EXCURSIONS 1989 Reportand Notesonsomefindings
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EXCURSIONS 1989 Reportand notesonsomefindings 15April. Bill SerjeantandJohn Blatchly Stoke-by-NaylandandNayland At Stoke-by-Nayland,Churchof St Mary inspected by members following A.G.M. held there by kind permission of churchwardens, Sir Joshua Rowley, Bt and J.C.G. Rouse, Esq. Bill Serjeant summarised history of church and parish, and gave account of heraldry of church. An ancient site —bequests made by Earl Alfgar and family in 9th century to 'sacred burial ground' of ancestors. Anglo-Saxon charter refers to minster or collegiate church here; no doubt this accounts for unevidenced but persistent assertions of existence of priory. Despite extensive restoration, mid-19th century, and existence of some early features, notably in S. porch and St Edmund chapel in N. aisle, church is 'of a piece' as fine, imposing Perp. church attributed to early 15th century. Elevated position and magnificent 120ft high tower (said by Davy to be visible as far as Harwich) provided inspiration for Constable. Many monuments, and not least heraldry, provide comprehensive evidence of successive principal families —de Tendring in 13th century, Howard (Tendring Hall for a time chief seat of this pre-eminent line), Rivett, Windsor, Williams, Rowley and Mannock. In rich and varied feast of heraldry, great monuments to Lady Ann Windsor (c. 1615) with eleven shields of arms, and to Sir Francis Mannock (c. 1634) with nine, outstanding. Birkin Haward introduced his current survey of arcade pier plans and mouldings in Suffolk (and some Norfolk) churches. These features of this church were of elaborate, but different type to any others found in Suffolk (except on smaller scale at Lawshall c. 1440); possibly indicating that Howards had early in 15th century commissioned leading master mason from London or elsewhere. John Blatchly spoke briefly about matrices of two Peyton brasses in N. aisle near Roding chapel, Roding indent, obviously moved across chancel to lie behind organ, Howard brasses and that of Lady Dorothy Mannock, which could be work of Edward Marshall (cf. Harsnett brass at Chigwell and that of Filmers at East Sutton, Kent). Visit here concluded with climb to parvise chamber, where armour and parish library still housed. Although Tendring Hall has not survived, magnificent Tudor Gifford's Hall and 17th-century Thorrington Hall still grace parish. In village itself, among its 'enjoyable timber-framed and plastered cottages and houses', late medieval house known as the Maltings, and 16th- and 17th-century Guildhall, both adjacent to church, please the eye and lend distinction to scene. Mr and Mrs Henry Engleheart kindly welcomed members to garden of The Priory at lunchtime. Nayland.At Alston.Court where we were made most welcome by Mr and Mrs A.T. Cropper and Mr and Mrs D. Knight, Sylvia Colman and Philip Aitkens first discussed complex structure of house. Not surprisingly, attention in past has been focused on wealth of external and internal decoration which makes house so striking visually, and indicates 15th- and 16th-century origins. Recent research, however, has established that part of W. range dates back to turn of 13th and 14th centuries. The three N.-W. bays, which always had upper floor, have passing braces with notched-lap joints, but no indication of original aisles; first known 167 EXCURSIONS instance in Suffolk of existence of one without the other. Range seems certain to have been associated with aisled open hall, sited in much the same way as present considerably restored hall. Together they could have formed most prestigious house in Nayland as early as 1300. Heraldic glass posed several problems. Most intractable, frequent labelling of coat Argent,3 boars'headscoupedgules as Payn, when no mention of such a coat in early records; Nayland Paynes, clothiers, not armigerous. Most of other 15th- and early 17th-century arms in glass easily identifiable as of East Anglian or Midlands families. Glass in house since 1817 at least; is it 18th-century import? Carved wooden rustic Lombardic crowned A in solar (restored, but reported by Revd D.T. Powell, 1817) demands interpretation. Thomas Abell, chaplain to Katharine of Aragon (see D.N.B.) used rebus of A on bell on wall there when imprisoned in Beauchamp tower in Tower; executed 1540. Same rebus still to be seen on bridge over Stour, Plod Brigge, as his father John Abell the elder, clothmaker, named it when he left property in will, 1523/4, towards its perpetual maintenance. Could this be house of Abells? They and Roos family were chief families in Nayland in 1520s; a generation earlier, Reynhams dominant. In ChurchofStJames (we were indebted to Vicar, Revd D. Stranack for his welcome) much to see, but first Mr Haward revealed that exceptionally fine design of arcades and clerestories has architectural significance to be compared with more famous Suffolk churches at Southwold, Bury St Edmunds or Lavenham (even though in other respects it falls short of such high qualities). Direct architectural links apparent with arcades by Bury master mason John Wastell at Cavendish, Lavenham and Long Melford Lady chapel, providing strong evidence of Wastell's involvement here. The few surviving brasses, and some of many indents were identified with reference to surviving Nayland wills, transcribed by Peter Northeast. On evidence of coat on sole surviving shield, figures under double canopy at W. end of nave are Pigotts, probably Richard (d. 1528) and wife. Terre family may have had brass with dog (terrier perhaps as rebus?) in canopy quatrefoil; indent, partly covered, lies at E. end of S. aisle (see Newsletter 29, p. 5). Wills mention chapel of St Thomas, images or pictures of Holy Trinity, St James and our Lady of Pity, but only Lady chapel can be located with much confidence —at present a vestry with door in N. wall of chancel, it houses parish library. Formerly it will have been accessible from N. aisle. There were St Thomas and Holy Trinity Gilds; torches provided for latter by bequest, 1492, if processional, probably kept in tall 'banner staff' locker near S.W. porch. There was also richly endowed 'service of Our Lady', funds of which were skilfully preserved from alienation at Reformation, and still endow Town Charity. Valuable clue from will —S. aisle new, 1488, giving likely date for Wastell's arcades. In 1480s there must have been major reconstruction of earlier church within outer walls, leading eastward from tower by means of six bay arcades with pairs of clerestory windows and new roof above, which truncated old chancel and eliminated chancel arch. Final addition was elaborate S.W. porch. Now over door into W. end of S. aisle, but in 1817 seen to finish outer pediment of porch, is stone angel holding shield with arms of Scrope of Masham, Yorks. Lords Scrope lords of manor here c. 1335 —early 16th century. They had means to undertake high quality late 15th-century rebuilding of church and none of local merchants' wills make significant gifts for purpose. Porch with crowning arms could have completed work and been memorial to Thomas, 6th Lord Scrope, eldest son of 5th Lord (d. 1492). His three brothers, each in turn Lord Scrope, all died without issue. Many printed errors abound and multiply about Nayland. No William Abell recorded, 168 1989 and John Abell's will (1523, not 1525) left no money for porch or for any other church building. Only Weever claims an Abell monument, with rebus, in porch. No Abell arms in glass in N. aisle; family not, apparently, armigerous. Here, as unconsidered but intriguing trifle, Bill Serjeant offered royal grant, 1429, made at request of Sir Henry, 3rd Lord Scrope, K.G., of what 'practically constituted the first burial board in Suffolk' (in England, perhaps?). Because of difficulty in harsh weather of carrying corpses up hill to Stoke for burial, they sometimes remained unburied for some days. Henry VI accordingly ordained dwellers in Nayland hamlet to be persons corporate empowered to elect wardens and acquire half acre of land surrounding chapel of ease, and make same into graveyard. This they duly did, and administered it until 1782, when Nayland became parish in own right. 13May.MikeHardyandEdwardMartin CastlesinNorth-EastSuffolk IlketshallStJohn,TheMount.Visited by kind permission of Mr and Mrs P. Payne. Small wood conceals imposing 7m high earthen motte of castle, separated by wet ditch from small sub-rectangular bailey on S. side. Castle presumably built in late 11th or early 12th century, though virtually nothing of its history known. Probably to be associated with de Ilketshall family (recorded 12th-15th century), likely to have been descendants of Warin son of Burnin, who held Ilketshall under Earl of Chester, 1086. Pottery on and around bailey suggests occupation as late as 13th-14th centuries. MettinghamCastle(by kind permission of Mr and Mrs J. Thompson and Mrs P. Jewkes). For an account of this castle see above, pp. 115-23, Figs. 18-21 and Pl. VI. BungayCastle(by kind permission of Bungay Castle Trust). This strong castle dominates town and looks out over a crossing of River Waveney. Originally earthen motte-and-bailey castle, low motte now crowned by cut-off stump of rectangular stone keep, 70ft square with 18ft thick walls. Keep surrounded by more-or-less circular curtain-wall, entered through W.-facing gatehouse with two half-round towers. Beyond is quadrangular inner bailey, which also has remains of curtain-walls. Second gatehouse (now gone), on S.E. side, led to outer bailey, now built over. Beyond these, curving lines of Earsham Street, Market Place, Castle Lane and Castle Orchard suggest former presence of outer works, such as still-surviving earthen banks called 'Castle Hills' to S. of Castle Orchard. Bungay granted to Roger Bigod, 1103; son Hugh active on both sides in civil war, 1136-53.