Drnia al PART I. Large Paper, (to Subscribers only,) 8s. (^- gw}lni*tctttital J|lu|tch^, ECCLESIASTICAL, SECULAR, AND DOMESTIC, AyORCESTEPOittltE AM) ITS BORDERS, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES. J. SEVERN WALKER, Hon. Secretary to the Worcester Diocesan Architectural Society. How all tilings glow with life and thought, Where'er our faithful fathers trod ! The very ground with speech is fraught, The air is eloquent of God. In vain would doubt or mockery hide The buried echoes of the past ; A voice of strength — a voice of pride — Here dwells amid the storm and blast." VOL. I. WORCESTER : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY DEIGHTON & SON ; AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON : J. MASTERS & CO., ALDERSGATE STREET & NEW BOND STREET. ILLUSTRATIONS IN PART I. I. Drawn by Hagley. Church as Rebuilt Tlie Author From Page II. Church in 1855 Dudley Male Elmley Lovett. III. Church, Churchyard Cross, and the Lodge... The Author . IV. Hampton Lovett. Church and Old Court-house Tlic Autlwr V. \ Chancel Screen — Elevation and Section... The Autlwr Bewdley. VI. Old Bridge, taken down in 1 797 The Author Cljfton-tjpon-teme. f Church-S.-E. View, Plan, Old Spire, j ^ Au(hm ' \ and Piscinas J VIII.S.-W. View of Church, and Homme Castle. TJie Author IX. X. XI. I Woodmanton — Elevation, Section, Plan, | ^ w Author \ &c, of Hall J Knightwick and Dodenham. C Old Church and Porch, Knightwick ; \ \ Porch, Dodenham Old Church ; and V The Author ( New Church of St. Mary J White Ladies' Aston. ( Church — N.-W. View, Plan, Font,) The Auth(yr ( Lectern, and Norman Window j j A Drawing by G. E. ) Frontis- | Street, F.S. A j piece. f A Sketch by a late Eesi- \ , ( dent of Hagley j Original Sketches 4 COFTON HACKETT. XII | Ch Yf t - ?-"™ T i6W ' r0nt ' and InCiS6d \ Dudley Male .. ( Alabaster Slab ) J Barnt Green and Kingsnorton. f Old Timbered House and Free School- j ^ „ Mak _ ( house ) ° Highnam, Gloucester. ^.fBeauchamp Lodge and Eoadway-Hill | Dudhy MaU „ . | Cottage j J XIII XIV XV. {Original Sketch, and Old \ Painting at Westwood V G Park ) ( A Drawiug by W. Jeffrey \ „ ( Hopkins J A Drawing at Stanford Court.. 10 Original Sketches 11 Original Sketches 12 Original Sketches 14 Original Sketches 15 Original Sketches 17 Original Sketches 18 Original Sketches 19 Original Sketches 20 XVI Norton. N.-E. View of Church Rev.N. J. Batt. An Original Sketch Wood-cut, and Original Sketch \ Church in 1843, and N. Doorway The Autlwr [When no authority is given for the Sketches, they are by the same hand as the Drawings.] * The account of Norton will appear in Part II. §. Joint ifrt Dagtist's C|«rr|, faglftr, Slit|t tbt f|rfljraati> Sofofr anir $$m. ^btfctctotpt Jll^tdwts, ECCLESIASTICAL, SECULAK, AND DOMESTIC, WORCESTERSHIRE AND ITS BORDERS, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES. J. SEVERN WALKER, Hon. Secretary to the Worcester Diocesan Architectural Society. " How all things glow with life and thought, Where'er our faithful fathers trod ! The very ground with speech is fraught, The air is eloquent of God. In vain would doubt or mockery hide The buried echoes of the past ; A voice of strength — a voice of pride — Here dwells amid the storm and blast." VOL. I. WORCESTER : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY DEIGHTON & SON ; AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON : J. MASTERS & CO., ALDERSGATE STREET & NEW BOND STREET. -* I7A (clQ Lb Id v.i TO THE EIGHT HONOURABLE LORD LYTTELTON, LORD LIEUTENANT OP WORCESTERSHIRE, PRESIDENT OF THE -WORCESTER DIOCESAN ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC., THIS VOLUME IS, WITH KIND PERMISSION, DEDICATED, BY HIS LORDSHIP'S FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED SERVANT, J. SEVERN WALKER. ©- 673419 PREFACE TO FIRST PART. The objects and scope of the present Work were so fully set forth in the original prospectus, that I have thought it desirable to reprint the following extract by way of introduction to the first part : — " The architecture of lliis district is but little known in comparison with that of many others. The numerous publications treating of church architecture, which have been written during the last twenty years, seldom refer to Worcestershire examples ; whilst its secular and domestic remains are but cursorily noticed in works treating of that branch of art. "A complete and comprehensive Illustrated County History, which has long been desired, could only be satisfactorily carried out at a great expenditure both of time and money, even if a gentleman could be found, who, possessing the requisite varied information necessary for the editorship, would be willing to undertake so important and arduous a work. "Attempts have been made to publish detailed accounts of the churches of the counties of Northampton, York, Cambridge, and Warwick ; but in each case the project was abandoned after a volume or two had been issued, the comparatively limited circulation which publications chiefly of local interest necessarily command being insufficient to defray the great expense incurred by the costly character of the illustrations — steel plates, wood-cuts, and lithographs — with which they were enriched. "By adopting the Anastatic process (whereby the artists' sketches can be multiplied to any extent, without the intervention of the engraver or lithographer), the cost of the proposed Architectural Sketches will be materially reduced ; and though not aspiring to the dignity of the elaborate works above-mentioned, or laying claim to high artistic excellence, it is hoped that the illustrations will be such as to convey correct impressions of the originals ; that important feature in architectural prints — faithfulness — being scrupulously maintained. Our ancient and time-honoured Churches, being the most numerous, will of course form the chief objects for illustration, due attention being at the same time being to old Manor and Court-houses, ancient Tithe Barns, Bridges, and the picturesque Half-timbered Structures which are often to be met with in out-of-the-way nooks and corners, as well as in the streets of our towns. " Another feature of interest will be afforded by the publication of facsimiles of scarce old Prints and Drawings, representing buildings now destroyed or modernized. " But whilst illustrating the architectural antiquities of the district, it will also be the aim of the Author to show the present state of architectural progress, by giving views of new and restored churches, parsonages, schools, and other buddings — not omitting labourers' cottages, which at the present time are deservedly occupying so much attention." In issuing the first number of the Architectural Sketches, I must crave the indulgence of my Subscribers for the imperfections which I am well aware it exhibits — such as a want of clearness in some of the drawings, which have not transferred so well as I could have wished. I trust, however, that artistically faulty as the illustrations may be, they will yet be found to be faithful representations of the objects delineated ; and that the experience gained in executing these drawings will enable me to obviate their chief defects in future parts. In the present part I have not confined myself to one particular district, or to one class of subjects, but have rather sought to interest the various subscribers by selecting from different localities the several architectural objects which it is the purpose of this publication to illustrate. In the following pages will be found views of churches — new, restored, and unrestored ; ancient houses still remaining, and one long since demolished ; an interesting example of a mediaeval bridge, &c. With one or two exceptions, no illustrations of any of these structures have ever before been published ; and some of them, as Woodmanton, are, I believe, quite unknown beyond their immediate localities. Future parts will contain subjects of greater architectural value than the present ; and I shall feel particularly obliged by the loan of drawings and engravings of buildings that have been destroyed or modernized — such representations being particularly interesting and valuable. The historical notes which accompany the drawings are gleaned principally from Nash's " Collections," and other authorities ; but I am alone responsible for the architectural descriptions and remarks. While deferring to the completion of the volume any detailed expression of thanks for the assistance which I have received from many quarters, I cannot let this opportunity pass without acknowledging the very kind interest manifested in the undertaking by Sir T. E. Winnington, Bart., to whom I am indebted for some valuable suggestions, as well as for the names of many subscribers. My thanks are. also due to the Bev. N. G. Batt, and Mr. Dudley Male, architect, of London, for several artistic anastatic drawings ; and to Mr. Noake for his experienced aid in revising the proof sheets as they passed through the press. J. S. w. Sansome Lodge, Worcester, Lent, 1862. A TABLE OF THE NAMES AND DATES OF THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF ENGLISH MEDIAEVAL ARCHITECTURE. Style. NORMAN, OR ENGLISH ROMANESQUE. Kings. Date. William 1 106G William II 1087 Henry 1 1100 Stephen 1135 Henry II 1154 to 1189 FIRST-POINTED, OR EARLY ENGLISH. { Richard 1 1189 John 1199 Hemy III 1327 to 1377 MIDDLE-POINTED, OR DECORATED ENGLISH. Edward 1 1272 Edward II 1307 Edward III 1327 to 1377 THIRD-POINTED, OR PERPENDICULAR ENGLISH. Richard II 1377 Henry TV 1399 Henry V 1413 Henry VI 1422 Edward IV 1401 Edward V 1483 Richard III 1483 Henry VII 1485 Henry VIII 1509 to 154G LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Addenbrooke, Rev. E., Smethwick Aldhani, Rev. Harcourt, Stoke Prior Vicarage Allsopp, Henry, Esq., Hindlip House, Worcester (Proof) AmpbJett, Rev. Martin, Church Lench Rectory Amphlett, Rev. Joseph, Hampton Lovett Rectory Appleton, J. Reed, Esq., F.S.A., Western Hill, Durham Arthure, Rev. B., All Saints' Rectory, Worcester Boughton, Sir Charles, Bart., Downton Hall, Ludlow (Proof) Baker, Slade, Esq., Sandbourne, Bewdley Baker, Rev. Slade, Clifton-upon-Teme Vicarage Baker, Miss, Perth Cottage, Ryde, Isle of Wight (Proof) Barber, Rev. F. H., Sedgeberrow Rectory Barneby, J. H., Esq., Saltmarsh Castle, Bromyard (Proof) Barnett, R., Esq., Cumberland House, Worcester Bate, Charles J., Esq., Barnard's Green, Malvern Bate, Miss, The Lady Hills, Kenilworth Batt, Rev. N. J., Norton Vicarage, Evesham (Two copies) Biddulph, Robert, Esq., Ledbury (Proof) Binns, R. W., Esq.,F.S. A„ Worcester (Proof) Bolton, W., Esq., 3, Highgate Rise, London Bourne, Rev. Joseph G., Broome Rectory, Stourbridge (Proof) Bradley, Rev. Edward, Denton Rectory, Hunts. Brown- Westhead, J. P., Esq., M.P., Lea Castle, Kidderminster (Proof) Brown, T. J., Esq., The Moor, Hereford, (Three Proof copies) Bund, Miss, Bengeworth House, Evesham (Proof) Burrow, Rev. H. H., Severn Stoke Burrow, Mr. W. B., Eastnor Villa, The Link, Malvern Burrow, Mr. J. S., Great Malvern Carden, H. D., Esq.. Worcester (Proof) Cattley, Rev. R., Minor Canon of Worcester Cathedral Chalk, T., Esq., Worcester (Proof) Chamberlain, J. H., Esq., Professor of Architecture, Queen's Col- lege, Birmingham (Proof) Clarke, Rev. H., Northfield Rectory (Proof) Clarke, G. Row, Esq., Architect, London (Proof) Claughton, Rev. T. L., Hon. Canon of Worcester, Kidderminster (Proof) Claughton. The Hon. Mrs. (Proof) Cocks, Reginald, Esq.. Charing Cross, London (Proof) Collis, Rev. J. D., D.D., Hon. Canon of Worcester, Grammar School, Bromsgrove Colvile, Lieut. -General, Kempsey House, Worcester Cookes, Rev. H. Winford, Astley Rectory Corbett, G., Esq., Foregate Street, Worcester Coucher, Martin S., Esq., M.D., Weymouth (Proof) Coxwell, C. R., Esq.. South Bank, Malvern (Proof) Dudley, The Right Hon. the Earl of, Witley Court (Proof) Dryden, Sir H. E. L., Bart.. Canons Ashbv. Northamptonshire Davis, E., Esq.. Nortlnvick, Worcester (Proof) Davis, T. H, Esq., Orleton, Stanford Day, H., Esq., Architect, Worcester Deighton, Miss, Worcester Dickins, Rev. C. Tardebigge Vicarage Dollman, F. T.. Esq., Architect, London Domvile, Wm., Esq., Thoruhill, Bray, Ireland Douglas. Rev. The Hon. H., Hanbury Rectory (Proof) Douglas, Rev. A. J.. Mathon Vicarage Douglas, Rev. W. W., Rural Dean, Salwarpe Rectory Dowdeswel), W., Esq., Pull Court, Tewkesbury (Two copies) Dunhill, James, Esq., Doncaster (Proof) Dunhill, Wm., Esq., Doncaster Dyson, Miss, The Pleasaunce, Great Malvern (Proof) Easterneld, E., Esq., Doncaster Edwards, the late C. J., Esq., Broadward, Leominster Egan, Miss, Ivy Bank, Worcester Elkington, Fredk., Esq., Selly Wood, Northfield Elmslie, E. W., Esq., Architect, Malvern Essington, W. E., Esq., Ribbesford House (Proof) Fletcher, Thomas Wm., Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.S.A, Lawneswood House, Stourbridge (Proof) Foley, The Right Hon. Lord (Proof) Foley, H. W., Esq., M.P., Prestwood (Proof) Forester, Rev. R. T., Elmley Lodge, Brandon Parade, Leamington (Proof) Foster, W. 0.. Esq., M.P.. Stourton Castle (Proof) Fowler, Rev. R. Rodney, Minor Canon of Worcester Cathedral Freer, The Venerable R. L., D.D., Archdeacon of Hereford, Bishopston Rectory (Proof) Glynne, Sir Stephen, Bart., Hawarden Castle, Chester Goldingham, II. G., Esq., Worcester Gresley, R. A. Douglas, Esq., High Park, Droitwich (Proof) Gresley, Major, Winterdyne, Bewdley (Proof) Grier, Rev. J. W., Amblecote Parsonage, Stourbridge Grosvenor, Wm., Esq., Kidderminster (Proof) Guest, E. B., Esq., Tborney Cottage, Dodenham Harvey, Mr. Charles, Kidderminster (Two copies) llartshorne, Mrs., Rose Hill, Worcester Hastings, Rev. H. J., Rural Dean, Hon. Canon of Worcester, Hartley Rectory (Proof) Havergal, Rev. W. II., Hon. Canon of Worcester, Sharcshill (Proof) Havergal, Rev. F. T., Minor Canon of Hereford Cathedral Rector of Pipe and Lyde Haywood, E., Esq., Bayton Villa, Clifton-upon-Teme (Proof) Haywood, Mr. J. S., Broad Street, Worcester Hill, Canning, Esq., Solicitor, Worcester HilL Rev. H. T., Rural Dean. Felton Rectory, Bromyard (Proof) Hill, Rev. Melsup, Shelsley Beauchamp Rectory Hill, R., Esq., Orleton Court, Herefordshire Hill. T. Rowley. Esq., Catherine Hill House. Worcester (Proof) Hodgkinson, Mr. W„ Kidderminster, (Three Proof copies) Holden, Hyla, Esq., Worcester Holland, Rev. T. E. M., Stoke Bliss Rectory Holloway, Mrs. B., Hopton, Bromyard Holmes, E. Esq., Architect, Birmingham Hooke, Thomas, Esq., Norton Hall, Worcester (Proof) Hopkins, W. J., Esq., Architect to Worcester Church Extension Society, &c. (Proof) Hopton, Rev. W. P., Froome Bishop Rectory, Bromyard Hughes, W S. P., Esq., Laughern House, Martley (Proof) James, Rev J. C , Saint John's, Worcester Johnstone, Lieut.-Col., Tvthing, Worcester (Proof) Knight, E. Winn, Esq., lil.P. Knott. W. Esq., Lower Wick, Worcester, Lytteltou, The Right Hon. Lord. Hagley Hall (Proof) Lyttelton, Rev. The Hon. W. H., Hon. Canon of Worcester, Hagley Rectorv (Proof) Lygon, The Hon. Frederick, M.P., F.S.A., All Souls' College, Oxford (Proof) Lechmere, Sir E. A. II., Bart.. Khydd Court (Proof) Lambert. Rev. Brooke, Saint John's, Worcester Landor, Rev. C.. Lindridge Vicarage Laslett. Win., Esq.. Abberton Hall Lea, Rev. J. T., Far Forest Parsonage, Bewdley Lea, Rev. Wm., Hon. Canou of Worcester, St. Peter's Vicarage, Droitwich Lea, J. Wheeley, Esq., Stanfield House, Worcester (Proof) Lea, J. Wildman, Esq., Xetherton, Bewdley Lees, Edwin, Esq., F.L.S., Green Hill Summit, Worcester Lincoln Diocesan Architectural Society Loscombe, The Misses, College Green, Worcester (Proof) Mackay, Mr. J., 38. Tything, Worcester Mackarness, Rev. G. R., Ham Vicarage, Ashbourne Male, Dudley, Esq., Architect, London Markland, J. H.. Esq., D.C.L., F.S A., Lansdown Crescent, Bath Marriott, Rev. F. A.. Chaddesley Corbett Vicarage Marshall. Mrs., College Yard, Worcester (Proof) Mence, W., Esq., 7, Clayton Square, Liverpool Miller, Rev. J. J., Bockleton Rectory, Tenbury (Proof) Morris, P. S., Esq.. Woodmanton, Clifton-upon-Teme Mottram, Rev. J. C. M., Kidderminster Moore, John, Esq.. Home Castle, Clifton-upon-Teme Munn, Rev. G. S.. Madresfield Rectory Murray, Rev. G. W., Bromsgrove Vicarage (Proof) Northwick, The Right Hon. Lord. Northwick Park. (Proof) Newcomb, Rev. E. J., Leigh, Worcester Newman, T. Esq., High House, Upper Sapey Nicholson, T., Esq., Diocesan Architect, Hereford Norton, John, Esq., Architect, London Onley, J. D., Esq., Bransford, Worcester Onslow, Rev. Phipps, Upper Sapey Rectory Osborne, Mrs., Britannia Square, Worcester Pakington, The Right Hon. Sir J. S., Bart., G.C.B., M.P., Westwood Park. (Two copies) Pakington. J. Slaney. Esq., Kent's Green, Worcester (Two copies) Parker. Rev. W., Little Comberton Rectory (Proof) Parker, Mrs. John, Woodsidc, Worcester (Proof) LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS— continued. Parker. J. II., Esq., Oxford PateshaU, Mrs. Burnam, AUensmore Court, Hereford Pattrick. C. G. II. St., Esq., '-', Woreester Terrace, Clifton, Bristol (Proof) Pepys, Rev. II. G.. Hallow Vicarage (Proof) Perceval, Rev. H., Elmley Lovett Rectory renins. Mr. J. D., Worcester Philpott, Rev. T., Belbroughton (Proof) Phipps, Mrs. H. Barre. Llwyn-du, Abergavenny (Proof) Pileher, Miss. Dravcot Lodge, Kempsey (Proof) Plumtre, Rev. R. W., Corfe-Mullen, Dorsetshire Pocock, J. Innis. Esq., Puckrup Hall, Tewkesbury (Proof) Porter, Miss, Birlingham (Proof) l'reedv, F., Esq., Architect, London Price,' W., Esq.. Benhall, Ross Prichard. Rev. R-, Rural Dean, Newbold-upon-Stour Rectory Pritchard. John. Esq.. M.P., Broseley Rushout. The Hon. Miss, Burford House, Tenhuiy (Proof) Raymond, Rev. W. F., Rural Dean, Stockton Rectory Ricardo. Osman, Esq., M.P., Bromesberrow Roberts, G. E.. Esq., Geological Society of London, Somerset House Rowe, II.. Esq., Architect, Worcester Rufr'ord, Mrs., Great Alne. Warwickshire Ruft'ord, Rev. W., Sapey Pitchard Rectorv Russell, J. Watts, Esq., Ham Hall Ashbourne (Proof) Shrewsbury and Talbot, The Right Hon. the Earl of (Proof) Shirley, Evelyn P., Esq., M.P., F.S.A., Lower Eatington Park, (Proof) Sale, Rev. C. J.. Holt Rectory (Proof) Sandars, Mrs., Parkfield, Derby Sanders. Rev. R., Minor Canon of Worcester Cathedral, Cropthorne Vicarage Seymour, Rev. R., Rural Dean, Hon. Canon of Worcester, Kin- warton Rectory St. Aubyn. J. P.. Esq., Architect, London Shipway, J., Esq., Architect, Malvern Shuker, Rev. H., Wichenford Vicarage Simpson, Rev. J. D., Montpellier Mansion, Cheltenham Skidmore, F. A., Esq., Coventry (Proof) Skinner, Rev. James, Newland, Malvern Smith, Rev. I. Gregory, Tedstone Delamere Rectory Smith, Rev. T. Ayscough, Tenbury Vicarage Smith, Mrs., Sketsley Walsh Smith, Robert, Esq., Crowle, Worcester Stallard, Josiah, Esq., Worcester Stock, T. S., Esq., Northfield Stone, E. G., Esq., Chamber's Court Stuart. J. E., Esq., 172, New Bond Street, London (Proof) Sylvester, G. J., Esq., Tything, Worcester Taylor, Miss, Wollaston, Wellingborough Thomas, The Misses, Boughton Fields, Worcester Thorn, Rev. Wm., Thames House, Worcester (Proof) Thorp, The Venerable T., B.D., Archdeacon of Bristol, Kemerton Rectory (Proof) Truefltt, George, Esq.. Architect, London Venables, T. A., Esq., Britannia Lodge, Worcester Vernon, Harry Foley, Esq., M.P., Hanbury Hall (Proof) Worcester, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of (Proof) Winnington, Sir T. E., Bart., M.P., Stanford Court (Proof) Wilmington, Lady Winnington, Major, The Shrubbery,'_Stanford (Proof) Winnington, Miss (Proof) Walker, G. J. A., Esq., Norton Villa, Worcester (Proof) Walker, J. Smith, Esq., Knightwick (Proof) Walters, Miss, Condover, Shrewsbury Warner, Rev. C., Wribbenhall, Bewdley Watts, W. T., Esq., Cofton Hackett (Proof) Whatman, James, Esq., Vinters, Maidstone, Kent Whitfield, Rev. G. T., Pudlestone Rectory, Leominster (Proof) Wicksted, Mrs., Shakeuhurst Willis, J. W. Bund, Esq., Upper Wick House, Worcester Wood, Rev. J. R., Canon of Worcester Cathedral (Proof) Wood, Joseph, Esq., Lansdown Villa, Worcester (Proof) Wood, Mr. John, Foregate Street. Worcester Woolrych, Rev. W. H., Crowle Vicarage, Worcester (Proof) Wright, Rev. J. H. C, Wolferlow Vicarage, Tenbury tas SR « £©) ** S «t >£*3 e» *=%> W «* ta &b *- as •« J* ^ m s=? m> o '-j • »-» JS<> J3 ^-* M 5Sft « )-!=*> & 3*8 AT the time of Domesday survey, William Fitz Ansculph was lord paramount of Hagley, which was held under him by one Roger, who assumed the surname of Haggaley from the place of his residence, as was common in those times. The descendants of Roger continued here till the 23rd of Edward III., when Edmund de Haggaley disposed of both the manor and advowson for 100 marks of silver to Sir John Boutetort, lord paramount in right of his wife Joan, sister of Roger de Somery, whose family succeeded the Paganels and Fitz Ansculph in the barony of Dudley and lordship of Hagley. Though the manor was purchased by Sir John Boutetort, Henry de Haggaley, heir to Edmund, recovered it the 47th of Edward III., together with the advowson and six acres of land in Clent, called Cowbach, (where the body of the murdered St. Kenehn was discovered). Henry de Haggaley sold it in 1411 to Thomas Walwyn, who disposed of it to Lady Bergavenny, and she left it to her grandson, Sir James Boteler, son of the Earl of Ormond, and afterwards Earl of Wiltshire. Being executed at Newcastle for his adherence to the house of Lancaster, all his lands were confiscated to the crown ; and Hagley was granted by Edward IV. successively to Fulk Stafford, Thomas Prout, his consort Elizabeth Woodville, and the Abbey of Westminster. Thomas Butler, younger brother of the Earl of Wiltshire, getting into the King's favour, procured the restoration of the latter's lands and manors, including Hagley, which descended to Sir John St. Leger, who in 1564 sold it to Sir John Lyttelton, of Frankley, Knight. It would be going beyond the scope of this work to give a detailed history of the ancient and distinguished family of Lyttelton ; but a name so intimately connected with the history of the county cannot be passed over without a few brief historical remarks. The Lytteltons came originally from Littleton, in the Vale of Evesham, where they were settled early in the twelfth century, and whence they took their name. They inherited Frankley by marriage in the time of Henry III. Thomas Litelton, Sheriff of Worcestershire in the reign of Henry V., had a daughter who married Thomas Westcote of Westcote, county of Devon, Esq. Their son Thomas Lyttelton was the noted Judge and author of the Tenures ; he died in 1481, and was buried in Worcester Cathedral. From him descended the Lytteltons of Frankley, Spetchley, and Pillaton. Thomas of Spetchley was ancestor of Edward Lyttelton, Keeper of the Great Seal in the reign of Charles I. ; and of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, Speaker of the House of Commons. Some of the Frankley branch of the family were connected with the gunpowder plot conspirators. Holbeach House, where they made their last stand, was the residence of Stephen Lyttelton, who, together with Robert Winter, was concealed for some time at Hagley, being ultimately betrayed by one of the servants. Thomas, son of John Lyttelton, and Muriel, or Maryell, daughter of Lord 2 HAGLEY. Chancellor Bromley, was created a baron in 1618. He was a zealous supporter of the Royal cause during the civil wars, and his house at Frankley was burnt to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Parliamentary forces. His great-grandson George Lyttelton, the statesman and the man of letters, to whose friendship with Pope, Thomson, Shenstone, and most of the celebrated authors of his day, the classic associations connected with Hagley are due, was created Baron Lyttelton of Frankley in 1757. His brother William Henry, having been governor of Jamaica and ambassador to Portugal, was raised to the dignity of Baron Westcote of Ballamore, in the peerage of Ireland, in the year 1776. By the death of the second Lord Lyttelton, without issue, A.D. 1779, the title became extinct ; but was revived in the person of his uncle, Lord Westcote, in 1794, from whom the present noble Lord is directly descended. ®I]C (Purcl] is situated within the Park, near the Hall, and is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Before the recent restoration and enlargement, it consisted of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, and south porch, with a wooden bell-turret at the west end of the nave. The body of the church was chiefly of the Middle-pointed style, the arcades consisting of plain pointed arches resting on octagonal piers. The chancel was re-buUt by the first Lord Lyttelton, iD 1754. Contrary to what might have been expected of a period in which an " elegant classic building " was commonly thought to be most suitable for a house of prayer, the new chancel was erected in imitation of our old national Pointed styles of architecture. This was, doubtless, owing to the antiquarian tastes of Dr. C. Lyttelton, Dean of Exeter, president of the Society of Antiquaries, and afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, at whose cost the ceding and cornice of the new building were adorned with shields bearing, in their proper colour's, the arms of the family from the time of Henry III. The nave and aisles were provided with new windows, pews, and gallery, at the same time. A few years ago a public subscription was raised throughout the county in order to present Lord Lyttelton with a Testimonial expressive of the general appreciation of the manner in which he exercised the duties of his high office of Lord Lieutenant ; and also to mark the high sense entertained of his Lordship's zealous exertions in promoting eveiy good work, especially those connected with education and the church. The enlargement and thorough restoration of Hagley Church having long been desired by Lord Lyttelton, it was determined that the money thus contributed should be expended in carrying out that good work, which woidd form a more useful and lasting Testimonial, and one far more in accordance with his Lordship's wishes than the tasteless and unmeaning pieces of plate which public marks of esteem so frequently consist in.* Mr. Street was employed to design the new works, which were completed, and the church re-opened in April, 1858. The old structure was entirely re-built, with the exception of the nave arcades, the east * These remarks do not, of course, apply to really artistic works of art, such as the Testimonial presented by this county to another of its public benefactors not long since. HAGLEY. end of the south aisle, and the north wall ; the ground plan being extended by the addition of a vestry and organ chamber on the north side of the chancel, and by lengthening the nave and aisles one way westward. The chancel floor is raised four steps above the level of the nave, and paved with encaustic tiles. At the south side of the sanctuary are three elegant sedilia, and on the opposite side is a recessed credence, while the wall beneath the lofty sill of the east window is provided with rich hangings. The wide and lofty chancel arch is supported on polished marble shafts with carved capitals. The stone pulpit is likewise enriched with marble shafts and panels. The lectern, stalls, and subselke are of oak ; the westernmost stalls on either side being used as prayer desks, and having peculiar spiky poppy heads. The chancel is lighted by the east window and two windows on the south side only, the space round the altar being in comparative obscurity, by which the appearance of the painted east window is enhanced, but which would materially interfere with the effect of a reredos, should one ever be erected. Indeed, there is rather a deficiency of light throughout the church ; though the proposed tower, with its west window, would, if carried out, tend to obviate this objection. The roofs are open, well designed, and of deal. The open seats in the nave are also of deal, with carved traceried ends. It is surely a mistake to expend in carving deal money that would go a good way towards providing plain oak standards. The painted windows at the east end of the chancel and the west end of the south aisle, as well as the porch, are memorials of the late lamented Lady Lyttelton. The east window of the south aisle is to the memory of the wife of W. Robins, Esq., and the west window in the north aisle to the late rector, the Eev. J. Turner, who died in 1847. The mural marble tablets to the Lytteltons have been divested of urns and other incongruous ornaments, and placed at the west end, where the inscriptions can easily be read, wlhle at the same time they are unobtrusive. In the north wall is a moulded and crocheted recessed arch containing a plain tomb, on the top of which is a bold and richly foliated cross of early First-pointed character, the stem issuing out of the mouth of a lizard, or some kind of fabulous reptile. The piers and arches between the nave and aisles are not by any means graceful or weU proportioned, and, except for their antiquity and associations, were hardly worth preserving in so extensive a rebuilding. On the eastern gable of the nave is a stone bell-cot for one bell, surmounted by a metal cross ; but the general character of the exterior will be best learnt by referring to the view of the church given as a frontispiece to this volume. It were much to be wished that so satisfactory a restoration could be completed by the erection of the tower and spire, which is much needed to give dignity to the exterior of the sacred structure, and to " point out from far the holy seat of worship," it being now quite invisible at any distance. Hagley became the principal residence of the Lytteltons of Frankley after their house at that place was destroyed. The present mansion was erected by the first Lord, from the designs of Sanderson Miller, of Eadway, Warwickshire, It is a plain uniform stone structure, in the cold classic style in vogue throughout the last century ; and stands in the open park, entirely unconnected with gardens, out-houses, or any of the usual appurtenances of a 4 ELMLEY LOVETT. dwelling-house, which gives it more the appearance of a public edifice than a private residence. There are, however, some fine rooms in the interior, stored with valuable books, paintings, and other works of art. In one of the rooms is an old carved oak chimney-piece, the only relic of the old house, which stood not far from the present one. Hagley contains an unusual number of private houses, many of them of large size, but all, without exception, are destitute of the slightest architectural merit. A brick cottage now building, from the designs of Mr. J. H. Chamberlain, near to the rectory, promises, however, to be a really artistic structure. A family of the name of Penn flourished at Harborough, in this parish, for four centuries. The old half-timbered house in which they lived still remains. A Chapel of Ease, dedicated to St. James, has been erected in the hamlet of Blakedown, from Mr. Street's designs. It is a simple Early-pointed building, consisting of chancel and nave, with an over-hanging bell-cot at the west end. (ftlmtyg Sevijtt IN the time of the Conqueror the manor of Elmley, or as it was then written Almeleia, belonged to Rafe Todeny or Thoney. It afterwards came into the possession of the Lovetts, who held many estates in this county, and made Elmley their chief place of residence, giving their name to this as well as to the adjoining parish of Hampton Lovett. Sir John Lovett, Knight, having no male heir, the name became extinct here, and their possessions fell to Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, as heir to Thoney. By the attainder of the Earl of War- wick, 15 Henry VII., the manor of Elmley fell to the crown ; and was granted by Henry VIII. to Sir Robert Acton, second son of Richard Acton of Sutton in this county. At the death of his grandson, Sir John Acton, it was divided among his four daughters, one of whom married Robert Townshend, descended from a younger branch of the ancient family of Townshend of Raynham, ennobled in the reign of Charles II. by the creation of Horatio Townshend Viscount Townshend de Raynham. Robert Townshend added to the Elmley property (he inherited with his wife) by purchase. Having been held by his family for four generations, it passed, in default of direct male heirs, into the hands of George Townshend Forester, Esq., younger brother of the first Lord Forester of Willey in the county of Salop, and has lately been purchased of his son, the Rev. R T. Forester, by W. Orme Foster, Esq., M.P. %\t €\ti.Xt\ occupies a commanding situation : — " Standing upon a hill, a gentle hill, Green, and of mild declivity," away from the village, and with but very few houses in its immediate vicinity. The spire «lml*8 So&ctt. ELMLEY LOVETT. is visible from the railway a little to the south of the Hartlebury station. With'the excep- tion of the tower and spire the church was entirely rebuilt about 1839, in the debased dbrl of Gothic common at that early period of the revival of the true principles of Pointed architecture, and is as devoid of interest of any kind as such buildings usually are. It is however substantially built of squared ashlar, and has an open roof. An embattled parapet extends round the building, which is lighted by a uniform range of large lancets on each side, with a triplet at the east end of the shallow chancel. In the lower part of the tower is a good three-light Middle-pointed window, the upper portion of the tower being Third-pointed. The base and part of the shaft of the CljUtljjprllJ CtffSS remain on the south side of the church; and adjoining the eastern side of the churchyard is a small 1 7th-century house, with a good chimney of the period. Philip Hawford, the last Abbot of Evesham, was rewarded for his subserviency in resigning that famous monastery to the King, with a pension of £240 a year, and the rectory of Ehnley Lovett. The pension, however, was not continued after his promotion to the Deanery of Worcester. The church is stated by Nash to be dedicated to St. Michael ; it is also claimed in honour of St. Lawrence. The living is now in the patronage of Christ's College, Cambridge ; the present rector being the Rev. H. Perceval, M.A. According to Nash, the original manor-house was situated north-west of the church, at a little distance from it. The old mansion, known as " %\t ^0t)(J0," was erected by the Townshends ; Robert, who married Elizabeth Acton, dying in 1634, whilst the date of 1635 in one of the gables probably indicates the year in which the house was completed. It is one of the best examples of a half-timbered structure remaining in the county; the combination of gables in the principal front producing an unusually picturesque effect. The timbers in the gables are ornamentally disposed, chiefly in the form of quatrefoils : in one of these is the date, as before mentioned, and beneath the words nisi dominus. The chimneys are similar to those usually found in houses of this date ; one of them on the garden side is carried up in front of and so as partially to hide two dormer windows. With the exception of the insertion of long sash windows, — at no recent period, however, — and the loss of some of the chimney tops and gable finials, the exterior remains in pretty much its original state, though looking rather dilapidated and forlorn, a few rooms only having been inhabited for many years past. An avenue of elms leads up to the house from the public road ; and the footway to the church passes through a small umbrageous avenue. ||Hm}?f0tt Sflt^tt- HAMPTON LOVETT once belonged to the Beauchamps ; it became afterwards the property of the Lovetts, a family living at Elmley Lovett. The Lovetts becoming extinct, it passed to the Blonnts, one of whom, Sir Edward Blount, was raised to the dignity of a baron, by the title of Lord Mount] oy, in the reign of Edward IV. The manor, estates, &c, afterwards passed by purchase to Sir John Pakington, Knight. The name of Pakington occurs in the foundation of Kenil worth Priory, temp. Henry I.; and afterwards it is found mentioned as founding, A.D. 1322, a chantry in Chelmiscote, in the lordship of Brayle, in Warwickshire, which belonged to the family. The Pakingtons first came into this county by the marriage of John Pakington with a daughter of the ancient family of Washbourne of Stanford, about the end of the reign of Henry VI. Sir John Pakington, one of their sons, was in great favour with Henry VIII., who made him a Welsh judge, and granted that during Hfe he should wear his hat in the king's presence whenever he chose ; and that he should not be compelled to take any office upon him, or suffer any penalty for refusing the same. The king also bestowed upon him the suppressed nunnery of Wcstwood ; he having previously purchased the manor, &c, of Hampton. " He grew," says Habingdon, " to such an hyghthe as from his house are now descended one viscount and two baronets. The first is Sir John Scudamore of Horn Lacey, county of Hereford, vise. Sligo, heir in the 4th degree to Ursula, da. and coheir of this Sir John Pakington. The second, Sir Thomas Lytelton, of Frankley, sixth heir in the same degree to Briget, daughter and coheir of the same knight : the third, Sir John Pakington, of Hampton Lovett, bait., heir in the same degree to Robert Pakington, third brother of the great Sir John Pakington ; which knight, besides lands and large portions distributed between his two daughters and coheirs, left Hampton Lovet, with other revenues, to Sir Thomas Pakington, son and heir of this Robert Pakington, and father of Sir John Pakington, who nourished once in queen Eliz. court." The above-mentioned Robert Pakington was bom at Stanford,"' in 1537 ; he was member for London, and is said by Stowe to have been murdered in the streets of that city by the Papists whom he had opposed. The Sir John Pakington who lived at the time of the civil wars was a staunch supporter of the royal cause, and suffered severely for his loyalty, having to compound with the Parliament for his estates by two several payments of £5,500 and £1,300, including costs and charges. His estates in Worcestershire and Buckinghamshire were sequestered, and he was himself imprisoned in the Tower of London. His total losses for the cause of loyalty, including £200 for the "repairs of Westwood House after the * Sir Thomas E. Winningtnn, Bart., has in his possession, at Stanford Court, a brass plate from old Stanford Bridge (over which they would have to pass from the former place to Hampton), bearing the following inscription, as perfect as on the day it was engraved: — " Pray for Hwnfrey Pahgnton Esguyer. borne in Stanford which pa yd for ye workmttmhepe and mahjitg of this bryyy the whiche was rered and rnide the fyrst day of viay and in the Jyrst yere of ye Rayne of kyny Edward ye VI." + Tfy' (.^ttrc^from % $-E Tl]? Cc>ur!'-HousfvI>fgtroufi''\nvr]7^Ci'ri^. from an »Ii> Painting atTfetwoo»?acit ^*~ y aragton ^ o & £ 1 1 . Elevation of Central anfr one &\St Cornpartnurth bf c L ioti» G&axud &tran, formerlg in £. !$artt anb $UI faints' %rrt&, f araptott lobrtt. HAMPTON LOVETT. Scots," amounted to i20,348. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester, but soon released ; for he was so much beloved in the county that no witnesses would speak against him. He represented Worcestershire and Aylesbury in Parliament, and died in KJ79, having held the title and estates for the long period of fifty-five years. His wife, Dorothy, daughter of Lord Coventry, was called " The good Lady Pakington," and is said to have written The Whole Duty of Man, in which she would probably be assisted by her friends Drs. Hammond and Fell. Sir John Pakington, the grandson of the above, represented Worcestershire in Parliament from the age of nineteen, excepting one Parliament, till his death, which happened in 1727, at the age of fifty-six. It is stated on his monument that he was " loyal to his king and faithful to his country ; and that he spoke without reserve, neither fearing nor flattering those in power, but despising all their offers of preferment upi >n base and dishonourable terms of compliance." This Sir John Pakington is supposed to have furnished the original of Addison's famous character of Sir Roger de Coverley. Subsequently to this period no member of the family appears to have taken any very prominent part in public affairs, till the present baronet commenced his useful career as a statesman, and as an able advocate of social progress. %\)t OMtrr I] of Hampton Lovett, though possessing no very striking architectural feature, is eminently a picturesque structure ; this is owing, in a great measure, to the variety of outline occasioned by the somewhat unusual position of the tower, the sanclus bell-cot, and the large chapel attached to its north side ; the effect being further heightened by the trees with which the sacred building is nearly surrounded. It is dedicated to S. Mary and All Saints ; and is situated about a mile and a half to the north of Droitwich, near the fine of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton railway, which passes within a few yards of the east end, and commands a good view of the church. The ground plan comprises chancel, north chapel, vestry, nave, and south tower. Traces of Norman work occur in the walls ; the blocked-up north doorway is also in this style, the arch being supported by cylindrical shafts, with plain cushion capitals, and having the star ornament. Middle-pointed windows, with reticulated tracery, have been inserted north, west, and south of the nave. The rest of the building is of the fifteenth century, or Third-pointed style. The east window is pointed, of three lights ; the side windows of the chancel and chapel are good examples of two and three-light square-headed windows of the period. The chancel communicates with the nave and chapel by wide four-centred arches, with continuous mouldings. The old |looi)-SttfCll was of very late date, and enriched with colour and gilding ; but it did not fit its position well, the top extending considerably above the spring of the arch ; it is, however, a matter of regret that it could not be applied to some other purpose in the church, instead of being removed altogether. The chapel is very broad, and extends the whole length of the chancel and about one third that of the nave. Among Roger Dodsworth's MSS., in the Bodleian Library, Oxon.,is the foundation deed of a chantry in S. Anne's chapel at Hampton Lovett : " two priests to celel irate mass, one 8 HAMPTON LOVETT. at the altar of S. John Baptist, and the other at the altar of S. Anne, for the souls of Alice Lady Stury, Sir John Blount, and Elizabeth his wife, parents of the said Alice," who is also said to have built the chapel. The ordination of the chantry was confirmed by Bishop Thomas Peverell, October 18,1414. The architecture of the chapel and the chancel agree with the above date ; but the east window of the former is, apparently, a more recent insertion, having unfoliated four-centred lights, beneath a square head. The date, 1561, inscribed on one of the panes, indicates the period of its erection by Sir Thos. Pakington, of Westwood Park. The arms of the Pakingtons and their alliances with Washbourne, Baldwin, and Kitson, are Ukewise emblazoned in this window. Both chancel and chapel are furnished with plain piscinas in the usual position. The tower occupies the position and serves the purpose of a south porch, as at Areley Kings, in this county. It consists of two stages : on the south side of the lower one is a plain continuous archway, above which is a small unfoliated square-headed window. The upper stage has in each face a twodight pointed belfry window ; and is capped by a projecting parapet, having battlements but no pinnacles. Rising just above the parapet is a gabled roof, open at both ends, within which hangs the small bell or " ting-tang." On the west side is a circular stair turret with conical cap dying against the tower a little below the parapet. The sanctus bell-cot on the east gable of the nave is very small, and can boast neither of bell nor ornament. This church had fallen into a very dilapidated and unseemly state, when, about four years ago, it was determined to restore it in a thoroughly substantial and correct manner. The work has been carried out under the superintendence of Mr. Perkins, of "W orcester ; the whole of the expense being defrayed by the Rt. Hon. Sir John S. Pakington, Bart., G.C.B. New oak roofs have been erected over the chancel and chapel, and the latter portion of the building rendered more available for congregational purposes, by opening a new arch between it and the nave. The roof of the nave, though quite plain, was too good to remove ; it has therefore been repaired, and boarded at the back of the rafters. The stonework in the interior has been denuded of plaster and colour-wash, and the masonry pointed ; though from its irregularity it is thought by some that the stonework of the walls was never intended to be exposed to view. Be that as it may, the effect is, I think, undoubtedly superior to colour-wash, and as undoubtedly inferior to appropriate fresco paintings : these can, however, be supplied at any time. The ritual arrragements comprise an oak altar-table standing on a foot-pace, carved oak rafls and chairs, and a prayer desk and longitudinal seat on the south side of the chancel only. The pulpit is of stone, the panels being enriched with delicately carved diapers. The old traceried bench-ends have been used up in the chapel, which is fitted with, oak seats ; those in the nave are of deal. The reredos is formed of rich encaustic tdes, with which the chancel floor is also paved. Excellent stained glass, by Hardman, fills the east window and one on the south side of the chancel. The former contains the Ascension, the latter (a memorial window) S.S. Peter and Paid. A remarkable instance of the little regard paid to the memory of an ancient and distinguished member of an old family, by comparatively modern representatives of the HAMILTON LOVETT. 9 same family, was brought to light by the discovery, during the recent repairs, that a monument to the Sir John Pakington who died in 1727, which stood against the north wall of the sanctuary, had been placed in front of, and so as entirely to conceal, the tomb of the Sir John who died in 1551. This latter — a richly panelled Third-pointed structure, had been much mutilated, in order to facilitate the erection of its intrusive successor ; but is to be restored to its original state, thereby adding another object of historical and sesthetical interest to the church. The later monument supports a reclining statue of Sir John Pakington, supposed to have been the original of Sir Roger de Coverley : it has been removed to the west end of the chapel. There is a marble tablet to the present baronet's first wife, the daughter of M. A. Slaney, Esq., of Shiffnal, Salop. She died on the 6th Jan., 1843. Here is also a monument, with long Latin inscription, to Dr. Hammond. The beautiful churchyard cross Avas restored in 1849, from a design by Mr. P. C. Hardwick. Round the top of the shaft are statuettes of the four Evangelists, under canopies, their symbols being carved on the upper portion of the base. On the west side of the latter is the following inscription : — ■ + 5To the belobcb memorg of gatgusta ^mrc, seconb brife of Su $obn §>. |Mtno,foiT, giart, ibis Cross ferns restorrb, a.b. 1849; gbe tons banqbter of (fcorge ^Tnrrag, lorb bishop of ^Rochester, anb beparteb this lift in the true faith of Christ, Jcbrnarg 23, 1848 : after the forth of brr seeonb rbrlb, anb in the 31sl gear of \n age. + |tot mg brill but thine be bone. The original ^0liri-I]OUSD stood, as was usually the case, near to the church. The mound, forming the eastern boundary of the churchyard, is formed by the remains of the old mansion, and the gardens extended on terraces down to the brook. Several of these terraces were visible a few years since, but are now almost entirely obliterated by the railway. The house must have been rebuilt by Sir John Pakington when he purchased the Hampton property (towards the end of the reign of Henry VII.) ; as Leland says, in his " Itinerary" — " Pakington hath a veri goodly new house of bfike, called Hampton Court, vi mile of from Wirccstre, somewhat northward." The old oil painting of this house preserved at Westwood represents it to have consisted of a square block of building, with a turret in the centre and smaller ones at the angles ; gabled wings projecting from the centre and forming with it three sides of a quadrangle. The large mullioned windows on each side of the entrance probably lighted a spacious and lofty hall, with a gallery round communicating with the upper rooms. This appears to have been an arrangement common to several of the old Worcestershire mansions, as at Severn End, Madresfield Court, and Witley Court ; the original plan having been preserved at the latter throughout the various and extensive altera- tions it has undergone during the last and present centuries. Judging from the old painting only, I should be inclined to assign a somewhat later date to Hampton Court than the period of Leland's " Itinerary ;" but these quaint old views of buildings are not to lie depended upon for architectural detail, which, indeed, they seldom attempt to give, and the perspective is often rather perplexing. In the annexed drawing, for instance, the turrets represented behind the wings, doubtless occupied a corresponding position at the 10 OLD BEWDLEY BEIDGE. back with those in front of the centre building ; and it is most likely that there were four instead of three gables to the sides of the wings — one over each of the large windows beneath The Court-house having been much injured during the Civil Wars, the Lodge and Banquetting-house, which had been erected at Westwood in Queen Elizabeth's time, was enlarged by the addition of four wings, and made the family residence. [The substance of the above account of Hampton Lovett, illustrated by a south-west view of the church, together with a description of Westwood, and a notice of some of the eminent divines connected with the history of the parish, was contributed by the Author to the Associated Architectural Societies' Annual Volume of " Reports and Papers" for 1859.] U l^tti^u §ridp. IT is evident that there was no bridge at Bewdley in 1313, for in that year the Prior and Convent of St. Mary's at Worcester complained to the Bishop of the great expense they were put to from the influx of strangers who came to pass the river at Wor- cester bridge, the only one between Bridgnorth and Gloucester.* We have no record when the first bridge was built here, but Henry VII. is said to have given the stone for the erection of one ; which statement is not improbable, as Bewdley was at that time a place of con- siderable importance ; the palace of Tickenhill adjoining the town having been built for the King's eldest son, Prince Arthur, who was married by proxy in the palace chapel, A.D. 1400, to Catherine of Arragon. Though Leland, in describing the town, makes no mention of a bridge, there can be httle doubt that the structure represented upon the accompanying plate was standing in his time. It was constructed upon the usual plan of Mediaeval bridges, the arches being pointed, of no great span, and springing from massive oblong hexagonal piers. The triangular spaces formed by the parapets following the outline of the piers afforded convenient recesses in which foot passengers on the narrow roadway could retreat out of the way of vehicles, &c. On the centre of the bridge was one of the four gateways of the ancient borough ; one side forming a prison, and the other a toll-house. Gateway-towers were a general feature of the old bridges ; being used for the purposes of defence, also for taking toll, or as prisons, &c. Sometimes the room over the gateway was a chapel for the convenience of pilgrims, as at the west gate of Canterbury. The chapel, however, was more often a distinct building, and fre- quently of considerable architectural beauty. For instance, the chapel of St. Thomas of Canterbury, on old London bridge, had a range of muUioned windows on each side, and a richly groined crypt twenty feet in height ; beneath which the original designer of the bridge, Peter of Colechurch, was buried. The best and most perfect of these chapels remaining is that on Wakefield bridge, Yorkshire. At Bewdley, the chapel is traditionally stated to have stood at the foot of the bridge, and to have been dedicated to St. Anne. The old * Thomas's Survey of Worcester Cathedral, p. 160. Q *S> <-~ >= «> s=, 1 ,<-, s ■~> ■■' ■-'■ a en « ,ft <-> s /z> a s <-t O -,- ■=. •*.- 6 si r< ■ '.V. / M 1 Piscina in Navp. £i. lUtulra's G&ntrfc* Clifton ttgoa Itw, CLIFTON-UPON-TEME. 11 bridge'"" was taken clown in 1797, when the present substantial structure was erected a little higher up the river, from the designs of Telford, the eminent engineer, then surveyor of the adjoining county of Salop. d{Hft0n-ttpn-Stp** IF this parish cannot vie in architectural and antiquarian interest with some other localities, it stands preeminent for the salubrity of its air and the magnificent views its elevated position commands on every side, and which are bounded only by still loftier elevations. Amongst these may be mentioned the Wrekin and the Clee Hills, in Shropshire ; the Radnor and Brecknockshire Mountains in Wales ; the Cotswolds ; the hills of Malvern, Bredon, Broadway, Clent, the Lickey, and the Ridgeway ; the beauty and diversity of the landscape being further heightened by the minor hills which rise up within the rich intervening valleys of the Severn, the Avon, and the Teme ; such as those of AbberiVy, Woodberrow, the Berrow, Ankerdine, Cruckberrow, the Old Hills, &c. On one side of the parish richly wooded dingles slope down towards the Teme, whdst on the other side the romantic Sapey brook sparkles through the most lovely dells it is possible to imagine. Clifton itself, as may be supposed, is visible at a great distance ; the coronet 'of Scotch firs on the brow of the hill in Homme Castle park forming a distinguishing land-mark from all parts of the county. These trees are referred to by Southey in the following lines addressed to Mr. Cottle on his writing a poem entitled "Malvern:" — " Is Malvern then thy theme ? it is a name That wakes in me the thoughts of other years, And other friends. Would I had been with thee When thou didst wind the heights. I could have loved To lead thee in the paths I once had trod, And pointing out the dark and far-off firs On Clifton's lofty summit, or the spire that mark'd That pleasant town, that I must never more Without some heavy thoughts bethink me of. I could have lov'd to live the past again, Yet, were I ever more to tread those heights, Sure it should be in solitude ; for since I travell'd there, and bath'd my throbbing brow With the drifted snows of the unsunn'd mountain cliff, Time hath much chang'd me, and that dearest friendf Who shar'd my wanderings, to a better world Hath past." In the Conqueror's time Clifton belonged to Robert Fitz-Richard, of Richard's Castle. It afterwards came by marriage into the possession of Robert de Mortimer and William de Shuteville ; and in the time of Henry IV. was conveyed to the Cliftons, Shuteville and Mortimer being still lords paramount. After being held by the Wyshams, of Wnodmantoii. * Old Bedford Bridge was strikingly like the one at Eewdley, having a timber gateway in the centre, on one side of which was likewise a prison, where, according to some authorities, John Bunyan was confined. A view of it is given in the late Mr. Jabez AUies's " Yiitiquities and Folk-lore of Worcestershire." t Mr. Edmund Seward, a young man of great promise, who lived in the adjoining parish of Lower Sapey, and died in 1795. 12 CLIFTON-UPTON-TEME. it came again to the Mortimers through Avice, wife of Sir John cle Wyskam, and thence descended to Bichard, Duke of York, and King Edward IV. In the 6th of Edward VI., Henry Tracey conveyed it to William Jefferies, in which family it remained till the early part of the last century, when the manors of Clifton and Nether-Holme came into the possession of the Winningtons by the marriage of the third son of Sir Francis Winnington with the niece of Henry Jefferies, who died without issue in 1709. Clifton was constituted a borough, 50th of Edward III., and was privileged with fairs, a weekly market on Tuesday, &c. The fairs have recently been revived, and are held at Easter and Michaelmas. The church was appropriated to the nuns of Lymbroke, in Herefordshire, A.D. 1286. The portion reserved for the Vicar consisted of the alterage, certain sums from the churches of Stanford and Shelsley, the chapels of Sapey Pitchard and Edvin Loach, land in Clifton, and the house in which he lived, unless the nuns provided another. At the suppression of this monastery the advowson fell into the hands of John Callowhill, who disposed of it in the reign of Queen Mary to W. Jefferies, from whom it descended with the manor to Sir T. E Winnington, Bart, the present lord of the manor and patron of the living. This parish, though in the county of Worcester, is in the archdeaconry of Salop and diocese of Hereford. Wat l<> <>ofn^atT\, •$2**.**!.'"., P - 5\* , 5&&? L- ■ & n •II n- vhurci^ *\uigiittoirfe Hnb Soicn&ara. KNIGHT WICK AND DODENIIAM. 15 continued to reside in the adjoining parish of Tedstone Delamere some time longer. The Je Series family are supposed to have intermarried with the Wyshams, their arms impaling Wysham being formerly in a window at Homme Castle. Woodmanton was sold in 1569 by John Callowhill, of Tedstonc Delamere, to John Coucher, of Worcester, and has remained in the same family ever since, it being now the property of Martin S. Coucher, Esq., M.D., of Weymouth. There is no record as to how or when this estate became separated from the manor of Clifton, with which it was formerly held, but to which it is now subordinate, paying chief- rent to the lord of that manor. The Lion Inn near the church is thought to have formed a part of the old court-house. Mr. Jefferies, in the MS. before epioted, says — "The manner-place was ye hous now known by ye name of ye Red Lyon, an in which ye Ramseys have held it at will for three genera- tions. Before my father budt ye midle part of it, there was a great hall open to ye top, with a fire-place in ye midle, and a lantern on top, collegiate fashion, and in pt of ye old hous yet standing is a chamber called ye Court Chamber, for yt ye courts I pr'sume were then held there, and neer adjoining is a piece of land, which hitherto retaines ye name of ye Hall Orchard." There is nothing of architectural interest connected with the house at the present time. There are several other houses in the parish dating from about the middle of the 17th century ; though much modernized, as The Noke, The Hope, and Salford. At the latter is a fine stack of chiniDeys and a noble kitchen. IntjjMiutclt mid gdcnfcmi THE Prior of Great Malvern, to which monastery Knightwick anciently belonged, sur- rendered the manor to Bishop Godfrey Gifford and his successors to hold the same, paying a pound of cummin ; the deed being dated the Saturday next after the feast of All Saints, in the 11th year of Edward I., and confirmed by the King November 7th the same year at Acton Burnel. In the 6th year of Edward III., the Bishop granted the manor to William de Masyngton and Agnes his wife, at the rent of five marks yearly ; and in 1460, John, Bishop of Worcester let to Thomas Rumpney of Lullesky, Isabel his wife, and William their son, the site of his manor of Knightwick, with houses, lands, rents of tenements, &c, at the yearly rent of £8. The family of Alderford hail lands in this parish, which in the reign of Elizabeth passed to John Washborne, and afterwards belonged to John Chut. The manor of Dodenham, a chapelry in this parish, was granted to the priory of Worcester previously to the year 1179 ; and soon afterwards Simon de Manus, for the health of his soul, and the souls of his wife and ancestors, gave to the church of Worcester the 16 KNIGHTWICK AND DODENHAM. advowson of Doderdiam and Knightwick — Walter de Ancredham, and many other possessors of property here, were also benefactors to the priory of Worcester ; and several exchanges of land took place between the Prior and Adam lord of Ancredham, a manor in this chapelry. We learn the quantity of agricultural stock and implements upon the manors of Doden- ham and Ancredham in the time of Richard II. from a lease of those manors granted by the Prior and convent to Richard Cowarne and John Damalis, citizens of Worcester — viz., " 8 oxen, value 8 marks, ten cows, value 100 shillings, one long wain ironed, value 13 shillings, one gander, four geese, one cock, six hens, one cart, one plough, one harrow, one horse, with three loads of good hay." The lessees were to pay " at the four usual terms of the year the sum of eight pounds, binding themselves and their heirs and executors in a bond of ten pounds, to leave the same stock thereon at the end of the term." F. E. Williams, Esq., of Malvern Hall, Warwickshire, and J. Freeman, Esq., of Gaines, are now the principal landed proprietors in Knightwick and Dodenham. %\t Olfr CjjMrtjJCS at both these places were of simple and rude construction ; each con- sisting of chancel, nave, south porch, and the wooden bell-turret which is so common in this neighbourhood. The open timber portjjCS formed the best external feature ; the one at Knightwick being of early character ; that at Dodenham Elizabethan or Jacobean. There were one or two Norman windows in this latter chapel, and the roof was really an open one, never having been ceiled, even between the rafters. The three-light east window at Knightwick is Middle-pointed, the centre light being carried up to the top of the arch, a description of window which very frequently occurs in this county and in Herefordshire. On the floor of the nave is a stone to the memory of Grace Lane, niece to the Mistress Jane Lane who assisted Charles II. in his escape : she died in 1721, aged 80. This church is now only used at funerals, the surrounding churchyard continuing to serve as the parochial burial ground ; and the chapel at Dodenham has been entirely removed. In place of the above dilapidated old structures the new CjJUttjj 0f St. l^g has been erected in a most picturesque spot at the foot of Ankerdine Hill. It was designed by Mr. Perkins, of Worcester, and is a pleasing example of a small countiy church, consisting of chancel, vestry, nave, north porch, and octagonal bell-turret rising from a central buttress at the west end. The chancel is spacious, and, with the addition of some stained glass and decorative colour, the interior would be very effective ; the plastered chancel arch being the only important blemish. At the suppression of the Cathedral monastery the patronage passed to the Dean and Chapter. The scenery of this neighbourhood is veiy beautiful, and the view from Ankerdine Hill is scarcely inferior to the prospect commanded by the more important hills of Malvern and Bredon. Itsclfin, North -west' YifT- £.i Enlarge* •■ is6i. \wmmm foirturlij in Nave [IgiU Sabus 2Mton C|urc|>. White Sai^ ^stim. THIS parish was formerly called Eston Episcopi, being situated eastward of the Cathedral monastery, and forming an appendage of the Bishop's manor of Northwick. In King John's reign, Rafe de Wylyton, with the consent of his wife Olympia, and his heirs, granted the manor and patronage " to God, St. Mary the Virgin, the mother church of Worcester, and Silvester, Bishop of Worcester." Other grants were made to the suc- ceeding Bishops, William de Bloys and Walter de Cantelupe. The latter gave fifty-one acres of land in Eston, purchased of Bobert de Bracey, to the Nuns or " White Ladies" of Whiston, to whom Bishop Godfrey Gifford made a further grant of the manor and patronage, reserving to himself a third part of the lands. Since this time the parish has borne the name of White Ladies' Aston. After the Dissolution the manor and patronage were granted by the King to Richard Andrews and John Howe. They were subsequently held by the families of Hill, Gowre, and Andrews, being at length purchased by Mr. Bowland Berkeley, of Spetchley, in which family the manor and advowson still remain. Sir Hugh de Eston had an estate here in the thirteenth century, which afterwards belonged to a Mr. Symonds, a great favourite of Oliver Cromwell, who is said to have made his head quarters at Mr. Symonds's house before the battle of Worcester. A descendant of the above Mr. Symonds was executed in 1708 for helping to commit a dreadful murder, when the estate fell to the Bishop of the diocese, who, being unwilling to enjoy the fruits of such a crime, devoted it to the endowment of the school at Worcester known as " Bishop Lloyd's School." Qfyt CIntrtI] in its original state was a very simple structure, consisting of chancel and nave of the Norman period, with western bell-turret and a modern brick porch. Several of the old Norman windows remain, including a single-light at the east end ; and in the splay of the one on the north side of the nave were the remains of the steps which led to the rood-loft. The north and south doorways (the former removed to the new aisle) are of the same early style, and quite plain. A Middle-pointed square-headed window has been inserted in the south wall of the nave, and a Third-pointed one on the same side of the chancel. The lofty spirelet rests upon massive wooden framework in the interior of the church, at the west end. The general condition of the building being unsatisfactory, and the accommodation insufficient, it was determined to add a north aisle to the nave and re-arrange the whole of the interior. Elans for these alterations were prepared by Mr. W. J. Hopkins, of Worcester ; and the works having been successfully carried out, the church was reopened in May, 1861. The new aisle is in the Early-pointed style, and is divided from the nave by three arches composed of light and dark tinted stone in alternate courses, and resting upon piers with moulded caps and bases. Eastward of the aisle is a vestiy. The west end of the nave has D 18 COFTON HACKETT. been rebuilt ; two lancets, divided by a buttress with a quatrefoil above, being inserted therein instead of the wooden domestic windows which previously existed in the gable. The chancel fittings, lectern, and pulpit, are of oak ; the nave seats of deal, and very conimodious. The altar rail is supported by foliated wrought-iron standards, and the floor is paved with red and blue tiles. The opening of the roofs, the restoration of the old walls, and the erection of a new porch, were obliged to be deferred for want of funds ; for it was only by the most untiring exertions that the vicar, the Eev. H. M. Sherwood, was enabled to raise a sufficient sum to defray the cost of the much-needed alterations just described, the parishioners consisting entirely of tenant-farmers and labourers. O[0ft0tt IpHCll^t- ~~"RSO D'ABITOT and his heirs, the Beauchamps, were originally lords of Cofton; the v_J families of Cofton and Leycester holding lands under them. The Coftons becoming extinct in the time of Edward IV. were succeeded by the Hodyngtons, the Bussels, and the Winters. Matilda Hacket, wife of Robert de Leycester, held lands here 20th of Edward III. ; hence its additional name. Cofton Hacket afterwards came to the Dineleys, and thence to Mr. Edward Skinner, a rich clothier of Ledbury, whose granddaughter married Thomas Jolliffe ; and his grandson, Thomas Jolhffe, dying in 1758, left the property to his niece, Rebecca Lowe, for fife ; and upon her death to his nephew, Michael Biddulph, of Ledbury ; it now belongs to the Baroness Windsor, of Hewell Grange. The college of Westbury, near Bristol, possessed lands at Groveley in this chapelry. Upon the suppression of the house it was granted to Sir Ralph Sadler, and afterwards passed to the Litteltons, of Pillaton, in the county of Stafford. Cofton is a chapelry to Northfield ; a large parish extending hence to Birmingham. ®)X t\)tyt\ of j§. fptliatl s * an ds close to the Birmingham and Bristol railway, and is a small but interesting structure ; the ground plan consisting of chancel, nave, and south porch. The chancel is Middle-pointed ; the walls of the nave also appear to belong to the same style, though raised, and square-headed windows inserted, during the Third-pointed period. Of the latter style is the rather clumsy double bell-gable at the west end, below which is a massive central buttress, effectively relieving the otherwise perfectly plain and unbroken wall- surface. On the north side of the sanctuary is an interesting ittCJStO alabaster slab, representing William Leycester and his two wives. Above the figures are three shields bearing the arms of Leycester, Cofton, Blundell, Ileird, and Worley; below are. two children, with this inscription : — " Non intres in judicium cum annimabus filiorum tuorum ;" and round the edo-e of the slab is the following inscription, as given by Nash : — " Hie jacent corpora Wilhelm Leycester, domini de Cofton Haket, et Elianorse et Annas uorum suarum ; qui ssk*^ ff*ttfirlittte Mili^ll!JiTOr.'|l(T'' <&- Iknit- toeu TToujgEa jjjggjjgjfejri < ytgm,m« ffcfyool : jgajgngjiu •■ COFTON HACKETT. 19 quidam Wilhehnus obiit die .... 1508. Elianora frit filia Edmundi Worley arm. et oliiit 7 die mcnsis Januarii, An. Dom. 1514. Quarum arimabus propitictur Pens. Amen." The names of Lyttelton, Skinner, Dineley, Jolliffe, and others, also appear on memorials here- I have rarely met with a more absurdly fulsome epitaph than the following to Mr. Thomas Jolliffe, who died in the last century : — "Integrity and Benevolence were so conspicuously combined in his character, that it is difficult to determine whether the public spirit of the patriot, or the social virtues of the man, rendered him most valuable. He loved his friends much, his country more ; in the love of both he was equally disinterested and inflexible. Humanity dictated and good sense directed his unbounded charity. He possessed an uncommon knowledge of the world, but was free from its corruptions (!) ; his peculiar sagacity taught him the first, his christian principles preserved him from the latter. His agreeable conversation, his vivacity unalloyed by malignity, contributed to soften that reverence which was raised by his nobler qualities into the gentleness of sincere affection. The patience with which he expected, and the resignation with which he sustained, the hour of death, can only be paralleled by the vigilance and assiduity of her who closed his dying eyes. The gratitude and filial duty, with which she always regarded the paternal love of her deceased Uncle, have erected this monument to those virtues which she must for ever remember and lament." The validity of the will by which this paragon of perfection left the whole of his property to "her who closed his dying eyes" was contested by the male heirs on the ground of the testator's insanity. Judgment was, however, given in favour of the lady. There is a good modern brass (a cross) to the late John Merry, Esq., of Grovcley ; the painted east window is a memorial to Mrs. Merry. This little church has recently undergone a thorough restoration. The plaster and whitewash have been removed from the roofs and walls, a chancel arch erected, open deal seats provided for the nave, and a new floor and heating apparatus laid down. The well executed chancel seats, lectern, and pulpit, of carved oak, and the handsome new stone font — ■ a special gift — were designed by Mr. Dudley Male, of London, who superintended the restoration of the chancel generally, on behalf of the Rector ; the works in the nave having been carried out, on behalf of the Baroness Windsor, from drawings furnished by Mr. H. Day, of Worcester. The half-timbered porch has been most unaccountably covered with cement, jointed in imitation of stone! CoftonHall is situated a little to the south of the church. The principal part of the house was erected in the last century, but the kitchen is formed out of a portion of the old hall of the original mansion, and has a fine Third-pointed roof bi a good stale of preservation. Near to Cofton, but in the parish of Alvechurch, is $Rtlt <§ttflt fflttW, a picturesque half-timbered structure, whose numerous gables and nicely laid-out grounds are seen to great advantage from the railway, which is here carried on a high embankment. The old house is the property of the Baroness Windsor, and the residence of her Lady- ship's agent, Mr. Tomson. JJm Jicltflfll, linptoi(to]t This scliool is supposed to have been founded by Edward VI. about the same time as the far more important one at Birmingham. It is said that the Kingsnorton men chose a money endowment, and those of Birmingham preferred land ; the consequence being that the former school receives only some £15 a year, the amount of the original endowment whde the latter establishment has an annual income of £9,000 or £10,000, owing to the greatly increased value of land in that populous neighbourhood. The JkbffOl-bflUSJ stands on the north side of the churchyard, and is a late Pointed structure ; though the three-light traceried wooden window in the principal gable appears to belong to the Middle-pointed style : it may possibly have been brought from some other building, but early forms were often imitated in the wood-work of a much later date. Thomas Hall, a rigid Puritan writer and divine, is stated to have been master of the school at Kingsnorton, and afterwards " preacher of the word" at the time when the lawfully ordained parish priests were almost everywhere dispossessed of their churches " by the authority of Parliament." He died in 1665, and bequeathed to the school and parish a library of between six and seven hundred volumes — chiefly of the controversial divinity of that period — which still remain in the upper room of the old school-house. Ipjjlmmu djwtrt, (ite^tmltir^ WE cannot but regret the gradual disappearance of the picturesque old timbered houses, which harmonize so well with the scenery of this well-wooded country, and whose places are generally supplied by buildings quite out of keeping with the surrounding natural objects, and forming anything but pleasing objects in the landscape. Now that brick and stone are so accessible, and wood is comparatively scarce, it is not likely that the old method of building will again become general. Still it might be adopted with propriety and advantage much oftener than it is ; though the modern examples we sometimes see are not calculated to induce us to think favourably of the applicability of the style to tlif requirements of the present day, it being too often fantastic and toy-like. Some remarkably good examples of small half-timbered houses have, however, been erected by T. Gambier Parry, Esq., on his estate at Highnam. The annexed drawings represent two of them, built in 1859, from the designs of Messrs. Hugall and Male, of London. 3gffttcWf"I*o \ KiqWgm (totttt .- ClottC * J Rog^ingi[-Xill (jjjftgflj jg< | . jfiBfil T ' r Jin ~- : jft^-.* +J3-Jfcjadl Yir iu <■ \843. [from "Mati's H is tori) of £ ves^cm "_--,• -] S. €gtoitt's C^urc^ HUrto!*, near 6bts^am. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 • Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. TTTV. TTPI> At>xr ♦DA Walker 670 Architectural VOYLLS sketches . T.l 670 W9W15 v.l Universi South Libr