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Driven by dreams during the 2021 FIA Prize Giving Ceremony, at the Carrousel du Louvre, on December 16 in Paris, France - Photo Germain Hazard / DPPI
Woodchurch is the latest bete noir of Kent churches for me. Or has been for some while. Along with Hinxhill, these two have proved to be impossible to get into. The lat time I tried here was last year's heritage weekend where I found the church locked just after five in the afternoon.
So, after a flurry of e mails this week, and the warden's surprise I have always failed to get in: "its open from seven in the morning to five every day". Maybe I just went on the three or four occasions this did not happen.
Whatever, this was the first stop of the day.
Woodchurch is on the route to Cranbrook and Sissinghurst, so this is the third week I have driven through Ham Street.
We park opposite the two pubs that sit beside each other, one, The Bonny Cravat looked fine with hanging baskets outside.
But too early for a pint, so we walk up the path to the porch and pushed....
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An enormous church with much of interest. The fabric dates from the thirteenth century, and the nave arcades of alternate round and octagonal piers are made of ragstone, which was polished in the nineteenth century to resemble Bethersden marble. In fact there are some genuine pieces of Bethersden marble in the church, particularly important visually being the shafts between the east window lancets. On the south-east buttress of the chancel is a mass dial, and on the main south wall is an excellent large sundial. The rood loft stairway survives in the north chapel where there is a good and rare double hagioscope. The sedilia are made up of three graduated thirteenth-century seats with a double piscina incorporated as part of the same scheme. In the south aisle is a medallion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while the nearby east window depicting the Crucifixion is by Kempe. In front of the pulpit is the brass to a priest, Nicholas Gore (d. 1333), a quatrefoil with a circular inscription, into which is set the figure of Gore in his vestments. The Royal Arms are those of George III and were painted by a local artist, Joseph Gibson, in 1773.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Woodchurch
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WOODCHURCH
IS the next parish south-eastward from Halden, and is within the court of the bailiwic of the Seven Hundreds, which claims paramount over the denne of Ilchenden, being a great part of it; though the manors of Apledore and of Wye claim over some parts of it.
This PARISH, which stands rather on high ground, is about five miles in length from north to south, and three miles and an half in breadth. The soil of it is in general a stiff clay, though in the southern part of it there is some light land, inclining to sand. It is exceedingly covered, throughout most of it, with oaken coppice wood, and the face of the country here, as well as the roads, are much like those of Halden, last described. The village is near the centre of the parish, built mostly round a green, with the church on the north-west side of it, and the parsonage-house. In the south-west part of the parish is Shirley-house and farm, which formerly belonged to the family of Clarke, and afterwards to the Harlackendens, from whom it was purchased by Anne Blackmore, widow of John Blackmore, esq. of Tenterden, who died in 1717; and their grandson Thomas Blackmore, esq. of Hertfordshire, now owns it, with other adjoining estates in this parish. Below this farm southward is a large tract of marshes, called Shirley, or Sherles-moor, being about three miles in length and two in breadth, lying in Woodchurch, Apledore, Eboney, and Tenterden, containing 1245 acres, and is what is called the Upper Levels, the waters of which few through Scots-float into Rye harbour. It is allowed to be the richest land for satting cattle in all these levels. It belongs to several different proprietors, among whom Sir Edward Hales, bart. Thomas Blackmore, esq. the dean and chapter of Canterbury, Richard Curteis, and the heirs of William Henley, esqrs. are the most considerable.
Sir Edward Hales, bart. and Richard Hulse, esq. are lessees of the dean and chapter of Canterbury, for lands in this level, which formerly belonged to the priory of Christ-church there.
About three quarters of a mile northward from the church, is Redbrooke-street, at which formerly resided a family named At-hale, possessed of lands in this and the neighbouring parishes.
THE MANOR OF TOWNLAND, alias WOODCHURCH, is subordinate to that of Apledore, and was part of those lands and estates assigned for the desence of Dover-castle, to the constable of which it was allotted, and made a part of his barony, which was usually stiled from him, the Constabularie, being held by him of the king in capite by barony, by the service of maintaining a certain number of soldiers from time to time for the desence of the castle. Of him and his heirs this manor was held in capite by the service of ward to the castle, Ralph de la Thun held this manor and other lands in Woodchurch, by the above service, in the 43d year of Henry III. in which year he died possessed of it, and from him it acquired the name of Thunland, or Townland, as it was afterwards called. After him Richard de Tunland became possessed of it, whose grandson John Ate Towneland paid aid for it in the 20th year of Edward III. and in his descendants it continued down to Thomas Townland, who died possessed of it in the 7th year of Henry IV. (fn. 1) After which it passed by sale into the family of Norton, whence it was sold, about the beginning of king Henry VIII.'s reign, to the prior and convent of Leeds, who were then possessed of it, as appears by the receipt in the exchequer anno 8 of that reign, Mich. Rot. 35; and it remained part of their possessions till the dissolution of the priory, in the 31st year of that reign, when it came into the hands of the crown; from whence it was granted that year to Thomas, lord Cromwell, earl of Essex, on whose attainder next year, this manor, among the rest of his estates, became forfeited to the crown, where it staid but a small time, for the king, in his 36th year, granted it to Sir Thomas Moile, chancellor of his court of augmentation, who in the 4th year of Edward VI. alienated it to Thomas Ancos, who afterwards sold it to Thomas Lucas, gent, who died possessed of it in the 3d year of queen Elizabeth, hold ing it in capite by knight's service. He was descended from William Lucas, gent. of Ashford, who is recorded in Fuller's history, among those gentry who were returned as such, and qualified to bear arms, by the commissioners anno 12 Henry VI. (fn. 2) By the inquisition taken after his death, it was found, that Thomas Godfrey was his nephew and next heir. He died in the 7th year of that reign, and was succeeded by his brother James Godfrey, who two years afterwards alienated it to Mary, the widow of Sir John Guldeford, of Hemsted, who in the 19th year of that reign sold it to John Shellie, whose son John Shelley, esq. of Michelgrove, was created a baronet in 1611; and in his descendants, baronets, this manor continued till the reign of Charles II. How long it continued in this name, I do not find; for it was now become but of very little note. At length, after some intermediate owners, it became the property of Mr. Gabriel Richards, and since his decease of Mr. William Evans, the present possessor, who resides in it.
THE PLACE-HOUSE, or Woodchurch house, is a seat situated at a small distance eastward from the church, and was the habitation of a family who took both their surname and original from it. Anchitel de Woodchurch was possessed of it about the time of the Conqueror, and gave for his arms, Gules, three swords, erected in pale, argent. His grandson Roger de Woodchurch, is the first that is mentioned in the antient deeds, without date, of this estate, and his grandson Sir Simon de Woodchurch, is in the register of those Kentish gentlemen who accompanied king Edward I. in his victorious expedition into Scotland, where he was knighted, with many others of his countrymen. But in him the name, though not the male line, determined; for by matching with Susan, daughter and heir of Henry le Clerk, of Munsidde, in the parish of Kingsnoth, who brought a large inheritance into his family; his successors, out of gratitude to those who had added so much splendour, and annexed so plentiful a revenue to their name, altered their paternal appellation from Woodchurch to Clerke; and in several of their deeds subsequent to this match were written, Clerke, alias Woodchurch. He left two sons, Simon, who died without male issue; (fn. 3) and Clerke Woodchurch, heir to his mother's lands, as well as to his elder brother at this place, on his failure of male issue; which latter left a son Peter Clerke, alias Woodchurch, who inherited this seat on his father's death, and in his descendants it continued down to Humphry Clarke, for so they then wrote their name, who resided at Buckford, in Great Chart. He sold this seat, with the estate belonging to it, to Martin Harlackenden, esq. of this parish, whose successor Walter Harlackenden resided here in the reign of James I. and his descendant Geo. Harlackenden, esq. of Woodchurch, sold it to Winifred Bridger, widow, and Laurence her son, the latter of whom at his death devised it to his son John, who dying s.p. his sister Mrs. Winifrid Bridger, of Canterbury, succeeded to it, and dying in 1776, unmarried, by will gave it to the Rev. William Dejovas Byrch, of Canterbury, and Elizabeth his wife. He died in 1792, and she in 1798, having surviving issue an only daughter Elizabeth, since deceased, who married Samuel Egerton Brydges, esq. of Denton, who is now in his late wife's right became entitled to it.
Great part of this house has been pulled down, and the remainder of it makes but a very mean appearance, and is inhabited by several different persons.
HENDEN is an estate in this parish, which from having had for a length of time the same owners as that last-described, was once almost accounted an ap pendage to it. This place is supposed (for there are no records existing of it) to have been the original seat of the Hendens, who were in much later times seated at Biddenden-place, in this neighbourhood, as has been mentioned before, where they continued till within these few years. How long they remained possessors of it, cannot therefore be traced; but in the reign of king Richard II. the Capells, of Capellscourt, in Ivychurch, were become owners of it; in the 15th year of which reign Richard Capell died possessed of it. At length, after it had continued in his descendants for some generations, it went by the marriage of a female heir into the family of Harlackenden, of this parish, where it remained till Deborah, daughter and heir of Martin Harlackenden, entitled her husband Sir Edward Hales, knight and baronet, to the possession of this estate, together with others in this parish and neighbourhood, and in his descendants it has continued down to Sir Edward Hales, bart. of St. Stephen's, the present owner of it.
HARLACKENDEN, usually called Old Harlackenden, situated within the boroughof that name which extended likewise over part of the adjoining parish of Shadoxhurst) was for some hundred years the patrimonial demesnes of that name and family, as appeared by a tomb in this church, the inscription on which, long since obliterated, shewed that one of them lay interred there soon after the conquest. Philipott says, the proportion and shape of the characters were much like those in use in the reigns of king Henry IV. and V. which he thinks was occasioned by this tomb having been renewed by one of this person's successors and descendants in one of the above reigns, and the former one might have been in old characters, suitable to the time in which it was first erected. There are none now remaining on it. Kilburne says, it was for William Harlackenden, anno 1081. They bore for their arms, Azure, a sess, ermine, between three lions beads erased, or; which arms were painted in an upper window of Grays-Inn hall, and appeared to have been of long standing there. In his descendants, residents here, many of whom lie buried in this church, this seat continued down to Thomas Harlackenden, esq. of Woodchurch, who procured his lands to be disgavelled by the acts of 31 Henry VIII. and 2 and 3 Edward VI. He died in 1558. (fn. 4) At length his descendant George Harlackenden, esq. of this place, alienated it to Winifried Bridger, widow, and Laurence her son, whose heirs, in the 9th year of queen Anne, procured an act to vest it in trustees, and they accordingly sold it, in 1711, to dame Sarah, widow of Sir Paul Barrett, sergeant-at-law. She died that same year, and by the limitation in her will, (fn. 5) this estate devolved to her grandson Sir Francis Head, bart. son of her first husband Francis Head, esq. who died possessed of it in 1768. After which his widow, lady Head, by virtue of her jointure, came into the possession of it. She died in 1792, and it then devolved to the daughters and coheirs of her late husband Sir Francis Head, and to their heirs, in the like proportions as the Hermitage, in Higham, and his other estates in this county, in which state it remains at present. (fn. 6)
HENHURST is an estate in the north-east part of this parish, which formerly belonged to a family of the same name, whose more antient seat was at Henhurst, in Staplehurst, of which this was but a younger branch. They were likewise often written in old deeds both Henhurst and Enghurst, and continued owners of this place until the reign of king Henry VII. and then Sir Thomas Henghurst dying without issue male, his daughter and sole heir carried it in marriage to Humphry Wife, whose daughter and heir Agnes entitled her husband Mr. Robert Master to the possession of it, who bore for his arms, A lion, rampant, holding in his paws an escallop shell. His son Mr. Thomas Master resided here, but his son Giles Master quitted this residence and removed to Canterbury, where he died in 1644. At length it descended to Sir Harcourt Master, alderman of London, who became possessed of it for the term of his life, by the will of his father's eldest brother's daughter, Mary Master. He died in 1648. Since which it has continued in his descendants, one of whom, Harcourt Masters, esq. of Greenwich, owns it at this time.
HENGHAM, now usually called Great Hengham, corruptly for Engeham, its original name, lies enveloped by woods, about a mile and an half northward from Woodchurch. It was once accounted a manor, and was in early times possessed by a family of the same name, who resided at it, and were stiled sometimes Engham, alias Edingham, in antient deeds, relating to their possessions in different parts of Romney marsh, the latter being probably their original name, and the former one an abbreviation of it. (fn. 7) Alanus de Engham resided here in the reign of king John, and married the daughter of Townland, of this parish, as did his descendant Moses de Engham, alias Edingham, who by marriage with Petronell, daughter of Alan de Plurenden, greatly increased his estate in Woodchurch; and probably of kindred to this family was Odomar Hengham, esq. who died in 1411, and lies buried in the body of Canterbury cathedral. They bore for their arms, Argent, a chevron, sable, between three pellets; on a chief, gules, a lion passant, guardant, or. A branch of this family became possessed of Singleton, in Great Chart, where they rebuilt the mansion, and afterwards resided; but the last residence of the Enghams, in this county, was at Gunston, where they flourished till the beginning of this century. At length Robert Engham, of Woodchurch, leaving two daughters his coheirs, this manor, about the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII. was carried in marriage by Mary, the eldest of them, to Thomas Isley, who leaving five daughters his coheirs, Mary, married to Francis Spelman; Frances, to William Boys, esq. Elizabeth, to Anthony Mason, esq. Anne, to George Delves, esq. and Jane, to Francis Haut, esq. they, in right of their respective wives, became jointly entitled to it. This occasioned a partition of this estate, which was afterwards called by the name of Great and Little Hengham; the former having the antient mansion and manor annexed to it. This part was afterwards alienated to William Hales, esq. of Nackington, who possessed it in the reign of king James I. and in 1640, passed it away by sale to Thomas Godfrey the younger, esq. of Lid, who conveyed it to Clerke, whence it was sold in the reign of king Charles II. to John Grove, gent. of Tunstall, whose descendant Richard Grove, esq. of London, who died unmarried in 1792, by will devised it to Mr. William Jemmott and Mr. William Marshall, the former of whom, on a partition of his estates, became the sole proprietor of it, and continues so at this time. A court baron is held for this manor.
THE OTHER PART of this manor, now called Little Hengham, which lies adjoining to it southward, is now the property of the heirs of Abbot, the Whitfields, and the Combers.
PLERYNDEN, now corruptly called Plunden, is situated in the north-west part of this parish, in the midst of a wood, and in the denne of the same name. It had in early times owners, who took their furname from it and continued so till Petronell, daughter and heir of Alan de Plerynden, who bore for his arms, Perchevron, in chief, two mullets, in base, a martlet, as they appear, carved in stone, on the roof of Canterbury cloysters, carried it in marriage to Moses de Engham, in whose descendants it remained till Vincent Engham, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, passed it away by sale to William Twysden, esq. of Chelmington, whose descendant Sir Thomas Twysden, bart. of Roydon-hall, in East Peckham, about the beginning of queen Anne's reign, sold it to Mr. John Hooker, of Maidstone, who died possessed of it in 1717, and devised it to his second son John, of Broadoak, in Brenchley, gent. who dying unmarried in 1762, devised it to his youngest and only surviving brother Stephen Hooker, gent. of Halden, and he alienated it to John Children, esq. of Tunbridge, whose son George Children, esq. of that place, is the present owner of it.
Charities.
RICHARD BROWNE, late of Woodchurch, by will in 1562, gave to the poor of this parish a rent charge of 4l. 10s. per annum, on every Trinity Sunday for ever, out of a messuage called Webbes, in this parish, of the clear annual produce of 3l. 8s.
SIR EDWARD HALES, of Woodchurch, by deed in 1610, gave to the poor yearly rents out of a farm, called the Legg farm, in Kenardington.
PHEBE GOBLE, of Woodchurch, by will in 1692, gave to the poor 2l. per annum, to be paid by her heirs for ever, out of a farm, called the Bonny Cravat, in Woodchurch, (now an alehouse) the first Sunday after Old Lady-day.
THERE IS A SCHOOL, for reading and writing, supported by contribution, in this parish.
The poor constantly relieved are about ninety, casually 45.
WOODCHURCH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the dioceseof Canterbury, and deanry of Limne.
¶The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is large and handsome, consisting of three isles and three chancels, with a spire steeple, shingled, at the west end, in which hang six bells. The windows in the high chancel are small and elegant. There are some very small remains of good painted glass. In this chancel is a stone, with the figure in brass, of a priest praying, and inscription for master Nicholas de Gore, in old French; and another stone, with inscription in brass, for William Benge Capellanus, obt. 1437. In this church are many tombs and gravestones of the family of Harlackenden, which have already been mentioned before. In the south chancel there is a handsome tomb, of Bethersden marble, for Sir Edward Waterhous, chancellor of the exchequer, and privy counsellor to queen Elizabeth, in Ireland, third son of John Waterhous, esq. of Whitechurch, in Buckinghamshire, obt. s. p. 1591, his arms on his tomb, Or, a pile engrailed, sable, quartered with other coats. Kilburne says, in the east window of this chancel, were the arms of Ellis; and in the east window of the north chancel, were several essigies of the Clerkes; and in the north window of it, those of William Harey; all long since gone. The sont in this church seems very antient, being of Bethersden marble, square, and standing on four pillars.
This church was part of the antient possessions of the see of Canterbury, and continues so at this time, his grace the archbishop being the present patron of it.
It is a rectory, valued in the king's books at 26l.13s. 4d. and the yearly tenths at 2l. 13s. 4d. In 1640 it was valued at one hundred and ten pounds. Communicants three hundred and forty-nine. In 1729 at two hundred and thirty pounds per annum.
Among the Lambeth MSS. is a decree of archbishop Peckham, concerning the tithes of Woodchurch, anno 1281. (fn. 8) There are about two acres of glebe land.
This is my Little Martin three quarter size travel guitar. A great little instrument made from composite materials which renders it very strong and very stable. Great for Blues numbers.
Woodchurch is the latest bete noir of Kent churches for me. Or has been for some while. Along with Hinxhill, these two have proved to be impossible to get into. The lat time I tried here was last year's heritage weekend where I found the church locked just after five in the afternoon.
So, after a flurry of e mails this week, and the warden's surprise I have always failed to get in: "its open from seven in the morning to five every day". Maybe I just went on the three or four occasions this did not happen.
Whatever, this was the first stop of the day.
Woodchurch is on the route to Cranbrook and Sissinghurst, so this is the third week I have driven through Ham Street.
We park opposite the two pubs that sit beside each other, one, The Bonny Cravat looked fine with hanging baskets outside.
But too early for a pint, so we walk up the path to the porch and pushed....
The door swung open, and ahead of me, Jools was already in the church.
We found the light switches and lit up the large cool interior.
I found not one, not two, but three squints, or hagioscopes. One, a fabulous on with a double opening. I have not seen anything like it before.
Also, there are three sets of steps, including one to the pulpit and another to the now truncated rood loft.
I climb both.
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An enormous church with much of interest. The fabric dates from the thirteenth century, and the nave arcades of alternate round and octagonal piers are made of ragstone, which was polished in the nineteenth century to resemble Bethersden marble. In fact there are some genuine pieces of Bethersden marble in the church, particularly important visually being the shafts between the east window lancets. On the south-east buttress of the chancel is a mass dial, and on the main south wall is an excellent large sundial. The rood loft stairway survives in the north chapel where there is a good and rare double hagioscope. The sedilia are made up of three graduated thirteenth-century seats with a double piscina incorporated as part of the same scheme. In the south aisle is a medallion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while the nearby east window depicting the Crucifixion is by Kempe. In front of the pulpit is the brass to a priest, Nicholas Gore (d. 1333), a quatrefoil with a circular inscription, into which is set the figure of Gore in his vestments. The Royal Arms are those of George III and were painted by a local artist, Joseph Gibson, in 1773.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Woodchurch
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WOODCHURCH
IS the next parish south-eastward from Halden, and is within the court of the bailiwic of the Seven Hundreds, which claims paramount over the denne of Ilchenden, being a great part of it; though the manors of Apledore and of Wye claim over some parts of it.
This PARISH, which stands rather on high ground, is about five miles in length from north to south, and three miles and an half in breadth. The soil of it is in general a stiff clay, though in the southern part of it there is some light land, inclining to sand. It is exceedingly covered, throughout most of it, with oaken coppice wood, and the face of the country here, as well as the roads, are much like those of Halden, last described. The village is near the centre of the parish, built mostly round a green, with the church on the north-west side of it, and the parsonage-house. In the south-west part of the parish is Shirley-house and farm, which formerly belonged to the family of Clarke, and afterwards to the Harlackendens, from whom it was purchased by Anne Blackmore, widow of John Blackmore, esq. of Tenterden, who died in 1717; and their grandson Thomas Blackmore, esq. of Hertfordshire, now owns it, with other adjoining estates in this parish. Below this farm southward is a large tract of marshes, called Shirley, or Sherles-moor, being about three miles in length and two in breadth, lying in Woodchurch, Apledore, Eboney, and Tenterden, containing 1245 acres, and is what is called the Upper Levels, the waters of which few through Scots-float into Rye harbour. It is allowed to be the richest land for satting cattle in all these levels. It belongs to several different proprietors, among whom Sir Edward Hales, bart. Thomas Blackmore, esq. the dean and chapter of Canterbury, Richard Curteis, and the heirs of William Henley, esqrs. are the most considerable.
Sir Edward Hales, bart. and Richard Hulse, esq. are lessees of the dean and chapter of Canterbury, for lands in this level, which formerly belonged to the priory of Christ-church there.
About three quarters of a mile northward from the church, is Redbrooke-street, at which formerly resided a family named At-hale, possessed of lands in this and the neighbouring parishes.
THE MANOR OF TOWNLAND, alias WOODCHURCH, is subordinate to that of Apledore, and was part of those lands and estates assigned for the desence of Dover-castle, to the constable of which it was allotted, and made a part of his barony, which was usually stiled from him, the Constabularie, being held by him of the king in capite by barony, by the service of maintaining a certain number of soldiers from time to time for the desence of the castle. Of him and his heirs this manor was held in capite by the service of ward to the castle, Ralph de la Thun held this manor and other lands in Woodchurch, by the above service, in the 43d year of Henry III. in which year he died possessed of it, and from him it acquired the name of Thunland, or Townland, as it was afterwards called. After him Richard de Tunland became possessed of it, whose grandson John Ate Towneland paid aid for it in the 20th year of Edward III. and in his descendants it continued down to Thomas Townland, who died possessed of it in the 7th year of Henry IV. (fn. 1) After which it passed by sale into the family of Norton, whence it was sold, about the beginning of king Henry VIII.'s reign, to the prior and convent of Leeds, who were then possessed of it, as appears by the receipt in the exchequer anno 8 of that reign, Mich. Rot. 35; and it remained part of their possessions till the dissolution of the priory, in the 31st year of that reign, when it came into the hands of the crown; from whence it was granted that year to Thomas, lord Cromwell, earl of Essex, on whose attainder next year, this manor, among the rest of his estates, became forfeited to the crown, where it staid but a small time, for the king, in his 36th year, granted it to Sir Thomas Moile, chancellor of his court of augmentation, who in the 4th year of Edward VI. alienated it to Thomas Ancos, who afterwards sold it to Thomas Lucas, gent, who died possessed of it in the 3d year of queen Elizabeth, hold ing it in capite by knight's service. He was descended from William Lucas, gent. of Ashford, who is recorded in Fuller's history, among those gentry who were returned as such, and qualified to bear arms, by the commissioners anno 12 Henry VI. (fn. 2) By the inquisition taken after his death, it was found, that Thomas Godfrey was his nephew and next heir. He died in the 7th year of that reign, and was succeeded by his brother James Godfrey, who two years afterwards alienated it to Mary, the widow of Sir John Guldeford, of Hemsted, who in the 19th year of that reign sold it to John Shellie, whose son John Shelley, esq. of Michelgrove, was created a baronet in 1611; and in his descendants, baronets, this manor continued till the reign of Charles II. How long it continued in this name, I do not find; for it was now become but of very little note. At length, after some intermediate owners, it became the property of Mr. Gabriel Richards, and since his decease of Mr. William Evans, the present possessor, who resides in it.
THE PLACE-HOUSE, or Woodchurch house, is a seat situated at a small distance eastward from the church, and was the habitation of a family who took both their surname and original from it. Anchitel de Woodchurch was possessed of it about the time of the Conqueror, and gave for his arms, Gules, three swords, erected in pale, argent. His grandson Roger de Woodchurch, is the first that is mentioned in the antient deeds, without date, of this estate, and his grandson Sir Simon de Woodchurch, is in the register of those Kentish gentlemen who accompanied king Edward I. in his victorious expedition into Scotland, where he was knighted, with many others of his countrymen. But in him the name, though not the male line, determined; for by matching with Susan, daughter and heir of Henry le Clerk, of Munsidde, in the parish of Kingsnoth, who brought a large inheritance into his family; his successors, out of gratitude to those who had added so much splendour, and annexed so plentiful a revenue to their name, altered their paternal appellation from Woodchurch to Clerke; and in several of their deeds subsequent to this match were written, Clerke, alias Woodchurch. He left two sons, Simon, who died without male issue; (fn. 3) and Clerke Woodchurch, heir to his mother's lands, as well as to his elder brother at this place, on his failure of male issue; which latter left a son Peter Clerke, alias Woodchurch, who inherited this seat on his father's death, and in his descendants it continued down to Humphry Clarke, for so they then wrote their name, who resided at Buckford, in Great Chart. He sold this seat, with the estate belonging to it, to Martin Harlackenden, esq. of this parish, whose successor Walter Harlackenden resided here in the reign of James I. and his descendant Geo. Harlackenden, esq. of Woodchurch, sold it to Winifred Bridger, widow, and Laurence her son, the latter of whom at his death devised it to his son John, who dying s.p. his sister Mrs. Winifrid Bridger, of Canterbury, succeeded to it, and dying in 1776, unmarried, by will gave it to the Rev. William Dejovas Byrch, of Canterbury, and Elizabeth his wife. He died in 1792, and she in 1798, having surviving issue an only daughter Elizabeth, since deceased, who married Samuel Egerton Brydges, esq. of Denton, who is now in his late wife's right became entitled to it.
Great part of this house has been pulled down, and the remainder of it makes but a very mean appearance, and is inhabited by several different persons.
HENDEN is an estate in this parish, which from having had for a length of time the same owners as that last-described, was once almost accounted an ap pendage to it. This place is supposed (for there are no records existing of it) to have been the original seat of the Hendens, who were in much later times seated at Biddenden-place, in this neighbourhood, as has been mentioned before, where they continued till within these few years. How long they remained possessors of it, cannot therefore be traced; but in the reign of king Richard II. the Capells, of Capellscourt, in Ivychurch, were become owners of it; in the 15th year of which reign Richard Capell died possessed of it. At length, after it had continued in his descendants for some generations, it went by the marriage of a female heir into the family of Harlackenden, of this parish, where it remained till Deborah, daughter and heir of Martin Harlackenden, entitled her husband Sir Edward Hales, knight and baronet, to the possession of this estate, together with others in this parish and neighbourhood, and in his descendants it has continued down to Sir Edward Hales, bart. of St. Stephen's, the present owner of it.
HARLACKENDEN, usually called Old Harlackenden, situated within the boroughof that name which extended likewise over part of the adjoining parish of Shadoxhurst) was for some hundred years the patrimonial demesnes of that name and family, as appeared by a tomb in this church, the inscription on which, long since obliterated, shewed that one of them lay interred there soon after the conquest. Philipott says, the proportion and shape of the characters were much like those in use in the reigns of king Henry IV. and V. which he thinks was occasioned by this tomb having been renewed by one of this person's successors and descendants in one of the above reigns, and the former one might have been in old characters, suitable to the time in which it was first erected. There are none now remaining on it. Kilburne says, it was for William Harlackenden, anno 1081. They bore for their arms, Azure, a sess, ermine, between three lions beads erased, or; which arms were painted in an upper window of Grays-Inn hall, and appeared to have been of long standing there. In his descendants, residents here, many of whom lie buried in this church, this seat continued down to Thomas Harlackenden, esq. of Woodchurch, who procured his lands to be disgavelled by the acts of 31 Henry VIII. and 2 and 3 Edward VI. He died in 1558. (fn. 4) At length his descendant George Harlackenden, esq. of this place, alienated it to Winifried Bridger, widow, and Laurence her son, whose heirs, in the 9th year of queen Anne, procured an act to vest it in trustees, and they accordingly sold it, in 1711, to dame Sarah, widow of Sir Paul Barrett, sergeant-at-law. She died that same year, and by the limitation in her will, (fn. 5) this estate devolved to her grandson Sir Francis Head, bart. son of her first husband Francis Head, esq. who died possessed of it in 1768. After which his widow, lady Head, by virtue of her jointure, came into the possession of it. She died in 1792, and it then devolved to the daughters and coheirs of her late husband Sir Francis Head, and to their heirs, in the like proportions as the Hermitage, in Higham, and his other estates in this county, in which state it remains at present. (fn. 6)
HENHURST is an estate in the north-east part of this parish, which formerly belonged to a family of the same name, whose more antient seat was at Henhurst, in Staplehurst, of which this was but a younger branch. They were likewise often written in old deeds both Henhurst and Enghurst, and continued owners of this place until the reign of king Henry VII. and then Sir Thomas Henghurst dying without issue male, his daughter and sole heir carried it in marriage to Humphry Wife, whose daughter and heir Agnes entitled her husband Mr. Robert Master to the possession of it, who bore for his arms, A lion, rampant, holding in his paws an escallop shell. His son Mr. Thomas Master resided here, but his son Giles Master quitted this residence and removed to Canterbury, where he died in 1644. At length it descended to Sir Harcourt Master, alderman of London, who became possessed of it for the term of his life, by the will of his father's eldest brother's daughter, Mary Master. He died in 1648. Since which it has continued in his descendants, one of whom, Harcourt Masters, esq. of Greenwich, owns it at this time.
HENGHAM, now usually called Great Hengham, corruptly for Engeham, its original name, lies enveloped by woods, about a mile and an half northward from Woodchurch. It was once accounted a manor, and was in early times possessed by a family of the same name, who resided at it, and were stiled sometimes Engham, alias Edingham, in antient deeds, relating to their possessions in different parts of Romney marsh, the latter being probably their original name, and the former one an abbreviation of it. (fn. 7) Alanus de Engham resided here in the reign of king John, and married the daughter of Townland, of this parish, as did his descendant Moses de Engham, alias Edingham, who by marriage with Petronell, daughter of Alan de Plurenden, greatly increased his estate in Woodchurch; and probably of kindred to this family was Odomar Hengham, esq. who died in 1411, and lies buried in the body of Canterbury cathedral. They bore for their arms, Argent, a chevron, sable, between three pellets; on a chief, gules, a lion passant, guardant, or. A branch of this family became possessed of Singleton, in Great Chart, where they rebuilt the mansion, and afterwards resided; but the last residence of the Enghams, in this county, was at Gunston, where they flourished till the beginning of this century. At length Robert Engham, of Woodchurch, leaving two daughters his coheirs, this manor, about the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII. was carried in marriage by Mary, the eldest of them, to Thomas Isley, who leaving five daughters his coheirs, Mary, married to Francis Spelman; Frances, to William Boys, esq. Elizabeth, to Anthony Mason, esq. Anne, to George Delves, esq. and Jane, to Francis Haut, esq. they, in right of their respective wives, became jointly entitled to it. This occasioned a partition of this estate, which was afterwards called by the name of Great and Little Hengham; the former having the antient mansion and manor annexed to it. This part was afterwards alienated to William Hales, esq. of Nackington, who possessed it in the reign of king James I. and in 1640, passed it away by sale to Thomas Godfrey the younger, esq. of Lid, who conveyed it to Clerke, whence it was sold in the reign of king Charles II. to John Grove, gent. of Tunstall, whose descendant Richard Grove, esq. of London, who died unmarried in 1792, by will devised it to Mr. William Jemmott and Mr. William Marshall, the former of whom, on a partition of his estates, became the sole proprietor of it, and continues so at this time. A court baron is held for this manor.
THE OTHER PART of this manor, now called Little Hengham, which lies adjoining to it southward, is now the property of the heirs of Abbot, the Whitfields, and the Combers.
PLERYNDEN, now corruptly called Plunden, is situated in the north-west part of this parish, in the midst of a wood, and in the denne of the same name. It had in early times owners, who took their furname from it and continued so till Petronell, daughter and heir of Alan de Plerynden, who bore for his arms, Perchevron, in chief, two mullets, in base, a martlet, as they appear, carved in stone, on the roof of Canterbury cloysters, carried it in marriage to Moses de Engham, in whose descendants it remained till Vincent Engham, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, passed it away by sale to William Twysden, esq. of Chelmington, whose descendant Sir Thomas Twysden, bart. of Roydon-hall, in East Peckham, about the beginning of queen Anne's reign, sold it to Mr. John Hooker, of Maidstone, who died possessed of it in 1717, and devised it to his second son John, of Broadoak, in Brenchley, gent. who dying unmarried in 1762, devised it to his youngest and only surviving brother Stephen Hooker, gent. of Halden, and he alienated it to John Children, esq. of Tunbridge, whose son George Children, esq. of that place, is the present owner of it.
Charities.
RICHARD BROWNE, late of Woodchurch, by will in 1562, gave to the poor of this parish a rent charge of 4l. 10s. per annum, on every Trinity Sunday for ever, out of a messuage called Webbes, in this parish, of the clear annual produce of 3l. 8s.
SIR EDWARD HALES, of Woodchurch, by deed in 1610, gave to the poor yearly rents out of a farm, called the Legg farm, in Kenardington.
PHEBE GOBLE, of Woodchurch, by will in 1692, gave to the poor 2l. per annum, to be paid by her heirs for ever, out of a farm, called the Bonny Cravat, in Woodchurch, (now an alehouse) the first Sunday after Old Lady-day.
THERE IS A SCHOOL, for reading and writing, supported by contribution, in this parish.
The poor constantly relieved are about ninety, casually 45.
WOODCHURCH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the dioceseof Canterbury, and deanry of Limne.
¶The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is large and handsome, consisting of three isles and three chancels, with a spire steeple, shingled, at the west end, in which hang six bells. The windows in the high chancel are small and elegant. There are some very small remains of good painted glass. In this chancel is a stone, with the figure in brass, of a priest praying, and inscription for master Nicholas de Gore, in old French; and another stone, with inscription in brass, for William Benge Capellanus, obt. 1437. In this church are many tombs and gravestones of the family of Harlackenden, which have already been mentioned before. In the south chancel there is a handsome tomb, of Bethersden marble, for Sir Edward Waterhous, chancellor of the exchequer, and privy counsellor to queen Elizabeth, in Ireland, third son of John Waterhous, esq. of Whitechurch, in Buckinghamshire, obt. s. p. 1591, his arms on his tomb, Or, a pile engrailed, sable, quartered with other coats. Kilburne says, in the east window of this chancel, were the arms of Ellis; and in the east window of the north chancel, were several essigies of the Clerkes; and in the north window of it, those of William Harey; all long since gone. The sont in this church seems very antient, being of Bethersden marble, square, and standing on four pillars.
This church was part of the antient possessions of the see of Canterbury, and continues so at this time, his grace the archbishop being the present patron of it.
It is a rectory, valued in the king's books at 26l.13s. 4d. and the yearly tenths at 2l. 13s. 4d. In 1640 it was valued at one hundred and ten pounds. Communicants three hundred and forty-nine. In 1729 at two hundred and thirty pounds per annum.
Among the Lambeth MSS. is a decree of archbishop Peckham, concerning the tithes of Woodchurch, anno 1281. (fn. 8) There are about two acres of glebe land.
A plume driven by buoyancy which is being created by a chemical reaction. The plume accelerates and sheds accelerating smoke ring vortices. The process is analogous to the detonation of a type Ia supernova.
Experiment by Michael C. Rogers.
See
A Girl And Some Tunes : The Girl Driven By Literature
"1984" George Orwell / "I think i'm paranoid" Garbage
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpRiSb_Ir-s
She is a young librarian. Her old teacher gave her a rendez-vous in his mansion. He is feeling his death coming so he wants to see her a last time. But when she arrives, she realizes there is nobody in the place. So she decides to wait for him in his library. Strange things will happen to her…
With this new chapter the « A Girl And Some Tunes » series goes litteraly literary ! This episode mixes girl portraiture, literature and music. Each picture is matched with a specific book and a song.
Stay tuned there is more pics to come in this new chapter !
Model : Frédérique
Elle est une jeune bibliothécaire. Son ancien professeur lui a donné rendez-vous dans sa demeure. Il sent la mort proche et désire la revoir une dernière fois. Mais à son arrivée, elle réalise qu’elle est seule. Elle décide alors de l’attendre dans la bibliothèque du vieux professeur. Des choses étranges vont se produire…
Avec ce nouveau chapitre la série « A Girl And Some Tunes » devient littéralement littéraire ! Cet épisode mélange portrait féminin, littérature et musique. Chaque photo est associée à un ouvrage spécifique et un morceau.
Revenez, d’autres images sont à venir !
Modèle : Frédérique
Strobe info:
The scene was lit with two 580exii, one with an umbrella and one with a soft box. The two strobes were fired with two pocket wizard TT5.
Boeing's B-29 Superfortress was the most sophisticated, propeller-driven, bomber to fly during World War II, and the first bomber to house its crew in pressurized compartments. Boeing installed very advanced armament, propulsion, and avionics systems into the Superfortress. During the war in the Pacific Theater, the B-29 delivered the first nuclear weapons used in combat. On August 6, 1945, Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., in command of the Superfortress Enola Gay, dropped a highly enriched uranium, explosion-type, "gun-fired," atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, Major Charles W. Sweeney piloted the B-29 Bockscar and dropped a highly enriched plutonium, implosion-type atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Enola Gay flew as the advance weather reconnaissance aircraft that day. On August 14, 1945, the Japanese accepted Allied terms for unconditional surrender.
In the late 1930s, U. S. Army Air Corps leaders recognized the need for very long-range bombers that exceeded the performance of the B-17 Flying Fortress. Several years of preliminary studies paralleled a continuous fight against those who saw limited utility in developing such an expensive and unproven aircraft but the Air Corps issued a requirement for the new bomber in February 1940. It described an airplane that could carry a maximum bomb load of 909 kg (2,000 lb) at a speed of 644 kph (400 mph) a distance of at least 8,050 km (5,000 miles). Boeing, Consolidated, Douglas, and Lockheed responded with design proposals. The Army was impressed with the Boeing design and issued a contract for two flyable prototypes in September 1940. In April 1941, the Army issued another contract for 250 aircraft plus spare parts equivalent to another 25 bombers, eight months before Pearl Harbor and nearly a year-and-a-half before the first Superfortress would fly.
Among the design's innovations was a long, narrow, high-aspect ratio wing equipped with large Fowler-type flaps. This wing design allowed the B-29 to cruise at high speeds at high altitudes but maintained comfortable handling characteristics during slower airspeeds necessary during takeoff and landing. More revolutionary was the size and sophistication of the pressurized sections of the fuselage: the flight deck forward of the wing, the gunner's compartment aft of the wing, and the tail gunner's station. For the crew, flying at altitudes above 18,000 feet became much more comfortable as pressure and temperature could be regulated in the crew work areas. To protect the Superfortress, Boeing designed a remote-controlled, defensive weapons system. Engineers placed five gun turrets on the fuselage: a turret above and behind the cockpit that housed two .50 caliber machine guns (four guns in later versions), and another turret aft near the vertical tail equipped with two machine guns; plus two more turrets beneath the fuselage, each equipped with two .50 caliber guns. One of these turrets fired from behind the nose gear and the other hung further back near the tail. Another two .50 caliber machine guns and a 20-mm cannon (in early versions of the B-29) were fitted in the tail beneath the rudder. Gunners operated these turrets by remote control--a true innovation. They aimed the guns using computerized sights, and each gunner could take control of two or more turrets to concentrate firepower on a single target.
Boeing also equipped the B-29 with advanced radar equipment and avionics. Depending on the type of mission, a B-29 carried the AN/APQ-13 or AN/APQ-7 Eagle radar system to aid bombing and navigation. These systems were accurate enough to enable relatively accurate bombing through cloud layers that completely obscured the target. The B-29B was equipped with the AN/APG-15B airborne radar gun sighting system mounted in the tail to assist in providing accurate defense against enemy fighters attacking at night. B-29s also routinely carried as many as twenty different types of radios and navigation devices.
The first XB-29 took off at Boeing Field in Seattle on September 21, 1942. By the end of the year the second aircraft was ready for flight. Fourteen service-test YB-29s followed as production began to accelerate. Building this advanced bomber required massive logistics. Boeing built new B-29 plants at Renton, Washington, and Wichita, Kansas, while Bell built a new plant at Marietta, Georgia, and Martin built one in Omaha, Nebraska. Both Curtiss-Wright and the Dodge automobile company vastly expanded their manufacturing capacity to build the bomber's powerful and complex Curtiss-Wright R-3350 turbo supercharged engines. The program required thousands of sub-contractors but with extraordinary effort, it all came together, despite major teething problems. By April 1944, the first operational B-29s of the newly formed 20th Air Force began to touch down on dusty airfields in India. By May, 130 B-29s were operational. In June, 1944, less than two years after the initial flight of the XB-29, the U. S. Army Air Forces (AAF) flew its first B-29 combat mission against targets in Bangkok, Thailand. This mission (longest of the war to date) called for 100 B-29s but only 80 reached the target area. The AAF lost no aircraft to enemy action but bombing results were mediocre. The first bombing mission against the Japanese main islands since Lt. Col. "Jimmy" Doolittle's raid against Tokyo in April 1942, occurred on June 15, again with poor results. This was also the first mission launched from airbases in China.
With the fall of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam in the Mariana Islands chain in August 1944, the AAF acquired airbases that lay several hundred miles closer to mainland Japan. Late in 1944, the AAF moved the XXI Bomber Command, flying B-29s, to the Marianas and the unit began bombing Japan in December. However, they employed high-altitude, precision, bombing tactics that yielded poor results. The high altitude winds were so strong that bombing computers could not compensate and the weather was so poor that rarely was visual target acquisition possible at high altitudes. In March 1945, Major General Curtis E. LeMay ordered the group to abandon these tactics and strike instead at night, from low altitude, using incendiary bombs. These firebombing raids, carried out by hundreds of B-29s, devastated much of Japan's industrial and economic infrastructure. Yet Japan fought on. Late in 1944, AAF leaders selected the Martin assembly line to produce a squadron of B-29s codenamed SILVERPLATE. Martin modified these Superfortresses by removing all gun turrets except for the tail position, removing armor plate, installing Curtiss electric propellers, and modifying the bomb bay to accommodate either the "Fat Man" or "Little Boy" versions of the atomic bomb. The AAF assigned 15 Silverplate ships to the 509th Composite Group commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets. As the Group Commander, Tibbets had no specific aircraft assigned to him as did the mission pilots. He was entitled to fly any aircraft at any time. He named the B-29 that he flew on 6 August Enola Gay after his mother. In the early morning hours, just prior to the August 6th mission, Tibbets had a young Army Air Forces maintenance man, Private Nelson Miller, paint the name just under the pilot's window.
Enola Gay is a model B-29-45-MO, serial number 44-86292. The AAF accepted this aircraft on June 14, 1945, from the Martin plant at Omaha (Located at what is today Offut AFB near Bellevue), Nebraska. After the war, Army Air Forces crews flew the airplane during the Operation Crossroads atomic test program in the Pacific, although it dropped no nuclear devices during these tests, and then delivered it to Davis-Monthan Army Airfield, Arizona, for storage. Later, the U. S. Air Force flew the bomber to Park Ridge, Illinois, then transferred it to the Smithsonian Institution on July 4, 1949. Although in Smithsonian custody, the aircraft remained stored at Pyote Air Force Base, Texas, between January 1952 and December 1953. The airplane's last flight ended on December 2 when the Enola Gay touched down at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The bomber remained at Andrews in outdoor storage until August 1960. By then, concerned about the bomber deteriorating outdoors, the Smithsonian sent collections staff to disassemble the Superfortress and move it indoors to the Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland.
The staff at Garber began working to preserve and restore Enola Gay in December 1984. This was the largest restoration project ever undertaken at the National Air and Space Museum and the specialists anticipated the work would require from seven to nine years to complete. The project actually lasted nearly two decades and, when completed, had taken approximately 300,000 work-hours to complete. The B-29 is now displayed at the National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
my main aim this week was to show off a little bit of Saxon's intensity in action. I noticed most of what I've done for his 52 weeks project consists of the appearance of calmly posing, but behind those poses is this fanatical intensity for the ball.
This shoot turned out to be a lot harder than I thought, especially since I didn't want to put him in a stationary position and then release him from behind the camera (just a training issue I don't want to get us into a bad habit ... just yet) and I was using the "whistler" so he wasn't getting faked-out to a distance very well, for those "front on" shots. I did get a few flying dog shots but they were all the wrong direction or too far away or too close ... anyway, this was taken rather late in the shoot, so he had lost a little edge of madness, and he's not running fast after it as he would if I'd thrown it in a straight line away, rather it was thrown high and he kinda danced around underneath until he could see where it was going then start to "attack" it, still I think his movement here shows his potential :-)
This Ford Transit Mk1 fitted with with a perkins 4108.
This shot was taken after it was used for three years for carnival purposes and this year was the last one that they took part with it as know they driven it to a scrapyard.
The cab panels were chopped to accomodate this years structure that was built on it.
Thursday morning, and all I had to do was get back to Kent. Hopefully before five so I could hand the hire car back, but getting back safe and sound would do, really.
I woke at six so I could be dressed for breakfast at half six when it started, and as usual when in a hotel, I had fruit followed by sausage and bacon sarnies. And lots of coffee.
Outside it had snowed. OK, it might only be an inch of the stuff, but that's more than an inch needed to cause chaos on the roads.
Back to the room to pack, one last look round and back to reception to check out, then out into the dawn to find that about a quarter of the cars were having snow and ice cleared off them before being able to be driven.
I joined them, scraping the soft snow then the ice. Bracing stuff at seven in the morning.
Now able to see out, I inched out of the car park and out to the exit and onto the untreated roads.
It was a picturesque scene, but not one I wanted to stop to snap. My first road south had only been gritted on one side, thankfully the side I was travelling down, but was still just compacted snow.
After negotiating two roundabouts, I was on the on ramp to the M6, and a 60 mile or so drive south. The motorway was clear of snow, but huge amounts of spray was thrown up, and the traffic was only doing 45mph, or the inside lane was, and that was quite fast and safe enough for me.
More snow fell as I neared Stoke, just to add to the danger of the journey, and then the rising sun glinted off the road, something which I had most of the drive home.
I went down the toll road, it costs eight quid, but is quick and easy. And safe too with so little traffic on it. I think for the first time, I didn't stop at the services, as it was only about half nine, and only three hours since breakfast.
And by the time I was on the old M6, there was just about no snow on the ground, and the road was beginning to dry out.
My phone played the tunes from my apple music store. Loudly. So the miles slipped by.
After posting some shots from Fotheringhay online, a friend, Simon, suggested others nearby that were worth a visit, and I also realised that I hadn't taken wide angle shots looking east and west, so I could drop in there, then go to the others suggested.
And stopping here was about the half way point in the journey so was a good break in the drive, and by then the clouds had thinned and a weak sin shone down.
Fotheringhay is as wonderful as always, it really is a fine church, easy to stop there first, where I had it to myself, and this time even climbed into the richly decorated pulpit to snap the details.
A short drive away was Apethorpe, where there was no monkey business. The village was built of all the same buttery yellow sandstone, looking fine in the weak sunshine.
Churches in this part of Northamptonshire are always open, Simon said.
Not at Apethorpe. So I made do with snapping the church and the village stocks and whipping post opposite.
A short drive up the hill was King's Cliffe. Another buttery yellow village and a fine church, which I guessed would be open.
Though it took some finding, as driving up the narrow high street I failed to find the church. I checked the sat nav and I had driven right past it, but being down a short lane it was partially hidden behind a row of houses.
The church was open, and was surrounded by hundreds of fine stone gravestones, some of designs I have not seen before, but it was the huge numbers of them that was impressive.
Inside the church was fine, if cold. I record what I could, but my compact camera's batter had died the day before, and I had no charger, so just with the nifty fifty and the wide angle, still did a good job of recording it.
There was time for one more church. Just.
For those of us who remember the seventies, Warmington means Dad's Army, or rather Warmington on Sea did. THat there is a real Warmington was a surprise to me, and it lay just a couple of miles the other side of Fotheringhay.
The church is large, mostly Victorian after it fell out of use and became derelict, if the leaflet I read inside was accurate. But the renovation was excellent, none more so than the wooden vaulted roof with bosses dating to either the 15th or 16th centuries.
Another stunning item was the pulpit, which looks as though it is decorated with panels taken from the Rood Screen. Very effective.
Back to the car, I program the sat nav for home, and set off back to Fotheringhay and the A14 beyond.
No messing around now, just press on trying to make good time so to be home before dark, and time to go home, drop my bags, feed the cats before returning the car.
No real pleasure, but I made good time, despite encountering several bad drivers, who were clearly out only to ruin my mood.
Even the M25 was clear, I raced to the bridge, over the river and into Kent.
Nearly home.
I drive back down the A2, stopping at Medway services for a sandwich and a huge coffee on the company's credit card.
And that was that, just a blast down to Faversham, round onto the A2 and past Canterbury and to home, getting back at just after three, time to fill up the bird feeders, feed the cats, unpack and have a brew before going out at just gone four to return the car.
Jools would rescue me from the White Horse on her way home, so after being told the car was fine, walked to the pub and ordered two pints of Harvey's Best.
There was a guy from Essex and his American girlfriend, who were asking about all sorts of questions about Dover's history, and I was the right person to answer them.
I was told by a guide from the Castle I did a good job.
Yay me.
Jools arrived, so I went out and she took me home. Where the cats insisted they had not been fed.
Lies, all lies.
Dinner was teriyaki coated salmon, roasted sprouts and back, defrosted from before Christmas, and noodles.
Yummy.
Not much else to tell, just lighting the fire, so Scully and I would be toast warm watch the exciting Citeh v Spurs game, where Spurs were very Spursy indeed.
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I was exploring the churches of north-east Northamptonshire, and on my way back to Peterborough station how could I resist a visit to lovely Warmington church? The village is rather a suburban one but, the solid little entirely Early English church sits at its heart. Entirely a Huntingdonshire church in style, with a stubby spire and big dormer-style lucarnes.
I had previously visited almost exactly a year ago, and as before I left my bike in the Early English porch, which is vaulted in blocks of stone, handsome yet familiar. I remembered in 2015 stepping into what turned out to be then the most interesting interior of the day, although rather overshadowed by Apethorpe and Blatherwycke on my current trip. The most striking feature, and rather a surprising one, is that the roof of the nave is vaulted in wood. This was done in the 13th Century, and the bosses survive from that time - even more surprising, they all depict green men, nine of them. Why was this not done elsewhere?
The rood screen is one of the best in the area, and the medieval pulpit appears to be constructed of rood screen panels (can that be right? Did they come from the rood loft? Surely it is pre-Reformation, in which case perhaps they came from somewhere else). Lots to think about. A good church, it would be considered so in any county.
So I got back on my bike and headed on towards Peterborough, but not without a memory of the last time I had done the same thing, because in 2015, as I was about to leave the church, three young women came in. They were walking the Nene Way, and were attired as you might expect attractive young women to be on such a sunny day. I didn't want them to be made nervous by the presence of a middle-aged man with a camera, so I nodded a greeting as I left, but in the event they engaged me in conversation, asking me where I'd come from, telling me what they were doing, where they were going, and so on.
In the end I had to make my apologies and leave as they didn't seem to want to let me go, not an experience I have very often these days, I can tell you. It rather put me in mind of the Sirens episode in the Odyssey.
And so I headed on, wary now of any wandering rocks and one-eyed giants.
www.flickr.com/photos/norfolkodyssey/27033140016/in/photo...
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St Michael’s Parish Church, Warmington
Warmington was already an established farming community when its assets were recorded in Domesday Book. Shortly afterwards, its Norman owner, the Earl of Warwick, gave the manor of Warmington to the Benedictine Abbey which his father had endowed in Normandy, St.Peter’s at Preaux. Warmington was to remain in monastic hands, with one short break, for about 450 years. Monks were sent over from Preaux who built a small Priory. Its foundations were discovered when houses were built in Court Close in the 1950s. The Priory has disappeared, but the splendid church built under the monks’ supervision, mainly in the early medieval period, remains.
The church stands high above the village, close to the summit of Warmington Hill. Tradition tells us that the stone for building it was dug close by, in the area known as Catpits, or Churchpits. The stone for the tower was brought from a field known as Turpits, or Towerpits, a quarter of a mile away along the Hornton road. The churchyard is entered either by the lych-gate from the main road, or from the village by two long flights of steps. A diagonal line of pine trees marks the former boundary of the churchyard which was extended in the 1850s. In the older part, and especially near the south porch, are gravestones of exceptionally fine workmanship dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. About eighty of these are ‘listed’ by the Department of the Environment. All the inscribed memorials were recorded in 1981.
An admirable and detailed architectural description of the church is available in the Victoria County History. These notes are intended rather as a ‘layman’s conducted tour’. The church was purpose-built and used for the first half of its long life for forms of worship very different from our own. It was also the village meeting place for many secular purposes The church comprises north and south porches, nave with north and south aisles, a west tower and chancel with two-storey vestry adjoining.
As you enter the church by the south porch you walk forward into the nave. This area, with the first three pillars on each side, is where Warmington people have met and worshipped since the twelfth century. The area was extended by the addition of the aisles a century later. Today the overwhelming impression is a sense of simplicity, of space and of strength. Imagine the scene in the medieval period: no pews but white-washed walls covered with paintings, images of the saints in stone, on wood and painted cloths, the whole lit by the sunlight through stained glass and by candles and lamps burning before every image. On Sundays before Mass, at special festivals and for some fifty saints’ days in the year, a procession would form, with banners and hand bells, winding its way around the church and churchyard, and stopping at various points for particular acts of worship. The north and west doors, so rarely used today, had significance in these processions.
Before leaving this area of the church, notice the variety of windows, almost all of early date, but now mostly with clear glass. The ones at the east ends of the aisles, where the stone plate is pierced with roundels and a five-pointed star, are unusual. Considerable work has been undertaken in recent years in renewing the stone mullions, worn by the weather over time. The early Norman tub font of simple design is large enough for infant immersion. The aisles both taper by a foot, one to the east, and one to the west. The nave and chancel are slightly out of alignment, perhaps symbolic of Christ’s drooping head on the cross.
Before stepping down into the chancel, run your hand along the wooden screen under the chancel arch. This is all that remains of the great rood-screen which would have dominated the medieval church. The screen was hacked through quite roughly when the church was stripped of its ‘idolatrous’ treasures at the Reformation. Just to the right of the chancel arch is the doorway and stair which used to lead to the rood-screen loft.
The stained glass and memorial tablets in the chancel all commemorate the family of the Victorian rector during whose incumbency the church was restored. On the south wall are a richly decorated triple sedilia and piscina, dating from the fifteenth century when Warmington manor had newly passed to the Carthusian monks of Wytham in Somerset.
A door from the chancel leads into the vestry, built about 1340. The lower room was a chapel, dedicated to St Thomas. The stone altar shows four of its five original crosses cut in the top. An altar would have a piscina nearby for washing the vessels used at Mass. The piscina here has a trefoiled ogee-head and quartrefoil basin. On the opposite wall is a blocked fireplace.
The oak doors and stairway are delightful and a testament to the skills of local carpenters, smiths and masons. The upper room was the priest’s home complete with windows, commanding extensive views, fireplace, lavatory and a shuttered opening for keeping watch over the main alter. The exterior walls of the vestry are extraordinarily thick. One Warmington tradition was that it was used as a prison for recalcitrant monks!
A more credible and interesting suggestion is that the walls were so constructed to carry the weight of a tower. If this was indeed the plan, it was quickly abandoned, for soon after the vestry was built work started on the tower in the usual Warwickshire position at the west end of the nave.
The slightly different stonework on the exterior indicates the stages of its building. The tower is recessed slightly into the nave, presumably to accommodate it in the very limited land there was available for extending the church at the west end. A stair within the thickness of the wall gives access to the bell chamber and the roof. The flight is steep and the treads are worn down to the bottom of the risers. The present bells are dated 1602, 1613 and 1811.
There are many interesting gravestones in the churchyard, which were recorded by members of Warmington WI in a 1981 survey.
VICTORIA COUNTY HISTORY
WARMINGTON
This extract from the Victoria County History gives a very detailed description of the parish church.
The church stands directly on the east side of the main road from Banbury to Warwick at the top of a steep gradient and the village lies mostly to the northeast of it at a lower level. The parish church of ST. MICHAEL, or ST. NICHOLAS, consists of a chancel, north chapel with a priest’s chamber above it, nave, north and south aisles and porches and a west tower.
The nave dates from the 12th century; no detail is left to indicate its original date but it was of the proportion of two squares, common in the early 12th century. A north aisle was added first, about the middle of the 12th century, with an arcade of three bays; a south aisle followed, near the end of the 12th century, also with a three-bay arcade. After about a century a considerable enlargement was begun and continued over a period of half a century or more; the nave was lengthened eastwards about 10 ft. and a new chancel built. The extra length of the side walls added to the nave perhaps remained unpierced at first.
Although there is a general sameness in the Hornton stone ashlar walling throughout, all the various parts—chancel, chapel, aisles, and tower—have different plinths, &c., and there is a great variation in the elevations and details of the windows, showing constant changes from the 14th century, when there was much activity, onwards, probably because of decay and need for repair caused by the church’s exposed position on the brow of a hill.
The south aisle was widened to its present limits about 1290, on the evidence of the wide splays and other details of its windows; but an early-13th-century doorway was re-used. It is possible that the east part of the north aisle followed soon afterwards, c. 1300, as a kind of transeptal chapel, on the evidence of its east window, which differs from the other aisle windows. From c. 1330–40 much was done. The chancel arch was widened, new bays to match were inserted in the east lengths of the nave walls, making both arcades now of four bays, the widening of the whole of the north aisle was completed with the addition of the north porch. The 12th-century north arcade, which seems to have lost its inner order, was probably rebuilt. There is a curious distortion about both aisles, perhaps only explained by the widenings being made in more than one period; the north aisle tapers from west to east and the south aisle tapers from east to west, about a foot each, as compared with the lines of the arcades. The south porch was probably added about 1330.
About 1340 came also the addition of the chapel with the priest’s chamber above it. The north wall of the chancel, probably of the 13th century and thinner than any of the other walls, was kept to form the south wall of the chapel, but the other walls were made unusually thick, as though it was at first intended to raise a higher superstructure than was actually carried out, perhaps even a tower. If such was the intention it was quickly abandoned and the west tower was begun about 1340–5 and carried up to some two-thirds of its present height. There was not much room above the road-side and it had to encroach 2 or 3 ft. into the west end of the nave. The top stage was added or completed in the 15th century.
With the addition of the chapel, alterations were made to the chancel windows, but its south wall had to be rebuilt in the 15th century, when new and larger windows were inserted and the piscina and sedilia constructed.
There have been many repairs and renovations, notably in 1867 to the chancel and 1871 for the rest of the church, and others since then. The roofs have been entirely renewed, though probably more or less of the original forms of the 14th or 15th centuries.
The chancel (about 30½ft. by 16½ft.) has an east window of four trefoiled pointed lights and modern tracery of 14th-century character in a two-centred head with an external hood-mould having head-stops. The jambs and arch, of two moulded orders, and the hood-mould are early-14th-century. In the north wall is a 14th-century doorway into the chapel with jambs and ogee head of three moulded orders and a hoodmould with head-stops, the eastern a cowled man’s, the western a woman’s. It contains an ancient oak door, with stout diagonal framing at the back and hung with plain strap-hinges. At the west end of the wall are two windows close together; the eastern, of c. 1340, of two trefoiled ogee-headed lights and cusped piercings in a square head with an external label having decayed head-stops. It has a shouldered internal lintel which is carved with grotesque faces. The western is a narrower and earlier 14th-century window of two trefoiled ogee-headed lights and a quatrefoil, &c., in a square head with an external label.
The window at the west end of the south wall is similar. The other two are 15th-century insertions, each of two wide cinquefoiled three-centred lights under a square head with head-stops, one a cowled human head, the other beast-heads. The jambs and lintel of two sunk-chamfered orders are old, the rest restored. The rear lintel is also sunk-chamfered and is supported in the middle by a shaped stone bracket from the mullion.
The 14th-century priest’s doorway has jambs and two-centred ogee head of two ovolo-moulded orders and a cambered internal lintel; it has no hood-mould.
Below the south-east window is a 15th-century piscina with small side pilasters that have embattled heads, and a trefoiled ogee head enriched with crockets. The sill, which projects partly as a moulded corbel, has a round basin. West of it are three sedilia of the same character with cinquefoiled ogee heads also crocketed and with finials. At the springing level are carved human-head corbels: the cusp-points are variously carved, an acorn, a snake’s head, a skull, and foliage. The two outer are surmounted by crocketed and finialled gables and all are flanked and divided by pilasters with embattled heads and crocketed pinnacles.
The east wall is built of yellow-grey ashlar with a projecting splayed plinth; the gable-head has been rebuilt. At the south-east angle is a pair of square buttresses of two stages, probably later additions, as the plinth is not carried round them. Another at the former north-east angle has been restored. The south wall is of yellow ashlar but has a moulded plinth of the 15th century. The eaves have a hollow-moulded course with which the uprights of the 15th-century window-labels are mitred.
The 14th-century chancel arch has responds and pointed head of two ovolo-moulded orders interrupted at the springing line by the abacus.
The roof with arched trusses is modern and is covered with tiles.
The north chapel (about 12 ft. east to west by 17 ft. deep) is now used as the vestry, and dates from c. 1340. In its south wall, the thin north wall of the chancel, is a straight joint 3¼ft. from the east wall probably marking the east jamb of a former 13th-century window, and below it is the remnant of an early stringcourse that is chamfered on its upper edge. The east wall is 3 ft. 10 in. thick and the north wall 4 ft. 6 in. In the middle of each is a rectangular one-light window with moulded jambs and head of two orders and an external label; the internal reveals are half splayed and part squared at the inner edges and have a flat stone lintel. The lights were probably cusped originally. In the west wall is a filled-in square-headed fire-place, perhaps original. Partly in the recess of the east window and partly projecting is an ancient thick stone altarslab showing four of the original five crosses cut in the top. It has a hollow-chamfered lower edge and is supported by moulded stone corbels. South of it in the east wall is a piscina with a trefoiled ogee-head and hood-mould and a quatrefoil basin.
The stair-vice that leads up to the story above is in the south-west angle, its doorway being splayed westwards to avoid the doorway to the chancel. In it is an ancient oak door with one-way diagonal framing on the back. The turret projects externally to the west in the angle with the chancel wall; it is square in the lower part but higher is broadened northwards with a splay that is corbelled out below in three courses, the lowest corbel having a trefoiled ogee or blind arch cut in it. The top is tabled back up to the eaves of the chapel west wall. A moulded string-course passes round the projection and there is another half-way up the tabling. The doorway at the top of the spiral stair leading into the upper chamber has an ancient oak door hung with three strap-hinges.
The upper priest’s chamber has an east window of two plain square-headed lights, probably altered. In the north wall is a rectangular window that was of two lights but has lost its mullion. Outside it has a false pointed head of two trefoiled ogee-headed lights and leaf tracery, all of it blank, and a hood-mould with human-head stops, one cowled. Apparently this treatment was purely for decorative purposes, like the square-headed windows at Shotteswell and elsewhere. The south wall is pierced by a watching-hole into the chancel, which is fitted with an iron grill and oak shutter: it has been reduced from a larger opening that had an ogee head and hood-mould. There is a square-headed fire-place in the west wall and in the splayed north-west angle is the entrance to a garderobe or latrine, which is lighted by a north loop.
The walls are of yellow ashlar and have a plinth of two courses, the upper moulded, a moulded stringcourse at first-floor level, and moulded eaves-courses at the sides. The north wall is gabled and has a parapet with string-course and coping. At the angles are diagonal buttresses of two stages; the lower stage is 2½ft. broad up to the first-floor level, above this the upper stage is reduced to about half the breadth. They support square diagonal pinnacles with restored crocketed finials. The west wall is unpierced but above it is a plain square chimney-shaft with an open-side hood on top. Internally the walls are faced with whitish-brown ashlar. The gabled roof is modern and of two bays.
The nave (about 41½ft. by 16½ft.) has north and south arcades of four bays. The easternmost bay on each side, with the first pillar, is of the same detail and date as the chancel arch. They vary in span, the north being about 9 ft. and the south about 10 ft., and in both cases the span is less than those of the older bays. Those on the north side are of 11–12 ft. span and date from the middle of the 12th century. The pillars are circular, the west respond a half-circle, with scalloped capitals, 6 in. high and square in the deep-browed upper part and with a 4½in. grooved and hollowchamfered abacus. The bases are chamfered and stand on square sub-bases. The arches are pointed and of one square order with a plain square hood-mould, The voussoirs are small. The middle parts of the soffits are plastered between the flush inner ends of the voussoirs, suggesting a former inner order, abolished perhaps in a rebuilding of the heads.
The same three bays of the south side are of 11 ft. span and of late-12th-century date. The round pillars are rather more slender than the northern, and the capitals are taller, 12 in. high, with long and shallow scallops, and have 4 in. abaci like the northern. The bases are taller and moulded in forms approaching those of the 13th century, on chamfered square sub-bases.
The pointed arches are of one chamfered order and their hood-moulds are now flush with the plastered wall-faces above.
The half-round west responds of both arcades have been overlapped on the nave side by the east wall of the tower.
High above the 14th-century south-east respond is a 15th-century four-centred doorway to the former rood-loft. The stair-vice leading up to it is entered by a four-centred doorway in the east wall of the south aisle.
The north aisle (11½ft. wide at the east end and 12½ft. at the west) has an uncommon east window of c. 1300. It is of three plain-pointed rather narrow lights; above the middle light, which has a shorter pointed head than the others, is a circle enclosing a pierced five-pointed star, all in a two-centred head with an external hood-mould having defaced head-stops, and with a chamfered rear-arch.
Set fairly close together at the east end of the north wall are two tall windows of c. 1340, each of two trefoiled round-headed lights and foiled leaf-tracery below a segmental-pointed head with an ogee apex, the tracery coming well below the arch. The jambs are of two orders, the outer sunk-chamfered. The lights are wider and the splays of ashlar are more acute than those of the east window.
The third window near the west end is narrower and shorter and of two plain-pointed lights and an uncusped spandrel in a two-centred head: it is of much the same date as the east window. The jambs and head are of two hollow-chamfered orders and the fairly obtuse plastered splays have old angle-dressings. The segmental-pointed rear-arch is chamfered.
The north doorway, also of c. 1340, has jambs and two-centred head without a hood-mould; the segmental rear-arch is of square section. In it is an 18th-century oak door.
The three-light window in the west wall has jambs and splays like those of the north-west but its head has been altered; it is now of three trefoiled ogee-headed lights below a four-centred arch. The chamfered reararch is elliptical.
The walls are yellow ashlar with a chamfered plinth and parapets with moulded string-courses and copings that are continued over the east and west gables. Below the sills of the two north-east windows is a plain stringcourse. At the east angle is a pair of shallow square buttresses and a diagonal buttress at the west, all ancient. White ashlar facing is exposed inside between the two north-east windows only, the remainder being plastered. The gabled roof of trussed-rafter type is modern and covered with tiles.
The south aisle (13 ft. wide at the east end and 12 ft. at the west) has an east window of three plain-pointed lights, and three plain circles in plate tracery form, in a two-centred head with an external hood-mould having mask stops. The yellow stone jambs and head of two chamfered orders and the wide ashlar splays are probably of the late 13th century; the grey stone mullions and tracery are apparently old restorations but are probably reproductions of the original forms.
There are two south windows: the eastern is of two wide cinquefoiled elliptical-headed lights under a square main head with an external label with return stops. The jambs are of two moulded orders, the inner (and the mullion) with small roll-moulds, probably of the 13th century re-used when the window was refashioned in the 15th century. The wide splays are of rubble-work and there is a chamfered segmental reararch. The western is a narrower opening of two trefoiled-pointed lights, with the early form of soffit cusping, and early-14th-century tracery in a twocentred head: the jambs are of two chamfered orders and the wide splays are plastered, with ashlar dressings: the chamfered rear-arch is segmental pointed.
The reset south doorway has jambs and pointed head of two moulded orders with filleted rolls and undercut hollows of the early 13th century, divided by a three-quarter hollow more typical of a later period, and all are stopped on a single splayed base. The hoodmould has defaced shield-shaped head-stops. There are four steps down into the church through this doorway.
The window in the west wall is like that in the east but the three lights are trefoiled and the three circles in the two-centred head are quatrefoiled: the head is all restored work. The jambs are ancient and precisely like those of the square-headed south window, and the wide splays are of rubble-work.
The walls are of yellow fine-jointed ashlar and have plinths of two splayed courses, the upper projecting like that of the east chancel-wall, and plain parapets with restored copings. At the angles are old and rather shallow diagonal buttresses. There are three scratched sundials on the south wall, one, a complete circle, being on a west jambstone of the south-east window.
The gabled roof is modern like that of the north aisle.
The south porch is built of ashlar like that of the aisle but the courses do not tally and it has a different plinth, a plain hollow-chamfer. The gabled south wall has a parapet with a restored coping. The pointed entrance is of two orders, the inner ovolo-moulded, the outer hollow-chamfered, and has a hood-mould of 13thcentury form. There are side benches. The roof is modern but on the wall of the aisle are cemented lines marking the position of an earlier high-pitched roof at a lower level than the present one.
The north porch is of shallower projection. It has a gabled front with diagonal buttresses and coped parapet and a pointed entrance with jambs and head of two chamfered orders, the inner hollow, and a hood-mould with head-stops.
The west tower (about 9½ft. square) is of three stages divided by projecting splayed string-courses: it has a high plinth, with a moulded upper member and chamfered lower course, and a plain parapet. The walls are of yellow ashlar, that of the two upper stages being of rather rougher facing and in smaller courses than the lowest stage. At the west angles are diagonal buttresses reaching to the top of the second stage. There are no east buttresses but in the angle of the north wall with the end of the nave is a shallow buttress against the nave-wall. In the south-west angle, but not projecting, is a stair-vice with a pointed doorway in a splay, and lighted by a west loop. The archway to the nave has a two-centred head of two chamfered orders, the inner dying on the reveals, the outer mitring with the single chamfered order of the responds. It has large voussoirs. The wall on either side of the archway is of squared rough-tooled ashlar.
The 14th-century west doorway has jambs and pointed head of two wave-moulded orders divided by a three-quarter hollow, and a hood-mould with return stops. The head of the tall and narrow 14th-century west window is carried up into the second stage, its hood-mould springing from the string-course. It is of two trefoiled ogee-headed lights and a quatrefoil in a two-centred head: the jambs are of two chamfered orders.
There are no piercings in the second stage, but on the north side is a modern clock face.
The bell-chamber has 15th-century windows, each of two lights with depressed trefoiled ogee heads and uncusped tracery in which the mullion line is continued up to the apex of the two-centred head. The jambs are of two chamfered orders and there is no hood-mould.
The font is circular and dates probably from the 13th century. It has a plain tapering bowl, a short stem with a comparatively large 13th-century moulding at the top: a short base is also moulded.
In the vestry is an ancient iron-bound chest.
There are three bells, the first of 1811, the second of 1616, and the tenor of 1602 by Edward Newcombe.
The registers begin in 1636.
Advowson
The church was valued at £8 6s. 8d. in 1291, and at £16 3s. 10d., in addition to a pension of 13s. 4d. payable to Witham Priory, in 1535. The advowson passed with the manor until 1602, when the patron was Richard Cooper. In 1628 William Hall and Edward Wotton, by concession of — Hill, the patron, presented Richard Wotton, who at the time of his wife’s death in 1637 was ‘rector and patron, of the church’. In 1681 and 1694 presentations were made by Thomas Farrer, and from 1726 till his death in 1764 the patronage was held by his son Thomas Farrer. His widow Alice held it in 1766, but by 1773 it had been divided between their two daughters, Mary wife of John Adams, and Elizabeth Farrer (1782) who afterwards married Hamlyn Harris. In 1802 Henry Bagshaw Harrison was patron and rector. He died in 1830, and by 1850 the advowson had been acquired by Hulme’s Trustees, in whose hands it has continued, so that they now present on two out of three turns to the combined living of Warmington and Shotteswell, which was annexed to it in 1927.
For a list of rectors and clergy of Warmington see the ‘trades and occupations’ section of the site.
www.warmingtonheritage.com/village-history/significant-bu....
To say that I have driven along the St Olaves to Beccles road a thousand times is probably an exaggeration, but not by much. And yet I have never been tempted to explore the signs to the Waveney River Centre. But a friend here in Dover remarked on the unusual tower at Burgh St. Peter, but more of that later. As on the way there, I suddenly found All Saints beside a crossroads, and with the welcoming signs, I reversed up and parked.
The light rain had begun to fall as I left Bungay, and was set in for the day, as my Dad would have said. So after getting out of the car and grabbing the camera, just time to snap a shot of the church, before I rushed to the porch to try the door.
And as advertised, it was unlocked, and delightful. Even the apparently Victorian screen was several hundred years older than its appearances suggested, and then there is that unusual Chancel Arch, but Simon will explain that.
Best of all, for me, was the wonderful selection of prayer kneelers, several showing recognisable British Butterfly species, including the local rarity, the Swallowtail.
A church to return to on a sunny day.
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This quiet little spot in the middle of the marshland peninsula has a church which is far more interesting than at first it might appear. The compact graveyard is pretty full, a testimony to how busy this area was in the 18th and 19th century. The tower is a chequerboard of flint and brick, typical of the Tudors, and relatively unusual in Norfolk, although the same thing seems to have been begun at neighbouring Burgh. Burgh was never finished, but this one was, probably on the very eve of the Reformation. However, not everything planned here reached completion, as we shall see inside.
At first sight, the interior is entirely Victorianised, but this is not at all the case. For a start, although the colouring on the font has been renewed, it appears to match what is on the shaft.
And the whole piece is not vandalised at all. This may simply be because, judging from its style, it was produced almost immediately before the Reformation. It has the little heads familiar from other fonts in this area, nearby Aldeby for example, but here they have become angels, and the panels are heraldic in style - it takes a second glance to see that one of the panels depicts the Instruments of the Passion, and another a Holy Trinity symbol facing the wall. The font has certainly been moved by the Victorians, so perhaps the instruments were previously less visible.
The screen appears Victorian, but if you look closely you can see that the lace-like tracery is late 15th century. And then, look up. There is a vast chancel arch, but it is partly filled, and beneath it is a small arch into the current chancel, and an even smaller one into the north chancel aisle. what happened here? It appears that the nave was widened by moving the north wall outwards, and the great arch built in preparation for refashioning the chancel and aisle into a new, wider chancel. The south chancel aisle had already been demolished - witness the filled in arcade on the south wall of the chancel. But the new chancel never happened; the Reformation intervened.
Between the chancel and the aisle is a simple little tombchest, probably designed to act as an Easter Sepulchre. It is anonymous, but the Holy Trinity symbol held by an angel matches the one on the font which I believe to be contemporary with the tower, so what we have here may well be the tomb of the donor of the new church. Intriguingly, as DD pointed out, an angel on the other side holds a blank shield - was a set of Instruments of the Passion intended for it?
The survival of the font imagery might be explained by the brass to John London, who died in 1620 a strong Laudian, if his inscription is anything to go by. Unusually in this area, the Londons supported the Crown in the Civil War.
I loved the art nouveau font cover, a tree carved intricately in wood, rather like that in the window of St John the Baptist at nearby Haddiscoe. There is more of this carving up in the chancel, and it is extraordinary. Worth a visit on its own.
Simon Knott, February 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/wheatacre/wheatacre.htm
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WHETACRE.
Ralph Lord Bainard, for his services, was rewarded with this town, by the Conqueror, on the expulsion of Toret, a thane of King Edward, and was held by Geffrey under the Lord Baynard; it contained, on the Conqueror's grant, 2 carucates of land, 6 villians, 12 borderers with 2 servi, 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. 30 acres of meadow, 2 runci, and 11 cows, &c. 160 sheep, &c. and 6 freemen belonging to the lord's fold, and under his protection, held in King Edward's time 18 acres of land, a carucate and a half, with one acre of meadow; and there were 2 churches endowed with 60 acres, and valued at 5s. and the manor was valued at 30s. but at the survey at 50s. it was one leuca long, and half a leuca broad, and paid 16d. gelt. (fn. 1)
Jeffrey, who held it under the Lord Baynard, was a near relation of the Lord Bainard, who held it in capite. Juga, widow of that lord possessed it, and was succeeded by her son Jeffrey. William, his son, taking part with Elias Earl of Maine, in France, and other conspirators against King Henry I. was deprived of his barony of Bainard castle in London, which was granted to Robert, a younger son of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, whose son Walter Fitz-Robert succeeded, and the descendants of Jeffrey abovementioned held it of him; Thomas, son of Robert Bainard, holding it in the reign of Richard I. Robert Baynard had a charter Ao. 12, Edward II. for two fairs and two mercates here.
By an inquisition taken at Norwich, on the death of Robert Baynard, (fn. 2) of Whetacre, on April 16, Ao. 4 Edward III. the jurors find that he died seized of a capital messuage of no value, besides the repairs, a pigeon-house valued at 12d. per ann. 180 acres of arable land valued at 4l. 10s. 6d. per acre, 100 acres of salt marsh at 100s. per ann. 20 of gross wood, without underwood, valued at 2d. per acre, a windmill at 20s. per ann. rents of assize payable at Lady-day, Midsummer, and Michaelmas, 6l. 6s. 4d. copyholders days works between Michaelmas and St. Peter ad vincula 10s. and between that feast and Michaelmas 20s. pleas and perquisites of court 10s. per ann. held of the Lord FitzWalter, and Thomas was his son and heir, aged 26.
This Thomas Bainard sold this lordship, in the 10th of the said King, to Sir Thomas Rosceline, from whom it came (as may be seen at large in Edgfield) to John Lord Willoughby of Eresby, and from them to Richard Bertue, by the heiress, whose son Peregrine, was Lord Willoughby in his mother's right, and presented to the church in 1602.
John Wentworth, Esq. was lord of both manors, and patron of the two churches, September 21, Ao. 16 James I. and Sir John Wentworth was his son and heir.
Matthew Bluck, Esq. one of the six clerks in Chancery, was lord in 1675, and in this family it remained, till conveyed to William Grimston, Esq.
The Lord Bainard had also the grant of another lordship in this town, of which a freeman of Herold the King was deprived, and consisted of 2 carucates of land, 10 villains, 5 borderers, 4 servi 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. with 30 acres of meadow; Robert, son of Corbution, (or Corbun,) claimed it, and had livery. Here was pasture for 200 sheep, 2 runci, 7 cows, &c. 6 bee skeps, 7 freemen under commendation belonged to the lord's fold, with 18 acres of land, 2 carucates and an acre of meadow, valued then at 30s. at the survey at 45s.; this came to the Lord Bainard, by an exchange, and Frankus held it of him. (fn. 3)
The ancient family of De Edisfeld or Edgfield, was soon after the Conquest enfeoffed of this lordship, and held it in the reign of Henry II. from whom it came by an heiress, to Sir William de Rosceline, and was held of the Lord Fitz Walter, as in Chatgrave, Edgfield, &c. Sir Thomas Rosceline dying sine prole, it came to the Lords Willoughby, &c. as above.
The tenths were 3l. 10s.— Deducted 10s.—Temporalities of Norwich priory 13s. 4d.
The temporalities of Langley abbey 3l. 5s. 5d. a manor is said to belong to Whetacre.
Here were two churches; one dedicated to St. Peter, a rectory valued at 11 marks, the rector had a manse with 3 acres of land, Peter-pence were, 16d. carvage 4d. ob. This is called Whetacre Burgh.
Rectors.
In 1301, John Baynard, instituted rector, presented by Lady Joan, relict of Sir Robert Baynard.
1304, Thomas Baynard, by ditto.
1316, John Baynard, by Sir Robert Baynard. (fn. 4)
1325, Gerard de Horstede, by ditto; he is called Esquire of the Laby Roscelyne, went in a lay-coloured habit (veste stragulata) and had not the clerical tonsure.
1334 John de La Grene, by Sir Thomas Roscelyn.
1355, Mr. William Graa, by Sir William Synthwait, in right of his wife Joan, late relict of John Lord Willoughby.
1365, William Malebys, by ditto.
1376, Sim. de Kilpesham, by Sir Robert de Willoughby, Lord Eresby.
1379, Mr. Robert de Weston, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk, Sir Roger Scales, Sir Robert Howard, &c.
1382, John Sayer, by Robert Lord Willughby.
1398, Henry Wodestoke, by ditto.
1398, Robert Coucliff, by ditto.
1401, William Linchewyk, by ditto.
1403, John Burges, by ditto.
1414, Richard Facon, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1434, William Themilby, by ditto, in right of the manor of Whetacre.
1436, William Castell, by Sir William Tireshit, Richard Yardesburgh, and John Wyles, Esq. feoffees of Robert Lord Willoughby.
1444, Henry Bramerton, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1465, John Mareys, by Richard de Wells Lord Willughby.
1480, Robert Monger, by Richard Hastings Lord Welles.
1500, William Ward, by ditto.
1501, William Hantensale, by Sir Richard Hastings.
1508, George Washingham, by the Bishop, a lapse.
1536, Richard Hill, by Mary Lady Willoughby, widow.
1545, Andrew Hawes, by Catharine Dutchess of Suffolk, daughter of William Lord Willughby,
1553, Henry Bacon, by Richard Bertier, Esq. of Ormsthorp in Lincolnshire, in right of his wife Catharine.
1555, Robert Ullothornes, by the Bishop, a lapse.
1556, Henry Hill, by the assignees of William Heronden, a trustee of Richard Bertie, Esq. &c.
1602, Edward Stanhawe, by the assignees of Peregrine Lord Willoughby.
1618, Christopher Milne, by Euseb. Paget, clerk.
1659, Henry Watts, by Ann Melling.
Daniel Benton, rector.
1669, Phil. Prime, by Thomas Garneys, Esq.
1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimstone. Esq.
1764, Mr. Samuel Boycot.
The present valor is 7l. 6s. 8d. and is discharged.
The other church is dedicated to All-Saints. John de Bumstede is said to have had an interest in the patronage, but in the beginning of Edward II. the family of Baynard; the rector had then a beautiful manse, and it was valued at 5l. Peter-pence 12d. carvage 4d. ob.
Rectors.
1316, Sim. de Berningham, presented by Sir Robert Baynard.
Sim. Croppe, rector.
1357, William de Merse, by Sir William Synthweit.
1360, John Hoppe, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk.
1404, John Draper, by William Lord Willougby.
1405, John Goldspring, by ditto.
1409, John Tenalby, by ditto.
1409, Nicholas Tydd, by ditto.
1412, Richard Newman, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1437, Andrew Dean, by ditto.
1445, John Annotson, by ditto.
1450, William Gilbert, by ditto.
1476, John Mareys, by Rich. Hastings Lord Welles and Willoughby.
1494, John Hoker, by ditto.
1497, Robert Proveyt, L.L. B. by ditto.
1510, John Shilton, by William Lord Willoughby.
1510, Edward Lamson, by ditto.
Nicholas Chamberlin.
1522, Thomas Bingley, by ditto.
1538, John Thuxton.
1539, Nicholas Dade, by ditto.
1440, Roger Gavell, by Charles Duke of Suffolk, and Catharine his Dutchess.
1555, Mr. William Botiler, by the Bishop, a lapse,
1556, Thomas Robinson, by William Herenden, Esq.
1557, Henry Hill, by ditto.
¶1572, Roger Gavel, by Richard Bertie, Esq. in right of Catherine his wife.
1602, Euseb. Paget, by the assigns of Peregrine Bertie; he returned 68 communicants in 1603.
1650, Henry Watts.
1658, John Morris, by Lady Anne Wentworth.
1673, Thomas Lunn.
1675, Phil. Prime, by Matthew Bluck, Esq.
1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimston, Esq.
1715, John Guavas, by ditto.
1758, Mr. Christopher Smear, presented by Lynn Smear, clerk.
The presented valor, is 6l. 6s. 4d. and is discharged.
On a stone, with a brass plate, by the font,
Rob'tus London, arcâ, cum conjuge, sacra; Hac fatum subiens, consepilitur humo. Ambo fælices, numerosâ prole beati, Complent hospitio, pacificiq; dies Illa obt. Junij 1620. Ille Oct. 1627,
There was an ancient family of the Whitacres, who had an interest in a lordship. (fn. 5)
William de Whitacre was found to hold one fee of the barony of Baynard, in this town, in the begining of King Henry the Third's reign.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol8...
Eric Evans gives his keynote on Strategic Design at the DDD eXchange 2009, the worlds 1st dedicated conference on Domain Driven Design
Webcasts at skillsmatter.com/event-details/design-architecture/ddd-ex...
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Thursday morning, and all I had to do was get back to Kent. Hopefully before five so I could hand the hire car back, but getting back safe and sound would do, really.
I woke at six so I could be dressed for breakfast at half six when it started, and as usual when in a hotel, I had fruit followed by sausage and bacon sarnies. And lots of coffee.
Outside it had snowed. OK, it might only be an inch of the stuff, but that's more than an inch needed to cause chaos on the roads.
Back to the room to pack, one last look round and back to reception to check out, then out into the dawn to find that about a quarter of the cars were having snow and ice cleared off them before being able to be driven.
I joined them, scraping the soft snow then the ice. Bracing stuff at seven in the morning.
Now able to see out, I inched out of the car park and out to the exit and onto the untreated roads.
It was a picturesque scene, but not one I wanted to stop to snap. My first road south had only been gritted on one side, thankfully the side I was travelling down, but was still just compacted snow.
After negotiating two roundabouts, I was on the on ramp to the M6, and a 60 mile or so drive south. The motorway was clear of snow, but huge amounts of spray was thrown up, and the traffic was only doing 45mph, or the inside lane was, and that was quite fast and safe enough for me.
More snow fell as I neared Stoke, just to add to the danger of the journey, and then the rising sun glinted off the road, something which I had most of the drive home.
I went down the toll road, it costs eight quid, but is quick and easy. And safe too with so little traffic on it. I think for the first time, I didn't stop at the services, as it was only about half nine, and only three hours since breakfast.
And by the time I was on the old M6, there was just about no snow on the ground, and the road was beginning to dry out.
My phone played the tunes from my apple music store. Loudly. So the miles slipped by.
After posting some shots from Fotheringhay online, a friend, Simon, suggested others nearby that were worth a visit, and I also realised that I hadn't taken wide angle shots looking east and west, so I could drop in there, then go to the others suggested.
And stopping here was about the half way point in the journey so was a good break in the drive, and by then the clouds had thinned and a weak sin shone down.
Fotheringhay is as wonderful as always, it really is a fine church, easy to stop there first, where I had it to myself, and this time even climbed into the richly decorated pulpit to snap the details.
A short drive away was Apethorpe, where there was no monkey business. The village was built of all the same buttery yellow sandstone, looking fine in the weak sunshine.
Churches in this part of Northamptonshire are always open, Simon said.
Not at Apethorpe. So I made do with snapping the church and the village stocks and whipping post opposite.
A short drive up the hill was King's Cliffe. Another buttery yellow village and a fine church, which I guessed would be open.
Though it took some finding, as driving up the narrow high street I failed to find the church. I checked the sat nav and I had driven right past it, but being down a short lane it was partially hidden behind a row of houses.
The church was open, and was surrounded by hundreds of fine stone gravestones, some of designs I have not seen before, but it was the huge numbers of them that was impressive.
Inside the church was fine, if cold. I record what I could, but my compact camera's batter had died the day before, and I had no charger, so just with the nifty fifty and the wide angle, still did a good job of recording it.
Back to the car, I program the sat nav for home, and set off back to Fotheringhay and the A14 beyond.
No messing around now, just press on trying to make good time so to be home before dark, and time to go home, drop my bags, feed the cats before returning the car.
No real pleasure, but I made good time, despite encountering several bad drivers, who were clearly out only to ruin my mood.
Even the M25 was clear, I raced to the bridge, over the river and into Kent.
Nearly home.
I drive back down the A2, stopping at Medway services for a sandwich and a huge coffee on the company's credit card.
And that was that, just a blast down to Faversham, round onto the A2 and past Canterbury and to home, getting back at just after three, time to fill up the bird feeders, feed the cats, unpack and have a brew before going out at just gone four to return the car.
Jools would rescue me from the White Horse on her way home, so after being told the car was fine, walked to the pub and ordered two pints of Harvey's Best.
There was a guy from Essex and his American girlfriend, who were asking about all sorts of questions about Dover's history, and I was the right person to answer them.
I was told by a guide from the Castle I did a good job.
Yay me.
Jools arrived, so I went out and she took me home. Where the cats insisted they had not been fed.
Lies, all lies.
Dinner was teriyaki coated salmon, roasted sprouts and back, defrosted from before Christmas, and noodles.
Yummy.
Not much else to tell, just lighting the fire, so Scully and I would be toast warm watch the exciting Citeh v Spurs game, where Spurs were very Spursy indeed.
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From Easton-on-the-Hill I cycled on through Collyweston, passing the church with the eccentric keyholder who I had met the previous July, and then turned off through the fields. This led me to a short stretch of the A47, which thankfully wasn't terribly busy, and then I turned off on a long, winding road down from the top of the ridge through the forest until I reached Kingscliffe, one of the loveliest villages in Northamptonshire.
I had visited the church here before, in May 2016, but on that occasion a wedding had just started and so I wasn't able to see inside. The village is large, and had once been served by the railway, and it still has a busy feel. As I headed down the village high street, an ancient Skoda passed me, and I wondered if it was much more likely for such a thing to survive out here in remote Northamptonshire than in the busy towns and cities. When I got to the church, the Skoda was parked outside, and as I leaned my bike against the wall an elderly man came out of the churchyard, got in the car and drove off. It was just before nine o'clock. Thus, I had witnessed the church-opener going about his business.
This is a tremendous building, a great cruciform church with a central tower set four-square on a rise surrounded by hundreds of unreset Ketton stone headstones. You step into a wide open space that swallows sound, and I was immediately put in mind of the great churches of south Lincolnshire, which after all is only a few miles off. The star of the show here is a good collection of medieval glass, including some angels which are so similar to those in one of the Stamford churches that they must be the same workshop, and possibly even from the same collection. The rest of the glass is mostly by Kempe and not bad (as you know, I am not a huge fan), and the overall feel of the Anglo-catholic tradition, only slightly faded and diluted, is delicious. One curiosity is an elaborate spiral staircase set below the central tower.
I eventually tugged myself away, and headed off in the direction of Blatherwycke, through gentle fields and eventually past the stone walls of the Blatherwycke estate.
www.flickr.com/photos/norfolkodyssey/42383511784/in/photo...
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Ecclesiastical
¶(1) The Parish Church of All Saints (Fig. 115; Plate 8) stands in a large churchyard on the S. side of the village. It consists of a Chancel, Central Tower, North and South Transepts, Nave with Aisles, and North and South Porches. The walls are built in coursed limestone rubble; the tower has Barnack quoins and the spire is in freestone. The roofs of the chancel and porches are steep-pitched and stone-slated and the remainder are flat-pitched. The earliest part is the central tower which belongs to the first half of the 12th century as indicated by the style of the windows in the second stage. However, the tower has projecting corners, except on the N.E. where the chancel and N. transept have been widened and its plan is irregular; these characteristics are usually associated with pre-Conquest buildings. It is not possible to say whether or not the first church had transepts. Since the 12th century much of the church has been rebuilt. In the 13th century the spire was added, the N. wall of the chancel was rebuilt slightly to the N. of its former line and the E. and W. tower arches were remodelled. In this operation the new E. tower arch was set off-centre to conform with the widened chancel; the original axis of the chancel is indicated by a 12th-century window in the E. wall of the tower above the E. arch. Also at this time a chapel N. of the chancel was proposed, and possibly built, as demonstrated by a respond of an arch against the N.E. corner of the tower. Early features in the W. walls of the nave and the N. aisle show that the 13th-century nave and N. aisle were the same length as at present. The existence of a N. aisle implies that there was a transept N. of the tower at this time. Except for two 14th-century windows inserted in these 13th-century W. walls, the nave, most of the W. wall of the N. transept, the S. transept, the S. aisle and both porches, belong to the early 15th century. In the late 15th century the chancel was rebuilt, on the lines of the former walls, and the E. and N. walls of the N. transept were rebuilt, the E. wall about one metre further to the E. A diagonal passage was formed at the junction of the N. wall of the chancel and the E. wall of the transept. Also in the 15th century, the N. and S. tower arches were remodelled.
A major restoration by Browning of Stamford took place in 1862 when galleries and the old pews were removed (NRO, Faculty, 16 Aug. 1862; Peterborough Advertiser, 6 June 1863).
The church is notable for its early origin and for its dominating appearance.
Architectural Description – The Chancel has a freestone ogee-moulded plinth and two-stage weathered buttresses, those on the E. being set diagonally but not exactly on the diagonal axis. The eaves are plain and the E. wall has a parapeted gable which carries a lozenge-shaped panel inscribed '1648'; this date presumably refers to the rebuilding of the upper part of the walling which is of smaller stones than the lower. An offset, visible internally, indicates a former low-pitched roof. The E. window of the 15th-century has vertical tracery and a quatrefoil in the head. In the side walls 15th-century windows have vertical tracery and triangular heads. A priest's door in the N. wall has a four-centred head. At the N.W. corner is a diagonal passage to the N. transept; it has a flat ceiling supported on a 13th-century respond with fillets on the shafts, water-holding base and roll-moulded capital.
The Central Tower of two external stages was built in the first half of the 12th century if not earlier; the upper part and the broach spire belong to the 13th century. The S.E. external angle has quoins of Barnack stone and no plinth. Some quoins at a high level are set upright; two survive on the S.E., and one on the S.W. The E. arch of two chamfered orders supported on semi-octagonal responds has a label with mask stops; it is probably late 13th-century. The N. and S. arches have two-centred heads of two chamfered orders, the inner carried on semi-octagonal capitals and half-round shafts with wave-moulded bases; these 15th-century arches are not set centrally in the tower walls. The W. arch has two chamfered orders carried on semi-octagonal capitals and half-round shafts with water-holding bases. In the E. wall above the arch is a small round-headed 12th-century window, with deeply splayed jambs, which opens into the chancel. In the second stage on all four faces and above the level of the small window, are round-headed windows of the same date, those on the E., N. and S. with two recessed inner lights separated by a circular shaft with a scroll-decorated base, capital with primitive volutes and square abacus (Plate 5). The window on the W. is without a recessed containing arch; each of the two lights have straight unmoulded jambs, and are separated by two shafts set across the wall to carry a through-stone instead of a square abacus. Although the window is blocked internally the two shafts are visible on the nave side (Fig. 116). The sill, forming part of a double-chamfered string-course which continues round the tower, has been cut in two places to receive the steep gable of a former nave roof. The third stage of the tower is mostly 13th-century; the centre parts of the walls at this level are recessed. On each face is a tall belfry window the upper half of which becomes a gabled lucarne against the spire; they are of two lights with circular shafts, pierced central spandrels, and nail-head enrichment. The broach spire, with eaves supported on mask-stop corbels, has four small lucarnes of two lights and a blunt pyramidal finial. In the spandrel of the W. tower arch is a square-headed doorway, now blocked, which probably led to the rood loft; it is perhaps late-medieval.
The North Transept has a high ogee-moulded plinth on the E. and N., diagonal buttresses of two weathered stages and a wide projection in the angle between the chancel and the transept, fashioned as a buttress to accommodate the diagonal passage. On the E. and N. is a roll-moulded continuous sill-course, below which the walling is mostly of reused material. The parapets are plain, but below them on the W. the string-course is enriched with mask stops, possibly reused, and a carved boss. Most of the W. wall is of earlier date than those on the E. and N.; it sets back at the point where the aisle meets the transept, conforming with the arch below. The late 15th-century E. window has a four-centred head and trefoil-headed lights. The N. window of the same date has a square head, three lights with flat, cusped heads, and a label with head stops, one a female with square head-dress the other a male with forked beard. In the W. wall is a small 17th-century rectangular window with ovolo-moulded jambs and head.
¶The South Transept, of the early 15th century, has an ogee-moulded plinth, diagonal buttresses, and embattled parapets. In the E. wall is a small 16th-century doorway with a four-centred head; above it is the head of a single-light 13th-century window or recess, probably reset. The E. and S. windows have pointed segmental heads, trefoil-headed lights and quatrefoils; the tracery in the S. window has been renewed as a result of a flue, since removed, being built against the window.
The W. wall has two 15th-century four-stage buttresses with cusped and gabled tops. The W. window has splayed jambs with keel-moulded arrises and a roll-moulded internal sill of the 13th century; within the splays is a 14th-century window with curvilinear tracery having a central octofoil and mouchettes. Above, the line of an earlier steep-pitched -roof which matches that on the tower is visible externally. The 15th-century clearstorey has an embattled parapet and windows all with two trefoil-headed lights and labels with head stops; at the W. end, over the aisles, are small pilasters with gabled tops. Gargoyles, three on each side, are carved as grotesque heads, mostly of animals.
The North Aisle has a N. wall with an ogee-moulded plinth and gargoyles carved as a crowned head and a muzzled beast. At the E. end is an arch with wave-and-hollow mouldings which die into the side walls. The side windows have pointed segmental heads, ogee-headed lights and twin quatrefoils in the tracery. The N. doorway has a four-centred head and continuous moulded jambs. In the W. wall a hollow-moulded jamb with a roll stop, and part of a chamfered sill, remain from the 13th century. Above, is a late 14th-century window of three graduated and cusped lights. The South Aisle is uniform with the N. aisle and wholly of the 15th century. The first window has a label with head stops. Two gargoyles survive carved with grotesque human heads.
The North Porch, of the 15th century, has an archway with a four-centred head of two chamfered orders, the outer continuous, the inner carried on half-round responds. In the parapeted gable is a panel inscribed '1663 LT TR' which may refer to a rebuilding of part of the porch. On the E. and W. are single-light windows and inside are stone benches. The South Porch is similar to that on the N. but lacks side windows. On the exterior, E. of the entrance arch is an indent for a brass of a kneeling male figure with inscription plate, 15th-century (Fig. 117).
The Roof of the S. transept is low-pitched with cambered tie beams, wall posts and stone corbels carved with male and female heads. The nave roof, of four bays has cambered tie beams, arched braces resting on stone head corbels, and intermediate principals terminating on wooden angels with shields. At the junction of the principals and the purlins are foliated bosses; 15th-century.
Fittings – Bells: six; 1st, inscribed 'Iohn Nebon Esq gave Henry Penn made me 1714'; 2nd, inscribed 'Mistris Maria Hartleie widdo casthis bell, 1619. Richard Bardon Nicholas Baili Gardian. Mvlt ivocati pauci electi 1619'; 3rd, by T. Mears, 1832; 4th, modern; 5th, inscribed 'William Eywood Henrie Thorpe 1592'; 6th, inscribed 'IHS Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum Fili Dei miserere mei. Tho Eayre A.D. 1738'; recast 1917. Brasses and Indents. Brasses (Plate 68): in chancel (1), on N. wall, of Richard Wildbore, 1688; (2), of Samuel Wyman, woolstapler, 1700; both are small rectangular plates. Indent: see S. porch. Font: rounded limestone bowl with four circular cusped panels and smaller blank roundels between, 13th-century; beneath the latter are moulded capitals which now rest on modern detached shafts grouped round a central stem. Paley (Baptismal Fonts (1844) ) shows the bowl on a stout octagonal stem, the top of which now forms the base. In 1862 it was moved from the N. aisle where it stood on a foot-pace (faculty in NRO), and was again dismantled and reassembled in 1897 (NRO, Messrs. Roberts' account, of Stamford).
Glass: most of the early glass in the church is said to have come from Fotheringhay and been installed by the Rev. H. K. Bonney in 1862, but Bridges, writing before 1724, recorded ancient glass in the S. aisle and this probably survives incorporated in the present arrangement. Other early pieces were added in 1897 to the N. and S. aisle windows (Messrs. Roberts' account, of Stamford). Those pieces bearing the heraldic badges of the House of York, for example the fetterlock and the sun in splendour, presumably came from Fotheringhay. Unless otherwise stated the glass is 15th-century. In S. transept, in E. window (1), set in quatrefoils: unidentified shield, probably 18th-century, and four quarries showing a white rose in a sun in splendour, an oak tree, oak leaves, and a rose and fetterlock; 18th-century heraldic lion, and four quarries showing seated animals, foliage and a black-letter U entwined with cords; in S. window (2), in quatrefoils: fragment of figure possibly playing bagpipes, and four quarries with oak leaves; roundel with eagle of St. John inscribed 'iohannes', and four quarries depicting a sun in splendour and oak leaves. In nave in W. window (3), random fragments include figures playing stringed instruments, a crown, fetterlocks and oak trees. In N. aisle in W. window (4), angel playing trumpet, roundel with lion of St. Mark and inscribed scroll, angel playing lute. Locker: in chancel, small recess, medieval.
¶Monuments and Floor slabs. Monuments: in chancel – on N. wall (1), of John Neabon, 1713, and Susanna his wife who erected tablet, 1748; (2), of Thomas Law, 1714, freestone, with broken pediment enclosing skull, wide pilasters decorated with foliage, and large monogram on apron; (3), of Charlotte Bonney, 1850, by R. Brown, 58 Great Russell Street, London. On S. wall (4), of Sarah Browne (Butler), 1681, and Mary Butler, 1683, round-headed inscription panel, segmental broken pediment, side scrolls, lozenge of arms of Butler on base flanked by palm branches. In N. transept – on E. wall (5), of William Walker, 1823; (6), to three generations of the Thorpe family, masons, dated 1623, freestone, with broken pediment enclosing obelisk and painted shield of arms of Thorpe, shaped apron inscribed 'Thomas' three times, and remains of painted inscription recorded fully by Bridges (II, 432); the youngest Thomas was father of John Thorpe, the architect (Plate 65). On S. wall (7), of Thomas Boughton, 1658, with steep pediment, shield of arms of Boughton in the tympanum impaling an unidentified quartered coat; (8), of Emma Mason, 1837, by Smith of Stamford; on W. wall (9), of Rev. Henry Bonney, rector, 1810, and (10), of Bridget Bonney his wife, 1824. In N. aisle – on N. wall (11), of Jane Maddock, 1835. In S. aisle – on S. wall (12), of Francis Mason, 1818, Elizabeth his wife, 1844, and Scott Secker their grandson, 1842, by Fearn of Stamford; (13), of Elizabeth Cunnington, 1827, lozenge-shaped panel by Gilbert of Stamford; (14), of Eleanor Dafforn, 1847; (15), of Emma Law, 1829, by Gilbert of Stamford; (16), of Elizabeth Carrington, 1825; (17), of Thomas Law, 1739, and (18), of Martha Law (Forde), 1725, a pair of freestone tablets with segmental pediments, bolection-moulded surrounds, gadrooned sills and shaped aprons with shields of arms of Law impaling Forde, flanked by branches (Plate 72). In N. porch – on E. wall (19), of Ann Wood, 1796, and others, surmounted by urn; (20), of Roger Wood, 1818, and Elizabeth his wife, 1814, freestone, by Stevens. On S. wall (21), of Charles Attkins, 1802, and Ann, 1783, freestone oval tablets; (22), of Ann Attkins, 1781, freestone eared tablet with shaped panels above and below decorated with cherub's head and flowers. In S. porch – on W. wall (23), of Elizabeth Carrington, 1798, by Glithero; (24), of James Carrington, 1822, by Stephens. Monuments listed without full descriptions are of simple design. Floor slabs: in chancel – (1), of Rev. H. K. Bonney, rector, 1810, and Bridget his wife, 1824; (2), of Rev. W. Pyemont, an 'Allways Resident Rector', 1751, freestone with pitch-filled foliage decoration. In N. transept – (3), of John Walker, 1809.
www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/northants/vol6/pp91-106#:....
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Paramount were also in association with Moseleys by the lokks of it because ex SMS Xtrav YN59SVV a Volvo B9R / Plaxton Panther C57F is for sale on Moseleys website. Seen at used bus and coach live 12/08/18
These two photos were my favorites from today, so I just had to upload both of them.
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To say that I have driven along the St Olaves to Beccles road a thousand times is probably an exaggeration, but not by much. And yet I have never been tempted to explore the signs to the Waveney River Centre. But a friend here in Dover remarked on the unusual tower at Burgh St. Peter, but more of that later. As on the way there, I suddenly found All Saints beside a crossroads, and with the welcoming signs, I reversed up and parked.
The light rain had begun to fall as I left Bungay, and was set in for the day, as my Dad would have said. So after getting out of the car and grabbing the camera, just time to snap a shot of the church, before I rushed to the porch to try the door.
And as advertised, it was unlocked, and delightful. Even the apparently Victorian screen was several hundred years older than its appearances suggested, and then there is that unusual Chancel Arch, but Simon will explain that.
Best of all, for me, was the wonderful selection of prayer kneelers, several showing recognisable British Butterfly species, including the local rarity, the Swallowtail.
A church to return to on a sunny day.
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This quiet little spot in the middle of the marshland peninsula has a church which is far more interesting than at first it might appear. The compact graveyard is pretty full, a testimony to how busy this area was in the 18th and 19th century. The tower is a chequerboard of flint and brick, typical of the Tudors, and relatively unusual in Norfolk, although the same thing seems to have been begun at neighbouring Burgh. Burgh was never finished, but this one was, probably on the very eve of the Reformation. However, not everything planned here reached completion, as we shall see inside.
At first sight, the interior is entirely Victorianised, but this is not at all the case. For a start, although the colouring on the font has been renewed, it appears to match what is on the shaft.
And the whole piece is not vandalised at all. This may simply be because, judging from its style, it was produced almost immediately before the Reformation. It has the little heads familiar from other fonts in this area, nearby Aldeby for example, but here they have become angels, and the panels are heraldic in style - it takes a second glance to see that one of the panels depicts the Instruments of the Passion, and another a Holy Trinity symbol facing the wall. The font has certainly been moved by the Victorians, so perhaps the instruments were previously less visible.
The screen appears Victorian, but if you look closely you can see that the lace-like tracery is late 15th century. And then, look up. There is a vast chancel arch, but it is partly filled, and beneath it is a small arch into the current chancel, and an even smaller one into the north chancel aisle. what happened here? It appears that the nave was widened by moving the north wall outwards, and the great arch built in preparation for refashioning the chancel and aisle into a new, wider chancel. The south chancel aisle had already been demolished - witness the filled in arcade on the south wall of the chancel. But the new chancel never happened; the Reformation intervened.
Between the chancel and the aisle is a simple little tombchest, probably designed to act as an Easter Sepulchre. It is anonymous, but the Holy Trinity symbol held by an angel matches the one on the font which I believe to be contemporary with the tower, so what we have here may well be the tomb of the donor of the new church. Intriguingly, as DD pointed out, an angel on the other side holds a blank shield - was a set of Instruments of the Passion intended for it?
The survival of the font imagery might be explained by the brass to John London, who died in 1620 a strong Laudian, if his inscription is anything to go by. Unusually in this area, the Londons supported the Crown in the Civil War.
I loved the art nouveau font cover, a tree carved intricately in wood, rather like that in the window of St John the Baptist at nearby Haddiscoe. There is more of this carving up in the chancel, and it is extraordinary. Worth a visit on its own.
Simon Knott, February 2005
www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/wheatacre/wheatacre.htm
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WHETACRE.
Ralph Lord Bainard, for his services, was rewarded with this town, by the Conqueror, on the expulsion of Toret, a thane of King Edward, and was held by Geffrey under the Lord Baynard; it contained, on the Conqueror's grant, 2 carucates of land, 6 villians, 12 borderers with 2 servi, 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. 30 acres of meadow, 2 runci, and 11 cows, &c. 160 sheep, &c. and 6 freemen belonging to the lord's fold, and under his protection, held in King Edward's time 18 acres of land, a carucate and a half, with one acre of meadow; and there were 2 churches endowed with 60 acres, and valued at 5s. and the manor was valued at 30s. but at the survey at 50s. it was one leuca long, and half a leuca broad, and paid 16d. gelt. (fn. 1)
Jeffrey, who held it under the Lord Baynard, was a near relation of the Lord Bainard, who held it in capite. Juga, widow of that lord possessed it, and was succeeded by her son Jeffrey. William, his son, taking part with Elias Earl of Maine, in France, and other conspirators against King Henry I. was deprived of his barony of Bainard castle in London, which was granted to Robert, a younger son of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, whose son Walter Fitz-Robert succeeded, and the descendants of Jeffrey abovementioned held it of him; Thomas, son of Robert Bainard, holding it in the reign of Richard I. Robert Baynard had a charter Ao. 12, Edward II. for two fairs and two mercates here.
By an inquisition taken at Norwich, on the death of Robert Baynard, (fn. 2) of Whetacre, on April 16, Ao. 4 Edward III. the jurors find that he died seized of a capital messuage of no value, besides the repairs, a pigeon-house valued at 12d. per ann. 180 acres of arable land valued at 4l. 10s. 6d. per acre, 100 acres of salt marsh at 100s. per ann. 20 of gross wood, without underwood, valued at 2d. per acre, a windmill at 20s. per ann. rents of assize payable at Lady-day, Midsummer, and Michaelmas, 6l. 6s. 4d. copyholders days works between Michaelmas and St. Peter ad vincula 10s. and between that feast and Michaelmas 20s. pleas and perquisites of court 10s. per ann. held of the Lord FitzWalter, and Thomas was his son and heir, aged 26.
This Thomas Bainard sold this lordship, in the 10th of the said King, to Sir Thomas Rosceline, from whom it came (as may be seen at large in Edgfield) to John Lord Willoughby of Eresby, and from them to Richard Bertue, by the heiress, whose son Peregrine, was Lord Willoughby in his mother's right, and presented to the church in 1602.
John Wentworth, Esq. was lord of both manors, and patron of the two churches, September 21, Ao. 16 James I. and Sir John Wentworth was his son and heir.
Matthew Bluck, Esq. one of the six clerks in Chancery, was lord in 1675, and in this family it remained, till conveyed to William Grimston, Esq.
The Lord Bainard had also the grant of another lordship in this town, of which a freeman of Herold the King was deprived, and consisted of 2 carucates of land, 10 villains, 5 borderers, 4 servi 2 carucates in demean, and 2 among the tenants, &c. with 30 acres of meadow; Robert, son of Corbution, (or Corbun,) claimed it, and had livery. Here was pasture for 200 sheep, 2 runci, 7 cows, &c. 6 bee skeps, 7 freemen under commendation belonged to the lord's fold, with 18 acres of land, 2 carucates and an acre of meadow, valued then at 30s. at the survey at 45s.; this came to the Lord Bainard, by an exchange, and Frankus held it of him. (fn. 3)
The ancient family of De Edisfeld or Edgfield, was soon after the Conquest enfeoffed of this lordship, and held it in the reign of Henry II. from whom it came by an heiress, to Sir William de Rosceline, and was held of the Lord Fitz Walter, as in Chatgrave, Edgfield, &c. Sir Thomas Rosceline dying sine prole, it came to the Lords Willoughby, &c. as above.
The tenths were 3l. 10s.— Deducted 10s.—Temporalities of Norwich priory 13s. 4d.
The temporalities of Langley abbey 3l. 5s. 5d. a manor is said to belong to Whetacre.
Here were two churches; one dedicated to St. Peter, a rectory valued at 11 marks, the rector had a manse with 3 acres of land, Peter-pence were, 16d. carvage 4d. ob. This is called Whetacre Burgh.
Rectors.
In 1301, John Baynard, instituted rector, presented by Lady Joan, relict of Sir Robert Baynard.
1304, Thomas Baynard, by ditto.
1316, John Baynard, by Sir Robert Baynard. (fn. 4)
1325, Gerard de Horstede, by ditto; he is called Esquire of the Laby Roscelyne, went in a lay-coloured habit (veste stragulata) and had not the clerical tonsure.
1334 John de La Grene, by Sir Thomas Roscelyn.
1355, Mr. William Graa, by Sir William Synthwait, in right of his wife Joan, late relict of John Lord Willoughby.
1365, William Malebys, by ditto.
1376, Sim. de Kilpesham, by Sir Robert de Willoughby, Lord Eresby.
1379, Mr. Robert de Weston, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk, Sir Roger Scales, Sir Robert Howard, &c.
1382, John Sayer, by Robert Lord Willughby.
1398, Henry Wodestoke, by ditto.
1398, Robert Coucliff, by ditto.
1401, William Linchewyk, by ditto.
1403, John Burges, by ditto.
1414, Richard Facon, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1434, William Themilby, by ditto, in right of the manor of Whetacre.
1436, William Castell, by Sir William Tireshit, Richard Yardesburgh, and John Wyles, Esq. feoffees of Robert Lord Willoughby.
1444, Henry Bramerton, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1465, John Mareys, by Richard de Wells Lord Willughby.
1480, Robert Monger, by Richard Hastings Lord Welles.
1500, William Ward, by ditto.
1501, William Hantensale, by Sir Richard Hastings.
1508, George Washingham, by the Bishop, a lapse.
1536, Richard Hill, by Mary Lady Willoughby, widow.
1545, Andrew Hawes, by Catharine Dutchess of Suffolk, daughter of William Lord Willughby,
1553, Henry Bacon, by Richard Bertier, Esq. of Ormsthorp in Lincolnshire, in right of his wife Catharine.
1555, Robert Ullothornes, by the Bishop, a lapse.
1556, Henry Hill, by the assignees of William Heronden, a trustee of Richard Bertie, Esq. &c.
1602, Edward Stanhawe, by the assignees of Peregrine Lord Willoughby.
1618, Christopher Milne, by Euseb. Paget, clerk.
1659, Henry Watts, by Ann Melling.
Daniel Benton, rector.
1669, Phil. Prime, by Thomas Garneys, Esq.
1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimstone. Esq.
1764, Mr. Samuel Boycot.
The present valor is 7l. 6s. 8d. and is discharged.
The other church is dedicated to All-Saints. John de Bumstede is said to have had an interest in the patronage, but in the beginning of Edward II. the family of Baynard; the rector had then a beautiful manse, and it was valued at 5l. Peter-pence 12d. carvage 4d. ob.
Rectors.
1316, Sim. de Berningham, presented by Sir Robert Baynard.
Sim. Croppe, rector.
1357, William de Merse, by Sir William Synthweit.
1360, John Hoppe, by William Ufford Earl of Suffolk.
1404, John Draper, by William Lord Willougby.
1405, John Goldspring, by ditto.
1409, John Tenalby, by ditto.
1409, Nicholas Tydd, by ditto.
1412, Richard Newman, by Robert Lord Willoughby.
1437, Andrew Dean, by ditto.
1445, John Annotson, by ditto.
1450, William Gilbert, by ditto.
1476, John Mareys, by Rich. Hastings Lord Welles and Willoughby.
1494, John Hoker, by ditto.
1497, Robert Proveyt, L.L. B. by ditto.
1510, John Shilton, by William Lord Willoughby.
1510, Edward Lamson, by ditto.
Nicholas Chamberlin.
1522, Thomas Bingley, by ditto.
1538, John Thuxton.
1539, Nicholas Dade, by ditto.
1440, Roger Gavell, by Charles Duke of Suffolk, and Catharine his Dutchess.
1555, Mr. William Botiler, by the Bishop, a lapse,
1556, Thomas Robinson, by William Herenden, Esq.
1557, Henry Hill, by ditto.
¶1572, Roger Gavel, by Richard Bertie, Esq. in right of Catherine his wife.
1602, Euseb. Paget, by the assigns of Peregrine Bertie; he returned 68 communicants in 1603.
1650, Henry Watts.
1658, John Morris, by Lady Anne Wentworth.
1673, Thomas Lunn.
1675, Phil. Prime, by Matthew Bluck, Esq.
1713, Thomas Page, by William Grimston, Esq.
1715, John Guavas, by ditto.
1758, Mr. Christopher Smear, presented by Lynn Smear, clerk.
The presented valor, is 6l. 6s. 4d. and is discharged.
On a stone, with a brass plate, by the font,
Rob'tus London, arcâ, cum conjuge, sacra; Hac fatum subiens, consepilitur humo. Ambo fælices, numerosâ prole beati, Complent hospitio, pacificiq; dies Illa obt. Junij 1620. Ille Oct. 1627,
There was an ancient family of the Whitacres, who had an interest in a lordship. (fn. 5)
William de Whitacre was found to hold one fee of the barony of Baynard, in this town, in the begining of King Henry the Third's reign.
www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-hist-norfolk/vol8...
A whole bunch more from the Driven Show. Finished my processing today, and delivered them to the clients.
Ursula Andress was known for her beauty throughout the 1960s, mostly thanks to a little film named Dr. No.
Throughout her career, Ursula used her looks to her advantage and took over the silver screen across the world. But behind the scenes, she was just as mysterious and alluring as she was onscreen. She led a wild life and made the most of her time as a Hollywood heartbreaker. Get to know more about her with these 25 stunning facts about the first Bond Girl, Ursula Andress.
She is from Switzerland
Ursula Andress was born in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, on March 19, 1936. She was the third child born to Anna and Rolf Andress who would go on to have three more children together. Her father, Rolf, was a German diplomat, so they lived a privileged life in a large house.
However, he was expelled from Switzerland due to political reasons, and her grandfather became the guardian of Ursula and her siblings. Their grandfather wasn’t the doting type. He worked a busy job as a garden designer
She Worked Hard and Dreamed of Leaving
Ursula’s grandfather put her to work when she came to live with him. She did hard labor in his large nursery. She would work in the greenhouses during the day and clean out furnaces at night.
By the time she was 16, Ursula was going to school in Bern, Switzerland, and knew how to speak, German, French, and Italian. She wanted to travel the world and was more than ready to leave Switzerland behind. Her strict grandfather was the only obstacle standing in her way.
Her Big Break Came When She Was At School
A french film school visited Ursula’s school when she was 17. They were in the process of filming L’Affaire Maurizius, which starred the heartthrob Daniel Gélin. Upon meeting him, Ursula fell totally in love even though Gélin was 30 years old and married. Ursula’s infatuation with Gélin worried her mother.
And when Gélin finished his movie, they devised a way to get Ursula out of Switzerland. Gélin made a fake contract that stated Studios de Billancourt would get Ursula “into movies.” Her mother eventually relented and let her leave for Paris.
Her Family Had to Track Her Down
While in Paris, Ursula studied for a year. But things started to fall apart when she and Gélin ended up in Rome. Gélin’s issues became too much for Ursula thanks to his drug use, so she dumped him. But she didn’t tell anyone.
Her family realized she was AWOL, alone and abroad. To find her, they didn’t stop at contacting the local police. They got Interpol involved, too! Despite this, Ursula refused to be brought back to Switzerland and decided to try and hide.
She Hid With Bridgitte Bardot
Ursula was able to avoid Interpol for a while by hiding at the Hotel de la Ville with Bridgitte Bardot, an actress and model, and Roger Vadmin, a movie director. Vadim later stated that the trio “slept innocently naked, three to a bed.”
But Ursula couldn’t hide from Interpol forever. They eventually caught her and tried to bring her home. Somehow, she convinced her family to let her stay in Rome. For a while, she took nannying jobs to get by in Rome. But with her stunning good looks, it wasn’t long before Urseul got into modeling.
She Was a Jake-of-All-Trades At Times
Ursula began modeling by posting for artists around the area. Then, she found her way into the movie business. During this time, she appeared in three different movies that were filmed in Rome.
Upon the advice of Marlon Brando, an old friend of Gélin’s, Ursula stopped jumping from job to job and decided to try and make it in Hollywood. After doing a screentest for Paramount Pictures, she was offered a seven-year contract and uprooted her life in Rome to make it big on the silver screen!
Her Hollywood Training was Grueling
In January 1955, Ursula started her Hollywood education. Paramount began her training by getting her to study the movies of Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo. They were two of the most beautiful actresses of their time.
Paramount also sent her to learn English from the mother of Audrey Hepburn, though she was unsuccessful in the end. However, Ursula found this to be too confining for her free-spirited way. She said she felt like they “locked me up in a glass cage.”
Her Social Life Kept Her Career Afloat
Ursula was receiving weekly payments from Paramount, but her career was in jeopardy because she couldn’t speak English. But she found her ways to keep her name in the mouths of the public.
Her social life made her well known, especially since she had a fling with the incredibly famous actor, James Dean, for four months. Though it helped with her positive publicity, the fling did not advance her career. After ending her fling with Dean, Ursula met John Derek when she was 19 years old. He was handsome and a Hollywood actor who was also married with children.
Her Career Was Going Nowhere
Derek ended up walking out on his family for Ursula and the two got married in 1957 before going around the world on a four-year-long honeymoon. During this time, Derek became baffled at Ursula’s lack of ambition. She bought herself out of her Paramount contract and signed with Columbia Pictures.
However, her career continued going nowhere. She rejected the roles she was given and would not read the scripts the studio sent to her. Ursula’s career would have continued to go nowhere if it weren’t for a stroke of luck in 1962.
She Almost Refused to be Honey Ryder
A photo of Ursula, taken by Derek, found its way into the hands of the producers for a film titled Dr. No, the first James Bond movie.
Her looks sold the producers and they instantly gave her the role of Honey Ryder, the seductive love interest of James Bond. Filming was to being in two weeks. But this still wasn’t enough for Ursula. She turned down the role at first. But when her good friend and famous actor, Kirk Douglas, read her the script out loud, she fell in love with it and finally accepted the role.
Filming Could Be Difficult
Ursula set off for Jamaica and the set of Dr. No, only to become intimidated by Sean Connery upon first meeting him. However, she and Connery quickly hit it off. They had great onscreen chemistry, and developed a friendship offscreen, as well! Connery became “very protective” of Ursula who still did not know English and was relatively unknown. This helped her feel more comfortable on set. Especially with the issues she faced.
For starters, she was told she didn’t “look Jamaican enough” and was given a big spray tan. Then, her heavy Swiss-German accent made it impossible for anyone to know what she was saying. So, in the end, they had to dub over her singing and speaking parts. But, let’s be honest, this isn’t exactly what Honey Ryder was known for, anyway.
She Made The Bikini, Herself
What launched Ursula into fame was the scene in Dr. Nowhere Honey Ryder walked out of the ocean in that famous white bikini with a diving knife strapped to her hip. This one scene made Ursula an overnight icon in 1962. It was an unforgettable movie entrance. And Dr. No ended up doing much better than first anticipated. She began to get movie offers handed to her hand over fist.
And many don’t realize that Ursula made that bikini herself! She was offered many different bikinis when she got to set, but she didn’t like any of them. So she got to work and whipped the perfect one! That bikini ended up going up for sale at a James Bond auction, along with the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 driven in GoldenEye. Ursula’s bikini sold for £41,125, that’s over $46,000!
She Made a Movie With Elvis
The next film Ursula took on after Dr. No was Fun in Acapulco where she starred alongside Elvis Presley. Ursula was hesitant to do the movie at first, due to some gossip she had heard about the King of Rock and Roll. But, to be fair, Elvis was just as intimidated by her.
It is said that he wouldn’t take his shirt off for the movie because of her. Elvis wanted to get back together with his first love and wouldn’t even let himself be alone in the same room with her. Eventually, Ursula and Elvis warmed up to each other and went on to become lifelong friends, even if this did churn the rumor mill.
She Was Making Movies Left and Right
Ursula also filmed the movie 4 for Texas with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Anita Ekberg while she filmed Fun in Acapulco.
During her screen tests for 4 for Texas, Ursula auditioned in the nude. The plan was to make that character much steamier. But censors wouldn’t allow it, and she appeared totally clothed in the movie. Next, Ursula filmed Once Before I Die with John Derek, her husband, in 1964. The two had been a couple for seven years at this point.
Her Marriage Dissolved On Set
Though they had been together for several years, Ursula and Derek’s relationship began to deteriorate on the set of Once Before I Die. Rumors about Ursula having an affair with Ron Ely, another actor in the movie, began to spread and got to Derek. To this day, Ursula has never confirmed or denied the rumor.
He got so mad that he kicked Ursula out of his home in the summer of 1965. After this, Ursula decided to head to England. That year, Ursula also shot racy photos that ended up in Playboy magazine. When asked why she did them, she simply answered, “because I’m beautiful.” She went on to do seven more shoots for them over the next 15 years.
She Moved On
In England, Ursula landed the leading role of an immortal queen in the film She. It was a successful movie, but she ended up hating it as she said she was “forced” to make the movie. But she did say, “The only thing I adored were the costumes. I was just lucky to look good in it because they photographed me beautifully."
While on the set of She, she met her next love in the form of actor John Richardson. Their relationship began quickly and since Ursula had not completely divorced Derek yet, their relationship made quite a stir. However, it did not last long and she lost interest in him after just a few months.
Her Love Life Was Becoming A Pattern
The same year she filmed She, Ursula filmed an Italian science-fiction movie called The 10th Victim. During filming, you guessed it, she started dating Marcello Mastroianni, her co-star. Their movie was very successful, but, as a couple, they were not. Again, Ursula lost interest and left Mastroianni after a few months.
Not one to let love get her down, Ursula went to Paris to film the movie Up to His Ears in 1965. There, she fell in love with her co-star (again). But this time, Jean-Paul Belmondo gave her the push she needed to finally finalize her divorce from Derek. Ursula even said Belmondo was “the love of her life.”
She was in another James Bond movie
When 1967 rolled around, Ursula was offered a part in another Jame Bond movie, Casino Royale. This time, she played Vesper Lynd.
She was paid a whopping £200,000 for the movie, but the movie studio was happy to do it. Director Val Guest said she was “universally loved by everyone in [the] studio.” Casino Royale became a huge success at the box office but Ursula soon slowed down with the number of movies she was making, choosing to take on more unique roles.
She Took On Roles That Were Different
The next movies Ursula made were not your typical leading lady parts for the era. She defied the expectations of a “soft and submissive” female lead.
Instead, she played the most sultry roles she could find, starting with Lady Britt Dorset in Perfect Friday in 1970 and a brother worker named Cristina in Red Sun in 1971. Both of these roles allowed Ursula to show off her… assets. Due to her level of undress in these movies, she also earned the moniker of “Ursula Undress.”
Her Relationships Were Becoming More Questionable
In 1972, Ursula’s seven-year-long relationship with Belmondo soured. Instead of getting caught up in heartbreak, Ursula went back to Hollywood and worked through her pain, briefly entering into a fling with actor Ryan O’Neal. O’Neal was perhaps the worst of all her partners. He had a reputation for being a womanizer and wouldn’t even send his daughter to her room until Ursula told him, “I don’t want to sleep with you while your daughter is in the bed.”
And, much like her most recent relationships, she met her next lover on the set of the Italian movie Stateline Motel. Fabio Testi was, you guessed it, her co-star. Their relationship lasted four years. Looking back on all her past relationships, she said that she still loved all of them in a deep, platonic way, and thought it would be fun for them all to live in one big house together.
She Won't Change to Meet Hollywood's Needs
At this point, Hollywood was changing and many actresses started to ditch their old roles to play “real” women instead. But Ursula wouldn’t change. She continued to play leading ladies that were gorgeous and seductive. However, this wasn’t what audiences wanted to see anymore. They wanted women that did more than flaunt their beauty. And between Ursula not taking on complex roles and the disaster of her next several movies, her career started to spiral.
Her next movie was Slave of the Cannibal God in 1978. She appeared in several graphic scenes and was once filmed completely nude. Plus, the film had several disturbing animal cruelty scenes. While the movie went on to become a cult classic, it was banned entirely in the UK at the time.
She Was Aphrodite, Literally
The next year, Ursula played the sultry character of Louise de La Valliére, the mistress of King Louis XIV of France. She wore eight different costumes, all of them showing off her beauty. But critics weren’t impressed. The movie received bland reviews
Her next movie was the classic Clash of the Titans where she naturally played the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite. She had top-billing, but only said one line in the entire movie. But that was enough for her to fall in love with yet another co-star.
She Had A Son And Began to Settle Down
Ursula started dating the star of Clash of the Titans, Harry Hamlin while filming the movie. But there was a large age gap between the two- 16 years to be exact! She soon became pregnant and was encouraged by Hamlin to have the baby at 44 years young. Their son, Dimitri Alexander Hamlin, was born on May 19, 1980. Shortly after, Ursula and Hamlin were engaged.
If her career had been floundering before, it nearly died after she gave birth. Until Dimitri was born, she was someone “who up until then refused even the responsibility of pets.” She took on roles much less frequently, only taking small parts in television series in the 80s.
She Made Some Even More Questionable Decisions
Unfortunately, Ursula’s relationship with Hamlin wasn’t meant to be. She described herself as “possessive” of him and this led to their eventual demise. 3 years after the birth of Dimitri, the couple called it quits in 1983. Hamlin moved on while Ursula continued working while taking care of her son and adding to the long list of lovers she never committed to.
Under another wild string of events, she began dating Fausto Fagone in 1986. He was a 20-year-old student studying economics in college while Ursula was already 50 years old. The age gap of 30 years was frowned upon, making Fagone’s parents enraged. And ever since they ended things in 1991, Ursula has kept her love life quiet.
She Misses Sean Connery
Nowadays, Ursula is basically retired from acting, only making a few appearances in the media here and there. She likes to split her time between her homes in Switzerland and Rome.
However, she took Sean Connery’s death in 2020 as a personal blow. She described him as “a fabulous actor,” “loyal,” and “a great friend.” She also said there would never be anyone quite like Connery. She said, “For me, Sean is not dead, he will always be alive, with me forever.”
Got to work with the Media Group for the Driven show in Winnipeg yesterday. As you can see, I was very lucky and got to work with a host of talented young models.
I also got a chance to test out my new portable hot shoe soft boxes, which I must admit work very, very well for a couple 50 dollar ebay items.