Beautiful Babergh
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As I was sorting through some recent images, I found this detail of a leaded window of St George's church at Shimpling I visited on 13 March this year. I didn't notice it at the time! Today, I see that it has a signature and a date 'D Chilvers Oct 24 1574.' .. I cannot read what is below - can you?
A fun afternoon spent with a couple of friends looking for butterflies and orchids - with some success, a lot of gossip and cups of tea to finish! We found lots of Pyramidal orchids in a wood in various colours ranging from purple, pink like this one which came complete with its own spider, and also a very scraggy-looking white one
A fun afternoon spent with a couple of friends looking for butterflies and orchids - with some success, a lot of gossip and cups of tea to finish! I think my friend is attempting to take part in the butterfly count, we did find a few, all quite elusive of course and refusing to sit on a flower and pose! I believe this on is a gatekeeper, correct me if I'm wrong
St George, Shimpling, Suffolk
Simeon holding the Christ child was the centre light. The third light on the right depicted Anna, but was discarded when the glass was moved 1880 from the south aisle east window for the creation of the Hallifax chapel and the installation of Powell & Sons' Faith, Hope and Charity. The upper lights of the Holiday glass remain in the original window.
A splendid church in the hills. The opulent 19th Century restoration was bankrolled by the Hallifax family of Chadacre Hall whose mark is everywhere here. The church was open daily before covid and is open daily now.
Mill Hill, Shimpling, Suffolk
The view south from the lonely coming together of lanes at the top of Mill Hill in the parish of Shimpling. The mill, alas, has long gone.
St George, Shimpling, Suffolk
Splendid church in the hills. The opulent 19th Century restoration was bankrolled by the Hallifax family of Chadacre Hall whose mark is everywhere here. The church was open daily before covid and is open daily now.
ABOVE: note the much later iron bands bolted around the round tower - see below for explanation.
**
For a variety of reasons it has been a while since I posted a church visit but I had the opportunity on Saturday to go south of Norwich and thus headed for St George’s Church, Shimpling.
Now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, Shimpling may get its name from a Germanic settler (Scimpel) whose name means fool. The church was certainly in existence during the reign of Edward the Confessor and there is some evidence of Saxo-Norman work in the nave walls but much of this is now covered by rendering. The nave was re-modelled in the 14th to 15th century.
The chancel has no defined chancel arch but there is an exterior change in the roof line indicating the new work. This chancel was probably added around 1300. Some stained glass fragments from this period survive in the tops of the chancel windows where it was too difficult for subsequent iconoclasts to reach.
The round tower is one of 125 in Norfolk but there is some doubt about its date. The brick integral staircase on the south side suggests 14th century but blocked circular window openings found during a 1987 renovation suggest a Saxo-Norman date for the lower (round) part of the tower.
At some stage in the 15th century a brick octagon belfry was added and it is possible that the brick staircase had been added solely to reach this new level easier. However there were later doubts about the ability of the flint rubble round tower to take the weight of the new addition as sometime (19th century??) two substantial iron bands were added about half way up to prevent bulging or an actual collapse. Each band was made as a quarter circle, the quarters where bolted together to make halves and the halves were gradually tensioned with long bolts to ‘bite’ the tower and grip it. There are three bells, two cast around 1466.
Late medieval floor tiles (at a lower level) can be viewed by lifting two traps near the north door. These may have been manufactured near Bawsey on the other side of the county. Also of interest is the 15th century font decorated with evangelists and angels.
For a variety of reasons it has been a while since I posted a church visit but I had the opportunity on Saturday to go south of Norwich and thus headed for St George’s Church, Shimpling.
Now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, Shimpling may get its name from a Germanic settler (Scimpel) whose name means fool. The church was certainly in existence during the reign of Edward the Confessor and there is some evidence of Saxo-Norman work in the nave walls but much of this is now covered by rendering. The nave was re-modelled in the 14th to 15th century.
The chancel has no defined chancel arch but there is an exterior change in the roof line indicating the new work. This chancel was probably added around 1300. Some stained glass fragments from this period survive in the tops of the chancel windows where it was too difficult for subsequent iconoclasts to reach.
The round tower is one of 125 in Norfolk but there is some doubt about its date. The brick integral staircase on the south side suggests 14th century but blocked circular window openings found during a 1987 renovation suggest a Saxo-Norman date for the lower (round) part of the tower.
At some stage in the 15th century a brick octagon belfry was added and it is possible that the brick staircase had been added solely to reach this new level easier. However there were later doubts about the ability of the flint rubble round tower to take the weight of the new addition as sometime (19th century??) two substantial iron bands were added about half way up to prevent bulging or an actual collapse. Each band was made as a quarter circle, the quarters where bolted together to make halves and the halves were gradually tensioned with long bolts to ‘bite’ the tower and grip it. There are three bells, two cast around 1466.
Late medieval floor tiles (at a lower level) can be viewed by lifting two traps near the north door. These may have been manufactured near Bawsey on the other side of the county. Also of interest is the 15th century font decorated with evangelists and angels.
Brass effigies of Sir Richard Fitzlewes c1446-1528 and 4 wives Alice Harleston, ..........., Elizabeth Shelton and Joan Hornby - 2 groups of children are lost
He was the son of Lewis Fitzlewis 1477-80 of West Horndon and London by Margaret Stonor. His father, a supporter of the Lancastrian cause and related to the de Vere family, was attainted and his Essex lands forfeited when Yorkist Edward IV seized the throne. Sir Richard lived in straitened circumstances at Bardwell for a time. Some of the Essex manors, including West Horndon, were, however, restored to him in 1480, and he later gained greater favour as a loyal supporter of Henry VII. He was knighted after the Battle of Stoke in 1487 and was made Banneret at the Battle of Blackheath in 1497. He is also recorded as Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire in 1493
He m1 Alice daughter of John Harleston of Shimpling by Margery Bardwell (through her he held a moiety of Chardacre Hall; other Harleston and Bardwell lands being divided between them and her sister Margaret Harleston wife of Sir RIchard Darcy)
Children
1. John (father of Sir Richard's heiress Eleanor 1st wife of Sir John Mordaunt 1571 flic.kr/p/hWEaFG eldest son of John, 1st Baron Mordaunt of Turvey by Elizabeth Vere www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/11119977275/ )
2. Elizabeth bc1483 m Thomas Grey son of William de Grey & Mary Bedingfield (son Edmund m Elizabeth daughter of Justice Sir John Spelman & Elizabeth Frowyke at Narborough Norfolk www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/C876r2
He m2 Maud (?) ......................... (the only wife not to wear a heraldic mantle)
He m3 Elizabeth 1523 daughter of Sir Ralph Shelton 1497 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/p6a1nj
Children - at least 1 daughter
He m4 Joan daughter of ....... Hornby
Children - 1 son & 5 daughters
1. Dorothy a nun at Barking
By his will of 4 Dec. 1527 he asked 'if I fortune to decease at my place in West Thorndon to be buried in the chancel of the parish church, in the midst of the chancel of the said church before the holy sacrament ... and that mine executors cause to be buried in the chancel of West Horndon church, before the sacrament. He made bequests to churches and religious houses in London and East Anglia, provided for his wife and family, and named her and his cousin Humphrey Wingfield executors. ;
His widow Joan / Jane m2 (3rd husband) Sir John Norton 1534 of Faversham (Joan has a tomb at Faversham flic.kr/p/bbTp38 , but in her will, dated 1535, asked to be buried at West Horndon, her second husband John having chosen to be buried at Milton with his first wife Jane Northwood daughter of John Northwood 1496 & Elizabeth Frogenail flic.kr/p/2DM92q ).
Heraldry - FitzLewes quartering Goshalm, head on crested helm, feet on dog - wives with heraldic mantles—(a) a leaping goat for Bardwell quartering 3 roundels for Heath, quarterly for Pagenham, and a bend between 2 dancetty cotices with an ermine tail on the bend, for Clopton, all impaling FitzLewes; (c) FitzLewes impaling a cross for Sheldon; (d) FitzLewes impaling 3 bugle-horns for Hornby quartering ermine,
Brass moved from West Horndon / Thorndon church in 1731
www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/page94.html
Ingrave church Essex
Shimpling based Appollo Transport DAF XF coupled to three axle tipper trailer parked in Church field road Sudbury.
Shimpling aerial image - St George's Church. Superbly remote church in south Norfolk, cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust #Shimpling #Church #aerial #image #Norfolk #aerialphotography
For a variety of reasons it has been a while since I posted a church visit but I had the opportunity on Saturday to go south of Norwich and thus headed for St George’s Church, Shimpling.
Now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, Shimpling may get its name from a Germanic settler (Scimpel) whose name means fool. The church was certainly in existence during the reign of Edward the Confessor and there is some evidence of Saxo-Norman work in the nave walls but much of this is now covered by rendering. The nave was re-modelled in the 14th to 15th century.
The chancel has no defined chancel arch but there is an exterior change in the roof line indicating the new work. This chancel was probably added around 1300. Some stained glass fragments from this period survive in the tops of the chancel windows where it was too difficult for subsequent iconoclasts to reach.
The round tower is one of 125 in Norfolk but there is some doubt about its date. The brick integral staircase on the south side suggests 14th century but blocked circular window openings found during a 1987 renovation suggest a Saxo-Norman date for the lower (round) part of the tower.
At some stage in the 15th century a brick octagon belfry was added and it is possible that the brick staircase had been added solely to reach this new level easier. However there were later doubts about the ability of the flint rubble round tower to take the weight of the new addition as sometime (19th century??) two substantial iron bands were added about half way up to prevent bulging or an actual collapse. Each band was made as a quarter circle, the quarters where bolted together to make halves and the halves were gradually tensioned with long bolts to ‘bite’ the tower and grip it. There are three bells, two cast around 1466.
Late medieval floor tiles (at a lower level) can be viewed by lifting two traps near the north door. These may have been manufactured near Bawsey on the other side of the county. Also of interest is the 15th century font decorated with evangelists and angels.
St George, Shimpling, Suffolk
Splendid church in the hills. The opulent 19th Century restoration was bankrolled by the Hallifax family of Chadacre Hall whose mark is everywhere here. The church was open daily before covid and is open daily now.
St George, Shimpling, Norfolk
Another church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, a couple of miles across the fields from Frenze. Taken with a Sony Xperia Xz premium and uploaded to Flickr from the churchyard, a buzzard mewing overhead.
24 hours before, I had not heard of Frenze, or knew that it lay in Norfolk. A friend had posted a shot of St Andrew from the air, and finding that it ay within 2 miles of the A143, and a short detour from the route, I thought I would go
I was stuck in a long line of traffic leading into Diss, but able to take a turning to the right off the main road, then take a left turn along a farm track. The sat nav suggested it was some distance off.
Through fields and through a wood, until the road stopped at a farmyard with some abandoned industrial units and a farmhouse. But beyond was St Andrew.
Small, and perfectly formed, St Andrew reminded me of several of the untouched two cell Norman churches back in Kent, a church and yet so much like a farm building too.
St Andrew despite being small has lots of interest; ancient glass, unusual box pews, a formidable pulpit, a grand coat of arms and two good brasses.
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The heaviest snow in East Anglia that winter fell in early March. We had a new car to try out - we hadn't planned on this, but the previous one had died on the way back from Cambridge, the camshaft exploding into the engine and causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. After a few sleepless nights, we decided to cut our losses, and so here we were on an icy Sunday afternoon threading through wide flat fields to the hills near the border.
We parked near an old maltings which styled itself 'Diss Business Centre'. That town was just over the rise, but in fact we could have been miles away, in the middle of nowhere. There was no one about as we set off on foot along a track into the woods towards Frenze Hall.
The winter was at its barest. Although most of the snow had now melted, nothing had yet regrown after the winter silence. A few miserable birds chattered at us, a rabbit bolted. the coop coop of an occasional pheasant came from the copse. Eventually, the track came out into an empty farmyard, apparently abandoned, although the farm house was still occupied, and in one corner of the yard, on a rise behind an old wooden fence, sat the church of St Andrew, Frenze.
St Andrew is a curious looking structure. Effectively, it is just the small nave of a formerly longer church, propped up but still leaning all over the place. Obviously redundant, it is in the tender care of the Churches Conservation Trust (the key hangs outside the farmhouse door during daylight hours) and would just be a beautiful, unspoiled hidden corner of Norfolk if it were not for one very curious thing - this church has no less than seven figure brasses, more than just about any other church in East Anglia, as well as other memorial inscriptions. An extraordinary find in such a place.
They are all between eighteen and twenty-four inches tall. Mostly, they are to the Blenerhaysett, or Blennerhassett, family and their relatives - a most un-East Anglian name; in the Paston letters, Sir John scoffs that Ralph Blenerhaysett is a name to start a hare. They came from Cumbria, and were Lords of the Manor here. Six of the figures are still in situ on the floor. They are (top row above) vowess Joan Braham, died 1519, in cloak and girdle; Jane Blenerhaysett, 1521, in kennel headdress; John Blenerhaysett, her husband, also 1521, in armour, with sword; the already mentioned Ralph Blenerhaysett, 1475, in full mail. The first and last in the second row are an exquisite shroud brass to Thomas Hobson, and Anne Duke, also in a kennel headress. Other inscriptions also survive, and there are replicas of others on the wall. As I say, extraordinary stuff.
Even if there were no brasses, you would want to come here. Although the porch, font and a few other features survive from medieval times, the overwhelming flavour of the inside is of the 17th century - a silvery white family pew faces across to the contemporary pulpit, clearly by the same hand.
Everything is simple, but touched down the long years - the plain altar, bearing a medieval mensa, is typical of this. Boards from a royal arms hang above the south door - were they once overpainted with something else? There are two piscinas set into windowsills, one each side of the nave. Two smug little monkeys on a single bench stare out at all of this. What a special place.
Simon Knott, March 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/frenze/frenze.htm
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Was always one manor, (fn. 1) which in King Edward's time was held by Edric, (fn. 2) of Edric, for one carucate; and in the Conqueror's time by Hubert, of Robert Malet, lord of Eye; it was then worth 15s. per annum, being five furlongs long, and four broad, and paid 3d. Danegeld.
It was always held of Eye honour at one quarter of a knight's fee, and paid x.s. relief. I do not meet with any lords' names (fn. 3) before 1280, (fn. 4) when John de Ludham was lord and patron, whose family took their sirname from a village so called in Suffolk, in Wilford hundred, (fn. 5) which they held many ages. In 1297, it was settled on
William de Ludham, and Alice his wife, and John their son, and his heirs. In 1329,
Joan, wife of Sir John Ludham, and John Lowdham, Knt. son of Thomas, was 21 years old, and held this manor; and in 1336, purchased several large parcels of land of Ralph de Shimpling, and Katerine his wife, being the first of this family that had Boyland's manor; both which, together with this advowson, in 1343, they settled by fine on themselves, and the heirs of John; Edmund de Ufford le Frere, and Peter de Teye, being feoffees. In 1351,
Sir John, son and heir of Sir John de Lowdham, and Joan his wife, held this and Boyland manor in Osmundeston, Frenze and Stirston; he died in 1355, and Joan his wife had it to her death in 1371, and held it of Edmund, son of Sir Thomas de Ufford, lord of Eye.
John, son of Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. inherited, and died in 1373; and
Sir Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. brother and heir of John, son of Thomas, son of John, and Joan his wife, held it, jointly with Maud his wife; he died in 1385, and
Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held it, as guardian to John Lowdham, who dying, left it to his wife;
And in 1401, the lady which was the wife of Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held Boyland's in dower, and Sir Robert Corbet, junior, her son, held Frenze, during the minority of John Lowdham, son of Thomas de Lowdham and Maud his wife, who, when his father died, was but seven years old. This John died 28th April, 1428; Alice his wife surviving him: he left only one daughter,
Joan, then 14 years old, married to Thomas Hevenyngham, Esq. and after that to Ralph Blaverhasset, Esq. both which she outlived, not dying till June 20, 1501, being 97 years of age: she was seized of Boyland's, the other moiety of which was granted by John Lowdham to John Woodhouse.
John Blaverhasset was her son and heir, being 77 years old at his mother's death. This is a very ancient family, taking their name from Bleverseta, or Bleverhayset, in Cumberland, where the eldest branch continued a long time. In 1382, Alan Bleverhasset was mayor of the city of Carlisle, as was John, in 1430. (fn. 6) In 1412, Ralph Bleverhayset was parliament-man for that city, and so was Thomas, in 1584. In 1510, this John died, in the 87th year of his age, seized of Frenze, and a moiety of Boyland's; he had two wives; Jane daughter of Thomas Heigham of Heigham Green in Suffolk, Esq. by whom he had SirThomas, his son and heir, now 49 years of age; and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Tindall of Hockwold in Norfolk, Knt. He came from South-hill in Bedfordshire, to Frenze, which estate he gave to John, his son by his second wife, who dying without issue, it was divided among his four sisters,Margaret, married to Robert Warner of Besthorp, after to William Drury of the same; Jane, to Sir Phillip Calthorp; Anne, to Sir Henry Grey of Wrest in Bedfordshire, Knt.; Ellen to Miles Hobert of Plumstede in Norfolk, Esq. second son of Sir James Hobart, Knt.
Sir Thomas died seized of Frenze and Boyland's, June 27, 1531, leaving
George, his eldest son by his first wife, his heir: he died in 1543, and by his will gave Frenze to Margaret his wife for life, and Boyland's moiety to Mary, his daughter and heiress, then married to Thomas Culpepper, Esq. she being to have Frenze also at Margaret's death. This Mary, by fine, settled Frenze on
Francis Bacon, Esq. her second husband, and Edmund his son, for their lives, both which had it, Edmund Bacon of Harleston being seized of it in 1572: after whose death it reverted to
John Bleverhasset, who had enjoyed Boyland's ever since the death of the said Mary. This John was brother to George, her father: he sold the moiety of Boyland's to Sir Thomas Cornwaleis, Knt. and his heirs, but Frenze continued in this family; for in 1587,
George Bleverhasset held it; and in 1595,
Samuel Bleverhasset. How or when it went from this family I do not find; but in 1666, 24th Nov.
Richard Nixon, Esq. died seized, and.
Richard was his son and heir, whose son, Diamond Nixon, sold it to
Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. whose son, Sir Robert, is now lord and patron. [1730.]
The Church is a small building, of equal height, covered with tile; and having no steeple, the bell hangs on the outside of the roof, at the west end: there is no partition between the church and chancel, but there is a beam fixed across the east chancel window, on which the rood was conveniently placed. The church is about 24 yards long, and 7 yards wide; the south porch is tiled. It is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, (fn. 7) as appears from the will of Ralph Bleverhasset, who desired to be buried in the chancel of St. Andrew at Frenze. The meanness of the fabrick hath preserved the inscriptions from being reaved, for it looks like a barn, at a distance. In the chancel, according to his will, is buried Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. whose effigies, standing upon a lion, still remains on a stone, and this inscription:
Hic iacct venerabilis Uir Radulphus Bleverhansett Armiger qui obiit riiio die Mensis Novembris Ao dni. Mo CCCC lrrbo. cuisu Anime propicietur Deus Amen.
There are four shields still remaining.
1. Bleverhasset with an annulet quartering Orton;
2. Ditto impaling Lowdham;
3. As the second;
4. Lowdham single.
The inscription for his wife is now lost, but was, as we learn from Mr. Anstis's MSS. (marked G. 6, fol. 39.) as follows:
Here lyeth Mrs. Joane Bleverhasset, the Wife of Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. the Daughter and Heir of John Lowdham, who died the 20th Dan of June 1501.
The same MSS. hath the following inscription, now gone:
"Here lyeth the venerable Gentleman John Blaverhasset, Esq; who died the 27th of March, in the Year of our Lord, 1514."
On a stone by the south door is the effigies of a woman bidding her beads, with three shields under the inscription.
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Lowdham;
2. Ditto impaling Tindall, quartering Fecklin;
3. Tindall quartering Orton and Scales.
Pran for the Soule of Jane Bleverhayssett, Wedow, late Wyf onto John Blaverhayssett, Esquier, Whiche Jane departed oute of this present Lyf, the bi Day of October, the Yere of our Lord God, M y rri on whose Soule Jhu have merry, Amen.
On a stone at the east end,
Here lyeth Sir Thomas Bleuerhayssette, Knyght, which decessyd the ryii Dan of June, the Yere of our Lorde M yo rrri. and rrriii Yere of the Reigne of our Sobe raygne Lord Kyng Henry the viiith, whois Soule God Pardon.
At each corner is a coat:
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Orton, impaling Lowdham and Keldon, quartered.
2. Hasset and Lowdham quartered, impaling Heigham, his first wife.
3. Hasset, Lowdon, Orton, and Keldon, quartered, impaling Braham, with a crescent.
4. Hasset, and the three quartered as in the last, impaling two lions passant.
His effigies still remains, in complete armour, having a surcoat of his arms, viz. Bleverhasset with the annulet, (which this branch always bare for difference,) with his quarterings, Lowdham, Orton, and Kelvedon; (or Keldon;) under his head lies his crest, viz. a fox passant.
On a marble three yards long, and a yard and half wide, is this on a brass plate:
Here lyeth Dame Margaret Bleverhayset, Wedowe. late Wyf to Syr Thomas Bleverhayset off Frens, Knyght, Domghter to John Braham of Metheryngset, Esquyer, who bad Yssue by the said Sur Thomas, two Sonnes, Thomas a Pryst, and John Bleverhayset of Bargham, by Beclys in Suff, and fyve Dowghters, that ys Elizabeth Fyrst married to Lyonell Lowth, after to Francis Clopton, Agnes married to Syr Antony Rows, Knyght, Anne married fyrst to George Duke, after to Peter Rede, Margaret fyrst married to John Gosnold, after to Antony Myngfyld, who dyed the rriii of Julye in the Yere of our Lorde, 1561.
The first coat is lost, but was Braham impaling Reydon.
2. Hasset, Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, Skelton, and Hasset, impaling Braham; the third is lost.
Adjoining is another stone, having had two coats, which are reaved, as is the effigies of the man; that of the woman remains; her head lies on a pillow, and her beads hang before her; the two remaining shields have these arms:
1. Duke quartering Banyard, with the difference of two annulets interlaced on the fess.
Park and Ilketshall impaling Hasset, quartering Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, and Skelton.
2. Hasset, and his quarterings, as before.
Mr. Le Neve says, that the two coats lost were,
1. Duke and his quarterings, as before.
2. Duke, &c. impaling Jenney, quartering Buckle and Leiston. Buckle, or, a chevron between three buckles.
Heare uner lieth George Duke, Esquyre. who marryed Anne, the Dowghter of Syr Thomas Bleverhaysset, Knyght, the whiche George died the rrbi day of July, in the Yere of our Lorde God, a. M. CCCCC. li. whos Sowle God Pardon, Amen.
Another stone hath its inscription torn off, and one shield; the other is
Cornwaleis impaling Froxmere.
The next hath a man in armour, his sword hanging before him on a belt, his hands erected.
Hasset quarters Lowdham and Orton; Orton or Lowthe impales Heigham.
Hic iacet venerabilis bir Johannis Bleber hayset, Armiger, qui viresimo viiio die Mens: Novemb: Ao Dni. Mo bo r. cuius anime propicietur Deus.
On another stone: crest, a fox sedant on a wreath, under it, in a lozenge:
1. Hasset, Lowdham, Orton, Keldon, Skelton, Duke, frette - - - Lowthe.
2. Culpepper quartering - - - - a chevron between eleven martlets, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, impaling Hasset, and quarterings as before.
3. Bacon impaling Hasset and quarterings.
4. Hasset and quarterings.
5. Duke, with an annulet, quartering three pelicans vulning themselves, and - - - frette - - -
6. Orton.
Mariæ filiæ et hæredi unicæ Georgij Bleverhasset, Militis inaurati Enuptæ primo Thomæ Culpeper, Armigero, qui hic, postea Francisco Bacon, Armigero, Qui Petistiræ in Comitat: Suff. tumulatur, sine prole, Defuncte vii Septembr. 1587, Ætatis suæ, 70. Viduæ, Piæ, Castæ, Hospitali, Benignæ! Joannes Cornwaleis, et Joannes Bleverhasset, Memoriæ et amoris ergo posuerunt.
On a brass fixed to the north chancel wall:
Here under lyethe Thomazin Platers, Daughter of George Duke, Esquyer, and Wife to William Platers, Sonne t Heier of Thomas Platers of Soterley, Esquier, whiche Thomazin dyed the 23d day of December, in the second Yere of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Quene Elizabethe, Ao 1560.
Platers, arg. three bends wavy az.
Platers impaling Duke and his quarterings.
More towards the east, on the said wall, remains the impression of a brass effigies, and inscription now lost, but in a MSS. (marked E. 26, fol. 23.) in Mr. Anstis's hands we have the following account:
Platers's arms and Duke's:
Orate pro animabus Willi Platers et Thomazin uroris suæ filiæ Duke
As also of this, now lost:
Orate pro Domina Johanna Braham, vidua ur: Johns: Braham de Lowdham, Armigeri.
Braham impales Duke.
On a stone having the effigies of a woman in her winding sheet, bidding her beads:
Hic iaret tumulata domina Johanna Braham, vidua ar Deo dirata olim uror Johannis Braham Armigeri que obiit rbiiio die Nobembris Ao Dni. Millimo CCCCC rir. cuius anime propicietur Deus, Amen.
Braham single, and again impaling Reydon. Reydon single.
On a brass plated stone near the north door, a man in his winding sheet, and this:
Pray for the Sowle of your Charite, Of Thomas Hobson to the Trynyte.
On three flat marbles:
Nixon, on a chief, an axe impaling three roundels.
Here lieth the Body of Richard the Son of Richard Nixon, Esq; and Susan his Wife, who departed this Life the 28th Day of August, 1678.
In the 22d Year of his Age.
Nixon, impaling a chevron between three lions rampant:
Reliquiæ Richardi Nixon, Armig: Qui obijt 24° Novemb: Ano Dom. 1666, Ætatis suæ 77.
Per fess embattled three pheons impaling Nixon:
Here lyeth the Body of William Cooper, Gent. who died the 30th Day of March, 1693, Aged 54 Years.
In a north window was a man bearing Ufford's arms, and by him stood pictured a lady in the arms of Shelton, covered with a mantle of Lowdham. (fn. 8)
In the next window, or, a fess gul. Hasset, Scales; many funeral escutcheons for Hasset; one for Catherine, wife to Thomas Froxmere, Gent.
In the windows, Hasset and Lowdham quartered. Lowdham,— Ufford,—Dalimer, arg. three inescutcheons gul.; Shelton, Mortimer of Wigmore, Ufford with a label, again with a de-lis, again with a batoon gobonne arg. and gul.; again with an annulet arg.
In the west window Lowdham.
Lowdham impales Bacon, gul. on a chief arg. two mullets of the field, pierced sab.
Or, a fess gul. impales Scales.
Lowdham impales az. on a chief gul. three leopards faces or.
Mascule or and sab.
Most of these arms still remain in the windows.
I find among the evidences of Brightlead's tenement in Scole, that Thomas Ropkyn was buried here, with this inscription, now lost:
Pray for the Sowle of Thomas Ropkyn.
I have now by me three brass shields, which I am apt to think were stolen from this church some time agone; the arms being
Shelton impaling a cross ingrailed erm.
Shelton impaling a fess between fifteen billets, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Paston impaling Shelton.
At Mrs. Hill's at Castor, near Yarmouth, I saw an ancient canvass surrounding two rooms, painted with the matches of the Bleverhassets; (John Bleverhasset, who married Mrs. Hill's sister, and died in 1704, was the last of this branch;) their names are under each coat; but with hanging against moist walls, several are worn out: those that are perfect I have added here, though they are so displaced, that the time of the matches cannot be determined by their succession.
Bleverhasset, gul. a chevron. erm. between three dolphins embowed arg.
Crest on a wreath, arg. and gul. a fox seiant, gul.
Impaled with all the following coats:
Frogmorton, gul. on a chevron, or, three bars sab.
Braham, as in p. 134.
Tindall, arg. a fess indented in chief three crescents gul.
Eyre, arg. on a fess, - - - three trefoils or.
Pickerell, as in p. 48.
Clopton, sab. a bend arg. cotized, indented or.
Lowthe, sab. a lion rampant or, armed gul.
Cressi, arg. three beacons sab.
Culpepper, arg. a bend ingrailed gul.
Covert, gul. a fess between three lions heads or.
Baynaugh, gul. a chevron between three bulls faces or.
Brampton, gul. a saltire between four croslets fitchee arg.
Meawes, pally of six, or and arg. on a chief gul. three croslets formy of the first.
Lowdham, as in p. 134.
Kelvedon, (or Keldon,) gul. a pall reversed erm.
Orton, arg. a lion rampant guardant vert, crowned or.
Skelton, az. on a fess between three de-lises, or, a crescent sab.
Cornwaleis, Hare, Heydon, Wyngfield, Reape, Kempe, Gosnold, Spilman, Colby, Alcock, Rowse, Drury, Hubbard, Heigham, Warner, quartering Whetnall, Calthorp, Lovell and Ruthyn.
Rectors.
1294, John de Petestre, rector. (fn. 9)
1325, prid. non. Jan John de Novadomo (Newhouse) de Snapes; presented by Cecily, widow of Sir Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk, and lord of Eye, Robert de Shelton, and William Tastard, guardians of John de Lowdham.
1349, 21 Sept. Walter Manneysyn (after wrote in Deeds Malvesyn.) Sir John Lowdham, Knt.
1381, 7 May, William Payok, priest. Thomas de Lowdham, Knt.
1382, 6 June, John Baxter, priest. (fn. 10) Ditto.
1393, 4 June, Peter Rous, priest. Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1394, 20 May, Henry Brakkele, priest, (fn. 11) Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1397, 6 Decem. Sir John de Scoles, priest. Ditto.
1401, ult. Jan. Michael Crowe of Kenninghall, priest. Ditto.
1404, 4 Oct. Sir Tho. Warner of Leyham, priest. Gilbert de Debenham, for this turn.
1408, 8 Nov. Robert Pope of Frandeston, priest. John Lowdham of Burgate.
1416, 18 Oct. Tho. Bukke of Melles, priest. (fn. 12) John Lowdham of Ipswich, patron, by right of inheritance in a lineal descent.
1416, 20 Jan. John Greeve. Ditto.
1417, 22 Oct. Roger de Knyveton, priest. John Hevenyngham, senior, Knt. Will. Shelton, Esq. Will. Lord, clerk, and John Intewode, for this turn.
1419, 22 Dec. John Rawe, priest, on Knyveton's resignation. John Lowdham.
1423, 31 May, Simon Warner, priest. (fn. 13) John Lowdham, Esq. son and heir of Thomas Lowdham, Knt.
1428, 10 April, John Bubwith, priest, on Warner's resignation. John Hagh, Esq.
1479, 18 July, Henry - - - - - - -
1484, 22 Sept. Robert Stukely, collated by the Bishop. I meet with no more institutions till
1597, 21 April, Edmund Stanhaw. The Crown (as guardian to Bleverhasset.)
1598, 20 Oct. John Smith, A. M. on Stanhaw's resignation. Samuel Bleverhasset, Esq. united to Scole.
1603, John Smith, rector, of whom the Answers of the Parsons inform us, that he was a preacher allowed by the late Lord Bishop of Norwich, but no graduate.
1618, 21 April, Tho. Hall, A. M. united to Scole. Samuel Blaverhasset of Lowdham, Esq.
1642, 10 Sept. John Gibbs, A. M. on Hall's death. Richard Nixon, Gent.
1651, 18 Febr. Toby Dobbin. Ditto.
¶1673, 22 Sept. Tho. Wales, A. B. on Dobbin's death. John Fincham of Outwell, in the Isle of Ely, Esq.; he had Thelton.
1702, 7 Oct. Tho. Palgrave, on Wales's death. Diamond Nixon, Esq.
1725, 24 Aug. Will. Baker, on Palgrave's death. Robert Kemp, Bart. united to Wacton-Parva.
1734, the Rev. Mr. John James, the present [1736] rector, on Baker's resignation. Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. patron.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol1...
Shimpling Bury St Edmunds based Apollo transport DAF CF coupled to a three axle fruehauf tipper trailer driving in Northern road Sudbury
Shimpling based Appolo DAF CF coupled to a three axle tipper trailer driving in Northern road Sudbury
A round towered church with a spire; somewhat unusual I imagine. Someone might like to correct me on that and I find its quite common.
I had seen shots of St George taken from the air by my Flickr friend, John Fielding. I decided to see if any of the churches he had snapped were near to my route to Cambridge, and found they were.
I did not think of going to Shimpling this day, but as this and Frenze are under the care of the Church Conservation Trust, an information board at the latter said I should go to the former if I enjoyed Frenze.
So I did.
Driving through Diss, trying to program the sat nav, easy as the main road through the town, under the railway bridge was a solid line of traffic, I only hoped that Shimpling would not be back the way I had just come.
The route took me through some of the narrow streets of the town centre, a place to go back to to explore I think, but my route took me out north through the modern houses then into the flat countryside of south Norfolk.
I arrived in Shimpling, a few houses and farms; where could the church be, and just as I was about to stop and annoy the lorry behind, I saw the information board at the start of the farm track leading to St George.
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St George is a familiar sight to drivers between Ipswich and Norwich, off in the fields near Dickleburgh. A substantial, landmark church; and yet it is redundant. Coming from Suffolk, where the local Anglican Diocese goes out of its way to avoid redundancies if it can, Shimpling's redundancy seemed careless. This is not a tiny village, and if drawn into a group with Dickleburgh could surely have sustained a monthly service or so. Probably, if it arose nowadays, St George would not be declared redundant. From the point of view of the building, of course, it was both a blessing and a mercy, as the church is now in the capable, caring hands of the Churches Conservation Trust.
The setting of St George just to the south of its village is superb. A cart track leads up from a farm, difficult of access at the best of times, but suicide on this day when the snow still lay deep in the ruts, the mud sucking at our boots. If we had attempted to drive it then I guess the tractor would be getting to us about now. The keyholders both live about a mile off, but the walk was worth it.
St George is perhaps more typical of Suffolk than Norfolk, a rural church made opulent by the wealth of the later years of the 15th century. Then came the font, the benches, the roof, the surviving scattering of medieval angel glass. Otherwise, the feeling is of the much-maligned Victorians, who loved churches and wanted this one restored to its former glory. Geoffery Millard, rector through those times, has his memorial in the chancel, but all around it is the building that he would recognise instantly if he stepped into it today.
Amber light filled the space beneath the tower, and I was glad I was here, in this silent frozen space, this touchstone to the long generations. Some curiosities: under the benches at the west end, there is a trap door. Inside, some of the original medieval tiles have survived the Victorians; they merely built a wooden platform over them. Then, a wholly secular brass inscription of 1591 to Anthony le Grys is set in the mddle of the nave - but the inlay is the wrong size and shape, and so it must come originally from somewhere else. A small hole in the north wall of the sanctuary is surely too tiny to have been an aumbry. And yet, it is set back to take a door, and appears once to have had some sort of wooden tympanum set over it. Could it have been a squint from a shrine chapel? Or even from an anchorite's cell?
Incidentally, another curious thing: There is a Shimpling in Suffolk as well, and the churches of both are dedicated to St George, an otherwise unusual East Anglian dedication. The reason appears to be that the enthusiastic 18th century antiquarians, ruttling around in the Diocesan records at Norwich, accidentally applied the dedication of the Suffolk church to both, dedications having fallen out of use for two hundred years or more.
Simon Knott, March 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/shimpling/shimpling.htm
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SHIMPLING
¶Is bounded on the east by Dickleburgh, on the west by Burston, on the south by Thelton, and on the north by Gissing. It is a rectory appendant to the manor, and being discharged of first fruits and tenths, is capable of augmentation. The rectory hath a house and 16 acres of glebe: Norwich Domesday says, that Richard de Boyland was then patron, that the rector had a house and xv. acres of land; that the procurations were then vi.s. viii.d. and the synodals xxii.d.
Rectors.
1305, 6 kal. Dec. Robert de Boswyle, accolite, William de Schympling.
1328, 7 kal. Mar. Will. de Schymplyng, accolite. Roger, son of Will. de Shympling.
1338, 12 July, John de Cherchegate, priest to St. George's church at Shympling. Ditto.
1349, Robert Sampson, priest. Emma, late wife of Roger de Schymplyng.
1361, 13 Sept. Ric. de Halle, priest. Ditto.
1362, 21 Sept. Peter Scott. Ditto.
1386, 19 April, Tho. de Welles. Thomas de Glemesford.
1393, 28 March, Welles changed this with John Mulle for Mildeston rectory, in Sarum diocese. Roger de Ellingham and Joan Hardegrey.
1396, 29 March, Mulle exchanged with Will. Stone for Ludenham in Kent. Ditto.
1401, 29 Aug. John Drury, priest, who resigned Watton vicarage in exchange for this. Roger de Elyngham.
1408, 7 Aug. John Cok of Illington, priest.
1421, 8 Octob. Reginald Pepper of Berton Bendysch, priest, on the resignation of Cok. Ditto.
1421, 6 March, Tho. Young, on Pepper's resignation. William, son of Roger de Elyngham of Elyngham, near Bungey.
1422, 22 March, Rich. Senyngwell, on Young's resignation. Ditto.
1430, 20 Sept. Walter Skyde of Disse. Lapse.
1432, 23 Octob. Thomas Wright. Lapse.
1434, 14 Dec. John Grygby. William Elyngham of Elyngham by Bungey.
1437, 12 Octob. Richard de Schymplyng, on Grygby's resignation. William Elyngham of Elyngham by Bungey.
1449, 31 Jan. Robert Caade, resigned to John Beest, in exchange for Winterburn Basset rectory, in Wiltshire. Ditto.
1451, 21 April, Thomas Messinger, on Beest's death. Ditto.
1504, John Odiham.
1507, 4 Aug. James Galle. (fn. 1) Lapse.
1525, 19 Octob. Thomas Warde. Thomas Shardelowe, Esq.
1536, 26 March, John Lanman, (fn. 2) on Ward's death. John Aldham, lord of the moiety of Elyngham's manor here, by turns.
1563, 26 June, Thomas Oxford, alias Farmor, A. M. Stephen Shardelowe, Gent.
1572, 24 Nov. William Luffkyn, on Oxford's resignation. Stephen Shardelowe, and John Aldham, patrons.
1609, 1 Aug. Nicholas Colte. (fn. 3) John Sherdelowe.
1642, Jeremiah Gowen. (fn. 4) Adrian Mott of Braintree, and Margaret Carter of Stratford in Essex.
1649, Thomas Cole, (fn. 5) clerk, A. M. John and James Mott, Gent.
1684, 9 Dec. John Rand. John Buxton, Esq. united to Burston.
1706, 1 Jan. John Calver, on Rand's death. Robert Buxton, Esq. united to Gissing.
1729, The Rev. Mr. Thomas Buxton, the present rector, [1736,] united to Thorp-Parva.
The Church hath a steeple, round at bottom, and octangular at top, and four small bells; it is leaded, though the chancel is thatched, and the north porch tiled. It is dedicated to St. George, (fn. 6) whose effigies, with his shield, viz. arg. a plain cross gul. is to be seen in a south window of the chancel, and seems to be as old as the building, which in all appearance was in the beginning of the thirteenth century, (though the steeple is much older,) for then William de Shimplyng was lord and patron, whose arms still remain under this effigies, viz. arg. a chief gul. a fess between six de-lises sab.
Here was a Gild in honour of the same saint, (fn. 7) and a Chapel dedicated to St. Mary, which stood in Shimpling Hithe, of which there are no remains. This had some endowment, for Girrard the Prior, (fn. 8) and his Chapter at Norwich, with the Bishop's consent, granted to Richard the chaplain of Shimpling, 7 roods of meadow in Roreker in Shimpling, &c. in perpetual alms, paying yearly 5d. at the high altar in the cathedral, to which John Pierson of Gissing, and others, were witnesses, (fn. 9) so that this must be before 1201, for in that year Gerrard the Prior died; this was down before the general dissolution, for I meet with no grant of it at that time.
St. George and the dragon, and the arms of Shimpling, are carved on the font; the chancel is covered with large grave-stones, all disrobed of their brasses; several of them were laid over the rectors, as appear from the chalice and wafer upon them, that being the symbol of a priest; the rest that had arms, I take to be laid over the Shimplings and the Shardelows. The arms of
Shardelow are, arg. a chevron gul. between three croslets fitchee, az. Crest, a plume of feathers arg.
On a small stone towards the west end of the church:
Richard Lesingham, ob. 5° die. Octob. Anno Dni. 1705, Ætatis suæ - - - -
Here let him rest, Memory stile him dear, 'Till our Redeemer Shall in the clouds appear.
On a marble near the pulpit: arms of
Potter, sab. a fess between three mullets arg. Crest, an elephant's head erased arg. gutte de sang.
Here in expectation of a joyful resurrection, resteth the body of Cicill Potter, Gent. who dyed Jan. the 29th, 1693, aged 70 years.
In a window:
Gloria in Errelsis Deo.
Here are twelve penny loaves given to as many poor people, by the rector and church-wardens, on the first Sunday in every month, there being land tied for it.
In the Confessor's time Torbert held this manor of Stigand, it being then worth 20s. of whom the part in Gissing was also held by another freeman, and was then of 5s. value, but was risen to ten in the Conqueror's time, though Shimpling continued at the same value. This, as one manor, was given by the Conqueror to Roger Bygod, who gave it to Robert de Vais, (de Vallibus, or Vaus,) it being then a mile and a quarter long, and a mile broad. (fn. 10) The whole paid 5d. Geld. There was then a church and 10 acres glebe, valued at 12d. and several other manors extended hither, of which I shall afterwards treat in their proper places. The Vaises held it of Bygod's successors, till 1237, in which year Oliver de Vallibus (fn. 11) granted it to Richard de Rupella, (afterwards called Rokele,) settling it on him and his heirs by fine, (fn. 12) to be held of him by knight's service; he died in 1287, at which time he held it of John de Vallibus. This Richard granted it to be held of him and his heirs by Richard de Boyland, in trust for Ralph Carbonell, (fn. 13) who held it of Maud, wife of William de Roos, who was daughter and coheir of John de Vaux. This Ralph conveyed it to
Roger de Schymplyng, to be held by knight's service of Richard Rokeles's heirs; and in 1280, the said Roger (fn. 14) was lord, the manor being settled upon him, and Emma his wife, in tail; after their deaths it came to William de Schympling, (fn. 15) their son, who held it of Richard Rokell at half a fee, he of the Earl-Marshal, and he of the King in capite. This William married Margaret de Tacolveston, (fn. 16) on whom the manor was settled for life in 1303, it being then held of William de Roos and Maud his wife, and Petronell de Vaux, her sister. This William purchased a great part of the town of divers persons. He had a son named Roger, who presented in 1328, and held it till about 1345, when he was dead, and Emma his wife had it, at whose death it fell divisible between their three daughters: (fn. 17)
Isabel, married to John Kirtling, to whom this manor was allotted;
Joan, who had Moring-Thorp manor, and
Katerine, married to William de Ellyngham, who had Dalling manor in Flordon. Isabell had issue, Roger and Emma, who left none, so that this manor and advowson descended to Roger, son of William de Elyngham and Katerine his wife, daughter of Roger de Schymplyng, which said Roger de Elyngham held it in 1401, by half a fee, of John Copledick, Knt. who held it of the Lady Roos, she of Thomas Mowbray, and he in capite of the King. How it went from the Elynghams I do not know, but imagine it must be by female heiresses; for in 1521, Humphry Wyngfield had a moiety of it, and John Aldham had another part; he died in 1558, and was buried in this chancel, leaving his part to John his son, (fn. 18) who held it jointly with Bonaventure Shardelowe, in 1571; Mr. Aldham had a fourth part of the manor, and a third turn, and Mr. Shardelow three parts and two turns. The patronage and manor was in Mr. John Motte, who was buried October 7, 1640, and John Motte, and his brother James, presented in 1649. It looks as if the Mottes had Aldham's part, and after purchased Shardelow's of Mr. John Shardelowe, who held it till 1611, together with Dalling manor in Florden, which was held of Shimpling manor. He conveyed it to Edmund Skipwith, Esq. and Antony Barry, Gent. and they to Thomas Wales, and John Basely, Gent. who conveyed it to the Motts, from whom, I am apt to think, it came to the Proctors, for John Buxton of St. Margaret's in South Elmham had it, in right of his wife, who was kinswoman and heiress of Mr. Proctor, rector of Gissing; after this it came to Robert Buxton, Esq. who died and left it to Elizabeth his wife, who is since dead, and Elizabeth Buxton, their only daughter, a minor, is now [1736] lady and patroness.
The Leet belongs to the manor, and the fine is at the lord's will.
As to the other parts of this village, (fn. 19) they being parts of the manors of Titshall, Fersfield, and Brisingham, it is sufficient to observe, that they went with those manors, except that part held by Fulco, of which the register called Pinchbek, fo. 182, says that Fulco or Fulcher held of the Abbot in Simplingaham and Gissing, 70 acres, and 4 borderers, being infeoffed by Abbot Baldwin in the time of the Conqueror; this, about Edward the First's time, was in Sir John Shardelowe, a judge in that King's reign, in whose family it continued till 1630, when it was sold to Mr. Mott. The seat of the Shardelows is now called the Place, and is the estate of the Duke of Grafton; and (as I am informed) formerly belonged to Isaac Pennington, (fn. 20) alderman of London, one of those rebels that sat as judges at the King's trial, for which villainy he was knighted. He lived to the Restoration, when, according to his deserts, his estates were seized as forfeited to King Charles II. who gave this to the Duke of Grafton; upon the forfeiture, the copyhold on the different manors were also seized, which is the reason that the quitrents to Gissing, Titshall, &c. are so large, they being made so when the Lords regranted them.
¶I have seen an ancient deed made by John Camerarius, or Chambers, of Shimpling, to Richard de Kentwell, clerk, and Alice his wife, and their heirs, of 3 acres of land in this town, witnessed by Sir Gerard de Wachesam, Knt. and others, which is remarkable, for its never having any seal, and its being dated at Shimpling in the churchyard, on Sunday next before Pentecost, anno 1294. (fn. 21) This shews us that seals (as Lambard justly observes (fn. 22) ) were not in common use at this time; and, therefore, to make a conveyance the most solemn and publick that could be, the deed was read to the parish, after service, in the churchyard, that all might know it, and be witnesses, if occasion required. The Saxons used no seals, only signed the mark of a cross to their instruments, to which the scribe affixed their names, by which they had a double meaning; first, to denote their being Christians, and then, as such, to confirm it by the symbol of their faith. The first sealed charter we meet with is that of Edward the Confessor to Westminster abbey, which use he brought with him from Normandy, where he was brought up; and for that reason it was approved of by the Norman Conqueror; though sealing grew into common use by degrees, the King at first only using it, then some of the nobility, after that the nobles in general, who engraved on their seals their own effigies covered with their coat armour; after this, the gentlemen followed, and used the arms of their family for difference sake. But about the time of Edward III. seals became of general use, and they that had no coat armour, sealed with their own device, as flowers, birds, beasts, or whatever they chiefly delighted in, as a dog, a hare, &c.; and nothing was more common than an invention or rebus for their names, as a swan and a tun for Swanton, a hare for Hare, &c.; and because very few of the commonality could write, (all learning at that time being among the religious only,) the person's name was usually circumscribed on his seal, so that at once they set both their name and seal, which was so sacred a thing in those days, that one man never used another's seal, without its being particularly taken notice of in the instrument sealed, and for this reason, every one carried their seal about them, either on their rings, or on a roundel fastened sometimes to their purse, sometimes to their girdle; nay, oftentimes where a man's seal was not much known, he procured some one in publick office to affix theirs, for the greater confirmation: thus Hugh de Schalers, (or Scales,) a younger son of the Lord Scales's family, parson of Harlton in Cambridgeshire, upon his agreeing to pay the Prior of Bernewell 30s. for the two third parts of the tithe corn due to the said Prior out of several lands in his parish, because his seal was known to few, he procured the archdeacon's official to put his seal of office, for more ample confirmation: (fn. 23) and when this was not done, nothing was more common than for a publick notary to affix his mark, which being registered at their admission into their office, was of as publick a nature as any seal could be, and of as great sanction to any instrument, those officers being always sworn to the true execution of their office, and to affix no other mark, than that they had registered, to any instrument; so their testimony could be as well known by their mark, as by their name; for which reason they were called Publick Notaries, Nota in Latin signifying a mark, and Publick because their mark was publickly registered, and their office was to be publick to all that had any occasion for them to strengthen their evidence. There are few of these officers among us now, and such as we have, have so far varied from the original of their name, that they use no mark at all, only add N. P. for Notary Publick, at the end of their names. Thus also the use of seals is now laid aside, I mean the true use of them, as the distinguishing mark of one family from another, and of one branch from another; and was it enjomed by publick authority, that every one in office should, upon his admission, choose and appropriate to himself a particular seal, and register a copy of it publickly, and should never use any other but that alone, under a severe penalty, I am apt to think, in a short time we should see the good effects of it; (fn. 24) for a great number of those vagabonds that infest our country under pretence of certificates signed by proper magistrates, (whose hands are oftener counterfeit than real,) would be detected; for though it is easy for an ill-designing person to forge a handwriting, it is directly the contrary as to a seal; and though it is in the power of all to know the magistrates names, it is but very few of such sort of people that could know their seals; so that it would in a great measure (if not altogether) put a stop to that vile practice; and it would be easy for every magistrate to know the seals of all others, if they were entered properly, engraved, and published: and it might be of service, if all the office seals in England (or in those foreign parts that any way concern the realm) were engraved and published, for then it would be in every one's power to know whether the seals of office affixed to all passes, &c. were genuine or no; for it is well known that numbers travel this nation, under pretence of passes from our consuls and agents abroad, and sometimes even deceive careful magistrates with the pretended hands and seals of such, it being sometimes impossible for them to know the truth, which by this means would evidently appear. And thus much, and a great deal more, may be said to encourage the true and original use of that wise Conqueror's practice, who can scarce be said to put any thing into use but what he found was of advantage to his government.
This rectory is in Norfolk archdeaconry, and Redenhall deanery: it had 69 communicants in 1603, and hath now [1736] 23 houses, and about 130 inhabitants. The town is valued at 300l. per annum. (fn. 25) Here are 3 acres of town land, one piece is a small pightle abutting on the land of Robert Leman, Esq. another piece is called Susan's pightle, lying in Gissing, and was given by a woman of this name, to repair the church porch, (as I am informed,) the other piece lies in Diss Heywode, and pays an annual rent of 5s.
The Commons are Kett's Fen, which contains about 4 acres; Pound Green, 1 acre; Hall Green, 4 acres; the Bottom, 6 acres; and the Lower Green, 6 acres.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol1...
St Mary and St Lambert, Stonham Aspal, Suffolk
Often when I’m out cycling in Suffolk I come across a village and I think, yes, this is nice, this is a place where I’d really like to live. But Stonham Aspal is not one of them. For a cyclist, the A1120 which threads though it is a hellish route, a rat run across the middle of East Suffolk. It was designated a 'tourist route' in the 1990s when brown signage was first introduced to the UK, but you can't turn a country road into a tourist route which bypasses Ipswich without expecting the great majority of through drivers to use it.
It cuts from the A12 to the A14, from Stowmarket to Yoxford. The local authority hoped to attract tourists to Stonham Barns, Framlingham and what was then a vineyard at Bruisyard, but local drivers saw it as an opportunity. It was a big mistake, and the signs on the A14 that tell you not to go down it if you want to get to Yoxford fool nobody. Everybody knows that it will cut a good 20 minutes off the journey, and it is villages like Stonham Aspal that pay the considerable price. And all that through traffic failed to save the village pub, the Ten Bells, which was a decent one, and its very appropriate name told you what was significant about the building across the road which we have come to see.
Two things strike you immediately about St Mary and St Lambert. Firstly, there’s the name. It would be foolish to make too much of the dedications of Anglican churches, since few of them have remained unchanged over the centuries. Indeed, during the years between the 16th century Reformation and the 19th century sacramental revival they largely fell into disuse, and some curious current dedications are, in fact, the results of the work of well-meaning but inaccurate 18th century antiquarians. For example, several dedications in what was the Norwich Diocese were conflated or confused. Chattisham took on Shottisham’s, and Kirton took on Shotley Kirkton’s. Antiquarians confused the Suffolk Hoo with the Norfolk Hoe, and thought that Suffolk's Shimpling and Norfolk's Shimpling were the same place. Great Ashfield and Badwell Ash actually swapped dedications. The enthusiasm of 19th century Rectors should also not be underestimated. At Whepstead, the parish church is dedicated to St Petronilla, uniquely in all England, but this has no basis in antiquity. Rather, someone in the 1890s had a special devotion to the Saint, or perhaps thought it was simply a nice name.
So you’ll not be surprised to learn that the Saint Lambert here is a mistake. In fact, there are three Stonhams, and this one once used the name of the Lambert family, owners of the Manor, to distinguish itself from the others. Such distinctions are rather more common in Essex. There is such a thing as a Saint Lambert, but this isn't him.
Secondly, of course, there is that tower. it is remarkable because it dates back to the 18th century (although what you see now is a rebuilding of the early 1990s). It gives the bells a quite different sound to that of them being rung in a tower of brick, stone or flint. As at Haughley, the tower appears to be a quite separate structure, as if it is only joined on incidentally to the body of the church. In many ways, this is an unusual building, and it repays the effort of walking around it. The clerestory is gorgeous, although rather lost beyond the collision of aisle and tower.
Bell chambers like the one here arise from a historical accident. After the Reformation, the adoption of Cranmer’s prayer book made bells liturgically redundant. Their only remaining uses were secular. Any number of things could have happened as a result of this, and most of them did. In some parishes, the bells, and by default the tower, fell into disuse. The weak materials from which the towers were originally constructed, coupled with puritan suspicion of ornate decorations of ecclesiastical buildings (the puritans were strong in Suffolk) meant that towers fell throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. By the 19th century there was a concern for their welfare, and an interest in liturgy, which conspired to encourage many parishes to effect repairs. But not all, and they continued to fall, often neglected by otherwise grand 19th century restorations. Acton was taken down as unsafe in 1880, Stanton All Saints collapsed in 1906. Bildeston collapsed as recently as 1975, the scaffolding for its impending restoration splintering like matchsticks in the rubble.
There were reasons, however, for towers to be cared for after the Reformation, and before the Victorians came along. In Suffolk, and especially along the coast, many were watchtowers – you can see far out to sea from the top of the churches at Southwold, Kessingland and Wrentham. Other church towers were used as strongholds. But there was another factor. There were few artistic flowerings in the English church in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Renaissance bypassed these islands, pretty much. It is therefore some recompense that the English invented recreational bell-ringing.
As well as their sacramental use within the liturgy, bells had probably always been used for ceremonial and processional purposes. In the later Middle Ages, they replaced Mass dials almost everywhere as a way of informing the people when Mass was about to start. We know they were rung on Holy Days, and tolled for the dead. When these purposes fell into disuse (ringing for services, ceremonial ringing and tolling for the dead are probably Victorian reinventions; the last of these never survived the great silence of WWII) all that was left was ringing for secular purposes – to warn of an invasion, perhaps, or to call the people together. Some churches had a clock bell (Hadleigh’s sanctus bell was adapted for this purpose), but a clock bell is not actually rung, it is struck. These uses alone were not enough to sustain the upkeep of towers everywhere in such troubled and impoverished times.
So it was a great salvation that a new use was found for the bells. This was not possible in churches with only one or two bells, which is the case of most Suffolk churches, but where there were more, they could be used to splendid effect. At Horham, for instance, which has the oldest ring of eight bells in the world. And here at Stonham Aspal. Mortlock tells us of the local squire, Theodore Eccleston, who was an enthusiastic bell-ringer. In 1742, he replaced the ring of five bells with one of ten, and the bell chamber was built to house them. I'm not clear if the tower was partly demolished to accommodate them, or if it had already fallen prey to the depredations of the two centuries since the Reformation.
Bell-ringing is as much maths as physical exertion, a pursuit that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. A bell team ringing together enters an inner communion, an almost trance-like state where all individuals are subsumed to the greater purpose. Bell-ringing continues to be important in Suffolk, as it has been for centuries now. In Ronald Blythe’s majestic Akenfield, we meet the bell teams ringing in Suffolk between the wars, walking in a group from one church to its neighbour to ring for the next service. On summer evenings, a walk might take them to ring at half a dozen churches. They undertook feats of endurance on special occasions, extravagant displays of ringing sequences with beautiful names. They were an independently-minded people, often not the least bit religious. This is still the case today. Ringing ran in families in Suffolk; the Baileys, the Wightmans, the Chenerys, the Pipes. It still does.
Well, as romantic as this all no doubt is, I’m afraid that, if you had come with me to St Mary and St Lambert in the spring of 2003, you would have been rather shocked by the state it was in. What at first appears to be scene-of-the-crime tape at the west end was actually protecting me from falling masonry. Several of the windows need repairing or replacing. Back in those days, the church was kept locked, which I thought inexcusable in such a busy village. As the major church insurance company patiently explains again and again, a locked church is twice as likely to be vandalised as one that is unlocked. A church that is kept locked is far more likely to be broken into than one that is opened regularly. And, get this - a locked church is even slightly more likely to have something stolen from it than an unlocked one.
However, those times are past, and coming back to Stonham Aspal in 2011 I already knew that much work had been undertaken here, and that I would find it open. I arrived and had a good look at Francis Bird's leisured memorial to Anthony Wingfield, which Pevsner memorably described as looking like it is taking a country holiday from Westminster Abbey. I stepped into what is essentially a fairly anonymous and urbanised Victorian restoration, the work of that low-brow architect Edward Hakewill, which probably caused more damage than Dowsing's visit of 1644. Hakewill was a great one for adding dark and gloomy north aisles, but fortunately for us this church already had a north aisle, and the building is full of light. There is very little coloured glass, and although the west window is incongrously small, the clerestory does its work for it. Intriguingly, the two easternmost clerestory windows have fragments of medieval glass in the upper lights, presumably reset by Hakewill from elsewhere in the church. There are more medieval fragments in the aisle windows.
The light allows a full inspection of a characterful set of bench ends. Mortlock describes them as extensively and cleverly restored, although I don't think there is much here that is medieval. A wolf guards St Edmund's head, a pious lady kneels at a prayer desk, a rather incongruous Chinese dragon shows off his beard.
Some 17th century bench ends survive in the north aisle, their solid, slightly rugged appearance typical of the period. There is a good early 17th Century brass to John Metcalfe, who was minister here for more than half the Elizabethan period. The weeping children on an earlier brass have been polished to within an inch of their lives, but this somehow makes them even more haunting.
The oldest thing here is the curious 13th century font, its arcading seeming most un-East Anglian. Did it come from here originally? Another curiosity is the vast bound chest in the vestry, which the churchwarden showed me - it is so big, indeed, that the vestry must have been built around it.
And the vestry has another curiosity, because if you step outside you can see that the entrance is flanked immediately to east and west by the headstone and footstone of the same person's grave. The story goes that the relatives of the deceased refused to allow him to be moved so that the vestry could be built. The single-minded Rector dealt with this by having the vestry built anyway, and its entrance placed directly over the unfortunate deceased's grave, dividing the headstone from the footstone. Thinking about it afterwards, I realised that they were probably simply reset either side in a decorative manner. But it is a good story.
Shimpling based Apollo transport DAF CF coupled to a three axle Fruehauf tipper trailer unloading at the Nestle Purina pet food factory at Sudbury
St George, Shimpling, Norfolk
I took this photograph of Shimpling church in March 2005, which seems a very long time ago now. It was an extremely cold day, I seem to remember.
It has taken until August 2018 to do a new entry for my site, but I didn't want to lose this particular photograph from the old one, so here it is.
From the little redundant church at Frenze on the outskirts of Diss it is not much more than a mile in a straight line across the fields to Shimpling church, but in the furnace-heat of this early August day it took three miles of cycling along doglegging lanes for me to reach it. These are very lonely lanes, protected from the A120 and any through traffic intending on reaching Diss any time soon. I don't think I passed a single car, and the only people I saw were a couple of walkers, a man and woman with rucksacks and staves. We said hello, and I headed past never expecting to see them again.
Eventually I reached the track down to Shimpling church and freewheeled down to the churchyard, and as I opened the gate the walkers came up beside the hedge, to meet me, having trudged across the fields. They were very nice, both with that slight air of hippydom which they had obviously acquired at the time in the sixties and never lost, something perhaps easier to maintain in rural East Anglia than in some big city. They lived locally, and like me had just come from Frenze church. They sat in the churchyard to rest, and I went inside.
I remembered the first time I'd come this way, in early 2005 on a day of sub-zero temperatures, snow on the ground and more snow to come. That day, it seemed a silent, frozen space, remote from any century as much as from any place. And yet the tower of St George is a familiar sight to drivers between Ipswich and Norwich, off in the fields near Dickleburgh. A substantial, landmark church then, but it may surprise you to learn that it is redundant. Shimpling's redundancy seems careless. Unlike Frenze church, which has just a farmhouse for company, St George does not sit in a tiny village, and if drawn into a group with Dickleburgh could surely have sustained a monthly service or so. Probably, if it arose nowadays, St George would not be declared redundant. From the point of view of the building, of course, it was both a blessing and a mercy, for as at nearby Frenze the church is now in the capable, caring hands of the Churches Conservation Trust where it was previously prey to neglect.
For many years this church has been kept locked, and you had to go and get a key for it. I had found this a frustrating experience, for on three occasions I had found the keyholder out. Nowadays the church is open every day, although the 'church open' sign, which in this case might have been useful out on the track, was cunningly concealed in the porch. Maybe the CCT are still a bit wary, but a notice on the board told me that if I found the church difficult to access I should call the CCT office in Cambridge, something I hadn't seen before.
We are not very far from the border after all, and St George is perhaps more typical of Suffolk than Norfolk, a small, rural church made opulent by the wealth of the later years of the 15th century. It was then that the font came, and the benches, the roof, the surviving scattering of medieval angel glass. Otherwise, the feeling is of the much-maligned Victorians, who loved churches and wanted this one restored to its former glory. Geoffrey Millard, rector through those times, has his memorial in the chancel, but all around it is the building that he would recognise instantly if he stepped into it today.
The font is a very good and typical example of the late medieval East Anglian style. On the panels, the symbols of the four evangelists are interspersed with four angels holding the Instruments of the Passion, a crown of thorns, a ladder, a lance, and what was probably three nails.
Amber light fills the space beneath the tower, and I was glad I was here again, in this silent space, this touchstone to the long generations. There are curiosities: under the benches at the west end, there is a trap door. Underneath, some of the original medieval tiles have survived the Victorians, who merely built a wooden platform over them. Then, a wholly secular brass inscription of 1598 to Anthony le Grys is set in the middle of the nave - but the inlay is the wrong size and shape, and so it may have come originally from somewhere else. Or was the original stolen and this replacement hastily prepared in later, less articulate times, perhaps the middle of the 17th Century? It struck me coming back that Anthony le Grys was probably a child.
A small hole in the north wall of the sanctuary is surely too tiny to have been an aumbry. And yet, it is set back to take a door, and appears once to have had some sort of wooden tympanum set over it. Could it have been a squint from a shrine chapel? Or even from an anchorite's cell?
Incidentally, another curious thing: There is a Shimpling in Suffolk as well, and the churches of both are dedicated to St George, an otherwise unusual East Anglian dedication. The reason appears to be that the enthusiastic 18th century antiquarians, ruttling around in the Diocesan records at Norwich, accidentally applied the dedication of the Suffolk church to both, dedications having fallen out of use for two hundred years or more and it no longer being clear which was correct.
Shimpling based Apollo Transport DAF CF coupled to a three axle tipper trailer unloading at the Nestle Purina pet food factory at Sudbury
Shimpling based Apollo transport DAF CF coupled to a three axle tipper trailer driving in Northern road Sudbury
St Mary and St Lambert, Stonham Aspal, Suffolk
Often when I’m out cycling in Suffolk I come across a village and I think, yes, this is nice, this is a place where I’d really like to live. But Stonham Aspal is not one of them. For a cyclist, the A1120 which threads though it is a hellish route, a rat run across the middle of East Suffolk. It was designated a 'tourist route' in the 1990s when brown signage was first introduced to the UK, but you can't turn a country road into a tourist route which bypasses Ipswich without expecting the great majority of through drivers to use it.
It cuts from the A12 to the A14, from Stowmarket to Yoxford. The local authority hoped to attract tourists to Stonham Barns, Framlingham and what was then a vineyard at Bruisyard, but local drivers saw it as an opportunity. It was a big mistake, and the signs on the A14 that tell you not to go down it if you want to get to Yoxford fool nobody. Everybody knows that it will cut a good 20 minutes off the journey, and it is villages like Stonham Aspal that pay the considerable price. And all that through traffic failed to save the village pub, the Ten Bells, which was a decent one, and its very appropriate name told you what was significant about the building across the road which we have come to see.
Two things strike you immediately about St Mary and St Lambert. Firstly, there’s the name. It would be foolish to make too much of the dedications of Anglican churches, since few of them have remained unchanged over the centuries. Indeed, during the years between the 16th century Reformation and the 19th century sacramental revival they largely fell into disuse, and some curious current dedications are, in fact, the results of the work of well-meaning but inaccurate 18th century antiquarians. For example, several dedications in what was the Norwich Diocese were conflated or confused. Chattisham took on Shottisham’s, and Kirton took on Shotley Kirkton’s. Antiquarians confused the Suffolk Hoo with the Norfolk Hoe, and thought that Suffolk's Shimpling and Norfolk's Shimpling were the same place. Great Ashfield and Badwell Ash actually swapped dedications. The enthusiasm of 19th century Rectors should also not be underestimated. At Whepstead, the parish church is dedicated to St Petronilla, uniquely in all England, but this has no basis in antiquity. Rather, someone in the 1890s had a special devotion to the Saint, or perhaps thought it was simply a nice name.
So you’ll not be surprised to learn that the Saint Lambert here is a mistake. In fact, there are three Stonhams, and this one once used the name of the Lambert family, owners of the Manor, to distinguish itself from the others. Such distinctions are rather more common in Essex. There is such a thing as a Saint Lambert, but this isn't him.
Secondly, of course, there is that tower. it is remarkable because it dates back to the 18th century (although what you see now is a rebuilding of the early 1990s). It gives the bells a quite different sound to that of them being rung in a tower of brick, stone or flint. As at Haughley, the tower appears to be a quite separate structure, as if it is only joined on incidentally to the body of the church. In many ways, this is an unusual building, and it repays the effort of walking around it. The clerestory is gorgeous, although rather lost beyond the collision of aisle and tower.
Bell chambers like the one here arise from a historical accident. After the Reformation, the adoption of Cranmer’s prayer book made bells liturgically redundant. Their only remaining uses were secular. Any number of things could have happened as a result of this, and most of them did. In some parishes, the bells, and by default the tower, fell into disuse. The weak materials from which the towers were originally constructed, coupled with puritan suspicion of ornate decorations of ecclesiastical buildings (the puritans were strong in Suffolk) meant that towers fell throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. By the 19th century there was a concern for their welfare, and an interest in liturgy, which conspired to encourage many parishes to effect repairs. But not all, and they continued to fall, often neglected by otherwise grand 19th century restorations. Acton was taken down as unsafe in 1880, Stanton All Saints collapsed in 1906. Bildeston collapsed as recently as 1975, the scaffolding for its impending restoration splintering like matchsticks in the rubble.
There were reasons, however, for towers to be cared for after the Reformation, and before the Victorians came along. In Suffolk, and especially along the coast, many were watchtowers – you can see far out to sea from the top of the churches at Southwold, Kessingland and Wrentham. Other church towers were used as strongholds. But there was another factor. There were few artistic flowerings in the English church in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Renaissance bypassed these islands, pretty much. It is therefore some recompense that the English invented recreational bell-ringing.
As well as their sacramental use within the liturgy, bells had probably always been used for ceremonial and processional purposes. In the later Middle Ages, they replaced Mass dials almost everywhere as a way of informing the people when Mass was about to start. We know they were rung on Holy Days, and tolled for the dead. When these purposes fell into disuse (ringing for services, ceremonial ringing and tolling for the dead are probably Victorian reinventions; the last of these never survived the great silence of WWII) all that was left was ringing for secular purposes – to warn of an invasion, perhaps, or to call the people together. Some churches had a clock bell (Hadleigh’s sanctus bell was adapted for this purpose), but a clock bell is not actually rung, it is struck. These uses alone were not enough to sustain the upkeep of towers everywhere in such troubled and impoverished times.
So it was a great salvation that a new use was found for the bells. This was not possible in churches with only one or two bells, which is the case of most Suffolk churches, but where there were more, they could be used to splendid effect. At Horham, for instance, which has the oldest ring of eight bells in the world. And here at Stonham Aspal. Mortlock tells us of the local squire, Theodore Eccleston, who was an enthusiastic bell-ringer. In 1742, he replaced the ring of five bells with one of ten, and the bell chamber was built to house them. I'm not clear if the tower was partly demolished to accommodate them, or if it had already fallen prey to the depredations of the two centuries since the Reformation.
Bell-ringing is as much maths as physical exertion, a pursuit that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. A bell team ringing together enters an inner communion, an almost trance-like state where all individuals are subsumed to the greater purpose. Bell-ringing continues to be important in Suffolk, as it has been for centuries now. In Ronald Blythe’s majestic Akenfield, we meet the bell teams ringing in Suffolk between the wars, walking in a group from one church to its neighbour to ring for the next service. On summer evenings, a walk might take them to ring at half a dozen churches. They undertook feats of endurance on special occasions, extravagant displays of ringing sequences with beautiful names. They were an independently-minded people, often not the least bit religious. This is still the case today. Ringing ran in families in Suffolk; the Baileys, the Wightmans, the Chenerys, the Pipes. It still does.
Well, as romantic as this all no doubt is, I’m afraid that, if you had come with me to St Mary and St Lambert in the spring of 2003, you would have been rather shocked by the state it was in. What at first appears to be scene-of-the-crime tape at the west end was actually protecting me from falling masonry. Several of the windows need repairing or replacing. Back in those days, the church was kept locked, which I thought inexcusable in such a busy village. As the major church insurance company patiently explains again and again, a locked church is twice as likely to be vandalised as one that is unlocked. A church that is kept locked is far more likely to be broken into than one that is opened regularly. And, get this - a locked church is even slightly more likely to have something stolen from it than an unlocked one.
However, those times are past, and coming back to Stonham Aspal in 2011 I already knew that much work had been undertaken here, and that I would find it open. I arrived and had a good look at Francis Bird's leisured memorial to Anthony Wingfield, which Pevsner memorably described as looking like it is taking a country holiday from Westminster Abbey. I stepped into what is essentially a fairly anonymous and urbanised Victorian restoration, the work of that low-brow architect Edward Hakewill, which probably caused more damage than Dowsing's visit of 1644. Hakewill was a great one for adding dark and gloomy north aisles, but fortunately for us this church already had a north aisle, and the building is full of light. There is very little coloured glass, and although the west window is incongrously small, the clerestory does its work for it. Intriguingly, the two easternmost clerestory windows have fragments of medieval glass in the upper lights, presumably reset by Hakewill from elsewhere in the church. There are more medieval fragments in the aisle windows.
The light allows a full inspection of a characterful set of bench ends. Mortlock describes them as extensively and cleverly restored, although I don't think there is much here that is medieval. A wolf guards St Edmund's head, a pious lady kneels at a prayer desk, a rather incongruous Chinese dragon shows off his beard.
Some 17th century bench ends survive in the north aisle, their solid, slightly rugged appearance typical of the period. There is a good early 17th Century brass to John Metcalfe, who was minister here for more than half the Elizabethan period. The weeping children on an earlier brass have been polished to within an inch of their lives, but this somehow makes them even more haunting.
The oldest thing here is the curious 13th century font, its arcading seeming most un-East Anglian. Did it come from here originally? Another curiosity is the vast bound chest in the vestry, which the churchwarden showed me - it is so big, indeed, that the vestry must have been built around it.
And the vestry has another curiosity, because if you step outside you can see that the entrance is flanked immediately to east and west by the headstone and footstone of the same person's grave. The story goes that the relatives of the deceased refused to allow him to be moved so that the vestry could be built. The single-minded Rector dealt with this by having the vestry built anyway, and its entrance placed directly over the unfortunate deceased's grave, dividing the headstone from the footstone. Thinking about it afterwards, I realised that they were probably simply reset either side in a decorative manner. But it is a good story.
Shimpling based Apollo Transport DAF XF coupled to a
three axle tipper trailer driving in Northern road Sudbury
24 hours before, I had not heard of Frenze, or knew that it lay in Norfolk. A friend had posted a shot of St Andrew from the air, and finding that it ay within 2 miles of the A143, and a short detour from the route, I thought I would go
I was stuck in a long line of traffic leading into Diss, but able to take a turning to the right off the main road, then take a left turn along a farm track. The sat nav suggested it was some distance off.
Through fields and through a wood, until the road stopped at a farmyard with some abandoned industrial units and a farmhouse. But beyond was St Andrew.
Small, and perfectly formed, St Andrew reminded me of several of the untouched two cell Norman churches back in Kent, a church and yet so much like a farm building too.
St Andrew despite being small has lots of interest; ancient glass, unusual box pews, a formidable pulpit, a grand coat of arms and two good brasses.
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The heaviest snow in East Anglia that winter fell in early March. We had a new car to try out - we hadn't planned on this, but the previous one had died on the way back from Cambridge, the camshaft exploding into the engine and causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. After a few sleepless nights, we decided to cut our losses, and so here we were on an icy Sunday afternoon threading through wide flat fields to the hills near the border.
We parked near an old maltings which styled itself 'Diss Business Centre'. That town was just over the rise, but in fact we could have been miles away, in the middle of nowhere. There was no one about as we set off on foot along a track into the woods towards Frenze Hall.
The winter was at its barest. Although most of the snow had now melted, nothing had yet regrown after the winter silence. A few miserable birds chattered at us, a rabbit bolted. the coop coop of an occasional pheasant came from the copse. Eventually, the track came out into an empty farmyard, apparently abandoned, although the farm house was still occupied, and in one corner of the yard, on a rise behind an old wooden fence, sat the church of St Andrew, Frenze.
St Andrew is a curious looking structure. Effectively, it is just the small nave of a formerly longer church, propped up but still leaning all over the place. Obviously redundant, it is in the tender care of the Churches Conservation Trust (the key hangs outside the farmhouse door during daylight hours) and would just be a beautiful, unspoiled hidden corner of Norfolk if it were not for one very curious thing - this church has no less than seven figure brasses, more than just about any other church in East Anglia, as well as other memorial inscriptions. An extraordinary find in such a place.
They are all between eighteen and twenty-four inches tall. Mostly, they are to the Blenerhaysett, or Blennerhassett, family and their relatives - a most un-East Anglian name; in the Paston letters, Sir John scoffs that Ralph Blenerhaysett is a name to start a hare. They came from Cumbria, and were Lords of the Manor here. Six of the figures are still in situ on the floor. They are (top row above) vowess Joan Braham, died 1519, in cloak and girdle; Jane Blenerhaysett, 1521, in kennel headdress; John Blenerhaysett, her husband, also 1521, in armour, with sword; the already mentioned Ralph Blenerhaysett, 1475, in full mail. The first and last in the second row are an exquisite shroud brass to Thomas Hobson, and Anne Duke, also in a kennel headress. Other inscriptions also survive, and there are replicas of others on the wall. As I say, extraordinary stuff.
Even if there were no brasses, you would want to come here. Although the porch, font and a few other features survive from medieval times, the overwhelming flavour of the inside is of the 17th century - a silvery white family pew faces across to the contemporary pulpit, clearly by the same hand.
Everything is simple, but touched down the long years - the plain altar, bearing a medieval mensa, is typical of this. Boards from a royal arms hang above the south door - were they once overpainted with something else? There are two piscinas set into windowsills, one each side of the nave. Two smug little monkeys on a single bench stare out at all of this. What a special place.
Simon Knott, March 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/frenze/frenze.htm
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Was always one manor, (fn. 1) which in King Edward's time was held by Edric, (fn. 2) of Edric, for one carucate; and in the Conqueror's time by Hubert, of Robert Malet, lord of Eye; it was then worth 15s. per annum, being five furlongs long, and four broad, and paid 3d. Danegeld.
It was always held of Eye honour at one quarter of a knight's fee, and paid x.s. relief. I do not meet with any lords' names (fn. 3) before 1280, (fn. 4) when John de Ludham was lord and patron, whose family took their sirname from a village so called in Suffolk, in Wilford hundred, (fn. 5) which they held many ages. In 1297, it was settled on
William de Ludham, and Alice his wife, and John their son, and his heirs. In 1329,
Joan, wife of Sir John Ludham, and John Lowdham, Knt. son of Thomas, was 21 years old, and held this manor; and in 1336, purchased several large parcels of land of Ralph de Shimpling, and Katerine his wife, being the first of this family that had Boyland's manor; both which, together with this advowson, in 1343, they settled by fine on themselves, and the heirs of John; Edmund de Ufford le Frere, and Peter de Teye, being feoffees. In 1351,
Sir John, son and heir of Sir John de Lowdham, and Joan his wife, held this and Boyland manor in Osmundeston, Frenze and Stirston; he died in 1355, and Joan his wife had it to her death in 1371, and held it of Edmund, son of Sir Thomas de Ufford, lord of Eye.
John, son of Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. inherited, and died in 1373; and
Sir Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. brother and heir of John, son of Thomas, son of John, and Joan his wife, held it, jointly with Maud his wife; he died in 1385, and
Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held it, as guardian to John Lowdham, who dying, left it to his wife;
And in 1401, the lady which was the wife of Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held Boyland's in dower, and Sir Robert Corbet, junior, her son, held Frenze, during the minority of John Lowdham, son of Thomas de Lowdham and Maud his wife, who, when his father died, was but seven years old. This John died 28th April, 1428; Alice his wife surviving him: he left only one daughter,
Joan, then 14 years old, married to Thomas Hevenyngham, Esq. and after that to Ralph Blaverhasset, Esq. both which she outlived, not dying till June 20, 1501, being 97 years of age: she was seized of Boyland's, the other moiety of which was granted by John Lowdham to John Woodhouse.
John Blaverhasset was her son and heir, being 77 years old at his mother's death. This is a very ancient family, taking their name from Bleverseta, or Bleverhayset, in Cumberland, where the eldest branch continued a long time. In 1382, Alan Bleverhasset was mayor of the city of Carlisle, as was John, in 1430. (fn. 6) In 1412, Ralph Bleverhayset was parliament-man for that city, and so was Thomas, in 1584. In 1510, this John died, in the 87th year of his age, seized of Frenze, and a moiety of Boyland's; he had two wives; Jane daughter of Thomas Heigham of Heigham Green in Suffolk, Esq. by whom he had SirThomas, his son and heir, now 49 years of age; and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Tindall of Hockwold in Norfolk, Knt. He came from South-hill in Bedfordshire, to Frenze, which estate he gave to John, his son by his second wife, who dying without issue, it was divided among his four sisters,Margaret, married to Robert Warner of Besthorp, after to William Drury of the same; Jane, to Sir Phillip Calthorp; Anne, to Sir Henry Grey of Wrest in Bedfordshire, Knt.; Ellen to Miles Hobert of Plumstede in Norfolk, Esq. second son of Sir James Hobart, Knt.
Sir Thomas died seized of Frenze and Boyland's, June 27, 1531, leaving
George, his eldest son by his first wife, his heir: he died in 1543, and by his will gave Frenze to Margaret his wife for life, and Boyland's moiety to Mary, his daughter and heiress, then married to Thomas Culpepper, Esq. she being to have Frenze also at Margaret's death. This Mary, by fine, settled Frenze on
Francis Bacon, Esq. her second husband, and Edmund his son, for their lives, both which had it, Edmund Bacon of Harleston being seized of it in 1572: after whose death it reverted to
John Bleverhasset, who had enjoyed Boyland's ever since the death of the said Mary. This John was brother to George, her father: he sold the moiety of Boyland's to Sir Thomas Cornwaleis, Knt. and his heirs, but Frenze continued in this family; for in 1587,
George Bleverhasset held it; and in 1595,
Samuel Bleverhasset. How or when it went from this family I do not find; but in 1666, 24th Nov.
Richard Nixon, Esq. died seized, and.
Richard was his son and heir, whose son, Diamond Nixon, sold it to
Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. whose son, Sir Robert, is now lord and patron. [1730.]
The Church is a small building, of equal height, covered with tile; and having no steeple, the bell hangs on the outside of the roof, at the west end: there is no partition between the church and chancel, but there is a beam fixed across the east chancel window, on which the rood was conveniently placed. The church is about 24 yards long, and 7 yards wide; the south porch is tiled. It is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, (fn. 7) as appears from the will of Ralph Bleverhasset, who desired to be buried in the chancel of St. Andrew at Frenze. The meanness of the fabrick hath preserved the inscriptions from being reaved, for it looks like a barn, at a distance. In the chancel, according to his will, is buried Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. whose effigies, standing upon a lion, still remains on a stone, and this inscription:
Hic iacct venerabilis Uir Radulphus Bleverhansett Armiger qui obiit riiio die Mensis Novembris Ao dni. Mo CCCC lrrbo. cuisu Anime propicietur Deus Amen.
There are four shields still remaining.
1. Bleverhasset with an annulet quartering Orton;
2. Ditto impaling Lowdham;
3. As the second;
4. Lowdham single.
The inscription for his wife is now lost, but was, as we learn from Mr. Anstis's MSS. (marked G. 6, fol. 39.) as follows:
Here lyeth Mrs. Joane Bleverhasset, the Wife of Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. the Daughter and Heir of John Lowdham, who died the 20th Dan of June 1501.
The same MSS. hath the following inscription, now gone:
"Here lyeth the venerable Gentleman John Blaverhasset, Esq; who died the 27th of March, in the Year of our Lord, 1514."
On a stone by the south door is the effigies of a woman bidding her beads, with three shields under the inscription.
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Lowdham;
2. Ditto impaling Tindall, quartering Fecklin;
3. Tindall quartering Orton and Scales.
Pran for the Soule of Jane Bleverhayssett, Wedow, late Wyf onto John Blaverhayssett, Esquier, Whiche Jane departed oute of this present Lyf, the bi Day of October, the Yere of our Lord God, M y rri on whose Soule Jhu have merry, Amen.
On a stone at the east end,
Here lyeth Sir Thomas Bleuerhayssette, Knyght, which decessyd the ryii Dan of June, the Yere of our Lorde M yo rrri. and rrriii Yere of the Reigne of our Sobe raygne Lord Kyng Henry the viiith, whois Soule God Pardon.
At each corner is a coat:
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Orton, impaling Lowdham and Keldon, quartered.
2. Hasset and Lowdham quartered, impaling Heigham, his first wife.
3. Hasset, Lowdon, Orton, and Keldon, quartered, impaling Braham, with a crescent.
4. Hasset, and the three quartered as in the last, impaling two lions passant.
His effigies still remains, in complete armour, having a surcoat of his arms, viz. Bleverhasset with the annulet, (which this branch always bare for difference,) with his quarterings, Lowdham, Orton, and Kelvedon; (or Keldon;) under his head lies his crest, viz. a fox passant.
On a marble three yards long, and a yard and half wide, is this on a brass plate:
Here lyeth Dame Margaret Bleverhayset, Wedowe. late Wyf to Syr Thomas Bleverhayset off Frens, Knyght, Domghter to John Braham of Metheryngset, Esquyer, who bad Yssue by the said Sur Thomas, two Sonnes, Thomas a Pryst, and John Bleverhayset of Bargham, by Beclys in Suff, and fyve Dowghters, that ys Elizabeth Fyrst married to Lyonell Lowth, after to Francis Clopton, Agnes married to Syr Antony Rows, Knyght, Anne married fyrst to George Duke, after to Peter Rede, Margaret fyrst married to John Gosnold, after to Antony Myngfyld, who dyed the rriii of Julye in the Yere of our Lorde, 1561.
The first coat is lost, but was Braham impaling Reydon.
2. Hasset, Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, Skelton, and Hasset, impaling Braham; the third is lost.
Adjoining is another stone, having had two coats, which are reaved, as is the effigies of the man; that of the woman remains; her head lies on a pillow, and her beads hang before her; the two remaining shields have these arms:
1. Duke quartering Banyard, with the difference of two annulets interlaced on the fess.
Park and Ilketshall impaling Hasset, quartering Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, and Skelton.
2. Hasset, and his quarterings, as before.
Mr. Le Neve says, that the two coats lost were,
1. Duke and his quarterings, as before.
2. Duke, &c. impaling Jenney, quartering Buckle and Leiston. Buckle, or, a chevron between three buckles.
Heare uner lieth George Duke, Esquyre. who marryed Anne, the Dowghter of Syr Thomas Bleverhaysset, Knyght, the whiche George died the rrbi day of July, in the Yere of our Lorde God, a. M. CCCCC. li. whos Sowle God Pardon, Amen.
Another stone hath its inscription torn off, and one shield; the other is
Cornwaleis impaling Froxmere.
The next hath a man in armour, his sword hanging before him on a belt, his hands erected.
Hasset quarters Lowdham and Orton; Orton or Lowthe impales Heigham.
Hic iacet venerabilis bir Johannis Bleber hayset, Armiger, qui viresimo viiio die Mens: Novemb: Ao Dni. Mo bo r. cuius anime propicietur Deus.
On another stone: crest, a fox sedant on a wreath, under it, in a lozenge:
1. Hasset, Lowdham, Orton, Keldon, Skelton, Duke, frette - - - Lowthe.
2. Culpepper quartering - - - - a chevron between eleven martlets, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, impaling Hasset, and quarterings as before.
3. Bacon impaling Hasset and quarterings.
4. Hasset and quarterings.
5. Duke, with an annulet, quartering three pelicans vulning themselves, and - - - frette - - -
6. Orton.
Mariæ filiæ et hæredi unicæ Georgij Bleverhasset, Militis inaurati Enuptæ primo Thomæ Culpeper, Armigero, qui hic, postea Francisco Bacon, Armigero, Qui Petistiræ in Comitat: Suff. tumulatur, sine prole, Defuncte vii Septembr. 1587, Ætatis suæ, 70. Viduæ, Piæ, Castæ, Hospitali, Benignæ! Joannes Cornwaleis, et Joannes Bleverhasset, Memoriæ et amoris ergo posuerunt.
On a brass fixed to the north chancel wall:
Here under lyethe Thomazin Platers, Daughter of George Duke, Esquyer, and Wife to William Platers, Sonne t Heier of Thomas Platers of Soterley, Esquier, whiche Thomazin dyed the 23d day of December, in the second Yere of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Quene Elizabethe, Ao 1560.
Platers, arg. three bends wavy az.
Platers impaling Duke and his quarterings.
More towards the east, on the said wall, remains the impression of a brass effigies, and inscription now lost, but in a MSS. (marked E. 26, fol. 23.) in Mr. Anstis's hands we have the following account:
Platers's arms and Duke's:
Orate pro animabus Willi Platers et Thomazin uroris suæ filiæ Duke
As also of this, now lost:
Orate pro Domina Johanna Braham, vidua ur: Johns: Braham de Lowdham, Armigeri.
Braham impales Duke.
On a stone having the effigies of a woman in her winding sheet, bidding her beads:
Hic iaret tumulata domina Johanna Braham, vidua ar Deo dirata olim uror Johannis Braham Armigeri que obiit rbiiio die Nobembris Ao Dni. Millimo CCCCC rir. cuius anime propicietur Deus, Amen.
Braham single, and again impaling Reydon. Reydon single.
On a brass plated stone near the north door, a man in his winding sheet, and this:
Pray for the Sowle of your Charite, Of Thomas Hobson to the Trynyte.
On three flat marbles:
Nixon, on a chief, an axe impaling three roundels.
Here lieth the Body of Richard the Son of Richard Nixon, Esq; and Susan his Wife, who departed this Life the 28th Day of August, 1678.
In the 22d Year of his Age.
Nixon, impaling a chevron between three lions rampant:
Reliquiæ Richardi Nixon, Armig: Qui obijt 24° Novemb: Ano Dom. 1666, Ætatis suæ 77.
Per fess embattled three pheons impaling Nixon:
Here lyeth the Body of William Cooper, Gent. who died the 30th Day of March, 1693, Aged 54 Years.
In a north window was a man bearing Ufford's arms, and by him stood pictured a lady in the arms of Shelton, covered with a mantle of Lowdham. (fn. 8)
In the next window, or, a fess gul. Hasset, Scales; many funeral escutcheons for Hasset; one for Catherine, wife to Thomas Froxmere, Gent.
In the windows, Hasset and Lowdham quartered. Lowdham,— Ufford,—Dalimer, arg. three inescutcheons gul.; Shelton, Mortimer of Wigmore, Ufford with a label, again with a de-lis, again with a batoon gobonne arg. and gul.; again with an annulet arg.
In the west window Lowdham.
Lowdham impales Bacon, gul. on a chief arg. two mullets of the field, pierced sab.
Or, a fess gul. impales Scales.
Lowdham impales az. on a chief gul. three leopards faces or.
Mascule or and sab.
Most of these arms still remain in the windows.
I find among the evidences of Brightlead's tenement in Scole, that Thomas Ropkyn was buried here, with this inscription, now lost:
Pray for the Sowle of Thomas Ropkyn.
I have now by me three brass shields, which I am apt to think were stolen from this church some time agone; the arms being
Shelton impaling a cross ingrailed erm.
Shelton impaling a fess between fifteen billets, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Paston impaling Shelton.
At Mrs. Hill's at Castor, near Yarmouth, I saw an ancient canvass surrounding two rooms, painted with the matches of the Bleverhassets; (John Bleverhasset, who married Mrs. Hill's sister, and died in 1704, was the last of this branch;) their names are under each coat; but with hanging against moist walls, several are worn out: those that are perfect I have added here, though they are so displaced, that the time of the matches cannot be determined by their succession.
Bleverhasset, gul. a chevron. erm. between three dolphins embowed arg.
Crest on a wreath, arg. and gul. a fox seiant, gul.
Impaled with all the following coats:
Frogmorton, gul. on a chevron, or, three bars sab.
Braham, as in p. 134.
Tindall, arg. a fess indented in chief three crescents gul.
Eyre, arg. on a fess, - - - three trefoils or.
Pickerell, as in p. 48.
Clopton, sab. a bend arg. cotized, indented or.
Lowthe, sab. a lion rampant or, armed gul.
Cressi, arg. three beacons sab.
Culpepper, arg. a bend ingrailed gul.
Covert, gul. a fess between three lions heads or.
Baynaugh, gul. a chevron between three bulls faces or.
Brampton, gul. a saltire between four croslets fitchee arg.
Meawes, pally of six, or and arg. on a chief gul. three croslets formy of the first.
Lowdham, as in p. 134.
Kelvedon, (or Keldon,) gul. a pall reversed erm.
Orton, arg. a lion rampant guardant vert, crowned or.
Skelton, az. on a fess between three de-lises, or, a crescent sab.
Cornwaleis, Hare, Heydon, Wyngfield, Reape, Kempe, Gosnold, Spilman, Colby, Alcock, Rowse, Drury, Hubbard, Heigham, Warner, quartering Whetnall, Calthorp, Lovell and Ruthyn.
Rectors.
1294, John de Petestre, rector. (fn. 9)
1325, prid. non. Jan John de Novadomo (Newhouse) de Snapes; presented by Cecily, widow of Sir Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk, and lord of Eye, Robert de Shelton, and William Tastard, guardians of John de Lowdham.
1349, 21 Sept. Walter Manneysyn (after wrote in Deeds Malvesyn.) Sir John Lowdham, Knt.
1381, 7 May, William Payok, priest. Thomas de Lowdham, Knt.
1382, 6 June, John Baxter, priest. (fn. 10) Ditto.
1393, 4 June, Peter Rous, priest. Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1394, 20 May, Henry Brakkele, priest, (fn. 11) Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1397, 6 Decem. Sir John de Scoles, priest. Ditto.
1401, ult. Jan. Michael Crowe of Kenninghall, priest. Ditto.
1404, 4 Oct. Sir Tho. Warner of Leyham, priest. Gilbert de Debenham, for this turn.
1408, 8 Nov. Robert Pope of Frandeston, priest. John Lowdham of Burgate.
1416, 18 Oct. Tho. Bukke of Melles, priest. (fn. 12) John Lowdham of Ipswich, patron, by right of inheritance in a lineal descent.
1416, 20 Jan. John Greeve. Ditto.
1417, 22 Oct. Roger de Knyveton, priest. John Hevenyngham, senior, Knt. Will. Shelton, Esq. Will. Lord, clerk, and John Intewode, for this turn.
1419, 22 Dec. John Rawe, priest, on Knyveton's resignation. John Lowdham.
1423, 31 May, Simon Warner, priest. (fn. 13) John Lowdham, Esq. son and heir of Thomas Lowdham, Knt.
1428, 10 April, John Bubwith, priest, on Warner's resignation. John Hagh, Esq.
1479, 18 July, Henry - - - - - - -
1484, 22 Sept. Robert Stukely, collated by the Bishop. I meet with no more institutions till
1597, 21 April, Edmund Stanhaw. The Crown (as guardian to Bleverhasset.)
1598, 20 Oct. John Smith, A. M. on Stanhaw's resignation. Samuel Bleverhasset, Esq. united to Scole.
1603, John Smith, rector, of whom the Answers of the Parsons inform us, that he was a preacher allowed by the late Lord Bishop of Norwich, but no graduate.
1618, 21 April, Tho. Hall, A. M. united to Scole. Samuel Blaverhasset of Lowdham, Esq.
1642, 10 Sept. John Gibbs, A. M. on Hall's death. Richard Nixon, Gent.
1651, 18 Febr. Toby Dobbin. Ditto.
¶1673, 22 Sept. Tho. Wales, A. B. on Dobbin's death. John Fincham of Outwell, in the Isle of Ely, Esq.; he had Thelton.
1702, 7 Oct. Tho. Palgrave, on Wales's death. Diamond Nixon, Esq.
1725, 24 Aug. Will. Baker, on Palgrave's death. Robert Kemp, Bart. united to Wacton-Parva.
1734, the Rev. Mr. John James, the present [1736] rector, on Baker's resignation. Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. patron.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol1...
St George, Shimpling, Suffolk
Splendid church in the hills. The opulent 19th Century restoration was bankrolled by the Hallifax family of Chadacre Hall whose mark is everywhere here. The church was open daily before covid and is open daily now.
Shimpling based Apollo transport DAF CF coupled to a three axle tipper trailer driving in Northern road Sudbury
For a variety of reasons it has been a while since I posted a church visit but I had the opportunity on Saturday to go south of Norwich and thus headed for St George’s Church, Shimpling.
Now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, Shimpling may get its name from a Germanic settler (Scimpel) whose name means fool. The church was certainly in existence during the reign of Edward the Confessor and there is some evidence of Saxo-Norman work in the nave walls but much of this is now covered by rendering. The nave was re-modelled in the 14th to 15th century.
The chancel has no defined chancel arch but there is an exterior change in the roof line indicating the new work. This chancel was probably added around 1300. Some stained glass fragments from this period survive in the tops of the chancel windows where it was too difficult for subsequent iconoclasts to reach.
The round tower is one of 125 in Norfolk but there is some doubt about its date. The brick integral staircase on the south side suggests 14th century but blocked circular window openings found during a 1987 renovation suggest a Saxo-Norman date for the lower (round) part of the tower.
At some stage in the 15th century a brick octagon belfry was added and it is possible that the brick staircase had been added solely to reach this new level easier. However there were later doubts about the ability of the flint rubble round tower to take the weight of the new addition as sometime (19th century??) two substantial iron bands were added about half way up to prevent bulging or an actual collapse. Each band was made as a quarter circle, the quarters where bolted together to make halves and the halves were gradually tensioned with long bolts to ‘bite’ the tower and grip it. There are three bells, two cast around 1466.
Late medieval floor tiles (at a lower level) can be viewed by lifting two traps near the north door. These may have been manufactured near Bawsey on the other side of the county. Also of interest is the 15th century font decorated with evangelists and angels.
24 hours before, I had not heard of Frenze, or knew that it lay in Norfolk. A friend had posted a shot of St Andrew from the air, and finding that it ay within 2 miles of the A143, and a short detour from the route, I thought I would go
I was stuck in a long line of traffic leading into Diss, but able to take a turning to the right off the main road, then take a left turn along a farm track. The sat nav suggested it was some distance off.
Through fields and through a wood, until the road stopped at a farmyard with some abandoned industrial units and a farmhouse. But beyond was St Andrew.
Small, and perfectly formed, St Andrew reminded me of several of the untouched two cell Norman churches back in Kent, a church and yet so much like a farm building too.
St Andrew despite being small has lots of interest; ancient glass, unusual box pews, a formidable pulpit, a grand coat of arms and two good brasses.
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The heaviest snow in East Anglia that winter fell in early March. We had a new car to try out - we hadn't planned on this, but the previous one had died on the way back from Cambridge, the camshaft exploding into the engine and causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. After a few sleepless nights, we decided to cut our losses, and so here we were on an icy Sunday afternoon threading through wide flat fields to the hills near the border.
We parked near an old maltings which styled itself 'Diss Business Centre'. That town was just over the rise, but in fact we could have been miles away, in the middle of nowhere. There was no one about as we set off on foot along a track into the woods towards Frenze Hall.
The winter was at its barest. Although most of the snow had now melted, nothing had yet regrown after the winter silence. A few miserable birds chattered at us, a rabbit bolted. the coop coop of an occasional pheasant came from the copse. Eventually, the track came out into an empty farmyard, apparently abandoned, although the farm house was still occupied, and in one corner of the yard, on a rise behind an old wooden fence, sat the church of St Andrew, Frenze.
St Andrew is a curious looking structure. Effectively, it is just the small nave of a formerly longer church, propped up but still leaning all over the place. Obviously redundant, it is in the tender care of the Churches Conservation Trust (the key hangs outside the farmhouse door during daylight hours) and would just be a beautiful, unspoiled hidden corner of Norfolk if it were not for one very curious thing - this church has no less than seven figure brasses, more than just about any other church in East Anglia, as well as other memorial inscriptions. An extraordinary find in such a place.
They are all between eighteen and twenty-four inches tall. Mostly, they are to the Blenerhaysett, or Blennerhassett, family and their relatives - a most un-East Anglian name; in the Paston letters, Sir John scoffs that Ralph Blenerhaysett is a name to start a hare. They came from Cumbria, and were Lords of the Manor here. Six of the figures are still in situ on the floor. They are (top row above) vowess Joan Braham, died 1519, in cloak and girdle; Jane Blenerhaysett, 1521, in kennel headdress; John Blenerhaysett, her husband, also 1521, in armour, with sword; the already mentioned Ralph Blenerhaysett, 1475, in full mail. The first and last in the second row are an exquisite shroud brass to Thomas Hobson, and Anne Duke, also in a kennel headress. Other inscriptions also survive, and there are replicas of others on the wall. As I say, extraordinary stuff.
Even if there were no brasses, you would want to come here. Although the porch, font and a few other features survive from medieval times, the overwhelming flavour of the inside is of the 17th century - a silvery white family pew faces across to the contemporary pulpit, clearly by the same hand.
Everything is simple, but touched down the long years - the plain altar, bearing a medieval mensa, is typical of this. Boards from a royal arms hang above the south door - were they once overpainted with something else? There are two piscinas set into windowsills, one each side of the nave. Two smug little monkeys on a single bench stare out at all of this. What a special place.
Simon Knott, March 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/frenze/frenze.htm
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Was always one manor, (fn. 1) which in King Edward's time was held by Edric, (fn. 2) of Edric, for one carucate; and in the Conqueror's time by Hubert, of Robert Malet, lord of Eye; it was then worth 15s. per annum, being five furlongs long, and four broad, and paid 3d. Danegeld.
It was always held of Eye honour at one quarter of a knight's fee, and paid x.s. relief. I do not meet with any lords' names (fn. 3) before 1280, (fn. 4) when John de Ludham was lord and patron, whose family took their sirname from a village so called in Suffolk, in Wilford hundred, (fn. 5) which they held many ages. In 1297, it was settled on
William de Ludham, and Alice his wife, and John their son, and his heirs. In 1329,
Joan, wife of Sir John Ludham, and John Lowdham, Knt. son of Thomas, was 21 years old, and held this manor; and in 1336, purchased several large parcels of land of Ralph de Shimpling, and Katerine his wife, being the first of this family that had Boyland's manor; both which, together with this advowson, in 1343, they settled by fine on themselves, and the heirs of John; Edmund de Ufford le Frere, and Peter de Teye, being feoffees. In 1351,
Sir John, son and heir of Sir John de Lowdham, and Joan his wife, held this and Boyland manor in Osmundeston, Frenze and Stirston; he died in 1355, and Joan his wife had it to her death in 1371, and held it of Edmund, son of Sir Thomas de Ufford, lord of Eye.
John, son of Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. inherited, and died in 1373; and
Sir Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. brother and heir of John, son of Thomas, son of John, and Joan his wife, held it, jointly with Maud his wife; he died in 1385, and
Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held it, as guardian to John Lowdham, who dying, left it to his wife;
And in 1401, the lady which was the wife of Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held Boyland's in dower, and Sir Robert Corbet, junior, her son, held Frenze, during the minority of John Lowdham, son of Thomas de Lowdham and Maud his wife, who, when his father died, was but seven years old. This John died 28th April, 1428; Alice his wife surviving him: he left only one daughter,
Joan, then 14 years old, married to Thomas Hevenyngham, Esq. and after that to Ralph Blaverhasset, Esq. both which she outlived, not dying till June 20, 1501, being 97 years of age: she was seized of Boyland's, the other moiety of which was granted by John Lowdham to John Woodhouse.
John Blaverhasset was her son and heir, being 77 years old at his mother's death. This is a very ancient family, taking their name from Bleverseta, or Bleverhayset, in Cumberland, where the eldest branch continued a long time. In 1382, Alan Bleverhasset was mayor of the city of Carlisle, as was John, in 1430. (fn. 6) In 1412, Ralph Bleverhayset was parliament-man for that city, and so was Thomas, in 1584. In 1510, this John died, in the 87th year of his age, seized of Frenze, and a moiety of Boyland's; he had two wives; Jane daughter of Thomas Heigham of Heigham Green in Suffolk, Esq. by whom he had SirThomas, his son and heir, now 49 years of age; and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Tindall of Hockwold in Norfolk, Knt. He came from South-hill in Bedfordshire, to Frenze, which estate he gave to John, his son by his second wife, who dying without issue, it was divided among his four sisters,Margaret, married to Robert Warner of Besthorp, after to William Drury of the same; Jane, to Sir Phillip Calthorp; Anne, to Sir Henry Grey of Wrest in Bedfordshire, Knt.; Ellen to Miles Hobert of Plumstede in Norfolk, Esq. second son of Sir James Hobart, Knt.
Sir Thomas died seized of Frenze and Boyland's, June 27, 1531, leaving
George, his eldest son by his first wife, his heir: he died in 1543, and by his will gave Frenze to Margaret his wife for life, and Boyland's moiety to Mary, his daughter and heiress, then married to Thomas Culpepper, Esq. she being to have Frenze also at Margaret's death. This Mary, by fine, settled Frenze on
Francis Bacon, Esq. her second husband, and Edmund his son, for their lives, both which had it, Edmund Bacon of Harleston being seized of it in 1572: after whose death it reverted to
John Bleverhasset, who had enjoyed Boyland's ever since the death of the said Mary. This John was brother to George, her father: he sold the moiety of Boyland's to Sir Thomas Cornwaleis, Knt. and his heirs, but Frenze continued in this family; for in 1587,
George Bleverhasset held it; and in 1595,
Samuel Bleverhasset. How or when it went from this family I do not find; but in 1666, 24th Nov.
Richard Nixon, Esq. died seized, and.
Richard was his son and heir, whose son, Diamond Nixon, sold it to
Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. whose son, Sir Robert, is now lord and patron. [1730.]
The Church is a small building, of equal height, covered with tile; and having no steeple, the bell hangs on the outside of the roof, at the west end: there is no partition between the church and chancel, but there is a beam fixed across the east chancel window, on which the rood was conveniently placed. The church is about 24 yards long, and 7 yards wide; the south porch is tiled. It is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, (fn. 7) as appears from the will of Ralph Bleverhasset, who desired to be buried in the chancel of St. Andrew at Frenze. The meanness of the fabrick hath preserved the inscriptions from being reaved, for it looks like a barn, at a distance. In the chancel, according to his will, is buried Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. whose effigies, standing upon a lion, still remains on a stone, and this inscription:
Hic iacct venerabilis Uir Radulphus Bleverhansett Armiger qui obiit riiio die Mensis Novembris Ao dni. Mo CCCC lrrbo. cuisu Anime propicietur Deus Amen.
There are four shields still remaining.
1. Bleverhasset with an annulet quartering Orton;
2. Ditto impaling Lowdham;
3. As the second;
4. Lowdham single.
The inscription for his wife is now lost, but was, as we learn from Mr. Anstis's MSS. (marked G. 6, fol. 39.) as follows:
Here lyeth Mrs. Joane Bleverhasset, the Wife of Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. the Daughter and Heir of John Lowdham, who died the 20th Dan of June 1501.
The same MSS. hath the following inscription, now gone:
"Here lyeth the venerable Gentleman John Blaverhasset, Esq; who died the 27th of March, in the Year of our Lord, 1514."
On a stone by the south door is the effigies of a woman bidding her beads, with three shields under the inscription.
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Lowdham;
2. Ditto impaling Tindall, quartering Fecklin;
3. Tindall quartering Orton and Scales.
Pran for the Soule of Jane Bleverhayssett, Wedow, late Wyf onto John Blaverhayssett, Esquier, Whiche Jane departed oute of this present Lyf, the bi Day of October, the Yere of our Lord God, M y rri on whose Soule Jhu have merry, Amen.
On a stone at the east end,
Here lyeth Sir Thomas Bleuerhayssette, Knyght, which decessyd the ryii Dan of June, the Yere of our Lorde M yo rrri. and rrriii Yere of the Reigne of our Sobe raygne Lord Kyng Henry the viiith, whois Soule God Pardon.
At each corner is a coat:
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Orton, impaling Lowdham and Keldon, quartered.
2. Hasset and Lowdham quartered, impaling Heigham, his first wife.
3. Hasset, Lowdon, Orton, and Keldon, quartered, impaling Braham, with a crescent.
4. Hasset, and the three quartered as in the last, impaling two lions passant.
His effigies still remains, in complete armour, having a surcoat of his arms, viz. Bleverhasset with the annulet, (which this branch always bare for difference,) with his quarterings, Lowdham, Orton, and Kelvedon; (or Keldon;) under his head lies his crest, viz. a fox passant.
On a marble three yards long, and a yard and half wide, is this on a brass plate:
Here lyeth Dame Margaret Bleverhayset, Wedowe. late Wyf to Syr Thomas Bleverhayset off Frens, Knyght, Domghter to John Braham of Metheryngset, Esquyer, who bad Yssue by the said Sur Thomas, two Sonnes, Thomas a Pryst, and John Bleverhayset of Bargham, by Beclys in Suff, and fyve Dowghters, that ys Elizabeth Fyrst married to Lyonell Lowth, after to Francis Clopton, Agnes married to Syr Antony Rows, Knyght, Anne married fyrst to George Duke, after to Peter Rede, Margaret fyrst married to John Gosnold, after to Antony Myngfyld, who dyed the rriii of Julye in the Yere of our Lorde, 1561.
The first coat is lost, but was Braham impaling Reydon.
2. Hasset, Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, Skelton, and Hasset, impaling Braham; the third is lost.
Adjoining is another stone, having had two coats, which are reaved, as is the effigies of the man; that of the woman remains; her head lies on a pillow, and her beads hang before her; the two remaining shields have these arms:
1. Duke quartering Banyard, with the difference of two annulets interlaced on the fess.
Park and Ilketshall impaling Hasset, quartering Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, and Skelton.
2. Hasset, and his quarterings, as before.
Mr. Le Neve says, that the two coats lost were,
1. Duke and his quarterings, as before.
2. Duke, &c. impaling Jenney, quartering Buckle and Leiston. Buckle, or, a chevron between three buckles.
Heare uner lieth George Duke, Esquyre. who marryed Anne, the Dowghter of Syr Thomas Bleverhaysset, Knyght, the whiche George died the rrbi day of July, in the Yere of our Lorde God, a. M. CCCCC. li. whos Sowle God Pardon, Amen.
Another stone hath its inscription torn off, and one shield; the other is
Cornwaleis impaling Froxmere.
The next hath a man in armour, his sword hanging before him on a belt, his hands erected.
Hasset quarters Lowdham and Orton; Orton or Lowthe impales Heigham.
Hic iacet venerabilis bir Johannis Bleber hayset, Armiger, qui viresimo viiio die Mens: Novemb: Ao Dni. Mo bo r. cuius anime propicietur Deus.
On another stone: crest, a fox sedant on a wreath, under it, in a lozenge:
1. Hasset, Lowdham, Orton, Keldon, Skelton, Duke, frette - - - Lowthe.
2. Culpepper quartering - - - - a chevron between eleven martlets, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, impaling Hasset, and quarterings as before.
3. Bacon impaling Hasset and quarterings.
4. Hasset and quarterings.
5. Duke, with an annulet, quartering three pelicans vulning themselves, and - - - frette - - -
6. Orton.
Mariæ filiæ et hæredi unicæ Georgij Bleverhasset, Militis inaurati Enuptæ primo Thomæ Culpeper, Armigero, qui hic, postea Francisco Bacon, Armigero, Qui Petistiræ in Comitat: Suff. tumulatur, sine prole, Defuncte vii Septembr. 1587, Ætatis suæ, 70. Viduæ, Piæ, Castæ, Hospitali, Benignæ! Joannes Cornwaleis, et Joannes Bleverhasset, Memoriæ et amoris ergo posuerunt.
On a brass fixed to the north chancel wall:
Here under lyethe Thomazin Platers, Daughter of George Duke, Esquyer, and Wife to William Platers, Sonne t Heier of Thomas Platers of Soterley, Esquier, whiche Thomazin dyed the 23d day of December, in the second Yere of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Quene Elizabethe, Ao 1560.
Platers, arg. three bends wavy az.
Platers impaling Duke and his quarterings.
More towards the east, on the said wall, remains the impression of a brass effigies, and inscription now lost, but in a MSS. (marked E. 26, fol. 23.) in Mr. Anstis's hands we have the following account:
Platers's arms and Duke's:
Orate pro animabus Willi Platers et Thomazin uroris suæ filiæ Duke
As also of this, now lost:
Orate pro Domina Johanna Braham, vidua ur: Johns: Braham de Lowdham, Armigeri.
Braham impales Duke.
On a stone having the effigies of a woman in her winding sheet, bidding her beads:
Hic iaret tumulata domina Johanna Braham, vidua ar Deo dirata olim uror Johannis Braham Armigeri que obiit rbiiio die Nobembris Ao Dni. Millimo CCCCC rir. cuius anime propicietur Deus, Amen.
Braham single, and again impaling Reydon. Reydon single.
On a brass plated stone near the north door, a man in his winding sheet, and this:
Pray for the Sowle of your Charite, Of Thomas Hobson to the Trynyte.
On three flat marbles:
Nixon, on a chief, an axe impaling three roundels.
Here lieth the Body of Richard the Son of Richard Nixon, Esq; and Susan his Wife, who departed this Life the 28th Day of August, 1678.
In the 22d Year of his Age.
Nixon, impaling a chevron between three lions rampant:
Reliquiæ Richardi Nixon, Armig: Qui obijt 24° Novemb: Ano Dom. 1666, Ætatis suæ 77.
Per fess embattled three pheons impaling Nixon:
Here lyeth the Body of William Cooper, Gent. who died the 30th Day of March, 1693, Aged 54 Years.
In a north window was a man bearing Ufford's arms, and by him stood pictured a lady in the arms of Shelton, covered with a mantle of Lowdham. (fn. 8)
In the next window, or, a fess gul. Hasset, Scales; many funeral escutcheons for Hasset; one for Catherine, wife to Thomas Froxmere, Gent.
In the windows, Hasset and Lowdham quartered. Lowdham,— Ufford,—Dalimer, arg. three inescutcheons gul.; Shelton, Mortimer of Wigmore, Ufford with a label, again with a de-lis, again with a batoon gobonne arg. and gul.; again with an annulet arg.
In the west window Lowdham.
Lowdham impales Bacon, gul. on a chief arg. two mullets of the field, pierced sab.
Or, a fess gul. impales Scales.
Lowdham impales az. on a chief gul. three leopards faces or.
Mascule or and sab.
Most of these arms still remain in the windows.
I find among the evidences of Brightlead's tenement in Scole, that Thomas Ropkyn was buried here, with this inscription, now lost:
Pray for the Sowle of Thomas Ropkyn.
I have now by me three brass shields, which I am apt to think were stolen from this church some time agone; the arms being
Shelton impaling a cross ingrailed erm.
Shelton impaling a fess between fifteen billets, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Paston impaling Shelton.
At Mrs. Hill's at Castor, near Yarmouth, I saw an ancient canvass surrounding two rooms, painted with the matches of the Bleverhassets; (John Bleverhasset, who married Mrs. Hill's sister, and died in 1704, was the last of this branch;) their names are under each coat; but with hanging against moist walls, several are worn out: those that are perfect I have added here, though they are so displaced, that the time of the matches cannot be determined by their succession.
Bleverhasset, gul. a chevron. erm. between three dolphins embowed arg.
Crest on a wreath, arg. and gul. a fox seiant, gul.
Impaled with all the following coats:
Frogmorton, gul. on a chevron, or, three bars sab.
Braham, as in p. 134.
Tindall, arg. a fess indented in chief three crescents gul.
Eyre, arg. on a fess, - - - three trefoils or.
Pickerell, as in p. 48.
Clopton, sab. a bend arg. cotized, indented or.
Lowthe, sab. a lion rampant or, armed gul.
Cressi, arg. three beacons sab.
Culpepper, arg. a bend ingrailed gul.
Covert, gul. a fess between three lions heads or.
Baynaugh, gul. a chevron between three bulls faces or.
Brampton, gul. a saltire between four croslets fitchee arg.
Meawes, pally of six, or and arg. on a chief gul. three croslets formy of the first.
Lowdham, as in p. 134.
Kelvedon, (or Keldon,) gul. a pall reversed erm.
Orton, arg. a lion rampant guardant vert, crowned or.
Skelton, az. on a fess between three de-lises, or, a crescent sab.
Cornwaleis, Hare, Heydon, Wyngfield, Reape, Kempe, Gosnold, Spilman, Colby, Alcock, Rowse, Drury, Hubbard, Heigham, Warner, quartering Whetnall, Calthorp, Lovell and Ruthyn.
Rectors.
1294, John de Petestre, rector. (fn. 9)
1325, prid. non. Jan John de Novadomo (Newhouse) de Snapes; presented by Cecily, widow of Sir Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk, and lord of Eye, Robert de Shelton, and William Tastard, guardians of John de Lowdham.
1349, 21 Sept. Walter Manneysyn (after wrote in Deeds Malvesyn.) Sir John Lowdham, Knt.
1381, 7 May, William Payok, priest. Thomas de Lowdham, Knt.
1382, 6 June, John Baxter, priest. (fn. 10) Ditto.
1393, 4 June, Peter Rous, priest. Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1394, 20 May, Henry Brakkele, priest, (fn. 11) Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1397, 6 Decem. Sir John de Scoles, priest. Ditto.
1401, ult. Jan. Michael Crowe of Kenninghall, priest. Ditto.
1404, 4 Oct. Sir Tho. Warner of Leyham, priest. Gilbert de Debenham, for this turn.
1408, 8 Nov. Robert Pope of Frandeston, priest. John Lowdham of Burgate.
1416, 18 Oct. Tho. Bukke of Melles, priest. (fn. 12) John Lowdham of Ipswich, patron, by right of inheritance in a lineal descent.
1416, 20 Jan. John Greeve. Ditto.
1417, 22 Oct. Roger de Knyveton, priest. John Hevenyngham, senior, Knt. Will. Shelton, Esq. Will. Lord, clerk, and John Intewode, for this turn.
1419, 22 Dec. John Rawe, priest, on Knyveton's resignation. John Lowdham.
1423, 31 May, Simon Warner, priest. (fn. 13) John Lowdham, Esq. son and heir of Thomas Lowdham, Knt.
1428, 10 April, John Bubwith, priest, on Warner's resignation. John Hagh, Esq.
1479, 18 July, Henry - - - - - - -
1484, 22 Sept. Robert Stukely, collated by the Bishop. I meet with no more institutions till
1597, 21 April, Edmund Stanhaw. The Crown (as guardian to Bleverhasset.)
1598, 20 Oct. John Smith, A. M. on Stanhaw's resignation. Samuel Bleverhasset, Esq. united to Scole.
1603, John Smith, rector, of whom the Answers of the Parsons inform us, that he was a preacher allowed by the late Lord Bishop of Norwich, but no graduate.
1618, 21 April, Tho. Hall, A. M. united to Scole. Samuel Blaverhasset of Lowdham, Esq.
1642, 10 Sept. John Gibbs, A. M. on Hall's death. Richard Nixon, Gent.
1651, 18 Febr. Toby Dobbin. Ditto.
¶1673, 22 Sept. Tho. Wales, A. B. on Dobbin's death. John Fincham of Outwell, in the Isle of Ely, Esq.; he had Thelton.
1702, 7 Oct. Tho. Palgrave, on Wales's death. Diamond Nixon, Esq.
1725, 24 Aug. Will. Baker, on Palgrave's death. Robert Kemp, Bart. united to Wacton-Parva.
1734, the Rev. Mr. John James, the present [1736] rector, on Baker's resignation. Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. patron.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol1...
24 hours before, I had not heard of Frenze, or knew that it lay in Norfolk. A friend had posted a shot of St Andrew from the air, and finding that it ay within 2 miles of the A143, and a short detour from the route, I thought I would go
I was stuck in a long line of traffic leading into Diss, but able to take a turning to the right off the main road, then take a left turn along a farm track. The sat nav suggested it was some distance off.
Through fields and through a wood, until the road stopped at a farmyard with some abandoned industrial units and a farmhouse. But beyond was St Andrew.
Small, and perfectly formed, St Andrew reminded me of several of the untouched two cell Norman churches back in Kent, a church and yet so much like a farm building too.
St Andrew despite being small has lots of interest; ancient glass, unusual box pews, a formidable pulpit, a grand coat of arms and two good brasses.
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The heaviest snow in East Anglia that winter fell in early March. We had a new car to try out - we hadn't planned on this, but the previous one had died on the way back from Cambridge, the camshaft exploding into the engine and causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. After a few sleepless nights, we decided to cut our losses, and so here we were on an icy Sunday afternoon threading through wide flat fields to the hills near the border.
We parked near an old maltings which styled itself 'Diss Business Centre'. That town was just over the rise, but in fact we could have been miles away, in the middle of nowhere. There was no one about as we set off on foot along a track into the woods towards Frenze Hall.
The winter was at its barest. Although most of the snow had now melted, nothing had yet regrown after the winter silence. A few miserable birds chattered at us, a rabbit bolted. the coop coop of an occasional pheasant came from the copse. Eventually, the track came out into an empty farmyard, apparently abandoned, although the farm house was still occupied, and in one corner of the yard, on a rise behind an old wooden fence, sat the church of St Andrew, Frenze.
St Andrew is a curious looking structure. Effectively, it is just the small nave of a formerly longer church, propped up but still leaning all over the place. Obviously redundant, it is in the tender care of the Churches Conservation Trust (the key hangs outside the farmhouse door during daylight hours) and would just be a beautiful, unspoiled hidden corner of Norfolk if it were not for one very curious thing - this church has no less than seven figure brasses, more than just about any other church in East Anglia, as well as other memorial inscriptions. An extraordinary find in such a place.
They are all between eighteen and twenty-four inches tall. Mostly, they are to the Blenerhaysett, or Blennerhassett, family and their relatives - a most un-East Anglian name; in the Paston letters, Sir John scoffs that Ralph Blenerhaysett is a name to start a hare. They came from Cumbria, and were Lords of the Manor here. Six of the figures are still in situ on the floor. They are (top row above) vowess Joan Braham, died 1519, in cloak and girdle; Jane Blenerhaysett, 1521, in kennel headdress; John Blenerhaysett, her husband, also 1521, in armour, with sword; the already mentioned Ralph Blenerhaysett, 1475, in full mail. The first and last in the second row are an exquisite shroud brass to Thomas Hobson, and Anne Duke, also in a kennel headress. Other inscriptions also survive, and there are replicas of others on the wall. As I say, extraordinary stuff.
Even if there were no brasses, you would want to come here. Although the porch, font and a few other features survive from medieval times, the overwhelming flavour of the inside is of the 17th century - a silvery white family pew faces across to the contemporary pulpit, clearly by the same hand.
Everything is simple, but touched down the long years - the plain altar, bearing a medieval mensa, is typical of this. Boards from a royal arms hang above the south door - were they once overpainted with something else? There are two piscinas set into windowsills, one each side of the nave. Two smug little monkeys on a single bench stare out at all of this. What a special place.
Simon Knott, March 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/frenze/frenze.htm
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Was always one manor, (fn. 1) which in King Edward's time was held by Edric, (fn. 2) of Edric, for one carucate; and in the Conqueror's time by Hubert, of Robert Malet, lord of Eye; it was then worth 15s. per annum, being five furlongs long, and four broad, and paid 3d. Danegeld.
It was always held of Eye honour at one quarter of a knight's fee, and paid x.s. relief. I do not meet with any lords' names (fn. 3) before 1280, (fn. 4) when John de Ludham was lord and patron, whose family took their sirname from a village so called in Suffolk, in Wilford hundred, (fn. 5) which they held many ages. In 1297, it was settled on
William de Ludham, and Alice his wife, and John their son, and his heirs. In 1329,
Joan, wife of Sir John Ludham, and John Lowdham, Knt. son of Thomas, was 21 years old, and held this manor; and in 1336, purchased several large parcels of land of Ralph de Shimpling, and Katerine his wife, being the first of this family that had Boyland's manor; both which, together with this advowson, in 1343, they settled by fine on themselves, and the heirs of John; Edmund de Ufford le Frere, and Peter de Teye, being feoffees. In 1351,
Sir John, son and heir of Sir John de Lowdham, and Joan his wife, held this and Boyland manor in Osmundeston, Frenze and Stirston; he died in 1355, and Joan his wife had it to her death in 1371, and held it of Edmund, son of Sir Thomas de Ufford, lord of Eye.
John, son of Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. inherited, and died in 1373; and
Sir Thomas de Lowdham, Knt. brother and heir of John, son of Thomas, son of John, and Joan his wife, held it, jointly with Maud his wife; he died in 1385, and
Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held it, as guardian to John Lowdham, who dying, left it to his wife;
And in 1401, the lady which was the wife of Sir Robert Corbet, senior, Knt. held Boyland's in dower, and Sir Robert Corbet, junior, her son, held Frenze, during the minority of John Lowdham, son of Thomas de Lowdham and Maud his wife, who, when his father died, was but seven years old. This John died 28th April, 1428; Alice his wife surviving him: he left only one daughter,
Joan, then 14 years old, married to Thomas Hevenyngham, Esq. and after that to Ralph Blaverhasset, Esq. both which she outlived, not dying till June 20, 1501, being 97 years of age: she was seized of Boyland's, the other moiety of which was granted by John Lowdham to John Woodhouse.
John Blaverhasset was her son and heir, being 77 years old at his mother's death. This is a very ancient family, taking their name from Bleverseta, or Bleverhayset, in Cumberland, where the eldest branch continued a long time. In 1382, Alan Bleverhasset was mayor of the city of Carlisle, as was John, in 1430. (fn. 6) In 1412, Ralph Bleverhayset was parliament-man for that city, and so was Thomas, in 1584. In 1510, this John died, in the 87th year of his age, seized of Frenze, and a moiety of Boyland's; he had two wives; Jane daughter of Thomas Heigham of Heigham Green in Suffolk, Esq. by whom he had SirThomas, his son and heir, now 49 years of age; and Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Tindall of Hockwold in Norfolk, Knt. He came from South-hill in Bedfordshire, to Frenze, which estate he gave to John, his son by his second wife, who dying without issue, it was divided among his four sisters,Margaret, married to Robert Warner of Besthorp, after to William Drury of the same; Jane, to Sir Phillip Calthorp; Anne, to Sir Henry Grey of Wrest in Bedfordshire, Knt.; Ellen to Miles Hobert of Plumstede in Norfolk, Esq. second son of Sir James Hobart, Knt.
Sir Thomas died seized of Frenze and Boyland's, June 27, 1531, leaving
George, his eldest son by his first wife, his heir: he died in 1543, and by his will gave Frenze to Margaret his wife for life, and Boyland's moiety to Mary, his daughter and heiress, then married to Thomas Culpepper, Esq. she being to have Frenze also at Margaret's death. This Mary, by fine, settled Frenze on
Francis Bacon, Esq. her second husband, and Edmund his son, for their lives, both which had it, Edmund Bacon of Harleston being seized of it in 1572: after whose death it reverted to
John Bleverhasset, who had enjoyed Boyland's ever since the death of the said Mary. This John was brother to George, her father: he sold the moiety of Boyland's to Sir Thomas Cornwaleis, Knt. and his heirs, but Frenze continued in this family; for in 1587,
George Bleverhasset held it; and in 1595,
Samuel Bleverhasset. How or when it went from this family I do not find; but in 1666, 24th Nov.
Richard Nixon, Esq. died seized, and.
Richard was his son and heir, whose son, Diamond Nixon, sold it to
Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. whose son, Sir Robert, is now lord and patron. [1730.]
The Church is a small building, of equal height, covered with tile; and having no steeple, the bell hangs on the outside of the roof, at the west end: there is no partition between the church and chancel, but there is a beam fixed across the east chancel window, on which the rood was conveniently placed. The church is about 24 yards long, and 7 yards wide; the south porch is tiled. It is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, (fn. 7) as appears from the will of Ralph Bleverhasset, who desired to be buried in the chancel of St. Andrew at Frenze. The meanness of the fabrick hath preserved the inscriptions from being reaved, for it looks like a barn, at a distance. In the chancel, according to his will, is buried Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. whose effigies, standing upon a lion, still remains on a stone, and this inscription:
Hic iacct venerabilis Uir Radulphus Bleverhansett Armiger qui obiit riiio die Mensis Novembris Ao dni. Mo CCCC lrrbo. cuisu Anime propicietur Deus Amen.
There are four shields still remaining.
1. Bleverhasset with an annulet quartering Orton;
2. Ditto impaling Lowdham;
3. As the second;
4. Lowdham single.
The inscription for his wife is now lost, but was, as we learn from Mr. Anstis's MSS. (marked G. 6, fol. 39.) as follows:
Here lyeth Mrs. Joane Bleverhasset, the Wife of Ralph Bleverhasset, Esq. the Daughter and Heir of John Lowdham, who died the 20th Dan of June 1501.
The same MSS. hath the following inscription, now gone:
"Here lyeth the venerable Gentleman John Blaverhasset, Esq; who died the 27th of March, in the Year of our Lord, 1514."
On a stone by the south door is the effigies of a woman bidding her beads, with three shields under the inscription.
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Lowdham;
2. Ditto impaling Tindall, quartering Fecklin;
3. Tindall quartering Orton and Scales.
Pran for the Soule of Jane Bleverhayssett, Wedow, late Wyf onto John Blaverhayssett, Esquier, Whiche Jane departed oute of this present Lyf, the bi Day of October, the Yere of our Lord God, M y rri on whose Soule Jhu have merry, Amen.
On a stone at the east end,
Here lyeth Sir Thomas Bleuerhayssette, Knyght, which decessyd the ryii Dan of June, the Yere of our Lorde M yo rrri. and rrriii Yere of the Reigne of our Sobe raygne Lord Kyng Henry the viiith, whois Soule God Pardon.
At each corner is a coat:
1. Hasset with an annulet, quartering Orton, impaling Lowdham and Keldon, quartered.
2. Hasset and Lowdham quartered, impaling Heigham, his first wife.
3. Hasset, Lowdon, Orton, and Keldon, quartered, impaling Braham, with a crescent.
4. Hasset, and the three quartered as in the last, impaling two lions passant.
His effigies still remains, in complete armour, having a surcoat of his arms, viz. Bleverhasset with the annulet, (which this branch always bare for difference,) with his quarterings, Lowdham, Orton, and Kelvedon; (or Keldon;) under his head lies his crest, viz. a fox passant.
On a marble three yards long, and a yard and half wide, is this on a brass plate:
Here lyeth Dame Margaret Bleverhayset, Wedowe. late Wyf to Syr Thomas Bleverhayset off Frens, Knyght, Domghter to John Braham of Metheryngset, Esquyer, who bad Yssue by the said Sur Thomas, two Sonnes, Thomas a Pryst, and John Bleverhayset of Bargham, by Beclys in Suff, and fyve Dowghters, that ys Elizabeth Fyrst married to Lyonell Lowth, after to Francis Clopton, Agnes married to Syr Antony Rows, Knyght, Anne married fyrst to George Duke, after to Peter Rede, Margaret fyrst married to John Gosnold, after to Antony Myngfyld, who dyed the rriii of Julye in the Yere of our Lorde, 1561.
The first coat is lost, but was Braham impaling Reydon.
2. Hasset, Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, Skelton, and Hasset, impaling Braham; the third is lost.
Adjoining is another stone, having had two coats, which are reaved, as is the effigies of the man; that of the woman remains; her head lies on a pillow, and her beads hang before her; the two remaining shields have these arms:
1. Duke quartering Banyard, with the difference of two annulets interlaced on the fess.
Park and Ilketshall impaling Hasset, quartering Lowdham, Keldon, Orton, and Skelton.
2. Hasset, and his quarterings, as before.
Mr. Le Neve says, that the two coats lost were,
1. Duke and his quarterings, as before.
2. Duke, &c. impaling Jenney, quartering Buckle and Leiston. Buckle, or, a chevron between three buckles.
Heare uner lieth George Duke, Esquyre. who marryed Anne, the Dowghter of Syr Thomas Bleverhaysset, Knyght, the whiche George died the rrbi day of July, in the Yere of our Lorde God, a. M. CCCCC. li. whos Sowle God Pardon, Amen.
Another stone hath its inscription torn off, and one shield; the other is
Cornwaleis impaling Froxmere.
The next hath a man in armour, his sword hanging before him on a belt, his hands erected.
Hasset quarters Lowdham and Orton; Orton or Lowthe impales Heigham.
Hic iacet venerabilis bir Johannis Bleber hayset, Armiger, qui viresimo viiio die Mens: Novemb: Ao Dni. Mo bo r. cuius anime propicietur Deus.
On another stone: crest, a fox sedant on a wreath, under it, in a lozenge:
1. Hasset, Lowdham, Orton, Keldon, Skelton, Duke, frette - - - Lowthe.
2. Culpepper quartering - - - - a chevron between eleven martlets, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, impaling Hasset, and quarterings as before.
3. Bacon impaling Hasset and quarterings.
4. Hasset and quarterings.
5. Duke, with an annulet, quartering three pelicans vulning themselves, and - - - frette - - -
6. Orton.
Mariæ filiæ et hæredi unicæ Georgij Bleverhasset, Militis inaurati Enuptæ primo Thomæ Culpeper, Armigero, qui hic, postea Francisco Bacon, Armigero, Qui Petistiræ in Comitat: Suff. tumulatur, sine prole, Defuncte vii Septembr. 1587, Ætatis suæ, 70. Viduæ, Piæ, Castæ, Hospitali, Benignæ! Joannes Cornwaleis, et Joannes Bleverhasset, Memoriæ et amoris ergo posuerunt.
On a brass fixed to the north chancel wall:
Here under lyethe Thomazin Platers, Daughter of George Duke, Esquyer, and Wife to William Platers, Sonne t Heier of Thomas Platers of Soterley, Esquier, whiche Thomazin dyed the 23d day of December, in the second Yere of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Quene Elizabethe, Ao 1560.
Platers, arg. three bends wavy az.
Platers impaling Duke and his quarterings.
More towards the east, on the said wall, remains the impression of a brass effigies, and inscription now lost, but in a MSS. (marked E. 26, fol. 23.) in Mr. Anstis's hands we have the following account:
Platers's arms and Duke's:
Orate pro animabus Willi Platers et Thomazin uroris suæ filiæ Duke
As also of this, now lost:
Orate pro Domina Johanna Braham, vidua ur: Johns: Braham de Lowdham, Armigeri.
Braham impales Duke.
On a stone having the effigies of a woman in her winding sheet, bidding her beads:
Hic iaret tumulata domina Johanna Braham, vidua ar Deo dirata olim uror Johannis Braham Armigeri que obiit rbiiio die Nobembris Ao Dni. Millimo CCCCC rir. cuius anime propicietur Deus, Amen.
Braham single, and again impaling Reydon. Reydon single.
On a brass plated stone near the north door, a man in his winding sheet, and this:
Pray for the Sowle of your Charite, Of Thomas Hobson to the Trynyte.
On three flat marbles:
Nixon, on a chief, an axe impaling three roundels.
Here lieth the Body of Richard the Son of Richard Nixon, Esq; and Susan his Wife, who departed this Life the 28th Day of August, 1678.
In the 22d Year of his Age.
Nixon, impaling a chevron between three lions rampant:
Reliquiæ Richardi Nixon, Armig: Qui obijt 24° Novemb: Ano Dom. 1666, Ætatis suæ 77.
Per fess embattled three pheons impaling Nixon:
Here lyeth the Body of William Cooper, Gent. who died the 30th Day of March, 1693, Aged 54 Years.
In a north window was a man bearing Ufford's arms, and by him stood pictured a lady in the arms of Shelton, covered with a mantle of Lowdham. (fn. 8)
In the next window, or, a fess gul. Hasset, Scales; many funeral escutcheons for Hasset; one for Catherine, wife to Thomas Froxmere, Gent.
In the windows, Hasset and Lowdham quartered. Lowdham,— Ufford,—Dalimer, arg. three inescutcheons gul.; Shelton, Mortimer of Wigmore, Ufford with a label, again with a de-lis, again with a batoon gobonne arg. and gul.; again with an annulet arg.
In the west window Lowdham.
Lowdham impales Bacon, gul. on a chief arg. two mullets of the field, pierced sab.
Or, a fess gul. impales Scales.
Lowdham impales az. on a chief gul. three leopards faces or.
Mascule or and sab.
Most of these arms still remain in the windows.
I find among the evidences of Brightlead's tenement in Scole, that Thomas Ropkyn was buried here, with this inscription, now lost:
Pray for the Sowle of Thomas Ropkyn.
I have now by me three brass shields, which I am apt to think were stolen from this church some time agone; the arms being
Shelton impaling a cross ingrailed erm.
Shelton impaling a fess between fifteen billets, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Paston impaling Shelton.
At Mrs. Hill's at Castor, near Yarmouth, I saw an ancient canvass surrounding two rooms, painted with the matches of the Bleverhassets; (John Bleverhasset, who married Mrs. Hill's sister, and died in 1704, was the last of this branch;) their names are under each coat; but with hanging against moist walls, several are worn out: those that are perfect I have added here, though they are so displaced, that the time of the matches cannot be determined by their succession.
Bleverhasset, gul. a chevron. erm. between three dolphins embowed arg.
Crest on a wreath, arg. and gul. a fox seiant, gul.
Impaled with all the following coats:
Frogmorton, gul. on a chevron, or, three bars sab.
Braham, as in p. 134.
Tindall, arg. a fess indented in chief three crescents gul.
Eyre, arg. on a fess, - - - three trefoils or.
Pickerell, as in p. 48.
Clopton, sab. a bend arg. cotized, indented or.
Lowthe, sab. a lion rampant or, armed gul.
Cressi, arg. three beacons sab.
Culpepper, arg. a bend ingrailed gul.
Covert, gul. a fess between three lions heads or.
Baynaugh, gul. a chevron between three bulls faces or.
Brampton, gul. a saltire between four croslets fitchee arg.
Meawes, pally of six, or and arg. on a chief gul. three croslets formy of the first.
Lowdham, as in p. 134.
Kelvedon, (or Keldon,) gul. a pall reversed erm.
Orton, arg. a lion rampant guardant vert, crowned or.
Skelton, az. on a fess between three de-lises, or, a crescent sab.
Cornwaleis, Hare, Heydon, Wyngfield, Reape, Kempe, Gosnold, Spilman, Colby, Alcock, Rowse, Drury, Hubbard, Heigham, Warner, quartering Whetnall, Calthorp, Lovell and Ruthyn.
Rectors.
1294, John de Petestre, rector. (fn. 9)
1325, prid. non. Jan John de Novadomo (Newhouse) de Snapes; presented by Cecily, widow of Sir Robert de Ufford Earl of Suffolk, and lord of Eye, Robert de Shelton, and William Tastard, guardians of John de Lowdham.
1349, 21 Sept. Walter Manneysyn (after wrote in Deeds Malvesyn.) Sir John Lowdham, Knt.
1381, 7 May, William Payok, priest. Thomas de Lowdham, Knt.
1382, 6 June, John Baxter, priest. (fn. 10) Ditto.
1393, 4 June, Peter Rous, priest. Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1394, 20 May, Henry Brakkele, priest, (fn. 11) Sir Robert Corbett, senior, guardian to John de Lowdham.
1397, 6 Decem. Sir John de Scoles, priest. Ditto.
1401, ult. Jan. Michael Crowe of Kenninghall, priest. Ditto.
1404, 4 Oct. Sir Tho. Warner of Leyham, priest. Gilbert de Debenham, for this turn.
1408, 8 Nov. Robert Pope of Frandeston, priest. John Lowdham of Burgate.
1416, 18 Oct. Tho. Bukke of Melles, priest. (fn. 12) John Lowdham of Ipswich, patron, by right of inheritance in a lineal descent.
1416, 20 Jan. John Greeve. Ditto.
1417, 22 Oct. Roger de Knyveton, priest. John Hevenyngham, senior, Knt. Will. Shelton, Esq. Will. Lord, clerk, and John Intewode, for this turn.
1419, 22 Dec. John Rawe, priest, on Knyveton's resignation. John Lowdham.
1423, 31 May, Simon Warner, priest. (fn. 13) John Lowdham, Esq. son and heir of Thomas Lowdham, Knt.
1428, 10 April, John Bubwith, priest, on Warner's resignation. John Hagh, Esq.
1479, 18 July, Henry - - - - - - -
1484, 22 Sept. Robert Stukely, collated by the Bishop. I meet with no more institutions till
1597, 21 April, Edmund Stanhaw. The Crown (as guardian to Bleverhasset.)
1598, 20 Oct. John Smith, A. M. on Stanhaw's resignation. Samuel Bleverhasset, Esq. united to Scole.
1603, John Smith, rector, of whom the Answers of the Parsons inform us, that he was a preacher allowed by the late Lord Bishop of Norwich, but no graduate.
1618, 21 April, Tho. Hall, A. M. united to Scole. Samuel Blaverhasset of Lowdham, Esq.
1642, 10 Sept. John Gibbs, A. M. on Hall's death. Richard Nixon, Gent.
1651, 18 Febr. Toby Dobbin. Ditto.
¶1673, 22 Sept. Tho. Wales, A. B. on Dobbin's death. John Fincham of Outwell, in the Isle of Ely, Esq.; he had Thelton.
1702, 7 Oct. Tho. Palgrave, on Wales's death. Diamond Nixon, Esq.
1725, 24 Aug. Will. Baker, on Palgrave's death. Robert Kemp, Bart. united to Wacton-Parva.
1734, the Rev. Mr. John James, the present [1736] rector, on Baker's resignation. Sir Robert Kemp, Bart. patron.
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