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Little Horkesley

The Church suffered major bomb damage in the 2nd World War and some of the memorials were possibly lost or their reconstruction created confusion. However, there are fine examples of Sir Robert Swynbourne, Fynderne and Marney family memorials.

Little Horkesley appears to have a connection to Belchamp Walter through the Botetourt/Swynborne families.

Surviving Brasses and Wooden Effigies

These generate a fair amount of interest as the brasses are among the largest surviving in the country and the wooden effegies are rather unique.

It is interesting to reflect that interest in garnered relating to the brasses and effegies found here but little on the Botetourt family in Belchamp Walter. Thomas Wright writing in 1836 was aware but those visiting St. Mary's Church tend to overlook the remains of the chantry chapel.

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Simon Knott

Another account from the "guru" of Suffolk Churches.

Open, and less than a mile from neighbouring Great Horkesley. This is a must-see. The medieval church was struck by a 500lb parachute mine in the summer of 1940. The mine fell right into the interior of the church, where it exploded. The result was devastating - the building was wiped out, as was everything for 500 yards, including the village pub. The debris was scattered over a wide area - part of the shattered bell from the tower was found at Wissington, three miles away!

The church was rebuilt in 1957, and the effect is not unpleasing. There is some excellent modern glass. More to the point, however, is what was rescued from the ruins. This is the biggest double figure brass in England, as well as three life size 13th century wooden effigies. There is also a triple figure brass, so all in all it must have been quite a church before the destruction.

I liked it a lot, it still has the feel of a village church, a bit like Chelmondiston a few miles off in Suffolk, which suffered a similar fate, but it has the space and openness of the contemporary restorations of London City churches.

British History Online about the Church: - this comes from a page that BHO had copied from Victoria History - "A History of the County of Essex"

The footnote references are left in the quoted text and need to be researched. British History Online has not proven to be that reliable of sources but that may well be due to that the references have not been faithfully researched.

The church, which was granted to Little Horkesley priory at its foundation c. 1127, was both conventual and parochial until the Dissolution. (fn. 1) It was presumably the former priory ownership which led Edward Husbands, patron and impropriator, to claim in 1705-6 and in 1727 that the church was free from episcopal and archidiaconal visitations. (fn. 2)

The lord of Little Horkesley Hall was in 1332 said to hold the advowson of the priory, (fn. 3) and the cure may have been served by the monks. After the dissolution of the priory in 1525 the advowson of a perpetual curacy apparently descended with Little Horkesley Hall. (fn. 4) In 1917 the manor and advowson were purchased by W. F. Dick who held it until 1927. By 1928 it had passed to A. E. Macandrew and two other trustees of a private trust who held it until 1960. The surviving trustee W. W. Otter-Barry (d. 1973) was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth de Havilland (d. 1976). On the death of her husband Maj. Gen. P. H. de Havilland in 1990, the advowson passed to Mrs Felicity Reynolds (d. 1996). (fn. 5)

The priory's chaplain received £6 13s. 4d. in 1525, and the later impropriators apparently provided funds from the tithes for the maintenance of a curate or vicar. A parish priest was recorded in 1550. (fn. 6)

The curacy was said in 1650 to be worth £20, probably paid out of the rectory by the impropriator. (fn. 7) In 1717 the curate received £34 a year from the rectory. (fn. 8) An estate in South Hanningfield was purchased in 1720 with £200 from Edward Husbands and £200 from Queen Anne's Bounty. James Husbands's attempt to endow the living with the small tithes failed. (fn. 9) The curacy was valued at £69 in 1831, rising to £80 by 1874. (fn. 10) In 1883 the benefice was endowed with £13 6s. 8d. out of the Common Fund. (fn. 11)

There was no ancient vicarage house. From 1874 to 1897 the curate or vicar lived at The Grove, Tog Lane, Great Horkesley. In the period 1897-1934 the vicars were also rectors of Great Horkesley and lived in the rectory house there. Fishponds, London Road, Great Horkesley, served as the vicarage from c. 1934 until 1986. (fn. 12)

In 1517 Sir William Findern left all the books and vestments in the vestry to the church and made bequests to the high altar and the altars of St. Mary, St. Catherine, and the Trinity. (fn. 13)

The priest paid 2s. rent to Little Horkesley Hall manor for obit lands c. 1530 and there were church, presumably obit, cows in the 1540s. (fn. 14) In 1546 the Crown confiscated lands left for other obits and that left for the maintenance of a rood light by John Falcon (fl. late 15th century), founder of a chantry chapel in Great Horkesley. (fn. 15) In 1552 the churchwardens had 20s. from the stock of an otherwise unrecorded parish guild, and two sales of church goods raised over £8, most of which was spent on church repairs. (fn. 16)

Thomas Newcomen, unpopular Laudian rector of Holy Trinity, Colchester, was curate in the 1620s. (fn. 17) In 1634 the royalist William Lynne of Westwood Park complained of sectarian preaching and accused William Ball of the Priory of intending to enlarge his grounds with part of Little Horkesley churchyard. (fn. 18) In 1636 the curate appeared before the Court of High Commission, presumably for his puritan beliefs. (fn. 19) Although no minister was reported in 1650, and the patron Sir John Denham was described as a delinquent, it was later said that Denham's bailiff appointed a curate c. 1645-53. (fn. 20)

Azariah Husbands, and his widow Elizabeth, provided a curate until c. 1676. Their son Edward refused to appoint one and in 1679-80 the bishop granted a sequestration of the tithes to the leading inhabitants, who appointed a curate. In 1683 six inhabitants refused to pay tithes to Husbands unless he provided a minister, but they lost their case probably because Husbands appointed one. (fn. 21) In 1697 the curate sued the lessee of the Priory for non-payment of tithe. (fn. 22)

In 1684 the church needed a new bible and books of homilies and canons. They had been provided by 1687 when a total of £108 2s. 8d. was spent on church fittings and substantial repairs. (fn. 23) The parish vestry only agreed as late as 1713 to rail in the communion table. (fn. 24) In 1723 a neighbouring clergyman served as curate, holding one service on Sundays and communion six times a year. (fn. 25)

James Husbands, impropriator and patron from 1736, served the church in 1738. He was also rector of Ashdon (1729-30) and Fordham (1743-9) and he probably set up the parish library recorded in 1718. (fn. 26) In 1738 he usually held services twice on Sundays, and communion at least five times a year. (fn. 27) Between 1778 and 1818 William Barry, vicar of Wiston (Suff.), served the church for the absentee curate, holding one service on Sundays and communion four times a year. (fn. 28) Church attendance on census Sunday 1851 was 52 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. (fn. 29)

In 1866 there were two services on Sundays and communion once every six weeks. (fn. 30)
The living was held in plurality with Great Horkesley 1893-1934, but the parish had its own incumbent from 1934 until 1986. From that date it has been served by the incumbent of Wormingford. (fn. 31)

The medieval church, dedicated to ST. PETER c. 1127, and to SS. PETER and PAUL c. 1190, was struck by a landmine in 1940 and completely destroyed. (fn. 32) It comprised an undifferentiated nave and chancel with north and south chapels, a south aisle that extended alongside a west tower, and a south porch. That church was probably the nave of the medieval priory church whose monastic chancel lay to the east. The north wall of the nave was probably 12th-century, the tower mid 14th-century, and the south aisle and chapel 15th-century. The porch, which was largely rebuilt in the 18th century, and the north chapel, which was rebuilt when the church was restored in the 19th century, were added in the 16th century. The north chapel may have been the Trinity chapel built by Sir William Findern before 1515. After the priory's dissolution the chancel of the priory church was demolished, the chancel arch blocked, and a new chancel formed from the eastern two bays of the nave. (fn. 33) Among the furnishings destroyed in 1940 was a 15th-century screen between the south chapel and the south aisle, a 17th-century ironwork screen in the north chapel, a lectern made from 15th-century tracery, and a table of c. 1600. (fn. 34) A 16th-century oak chest survived the bomb damage, as did the 15th-century font. (fn. 35)

The new church was built in 1958 from designs by Duncan Clark and Marshall Sisson. It has a chancel, a nave with north transept, south aisle and south porch, and a west tower. Apart from the porch, which is of exposed brick, the walls are rendered. (fn. 36)

In 1552 there were four bells. (fn. 37) At least one was 15th-century, two were replaced in the 17th-century, and only three were recorded in the 18th century possibly because one was already cracked and useless. Another bell was added in 1878. All five remained in 1909. (fn. 38) All the bells were broken in 1940. (fn. 39) One 16th- century and four 17th-century bells were transferred to the new church from All Saints' church, Colchester, in 1958. (fn. 40)

There was a silver chalice in 1552, (fn. 41) and a silver chalice and paten in 1684 and 1687. (fn. 42) The chalice was replaced, probably by Edward Husbands, for in 1997 there was a silver chalice, paten, and flagon, all inscribed 'Little Horkesley in Essex 1705' and a second paten of 1685. (fn. 43)

Fynderne Swynborne (British History Online)

Three wooden effigies survive, probably commemorating Robert Horkesley (d. 1295) and William Horkesley and his wife Emma (both d. 1332). (fn. 44) The surviving brass of Bridget Marney (d. 1549) and her two husbands was originally from a tomb in the chancel. The inscription correctly identifies her second husband as John Marney, Lord Marney, but her first husband was William, not Thomas, Findern. On the reverse is a shrouded effigy of a lady c. 1490. (fn. 45) Another female shroud brass is probably of Catherine Leventhorp (d. 1502). (fn. 46) Brasses of the brothers John (d. 1430) and Andrew Swinbourne (d. 1418), from a tomb in the south chapel, were complete in 1796 but largely destroyed in the earlier 19th century and only fragments remain. (fn. 47) Another damaged monument, probably originally with a brass and perhaps of William Swinbourne (d. 1422), was destroyed in 1940. (fn. 48)

JMC4 - Church Explorer on Flickr

Whoever JMC4 is they have done a pretty good job or researching their subjects photographed.

The British History Online page on Little Horkesley

The following text is from A History of the County of Essex: Volume 10, Lexden Hundred (Part) Including Dedham, Earls Colne and Wivenhoe, ed. Janet Cooper( London, 2001)

Little Horkesley: Manors In 1086 Godebold was demesne tenant of 1½ hides and 30 a. in Nayland (Suff.), which later became the manor of LITTLE HORKESLEY HALL. It was held of the manor of Nayland as part of the honor of Rayleigh. (fn. 1) The overlordship is recorded until 1661. (fn. 2) The manor descended from father to son in Godebold's family, who took their surname from it, being held by Robert (fl. c. 1127), another Robert (fl. c. 1150), Philip (fl. 1184), Robert (d. 1232), Walter (d. 1266), and Robert (d. 1295). (fn. 3) The last Robert's son, William Horkesley, died childless in 1332. He had conveyed the manor to trustees who, in 1324, granted the reversion to Robert Swinbourne, whose grandson, another Robert Swinbourne, succeeded in 1332. (fn. 4) Robert (d. 1391) left three sons, Thomas (d. 1412), William (d. 1422), and John (d. 1430), who all died without issue. Little Horkesley then passed to their sister and coheir, Margery wife of Nicholas Berners (d. 1441). (fn. 5) She was succeeded by her daughter Catherine wife of Sir William Findern (d. 1462). Their son, another Sir William, died in 1517 and the manor passed to his grandson Thomas Findern (d. 1524). He was succeeded by his cousin Anne, wife of Sir Roger Wentworth and a descendant of Alice Tyrrel another sister and coheir of Thomas, William, and John Swinbourne. (fn. 6) Anne died in 1534 and was succeeded by her son Sir John Wentworth (d. 1568). He was succeeded by his daughter Anne, wife of Henry FitzAlan, Lord Mautravers. After her death in 1580 the manor passed to her cousin Sir John Wentworth. (fn. 7) He died in 1588 and it passed successively to John (d. 1613) and that John's son Sir John Wentworth. (fn. 8) He sold the manor to Sir Humphrey Winch and his son Onslowe in 1617 and Onslowe sold it to Sir John Denham in 1631. Denham was succeeded in 1639 by his son, the royalist poet Sir John Denham, who forfeited the manor in 1651. Despite the claims of the puritan poet George Wither, a personal enemy of Denham's who had petitioned parliament for his estates, and Thomas Offley to whom Denham had mortgaged the manor in 1640, Denham apparently sold his interest to John Feilder in 1653. Feilder sold it c. 1660 to trustees for Azariah Husbands who was in possession by 1661. (fn. 9) Azariah died in 1666 and was succeeded by his son Edward Husbands (d. 1736). (fn. 10) Edward was succeeded by his son James (d. 1750) who entailed the manor on the children of his sister Anne Glanville. Her son James died childless and the manor passed to his sister Anne and her husband William Blair (d. 1786). (fn. 12) By 1794 the manor had passed to their son E. J. H. Blair who died unmarried in 1824. He was succeeded by his two sisters, Sarah Sindrey Warren (d. 1834) and Margaret Blair (d. 1850), but Sarah's son J. C. Warren (d. 1856) was effective lord of the manor from the mid 1830s when he took the name Blair Warren. His sister Sarah and her husband Crosbie Morgell disputed the division of the inheritance in 1850 and gained three eighths of the estate, but not the ownership of the manor which was sold to Thomas Bourdillon after the death of Blair-Warren's widow Harriet in 1866. (fn. 13) After Bourdillon's death in 1888 it passed to C. J. Grimwade and P. J. Waldron, probably its mortgagees, who sold it in 1914 to H. E. Paine. He sold it in 1917 to W. F. Dick of Josselyns, (fn. 14) whose widow D. M. Dick sold it to H. A. A. White c. 1967. (fn. 15) The manor house was separated from the manor before 1901 when it was bought by R. M. B. Otter Barry (d. 1917). He was succeeded by his son W. W. Otter Barry (d. 1973) whose daughter Elizabeth de Havilland died in 1976. She was succeeded by her husband Maj. Gen. P. H. de Havilland who sold the house to R. Eddis in 1989. (fn. 16) Old Hall Farm on School Road, north west of the church, was probably the site of the medieval manor house. It has a long range whose 16th century eastern end has a crown post roof and formerly extended further to both east and west. Its junction with the taller block of c. 1700 to the west is now marked by a large stack which is probably of the latter date. To the north of the later block there is a contemporary staircase turret and to the north of the early range a short 17th century kitchen wing. In 1651 the ground floor rooms included an entry, two parlours, and a kitchen; on the first floor were nine chambers. There was a gatehouse, a dairyhouse, a millhouse, a brewhouse, and a bakehouse. In front of the house was a large green, two inner courtyards, two gardens, and an orchard. (fn. 17) A large 18th century barn to the west incorporates several medieval posts and other reused timbers. Edward Husbands apparently built a new, brick, manor house called Little Horkesley Hall south of Old Hall Farm c. 1700. By 1763 there was a formal garden on the south side of the house, with three ponds in the valley beyond. (fn. 18) That house was demolished c. 1828, but the 18th century brickwork in the cellars suggests that the new house, probably built for J. C. Blair Warren, was built on the site of its predecessor and that its plan was influenced by it. There are three principal elevations. That to the north is dominated by a full height Doric porte cochère; that on the east has a semi-circular central bow; that on the south is of five bays and the principal openings on each floor are framed within recesses which are bounded by Doric columns in antis. Inside there is a central reception area which is connected, by openings supported on Doric columns, to the entrance hall on the north and the stair hall on the south. The drawing room, in the south-west corer, is a double room with an opening supported by Ionic columns. On the west side of the north forecourt there is a small stable yard, with an entrance flanked by Doric columns, and beyond it extensive kitchen garden walls of the 18th and 19th centuries. (fn. 19) LITTLE HORKESLEY PRIORY with its manor was granted in 1525 to Wolsey's Oxford college and, in 1528, to his Ipswich grammar school. (fn. 20) The manor escheated to the crown on Wolsey's fall in 1530 and was granted to Thomas Cromwell, later earl of Essex, who was executed in 1540. It was apparently granted to William Shelley in 1541. (fn. 22) By 1554 it had been granted to Sir John Huddleston who at once sold it to Roger Parker. In 1555 Parker conveyed it to Robert Ball of White Colne. (fn. 23) In 1563 Robert apparently sold it to Ranulph Ball of Little Horkesley, (fn. 24) but in 1577 Robert Ball, or another man of the same name, sold it to John Ball (d. 1602) and his son, another John (d. 1621). (fn. 25) The younger John was succeeded by his son William Ball (d. 1638) who was followed by his son, another William. (fn. 26) In 1664 William Ball sold it to Nicholas Enos, a London merchant who was dead by 1703, when the estate was disputed between his nephew Christopher Whichcote and Margery Enos, widow of his brother Samuel. (fn. 27) Christopher Whichcote gained possession and sold the manor in 1712 to James Josselyn (d. 1713). (fn. 28) The manor then descended in his family from father to son, to four Jameses (d. c. 1730, 1787, 1798, 1809). The last James was followed by his brother John (d. 1819) who was succeeded by his son, another John Josselyn (d. 1884). On his death the manor passed to his son A. H. Josselyn (d. 1889). The descent has not been traced thereafter. (fn. 29) The rectory, composed only of tithes, passed with the Priory manor to Wolsey's college and school, (fn. 30) and in 1554 to Sir John Huddleston. It may have descended with the priory manor in the later 16th and earlier 17th centuries, but in 1623-4 Sir Humphrey Winch of Little Horkesley Hall successfully claimed it and thereafter it descended with that manor. (fn. 32) Henry and Alan Creffield of Great Horkesley granted lands in Little Horkesley to Little Horkesley priory c. 1200, which the priory held from the honor of Rayleigh in 1365-6. Thomas Holt, who held land in Horkesley in 1346, may have been the priory's tenant, for fields called 'Crayfeld' formed part of a leasehold called HOLTS or HOTTES on the priory estate c. 1525. (fn. 33) By 1553 the freehold of Holts was held by James Lovell whose son John sold it to Henry Riddesdale in 1564. (fn. 34) In 1565 Riddesdale sold it to Andrew Prestney (d. 1586) and the estate then passed successively to John Prestney (d. 1597), Andrew Prestney (d. 1636), and another Andrew Prestney. John Prestney held the freehold c. 1670. (fn. 35) By 1772 it was owned by a Mr. Quare who sold it to George Sadler who held it in 1845. (fn. 36) About 1525 Holts comprised a house and gatehouse within a dry moat with a barn and stable. (fn. 37) The east range of the current building is a cross wing and hall of a 15th-century house. The cross wing retains a plain crown-post roof. The hall roof has a steeply cambered tie beam and the octagonal crown post has been reset in the wall below the tie, presumably when the upper floor was put in. A block with a front of five bays was built along the west side in the earlier 18th century and the house was refitted in the earlier 19th century. (fn. 38) The seat of the Lynne family on Westwood green, known as WESTWOOD PARK, was anciently in Great Horkesley and its history is treated under that parish. (fn. 39)

Links

References:

  • Little Horkesley Church - http:// www.simonknott.co.uk/essexchurches/ lhorkesley.htm
  • BHO - Little Horksley Church - https:// www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ essex/vol10/pp239-241
  • William and Robert de Horkesley - https:// www.flickr.com/gp/ 52219527@N00/846668 - jmc4 - Church Explorer - Sir Robert de Horkesley 1296, eldest son Sir William de Horkesley 1332, and his wife Emma 1333.
  • BHO - Little Horkesley - https:// www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/ vol10/pp235-237 https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol10/pp235-237 - has much information on the Swynbournes, Fynerderns and Wentworths. 'Little Horkesley: Manors', in A History of the County of Essex: Volume 10, Lexden Hundred (Part) Including Dedham, Earls Colne and Wivenhoe, ed. Janet Cooper( London, 2001)

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