Replies.
ANCIENT TIMBER TOWN-HALLS.
(Vol. v., pp. 257. 295.)
MR. PARKER makes some inquiries relative to the ancient town-halls of our country towns; and should the following particulars of some still in existence be of service, I shall feel a pleasure in having been the means of gratifying his curiosity.
The town-hall in the city of Hereford is a timber structure built upon twenty-seven pillars, and was originally a very handsome building, but was many years since denuded of its upper story, in which the fourteen different trading companies of the city transacted their business. It was erected by the celebrated John Abel, in the reign of James I. Prior to the erection of the present county hall, the assizes were held in this building.
The town-hall at Leominster, or Butter-cross as it is frequently called by the inhabitants, was erected in the year 1633, by the above-named architect; it stands upon twelve oak pillars, and was originally ornamented with a variety of curious carvings, and the shields of arms of those who contributed towards the expense of its erection, but which have long since vanished. Around the building, just above the pillars, was inscribed the following sentences, but portions of which only now remain. On the south side:
"Vive Deo gratus, toti mundo tumulatus, crimine mundatus, semper transire paratus."
On the east side:
"Where justice reigns, there virtue flows. Sat cito, si sat bene vive ut post vivas. As columns do support the fabric of a building, so noble gentry do subprop the honour of a state."
On the north side:
"In memoriâ æternâ erit Justus, 1663."
In the year 1793, this hall underwent very considerable repairs, more properly called spoliation, by taking down the gables, and with them the curious carvings, shields of arms, &c., which must have greatly destroyed its picturesque effect. It contains a clock, and is surmounted by a cupola, in which is a bell, whereon the hours strike.
The town-halls of Brecon, Kington,[4] and Weobly, and probably others of which at present I can give no particulars, were built by the same person. Mr. Abel being in Hereford when that city was besieged in 1645, was of great service by constructing mills to grind corn for the use of the inhabitants and soldiers confined therein, for which Charles I. afterwards conferred upon him the title of one of his majesty's carpenters.
[4] This hall had similar inscriptions to those of Leominster.
In Sarnesfield churchyard, in the county of Hereford, is a monument consisting of the effigies of himself and his two wives, with the emblems of his profession, executed by his own hands after he reached the patriarchal age of ninety years; it has the following inscription, being his own composition:
"This craggy stone a covering is for an architector's bed,
That lofty buildings raised high, yet now lyes low his head:
His line and rule, so death concludes, are locked up in store,
Build they who list, or they who wist, for he can build no more.
His house of clay could hold no longer,
May heaven's joy frame him a stronger.
JOHN ABEL.
Vive ut vivas in vitam æternam."
I believe Sarnesfield was his native place; he died there in 1694, having attained the great age of ninety-seven years.
J. B. WHITBORNE.
Leamington.
In my reply to a Query upon the interesting subject introduced by MR. J. H. PARKER, I felt anxious to direct his attention to other peculiar characters appertaining to the ancient town of Wokingham, besides those marks by which it in some degree approximates to his general description of the English towns in France. In reply to MR. PARKER'S inquiry respecting the mediæval town-halls, and other public halls of that period remaining in England (Vol. v., p. 295.), I have much pleasure in forwarding the following account of the Town-hall of Leicester, which formerly belonged to the Guild of Corpus Christi, in the church of St. Martin. It was built in the reign of Elizabeth, and was first opened by a banquet, given by George Norris, the mayor, to celebrate the victory over the Spanish Armada. This anniversary was continued until within the memory of some of the burgesses now living, and was called the "Venison Feast." The hall is a low-roofed timber building, lighted by plain latticed windows, and was enlarged, by the addition of the Mayor's parlour, in 1636. The great hall, or court, is fitted with appropriate seats of state for the mayor and aldermen, and with galleries for spectators of municipal ceremonies; and its walls were formerly enriched with many valuable paintings. The adjoining parlour is remarkable for the quaint character of its decorations; it is, like the great hall, provided with state seats or benches, and has a long range of low windows, containing stained glass illustrative of religious subjects, and emblems of the seasons. The Town-library is a storied building, containing a large hall, founded by the Corporation in 1632, and possessing at present about 1000 volumes, chiefly of old divinity, together with a few miscellaneous books, and a MS. of the Greek Testament written on vellum and paper, supposed to be of the thirteenth century, and which was given to the library in 1649 by the Rector of Thrussington.
There are hospitals in Leicester of similar style, and two of much earlier periods, 1330 and 1512.
KT.
Leicestershire.
OLD SIR RALPH VERNON.
(Vol. v., p. 389.)
In an old manuscript book now before me, containing a copy of Flower's "Visitation of Cheshire," 1580, together with a very great number of coats of arms, copies of charters, &c., is the curious account of old Sir Raulfe Vernon, which I now send you. I have not at present Ormerod's History Of Cheshire to refer to; but, if I remember right, there is an account of the old knight, and of the great age he is said to have attained, there. The latest date in the book from which this is extracted is 1610; but there is bound with it eleven pages of "Armes of the Gentry of Cheshire, entred in ye Visitation of that County made in Ao 1663 and 1664, by me Wm. Dugdale, Esqr., Norroy King of Armes."
"Coppies of old Pedegrees remayning wth Sr John Savadge, 1583.
"Theare was Sr Raulfe ye Vernon ye old, ye quych levet xx
vij yer and x yere, and he had to his first Wyffe on Mary ye Lordes doughter of Dacre, and he had Issue by her one Sr Raulf ye Vernon of Hanwell, Mr Ricrd person of Stockporte, other two sonnes Mighell & Hugh, ye quich wer both freres: and two daughteres, Agnes and Rose and yen deghet ye forsaid Mary, and after her death ye forsaid old Sr Raulf tooke to paremer on Maude ye Grosevener, and had Issue by her Ricrd and Robart bastardes. Ye forsaid Sr Raulf ye Vernon of Hanwell was maryed to A. Seintper, and had Issue by her Ralyn, Hychcoke, John, & Thomas, ye quiche Ralyn had Issue Sr Raulfe ye Vernon of Mottrem, ye quich Sr Raulf had Issue yong Sr Raulf, ye forsaid Sr Raufe ye Vernon of Hanwell, Ralyn his Sonn, and Sr Raufe his sonn deygen, lyvand ye old Sr Raufe; and ye sam tym on Sr Ricrd Damory was Justice of Chester, and ye forsaid old Sr Raufe and he weren accordet yat ye yong Sr Raufe shold wedde Agnes daughter of ye forsaid Sr Ricrd Damory, and that Sir Raufe ye old shold be fyne reret at Chester, gife all his landes &c. to ye said Mr Ricrd his sonn, getten by ye forsaid Mary of Dacre and to his heires, and so it was done, and the sam Ricrd pson gyfe the sam lands &c. to ye sam old Sr Raufe againe to term of his Lyve; and after his dessease to ye yong Sr Rauf and to Agnes his Wyfe daughter to Sr Ricrd Damory, and to ye heires male of yr bodyes geten; for default of Issue mall of ye forsaid yong Sir Raufe and Agnes, yat all ye Landes &c. then Remaine to Ricrd ye Sonn of Raufe ye Vernon of Shibbrocke getten by Maud ye Grosvener, and to ye heires of his body begotten male, and for default of Issue of his body getten male, that all ye Landes &c. sholden remain to ye right heires of ye forsaid Mr Ricrd wthouten ende. Ye forsaid yong Sr Raufe and Agnes deyhten wthout Issue of hose bodyes begotten male, and yen entret Sr Raufe yat last deyhten as sonn and heir to Ricrd ye Vernon ye sonn of old Sr Rauf ye Vernon and Maude ye Grosevenor, by Vertue of ye fyne before rehersed. Ye forsaid Sr Rauf Ricrd son deyget wthout heir of his body getten mall, and so Sr Ricrd ye Vernon brother to yis last Sr Rauf entret heir male, and continued all his Lyfe and had Issue mulier Sr Ricrd ye quiche is now dead wthout Issue malle."
C. DE D.
OLD TREES.—FAIRLOP OAK.
(Vol. v., p. 114.)
I have, in my scrap-book, a curious old print of Fairlop Oak, to which some verses are attached, which I think is somewhat of a rarity. It is on thin, miserable paper; size, demy quarto; without date or printer's name; in general character bearing a very Catnachian aspect. The print of the tree occupies nearly half the sheet, and is a most vile specimen of both drawing and engraving. The tree is represented as in a dilapidated condition, with a huge hollow trunk, within which are seen some persons making themselves "jolly" at a drinking-table. The tree has but five principal branches, and these are only tipped here and there with foliage, the work of popular demolition under which the tree is known to have fallen being plainly seen in its many barren branches, and still more pointedly suggested by the four persons, who, having climbed aloft, are airing themselves in the forks of its boughs. The background is filled up with the incidents of the fair. To the right, in the fore-ground, is one of the well-known "boats" mounted on wheels, the deck manned by blockmakers "on their legs" singing a chorus. Behind, in the distance, is a theatre or exhibition-booth, with the band and sundry performers entertaining the crowd gratis; on the proscenium above is written, ... GELL. CLARK. On the left hand is another of these unclassical erections, with a man in front balancing himself on a ladder; the name SAUNDERS being inscribed above. Below this is an exhibition of a minor sort, and several groups of gaping cockneys. A "boat," a booth, and a set of "knock 'em down" complete the scene; in the latter case a woman caters for the encouragement of the English but ignoble sport of "three throws a penny."[5] Below the print is a line in large type (scarcely legible), announcing it to be "An original Drawing by an eminent Artist [printed off] a Woodcut engraved on a Block of the celebrated Tree." I transcribe literally what follows.
[5] Query, whence the origin of this fashionable accompaniment of cockney fairs?
"The Stem of this vegetable Progidy, which was [roughly hollowed (?)], measured, at 3 feet from the ground, about 36 feet in girth, and the boughs extended about 300 feet in circumference. The Fair which was held upon this spot was founded about the year 1720, by Mr. Daniel Day, Block Maker, of Wapping, who gave his men an annual Bean Feast, under the shade of the Oak, on the first Friday in July; and which has been visited for a number of years by the Block Makers and Watermen of the eastern part of the metropolis, who parade round the spot singing the following songs:—
"Song from the Block Makers' Boat, sung by Mr. Hemingway.
"George, our great King, as he sat on the throne,
The supporters of Fairlop sent in their petition,
That he the old Oak in true wisdom would own,
The answer returned from the head of the Nation,
This we agree that the Maggot and Spot
Never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign.
A Charter we have got to support the old Spot,
And Fairlop shall flourish again and again.
"This answer so noble abroad quickly spread,
The enemy to friendship began to complain,
That this Fair of mischief was surely the head,
And if suffered would certainly soon show its aim.
Down, cried he, with this Fairlop Tree;
But George, ever generous, said, Cease to complain.
A Charter we got, &c.
"Freedom, the Goddess for Britons so fair,
When she heard that a few of her supporters so free
Did reverence the Oak which was always her care,
And she said that the day ever sacred should be,
The Maggot and Spot the care of us shall be,
And never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign.
A Charter we got, &c.
"Bright July now comes on, when we all are so gay,
The first Friday in the month we all know,
Our Maggot for ages shall shine on that day,
And every year some new splendour shall show,
When we agree that the Maggot and Spot
Never shall be crushed, but for ever shall reign.
A Charter we got, &c.
"Now, my brave boys, since united we be,
With friendship and harmony keep up the day;
Our boat rigg'd and mann'd well, so pleasant to see,
There's nothing can equal our Maggot so gay.
A Toast now I say to good Daniel Day,
Who taught us first this Fair to maintain.
A Charter we got, &c.
"Written and sung by Mr. Lidard from the Watermen's Boat.
"Come to Fairlop Fair, my good fellows invite,
To partake of that day, that is our delight;
For we have spirits like fire, our courage is good,
And we meet with the best of respect on the road.
Would you see us, you'd say, when we are muster'd quite gay,
Success to the lads that delight in that day.
Haste away, haste away, all nature seems gay,
Let's drink to the joys of Fairlop so gay.
Our horses are all of the very best blood,
Our boat is well built and her rigging is good.
With our flags and our badges we unanimous agree,
And join hand-in-hand to s[up?]port the old Tree.
There's old Cruff and young Cruff our music shall play,
While George Hull's staunch ponies shall tow us away.
Haste away, &c.
'Twas one Daniel Day that invented this Fair,
As hearty a fellow as ever was there;
The lord of the manor our Charter did gain,
And we sons of old Neptune will uphold the name:
We'll enjoy all the pleasure that springs from the day,
And ever remember that old Daniel Day.
Haste away, &c.
From Wapping Old Stairs away then we drive,
Upon the first Friday that comes in July;
We breakfast at Woodford, at Loughton we lunch,
And return back to Rounden's, to dine and drink punch;
Then our boatswain he starts us away to the Fair,
While Phœbus does shine on our colours so clear.
Haste away, &c.
It's when from the forest to Ilford we steer,
Every town we go thro' we'll give them three cheers;
Then up to Tommy Wright's for to get refreshed there,
Then return back to Wapping to sup of the best fare;
Where we'll dance and sing so cheerful and gay,
And ever remember that old Daniel Day.
Haste away, &c.
Now, having described our boats, horses, and crew,
And our Fairlop so gay, which you all do review,
Our boat she comes home by the winding of [ ... ],
And now you are welcome into Fairlop Hall.
Our boat we put by for another fair day,
And ever remember that old Daniel Day.
Haste away, &c.
"A few years before Mr. Day died, his favourite oak lost a limb, out of which he procured a coffin to be made for his own interment, and often used to lie down in it, to try how it would fit him. He died October 13, 1767, aged eighty-four, and his remains were conveyed to Barking by water, pursuant of his own request, accompanied by six journeymen Block and Pump Makers, to each of whom he bequeathed a new leathern apron and a guinea."
So runs this historical and poetical (?) fragment. The first song I have often heard sung, or rather bawled, by Mr. Hemingway from one of the windows in the street which diverges out of the Mil-End Road, at the "King's Arms." That was before I commenced my teens. Hemingway has long since gone the way of Daniel Day; and Fairlop has lost so much of its original vigour and popularity, as to be almost one of the things that were.
There is an engraving of Fairlop Oak, as it appeared in 1806, in the Gentleman's Magazine for July, 1806, p. 617. I think that some particulars of Fairlop Oak are given in Loudon's Arboretum. The woodcut in the Mirror referred to (p. 114.) bears some resemblance, in the outline of the tree, to my specimen of the Catnach literature.
SHIRLEY HIBBERD.
[Our correspondent will also find a woodcut of the Catnach style prefixed to a pamphlet published in 1813, entitled History, Origin, and Rise of Fairlop Fair; with a History and Description of the Forests of Essex, and an Account of Mr. Daniel Day, founder of Fairlop Fair. Another tract with a similar title was published in 1795.—ED.]
TAYLOR FAMILY.
(Vol. v., p. 370.)
The first person of the name as Mayor of Worcester, occurring in 1648, is James Taylor, Esq.; in 1666, Henry Taylor, Esq.; in 1675, Rowland Taylor, Esq.; in 1731, Samuel Taylor, Esq. In 1732, James Saunders, Esq., was elected, but, dying in his mayoralty, Samuel Taylor, Esq., was re-elected, to serve the remainder of the year; and in 1737, a Samuel Taylor, Esq., was again elected, and this is no doubt the same person, making his third election.
It is, I think, evident from the following, which may be found in Green's History of that city, vol. ii. p. 106. of Appendix, that their burial-place was in a vault at the west end of the north aisle of St. Helen's Church:—
"Opposite the pulpit—Richard Taylor, Alderman of this city, died Nov. 11th, 1754, aged sixty-eight. There are several more of the same family interred under this stone."
In 1718, a Mr. Thomas Taylor, lay clerk, and in 1719, Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Thomas Taylor, a lay clerk of this church (Worcester Cathedral), were buried therein.
I think it very probable, from the orthography of the names being alike, that the above parties were connected by family ties.
I do not find, either in my own MS., in Green's History, or any other work, memorials of the same name in any other of the Worcester churches.
Nash, in his County History, gives the arms of Taylor of Welland, a small village near Upton-on-Severn: "sable, a lion passant, argent."
On flat stones within the communion-rails of that (Welland) church are the following inscriptions:—
"Edmund Taylor, Esq., died 10 Jan., 1721, aged 55.
"'Hic jacet Radulphus Taylor vir nullo non doctrinæ genere instructissimus uxorem duxit Penelopen filiam natu secundam Nicholai Lechmere de Hanleycastle, armigeri, quarto die Junii, obiit, A.D. 1676, æt. 39;' and several of their children are here buried.
"Penelope Taylor, died 29 May, 1710, aged 62."
Arms on the stone.
I know of no family of the name resident in that city; but, having left it many years, I am almost a stranger to its inhabitants. But I recollect a gentleman of that name resident at Strensham, the birth-place of the poet Butler (Hudibras), and who, to his honour, in 1843, erected a monument to the memory of that celebrated man, in the church of his native village. His name was John Taylor, Esq.
J. B. WHITBORNE.