The church is a spacious building, displaying examples of early Norman
architecture. It contains several handsome monuments in memory of the
ancient family of Owen, among which one from the chisel of Roubiliac is
considered a remarkably fine production. The adjoining mansion, a most
interesting specimen of the Elizabethan style of building, was erected by
Sir Thomas Owen, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, who
died in 1598. Within the hall is the finest collection of paintings in
the county. This village was the birth-place of Richard Tarlton, the
earliest English comedian of celebrity, who for his surprisingly pleasant
extemporaneous wit, as an actor and jester, was the wonder of his time.
Fuller states, that “when Queen Elizabeth was serious and out of good
humour, he could undumpish her at his pleasure.” After a free and
eccentric life, it is said he died penitent in 1588.