There are two other the Assumption of our Lady, another Saint Thomas, the martyr; also others dedicated to the Nativity of our Lady, the Nativity of Saint John, and of the Trinity. At the east end of the north aisle, within this division, was the chapel of our Lady; a slab to the memory of William Honyter, who by his will desires to be buried by his brethren in the chapel of our Lady, ascertains the fact, by his interment in this spot. very ancient monuments on the floor of this chapel, on one was "Orate p aia Thome Honyter qui obiit 1 mo "Apr 1505;" the other, "Orate p aia Tho Mey et "Katerine Uxor suæ ;"* another stone is fixed against the wall in the shape of a coffin, within an arch, which seems formerly to have been a door way, opening into the church yard, it is inscribed to Frances, the wife of Henry Hunston, who died in 1685,† and in the wall opposite is a large recess, probably used for holy water. This part of the north aisle, not being at present required for the accommodation of the parishioners in their attendance on divine service, is now used by the churchwardens as a place for laying up any heavy articles belonging to the church, and in depositing coals, &c. At the east end of the south aisle, within the screen, are two raised monumental tombs, one to the memory of John Oldman and his wife; he died in 1733, and she in 1727; the other is to Edward Wignall, who died in 1763; with three monumental stones on the floor, to the memory of the family of Edwards, of whom Thomas died in 1679, William in 1682, and Stephen in 1709; and at the east end of the chapel is a table of gifts to the poor, adjoining to which is the vestry, separated therefrom by a wall. * Parkyns. + See monuments of Wisbech church, page 262. The two side aisles at the east end are divided from the chancel by two elegant Saxon arches on each side, similar to those in the nave of the church, ornamented with the cheveron. In the chancel, over the communion table, is the desalogue, with the creed and Lord's prayer, and in the centre is a painting of Moses holding a wand; within the rails is a mural monument with the following inscription: "Near this place lye interred the bodies of John Hering, “M.A., thirty-six years rector of this parish, aged 75, "buried 2d June 1717, and of Martha, his wife, daugh"ter of Thomas Potts, of the parish of St. Gregory's, London, aged 44, buried 3d January 1704. 66 "This monument is erected in grateful memory of his "excellent parents, by their only son, Thomas, lord "archbishop of Canterbury, 1750."* Without the rails of the chancel, on the pavement, is a slab to the memory of Dorothy Wright, who died in 1691, and whose daughter married John Twells, esq.† who died in 1691. Also of John Wakefield, who died in 1777; besides which are four other slabs, so defaced as to set any decyphering at defiance. In the north aisle is a mural monument to Ann, wife of Henry Ferrour, who died in 1692. In the middle aisle are several ancient slabs, having formerly had brass effigies, now disrobed, and the inscriptions obliterated. More recent ones record the memory of Peter Wensley, son of Robert Wensley, clerk, who died in 1711; and *See Biography, page 431. ↑ See page 268. ✦ See page 262. another of Thomas, son of Edward Southwell, who died in 1692, and intermarried with a Wensley; another to Elinor Juett, who died in 1715, and James Welch, in 1766. In the south aisle is interred Elizabeth, daughter of William Scales, who died in 1694; likewise Esther and William Pratt. The font is curiously ornamented with imagery work of many saints, our Saviour's passion, and the seven sacraments of the church of Rome; round the foot of it, "Remember the soul of S. Honyter, "and Margaret, his wife, and John Beforth Chaplin.”* Against the wall of the steeple, within-side, is the effigy of king Solomon, sitting on a chair or throne, in royal robes, projecting from the wall, and on each side of him a large piece of painting, representing the history and judgment of that king on the two harlots, and underneath, that of king David with his harp. A gallery for singers has also been erected at the west end. In the church yard is a handsome monumental stone, on the south side, to the memory of Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Thomas Sheepshanks, M.A.† and last surviving daughter of John and Judith Garland; she died in childbed 20th April 1782, leaving an only daughter. There are other grave stones to the memory of the Wensleys, and one to Thomas, son of Edward Southwell, grandson to Robert Wensley, who died in 1692. A stone cross also stands on the south side of the church yard, having three steps. It was not unusual formerly to set up crosses in places where bodies were buried. Now the wife of Thomas Wilkins, esq. of Ringstead House, Thrapston, Northamptonshire. There was formerly a chapel, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, standing at a place called the Staythe, or Stave Dyke, in which was a guild, with a custos or master. Several of the popes granted to the brothers and sisters of this fraternity, and to all who were benefactors to it, surprising indulgences. On 3d October 1491, an indulgence of forty days was granted to the believers of the hospital of the Holy Trinity of Walsoken, which was again renewed in the following year. On its dissolution, king Edward VI. granted it to Mary, duchess of Richmond and Somerset. Soon after this, Robert Balam * held it, from whom it came to Charles Balam, who died seized of it in 1591, leaving Robert, his son and heir, aged twelve. The site of this chapel is well known, lying about three quarters of a mile in an eastern direction from the church, near what is called the Gull. Bene There is no endowed school in the parish. factions have been from time to time left in land and money, to the amount of £40. or £50. per annum, the rents and interest whereof are distributed in money amongst such of the poor as receive no parochial relief, and who live in dwellings under the value of £10. per annum. In 1811, the population was 840, which of course rapidly increased by the erection of more than one hundred houses, as before mentioned, in that part adjoining to the town of Wisbech, across the canal; so that in the year 1821, it consisted of 1240 inhabitants, and is still increasing; this part has now obtained the name of "New Walsoken." • See page 179. A.D. The Rev. Marmaduke Alington is the present rector of the church, who, by virtue of an agreement with his parishioners, receives a clear annual sum of £600. and the parish are bound to provide a curate for the due performance of divine worship. Rectors since 1700. John Herring, father of Dr. Thomas, Archbishop of * 1717 Edward Cross, 1733 Paul Bachelor, 1742 John Foster, D.D. 1788 Marmaduke Alington, A.M. WEST WALTON, So named from the wall or mound which was to defend it from the tides, &c., and called West in respect to another Walton in the hundred lying east of it: it is in Marshland, about three miles distant from Wisbech. A Saxon thane of great possessions was lord of it in the Confessor's time. At the survey it had seven salt works.* The prior of Lewes held a manor here, which took in great part of Walsoken, Walpole, Terrington, &c.; this, on the dissolution, was granted to Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk, together with the mediety of the church belonging to the said priory, but was afterwards forfeited to the crown, on the attainder of the duke of Norfolk. In 10th king James I. this lordship, with that of Walsoken * Certain rents of salt used heretofore to be paid by divers persons who held lands of the lords of the manor here, and it may be observed that few towns in this hundred, lying near to the Ouse, &c. were without salt pits, or salt works, at the conquest, as well as after. See also page 6. Bluck, M.A. 1857 John Davies, M.A. |