The Tower
The tower consists of a low two stage structure with 13th century lancets in the North and South walls of the lower stage. In the West elevation there is a 15th century pointed arched entrance with an upper square headed two light window. There is also a small square light to the intermediate bell stage. The main belfry has a two pointed two light opening to the West and a similar window and clock to the South elevation. There are simple pointed openings to the North and East. There is a cornice below the 20th century brick parapet and there are 15th century diagonal buttresses to the West and South corners of the tower.
The tower was certainly added after completion of the nave in the early years of the 13th century. The massive walls of the ground floor are approximately 4 feet thick; the windows and tower arch are obvious indications of an advance in architectural style from the semi-circular arches of the nave. The top of the tower was rebuilt and raised in 1498 using ten loads of freestone left in a Will.
The third bell standing at handstroke
The church bells were mentioned in an inventory of 1552. Records show that in 1734 five bells were cast at the Whitechapel foundry; all possibly in memory of Lord Raymond who died in 1732. Further records show that a tenor bell was cast at the Whitechapel foundry in 1809. The ringers gallery was added and the bells rehung in 1891. In 1973 additional structural support was provided to the bell frame and today there is a recently refurbished ring of six bells with the tenor bell weighing 11 cwt.
Between 1700 and 1853 the tower had a small spire known as a "Hertfordshire Spike". The remaining stub was still evident during the aireal survey immediately after the Second World War. In 1935 a Faculty was granted for the construction of a new spire. These proposals were cancelled in 1937, after the resident of the Manor House advised the Vicar of a previous objection. Battlements were added to the tower and porch between the years 1815 to 1830; these were later removed in 1935.