Heigham, which extends from the Wensum to Newmarket Road, and the parish was not subdivided until 1868. At that time the church consisted of nave and chancel, under one continuous roof, south aisle, north porch and square western tower. A north aisle and organ chamber were added at the restoration in 1878, and the north porch was re-built further north. Mr. Phipson, the architect, previous to commencing the work, addressed the members of this Society, who were visiting Heigham, expressing his opinion that the aisle roof and the arcade, though the latter was only of brick and plaster, were of the time of Edward III. The roof of the aisle alone was thatched, the main roof had always been leaded, and was perpendicular work of the first half of the fifteenth century. The huge three-decker pulpit mentioned by Browne as erected at the expense of the Rev. Mr. Parr, rector, 1781-1812, was removed at the restoration, exposing the soffit of one of the chancel windows brought down to form a sedilia, while in the easternmost angle was a piscina with tracery in both heads, that towards the altar being the most elaborate. Mr. Phipson assigned the font to the time of Henry VIII. The panels contain shields charged with the emblems of the Trinity and the Passion, a plain cross and a cross flory, alternated with roses on leaves arranged saltire-wise. At the angles of the square base are lions sejant, and the old cover is boldly crocketed. The tower contains two bells, but the recess for banner staves, crosses, etc., pointed out on the occasion of the Society's former visit, is no longer in evidence. The monument of Bishop Hall on the south side of the chancel bears the gilded figure of a skeleton. It holds in the right hand a bond with a seal with the inscription [translated]. We owe to death both ourselves and our property;" in the left, a bond with the seal torn off and cancelled, inscribed He has paid the debt and is released." Below is [translated] "Joseph Hall, once a humble servant of the Church." The brass of Thomas Holl, who was buried in 1630, displays the costume of a beau of that date, and there is another brass to a member of this family affixed to the wall at the end of the south aisle. The Holls were connected with the parish for many years. Thomas Holl farmed the manor of the Bishop at £16 16s. 3d. in 1549, having as his fee as bailiff £4 per annum, and £4 16s. for six coombs of corn to be delivered at the Palace. The lease of the manor was afterwards held by the Seaman family; a monument to a prominent member of it was removed from the north of the chancel at the restoration and placed in the new aisle, where there is also the memorial tablet of William Arderon, F.R.S., the naturalist. He came from Yorkshire, and obtained here the post of managing clerk at the New Mills, dying in 1767. His microscope is in the Norwich Castle Museum. There are other memorials of the Unthank family, one of whom fell at Badajoz, and tablets to the memory of Parrott Hanger and Anthony Wills. At the restoration some fragments of brass filleting were found, inscribed: "Hic jacent ossa Wifi Bateman et Margerie. patris." It was suggested at the time that these might be part of a memorial to the father and mother of William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich at the time of the Black Death, and founder of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, who died in 1354. Expert examination showed, however, that the character of the letters is of the year 1400. Another fragment, without date, bore the name of William Karr. Until the dissolution of the monasteries the Abbot of St. Benet presented to the rectory, and afterwards the Bishop. Thomas Stokes was ejected in 1644 for refusing to contribute in aid of the rebellion, and after many intruders," Bishop Hall instituted his friend John Whitefoot, who resigned in 1682. He was also minister of St. Gregory in Norwich, and so we must suppose that the incident mentioned in The Gurneys of Earlham took place in Goat Lane and not at the Gildencroft as there stated. His son, John Whitefoot, succeeded him, who, in addition to other appointments, was also Rector of Hellesdon and minister of St. Peter Mancroft and St. Gregory. What Heigham had of his services was, probably, not much. There was only one service a week in Browne's day, 1814. RINGLAND The next place to be visited was Ringland Church, of which the Vicar, the Rev. J. England, who had but recently succeeded to the living, gave an interesting description. The fabric is an ancient one and owes its somewhat modern appearance to the restoration which, so far as convenience and comfort are concerned, leaves nothing to be desired, yet it must be regretted that it involved the removal of much that was a tacit proof of the continuity of the Church of England. In the east windows of the chancel and aisles was some fine old stained glass. That in the north aisle contained an injunction to pray for the brothers and sisters of the Gild of the Holy Trinity, by whom it was erected, and that in the south aisle the emblem of the Blessed Sacrament-three gold cups surmounted by wafers. There were Gilds here of the Holy Trinity, St. Peter, and St. Mary, with which, it was thought, the three windows were connected. There were images of these Saints and the altar and light of St. Mary. Moreover, a cloth to cover the image of the Holy Ghost is mentioned in 1467. The piscina has a cinquefoil head and a quatrefoil drain. An inventory dated 9th September, 6 Edward VI. (1552), enumerates the various articles in the custody of the churchwardens, which included two silver chalices, parcel gilt, valued at £4 19s.; three copes, one of blue velvet, one of black satin, and one of green silk, with various other vestments of similar materials; also the four bells and a saint's bell, which now hangs in the belfry of the schools. Attached to the inventory is a citation to the wardens to appear before the Commissioners for the Survey of Churches, taking with them the two silver chalices. The list of vicars is incomplete, the earliest recorded being a certain Thomas in the year 1288. The nave roof is said to resemble that of St. Peter Mancroft in Norwich. It springs from eighteen shafts, which rest upon carved heads between a series of seven two-light and finely-proportioned clerestory windows on either side. These windows also were at one time filled with stained glass, of which only a few pieces remain to indicate the style of the whole when intact. The ancient font is octagonal and has angels holding shields and other figures carved on the basin, below are cherubim, and the base is supported by lions couchant. Near the west wall are portions of the rood-screen with the usual painted figures of the Apostles, but much defaced. It is said that the faces were carefully cut out with penknives, some years ago, by some young persons visiting the church. The communion plate consists of an eighteenth-century pewter flagon and alms dish; a silver chalice, on which are four marks (1) the leopard's head crowned, (2) the lion passant, (3) black letter i for 1566, (4) R.D. in monogram, the mark of Robert Danby; and a venerable paten of the pre-Reformation period, in good preservation. It only possesses one mark, somewhat indistinct, perhaps a sexfoil, while the central device seems to be either a Maltese cross or the halo of glory round our Saviour's face. The register is of the usual type and dates from the year 1559. COSTESSEY The excursion was concluded with a visit to Costessey Hall, where Lord Stafford most kindly provided the party with tea. His lordship was, however, too unwell to receive his guests and, we regret to add, died the following week. Mr. (now Sir) Stafford Jerningham welcomed the gathering, and gave them a description of the house, which, coming from so excellent an authority, besides being entirely original, we feel pleasurably compelled to insert at greater length than is our wont. Mr. Jerningham prefaced his notes with a short summary of Blomefield's account of the village, adding that King Henry VIII. sent Anne of Cleves here to reside in quasi-banishment.* In 1553 Queen Mary I. conferred Costessey Manor, with other manors, upon Sir Henry Jornegan, ancester of the present owner. In 1564 Sir Henry Jernegan built or re-built the principal part of the present old hall. The shape or form of the house in an E, which follows the custom in vogue during the reign of Elizabeth. It is more than traditional that Queen Elizabeth visited Costessey Hall as the guest of Sir Henry. The Front Hall, or Great Hall as it was called in olden days, would doubtless have been considered a commodious apartment even then. It is still to be seen, and it is supposed that some of the original oak panelling is that which is to be found at each end, and the stone flags appear to be the old ones. The mansion is See Rot. Pat., 22nd May, 32 Hen. VIII. |