Goff’s Oak is a pretty little place, with many interesting features about it. Its numerous cottages—there is only one good-sized house—lie, irregularly disposed on either side of the road, often behind ample gardens beautiful with lilies and larkspur, rocket, wallflowers, hollyhocks, and other old-time flowers. It gains its name from a famous old oak tree, said to have been planted by one of William the Conqueror’s heroes, Sir Theodore Godfrey, to whom lands here had been assigned (hence Godfrey’s—Geoffrey’s Oak—Geoff’s—Goff’s Oak). The venerable tree, of which only the trunk now remains, has a girth of over twenty feet at three feet from the ground. It reminds one of the beautiful lines of Dryden:
By the Rev. J. H. Stamp.
| 54 B.C.
| The British Prince Caswallon encamps at Waltham.
|
| circ. A.D. 64.
| Defeat, death, and burial of Queen Boadicea near Warlies,
in this Parish.
|
| A.D. 894.
| King Alfred floods Waltham Marshes and discomfits the
Danes.
|
| circ. 1030.
| Discovery of the Holy Cross of Waltham at Montacute, in
Somerset. Tovi, Canute’s Standard Bearer, builds the
first Parish Church of Waltham.
|
| 1059.
| Earl Harold, afterwards King, erects his Norman Church on
the site of Tovi’s Church.
|
| 1060.
| Consecration of Harold’s Church on May 3rd, in the
presence of King Edward the Confessor.
|
| 1062.
| Foundation of Harold’s secular college.
|
| 1066–7.
| Burial of King Harold before the High Altar.
|
| 1177.
| Harold’s College dissolved and Augustinian Priory
founded by Henry II.
|
| 1184.
| Waltham Priory becomes Waltham Abbey.
|
| 1201.
| Hugh Nevil, the Crusader and High Justice, interred in the
Choir.
|
| 1252.
| Interment of Archdeacon Passelew, Bishop-designate of
Chichester.
|
| 1286–1370.
| Restoration of Nave of Parish Church, Decorated West Front
inserted, and Lady Chapel erected.
|
| 1290.
| The body of Queen Eleanor deposited in the Church for one
night.
|
| 1291–2.
| Erection of Eleanor Memorial at Waltham Cross.
|
| 1307.
| King Edward the First’s body rests for three months
near Harold’s Tomb.
|
| circ. 1370.
| Erection of the Abbey Gateway and Walls.
|
| 1400.
| Abbot William de Harleston assists at the Funeral of
Richard II., at Kings Langley.
|
| circ. 1509.
| Stained Glass Window, presented to Waltham by Henry VIII.,
now in St. Margaret’s, Westminster.
|
| 1528–29.
| Henry VIII. at Waltham. Cranmer meets Fox and
Gardiner in the Homeland, near the Abbey of Waltham, and strikes
the keynote of the Reformation.
|
| circ. 1530–40.
| The King places Waltham at the head of his scheme of new
Bishoprics. Thomas Tallis, Organist of the Abbey.
|
| 1540.
| Monastery dissolved on March 24th. Abbot, Robert
Fuller, Ex-prior of St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfield.
|
| 1540–52.
| Destruction of the Monastery, Choir, Transepts, Eastern
Chapels, and Central Tower. Estates granted to Sir Anthony
Denny.
|
| 1556–58.
| Present Tower erected at the West End. Five Abbey
Bells sold to provide funds for the completion of the
Steeple.
|
| 1563.
| Parish Registers commenced.
|
| 1565.
| John Foxe, the Martyrologist, resides at Waltham.
|
| 1600.
| Sir Edward Denny, Knt. (comrade of Sir Philip Sidney and
Spenser, the Poet), interred in the Chancel.
|
| 1605–27.
| Dr. Joseph Hall, author of the Contemplations, &c.,
Incumbent of the Parish, afterwards Bishop of Exeter and
Norwich.
|
| 1613.
| Birth of Dr. George Hall, third son of Bishop Hall, at
Waltham Abbey. He became Archdeacon of Canterbury and
Bishop of Chester.
|
| 1619.
| Lady Elizabeth Greville, cousin to Lady Jane Grey,
interred in the Abbey Church.
|
| 1637–38.
| Edward, Baron Denny of Waltham, and Earl of Norwich,
interred in the Chancel; also his wife, the Lady Mary Cecil,
Granddaughter of Lord Burleigh.
|
| 1648–58.
| Dr. Thomas Fuller, Church Historian, incumbent of
Waltham.
|
| circ. 1656.
| Six Bells presented by the Parishioners.
|
| 1660.
| James Haye, the second Earl of Carlisle and Baron of
Waltham, interred in the Chancel.
|
| 1668.
| Restoration of Church and Lady Chapel.
|
| 1798–1810.
| Repair and alteration of Tower. Two Bells added.
|
| circ. 1837–40.
| Lord Tennyson resides at Beech Hill Park in this
Parish.
|
| 1848–50.
| Dr. W. H. Cummings (Principal of Guildhall School of
Music), Organist of Abbey Church.
|
| 1853.
| Great West Doorway Restored: Ambrose Poynter, Esq.,
Architect.
|
| 1859–60.
| Restoration of Interior: W. Burges, Esq., Architect.
East Windows designed by Sir E. Burne-Jones. Ceiling
painted by Sir E. J. Poynter, P.R.A.
|
| 1876.
| Restoration of the Lady Chapel by Sir T. Fowell Buxton,
Bart.
|
| 1879–93.
| Reconstruction and completion of the Organ.
|
| 1882.
| Lord Frederick Cavendish at Waltham the Sunday before his
assassination in Phœnix Park on May 6th, when Queen
Victoria visited the Parish, and declared “the Royal Forest
of Waltham free and open to the Public for ever.”
|
| 1886.
| Carved Oak Screen, presented by the Parishioners, in
memory of Rev. J. Francis, Vicar of the Parish 1846–85.
|
| 1887.
| Illuminated Memorial Clock and Westminster chimes
presented by J. Parnell, Esq., J.P.
|
| 1901–2.
| Erection of St. Thomas’ Mission Church, near Warlies
Park, by Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Bart., G.C.M.G.
|
| 1902.
| Unveiling of Rough Riders’ Memorial Tablet by Sir
Ian Hamilton.
|
| 1904–5.
| Repair of upper stage of the Tower, rebuilding of parapet
with battlements and turrets in accordance with the original
design of 1556–8.
|
