Part 29

A vacancy having occurred in the presidency by the death of Dr. Moore in 1867, Thomas Cammack, F.R.C.P., was appointed to that office, which he retained until his death. On November 22, 1872, Canon Edward Moore, F.S.A., was chosen president. He was eminent as an architect, the restorer of the fine Parish Churches of Spalding, and of Weston St. Mary, and the preserver of the west front of Crowland Abbey. The three Churches of St. John Baptist, St. Paul, and St. Peter, Spalding, were built under his auspices, as was also the new Grammar School and the Johnson Hospital. Canon Moore was well versed in archæology, and added much to the minute books of S.G.S. He died on 13th May 1889.

Between the years 1828 and 1889, although the meetings were held at infrequent and varying intervals, much interest must have been taken in the Society. The valuable papers read by Canon Moore, Dr. Cammack, Rev. R. Hollis, and others, and the communications from such men as Bishop Trollope, Matthew Bloxham, and Professor Marsden show that the Society still retained a considerable amount of energy. In addition to those whose names appear above, the list of members of this period gives those of Joseph Banks of Revesby (father of Sir Joseph Banks); Bertie, Lord Brownlow; Yarrard, the miniature painter; Count Montalembert, Lord Boston, Sir Gilbert Scott, T. J. Pettigrew, F.R.S.; J. J. Howard, Joseph Toynbee, F.R.S.; J. Russell Jackson, &c.

On July 15, 1889, the few remaining members met in the library, then situate in Double Street, and decided that an earnest effort should be made to revivify the Society. A president was elected, and a committee appointed to consider the rules and report thereon. A paper, _In Memoriam_ Canon Edward Moore, was read. Several articles were exhibited and some donations made.

The next meeting was held on September 30 following, when the rules drawn up by the committee were adopted. A treasurer, a librarian, and a secretary were elected. A paper on “Numismatics” was read and some books were presented for the library.

Thus, again, working order was re-established; and from that date quarterly meetings have been held without a single intermission. At these meetings one or more papers have been read, gifts and purchases of books and specimens announced, and articles of interest exhibited.

For some years past the quarterly meetings have been supplemented by monthly ones, and at these also useful work has been accomplished. Summer excursions to places of antiquarian interest have also been organised.

Since 1889 many hundreds of volumes have been added to the library and the donations to the museum have been of considerable value.

The Society of Antiquaries of London continues to show its interest in the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, by presenting annually its _Proceedings_ and _Archæologia_.

The Society has purchased several valuable books at auction and other sales, _e.g._ from the late Joseph Philips, Esq., Colonel Moore, T. H. Brogden, Esq., and especially from Mrs. M. Johnson, widow of Maurice Johnson, Esq., of Ayscoughfee Hall and Blundeston, Suffolk. Most of these last-named works formerly belonged to our founder and have his book-plate inside the cover. The following extract from a Spalding newspaper will show their value:—

“LIBRARY OF MAURICE JOHNSON, Esq., F.S.A.—As the sale of this library by public auction has been a subject of considerable interest in the town, on account of the intimate connection of its original owner with Ayscoughfee Hall, we are pleased to learn from Dr. Perry that the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, which was instituted by Maurice Johnson in the year 1710, has been able to secure the following books and manuscripts which formerly belonged to their venerated founder, in addition to the large number of similar works which have been in the possession of the Society from the beginning of the last century. Most of the books are in a very satisfactory state, and the officers of the Society will have pleasure in showing them to any one interested in book lore. The works are:—

Sir Lawrence Myntling’s Court Book, containing calendars of the bond tenants, constitutions, orders, customs, &c., of the Priory of Spalding. MS., _circ._ 1455. This book was also formerly in possession of Sir Richard Ogle.

Registrum Brevium, Statuta Vetera, Summaria legis. MS., _circ._ A.D. 1300.

Middlecot’s Exchequer Records of Lincoln Holland, &c. MS.

Rental in Comitate Lincoln, by various writers. MS.

Catalogus Librorum Societatis Generos; Spalding, by Maurice Johnson. MS.

Of Sewers in Lincoln—Johnson’s collection.

Statute of Sewers, principally MS., collected by Maurice Johnson. This contains Callis’ original manuscript, signed by himself.

Pleas of the Crown, together with a large treatise of the Clergy, by M. Johnson. MS.

Rerum Anglicarum Scriptorum Veterum. Quorum Ingulphus nunc primum integer, ceteri nunc primum prodeunt. Oxoniæ (1684).

A Survey of the Cathedrals of Lincoln, Ely, Oxford, and Peterborough, by Browne Willis. S.G.S.S. (1730).

Harrington’s History of Croyland, translated by Sir Thomas Lambert. MS.

Roberti de Avesbury Historia de Mirabilis Gestis Edwardi III. Oxonii (1720).

Mariani Scoti Chronica; cum Martini Poloni Historia (1559).

Aristotelis de Reip bene administrandæ Ratione Libri Octo. cum commentariis domini Richardi Ogle Equitis Aurati (1567).

Antiquitates Rutupinæ, auctore Joanne Battely. Oxoniæ (1711).

Chronicon Saxonicum et MSS. Codicibus nunc primum integrum ac Latinum fecit Edmundus Gibson, Episc. Lincoln. Interleaved and containing many MS. observations by M. Johnson, F.S.A. (Oxon. 1692).

Fines inter Abbes de Burgo et de Croyland, VII. Regis Johannis (A.D. 1205); Ibid. inter Croyland et Burgo XXXI. Henrici Filii Johannis (A.D. 1247); et conventio inter iidem Abbes. Manuscript on vellum (13th century).

Tracts, viz.: Lewis’ Antiquity and use of Seals (1740); Sale Catalogue of the collection of Statues, &c., of Edward (Harley) Earl of Oxford, S.G.S.S.; Sale Catalogue of Coins of the same (1741-42); Marmor Sandvicense cum Commentario et Notis Tayleri, folding plates (1743); Sannazerius, The Oziers, translated by Beaupré Bell, S.G.S.S. (1724); The First and Second Satires of the Second Book of Horace, by Alexander Pope (1st Edition) (this was given by Pope, who was a member of the S.G.S., to his friend Maurice Johnson, 1734); Solomon, de Mundi Vanitate, by Matthew Prior (1735).

Another book of Tracts, containing Croyland’s Chronicle, compiled from the Charters, &c., by Sir John Harrington, Knight, in Latin, and translated into English by Sir Thomas Lambard, Knight, with additions by Maurice Johnson, Steward of the Manor of Crowland; Speeches by King Charles I. and others (1640); The Bedford Level Act (1662); Deeping Fenn Act (1664); The Allotment made out of the Fenns, by John Johnson and Timothy Tubbs, 1ᵒ July 1669.

Madox Thomas—History and Antiquities of the Exchequer of the Kings of England (1711).”

Gifts of books have been made by the Rev. A. W. G. Moore, Rev. E. Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock, Rev. R. Hollis, Rev. J. Conway Walter, Rev. Dr. Astley, Rev. Canon Hemmans, Rev. James Penny, Rev. H. Larken, Rev. H. Kenelm Smith, Canon Atkinson, W. E. Foster, Esq., W. H. Wheeler, Esq., H. Peet, Esq., A. K. Maples, Esq., G. L. Nussey, Esq., The President, S. H. Perry, Esq., and others. The donation of “Sir Laurence Myntling’s Court Book of the Priory of Spalding” (MS., _circ._ 1455) by Alexander Peckover, Esq. (now Lord Peckover of Wisbech.), deserves special mention. His Majesty’s Stationery Office has given a large number of the Master of Rolls Series.

The books in the Grammar School library have been returned to S.G.S., as the Headmaster found they were becoming more and more dilapidated. Those books which were given to the Church library by S.G.S. have also been sent back for greater security. The other books in the Church library were removed to the Parsonage.

To the museum have been added various specimens, including coins, tokens, seals, casts, pottery, glass, ironwork, &c., of dates from the Roman period downwards.

The number of members has considerably increased, and their interest in the work and well-being of the Society is manifest.

The names of the present officers of the Society, and dates of their election, are as under:—

_President_—MARTEN PERRY, M.D., F.R. Numismatic Society, M.R. Archæological Inst., &c. _elected_ 1889 _Treasurer_—HAROLD STANLEY MAPLES, Esq. ” 1889 _Librarian_—Rev. E. M. TWEED, M.A. ” 1895 _Hon. Sec._—ASHLEY K. MAPLES, Esq. ” 1899 _Hon. Operator_—E. M. M. SMITH, Esq. ” 1907

In consequence of the additions made to the library and the museum, and with a special view of celebrating its bicentenary, it was resolved that an effort be made to secure a permanent home for the Society, and with that object in view an urgent appeal was issued to the members in 1908. As a result a sum of £1150 was received. An appeal to non-members was made in the spring of 1909, with the result of a further addition being made to the funds.

During the present year (1910) the members have made additional contributions. The Society has purchased a site, and commenced the erection of a structure to serve as a library, museum, caretaker’s residence, &c. The foundation stones were laid on July 9, 1910, by Everard Green, Esq., F.S.A., Rouge Dragon; Major Wingfield; Alderman F. Howard, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; M. Perry, M.D.; E. M. E. Welby, Esq.; H. S. Maples, Esq.; Edward Gentle, Esq.; W. S. Royce, Esq.; E. E. E. Welby-Everard, Esq.; A. K. Maples, Esq.; G. L. Nussey, Esq.; Rev. S. Yates; Dr. S. H. Perry; and Rev. P. L. Hooson. The building is dedicated to the memory of the worthy founder of the Society.

POSTSCRIPT

The following quotation from the _Publications of the Surtees Society_, vol. lxxvi. p. 321, gives Dr. Stukeley’s opinion of the value of the work done by Maurice Johnson:—

“20th February 1755.—At the Antiquarian Society I gave them Samuel Gale’s MS. of Cornu Ulphi, with the Latin translation by himself, and the copper plate of a Runic inscription relating to it, which they might print if they thought fit. I gave them an account of Maurice Johnson’s death, and the eulogium I wrote of him that morning, in the following terms: On Saturday, 8th February 1755, dyed Maurice Johnson, Esq., of Spalding, Lincolnshire, Councellor at Law, a fluent orator, and of eminence in that profession, but to an extravagant acquisition of riches which he ever had in his power, he preferred the serene sweets of a country life, learned leisure, study, and contemplation. He is one of the last of the founders of the Antiquarian Society, London, begun in the year 1717, the only survivors being Brown Willis, Esq., and Dr. Stukeley. What is singular in Mr. Johnson’s praise is that he is the founder of the Literary Society in Spalding, which memorable transaction happened on 3rd November 1712. This Society, through his unwearied endeavors, interest, and applications of every kind, by his infinite labors in writing, collecting, methodizing indexes, and the like, has now subsisted in great reputation for these 40 years, and excited such a spirit of learning and curiosity in that level part of Lincolnshire, called South Holland, as probably will never be extinguished. By this means they have got an excellent library, and all conveniences for their weekly meeting, have established a most extensive correspondence even to both Indies; are very exact in answering all communications; have made vast collections of MSS. letters, written historys, coins, medals, antiquities of every denomination; fossils, all kinds of natural and artificial curiosities, drawings, surveys, prints and the like. They keep exact minutes of everything that appears before them, have members in every branch of knowledge, try useful experiments and improvements tending to the common benefit or entertainment of mankind. Mr. Johnson was a great lover of gardening and planting, had an admirable collection of flowers, flowering shrubs, fruit-trees, exotics, an excellent cabinet of medals, in which he had great knowledge and judgment. Many years ago, particularly, he made large collections of memoirs of the history of Carausius, which he sent to me last summer, and is still in my custody, as a generous assistance in my work on that head, together with all his coins of that emperor, and one coin especially, which he always took to be Carausius’ son, of which I give a sketch. The face is like that of the young Tetricus, but singular in this, that the legend begins with Cæsar, the name Silvanvs, or whatever else, obliterated, which is the more to be regretted. Mr. Beaupré Bell, a young gentleman of most excellent learning and knowledge in medals, now dead, to the great loss of science, was confident that the coin belongs to Carausius’ son. In general, the antiquities of the great mitred Priory of Spalding, and of this part of Lincolnshire, are for ever obliged to Mr. Johnson’s care and diligence, being rescued and preserved from oblivion thereby. Thus much I thought proper to commemorate concerning the just eulogium of my friend and countryman.”

FOOTNOTES

[1] _Scenery of England_, p. 85.

[2] Professor Boyd Dawkins, _Early Man in Britain_, p. 224 and ff.

[3] March 1909, by Rev. E. H. Mullins.

[4] Since the above was written, a fine specimen of River Drift Man’s handiwork has been found by the author in the River Trent Gravels, June 21, 1910.

[5] _Early Man in Britain_, p. 315.

[6] _Nature_ for December 1907, p. 103.

[7] _Early Man in Britain_, by Boyd Dawkins, p. 434.

[8] Kemble’s _Horæ Ferales_, pl. 17.

[9] _Celtic Art_, by Bowdly Allen, p. 77.

[10] Introduction to _The History of Lincolnshire_, “Pike’s Series.”

[11] _Celtic Britain_, pp. 30, 288.

[12] _Vit. Agric._ c. 20.

[13] “Richard of Cirencester” says that there were nine colonies in Britain, including Chester and Caerleon; and the statement is still often repeated, though no confidence can be placed in it.

[14] The date is unknown, but the original must be older than the eighteenth century, as neither T. Sympson nor Stukeley speaks of a double gate.

[15] Another milestone of his reign has been discovered in Wales, and his coins are not uncommon; so we have here fresh proof that the Gallic usurpers in the time of Gallienus were acknowledged in Britain.

[16] His see is given as Colonia “Londinensium,” and the reading “Lindensium” is the best hitherto suggested for a word that is evidently corrupt.

[17] _Roman Roads in Britain_, p. 384.

[18] It is once called in the _Itinerary_ “Isubrigantum.”

[19] Herodian, iii. c. 14.

[20] _The Fenland, Past and Present._ By S. H. Miller and S. B. J. Skertchly, p. 181.

[21] Skertchly, _op. cit._, p. 142, and Miller, p. 28 and pp. 43-54.

[22] W. H. Wheeler, _Fens of South Lincolnshire_, p. 7.

[23] Miller, _op. cit._, p. 47.

[24] Of the name of “Cold Harbour,” which is generally associated with ruined buildings near Roman roads, there are at least ten instances in the county, and probably more. Five of these are in or near the Wolds of East Lindsey.

[25] The statue, altar, and milliary can still be seen at Ancaster Vicarage.

[26] This view has survived the discredit now attaching to the forged _Itinerary_ of “Richard of Cirencester,” in which alone is found the positive statement that this province was beyond the Humber.

[27] So it is termed by Mr. Codrington in his _Roman Roads in Britain_, p. 225.

[28] Mr. R. Brown, jun., F.S.A., in his _Earlier History of Barton-on-Humber_, vol. i. p. 12, supposes that this road kept to the heights, leaving Yarborough to the east, and ended at South Ferriby. But if the Barton earthwork be really Roman, as Yarborough unquestionably is, a road connecting both with Caistor seems not unlikely.

[29] Geoffrey gives its British name as “Caer Corrie”—strangely corrupted by Camden into “Caer Egarry.” The name suggests a connection with the Coritani; but it occurs only in this mass of fantastic legend.

[30] E. A. Freeman, _English Towns and Districts_, 1883, pp. 210, 211.

[31] The Church of St. Peter “ad Fontem,” which Picot, son of Coleswegen, gave to St. Mary’s Abbey at York (see notice of grant _ap._ Dugdale, _Mon. Angl._, ed. Caley, &c., 1846, vol. iii. p. 549), was in the eastern suburb of the city. Here, then, we must place that “wasta terra” which King William gave to Coleswegen, and the two churches which Coleswegen endowed there (_Domesday Book_, Lincolnshire _fac-simile_, f. 2_b_).

[32] See plan of Barton-on-Humber and conjectural elevation of the original building, _ap._ Baldwin Brown, _Arts in Early England_, 1903, vol. ii. p. 210. An account of Broughton, with views of the tower arch, follows, pp. 211 _sqq._

[33] The wooden stair at Brigstock has been replaced by a ladder, but the holes for the stair-logs remain in the inner wall of the turret. The stone stair at Broughton has been supposed to be an afterthought of the builders, but the present writer is very doubtful about this.

[34] An illustration and description of this tower will be found in _Assoc. Archit. Societies’ Reports_, vol. xxix., 1907, p. 70, at the end of an article in which the present writer has collected the results of his observation of towers in the neighbourhood of Grimsby and Caistor.

[35] The present belfry stage of the tower is of the fifteenth century, and is built on piers and arches placed against the inner face of the older tower walls. For plan of the older tower, see Baldwin Brown, _op. cit._, ii. 240.

[36] Twenty-six is the exact number of towers which may be said to be unquestionable members of the group. But the number may be raised by the inclusion of a few more possible examples.

[37] The roof-line, visible on the eastern wall of the tower, is that of the mediæval church before the addition of the clerestory.

[38] Hough-on-the-Hill, as noted later, is the only example in which the details of the quoining really approximate to those at Barton; but at Hough there is no strip-work.

[39] A kindred example of strip-framing finished off in this way is the north doorway at Laughton-en-le-Morthen, near Rotherham. At Skipwith, near Selby, the tower arch has strip-framing. Both these churches lie within the area to which the Lincolnshire group may be said to belong. The present writer has dealt briefly with the Yorkshire churches in this area in an article on “The Village Churches of Yorkshire,” in _Memorials of Old Yorkshire_.

[40] Historical evidence which points to this conclusion has been summarised by Dr. Mansel Sympson (“Where was Sidnaceaster?”—_Assoc. Archit. Soc. Reports_, vol. xxviii., 1905, pp. 87 _sqq._). A charter of Edward the Confessor, preserved at Peterborough, which contains the grant of the church, &c., at Fiskerton to the Abbey of Peterborough, is witnessed by several bishops and nobles, including Wulfwig, Bishop of Lindsey, who signs himself “Lincolie episcopus.” The charter, however, appears to be a copy of the original, in which “Lincolie” may have been written by error for “Lindisse.” But, if “Lincolie” is right, the use of the title by a bishop whose see was at Dorchester-on-Thames points to the fact that he looked on Lincoln as his true episcopal city. And the conviction of the present writer, on other grounds, is that “Sidnaceaster,” whose site was unknown even to writers of the Norman period, is simply a careless MS. corruption of “Lindaceaster,” or some allied Saxon form of “Lindum Colonia.”

[41] The old archdeaconry of Stow comprised the deaneries (now subdivided to some degree) of Aslackhoe, Corringham, Lawres, and Manlake—in fact, the original district of Lindsey, east of Trent and west of Ancholme.

[42] The dedicatory inscription on the tower of St. Mary-le-Wigford, while clearly pointing to its English origin, must not be taken as indicative of any positive date.

[43] Baldwin Brown, _op. cit._, vol. ii. chap. ii.

[44] See the article on this subject by Dr. J. H. Round, _Feudal England_, pp. 317 _sqq._ How far the influence of Normans in England before the Conquest may have affected work in masonry is a point which may be left to the judgment of the individual reader. The foreigners who threw up their own characteristic earthworks at the “Pentecost’s Castle” and “Richard’s Castle” of the Chronicle cannot be certainly credited with any influence outside their own branch of work; and the appearance of “Norman” technique at Westminster does not imply its general acceptance in the provinces.

[45] There is a concise account of the lords of Grantham in the Rev. B. Street’s _Historical Notes on Grantham and on Grantham Church_. To this book the writer is indebted for much of the historical matter of the present chapter, but has carefully checked it by his own research, adding where necessary references not noticed or imperfectly given by Street and his eighteenth-century predecessor, Edmund Turnor, author of the _History of Grantham_. Much research into the mediæval history of the town is still necessary.

[46] _Rotuli Hundredorum_ (Record Commission), vol. ii. pp. 259, 288. The jurors, who suffered from bad memories, called the original grantee Ralph instead of William.

[47] See Street, _Notes on Grantham_, pp. 30, 31. The facts and dates given there are not wholly consonant with history, and the names and relationships of the owners of the manor are entirely wrong, Ranulf de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, being confused with Ranulf de Glanville, and the descendants of his sister Mabel with those of his sister Maud.

[48] Patent Rolls, 37-8 Henry III., pt. i., m. 8 (1253-4, 14 February, Bazas): grant to Edward of Stamford and Graham [Grantham] with its honour (cf. ibid., m. 3, 1254, 14 April, Meilhan); ibid., pt. ii., m. 8 (1254, 26 August, Bordeaux): notification supplementary to assignment in dower to Eleanor. They had been assigned to her 1254, 20 July, at St. Macaire (ibid., m. 10).

[49] See Close Rolls, 18 Edw. II., m. 12 (1324-5, 18 March, Westminster): order to deliver goods of Aymer de Valence to his executors, towns of Stamford and Graham [Grantham], &c., excepted; ibid., 19 Edw. II., m. 31 (1325, 28 July): escheat of manor.

[50] Patent Rolls, 19 Edw. II., pt. ii., m. 8 (1326, 17 May): grant; Close Rolls, 19 Edw. II., m. 4 (1326, 29 May): order to deliver; ibid., m. 3_d_ (1326, 7 May): enrolment of release on quit-claim.

[51] Patent Rolls, 12 Edw. III., pt. ii., m. 22 (1338, 20 June).

[52] The date is given on the strength of Street’s notes; but Street adds that the grant was made on the marriage of Edmund with Isabel of Castile, which did not take place till 1372. Possibly the grant was made in 1373.

[53] In 1402 Edmund, Duke of York, was said to hold Grantham immediately of the King, warrant unknown (Subs. Rolls, box 106, No. 105, &c., ap. _Inquisitions and Assessments relating to Feudal Aids_, vol. iii., 1904, p. 252).

[54] Patent Rolls, 1 Edw. IV., pt. iv., m. 1 (1461, 1 June).

[55] It may be noted that the authority for the existence of this cross is no earlier than Weever’s _Ancient Funerall Monuments_ (1631). There is some reason for supposing that the funeral procession travelled by way of Newark and the old road, known as Sewstern Lane, and did not touch Grantham. The cross destroyed at Grantham in the seventeenth century, and known as the Queen’s Cross, was not necessarily an “Eleanor” cross.