicholas de la Beche, the third brother, was Lieutenant of the Tower of London and oversaw the upbringing of The Black Prince. In 1338 he was given permission to castellate (fortfiy) his homes at Beaumys and Aldworth. He seems to have received the anger of Edward III over some shortfalls in supplying the king's campaigns in France in 1340 but was quickly forgiven, being made a baron in 1342, summoned to the Great Council and made Steward of Gascony. Nicholas was also one of those chosen to negotiate with Alfonso, the King of Castile on Edward III's behalf over some disputes with their respective citizens. He died shortly after returning from a French military campaign in 1347. Carved hounds sat at Nicholas' feet, although again, these had been destroyed by 1880. Effigy 9. John de la Beche, the son of Isabella and John. He lies without armour with a dog at his feet. By 1880 the head, hands and feet of the effigy had been destroyed. John died in 1340.

Effigy 5. John ( Son of Joan & Philip ) was said to have fought with Edward I in his Scottish wars in the early fourteenth century and held the title of Sheriff of Hampshire. John was arrested in Yorkshire with his father but died soon after his release, in 1327. He wears a jousting helmet in his effigy, and although the figure is very worn today. Two small hounds originally lay under his legs and a lion at his feet. John's effigy is next to his wife. Effigy 6. Isabella, ( Wife to John ). Only fragments of her effigy survive today, and mostly the torso, but luckily history has left some idea of what she would have looked like. She wore the costume of the early to middle reign of Edward III and had her left hand to her breast and her right hand holding her gown. 'The sleeves have long lappets', continues our antiquarian, 'and there is a hound at the feet'. Effigy 7. Philip ( Brother to John ) also has an effigy here at Aldworth. Like his relatives, he was also Sheriff, of Berkshire and Oxfordshire in 1332. He died in 1339. Again in armour, Philip has his helmet visor raised, his right hand on his sword and the left arm behind a shield. 'The helmet is embellished with fleurs-de-lys, and the head is resting upon pillows, It was noted that a lion once sat at his feet, but this had disappeared by 1880.

Effigy 3. Philip de la Beche. He was Sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire and later, Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1314-1317. He also served as Valet to Edward II and was created Lord Chamberlain. All was going well then, until December 1321 when Philip was arrested with four of his sons on suspicion of allying with the Earl of Lancaster against the king. They were later imprisoned in various locations in Yorkshire, but were all released by the time Edward III acceded to the throne. Philip's effigy originally measured over seven feet in height, and was carved with armour bearing rosettes and fleurs de lys which can still be seen today. Effigy 4. Joan de la Beche was born Joan de la Zouche. ( wife of Phillip ) She came from an important land-holding family of Oxfordshire and Surrey. In her effigy she wears a wimple and a wide ornate headdress of the early fourteenth century. Folds in the fabric of her gown can still be seen, although angels that once propped up her cushion no longer survive. In 1798 a visitor noted that the effigy's condition was 'pretty perfect'. The architect J. Carter in 1799 was relieved to find, compared to the state of the other statues, that this effigy was 'in as perfect a state (almost) as when it came from the artist's hands'. In 1844 it was noted that she had long, slim fingers, her left hand resting on her breast, although her right hand was lost. These descriptions raise questions over the history of the effigies since the late eighteenth century, as damage to them is usually ascribed to the actions of Parliamentarian soldiers of the English Civil War.

Effigy 1. Robert de la Beche was recorded as a Berkshire knight during the reign of Henry III in 1230. Robert's is the oldest effigy that can be seen at Aldworth. He lies with his right hand on his sword hilt, his left hand on his shield and his legs crossed. He was still in Aldworth in 1261, when he was recorded in a transfer of land to his son John. Effigy 2. John de la Beche, Robert's son, went with his father on Crusade, and owned lands in West Compton and Aldworth. A Victorian visitor to Aldworth noted the quality of the carving of John's armour, which included 'bassinet and camail, cyclas, hauberk and hacketon, gadded gauntlets, shield on the left arm, long sword and belt, greaves and sollerets, with single prick spurs' along with a lion resting at John's feet. John holds his right hand on his chest and his left on his sword-hilt. He died in 1328.