Deerhurst. A parish of the Vale of Gloucester

Front matter

DEERHURST A PARISH OF THE VALE OF GLOUCESTER BV GEORGE BUTTERWORTH, M.A. " I, which am the queene Of all the British vales, and so have ever been Since Gomer's giant brood inhabited this isle, And that of all the rest myself may so cnstile." Polyolbion. Michael Drayton (1563— 1631). SECOND AND REVISED EDITION TEWKESBURY : WILLIAM NORTH, 139. HIGH STREET. LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LIMITED, All Rights reserved. TO WILLIAM COX PARISH CLERK OF DEERHURST A FRIEND OF THIRTY YEARS' STANDING PAROCHIAL OFFICER FOR TWICE THAT PERIOD A TRUE MAN AND ONE VERSED BETTER THAN ANY OTHER LIVING IN STRICTLY LOCAL LORE THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR

Preface

TO THE SECOND EDITION In offering a second edition of " Deerhurst " to the circle of my personal friends as well as to the general reader outside that limited range, I wish to mention that, while the greater portion of the first form of the book remains virtually intact, I have been led to adopt a more systematic arrangement in the setting forth of events than I succeeded before in presenting, and have also corrected no inconsiderable number of errors, and made sundry additions and enlargements. In the interval between the appearance of the former and that of the present edition, it has fallen to my lot to trace out successfully the foundations of the eastern termination of the Primitive Romanesque Church of Deerhurst, and thus to be able to answer the long debated question of its actual form.

Unfortunately the two Plates of the Church given in the present work were prepared before this discovery was made, and delineate the conjectural form of the apsidal end according to what was then considered the highest authority, which happens, how ever, not to have been, as we now know, the true form. All this will be explained in its proper place in the description of the Church. I gladly avail myself of the opportunity now afforded me to thank not a few friends who have kindly con tributed information bearing on the subject taken in a VI

PREFACE.

TO THE SECOND EDITION hand by me. My thanks are especially due to the Rev. C. S. Taylor, Vicar of S. Thomas the Martyr, Bristol, and to W. de G. Birch, Esq., of the British Museum. I have also profited, I trust, not a little, by the kindly, if trenchant, criticisms of E. A. Freeman, Esq., who has done me no slight honour in subjecting my essay to a searching examination, and has laid his finger upon several halting passages. One such imperfect passage in the present edition I must allow myself to indicate at the very last moment. The mythical mists that have gathered around the Battle of Tewkesbury are very long in clearing away, and I now believe that to those enveloping mists be longs properly the statement on p. 25 of this book as to the fugitive Queen being captured at Bushley, although it appears to be solid fact that at that place she did pass the night following the eventful day of slaughter.

But, as I am tempted to add, a more important fact having reference to the famous battle is that which seems to be at length established by means of the testimony of a contemporaneous letter only just brought to light — viz.: that the young Prince, the alleged vile assassination of whom after the battle has branded with infamy the memory of the three brothers of the House of York, actually fell on the field in fair fight. I am glad to be able to announce, at so early a date, this correction of a universally received historical error. My ancient friend, to whom was dedicated the little work on its first introduction to the light, still lives a hale man, and, though in his 83rd year, is still known to the crowds of our summer visitors as the intelligent guide to the Church and the Chapel of Odda. Deerhurst, 14M May, 1890.

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION About ten years ago I put together, and published in the form of a short pamphlet, a few Notes on the Priory and Church of Deerhurst. Since the publication of that little venture, a considerable amount of light has been thrown upon those antiquities of Deerhurst which constitute its chief interest as a village. The fact is now recognized, for example, that until lately onl}' a portion of its ancient relics had been seen and examined — the very existence of an important building of the Anglo-Saxon period, brought recently to light, not having been so much as suspected. Now, the re appearance of this hidden edifice not only enlarges the bulk of ancient remains at Deerhurst, but also (as will subsequently be explained,) affects at once, and tends to correct, the received opinion as to the date of the existing Priory Church.

In certain important par ticulars we have all, it seems, taken for history what is now proved to be guesswork of no value. Meanwhile we appear to have lighted upon the veritable history of the recently discovered building — " Odda's Chapel." Also, concurrently with the supply of information yielded by this fortunate recovery of a long lost relic,

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION a far better understanding of the nature and con struction of the old Church than was ever before in the possession of the general public has been afforded to many by the timely publication, by the Bristol and Gloucestershire Achæological Society,1 of an interesting and exhaustive account of the building, penned, indeed, many years ago by Mr. John C. Buckler, an eminent antiquary and architect, but only lately transferred from MS. to type. This valuable monograph takes us by the hand through the ancient Priory Church, makes us see its actual original form, and explains to us, in a mode carrying with it conviction, the meaning of its various parts. The venerable writer is still living, being indeed of a very advanced age, and resides at Oxford. Stimulated by this double influence, and believing that something at least is now to be known definitely about a Church, which, ranking amongst the very oldest in the land, has for a long time baffled the endeavours of not a few to interpret the several enigmas it puts forth, I have been induced to attempt an improvement upon the short sketch I gave of the building a few years back.

Particulars gleaned from sundry other classes of facts and of matters connected with the place over which the Church may be said to preside, have been added to the description of the ancient buildings ; and these notices, taken together may help, it is hoped, to render the present publication something like a history of the parish. Possibly in the majority of instances, the known history of one country parish may not greatly differ from that of its neighbours grouped around it, and con- 1 Proceedings, vol. xi. part i.

PREFACE.

IX sequently may present but few attractions to the general reader. But unless I deceive myself, there is fortunately an individuality about Deerhurst which is likely to make these " Annals," such as they are, to be not altogether devoid of interest for some persons even to whom our corner of Gloucestershire may be a terra incognita. I am indebted to the Council of our County Archæo logical Society for kindly permitting me to have copied certain prints of theirs, as well as for conceding the free use of a Paper of my own on the ancient Chapel, printed by the Society, which has here been almost reproduced. Deerhurst, \ts,th October, 1887. CONTENTS PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY:— GENERAL SKETCH OF DEERHURST . . .1 II. HISTORY OF THE PRIORY . . .28 III. CHARTER OF HENRY V. . . . .57 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH . . .73 TOWER . . . . . -75 NAVE ....... 84 CHOIR ....... go SANCTUARY . . . . . -95 AISLES OF CHOIR .....

IOO DETAILS OF SAXON WORK . . . 105 ALTERATIONS IN THE OLD CHURCH . . . 106 FONT . . . . . . II5 MONUMENTS . . . . . -117 V. THE AGE OF THE CHURCH . . .122 VI. DOMESTIC BUILDINGS OF THE PRIORY . 133 VII. ODDA'S CHAPEL . . . . .142 VIII. MISCELLANEA : — HOUSES. . . . . . . 160 PARISH REGISTERS . . . . . 167 CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS . . . 1 69 CHARITABLE BEQUESTS .... 184 FAMILIES AND LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS . . 187 LEGEND OF DEERHURST .... I98 PHYSICAL FEATURES ..... 200 STRAY ITEMS ...... 208 SUPPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES . . 215 IX. CONCLUSION . . . . . .235