ELMLEY CASTLE
Aelmleage, Elmlaege, Elmlege, Elmleia (viii
cent.); Emlaeh (ix cent.); Almeya (xii cent.);
Elmele, Elmeley, Aumeleghe, Aumley, Annelegh
(xiii cent.); Castell Emlegh (xiv cent.).
The parish of Elmley Castle lies in the south-east
of the county. It is watered by an unnamed tributary of the Avon and has an area of 2,062 acres, of
which 717 acres are arable, 1,792 permanent grass,
and 184 wood. (fn. 1) The parish lies to the north of
Bredon Hill, the southern part of it being on the hill
at about 900 ft. above the ordnance datum. To the
north the ground falls to 200 ft. The soil is clay and
the subsoil Lower and Middle Lias. The chief crop
is beans. There are stone quarries on Bredon Hill. (fn. 2)
The village of Elmley Castle is situated about
5¼ miles south-west of Evesham at the foot of the
northern slopes of Bredon Hill, on an outlying spur
of which is the site of the ancient castle. The church
stands on the east side of the existing Elmley Castle,
the churchyard adjoining the park. At the fork of
the road a little to the north of the church is the
base and stem of a cross, probably of late 14th-century date. A square sundial appears to have been
substituted for the cross in the first half of the 17th
century. Upon the stem is carved in Roman
characters 'A. DOM. MCXLVIII,' an obvious error, by
the omission of D after the M, for 1648. In the
village is some good half-timber work, including the
building now used as the village hall. A cottage, now
the police-station, may be of the 14th century.
The signboard of the Queen's Head Hotel contains
portraits of Queen Elizabeth and the then lord of
the manor William Savage and his wife, who received
the queen on her visit to the village on 20 August
1575. (fn. 3) The painting, which is modern, is much
above the usual level of sign-painting.
Village Hall, Elmley Castle
There is no Inclosure Act for Elmley Castle.
Netherton was annexed to Elmley Castle for ecclesiastical purposes in 1864. (fn. 4)
Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London (1540–59),
was born at Elmley Castle. (fn. 5)
Place-names occurring in deeds relating to Elmley
Castle are Pychweye (fn. 6) (xiv cent.); Wyndemulle-furlong, Wodeyate, (fn. 7) Edmundes Place Beauchamp (fn. 8)
(xv cent.); Wormastall, Worrall, Puppy's Parlour,
Fiddler's Knap (xx cent.).
CASTLE
Elmley Castle, which stood on the
summit of a hill in the deer park to the
south of the village, is supposed to have
been built by Robert le Despenser, brother of Urse
the Sheriff. (fn. 9) After the castle at Worcester fell into
decay Elmley was for a time the chief seat of the
Beauchamps, and it followed the same descent as the
manor of Elmley Castle (q.v.) until the death of
Thomas Byrche Savage in 1776. The house and
park went to his widow, who sold them to Richard
Bourne Charlett, at whose death in 1822 they were
purchased of his executors by Colonel Thomas Henry
Hastings Davies, M. P. for Worcester. (fn. 10) He died in
1846 without issue, leaving the estate to his widow
for life, then in succession to his two brothers, Warburton, who died in 1870, and General Francis John
Davies, who died in 1874. Colonel Davies's widow
married Sir John Pakington, afterwards Lord Hampton, and died in 1892, when the castle passed to the
present owner, Lieut.-General Henry Fanshawe
Davies, J.P., D.L., son of General Francis John
Davies. (fn. 11)
In 1216 the king committed the custody of Elmley
Castle to Walter de Lacy, Hugh de Mortimer and
Walter de Clifford to keep while Walter de Beauchamp went to the Papal Legate to obtain absolution
for his lapse from fidelity to the king. (fn. 12) In 1298 the
castle was found to be in need of much repair, (fn. 13) and
after the death of Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick in 1315 it was in such a bad state as to be
valued at only 6s. 8d., evidently a nominal valuation,
as in another survey taken at the same time it was
said to be worth nothing. (fn. 14) The castle was granted
by the king to the executors of Guy's will in 1315–16
on condition that they should not grant it to any
other without the king's licence. (fn. 15) The custody of
the castle was, however, taken from them and granted
to Hugh le Despenser the elder about 1317. (fn. 16) In
November of that year Hugh was ordered to fortify
it, (fn. 17) and to put in twenty fencible footmen to be retained at the king's wages until further orders. (fn. 18) Hugh
le Despenser having been banished in 1321 the Sheriff
of Worcester was ordered to take the castle into the
king's (fn. 19) hands, and to cause it to be safely guarded
and to make an inventory of the arms and victuals and
other goods contained in it. (fn. 20) Later in the same year
Elmley Castle was taken by the rebel barons under
Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, and suffered
considerable damage. (fn. 21) It is not known whether it
underwent a siege, but the gates and some of the
houses were burned and many of the defenders slain. (fn. 22)
Peace having been restored, order was given in 1322
to the keeper of the castle to disband the extra menat-arms placed there during the war. (fn. 23)
Some slight repairs were made in the castle in
1413 and 1425, (fn. 24) and again in 1480 and 1492. (fn. 25)
William Adams was appointed keeper and Thomas
Brugge steward in 1478, the castle being then in the
hands of the king on account of the minority of
Edward Earl of Warwick. (fn. 26) Sir John Savage, the
younger, received a grant of the constableship in
1488. (fn. 27) In 1528 the castle seems to have been still
habitable, for Walter Walshe was then appointed
constable and keeper, (fn. 28) and ten years later Urian
Brereton succeeded to the office. (fn. 29) In 1544, however, prior to the grant to Sir William Herbert and
Christopher Savage, a survey was made of the manor
and castle of Elmley, and it was found that the castle,
strongly situated upon a hill surrounded by a ditch and
wall, was completely uncovered and in decay. (fn. 30) Leland
writing at about this time says, 'Ther stondithe now
but one Tower, and that partly broken. As I went
by I saw Carts carienge Stone thens to amend Persore
Bridge about ii miles of. It is set on the Tope of a
Hill full of Wood, and a Townelet hard by.' (fn. 31)
Of the fabric of the ancient castle, which stood on
the summit of the hill about half a mile to the south
of the existing building, only a very small amount of
masonry, probably forming part of the keep wall,
remains. The outer and inner ditch and the site of
the barbican can be distinctly traced.
The present mansion of Elmley Castle is a large
stone Elizabethan (fn. 32) house of two stories with gabled
attics. The plan seems to have been originally
E-shaped, but in 1702 the house was entirely remodelled and the character of the plan transformed
by filling the arms of the E with brick additions, the
south or garden front being refaced with brick to
harmonize in appearance with the new building. At
the same time large sash-windows were substituted for
the original mullioned openings, one or two of which
still survive in the attic story and in the cellar. The
finest feature of the house is the handsome staircase
hall added at this period to the south of the entrance
hall. The ceiling is a particularly good example of
Queen Anne plaster work. The stairs are of oak with
twisted balusters supporting the hand-rail. The east
wing contains the principal apartments, and the
panelling, where not replaced by later work, dates
from the 1702 remodelling. The drawing room at
the south end of this wing has been increased to its
present size by the removal of a partition. In the
southernmost of the two rooms out of which it has
been formed Queen Elizabeth is said to have slept
when she visited Elmley Castle. Between the drawing room and the dining room is a small room called
the cedar parlour from the panelling of this material
which lines its walls. At the side of the doorway
opening from the hall to the staircase was originally
an entrance to a secret chamber or hiding hole which
can now be entered from one of the first floor bedrooms. The kitchen and offices are in the west wing,
which retains some original 16th-century detail, including a stone fireplace with moulded jambs and a
four-centred head, and a small external doorway now
partly masked by a brick porch.
The PARK at Elmley, which belonged to the
lords of Elmley Castle, was possibly made about 1234,
for in that year Walter de Beauchamp received from
the king a gift of ten does and three bucks for stocking
his park at Elmley. (fn. 33) In 1298 the wood in the park
was worth 4s. yearly. (fn. 34) Thomas de Beauchamp Earl
of Warwick complained in 1349 that several persons,
including Robert de Amyas, parson of the church of
Great Comberton, had hunted in his free chase at
Elmley Castle and carried away deer. (fn. 35) The park
was enlarged about 1480 by the addition of part of
the demesne land of the manor called Court Close. (fn. 36)
In 1478 William Adams was appointed keeper of the
park and warren at Elmley Castle. (fn. 37) In 1480 John
Mortimer was appointed master of the game in
Elmley Park, (fn. 38) and in 1484 John Hudelston succeeded to this office, (fn. 39) but it was granted in the
following year to Richard Naufan, and in 1488 to
Sir John Savage. (fn. 40) Henry VIII appointed Sir John
Savage and his son John Savage keepers of the park
and warren in 1512. (fn. 41) Walter Walshe was appointed
keeper in 1528. (fn. 42) He died in 1538, and Thomas
Evans (fn. 43) and Rowland Morton both wrote to Cromwell asking for his aid in obtaining the position, the
latter saying, 'if it please the King by your Lordship's
mediation to prefer me, I and mine shall stand
balanced in also et basso, live and die in your Lordship's
retinue.' He also begs credence for his messenger
'and will give your Lordship £20.' (fn. 44) Neither of
these suppliants received the post, which was granted
to Urian Brereton. (fn. 45) The park was included in the
sale to Christopher Savage, (fn. 46) and remained in his
family until 1822, when it was sold with the castle
to Colonel Thomas Henry Hastings Davies. It
now belongs to Lieut.-General Henry Fanshawe
Davies, J.P., D.L.
HONOUR
Elmley Castle was the caput of the
Worcestershire honour of the Beauchamps. The chief part of the honour
descended to them from Urse the Sheriff, but Elmley
Castle came to them from Robert, Urse's brother. The
honour seems to have consisted of the land which
Urse held of the Bishop of Worcester in 1086, (fn. 47) and
was held in 1166 (fn. 48) and in the 13th century (fn. 49) by the
Beauchamps for fifteen knights' fees. The manor (fn. 50)
and castle were included in the honour (fn. 51) and followed
the same descent. A rent roll of the honour in 1698
is preserved at the British Museum. (fn. 52) When the
castle was purchased by Colonel Davies he revived
the claim to chief rents due to the honour, which had
been allowed to lapse. The owners of most of the
manors compounded and their lands were enfranchised.
The court of the honour of Elmley seems to have
been held at Worcester in the 14th century, for
in the inquisition taken on the death of Guy de
Beauchamp in 1315 it was said that the pleas and
perquisites of the court of the castle of Worcester
called the court of knights pertained to the manor of
Elmley. (fn. 53)
MANORS
King Offa is said to have granted the
land of two manentes in ELMLEY to
the Bishop of Worcester in 780, (fn. 54) and
the overlordship of the manor remained with the see
of Worcester (fn. 55) until the middle of the 15th century. (fn. 56)
In 1478–9 the manor was said to be held of the
king in chief. (fn. 57)
Brihteah, Bishop of Worcester (1033–8), gave
the vill of Elmley to a certain servant of his, but
Bishop Lyfing, his successor, restored it to the monastery. Later, however, on the entreaties of his friends,
he gave it to Aegelric Kiu,
one of his knights, to hold for
his life only, with reversion
to the monastery. (fn. 58) 'After
the death of Kiu, it was restored to the monastery and
one Witheric was bailiff, but
Robert le Despenser, the
brother of the sheriff, with
the authority of the King
took it away from the monastery.' (fn. 59) This Robert held 4
hides in the manor of Cropthorne, evidently representing
the manor of Elmley, (fn. 60) at the
date of the Domesday Survey. He died without
issue, and the manor of Elmley Castle passed to the
Beauchamps, the heirs of his brother Urse D'Abitot,
the Sheriff of Worcester. Emmeline daughter and
heir of Urse married Walter de Beauchamp, (fn. 61) who is
mentioned as the owner of these 4 hides in an early
12th-century survey of Oswaldslow. (fn. 62) He was succeeded in 1129–39 by his son William. (fn. 63) For his
zeal in the cause of the Empress Maud William was
dispossessed of his lands by King Stephen, but was
afterwards restored to them. His son William succeeded him in 1170, (fn. 64) and dying before 1211 (fn. 65) was
followed by his son Walter, a minor. (fn. 66) In 1211
Roger de Mortimer gave 3,000 marks for having the
wardship of Walter de Beauchamp and the custody
of his lands, and married Walter to his daughter. (fn. 67)
Walter de Beauchamp seems to have taken the part
of the barons against John for a short time in 1216,
but made his peace with the king in August of that
year. (fn. 68) He died in 1235, and in the following year
the king took the homage of his son William for the
estates in Worcestershire. (fn. 69) In 1254 this William
obtained from the king a grant of a weekly market on
Wednesdays at Elmley and a fair for three days at the
feast of St. Leonard in the summer. (fn. 70) He married
Isabel daughter of William Mauduit and sister and
heir of William Mauduit Earl of Warwick, (fn. 71) and
dying in 1269 was succeeded by his son William de
Beauchamp, (fn. 72) who had previously inherited the earldom of Warwick from his uncle. (fn. 73)
See of Worcester. Argent ten roundels gules.
In 1275 Bishop Godfrey Giffard renewed the suit
against the Beauchamps, which had been begun by
Walter de Cantilupe, alleging
that they held the assize of
bread and ale at Elmley Castle
without authority, and claiming the redress of sundry other
grievances. (fn. 74) In 1279 the
decision of the arbitrators
was given in favour of the
bishop. (fn. 75)
Beauchamp. Gules a fesse between six crosslets or.
This William de Beauchamp
died in 1298. (fn. 76) His son Guy
did homage for his father's
lands in October 1298, (fn. 77) and
died 10 August 1315, leaving as his heir his eldest son Thomas, then aged two
years. (fn. 78) Thomas Earl of Warwick was knighted in
January 1330 and had livery of his lands in the following year. (fn. 79) He conveyed this manor among others to
trustees for the payment of portions to his daughters
after his death. (fn. 80) He was marshal of the army in
France in 1346 and distinguished himself at Crecy
and at Poitiers in 1356. He died at Calais in
November 1369 and was succeeded by his second but
eldest surviving son Thomas. (fn. 81) The latter was arrested
for treason and imprisoned in the Tower in 1396,
and his estates were forfeited. (fn. 82) In August 1397 the
manor of Elmley Castle was granted to Thomas Lord
le Despenser. (fn. 83) In September of that year Thomas
was created Earl of Gloucester, and the manor was
confirmed to him under that title. (fn. 84) Thomas Earl
of Warwick was, however, reinstated in all his possessions on the accession of Henry IV, and died in
1401. (fn. 85) The manor of Elmley was held by his
widow until her death in 1406–7, when her son
Richard succeeded. (fn. 86) In 1423 the manor was
settled on him and his second wife Isabel le Despenser
Countess of Worcester. (fn. 87) He died in April 1439,
and on the death of Isabel in the following December
Elmley Castle passed to their son Henry, aged fifteen
years. (fn. 88) In 1444 he was created Premier Earl of England, and advanced to the dignity of Duke of Warwick
in the following year. He is supposed to have been
crowned King of the Isle of Wight by Henry VI. (fn. 89)
He died 11 June 1446, when the dukedom and the
male line of this branch of the family expired, but
his other honours devolved on his only daughter
Anne Countess of Warwick, then aged three years. (fn. 90)
She died an infant in 1448–9, and the manor of
Elmley Castle passed to her aunt Anne, the wife of
Richard Nevill Earl of Salisbury. (fn. 91) After his death
at the battle of Barnet in 1471, Elmley Castle was
settled on his daughter Isable
wife of George Duke of Clarence, the right of his widow
Anne being ignored. Isabel
died in 1476, (fn. 92) and Elmley
Castle was held by her husband until his death on
4 March 1478. (fn. 93) Edward
his son and heir being a
minor the castle and manor
passed into the king's hands. (fn. 94)
In 1487, however, Anne
Countess of Warwick obtained
an Act of Parliament for her
restoration to the Warwick
estates, but this seems only to
have been done to enable her
to convey them to the Crown, (fn. 95)
for in the same year she surrendered the manor and
castle of Elmley with the other Warwick estates to
Henry VII. (fn. 96) The manor remained in the king's possession until 1544, (fn. 97) when it was sold by Henry VIII
to Sir William Herbert of the Privy Chamber and
Christopher Savage. (fn. 98) The grant included the lordship and manor, castle and park, of Elmley Castle,
the water of the Avon beside Peryforde, from Cropthorne Field to le Lytle Neytesende and thence to
the lower end of Peryforde Meadow, and thence as
far as Chalforde, with all 'lez neytes' pertaining to
the said water and free fishery in it, a parcel of land
called 'le Nocke' beyond the Avon, the site of the
manor of Elmley otherwise called the lodge of
Elmley Park. (fn. 99) On 6 November 1544 Sir William
Herbert quitclaimed his share of the manor to Christopher Savage, who died on 23 November 1545,
leaving a son and heir Francis Hardwyk Savage. (fn. 100)
The latter died August 1557 and was followed by
his eldest son William Savage. (fn. 101) William Savage
died 7 August 1616, (fn. 102) when the estate passed to
his eldest son Sir John Savage. He on 15 June in
the following year settled the manor on his brother
Giles in tail-male with contingent remainder to another
brother George and his son William. Sir John Savage
died without issue at Elmley Castle on 2 April 1623
and was succeeded by his brother Giles, who died
31 January 1631–2. (fn. 103) Thomas son of Giles raised
a troop of horse for Charles I
at the beginning of the Civil
War, being then only seventeen years old and a ward of
the king. He deserted, however, on the publication of
the Declaration of Grace and
lived at his mother's house
near Tewkesbury. When the
county committee came to
Worcester he compounded for
his estate and gave them £100
for the support of the garrison
of Evesham. He came before
the Committee for Compounding on 29 November
1645, and it was proved that his corn, barns and
other houses had been burnt in September by soldiers
from Evesham and that he was £600 in debt. Nevertheless he was fined £1,500 on 4 June 1646. His
fine was reduced to £1,487 on 30 October 1649. (fn. 104)
The estate remained with the Savage family (fn. 105) until
1742, (fn. 106) when Thomas Savage died without male issue
and left the manor to his daughters Elizabeth and
Margaret. (fn. 107) Some litigation followed, but under an
Act of Parliament in 1743 (fn. 108) the manor of Elmley
Castle went to Thomas Byrche son of Elizabeth. (fn. 109)
He assumed the name of Savage, and dying in 1776
without issue left the manor to his widow Dorothy
and afterwards to Robert Clavering, the eldest son of
Jane, his youngest sister. (fn. 110)
Clarence. FRANCE quartered with ENGLAND with the difference of a label argent having a quarter gules upon each pendant.
Savage. Argent six lions sable.
Robert Clavering took the additional surname of
Savage, (fn. 111) and was succeeded by his son also Robert
Clavering Savage, who sold the manor to his tenant
and agent Mr. Moore, of whom it was purchased
about 1867 (fn. 112) by Joseph Jones of Oldham. From
him it passed to his heir John Joseph Jones in
1880. (fn. 113) He was succeeded by his cousin William
Jones, and on the death of Frederick William son of
the latter in 1910 the manor passed to his brother
Arthur, the present owner, (fn. 114) who, however, claims
no manorial rights.
In 1298 there were two mills at Elmley Castle,
one water-mill and one windmill. (fn. 115) Fisheries between
the banks of Nassebrook and Burne are mentioned as
belonging to Guy Earl of Warwick in 1315. (fn. 116) The
mills are not again mentioned in deeds relating to
the manor, but a fishery in the Avon belonged to
Elmley Castle in 1646. (fn. 117) The site of Castle Mill is
still to be seen near the ruins of the castle, and there
are two water-mills at Elmley Castle at the present
day.
A hide of land at KERSOE (Criddesho, viii cent.;
Crideshoth, xii cent.; Creddeshey, xv cent.) was given
with Elmley by King Offa in 780 to the church of
Worcester. (fn. 118) It evidently followed the descent of
Elmley Castle, (fn. 119) being part of that manor in the
15th century. (fn. 120) It was granted with Elmley in
1544 to William Herbert and Christopher Savage, (fn. 121)
and apparently followed the same descent until 1822,
when under the name of 'the manor of Kersoe' (fn. 122)
it occurs for the last time.
At the Dissolution the Abbot of Westminster was
receiving a fee-farm rent of £17 6s. 0¾d. from Elmley
and the neighbouring parishes of Bricklehampton
and Comberton. (fn. 123) It was perhaps paid by the lords
of Elmley Castle for his tenants at Bricklehampton
and Little Comberton in the abbot's fee. (fn. 124) The
fee farm was granted in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter
of Westminster. (fn. 125) This rent has not been traced
later.
'A manor of Elmley,' which has not been identified, was granted by Queen Mary to the refounded
abbey in 1556–7, (fn. 126) and by Queen Elizabeth regranted
to the dean and chapter in 1559–60. (fn. 127) It was sold
in 1650 among many other of the dean and chapter's
manors to Cheney Colepeper of Hollingbourne, co.
Kent, (fn. 128) and then seems to have formed part of the
manor of Binholme in Pershore. It was restored to the
dean and chapter on the accession of Charles II, and
is mentioned among their possessions in 1690, being
then leased with Bricklehampton and Comberton at a
rent of £16. (fn. 129)
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY consists
of a chancel 25 ft. by 16 ft., nave
57 ft. by 19½ ft., north transept 20 ft.
deep by 16½ ft. wide, north aisle to the west of it,
9 ft. 10 in. wide, and south aisle 10 ft. wide, a north
porch, and a western tower 18½ ft. wide by 14 ft.
deep; all the measurements are internal.
The church dates from a very early period, the
walling of the chancel, which was shorter than the
present one, belonging to about the end of the 11th
century. The plan at that time consisted simply of
nave and chancel, and doubtless much of the original
stonework remains in the present nave, though many
of the carved stones belong to 12th-century alterations. The first addition of which there is any
definite evidence took place early in the 13th century,
when the unusually wide tower was erected at the
west end of the nave, which may have been lengthened
at the same time. About 1340 the church was considerably enlarged, the north transept and the south
aisle being added. The chancel also was lengthened
by some 5 ft., evidently to form a narrow vestry
behind the high altar. The north aisle was an addition of the latter part of the 15th century, the
earlier transept arch being retained as the easternmost
bay of the arcade and a cross arch constructed in
place of the west transept wall. At the same time a
new column was substituted for the first pier in the
south arcade and the top stage was added to the tower,
a new west door and window being inserted. In the
early part of the 16th century the transept was
heightened and new windows inserted to form a
chapel for the Savage family, the alterations amounting practically to a rebuilding. The north porch
underwent considerable repair in the first half of the
next century, and it is not improbable that the western
half of the south aisle was rebuilt in 1629, the date
inscribed upon a stone between the two westernmost
windows in the south wall. To the same date
belongs also the embattled parapet of the north aisle.
Prattinton, who wrote in 1817, mentions a semicircular end to the chancel; it was probably an
18th-century addition and has now been removed.
The chancel was restored in 1863, when the east
wall was rebuilt, a new roof put up, and new tracery
inserted in the side windows. The round chancel
arch, which is said to have been of wood, was rebuilt
at the same time. The chancel also underwent a
general restoration in 1878, when the nave and aisles
were re-roofed.
Plan of Elmley Castle Church
The modern east window, put up by Lieut.-General
Davies to the memory of his parents and brothers,
is of three lights with a traceried head; a 14th-century
doorway opening into the former vestry behind the
altar is now walled up, and traces remain of a corresponding door in the south wall. The first of the two
windows on the north is of two lights under a traceried
two-centred head; the second also has two lights with
a quatrefoil over; the tracery and mullions of both
are modern, but the jambs are old, those of the
easternmost dating probably from the early 15th
century, while those of the western window appear
to be of the 14th century. The two windows on
the south side correspond in all respects with those
opposite. Between these windows and visible on
both sides of the wall is the herring-bone work of
the late 11th century, and at the west end of the
south wall is a short length of plinth course. The
chancel arch is modern and springs from corbels. In
the east wall of the nave flanking it are niches for
figures; the one to the south is complete with its
square head, but of the other only the lower parts of
the jambs remain.
The nave arcades each consist of four bays. The
first bay on the north side has a square jamb on the
east with a 14th-century pointed arch of two chamfered orders dying on it. The rest of the arcade is
of late 15th-century date and has octagonal columns
with simple capitals and bases and pointed arches of
two chamfered orders. The arches on the south side
are similar to the first bay on the north, but the first
column is octagonal and similar in detail to the later
work opposite. The second and third piers and the
western respond are square, the arches dying on them,
and the east respond is dispensed with. The rood
stair formerly existing in the angle of the north transept and the nave has been removed, but the blocked
doorways remain. The east and north windows of
the transept are both 16th-century insertions, though
not quite contemporary. The former, which was of
five lights, is now blocked by the large tomb of the
first Earl of Coventry (fn. 130) ; the north window has
three lights with sunk spandrels under a flat head.
The transept has an embattled parapet both to its side
walls and to the low north gable. In the aisle wall
west of the transept is a raking stone showing the
position of the former steep gabled roof. The cross
arch towards the aisle, which stands somewhat east
of the line of the transept wall, belongs to the
15th-century work and springs from the first column
of the arcade. The two north windows and the
west window of the north aisle are all original and
have three lights with feathered tracery in a square
head. The entrance doorway between the two north
windows has a two-centred drop arch, and is evidently
a 14th-century doorway removed here from the former
nave wall. The porch has in its west wall a
diminutive and almost shapeless light. The outer
doorway has continuous mouldings and a semicircular
head with a moulded label. Set in the side walls are
many 11th and 12th-century stones carved with
various beasts, foliage, and diapering.
The porch is strengthened by diagonal buttresses,
and its parapets, with those of the aisle, are embattled
with continuous copings; above the porch doorway
is a small trefoiled niche. Set in the aisle wall below
the string are two gargoyles with grotesque human
and animal figures.
The east window of the south aisle is a 15th-century insertion of three lights under a pointed traceried
head. To the north of it outside is a shallow buttress,
above which can be seen the quoined angle of the
original nave. In the south wall of the aisle is a
small ogee-headed piscina of 14th-century date the
bowl of which has been cut away. The first
window on the south is a later insertion with three
lights under a square traceried head. The second
window appears to be contemporary with the aisle
and has two narrow lights with a quatrefoil above
them, the jambs being of two chamfered orders.
The third window is modern, and the fourth, of two
lights under a pointed head, appears to be an insertion
of the 16th or 17th century. Between the last two
windows is a stone inscribed 1629 F.F.
The tower is of three stages with a pointed tower
arch of two chamfered orders springing from moulded
abaci. The respond of the inner order is corbelled
back to the face of the jambs a little below the level
of the abacus. It is evidently part of the original
early 13th-century tower, as is also the small lancet
window in the south wall. The west doorway and
window above it are 15th-century insertions. The
doorway has a two-centred drop arch with a moulded
label, and the jambs are of two orders. In the
north and south walls of the second stage are large
13th-century lancet windows now filled in. The
third stage or bell-chamber is lighted by transomed
windows of two lights in each wall, with a quatrefoil
above them in a pointed head. The parapet is embattled and has grotesque gargoyles at the angles.
The walling of the lower part of the tower is of
small rubble with wide jointing, and the third stage
is ashlar faced.
The walling of the church generally is of rubble,
varying in the different parts of the building. Besides the herring-bone work in the chancel wall
the other parts of the earlier work are of uncoursed rubble. In the east gable of the nave are
several ancient carved or worked stones. The parapets generally are of ashlar. The roofs are all gabled
and modern.
The font has a 13th-century square base carved with
four dragons around a circular stem. The bowl dates
from about 1500, and is octagonal, with plain panels
inclosing shields carved with the Five Wounds, the
rose, feathers, a portcullis, a trefoiled leaf with a bar
on the stem, an indented fesse, and a ragged staff.
In the pewing of the south aisle are four turned legs,
which probably belonged to the 1637 communion
table mentioned in the churchwardens' accounts.
There are also four standards for misericordes. A
large number of 16th-century pews with moulded
rails remain in use. An old stone bowl now in the
transept was brought from a farm at Kersoe.
In the north window of the transept are two
pieces of old glass; one is a panel inclosing the
arms of Westminster, and over it is a crowned rose,
party palewise red and white, a royal badge of the
Tudors. In the south-east window of the south
aisle are a few other old fragments, including a
crowned red rose and the quartered lilies and leopards
of France and England.
In the transept are two large monuments. The
first is an alabaster altar tomb, with a black marble
slab on which rest the three recumbent effigies of
William Savage, Giles Savage, who died in 1631,
and his wife Catherine. The latter holds the figure
of a posthumous daughter. At their feet are the
kneeling figures of their four other children. On
mural slabs above the tomb are placed the inscriptions, arms, &c. The second large monument,
against the east wall, is to the first Earl of Coventry,
who died in 1699; it is of Renaissance design, and
has a white marble effigy of the earl reclining on
his elbow under a canopy of the same material, supported on Ionic columns flanked by large allegorical
female figures. In the cleft pediment are the
Coventry arms and crest with allegorical figures at
the sides. The monument, which was refused admittance to Croome D'Abitôt Church by the second
earl, was erected by the countess dowager, who in
1700 married Thomas Savage of Elmley Castle. On
the south wall of the chancel is a mural monument
to Anne daughter of Sir Richard Fetyplace, 1609;
and another, opposite, to E. G. died 1668, has
Corinthian capitals and a broken pediment, but has
lost its columns. An undated slab in the floor
commemorates William Ganderton. In the north
aisle below the second window is a tablet to Elizabeth wife of Thomas Harper, vicar of Elmley, who
died in 1609.
Part of a 14th-century coffin slab with a cusped
cross stands in the north transept.
Mention may be made here of the curious sundial
which stands in the churchyard; it is a square pillar,
on the south face of which is the dial above a carving
of the Savage arms in a shield of ten quarters as they
appear on the tomb in the north transept.
The bells are six in number: the first a treble of
1700; the second cast by Henry Farmer, 1619; the
third with the inscription 'Eternis annis,' &c. (upon
this bell are the heads of a king and queen) (fn. 131) ; the
fourth by Matthew Bagley, 1686; the fifth an old
bell, said to have been of 1556, recast in 1886; and
the sixth a tenor bell of 1620.
The communion plate comprises a silver cup given
in 1633 with a salver, a standing paten of 1635, and
a flagon of 1770.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1665 to 1740; (ii) baptisms and burials
1741 to 1812 and marriages to 1754; (iii) marriages
1754 to 1812. There are also some old churchwardens' accounts and some 17th-century papers found
in the church in 1817, which include inventories of
church goods and property. In the inventory of 1633
among the churchwardens' accounts are mentioned
13 dozen and 2 organ pipes, also a silver flagon, and
in 1637 a new rail for the communion table is mentioned; there is also note of repair to the tower in
1666.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church of
Elmley Castle evidently belonged to
the lords of the manor in early
times, (fn. 132) for in 1308 Guy de Beauchamp granted it
to his newly-founded chantry in the chapel of the
castle of Elmley. (fn. 133) Licence was given for this gift,
although it was found that it would be to the king's
damage, because in case of forfeiture or during a
minority the presentation would belong to the king. (fn. 134)
In the following year the church was appropriated to
the warden and chaplains of the chantry, (fn. 135) and the
vicarage was ordained in 1312. (fn. 136) The vicar was
presented by the warden of the chantry. (fn. 137) In 1530
an inquiry was made as to the advowson of Elmley,
which was found to belong to the warden of the
chantry. John Brereton, then warden, had apparently
neglected the interests of the parishioners. (fn. 138) The
chantry was surrendered to Henry VIII in May
1545, (fn. 139) and the advowson of the church with the
rectory was granted in that year to Sir Philip Hoby. (fn. 140)
In 1558, however, the advowson was granted to
Richard Pates, Bishop of Worcester. (fn. 141) On the
accession of Elizabeth Pates was deprived, but the
rectory was granted to his successor Edwin Sandys in
part compensation for certain manors which the
queen retained. (fn. 142) This grant seems to have included
the advowson of the church, for presentations have
since that time been made by the Bishops of
Worcester. (fn. 143)
There was also a chapel in the castle of Elmley,
and in 1308 Guy de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick
founded there a chantry of eight chaplains and four
clerks. In addition to the advowson of the parish
church of Elmley he endowed this foundation with a
rent of £20 from the manor of Childs Wickham,
co. Gloucester, (fn. 144) but this proved insufficient to meet
the needs of the chaplains, and in 1311, though the
rectory of Elmley had been added to the endowment
in 1309, it was found necessary to reduce the chantry
by one priest and two clerks. (fn. 145) The chantry was
under the care of a master or warden appointed by
the lords of Elmley, (fn. 146) and the warden had the power
to admit and remove the chaplains. (fn. 147)
In 1463 Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick obtained
licence to grant land to the value of 20 marks to the
warden of the chantry to find an additional chaplain, (fn. 148)
and George Duke of Clarence gave the manor and
advowson of Naunton Beauchamp. (fn. 149) In 1536 the
chantry was valued as 'the Rectory of Elmley' at
£55 13s. 3d. clear. (fn. 150) It was surrendered by the
warden Robert Bone in 1545, (fn. 151) and all its possessions
were granted in the same year to Sir Philip Hoby. (fn. 152)
In 1546 Sir Philip was in controversy with William
Tattersall, lessee under the late warden, as to the
chantry lands. (fn. 153) The mansion-house, which had
belonged to the warden, was granted to Sir Ralph
Sadleir by Henry VIII, but he surrendered it to
Edward VI in 1547. (fn. 154)
The chantry with the mansion was granted in 1564
to Anthony Daston and Anne his wife, widow of
Francis Savage of Elmley, for their lives, with remainder to William Savage and his heirs. (fn. 155) Anthony
died in 1572, and Anne granted her interest for a term
of years to Richard Daston and Thomas Savage of
Nobury. (fn. 156) William Savage died seised of 'the chantry
of Elmley called Le College' in 1616, (fn. 157) and it then
followed the same descent as the manor, with which
it seems soon to have become incorporated. (fn. 158)
A parcel of land given for the maintenance of
lamps and lights in the church of Elmley Castle was
valued in 1549–50 at 3s. 4d. (fn. 159) This or another
estate given for the same purpose was valued in
another survey at 7s. 4d., 2s. 4d. being set aside for
the poor. (fn. 160)
CHARITIES
In 1821 Richard Bourne Charlett—as stated on the church table—by
his will left £100, the interest to be
paid annually to poor persons not on the parish books.
The legacy was lent on the security of certain
lands in the parish of Claines, into which the trustees
entered into possession and eventually sold. The
proceeds, with accumulated rents, were invested in
£260 8s. consols with the official trustees, producing
£6 10s. yearly.
Church Lands.
—The church table further stated
as follows:—'One land in King's-hedge Furlong, in
the Fields of Elmley Castle, one land in a Furlong
called Crowel; one land and four leys in a field
called Bartlett's Field, in Bricklehampton, the donor
out of memory.'
These lands do not now appear to be capable of
identification.