PART II.] Lydiate Abbey.-Mischiefs of abolishing small Farms. 597 Mr. URBAN, Dec. 20. Mr. URBAN, Dec. 4. R. TORRENS'S observations (p. YDIATE ABBEY (as it is called) M429) on threshing-machines for LY in the parish of Halsall, co. Lancaster, is about ten miles from Liverpool, on the road leading from that town to Halsall, and the fashionable bathing place of Southport. This interesting ruin (see Plate II.) was no doubt formerly a Chapel, attached to the neighbouring Hall, which was then the seat of the Lords of the Manor. The Lords of Lydiate have been, successively, the families of Lydiate, Black burne, Ireland, Anderton, and Blundell, as appears in the pedigree of these families in Greg. son's "Fragments for Lancashire," (p. 222) traced down to the present possessor, Charles-Robert Blundell, of Ince-Blundell, Esq. The Chapel was probably built by the Ireland family, temp. Henry VIII. The initials of the rebuilder of the Hall, Lawrence Ireland, are carved on a doorcase in the house. The walls of the Chapel are still tolerably entire, but the ornamental parts are much mutilated by the hand of time. It has been asserted that the building was never completed, but I am of a different opinion, having found small fragments of glass in the mortar in several parts of the East window. The following are the only inscriptions on the tomb-stones now legible: "Here lyeth the body of Francis Waldsgrave, who departed this life on the 28th day of November, 1701, in the 75th year of his age." abridging labour, and the advantages of them, and of abolishing small farms to make one large one, have the direct contrary effect to that which he supposes. The rich farmer who can afford to buy a threshingmachine is the man who apparently gains by it, as he employs fewer labourers; but what becomes of these poor men thus deprived of work? The fact is unhappily proved, that they must apply to the parish for relief; the rich farmer pays a share of this, and thus diminishes his supposed profit, but a share of this additional burden is borne by those inhabitants who are not farmers, many of whom are themselves little removed from the necessity of applying for parochial relief. His next proposition of abolishing nine small farms to make one large one, is, that it will enable the one great man, by employing machinery, and otherwise abridging and economising labour, to perform the same quantity of work, with a less number of hands, bring a greater proportional surplus produce to market, and afford to pay a higher rent than while he continued on his small farm; the consequence, says Mr. Torrens, is that the landlord, tempted by a higher rent, lets the ten farms to this one man, and consequently, he admits that the other nine farmers with their families sink to the condition of "Sa. Ro. Ca. Ecc. Sacer, ob. die 2. agricultural labourers on the estate. Ap. An'o Domini 1728, æt. suæ 74. Requiescat in pace.” So far, says he, the effect is injurious. But, on the other hand, the employment of more efficacious machinery, and the more economical application of labour, which are found admissible in large concerns, would enable the great farmer, with a given expendi ture, to raise a greater produce than before, to break up old lands, and consequently furnish the means of employing a larger number of (the reader will surely be a little surprised to find of whom this additional number is to consist) manufacturing labourers! He then admits that this throwing all the farms into one will destroy the comfort of nine families reduced from the state of small farmers to that of day labourers, but additional comfort will result to the one who enjoys the large farm, and the 598 Evils of large Farms.-Mr. N. Godbold. the additional enjoyments of the landlord, and the (supposed) additional number of manufacturing labourers. It is impossible therefore to doubt, says this Mr. Torrens, that throwing the estate into one farm will produce a greater balance of good. Is it possible, Mr. Urban, to doubt whether this Mr. Torrens is not completely ignorant of agricultural affairs. His proposition is, that the one great farmer will employ fewer labourers ; where then are the nine farmers, sunk (as he truly calls it) to day-labourers, with their children, to find employ. ment? But is it possible for an Englishman to speak with such sang froid of reducing nine families from a state of independence and humble comfort, to that of mere common day-labourers, even if they could find employment as such! To do what? -to add to the comfort of the one great farmer, by enabling him to have a well-furnished parlour for his lady and daughters, after the latter have been Frenched and Musicked (as Mrs. Hannah More expresses it), with a summer excursion, perhaps to Paris, but at least to some fashionable watering-place. This however is not all-the additional enjoyments of the landlord are to be placed in the scale; of what they are to consist we are left to guess. Q. R. Mr. URBAN, MR R. N. GODBOLD (see pp. 424, 490) in 1790 purchased an estate at Godalming in Surrey, which had belonged to General Oglethorpe, consisting of a handsome house in a park of about 100 acres, called Westbrooke-place, the small manor of Westbrooke, and some other lands. He repaired and fitted up the house, which had not been inhabited for some years, and lived there till his death, 17th Dec. 1799. He left two sons, who continue to prepare the medicine in Bloomsbury-square, and one daughter, who married the Rev. Mr. Lovell. About four or five years ago, the house was agreed to be sold to Mr. Anstey, a woollen-draper in London, who had possession of it, and lived in it about three years, and then, under some pretence, refusing to complete the purchase, it came again into the hands of the two Mr. Godbolds, who now possess it. In the chancel of the South aile of Godalming Church, is a tablet to the memory of Mr. Godbold, with the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Nathaniel Godbold, esq. inventor and proprietor of that excellent medicine the Vegetable Balsam, for the cure of Consumptions and Asthmas. He departed this life the 17th day of December, 1799, aged 69. "Hic cineres ubique fama.” Arms: Azure, 2 bows in saltire Or *. There is an aqua-tint plate of Westbrooke-place, in which he is represented walking and presenting a flower to a lady. This figure has a considerable resemblance of him. Q. R. ACCOUNT OF CUMNER CHURCH, (Concluded from p. 490.) AGAINST the North wall of the chancel is a rich altar-tomb to Anthony Forster, esq. who has been brought into so much notice by the Author of Waverley. The tomb is elevated by a basement of free stone, and is composed of Purbeck marble. The plinth is ornamented with a small arched trefoil pannel at each extremity; the space between, which is filled by a series of circles, enclosing quatrefoils. The front of the tomb is separated into three square compartments, enriched with very elaborate tracery, and the sides each contain one pannel similarly adorned: the centre of every compartment contains a small brass plate, on which is engraven a shield of arms. There are several brass plates, likewise inserted in the masonry at the back of the monument, the largest of which represents an Esquire, clad in complete armour, (except his head-piece, which is deposited near his feet,) kneeling, at prayer, on a cushion, before a faldstool, on which lies a book open; with his wife and three children in the same attitude, habited in the dresses of the Elizabethan period. Beneath these figures, upon five other plates, some Latin verses t are engraved. It is somewhat singular that no mention is made in any of these inscriptions of the death of Forster, or his * Manning and Bray's History of Surrey, I. 640. + These verses are printed in Part i. of our present Volume, p. 387.-EDIT. PART II.] Account of Cumner Church, Berks. wife; nor is there any parochial record existing to prove that he died at Cumner. Did he die elsewhere, and was his monument erected during his life-time? On brass plates over the figures, the following Arms are engraved : In the centre; quarterly, first and fourth, three huntsman's horns stringed; second and third, three phæons, their points upward; with mantling and crest, which is a stag lodged and regardant Gules, charged on the side with a martlet Or, and pierced thro' the neck with an arrow Argent. Behind the lady this coat :-Quarterly, first and fourth, two organ pipes in saltire, between four crosses paté; second, a raven; third (within a bordure charged with roundells), a chevron ermine, between three lions' heads erased; a chief barré nébulé, surmounted by a pale charged with a pelican. Behind the esquire, the arms of Forster, impaling those of Williams. The other shields dispersed over the tomb are repetitions of these three. At the corners of the slab of Purbeck marble, which covers this tomb, are placed four small and ill-proportioned pillars of the Ionic order, sustaining a large canopy, the roof of which is sculptured into fourteen circular pannels, with quatrefoil tracery disposed in two rows. Over each pil lar is a small circular pinnacle, and the front of the canopy is divided into two compartments, by a fifth, which terminates beneath in form of a boss, and is charged with three hunters' horns stringed, carved in relief. The front is adorned with pannels similar to those which decorate the roof, and is terminated by a neat foliated cornice. Near the altar rails is a slab thus inscribed: "Joannes Baker de Ecclesdon in com. Sussexiæ, Generosus, obiit die 80 Januarii 1672." Arms, a fess engrailed, between three swans' heads collared, and erased at the bottom of the neck. The chapel is connected with the nave by a plain but substantial pointed arch. On each side the Eastern window is a sculptured corbel inserted in the wall, and near the South end a piscina of very elegant workmanship. Beneath the South window are 599 two stone coffins (represented in the Plate of doorway, &c. of Cumner Hall, p. 201), under two arches, enriched with elaborate, though sadly dilapidated, tracery. The windows yet retain a few inconsiderable fragments of painted glass. Upon the West side of the windows at the South end, is a neat mural monument, with the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Benjamin Buckler, D. D. whose mortal part is under this stone deposited. He was Vicar of this parish, Fellow of All Souls, and Keeper of the Archives in the University of Oxford, to the welfare and happiness of which places he chiefly de voted his time and his talents,-talents which in all probability would have advanced him to high stations, had they been less under the influence of those honest principles, which, although they greatly dignify a character, are not always of use on the road to preferment. In truth, be preserved his integrity chaste and pure. He thought liberally, and spoke openly; a mean action was his contempt. The world is not without proofs of his literary abilities. He possessed not great revenues, secular honours, or court favours; but he enjoyed blessings of a much higher estimation,-a competency, a sound mind, a benevolent heart, a good conscience, and a faith unshaken. He departed this life the 24th of December, 1780, aged 64 years." Over the inscription is placed the following shield of arms: Sable, on a fess Or three mullets Argent, between three greyhounds' heads erased of the third. Against the South wall of the nave, near the chapel, is a small square brass plate, inscribed with "An Epitaph upon y death of James The body of James Welsh lyeth buryed And for the poore did christianly prouide, The fruite makes knowne the nature of the tree, gaine, Good life the Christian, even so was hee; band gave, To shew her hart remembers him, though death inclose his grave, The 600 Account of Cumner Church, Berks. The gift he gave vnto the poore, she hath inlarg'd the same, With five pounds added to his five vnto Hath placed them both to the chvrchemen And so for ever shall remayne, vntill the In Comner, for the poore's reliefe, Margery Welsh doth will The charge of this, when is she deade, may be performed still." Nearly adjoining is a neat mural monument of marble, ornamented with two fluted pilasters in the Doric style, thus inscribed: "Nigh this place lieth the bodies of Dudson Bacon, of this parish, esq. and Anne, daughter of Thomas James, esq. of Serlwell, in the forest of Dean, in the county of Gloucester, his wife; the latter of which departed this life Sept. 9, A. D. 1711, aged 57; the former Oct. 17, A.D. 1715, aged 55." Over the entablature are these arms: Argent, a fess Gules, between three buckles of the second; impaling Azure, on a chevron Or three purses Sable, between three lions passant guardant of the second. Crest, a fox séjant, the dexter paw elevated. Upon the same side Westward of the window is a mural free stone monument, inscribed: "In memory of Norris Hodson, shipwright and mariner, born in this town the 14th of June, 1716, and died on board of his Majesty's ship the Gloucester, in the squadron commanded by Commodore Anson, on the 14th of June, 1741, and was buried in the great South Sea, in hope of a joyful resurrection, when the Sea shall give up her dead.' Our life is ever on the wing, This monument was erected at the sole expence of Mr. Quainton, 1743. Arms: quarterly, first and fourth, Argent; second and third, Gules, a fret Or; over all a fess Azure. Crest, a raven rising. The roof is of timber, and the pannels, which are formed by the intersection of the beams, are ceiled. The timbers are supported by brackets 1 [XCI. pierced with quatrefoils, resting on corbels, as rudely carved as those which have been previously noticed on the exterior of the Southern side. The nave is connected with the aile by three arches of the pointed form, resting on two columns, and a pier at each end. The pillars differ in their shape, one being of a circular, and the other of an octangular form. The piers are square, but have a torus wrought out at their angles on the side next the nave. In the Western window of the North side is a curious little fragment of painted glass. It represents a lady kneeling before a faldstool, on a chequered pavement, with her hands closed. A legend in old characters surrounded this subject, which is of a circular form; but, through the negligence of the glazier, the pieces have been so displaced as to render the whole illegible *. I am informed, that this antient morceau is not indigenous to the church, but that it was transported from the Hall to its present situation by the grandfather of the present clerk. At the East end of the aile are some old seats, the carvings at the ends of which are executed with great spirit. In the East pier is an elaborate piscina, very similar to that noticed in the description of the Chapel. The beams of the roof rest on large stone corbels, most hideously and grotesquely carved. The Eastern end is raised one step above the paving of the church, and was appropriated as a burial-place for the Peacock family ; in memory of which the following monuments have been inscribed. Against the Eastern wall a tablet of marble, with this inscription: I am happy to embrace this opportunity of informing your readers, that the Dean and Chapter of Bristol have employed the ingenious Mr. Millar (late of Swallow-street, but now of the New or Regent-street, London), to adjust and repair the beautiful painted glass in their Cathedral. It were much to be wished, that this Artist should meet with the most ample support, since it is probable that no other person has studied the antient modes of glazing with greater perseverrance, or imitated the spirit and colouring of antient paintings on glass with greater success. |