Burgh by Sands
The Body of the Church is as homely as the Quire; and ha s no more plaister on its Walls, which look very black and doleful. Both have been lately new roof'd, and the South Wall of the Church is decently rebuilt, at the Common Charge of the Parish; Tho’ towards the defraying of the expence, they took 40 li out of the Church Stock. What remains of their publick money is in ill hands: and the Sureties their Book are owned to be as insolvent as the Principal Obligees. There a good Tower at the West End; and another, half demolish'd, at the East.
To what end this latter was built none could tell me. But it seems to have been intended for a Mansion-House for the Vicar; such Fastnesses being necessary (so very near Scotland) before the Kingdoms were united. Both the pulpit and Reading-Desk are out of Order. They shew'd me the Appearance a long Grave, betwixt two Pillars on the North of the Church, where their Common Tradition tells them that King Edward the First was buryed: But our Historians, upon much sounder Authorities, have placed his Body at Westminster. No Monumts. I order'd ACupboard to be fitted up in the Quire for the depositeing of B. Oley's Books: which were now all produced, except Sparrow's Rationale on the Common-prayer: And this was said to have been lent to Mr. Hume, late Rector of Beaumont, andto be recoverable. The Parishioners generally (and especially the Impropriators) seem'd to challenge a Rt. to carry any of the Books to yir own home. Mr. Story directed to divide his pains betwixt this place and Bampton, three pts of ye year.
BEAUMONT. Jun. 29.
This poor Rectory, with that of Kirk Andrews following, was presented to (ye last week) by the Lord Lonsdale (Young); and Mr. Gab. Trant (a Frenchman, and one of ye Masters at ye new School of Lowther) instituted into both. The Church is in as good Repair as could be expected; but has not a Letter on the Walls, Floor or Churchyard. The East Window in ye Quire wants Glass. The Parishioners desire that those of Kirk-Andrews may contribute to ye Repair of this Church; since they have none of-their, own, and come constantly hither. The Rector has neither House nor Gleab. A pitiful Clay-House there has been; but the Walls are now laid flatt, and ye timber is a Nusance in the Church. Should it be rebuilt, there's no Room for a Garden; nor, indeed, so much as for a Stable or Hog-stye.
Feb 27. 1704. I recd Mr. Trant's letter (of ye 25th) wherein he acquaints me that he has been told by Dr. Todd Mr. Reed of Carlile and all his parishioners of Beaumont, that a portion of Land call'd Priest-Hill (in the sd parish of Beaumont, containing about thirty Acres) was given to Mr. Wilson, Rector of the Place, by the late Lord Lonsdale; when His Lordship improv'd the Commons in Burgh-Barony: That it was assign'd to the sd. Mr. W. and his Heirs, for ten years after this death, in consideration of the present Charge it was like to bring upon him: That the said Mr. Wilson,when he dyed, was endebted 20 li to Mr. Reed: who enter'd on the premises for his Security:
That after wards, Mr. George Hume, (Mr. Trant's immediate predecessor) gave Bond for the sd. 20 li and had thereupon possession of the sd. Priest-Hill. Yet Mr. Hume's Widow keeps possession of the Land as her Husband's Inheritance. A Quaker (~he saies) refuses, Mr. Aglionby' s advice, to pay him an usual Fine of 10 li which two of his late predecessors had, without Scruple. The Liveing, he saies, answers the Character that was given of it, of being a little one: For this Rectory and Kirk Andrews united do not yield above 25 li per An:
GRINSDALE. Jun. 29.
The Church and Chancel both in Ruins; nothing left but a good handsome Stone-Table heretofore used for an Altar. Half of the Church-yard seems also to have been carry"d off, by the River Eden; against the further Encroachments of which the Parishioners have now built a strong Stone-wall, to preserve their Dead from being carry'd down the River. Burials are attended by Tho. Addisson , whose father (one of the Petty Canons of Carlile) was lately Curate here; And Mr. Appleby the Impropriator, gives him four Nobles (antiently four Marks) yearly for so doing. The Parishioners, on Sundayes, attend Divine Service either at Carlile or Beaumont.
If, as that prophecying (of which he was so great a Patron) should first cease in this and ye neighbouring Parish of Kirk-Andrews; the very next adjoining village.
ROCLIF. Jun. 29.
The Curate of this place (Mr. Calvert) has no House nor Gleab; onely 20 li paid yearly, by way of Augmentation by (my sister Spooner) the Lessee of the Rectory, under the Dean and Chapter. The Church and Chancel are both in good condition in their walls, plaistering and Floors: but the Quire wants pointing on the Roof, and Glass in the South-window. No Sentences of Scripture on the Walls; nor any other Ornament, save the Queen's Arms in 1664. The onely letter'd Monument is alate one in the Church-yard with this Inscription.
Memoriae Conjugis.
Here lyes the body of Jean wife of William Jackson of the New Town, who departed this life
in the sixth of day of May and in the year of our Lord God 1694.
Below which is a fair Coat of Arms, cut on the same Grave-stone; A Gheyeron betwixt three Bucks heads erased. There's an old Cross in the Church-Yard, which has had some curiosity on its forming; but has no letters. In a neighbouring House the Children are taught by Mr. Moor, a Scotch Mr. of
Arts of Aberdene; who has contracted with ye Parishioners for a salary of 3 li and his diet;He is also Clerk of the Parish, worth about lOs under the Curate who never saw either an University or a. College; excepting that in the Abbey in Carlile, where he is a Petty Canon.
BURGH-BY-SANDS . Jun. 29.
The Vicar (Mr. Story) and Clark liveing bothat Kirk-Bampton, I could not meet with the Key of the Church; so that all the View I could take of its Inside was through Holes in the Doors and Windows. It seem'd to be in pretty good Repair; but I could see no Monuments within or without. The Bells hang in a good Square Steeple at the West End. There has been formerly another at the East; But this is now half-broken down.
A small charge would turn it into a School-House; which they want. Enquireing after B.O's books, I met with John Hodgson, who was Churchwarden when they were given; and well remember'd the Engagement he and his fellows had enter'd to for the safe Custody of 'em.
He told me that they were (at first) deposited in a Chest in ye Quire; but that the Vicar, contrary to his frequent Remonstrances against, had removed most of them to Bampton, haveing them there in his own possession. A few of 'em believed were at one Widow Matthew's in this Town. I went presently to her House; and found there five Volumes (i.e., the second of Dr. Jackson's Works, one of Medes, one of the Author of the Whole Duty of Man, one of Dr. Towerson's, and Bp Person's on the Creed) at the service of any body who had the Curiosity to tumble 'em over. In the way to Rocliff hither I came by the Monument on the Marsh; erected by the present D. of Norfolk's Grand-father in honour of (himself and) Edw. the First. It has no Inscription on the North-side; but on the other three are these following. On the East: King Edward I Monument, 1685., Burgh-Marsh.
Latin tran.
To the eternal memory of Edward I, the most famous King of England, who died here in camp whilst preparing for Ear against the Scots July 7th, 1307. The most noble prince, Henry Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshall of England Earl of Arundel, descended from Edward I King of England, places this Monument, 1685.
John Aglionby
A Lawyer by trade caused it to be made.
The above fell in decay, 4th l{arch, 1795. Rebuilt by Lord Lonsdale. 1803.
The Letters on the East side, being the largest Inscription, are so moss'd over already that they are hardly legible.
Oct. 19. In a former View of the Church at Burgh by Sands, I could onely peep into it: But this day I took Kirk-Bampton in my way thither, and carry'd Mr. Story along with me. The Quire is (as most of its Neighbours) long and nasty; haveing no Ascent in it; Nor is the Communion-Table placed in the East Eng: but instead of that, we have here a Seat or Pew newly erected by one of the Impropriators. There are (in all) about Thirty of these: who have the great Tithes among 'em: excepting 0nely a Twentieth part (worth about 10li Del' An.) which belongs to the School at Dovenby. Some of these Lay-parsons are Quakers: And they neither take ye Tithes themselves, nor openly allow their partners to carry over their Shares. Several of 'em were in the Church With me; when I order'd them, the Churchwardens, to present them all (by name) for keeping the Chancel in so scandalous a condition.