explain photos on Flickr

Gawler names explained (3) by Gawler History

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Dr Stuart Clark performing at the Universe Explained at Gorilla, Manchester, on Saturday 20th July 2013

12015132_744604909001433_2990447074480354279_o by Amble CRC

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Nith Navigation September 2015

Ships, shanties, burgers and boules:

T’was another early start for most of our intrepid explorers as this week’s adventure took us westwards and upwards to Dumfries and the Nith Navigation Race. Ours was a truly Northumbrian contingent as members of three clubs banded together to crew “Coquet Spirit”. Huge thanks to those good folks who joined us, bringing their energy, enthusiasm (and Tupperware boxes) and helping make this trip happen (hurrah!)

We cheerfully observed the ever darkening skies as we crossed the A69 and we're motivated en route by texts from those crew-mates who had travelled the previous evening, explaining their relaxing morning and full Scottish breakfast in detail (cheers folks!). Rain turned into more rain but we managed to seek solace in the fact we were heading for a marginally lighter shade of grey! (Skiffies are waterproof anyway!) The puddles at the sides of the road raised columns of water as we rattled along the narrow country lanes, the view at times akin to the parting of the red sea. At one point we considered taking the boat off the trailer and rowing along the road itself.

It wasn’t long however before the horizon on the sat nav turned from green to blue and we found ourselves at our destination. Opening the car door and alighting we found we’d parked next to a sign that cheerfully welcomed us with the words “Warning, fast tides and quicksand” (I must admit our hearts leapt a bit with excitement at the tides… and a touch of trepidation at the quicksand)

We quickly dashed across the car park to seek welcome shelter. Here we commented thankfully on the genius of planning a row that started at a café and ended at a pub.

We’d poured into the café at 9.00 only to be told that they didn’t really open for another hour, but the cheerful chap happily agreed to tear up the rule book and furnish us with tea and bacon rolls anyway… it wasn’t however until 10.00 that he put the lights on !!! By this time the room was filling with skiffies and the car park was filling with water as we watched the tide start to hurtle by the windows. Today’s tide wasn’t particularly high (but still a belter by east coast standards) so the anticipated tidal bore wasn’t as dramatic as previously recorded (8 to 10m tides !!!!) .. But there certainly was still some cracking energy in the water. The Cox’s briefing pointed us to the fastest part of the flow and with a wicked grin we were advised to “use this to our advantage”. It was a short drag to the slip where fully-loaded skiffs were pushed down to the water by diesel power and floated off into the current for an energetic row back up to the starting point (against the tide).We chose the "push to the edge and clarty feet" option to save removing electrics etc. Thankfully someone had cleared the silt from the slip so we could tell it apart from the "sinky stuff" Once back up at the starting point, crews had steered themselves into the mud banks to get some purchase before a staged start (partly to avoid clutter and partly because you’d never get boats to stop in that current .. never mind line up!) and with a wave….we were off…….

The first half of the six mile course was ably assisted by the tide, then time to lengthen out the strokes and pick up the pace a touch. Eager heads were cast over shoulders to try and gauge the field in comparison to our relative starting positions as Boatie Blest (starting last) grew from a spec on the horizon to pass us in the last few minutes. For a while we held our own and it was great to race through the bridges together. Before we knew it chequered flags were waived (by Elsie from Gosforth!!) and all crews applauded each other’s efforts as a close field came in one shortly after the other. A quick draw of breath saw the last of the rain pass and skies clear in time for a row in company back down the river. This time we took the opportunity to look at the scenery we’d obviously ignored on the way down. This included a derelict mill building that looked as if it came straight out of an episode of Scooby Doo (Mr Grimes the caretaker would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those meddling skiffs!!).

With the sun out and in clear water we broke into a few “traditional” shanties (artistic license and local flavour applied aplenty as usual!!) before turning and mooring up at Kingholme Quay, alongside tall ship La Malouine. Here boats were admired and oars/footrests/mascots/blisters compared before the “skiff extraction machine” swung into action. At this point chains and strops were secured and lowered over the quay edge and skiffs were lifted from the water, swung around and deftly lowered to their waiting trailers (thanks guys!!). Several fingernails may have been bitten as the first skiff was lifted, but these were quickly forgotten and the clubs all pulled together checking landings, moving trailers and unhooking/re-hooking chains. Here new friendships were made and old ones rekindled … all with the re-assuring squelch of mud underfoot. Rob revisited the “shuggy boats” of our youth as he was lifted to land aboard the final skiff as Geoff and Jenny furnished the masses with pasties and chilli infused scotch eggs from Tupperwares 1 and 2)

With the boats safely on trailers we adjourned to the pub where skiffies of all ages filled the room with hearty chatter. At this point Ian and Elsie broke out Tupperwares 3 and 4 supplying the table with Rocky Road and flapjacks (fruit well soaked) before Roy (our gracious host) announced that food was served and we were treated to a mountain of cracking burgers and sausage buns. All were well and truly stuffed when glasses were "pinged" to herald the announcement that more burgers had arrived… well? It would be rude not to would it ?? Buttons were universally unfastened and attention drawn to the presentations where all crews received a commemorative bottle of whisky featuring the fair Malouine herself (a really nice touch, thanks) and apologies made for lack of planned cheese due to an accident involving the “cheese man” (we all wish him well!!) The final presentation was made to the deserved winners Boatie Blest (hip hip……)

At this point hugs and handshakes are normally exchanged and folks make their way home, however this is not the way of Nith. Seconds later a stranger in a beret carrying a French flag entered from stage left (looking uncannily like our host) and we were marched to the riverside for the first “Coastal Rowing Boules Tournament” a respectful nod to the lineage of the fair ship to our left. The rules were explained, heats were drawn and eager skiffies set about examining the equipment and discussing proposed technique. Watched by an enthusiastic crowd the crews ran through two qualifiers and a final with Troon taking the inaugural title followed by three hearty and well deserved cheers for our hosts and all involved…. (Absolutely cracking way to round off a day)

The sun was now well and truly beaming and we toddled up to the tall ship and were welcomed and offered open access to “climb aboard and take to look”. Here we were regaled with tales of the ship’s chequered history from Icebreaker to party boat in Martinique to the theft of its sails in France and how it ultimately found residence here. We did all but climb the rigging before bidding Roy a fond farewell with a promise to return (any other NE skiffs fancy coming next year and staying over perhaps??)

By now we’re used to these stories extending (brevity is not, I’m afraid, a gift that I posses to any great degree) and today was to be no exception …so we settled back in the beer garden for a quick beverage and the remnants of Tupperwares 1,2,3 and 4 (sounds like the ACRC equivalent of Thunderbirds!!) Conversation was varied and eclectic and shifted from boat and surfboard building through to 18 month sourdough cultures to the absorbency of bread buns and “whims”. As if fate couldn’t have arranged a better day already, a lady from behind the bar came out to our table with an additional beer stating simply that “it was our lucky day”. We responded in the only manner we knew how, tastefully arranging a plate from our respective Tupperwares, taking it into the bar and reciprocating her sentiment word for word….. Happy days indeed!

Farewells were finally exchanged as we recounted the day’s events and were again astounded at what you can fit into 12 hours when you’ve got a skiff, some water and good company…

Huge thanks to all involved.

Right then fellow adventurers……… what’s next ???

Note: Apologies that there are no actual race photos to accompany this …. Maybe someone can help us out?

20120720-KS-Reclamation-0005 by U.S. Department of Agriculture

A Fruitland farmer explains a watering method he is using for the first time on a crop of onion seed that he is soon to plant. Because the soil in which onion seed is planted must never dry out, he has has burried a drip line just underneath the soil. This method will keep the soil constantly wet w ith a minimal amount of water. Fruitland, Idaho

7/20/2012 Photo by Kirsten Strough

St Michael, Sittingbourne, Kent by Jelltex

I saw Holy Trinity come up on the Heritage Weekend website, so I thought a nice Sunday afternoon out, a drive, an ice cream, and visit a new church.

But turns out that Holy Trinity is the Victorian church the other end of the High Street, and I came to the much older one, which happened to be open, but also explains the rest of the account below......

The passing of HM the Queen changed plans somewhat, but I didn't know that.

Sittingbourne is not a pretty town. It has a main road driven through the middle of it, and the area around the church, not pretty either. Four Ne'er-do-wells were drinking and smoking in the churchyard, and in time would attract the attention of two PCOs.

The blurb talked about visiting the crypt and so on, so I was looking forward to the visit. And upon entering, I was pretty much the only one looking round, in the south aisle a coffee shop had been set up.

A woman came up to me and asked:

"Are you SFM?", which I assume to be Swale FM, the local radio station.

I told her I wasn't. But then I did have my new Tron t shirt on, and and looked like a nerd. The actual nerd came out from behind the organ carrying leads and mics. He was SFM.

I introduced the woman to the guy and got on with my shots.

A voice behind me asked:

"Are you SFM?"

Again, I said I wasn't, but there was a guy around who was.

It seems a service was being broadcast, and they were setting up equipment, and in time members of the choir arrived and people carrying instruments. Either that or it was the mafia.

By then I had my shots, and so we made to leave, as yet more people came into the church, while outside people waited for the service to start.

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SITTINGBORNE.

THE next parish westward from Murston is Sittingborne, antiently written Sedingbourne, in Saxon, sœdingburna, i. e. the hamlet by the bourne, or small stream.

THE PARISH and town of Sittingborne is situated about forty miles from London, the high road from thence to Dover leading through it. The parish, though rather above the level of the marshes, which bound the northern side of it, from which the ground rises to the town, is still a damp situation, and both from the air and water is not accounted a healthy one, though much more so than several of the neighbouring parishes equally northward, than which it has a more chearful and populous aspect; from the town the ground still keeps rising southward till it joins Tunstall, in the road to which about a quarter of a mile from the town is a good modern house called Glovers, which lately belonged to Thomas Bannister, esq. who resided in it, and died in 1791, and his widow, Mrs. Bannister, now owns it; eastward from which, at about the same distance, are the estates of Chilston and Fulston, and Hysted Forstall, with Golden-wood at the boundary of the parish, part of which is within it, adjoining to Bapchild and Rodmersham. The parish, which is but small, contains little more than eight hundred acres of land, consisting of arable, pasture, orchards, hop ground, and woods. In the upper and western parts it is much inclined to chalk and thin land, but the rest of it is in general a fertile loam, especially about the town, which was formerly surrounded by orchards of apples and cherries, but many of them have been destroyed to make room for plantations of hops, which, however, are not so numerous as formerly, and several of those which remain are kept up only as nurseries for young plantations of fruit trees, to which they must soon in their turn give place. Northward from the town the grounds are entirely pasture and orchards, lying on a descent to the town of Milton and the creek, both about half a mile distant from it; on the latter is a key called Crown key, of great use to this part of the country for the exporting of corn and wood, and relanding the several commodities from London and elsewhere. At a small distance north-west from the town is Bayford-court.

It appears by a survey made in the 8th year of queen Elizabeth, that there was then in this parish houses inhabited eighty-eight; lacking inhabitants five; keys two, Crown key and Holdredge key; ships and boats three, two of one ton, and one of twenty-four tons.

THE town of Sittingborne is built on each side of the high road at the fortieth mile-stone from London, and stands on a descent towards the east. It is a wide, long street unpaved, the houses of which are mostly modern, being well built of brick, and sashed, the whole having a chearful aspect. The principal support of it has always been from the inns, and houses of reception in it for travellers, of which there are several.

The inhabitants boast much of John Northwood, esq. of Northwood, having entertained king Henry V. on his triumphant return from France, at the Red Lion inn, in this town; and though the entertainment was plentiful, and befitting the royalty of his guest, yet such was the difference of the times, that the whole expence of it amounted to no more than 9s. 9d. wine being then sold at two-pence a pint, and other articles in proportion. The principal inn now in it, called the Rose, is perhaps the most superb of any throughout the kingdom, and the entertainment afforded in it equally so, though the traveller probably will not find his reckoning near so moderate as that of John Northwood before-mentioned. About the middle of the opposite side of the town there is a good family seat, which was once the residence of the Tomlyn's, and then for many years of the Lushingtons, several of whom lie buried in this church, of whom a further mention has already been made under Rodmersham manor, which they possessed. At length Thomas Godfrey Lushington left it to reside at Canterbury, and his second son the Rev. James-Stephen Lushington, becoming possessed of it afterwards, sold it to Mr. John May, who resided in it for some time. Since which it has been converted into an inn. At this house, whilst in the possession of the Lushingtons, king George the 1st. and 11d. constantly lodged, whenever they travelled through this town, both in their way to, and return from visiting their German dominions.

The church and vicarage stand almost at the east end of the town, near which there rises a clear spring of water in the high road, which flows from thence northward into Milton creek.

Queen Elizabeth, by her charter, in her 16th year, incorporated the town of Sittingborne, by the name of a guardian and free tenants thereof; and granted to it a market weekly on a Wednesday, and two fairs yearly, the one at Whitsuntide, and the other at Michaelmas, with many other privileges: which charter was used for several years, and until the queen was pleased, through further favor to grant to it another more ample charter, in her 41st year, by which she incorporated this place, by the name of a mayor and jurats, and regranted the market and fairs, with the addition of a great number of privileges, and among others, of returning two members to parliament.

This charter does not appear ever to have been used, or the privileges in it exercised. The market, after having been used for several years, was dropped, and only the two yearly fairs have been kept up, which are still held on Whit-Monday and the two following days, for linen and toys, and on October 10, and the four following days, for linen, woollen, cloaths, hardward, &c. and on the second day of it, for the hiring of servants, both in the town, and in a field, called the Butts, at the back of it.

Lewis Theobald, the poet, made famous by Mr. Pope, in his Dunciad, was born at Sittingborne, his father being an attorney at this place.

SOME FEW of our antiquarians have been inclined to six the Roman station, called, in the second iter of Antonine, Durolevum, at or near Sittingborne; among which are Mr. Talbot, Dr. Horsley, Baxter, and Dr. Stukeley in his comment upon his favorite Richard of Cirencester; (fn. 1) but they have but little to offer in support of their conjecture, except the distances made use of in one or two copies, which are so different in many of them, that there is no trusting to any one in particular; consequently each alters them as it suits his own hypothesis best. The reader will find more of this subject under the description of both Lenham and Newington.

In the year 893, the Danes having fitted out a great number of ships, with an intention of ravaging the coasts of this kingdom, divided them into two fleets; with one of which they failed up the river Limene, or Rother, and with the other, under the command of Hastings, their captain, they entered the mouth of the river Thames, and landed at the neighbouring town of Milton. Near Milton they built a castle, at a place called Kemsley-down, about a quarter of a mile north-east from where the church of Milton now stands, which being overgrown with bushes, acquired the name of Castle rough. King Alfred, on receiving intelligence of these depredations, marched his forces towards Kent, and in order to flop their incursions, some time afterwards built on the opposite or eastern side of the creek, about a mile from the Danish intrenchments, a fortification, part of the ditches of which, and a small part of the stone-work, is still to be seen at Bayford-castle, in this parish.

Gerarde, the herbalist, found on the high road near this place,

Tragoriganum Dodonæi, goats marjorum of Dodo- næus.

Ruta muraria sive salvia vitæ, wall rue, or rue maidenhair; upon the walls of the church-yard here.

Colutea minima five coronilla, the smallest bastard sena; on the chalky barren grounds near Sittingborne, (fn. 2) and lately likewise by Mr. Jacob.

Hieracium maximum chondrillæ folio asperum; observed by Mr. John Sherard, very plentisully in the road from this place to Rochester.

Lychnis saponaria dicta, common sopewort; by him on the same road.

Tithymalus Hybernicus, Irish Spurge; between this place and Faversham.

Erysimum sophia dictum; found by Mr. Jacob, on the road sides near Sittingborne, and on the Standard Key.

Oenanthe cicutæ facie Lobellii, hemlock dropwort, found by him in the water lane between Sittingborne and Milton. (fn. 3)

THE MANOR OF MILTON is paramount over this parish, subordinate to which is

THE MANOR OF GOODNESTON, perhaps so called from its having been the property of Goodwyne, earl of Kent, who might have secured himself here at Bayford castle, in the year 1052, when having taken up arms against king Edward the Consessor, he raised an army, and ravaged the king's possessions, and among them the town of Milton, which he burnt to the ground.

On his death it most probably came to his son king Harold, and after the battle of Hastings into the hands of the crown, whence it seems to have been granted to the eminent family of Leyborne, of Leyborne, in this county. William, son of Roger de Leyborne, died possessed of it in the 3d year of king Edward II.

His grand-daughter Juliana, daughter of Thomas de Leyborne, who died in his life-time, became her grandfather's heir, and succeeded in this manor, to which she entitled her several husbands successively, all of whom she survived, and died S. P. in the 41st year of king Edward III. when no one being found, who could make claim to any of her estates, this manor, among the rest of them, escheated to the crown.

After which this manor of Goodneston, as it was then called, seems to have been granted by the crown to Robert de Nottingham, who resided at a seat adjoining to this manor, called

BAYFORD-CASTLE, where his ancestors had resided for several generations. Robert de Nottingham lived here in the reign of king Edward I. and dates several of his deeds apud castellum suum de Bayford, apud Goodneston. Robert de Nottingham, his successor, who became possessed of the manor of Goodneston as beforementioned, was sheriff in the 48th year of king Edward III. and kept his shrievalty at Bayford, bearing for his arms, Paly, wavy of two pieces, gules and argent, in which year he died, and was found by the inquisition to die possessed of lands at Sharsted, Pedding in Tenham, Newland, La Hirst, Higham in Milsted, Bixle, now called Bix, in Tong, and lastly, Goodneston, with Bayford, in Sittingborne; all which descended to his only son John Nottingham, who died without issue male, leaving Eleanor his daughter his sole heir, who marrying Simon Cheney, of Crall, in Sussex, second son of Sir Richard Cheney, of Shurland, he became, in her right, entitled to it. His grandson Humphry Cheney alienated both Goodneston and Bayford, at the latter end of king Henry VI.'s reign, to Mr. Richard Lovelace, of Queenhyth, in London.

His son Launcelot Lovelace was of Bayford, and purchased the manor of Hever in Kingsdown, near Farningham, under which a more ample account of him and his descendants may be seen. His second son William, heir to his eldest brother Sir Richard, who died S. P. at length became possessed of Goodneston, with Bayford, at which he resided, and dying anno 17 king Henry VII. left two sons, John and William Lovelace, esqrs. who possessed this manor and seat between them; the former of whom resided at Bayford, where he died in the 2d year of Edward VI. holding the moiety of this manor in capite, by knight's service, and leaving seven sons, of whom Thomas Lovelace, esq. his eldest son, inherited his interest in this manor and seat. He procured his lands to be disgavelled, by the act passed anno 2 and 3 Edward VI. and afterwards in the 10th year of queen Elizabeth, together with his cousin William Lovelace, by a joint conveyance, alienated Goodneston, with Bayford, to Mr. Ralph Finch, of Kingsdown, in this neighbourhood, whose son Mr. Thomas Finch, of that place, passed it away by sale to Sir William Garrard, who had been lord mayor in 1555, whose ancestors had been of this parish for several generations before, and perhaps were seated at Fulston in it, as many of them lie buried, in the chancel belonging to that seat, in this church. (fn. 4)

He died in 1571, and was buried in St. Magnus's church, in London, bearing for his arms, Argent, on a fess sable, a lion passant of the field; which arms, borne by his ancestors, are carved on the roof of the cloysters at Canterbury. After which it descended down to his grandson Sir John Garrard, or Gerrard, as this family now began to spell their name, who was of Whethamsted, in Hertfordshire, and was created a baronet in 1621. He was succeeded in it by his eldest son of the same name (at which time Bayford was become no more than a farm-house, being called Bayford-court farm). He died in 1700, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, who carried the manor of Goodneston, with Bayford, among the rest of her inheritance, in marriage to Montague Drake, esq. of Shardeloes, in Agmondesham, in Buckinghamshire, who bore for his arms, Argent, a wivern, with wings displayed, and tail moved, gules. In whose descendants it continued down to William Drake, esq. M. P. for the borough of Agmondesham, as his ancestors had been, some few intermissions only excepted, ever since its being restored to its privilege of sending members to parliament, as a borough, anno 21 James I. He died possessed of this estate in 1796, and his heirs are at this time possessed of it.

A court baron is held for the manor of Goodneston, with Bayford.

CHILTON is a manor situated in the south-east part of this parish, which was formerly accounted a manor, and had owners of that furname, who held the manor of Chilton in Ash, near Sandwich, both which William de Chilton held at his death in the 31st year of king Edward I. one of whose descendants, in the beginning of king Edward III.'s reign, passed it away to Corbie, whose descendant Robert Corbie, of Boughton Malherb, died possessed of this manor of Chilton, alias Childeston, in the 39th year of that reign. (fn. 5) After which it passed by a female heir of this name in like manner as Boughton Malherb, to the family of Wotton, and from them again to the Stanhopes, (fn. 6) in which it continued till Philip, earl of Chesterfield, about the year 1725, alienated it to Richard Harvey, esq. of Dane-court, whose grandson, the Rev. Richard Harvey, died possessed of it in 1772, leaving his widow surviving, since which it has been sold to Balduck, and by him again to Mr. George Morrison, who now owns it, and resides in it.

FULSTON, called antiently Fogylston, was a large mansion, situated at a small distance southward from Chilton last-described, which, from the burials of the Garrards in the chancel belonging to this estate in Sittingborne church, seems to have been the early residence of that family in this parish. However that be, in the reign of Henry VIII. it was become the estate and residence of John Cromer, esq. the third son of Sir James Cromer, of Tunstall, who died in 1539, and was buried in this church, leaving his three daughters his coheirs; and in one of the windows of this church were the arms of John Cromer, esq. of Fulston, and his two wives, Guldeford and Grove, and their several quarterings.

Probably, by his will, or by a former entail, on his dying without male issue, this seat descended to his nephew Sir James Cromer, of Tunstall, whose grandson, of the same name, dying without male issue in 1613, Christian, one of his daughters and coheirs carried it in marriage to John Hales, esq. eldest son of Sir Edward Hales, of Tenterden, knight and baronet, as has been already more fully mentioned before under Tunstall, and in his descendants it has continued down to Sir Edward Hales, bart. of St. Stephen's, near Canterbury, the present owner of it. The greatest part of this mansion has been pulled down within memory, and a neat farm-house has been erected on the ruins of it.

Charities.

JOHN ALLEN, of Sittingborne, by his will in 1615, gave 40s. per annum for repairing the alms-houses in Crown-key-lane, and firing for the poor in them, to be paid out of Glovers, now Mrs. Bannister's.

ROBERT HODSOLE, by will in 1684, gave 10s. per annum to the poor, payable every Christmas-day yearly, out of Mrs. Rondeau's land.

JOHN GRANT, by will in 1689, gave 20s. per annum, to be paid in corn and bread on January 1, out of Mrs. Trott's farm.

FIVE SEAMS of boiling peas are yearly paid from the parsonage, to be distributed to the poor on every Christmas-day yearly.

KATHERINE DICKS, by her will, left the sum of 25l. to be put out on land security, the interest of it to be said out for ever in six two-penny loaves, to be given to six poor widows &c. who attend divine service, beginning every year on the first Sunday after Christmas-day, of the annual produce of 1l.

The poor annually relieved are about forty; casually eight hundred and fifty.

SITTINGBORNE is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JU RISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deany of Sittingborne

The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, is a large, handsome building, of three isles and two chancels, and two cross ones; at the west end is a tower beacon steeple, in which is a clock, a set of chimes, and six bells.

On the stone font, which is an octagon, are the arms of archbishop Arundel, a shield, having on it a cross story; and another with the emblems of Christ's crucifixion on it.

On the 17th of July, 1762, the wind being exceeding high, a fire broke out on the roof of this church, occasioned by the plumbers, who were repairing the leads, having left their fire burning during their absence at dinner, which consumed the whole of it, except the bare walls and the tower. Next year a brief passed for rebuilding of it, which with the contribution of the inhabitants, and a gift of fifty pounds from archbishop Secker, they were enabled to set about.

This was stopped for some little time by the owners of the three chancels, belonging to the Bayford, Chilton, and Fulston estates, refusing to contribute to the rebuilding of them, and they were at length rebuilt at the same cost with the rest of the church; and the whole of it was afterwards completed and fitted up in a very handsome manner. By the fire the monuments against the walls were destroyed, and most of the gravestones broken by the falling of the timbers. The latter, in the rebuilding of the church, have, the greatest part of them, been most absurdly removed from the graves over which they lay, to other parts of the church, and some even from the church-yard, as it suited to make the pavement complete; so that there is now hardly a guess to be made, where the bodies lie, that the inscriptions commemorate, but the gravestones of the Lushingtons, I believe, were none of them removed. In the south cross chancel belonging to the estate of Fulston, is a monument for Thos. Bannister, gent. obt. 1750, arms, Argent, a cross story, sable. The brass plate, on which the inscription was, for John Crowmer, of Fulston, and his two wives, in this chancel, being loose, there was found on the under side of it one in Latin, for Robert Rokele, esq. once dwelling with the most revered lady, the lady Joane de Bohun, countess of Hereford, Essex, and Northton, who died in 1421, an instance of œconomy which has been discovered at times in other churches.

The south-east chancel belonged to the Chilton estate; there are many gravestones of the family of Lushington in it. Dr. Lushington's monument was entirely destroyed at the time of the fire. In the upper part of this chancel is a vault, belonging to the Chilton estate, in which is only one coffin, of Mr. Harvey, who died in 1751, and a great quantity of bonespiled up at one end of it.

The archdeacon's court, in which he holds his visitation, is at the upper end of this chancel.

The coats of arms in the windows of the church, which were many, were entirely destroyed, and they have been since entirely resitted with modern glass.

The middle chancel is the archbishop's, and belongs to the parsonage; in which there is a memorial for Mathew, son of Sir John, and grandson of archbishop Parker, who died in 1645. The north chancel is made use of now as a vestry. The north cross chancel belongs to the Bayford estate. In the north wall of it there is the effigies of a woman, lying at length, in the hollow of the wall, with an arch, carved and ornamented, over her, and midway between the arch and figure, a flat table stone of Bethersden marble: the whole of it seems very antient.

In this church there was, before the reformation, a chantry, called Busherb's chantry.

The church of Sittingborne belonged to the Benedictine nunnery of Clerkenwell, to which it was appropriated before the 8th year of king Richard II. and it remained part of the revenues of it till its dissolution, in the 31st year of king Henry VIII.'s reign.

¶This church thus coming into the king's hands, seems to have remained part of the revenues of the crown till queen Elizabeth, in her 3d year, granted the parsonage of it, with the advowson of the vicarage, the former being then valued at 13l. 6s. 8d. to archbishop Parker. Since which they have continued parcel of the possessions of the archbishopric, and remain so at this time.

The parsonage has been from time to time leased out on a benesicial lease, at the yearly rent of 13l. 6s. 8d. In 1643 John Olebury, gent. was lessee; in later times, Cockin Sole, esq. of Bobbing, whose son John Cockin Sole, esq. died possessed of it in 1790, since which this lease has been sold under the directions of his will.

In the 8th year of king Richard II. this parsonage was valued at 23l. 6s. 8d.

In 1578, on a survey of the diocese of Canterbury, it was returned, that this parsonage was impropriate to the queen's majesty; the vicarage also in her gift; dwelling-houses eighty; communicants three hundred; the tenths twenty shillings.

The vicarage is valued in the king's books at ten pounds, the yearly tenths being one pound. In 1640, it was valued at fifty-six pounds. Communicants three hundred and eighty.

The vicarage is situated not far from the north side of the church-yard, adjoining to which is the only piece of glebe land belonging to it.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol6/pp150-163

Another Hiatus explained by A Lads Club Escapette

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Ahhhh, yes, the PC crashed. Really. 4 weeks ago during my week of house-sitting with no internet. Then, I set off on more trips, gatherings, then work again, and finally... I am back at the odd post. Now Elements has been reinstalled, yahoo passwords recovered... may the posting continue now.

This was from shortly after the crash... reuinion with my friends Natascha and Juergen in Berlin. A great day, topped off with a faboulous concert at the Komische Oper - but of course no photos of that.