Historical and descriptive sketches of the town and soke of Horncastle [1822]: in the county of Lincoln and several places adjacent — John Shaqi
Historical and descriptive sketches of the town and soke of Horncastle [1822]: in the county of Lincoln and several places adjacentWeir, George
History
Historical and descriptive sketches of the town and soke of Horncastle [1822]: in the county of Lincoln and several places adjacent
Weir, George
Horncastle (England)
The present structure, which is dedicated to Saint Mary, stands in the
centre of the town, and possesses but few attractions for the antiquary
or the architect. It consists of a square tower, a nave and chancel,
with north and south aisles. Being for the most part built with the soft
and imperfectly aggregated sand-stone of the neighbourhood, which yields
easily to the moisture of the atmosphere, it has suffered much from the
effects of time; and the decayed parts being repaired with brick, gives
to the building a motley and unprepossessing appearance.
The few portions of the original architecture which have escaped the
silent ravages of years and the hands of the innovator, bespeak the
building of no higher antiquity than the period of Henry the seventh.
The aisle on the north side of the chancel is ornamented with
embattlements, on which quatrefoils and blank shields are sculptured. It
was probably used as a chantry, one of the windows having formerly
contained an inscription justifying such a supposition. {26b} This aisle
does not extend the whole length of the chancel, and in the space so
left, the remains of an oratory and confessional are still visible; this
space formerly appropriated as a depository for coals to distribute among
the poor, is now occupied by a building to contain the fire engines; a
corresponding part of the south aisle being used as a vestry. The aisle
on the south side of the chancel was rebuilt in 1820; but the original
windows were restored and again inserted. Part of the aisle on the south
of the nave was rebuilt in the following year.
The interior of the church is remarkably neat and well pewed. A gallery
at the west end of the nave contains an organ which was purchased by
subscription in 1810. Galleries are also erected in each aisle of the
nave.
In the wall of the north aisle is a stone, containing the figure in brass
of Sir Lionel Dymoke, in armour, kneeling on a cushion, and holding in
his hand a label, on which is written, in black letter,
“Sc’ta trinitas unus deus miserere nob.”
On each side of him are two shields containing arms, at one of the lower
corners are the figures of his two sons, and at the other those of his
three daughters, and under him this inscription in black letter:
“In honore sc’te et individue trinitatis Orate p’ a’ia Leonis Dymoke
milit’ q’ obijt xvij die me’se augusti aº D’ni mº ccccc xix cuj’ a’ie
p’piciet’ de’ Amen.”
The shields contain these arms:—1. DYMOKE, sable, two lions passant
argent in pale, ducally crowned or; empaling WATERTON, Barry of six
ermine and gules, three crescents sable; a crescent for difference. 2.
DYMOKE; empaling MARMYON, Vairè, on a fesse gules frettè or; in chief,
HEBDEN, Ermine, five fusils in fess; a crescent for difference. 3.
Argent, a sword erect azure, hilt and pomel gules. {27a} 4. DYMOKE;
empaling HAYDON, Quarterly gules and argent, a cross engrailed
counterchanged; a crescent for difference.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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