Church Plate in Norfolk. COMMUNICATED BY REV. E. C. HOPPER, M.A., F.S.A., DEANERY OF HINGHAM FOREHOE. THE Deanery of Forehoe coincides with the Hundred of that name, and with the exception of Honingham, with the Poor Law Division. Blomefield and others think that Forehoe means 66 four hills," near or in Carleton Forehoe, where the "hundred " or district council met. Other derivations are given, but the fact that the real meaning is lost points to the immense antiquity of the present division, which on a map seems hardly an arrangement we should make now. The most interesting plate is the pre-Reformation paten at Cossey, the oldest dated piece in the county; another pre-Reformation paten at Wymondham; and irregularly marked pieces at Morley S. Botolph and Carleton Forehoe. I desire to express my obligations to Canon Upcher, Rural Dean, and all clergy and others, for allowing me to see the plate. BARFORD, S. BOTOLPH. Chalice.-Elizabethan communion cup with the usual band, but no marks. "THE TOUNSHYP OF BARFOURD." Paten.-Bearing the stamp of Arthur Heaslewood twice, AH linked, in shaped shield. cup, bearing the Norwich Castle and lion, C for 1567-8. Maker, apparently a man's head; it is somewhat like the maidenhead. "+ THIS CUP IS FOR THE TOWNE OF." There is also the assay zigzag. Chalice.-Large, bearing the leopard's head crowned, lion passant, D for 1759. Maker's initials partly rubbed off, perhaps FM or T M. "Ex dono J. Brett, A.M., Rectoris 1759." Paten.-Bearing the leopard's head, lion passant, sovereign's head, Q for 1851. Maker, W H. "The gift of Edward Gurdon, Rector of this Parish, 1851." Flagon.-Same marks as last. "The gift of Frederica, wife of Edward Gurdon, Rector of this Parish." IHS, with rays. The curious inscription on the chalice raises an interesting point. Elizabethan "cups cups" are usually of very good workmanship, while the names of the parishes are inscribed in very poor form. Have parishes as a rule their old pre-Reformation plate made over into the reformed shape, or were the vessels left like this one with a name to be filled in afterwards, when they emerged from the silversmith's shop? BAWBURGH, SS. MARY AND WALSTAN. Chalice.-Marks, the Norwich Castle and lion, crowned rose, K for 1697, and E H under a crown, the maker's initials. "The gift of Mrs. Jane Waller to the Parish of Bawburgh, 1778." Paten.-On three feet. Marks, the leopard's head crowned, lion passant, Old English O for 1768-9, and EC, the mark of Ebenezer Coker. "J. W., Baubourgh, 1769." Cruet.-Glass, mounted. make. Alms Dish.-A fine bronze one of Indian “A.M.D.G. S. Mary and S. Walstan, Bawburgh, 1910." BOWTHORPE, S. MICHAEL. This church is in ruins, and the parish is consolidated with Earlham in the Humbleyard Deanery. A description of the plate will be found under Earlham. BRANDON PARVA, ALL SAINTS. Communion Cup.-Elizabethan, bearing the Norwich Castle and lion, C for 1567, and the trefoil slipped. BRANDON PERVA, 1567." Paten.-Bearing the rose, seeded and crowned, the Norwich Castle and lion, N for 1636. Maker's mark blurred, from perhaps being struck twice; it may be the "pelican in her piety." Bread Box.-Bearing the lion passant, Birmingham anchor, d for 1903-4. Makers, T & S. CARLETON FOREHOE, S. MARY. Chalice.-Bearing the leopard's head crowned, TS in monogram, G in shaped shield with a fleur-de-lys, as in "Jackson," p. 300, line 2. The chalice at Morley S. Botolph is similarly marked, and one or two other instances are known. The G should be date letter for 1630, TS the mark of Timothy Skottowe, but how the fleur-de-lys comes in seems a puzzle. Paten.-Bearing the leopard's head, lion passant, queen's head, the crown, Sheffield mark, H for 1851. Makers, HE & Co. Below, "Carleton Forehoe, 1852," with IHS and rays. Dish.-Pewter. Flagon.-Glass, silver top, bearing the lion passant, FA h for 1882, the anchor (Birmingham), and maker. B There is some evidence that pieces marked like the chalice are really about the date 1650, but were not regularly marked during the Commonwealth. COLTON, S. ANDREW. Communion Cup.-Elizabethan; inscribed-" COLTON," with the usual floral band and the assay scratch. The marks are the Norwich Castle and lion, and C, date letter for 1567-8, with a maker's mark rather obscure; it seems like an urn or vase. Paten.-Square with rounded corners, marked with the leopard's head crowned, lion passant, date letter illegible. Maker, W P or W F over a pellet. pellet. "The gift of James. Gray to y Parish of Colton, 1756." Alms Dish.-Brass. Flagon.-Glass. COSTESSEY OR COSSEY, S. EDMUND, K. AND M. Chalice.-Elizabethan Communion cup, with the usual floral band, but no inscription. The marks are the Norwich Castle and lion, B for 1566-7, and the trefoil slipped. Paten. Pre-Reformation. In Canon Manning's paper in the volume for 1893 is the following:-"Cossey. Silver parcel gilt. Diameter, 4 ins. Device, vernicle. Bust with straight hair falling towards shoulders. A curled lock in centre of forehead. Beard doubtful. doubtful. Diamond-shaped morse in front. Immediately round the head are nine short split rays, all within a plain circle. Spandrels with rayed leaf. Moulded edge partly lost to rim. Three hall marks. Maker's mark doubtful; the leopard's head crowned, a Lombardic T, the London date letter for 1496-7." This paten, being worn out, may now be seen in the Norwich Castle Museum. Paten.-A very good replica of the above, now in use, bears the leopard's head, lion passant, i for 1904, and W J B the mark of Messrs. Barnard. M S Dish.-Plated. Flagon.-Glass. COSTON, S. MICHAEL. Cup.-Elizabethan; very small, with the Norwich Castle and lion, D for 1568-9, the trefoil slipped and the zigzag assay scratch, and a dotted inscription-" For the Towne of Coston." Paten.-Bearing the rose, seeded and crowned, M for 1635, a blurred mark, probably the Norwich Castle and lion, and TS linked, for Timothy Skottowe, the maker. Dish.-Pewter. Two Cruets.-Glass, with plated tops. CROWNTHORPE, S. JAMES. Chalice and Paten.-Each have the lion's head erased, Britannia, E A, maker (John Eastt), date letter, courthand V, 1715, on the chalice; P, 1710, on the paten. |