GODSHILL
Godshill contains 6,407 acres, of which in 1905
138½ acres were woodland, the rest of the parish
being nearly equally divided between arable and
grass land. (fn. 1) The soil is mostly greensand and affords
good pasturage on the downs which comprise the
eastern part of the parish. Building stone is quarried
at Gatcliff (fn. 2) and gravel is dug on Bleakdown. Cridmoor and the Wilderness, both hunting grounds of the
early lords of the Island, (fn. 3) lie within the parish. The
village is one of the prettiest in the Island, with its winding street of thatch-roofed cottages culminating in the
sandrock hill on which the church of All Saints stands.
At the east end of the village is the Griffin Inn,
built by Lord Yarborough in the first half of the 19th
century, and higher up the street on the north side is
a thatched cottage residence worthy of notice. The
vicarage-house, owned by the Ratcliffe family, holders
of the advowson, lies about half-way up the village to
the south and was originally the chantry priest's
house. (fn. 4) At the turning of the road to the south of
the church is a buttressed stone building apparently of
the 15th or 16th century. On the summit of the
down, 685 ft. above the sea level, are the remains of a
granite obelisk erected by Sir Richard Worsley to the
memory of his grandfather Sir Robert. Originally
70 ft. high, it was shattered by lightning in 1831.
At the west end of the village is a quaint old stone
house with 70 acres of land attached to it called
Scotland, (fn. 5) where the courts of the manor are said to
have been formerly held. At Harts is a stone-built
house of the 17th century with an initialled beam,
W.R. 1654.
The school, now a council school, was originally a
grammar school attached to the chantry of St. Stephen.
Dame Anne Worsley (fn. 6) by her will gave 20 marks for
erecting a free grammar school at Godshill. Apparently
this schoolhouse was never built, the old chantry
priest's house being used as before, as in 1615
Sir Richard Worsley increased the endowment (fn. 7) and
granted to trustees the Chantry House in which the
free school was then kept. The principal inhabitants
of Godshill purchased an annuity of £5 for the use of
an usher (fn. 8) and in 1617 Richard Gard of Princelet
left £1 10s. for the same purpose. (fn. 9) In 1824 the
school was rebuilt on its present site by Lord
Yarborough (fn. 10) and enlarged in 1881. (fn. 11) The schoolhouse is now leased by the trustees to the Isle of
Wight Education Committee.
The only residence of any importance besides
Appuldurcombe is Godshill Park, now the residence
of Capt. S. Davenport, a small estate taken out of the
manor and called Park Farm in the 18th century.
Built about 1850 the house has been recently
enlarged by the owner, Mr. Cockburn. Henry Cole,
Dean of St. Paul's 1556–9, was a native of Godshill. (fn. 12)
MANORS
The manor of GODSHILL is not
mentioned by name in the Domesday
Survey, but is probably included in the
unnamed manors held by the abbey of Lire. (fn. 13) It was
evidently granted with the church by William Fitz
Osbern to the abbey of Lire (fn. 14) and held by the priory
of Carisbrooke as part of its endowment. (fn. 15) It followed
the descent of Carisbrooke Priory (q.v.) until 1762, (fn. 16)
when it belonged to Sir John Miller. (fn. 17) Of his son
Sir Thomas the manor was purchased about 1781 by
Sir Richard Worsley. (fn. 18) Before the beginning of
the 19th century it was divided into two parts,
North Godshill and South Godshill. (fn. 19) Both passed
with Appuldurcombe (fn. 20) until about 1860, when North
Godshill was purchased by Mr. William Hatcher
Barton, and South Godshill by Mr. Robert Vaughan
Wynne Williams. (fn. 21) Mr. Reginald Freke Williams
now owns South Godshill, and North Godshill belongs
to Mr. John Harvey, who succeeded Mr. Frank
Barton in 1908.
APPULDURCOMBE
APPULDURCOMBE (Appildrecombe, xv cent.;
Apledrecombe, xvi cent.) is, or was, the most considerable manor in the parish. It is not mentioned in
Domesday, but probably formed part of the manor of
Wroxall, belonging to Earl Godwin and held in
1086 by the king. (fn. 22) The manor was given by Richard
de Redvers in 1090 to the abbey of Montebourg, and
a cell of that abbey was founded there in 1100, the
manor forming part of its endowment. (fn. 23) The manor
passed with the priory to the nuns minoresses without
Aldgate. (fn. 24)
In 1505 it was held, under a lease from the nuns,
dated Michaelmas 1498, by Sir John Leigh and Agnes
his wife and John Fry son of Agnes, (fn. 25) and their status
in the manor was confirmed by a royal grant in that
year. (fn. 26) Anne daughter of Sir John Leigh married
Sir James Worsley, to whom in 1527 the abbess
leased the manor. (fn. 27) It is evident from this grant that
the former tenants had added to the priory buildings
and that Sir James and his wife intended to do still
more. Sir James died in 1538, (fn. 28) and Henry VIII,
attended by Thomas Cromwell, then constable of
Carisbrooke Castle, is said to
have visited his son Richard
Worsley at Appuldurcombe in
that year, (fn. 29) so that by that
time the house was substantially as it appears in the illustration in Worsley's History. (fn. 30)
Worsley of Appuldurcombe. Argent a cheveron between three falcons sable having their beaks, legs and bells or.
Richard Worsley died in
1565 and his two sons John
and George were both killed
in an explosion of gunpowder
at Appuldurcombe in 1567. (fn. 31)
They were succeeded by their
uncle John Worsley, who died
in 1580, leaving a son Thomas
his heir. (fn. 32) On the death of
Thomas in 1604 the manor passed to his son Sir
Richard Worsley, (fn. 33) who was created a baronet of
Appuldurcombe in 1611. (fn. 34) He held the manor until
his death in 1621, (fn. 35) when his son Sir Henry succeeded.
Sir Robert Worsley, grandson of Sir Henry, died
without male issue in 1747 (fn. 36) and Appuldurcombe
passed to his cousin and heir male Sir James Worsley
of Pilewell, co. Hants. (fn. 37) On the death of Sir Richard
Worsley, grandson of James, without issue in 1805
Appuldurcombe passed to his niece Henrietta Anna
Maria Charlotte, wife of Charles Anderson Pelham
first Baron Yarborough. (fn. 38) She died in 1813, (fn. 39) and in
1855 Appuldurcombe, with a large part of the museum
of 'objets d'art' collected by Sir Richard Worsley,
was sold by auction by her son Charles Anderson, then
Earl of Yarborough, and bought by Robert Vaughan
Wynne Williams, father of Mr. Reginald Freke
Williams, D.L., the present owner. (fn. 40)
The house is an imposing classic structure, foursquare, built of freestone with Portland stone dressings.
Begun by Sir Robert, it was completed by Sir Richard
Worsley, who made it the home of the well-known
Museum Worsleianum. It was latterly occupied as a
school and afterwards by Benedictine monks from
St. Peter's Abbey, Solesmes, but has been vacant
since 1909.
APPLEFORD
APPLEFORD (Apleford, Apledeforde, xi cent.;
Appeltreford, xiii cent.; Appulderford, xiv cent.)
was divided as it is now into East (or Upper) and
West Appleford so far back as the time of the Great
Survey, when Robert held 1 hide of William son of
Stur (fn. 41) and Edwi, the king's thegn, held the other
estate. (fn. 42) The part held under William son of Stur
appears to have been West Appleford, and was held
of William's descendants at the end of the 13th
century. (fn. 43)
Under the lords of Gatcombe the estate was held
by the lords of Whitefield, whose mesne lordship
was recognized at least as late as the middle of the
14th century. (fn. 44) Land at West Appleford was conveyed by Oliver de Lisle to Gilbert de Oskrewell
(Coskevile) in 1271–2, (fn. 45) but the chief estate at
West Appleford was probably the 55 solidates of land
granted in the following year by William de Tracy,
lord of Whitefield, to Thomas de Godshill and John
de Lisle. (fn. 46) John de Lisle was in possession in 1299, (fn. 47)
and the estate from that time seems to have followed
the same descent as the more important holding of
East Appleford. (fn. 48)
East Appleford was conveyed in 1275–6 by Simon
Everard to Richard Ammys, (fn. 49) but it passed shortly
afterwards to John de Lisle. (fn. 50) It was held of the
honour of Carisbrooke, (fn. 51) and followed the same descent
as Wootton (q.v.) until the beginning of the 17th
century. (fn. 52) Sir William Lisle, kt., granted the 'site
of the manor of Appleford' in 1631 to John Fitchett, (fn. 53)
the manor itself having previously been disposed of
to the Worsley family and settled in 1610 on the
issue of the marriage of Sir Richard Worsley, bart.,
with Frances daughter of Sir Henry Neville. (fn. 54) It
passed with Appuldurcombe until the middle of the
18th century, when it was purchased by Mr. William
Pike, (fn. 55) from whom it descended with Luccombe to
the Bonham, Carter, and Atherley families. (fn. 56) Both
Upper and Lower Appleford were held by Sir John
Carter in the early part of the 19th century, and
are now owned by Mr. John G. Harvey.
BAGWICH
BAGWICH (Abaginge, xi cent.; Bagwich, xiv
cent.) was held before and after the Conquest as an
alod by Alsi, the king's thegn. (fn. 57) It probably afterwards passed to the lords of the Isle of Wight, for it
was granted by one of the Redvers family to the
priory of Christchurch Twyneham, and confirmed to
it by Richard I, by William Earl of Devon, and
by Edward II in 1313. (fn. 58) It is not mentioned among
the priory lands at the Dissolution. It may possibly
have become annexed to the manor of Apse in Newchurch, which was also held by the priory, for in 1603
a tenement in Bagwich was held of the manor of Apse,
and in 1709 the manor of Bagwich belonged to Thomas
Rice, whose ancestors had held Apse. He conveyed
it in that year to Thomas Macham, (fn. 59) and it afterwards passed to the Millers. In 1723 it was conveyed by Sir Thomas Miller, bart., who seems to
have inherited the manor from his grandfather
Thomas, to Joachim Peterson. (fn. 60) In 1780 Thomas
Dickenson paid a fee-farm rent to the Crown for
Bagwich. (fn. 61) James Whitewood held it in 1827, (fn. 62)
and it is at present held by the rector of Wootton
as part of the glebe.
BATHINGBOURNE
BATHINGBOURNE (Beaddingaburn, x cent.;
Bedingeborne, xi cent.; Baddingebourne, xiii cent.;
Bathyngbourne, xiv cent.; Bangborne, Bathingburne,
xvi cent.) was granted by King Edwig (955–9), as five
mansae, to his thegn Ethelgeard. (fn. 63) The boundaries
in this grant are interesting as being traceable at the
present day. (fn. 64) There is an earlier charter of King
Edred (946–55) dealing with this land, but the
boundaries differ from those given in the previous
document. (fn. 65) In 1086 Bathingbourne was held with
Ladone (fn. 66) by the king, Oda having held them as
an alod from King Edward. (fn. 67) The manor seems
to have been held of the manor of Knighton, as at
the end of the 13th century Richard Cordray held
it as half a knight's fee of Elena de Gorges, (fn. 68) and
shortly after it was held of Ralph de Gorges by
Robert de Cordray. (fn. 69) Richard Cordray conveyed
certain land in Bathingbourne to Robert Selyman, (fn. 70)
but the manor seems to have passed before 1343 to
John Lisle 'of Bathyngborn.' (fn. 71) Though it is not
numbered among the possessions of Bartholomew de
Lisle at his death in 1345, it was held by his widow
Elizabeth in the following year. (fn. 72) The manor then
descended with West Court in Shorwell until the
death of Mary Lisle in 1539. (fn. 73) Bathingbourne was
assigned to John Sambourne, one of Mary's co-heirs, (fn. 74)
by whom it was sold in 1571 to John Baskett, (fn. 75) who
sold it in 1583 to John Rice. (fn. 76) Rice died at
Bathingbourne in 1610 and his son Thomas received
a confirmatory grant from Richard Baskett in 1613. (fn. 77)
In 1641 Thomas Rice sold Bathingbourne to Henry
Knolles, (fn. 78) and in 1690 it was in the possession of
John Champneys and his wife Margaret. (fn. 79)
Anne Palmer alias King, Nicholas Outing and
John Dale were dealing with the manor in 1733, (fn. 80)
and in 1747 Josiah Baker conveyed it to John Dale. (fn. 81)
William Farr, M.D., and Catherine Hicks, widow,
were in possession in 1790, (fn. 82) and from them it passed
to William Dale Farr, the owner, in 1837.
It now belongs to Miss Tull, who purchased it
in 1898.
BRIDGE COURT
BRIDGE COURT (Brigge, xiii-xiv cent.; Briggecourte, xv-xvi cent.) and BRIDGE, to the southwest of the village of Godshill, formed a manor held
under the lords of Gatcombe. (fn. 83) It was held in 1279
under the name of la Brigge by John de la Brigge
for the service of a quarter of a knight's fee. (fn. 84) In
1292 John settled it upon himself for life with
remainder to his daughter Juliane, wife of Hugh de
Chikenhull or Chikvill, with reversion after her death
to Jordan son of William de Kingston, who had
evidently married another daughter of John de la
Brigge. (fn. 85) Juliane outlived Jordan, and on her death
in 1311 the estate passed to her nephew John, son of
Jordan de Kingston. (fn. 86) The manor then passed with
Kingston to Lewis Meux and his wife Alice, (fn. 87) who with
Robert Dineley and his wife Alice and John Taillour
sold it in 1424 to John Rys. (fn. 88) It is difficult to account
for an entry in 1428 that John Lisle was holding this
estate, (fn. 89) for three years later it was held by John
Rys, (fn. 90) and in 1438–9 John Jackson of Sutton, his
kinsman and heir, sold it to William Anna. (fn. 91) In
1465 and 1466 Sir Geoffrey Gate acquired all right
in the manor from John de Vanne (perhaps a descendant of William Anna), William Gere, and
Richard Lamplew. (fn. 92) Sir Geoffrey demised the manor
to Thomas Meux, from whom it descended to his
son Sir William, who held it in 1490. (fn. 93) The manor
having thus again returned to the owners of Kingston
descended with that manor until the death of Sir
William Meux in 1638. (fn. 94) Its further history is not
known, but Bridge Court is at present owned by
Mr. Frank Barton.
KENNERLY
KENNERLY (Kyneleye, xiv cent.), though now
but a small holding, appears as a manor in the early
part of the 14th century, (fn. 95) when John de Kennerly
was allowed to retain land held of the manor of
Kennerly then in the king's hands by forfeiture of
Edmund Earl of Arundel. (fn. 96) It was owned in the
reign of Elizabeth by Peter Gard, (fn. 97) and John Casford
of Kennerly was a trustee in 1616 of the Godshill
Grammar School. (fn. 98) It was divided probably in the
16th century and the small holding and house in the
low ground called Little Kennerly still remain. The
buildings of Kennerly proper, long since pulled
down, lay in the field adjoining the road from
Merston to Bohemia. Kennerly is now the property
of Mr. F. A. Joyce.
LESSLAND
LESSLAND (Litesland, Liscelande, xi cent.; Lucelond, Lescelond, xiii cent.; Lucelond, xv cent.) was
held as five manors by five freemen (fn. 99) of the Confessor and in 1086 was in the king's hands. A
second estate there was held by William son of
Azor. (fn. 100) The overlordship passed before the end of
the 13th century to the Lisles of Wootton, but in
1305–6 the manor was held in two parts, one of
John de Lisle and the other of the manor of
Whitefield. (fn. 101) From John de la Brigge, who held the
estate in 1279, (fn. 102) it passed to his son-in-law Jordan
de Kingston, who died seised of it in 1305–6, leaving
a son John. (fn. 103) It evidently followed the same
descent as Bridge Court, being held in 1431 by
Robert Dineley and John Taillour, (fn. 104) who were
parties to the conveyance of Bridge Court in 1424.
No further deeds have been found relating to Lessland, which is now owned by Mr. J. C. Tompkins.
REW
REW (Rewe, xiii cent.) may have formed part of
Wroxall (fn. 105) at the time of Domesday, but it is first
mentioned in the Testa de Nevill as one of the
manors belonging to John de Lisle of Wootton,
held of the honour of Carisbrooke. (fn. 106) From that
time it followed the same descent as South Shorwell
until 1765 or later, being divided between the
families of Popham and Hill. (fn. 107) Of them it must
have been purchased by the Worsleys, as Sir Richard
paid a fee-farm rent for it in 1780. (fn. 108) It then
passed with Appuldurcombe until it was sold by
Lord Yarborough in 1854 to Mr. A. Hamborough.
It is now owned by Mr. J. C. Tompkins.
ROUD
ROUD (Rode, xi cent.; Rowde, xiii cent.) was
held by Alnod as a free manor of King Edward and
in 1086 by Gozelin son of Azor, Azor, Sawin and
Nigel holding small estates in the manor. (fn. 109) Before
the end of the 13th century it had passed to the
Lisles of Wootton, who held of the honour of Carisbrooke. (fn. 110) It then passed with Wootton until the
death of Sir John Lisle in 1523. (fn. 111) After this time
deeds relating to the manor are wanting, but as
Sir Richard Worsley states that it belonged to the
Pikes and Bonhams (fn. 112) it seems probable that its
descent was identical with that of Appleford (q.v.).
When the latter was sold to Mr. Harvey, Roud
was evidently retained, as it was sold in 1910 by
Mr. Arthur Atherley for small holdings to the Isle of
Wight County Council.
SANDFORD
SANDFORD (Sanford, xi cent.) was held with
Week at the time of Domesday by the king. (fn. 113) Both
were granted to the abbey of Montebourg. Sandford
must have been given before the middle of the
12th century, as it is mentioned as belonging to the
abbey in a bull of Pope Adrian (1154–9). (fn. 114)
Between the 14th century, (fn. 115) when it belonged to
the abbey of Montebourg, and the beginning of
the 19th century deeds relating to Sandford have not
been found, but it has probably always followed the
same descent as Appuldurcombe, being in 1808–9 in
the possession of Charles Anderson Pelham. (fn. 116) It
was sold in 1872 by Lord Yarborough to Mr. Michael
Spartali, who still owns it.
SPAN
SPAN (la Spaund, xiii cent.), originally belonging
to the de Aula family, (fn. 117) was held towards the end of
the 13th century by John Rivers of William Russell,
lord of Yaverland, (fn. 118) but it had passed before 1279–80
to Richard Russell. (fn. 119) He may have granted it to
the oratory of Barton, as the 'arch-priest' was in
possession in 1316 (fn. 120) and still held it in 1428. (fn. 121)
Three years later it was in the hands of John Roucle
or Rookley 'et socii' (fn. 122) —probably by lease from the
community. When the Worsley family acquired
Span is uncertain, but it was sold by Lord Yarborough
in 1854 to Mr. W. J. Lyle, who disposed of it to its
present owner, Mr. Reginald Freke Williams.
STENBURY
STENBURY (Staneberie, xi cent.; Stevenbir,
xiii cent.; la Stenybury, xiv cent.) was held by
Cheping of King Edward as a free manor and in
1086 belonged to the king. (fn. 123) It is said by Worsley
to have belonged to the de Aula family, (fn. 124) but
was held at the end of the century by John de Heyno
of the honour of Carisbrooke. (fn. 125) John died in 1295,
leaving a son and heir William. (fn. 126) Peter de Heyno
was lord of Stenbury in the reign of Edward III (fn. 127)
and John de Heyno died in 1349 seised of the
manor. (fn. 128) William de Heyno, son of John, died in
1375, (fn. 129) leaving a son and heir Guy, on whose death
in 1405 his lands were granted to Anthony Ricz
during the minority of his heir. (fn. 130) This heir was
evidently John de Heyno, who was in possession in
1428 and 1431. (fn. 131) Thomas Heyno, who was
pardoned for treason in 1451, died in 1505, leaving
five daughters. (fn. 132) The youngest, Grace, was an
idiot, (fn. 133) and the manor of Stenbury was divided
among the other four sisters. The eldest, Mary,
married William Pound, and her son Anthony died
in 1547, leaving a son Richard, (fn. 134) on whose death
without issue his share seems to have passed to his
sister Honora wife of Henry Radclyffe Earl of
Sussex, and was sold by her son Robert (fn. 135) to
Thomas Worsley. (fn. 136)
Elizabeth, another of the daughters of Thomas
Heyno, married William Stour and afterwards apparently Richard Dowce, as Richard and Elizabeth in
1533–4 conveyed their quarter to John Welbeck and
others, (fn. 137) who may perhaps have been trustees for
Sir James Worsley. Agnes, the second daughter of
Thomas Heyno, married Thomas Wyker or Wyer, and
her share was sold in 1565 to John Worsley by
Stephen Garrat, who had married the granddaughter
of Thomas Wyer. (fn. 138) The fourth co-heiress Katherine
married John Pound and secondly William Leek.
Her share also probably passed to the Worsleys.
Richard Worsley at his death in 1565 held
messuages and land in Stenbury and a tenement called
Saindon, parcel of the manor, (fn. 139) and his brother
John Worsley held three quarters of the manor at the
time of his death in 1580. (fn. 140) The remaining
quarter was acquired as stated above by Thomas
Worsley son of John and the manor then descended
with Appuldurcombe (fn. 141) until it was sold by Lord
Yarborough in the middle of the 19th century. It
is now owned by Mr. John C. Tompkins.
WEEK
WEEK (Wica, xi cent.) was held by the king in
1086. (fn. 142) It was given by Richard de Redvers, early in
the 12th century, to the Benedictine abbey of Montebourg. (fn. 143) It followed the descent of Appuldurcombe (fn. 144)
(q.v.) until the latter was sold in 1855. Week
was retained by the Earl of Yarborough and passed
to his second son Evelyn Cornwallis AndersonPelham, (fn. 145) whose son Major Cecil Henry AndersonPelham is the present owner.
BLEAKDOWN
BLEAKDOWN (Blikesdun, Blakedon, xiii cent.),
which lies to the west of Godshill, belonged in the 13th
century to the de Insula or Lisle family, whose representative Walter granted in 1202 to Philip de Blackpan
pasture extending from the hill of 'Blikesdun' next
Druce as far as the waste of 'Benewardle.' (fn. 146) At
the end of the century it was held of John de Lisle
by Everard le Thein. (fn. 147) In 1313 'La Blakedon'
belonged to the priory of Christchurch Twyneham, (fn. 148)
and remained with that house until the Dissolution. (fn. 149)
A messuage called Blackdown, a late possession of
Christchurch Priory, was granted in 1624–5 to
Edward Ramsay and others. (fn. 150) In 1780 William
Thatcher paid a fee-farm rent to the Crown for
Bleakdown, (fn. 151) which is now owned by Mr. Arthur
Atherley.
MUNSLEY
MUNSLEY (Mollesleghe, xiii cent.; Moleslee,
Mellesley, xiv cent.; Mollesleyhill, Moldesleyhill,
xv cent.; Munnesleigh, xvi cent.), sometimes called
Munsley Hill, was part of Bridge Court Manor, and
John de la Brigge, the holder of Bridge and Lessland,
held it at the end of the 13th century as one-eighth
of a fee of the honour of Carisbrooke Castle. (fn. 152) It
then followed the descent of Bridge Court (fn. 153) until
1472, when Alice Meux died seised of 'certain
lands called Munnesleigh,' (fn. 154) which establishes the
identity of the present holding with that in the
Testa de Nevill. From this time no further trace of
the estate has been found, and it may have become
merged in Bridge Court.
A mill was appurtenant to the manor of Bridge
Court in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. (fn. 155) There
was also a water mill at Appleford in the 14th
century, (fn. 156) and in 1086 there were two mills worth
70d. in the manor of Sandford and Week. (fn. 157)
Plan of Godshill Church
There is now a mill called French Mill at the
junction of the Godshill and Wroxall roads, probably
the Sandford one.
CHURCH
Of the early church of ALL SAINTS
—beyond the western portion of the
north wall—not a vestige remains, (fn. 158)
the whole of the present structure, dating from the
early part of the 15th century, being the work of the
Sheen monks. The church is divided its entire
length by an arcade of six bays, and there is no distinguishing arch between nave and chancel. On the
east and west faces of all the columns are traces of the
former existence of what must have been a continuous
screen. The south transept, having a good barrel
ribbed roof with carved bosses and springers (fn. 159) and
a tempera painting of a budding cross on the east
wall, (fn. 160) was added about the middle of the century.
This transept probably contained the altar of
St. Stephen, and may be the chantry founded by
Sir John Leigh in the reign of Henry VII. Outside,
in the apex of the east wall, is a rough stone bellcote, in which hangs a small bell. (fn. 161) The north
transept, added about 1550, (fn. 162) was practically rebuilt
in 1741. It may have formed the chantry of the
lords of Stenbury, as the south transept is said to have
been the chantry of the Frys of Appuldurcombe.
The way to the rood-loft, which probably stretched
right across the church, (fn. 163) is visible in the north wall
of the south transept. The westernmost windows in
the north and south walls are evidently later additions,
dating from the latter part of the 16th century. In
the 18th century there appears to have been a general
renovation, (fn. 164) and at the time the north transept was
rebuilt the porch seems to have been refaced. The
south door is worthy of notice, (fn. 165) with its solid framing
and curious lock. The strap hinges on the wicket
gate end in the letters R.G., presumably the initials of
Richard Gard, who is buried beneath the floor of the
porch. (fn. 166) The church at one time must have been
fully polychromed, as there are traces of colour on all
the walls where the ancient plastering has been allowed
to stand. Over the north door—from time immemorial known as 'the corpse door'—was formerly
a tempera painting of the Last Judgement, which was
unfortunately destroyed in the early part of the last
century. On the north wall, just to the east of the
north transept, there are many indications of coloured
decoration, notably the badge of Arthur Prince of
Wales (fn. 167) and a subject in a rough panel, subsequently
obliterated by texts from the Old Testament. On
the east wall are remains of a superior colour decoration of the 15th century. The upper stage of the
tower, so often struck by lightning, has been practically rebuilt in the 16th, 18th and beginning of the
present century. (fn. 168) In the churchyard is the base of
a cross, converted to the use of a sundial in the 18th
century, also a table monument to Richard Gard,
1593, and his wife Anne, 1592.
The memorials (fn. 169) in the church are many and
interesting, the oldest (fn. 170) being a fine canopied altar
tomb of Caen stone, between the chancel and south
chapel, to the memory of Sir John Leigh, who, with
his wife Agnes, lies in effigy beneath. The figures
are in alabaster, with a boar at Sir John's feet, which
are supported by two cowled 'weepers.' Angels
support the lady's head, and her robe is powdered
with the Haket badges. The whole is surmounted
by an embattled cornice, on the south side of which
are three angels, each bearing a shield severally inscribed with the words 'Jesu.' 'Mercie.' 'Amen.'
On the north side is a single angel with a shield
bearing the words 'SS. Michael and all Angels.' Over
it hangs a funeral helmet. (fn. 171) On the north chancel
wall is the monument to Sir James Worsley and his
wife Anne Leigh, (fn. 172) represented kneeling at prie-dieu
on which appear the arms of Leigh and Worsley
impaling Leigh; on the south chancel wall that to his
son Richard, Captain of the Wight, (fn. 173) over which
hang the funeral helm and gauntlets. The next
notable memorials are those to the 18th-century
holders of Appuldurcombe. In the north transept,
taking up the entire north wall, is the fine classic
monument to Sir Robert Worsley (fn. 174) and his brother
Henry, (fn. 175) whose busts stand on a raised ledge. On
either side of it hang the colours of the Isle of Wight
East Medine Volunteers, presented in 1806 and consecrated with great ceremony at the altar of the church.
In the south transept stood, till 1904, when it was
removed to a better position at the west end, the
pretentious monument to Sir Richard Worsley, who
died in 1805, and on the walls are six hatchments
of good execution. (fn. 176) There is a good Jacobean
altar table inscribed 'Lancelot Colman and Edward
Brittwell, Churchwardens, Anno Domini 1631,' and
oak altar rails of the same period. A 17th-century
oak register chest with its three locks stands in the
church. Between the two chancels hangs a painted
Decalogue of the Restoration period, 1662, in which
Moses and Aaron are represented holding the tables
of the Law. An oil-painting of 'Daniel in the Lions'
Den'—a Rubens replica from the Appuldurcombe
collection—is at present used as an altarpiece in the
south chancel; while in the north chancel hangs a
'Madonna and Child' by Tiorelli, presented by the
Duke de Moro in 1897.
A royal arms of 1707 hangs over the south door.
The bells are modern, and were hung in 1887 to
replace the ancient peal melted down in 1882.
The church is rich in plate, which consists of
two chalices with covers, 8½ in. high, date 1641–2,
inscribed on cover T[HE]+CVP+OF+CODS+HIL · PAR[IS]H+
and round the base 'Provided by Ri Legg and Tho
Norrice churchwardens wth the consent of Th Crosfeild Vicar and the rest of ye parishioners of Goddeshull
An. Dom. 1642'; silver tankard with cover, 10 in.
high, dated 1685 or 1694, inscribed 'gift of Sir Robert
Worsley, Bart., to the Church of Godshill, April
1705'; silver tankard with cover, 12½ in. high, dated
1739–40, and inscribed 'The gift of Charles
Worsley (fn. 177) Esq. to the Parish Church of Godshill
in the Isle of Wight,' I.H.S. and Worsley arms; silver
paten, 7 in. in diameter, 2 in. high, same date as
tankard and same donor. Worsley arms in centre;
silver almsdish, 11¼ in. in diameter, same date and
donor; silver chalice, 10¾ in. high, same date and
donor, and a modern cup, dated 1874, presented by
Col. Malden.
The registers date from 1678, and are contained
in four volumes, one in duplicate: (i) baptisms,
marriages, burials from 1678 to 1800; (ii) marriages
1754 to 1791; (iii) marriages 1791 to 1812;
(iv) baptisms, burials, 1801 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The church was given to the abbey
of Lire in Eure, Normandy, (fn. 178) presumably by William Fitz Osbern,
and was held by the Prior of Carisbrooke under that
abbey till the suppression of the alien houses in the
reign of Henry V, when it was granted to the
Charterhouse at Sheen. (fn. 179) The church was appropriated to the abbey in 1312. (fn. 180) In 1538 Thomas
Wriothesley made a suit to Cromwell for the advowson and rectory of Godshill, (fn. 181) but it does not appear
that he ever obtained them, for in 1549 they were
granted to George Mill, (fn. 182) to be taken from him in
the next reign and granted to John White, Bishop of
Winchester, (fn. 183) who was deprived by Elizabeth, when
his property returned to the Crown. Various grants
of the advowson and rectory were made during the
reigns of Elizabeth and James I, (fn. 184) and finally in
1626, at the suit of the queen, Charles I granted the
advowson to Queen's College, Oxford, (fn. 185) with which
it remained until 1867, (fn. 186) when on the separation of
the livings of Niton, Whitwell and Godshill (fn. 187) the
advowsons were sold separately, that of Godshill
passing to Rev. Thomas Ratcliffe, whose family still
hold it.
A chapel at Appleford is first mentioned in 1305. (fn. 188)
The advowson belonged to the lords of Appleford. (fn. 189)
The chapel, which was founded by the Lisles, is called
'the free chapel of Halydon' in 1536. (fn. 190) In the
chantry certificate of Edward VI it is, however, called
'Mawdlyns.' (fn. 191) Under this name it was leased in
1550 to Thomas Reve, and in 1570–1 to Henry
Radcliff, and granted in 1609 to Francis Morrice and
Francis Phelips. As the chapel of Halidon it was
granted in 1619–20 to John Buck and others. (fn. 192) In
1780 Mr. Fallick paid a fee-farm rent for Maudlin's
chapel. (fn. 193)
There was a chantry within the parish church 'at
St. Stephen's altar,' founded by Sir John Leigh in
1520. (fn. 194) The incumbent, who had a life pension of
£6 issuing from Hales Monastery, 'teachithe there
gramer to many yong children.' (fn. 195) There was a
house for the chantry priest, which was afterwards
used as a school. This was granted by the Crown in
1549 to Edward Pese and William Winlow, (fn. 196) and
next year to William Winlow and Richard Feld. (fn. 197)
The chantry, with the exception of the house, was
granted in 1549 to George Mill, who died seised of
it in 1567–8. (fn. 198)
There are denominational chapels—Wesleyan,
Primitive Methodist and Baptist at Godshill, United
Methodist at Sandford, and Baptist at Roud.
CHARITIES
The school, formerly the Free
Grammar School, founded by will of
Lady Anne Worsley (date not stated),
and further endowed by Sir Richard Worsley by
deed, 1615, and by Philip Andrews, deed, 1604, is
regulated by scheme of the Charity Commissioners
25 April 1899. It is endowed, in addition to the
school buildings, with a yearly rent-charge of £27,
and the official trustees hold a sum of £215 18s. 6d.
consols, producing £5 7s. 8d. a year, arising from
the investment of £200 received from Lord Yarborough by way of equality of exchange. (fn. 199)
There are also schools in the hamlet of Rookley,
founded in 1863 by John Woodward. The official
trustees also hold a sum of £200 11s. 7d. India
3½ per cent. stock, part of a legacy of £400 bequeathed
by the founder by a codicil to his will, dated 7 April
1870, the balance having been expended from time
to time on improvements to the school buildings. (fn. 200)
In 1617 Richard Gard by his will (among other
charitable gifts) devised an annuity of £1 10s. for the
poor of this parish, issuing out of an estate in Brading,
formerly called Blackpan, but now called Merry
Gardens.
Sir Richard Worsley (as appears from the parliamentary returns of 1786) gave £10 a year for eight
poor widows of this parish, in sums of £1 5s. to each.
In 1858 the Rev. Richard Dixon, a former rector,
by his will, proved at London 7 January, left £5 a
year for distribution in bread.