May 2011:
SPITAL-IN-THE-STREET St Edmund's Chapel, and GLENTWORTH St Michael,
Our
May visit was to St Edmund’s Chapel Spital in the Street which is
on the Roman Ermine Street (A15). The chapel is now owned by a
Trust headed by Professor David Marcombe. We were very fortunate
to have David as our speaker and guide.
St
Edmunds Chapel Spital in the Street.
The hospital called 'Spittal on the Street’ was built in 1396 by Thomas Aston, a canon of Lincoln, and connected with the chapel of St. Edmund, where a chantry had been founded in 1343. Still standing is the medieval Chapel of St Edmund, almshouses (dating from 1390) in Spital Green, the Quarter Sessions house (built in 1592), the old coaching inn (now derelict). The area outside the chapel has a physic garden and adjacent is an orchard being re-planted with old varieties of apple and pear trees. David’s talk was quite fascinating and brought to life the local history of this hamlet which most people pass at high speed! It is good to know that the chapel is now so well cared for.
We then moved on to Glentworth. St Michael’s Church is well worth seeing as it has stained glass by Kempe in the west window (1882) and the west window is by T. F. Curtis of Ward & Hughes (1919).
There are two good monuments - that on the left at the East end is to Christopher Wray, Lord Chief Justice of England to Queen Elizabeth I who died in 1592. Sir Christopher was the judge who passed sentence on Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587. He did not go to the execution, however, as he was said to be ill at the time. It has also been said he was absent because he feared the reaction of Elizabeth I when she was told of Mary's death.
This monument takes up the whole of the wall and is difficult to photograph. It has the following inscription (translated from the Latin) :
We then moved on to Glentworth. St Michael’s Church is well worth seeing as it has stained glass by Kempe in the west window (1882) and the west window is by T. F. Curtis of Ward & Hughes (1919).
There are two good monuments - that on the left at the East end is to Christopher Wray, Lord Chief Justice of England to Queen Elizabeth I who died in 1592. Sir Christopher was the judge who passed sentence on Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587. He did not go to the execution, however, as he was said to be ill at the time. It has also been said he was absent because he feared the reaction of Elizabeth I when she was told of Mary's death.
This monument takes up the whole of the wall and is difficult to photograph. It has the following inscription (translated from the Latin) :
The Chief Justice Of England
Whoever thou art (or a stranger too) pay your
respects to those who are buried.
Christopher Wray, who lies here was the glory of
our legal system.
Fair in business, true by name who shone forth
in duty, understanding and faith.
Lo, he was here, Lo he is not. Swift fate
overturns everything.
Alas, he is dead to us but he himself survives.
Earth to Earth, ashes to ashes, the heavenly to
heavenly things.
A spirit of the celestial world he occupies the
stars of heaven
He died the seventh day of May.
A.D.1592
and in the thirty fourth year
of the reign of
Queen Elizabeth.
Whoever thou art (or a stranger too) pay your
respects to those who are buried.
Christopher Wray, who lies here was the glory of
our legal system.
Fair in business, true by name who shone forth
in duty, understanding and faith.
Lo, he was here, Lo he is not. Swift fate
overturns everything.
Alas, he is dead to us but he himself survives.
Earth to Earth, ashes to ashes, the heavenly to
heavenly things.
A spirit of the celestial world he occupies the
stars of heaven
He died the seventh day of May.
A.D.1592
and in the thirty fourth year
of the reign of
Queen Elizabeth.
On the right is a fine standing wall monument in grey and white marble by William Hurst 1714 to Elizabeth Saunderson. In the centre of this there are three winged souls under a canopy with columns and cupids either side. There is also a descriptive text with family history.
For me these were particularly interesting visits.
For me these were particularly interesting visits.
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