Keyston Huntingdonshire - Cambridgeshire
Church of St. John the Baptist Keyston, Huntingdonshire - Cambridgeshire, consists of a chancel, nave, north & south transepts, north & south aisles, tower and south porch. built of coursed rubble with stone dressings. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/52iNZ0
The church is not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday survey and the earliest existing parts are the c1250 nave and aisles ; The chancel was built c1280, and the tower and porch added c1300.
Beginning c1480, considerable reconstruction took place: the east wall of the chancel was rebuilt, the walls heightened and new east window inserted , the clerestory windows were added to the nave, the south transept was built, and new windows inserted into the south aisle walls. The roofs of the nave, transepts and aisles were renewed when these parts were y reconstructed towards the end of the 15c but those of the south aisle and porch were renewed in the 17c.
There are 5 bells in the tower inscribed: "Feare the Lorde 1592"; "William Marks churchwarden: . I: Eayre fecit. 1743 gloria Deo soli: . Francis [?] Clitherow Esquire": "Remember the ende 1592"; "Give God the praise 1592": "Thomas Rvssell of Wootton near X Bedford made me in 1733 Thomas Simonts churchwarden" (In 1552 there were 4 bells and a sanctus bell.
On the west wall of the north transept is a reset early 16c gravestone with indents of lost brasses a man and wife, with blank inscription plate below; the top of the stone has been cut to the shape of a two-centred arch, and on either side of the figures an ornamental cross, the letter 'D' and a monogram (possibly 'N A') have been deeply engraved. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6KJ488
Originally part of a bigger tomb, now lying on a bier in front of the chancel altar, is a late 15c / early 16c rare carved oak cadaver possibly of a priest showing good anatomical knowledge by the sculptor. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/d908y8
The tithes in Keyston seem to have been of considerable value, in c1620, when Sir James Wingfield proposed the inclosure of over 1,700 acres of land, the rector John Scott, 'perceiving the great inconvenience which was to arise to the church,' resisted the proposal and refused to receive tithes in kind out of the inclosure, declaring that the rectory was thereby disinherited almost to the value of one-half yearly. Upon this complaint, 'to prevent the disherison of the said church and to make the said parsonage of as good, or neere as good, value as it was before,' Sir James and his tenants agreed that arbitrators 'of qualitie and conscience' should be chosen by common consent 'for establishing such a yearly rate upon the new inclosed grounds as they in their consciences and discretions should think to be equall ratably and respectively for the proportion of the said lands.' Sir Robert Payne and Sir Lewis Pemberton, the chosen arbitrators, decided that the inclosure should pay 1s. 8d. an acre yearly to the rector and his successors in lieu of tithes. Notwithstanding their agreement, Edward Bate and Thomas Hilles, 'two substantiall tenants' and owners respectively of 120 and 850 acres of the inclosure, neglected to pay their share. The rector brought an action against them in chancery; whereupon Edward Bate declared that the rate was exorbitant, and begged 'not to be compelled to pay as sett down by the referees'; while Thomas Hilles pleaded that, having learned that 'Dame Mary,' probably the widow of Sir Edward Wingfield, 'was not willing to encumber the inheritance with this perpetual rent charge,' he did not absolutely agree to it, but 'did pay at times to stay suits until there might be some friendly agreement.'
Keyston Huntingdonshire - Cambridgeshire
Church of St. John the Baptist Keyston, Huntingdonshire - Cambridgeshire, consists of a chancel, nave, north & south transepts, north & south aisles, tower and south porch. built of coursed rubble with stone dressings. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/52iNZ0
The church is not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday survey and the earliest existing parts are the c1250 nave and aisles ; The chancel was built c1280, and the tower and porch added c1300.
Beginning c1480, considerable reconstruction took place: the east wall of the chancel was rebuilt, the walls heightened and new east window inserted , the clerestory windows were added to the nave, the south transept was built, and new windows inserted into the south aisle walls. The roofs of the nave, transepts and aisles were renewed when these parts were y reconstructed towards the end of the 15c but those of the south aisle and porch were renewed in the 17c.
There are 5 bells in the tower inscribed: "Feare the Lorde 1592"; "William Marks churchwarden: . I: Eayre fecit. 1743 gloria Deo soli: . Francis [?] Clitherow Esquire": "Remember the ende 1592"; "Give God the praise 1592": "Thomas Rvssell of Wootton near X Bedford made me in 1733 Thomas Simonts churchwarden" (In 1552 there were 4 bells and a sanctus bell.
On the west wall of the north transept is a reset early 16c gravestone with indents of lost brasses a man and wife, with blank inscription plate below; the top of the stone has been cut to the shape of a two-centred arch, and on either side of the figures an ornamental cross, the letter 'D' and a monogram (possibly 'N A') have been deeply engraved. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6KJ488
Originally part of a bigger tomb, now lying on a bier in front of the chancel altar, is a late 15c / early 16c rare carved oak cadaver possibly of a priest showing good anatomical knowledge by the sculptor. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/d908y8
The tithes in Keyston seem to have been of considerable value, in c1620, when Sir James Wingfield proposed the inclosure of over 1,700 acres of land, the rector John Scott, 'perceiving the great inconvenience which was to arise to the church,' resisted the proposal and refused to receive tithes in kind out of the inclosure, declaring that the rectory was thereby disinherited almost to the value of one-half yearly. Upon this complaint, 'to prevent the disherison of the said church and to make the said parsonage of as good, or neere as good, value as it was before,' Sir James and his tenants agreed that arbitrators 'of qualitie and conscience' should be chosen by common consent 'for establishing such a yearly rate upon the new inclosed grounds as they in their consciences and discretions should think to be equall ratably and respectively for the proportion of the said lands.' Sir Robert Payne and Sir Lewis Pemberton, the chosen arbitrators, decided that the inclosure should pay 1s. 8d. an acre yearly to the rector and his successors in lieu of tithes. Notwithstanding their agreement, Edward Bate and Thomas Hilles, 'two substantiall tenants' and owners respectively of 120 and 850 acres of the inclosure, neglected to pay their share. The rector brought an action against them in chancery; whereupon Edward Bate declared that the rate was exorbitant, and begged 'not to be compelled to pay as sett down by the referees'; while Thomas Hilles pleaded that, having learned that 'Dame Mary,' probably the widow of Sir Edward Wingfield, 'was not willing to encumber the inheritance with this perpetual rent charge,' he did not absolutely agree to it, but 'did pay at times to stay suits until there might be some friendly agreement.'