THORNE
The ancient parish of Thorn Coffin, known since
1884 as Thorne, (fn. 1) lies 2 miles north-west of Yeovil.
It measured 413 a. in 1901, (fn. 2) and since 1933 has
formed part of the civil parish of Brympton. (fn. 3) It
is irregular in shape: its northern boundary with
Chilthorne Domer follows, with slight deviations,
the Yeovil-Tintinhull road, and was marked c. 1300
by Thorn Ditch. (fn. 4) Part of its southern boundary with
Brympton and Lufton is aligned with Thorn
Lane, the road from the hundred stone of Stone to
Montacute. At the Oaks, however, it leaves the road
and runs (fn. 5) southwards towards Lufton, field boundaries at that point suggesting the line of an earlier
road or track. The western limit of the parish has
a protrusion reaching Montacute and including
meadow land known as Castle Leasne in the 17th
century (fn. 6) and Castle Leaze in the nineteenth. (fn. 7) The
name is a possible indication of an early attachment
to Montacute castle.
The north-western part of the parish, about a
third of the total area, lies on silts and marls below
200 ft., and is watered by a stream called Balls
water, which rises in the east of the parish and
flows through the middle of the village. The land
rises sharply to the south-east, to 300 ft., through
Pennard sands, Yeovil sands, and a junction bed of
limestone. (fn. 8) The church stands on this rising ground
above the village.
The road system is a single north-south road
joining the east-west roads of the northern and
southern boundaries. The village is scattered along
this central route, and comprises a few cottages,
some farms, and Thorne House. The church and
former Rectory stood at its southern end, on a track
serving the fields in the south-west of the parish.
Higher Farm, like the other buildings in the village
in the local Ham stone, is of 17th-century origin,
and Middle Farm probably dates from the middle
of that century. Manor Farm, with a symmetrical
five-bay front and rusticated quoins, was built in the
early 18th century.
The population of Thorne has always been small.
Thirteen inhabitants were recorded in 1086, (fn. 9)
but only four contributed to the subsidy of 1327. (fn. 10)
In 1811 there were 97 people in the village,
and throughout the 19th century the number
fluctuated between 87 and 110. The figure then
fell sharply, to only 50 in 1951. (fn. 11) Ten years later
it had recovered to 75. (fn. 12)
Manors.
The estate later known as the manor of
THORN was held in 1066 by Cheneve. (fn. 13) By 1086
he had been succeeded by Drew, who held it of the
count of Mortain. (fn. 14) Drew's descendants, the de
Montagues or Montacutes, later earls of Salisbury,
held it in chief for ¼ knight's fee as of their manor of
Shepton Montague. (fn. 15) It seems to have passed for a
short time to the Despensers, probably on the marriage, c. 1341, of Elizabeth, daughter of William,
earl of Salisbury (d. 1344), to Hugh, Lord le Despenser (d. 1349). (fn. 16) In 1381 the manor was held of
the heir of Edward, Lord le Despenser (d. 1375). (fn. 17)
By the time of his death in 1397 William, earl of
Salisbury, was again lord of Thorn. (fn. 18) The property
passed to Thomas, earl of Salisbury, in 1409, but the
family's claims to overlordship seem to have lapsed
after his death in 1428. (fn. 19)
In 1198 William de Montague (d. 1217) exchanged
Thorn for Long Sutton with William, son of Robert
de Montague. (fn. 20) This arrangement was subsequently
disputed, evidently as the result of a grant of lands
by William in two places to his son-in-law, Matthew
of Clevedon. (fn. 21) Thus began the mesne tenancy of
the Clevedons. Matthew was still alive in 1226 and
had then a son, William. (fn. 22) There is no further
reference to the family in connexion with Thorn
until 1340, though it is probable that the holding
descended with the elder branch of the family. (fn. 23)
Sir Edmund of Clevedon (d. 1375) was certainly
mesne lord in 1340, and presented to the rectory
during the minorities of successive resident tenants. (fn. 24)
Sir Edmund's heir was his grandson, Edmund
Hogshaw, a minor. (fn. 25) On his death, still under age,
in 1388, the inheritance was divided between his
older sisters: Joan, wife of Thomas Lovel, received
Thorn, Milton Clevedon, and other properties. (fn. 26)
Thomas Lovel held ¼ fee in Thorn in 1409, (fn. 27) but
the grant of three parts of the manor to Stavordale
priory in 1442 (fn. 28) eliminated most of the mesne lord's
rights. Some land in Thorn, however, continued
to be associated with the manor of Milton Clevedon
as late as 1619. (fn. 29)
The occupiers of the manor of Thorn, by 1303
at the latest, were members of the Coffin family.
It is not clear where they originated, though an
Ellis Coffin occurs in the county in 1224, (fn. 30) and a
Ralph Coffin at Northover in 1263. (fn. 31) In 1279
Ellis, son and heir of John Coffin, was concerned
in a plea of land at Thorn, which already bore the
suffix Coffin. (fn. 32) Probably the same Ellis was tenant
of 1/8 fee there in 1303, though the holding had then
been sub-let to Adam de Waltham. (fn. 33) By 1320 he
had been succeeded by Robert Coffin, who held
Long Sutton and Thorn jointly with Robert de
Montague, the whole comprising one fee. (fn. 34) This
joint holding seems to explain why Coffin's estate
was referred to as only half a manor. (fn. 35) Robert
Coffin was patron of the church (fn. 36) and the most
prosperous resident at Thorn in 1327. (fn. 37) He was
dead by 1340 and then and in 1341 the property
was in the hands of Sir Edmund of Clevedon during
a minority. (fn. 38) By 1346, however, William Coffin
was returned as tenant of 1/8 fee. (fn. 39) Five years later
he was dead and his son, also William, was still a
minor. (fn. 40) There was a further minority in 1362,
that of Robert son of William Coffin, probably
brother of the previous tenant. (fn. 41) Before 1376 the
estate had descended to Emme and Isabel, daughters
of Richard Coffin, but both sisters died in that
year and the estate, described as half the manor and
the advowson, was divided between eight co-heirs,
descendants of the four sisters of Richard Coffin. (fn. 42)
At least two of these heirs died childless before
1405, (fn. 43) allowing some small consolidation, but in
1414 five persons presented to the living. One
of these was Margaret Retherdone or Rotherden,
widow of one of the original heirs. (fn. 44) Another of
the joint patrons was John Credy, who devised his
part of the manor and the advowson in 1426 to
Richard Burdon and his wife. (fn. 45) A Richard Burdene
had been one of the original heirs, (fn. 46) and this suggests
a further re-forming of the estate. In 1428 John
Stourton of Preston Plucknett presented, (fn. 47) and
probably by then the Stourtons had acquired a
major interest in the manor. A number of feoffees,
including the Stourtons, certainly presented in
1435 and 1441. (fn. 48) In 1441 John Stourton of Preston,
at the head of a group of trustees, received licence
to grant an estate, described as three parts of the
manor of Thorn, just over 130 a. of land, to Stavordale priory, (fn. 49) united with Taunton priory in 1533. (fn. 50)
After the dissolution of Taunton priory in 1539
Thorn seems to have been retained by the Crown
until 1554, when it formed part of a grant to Sir
Edmund Peckham, Master of the Mint. (fn. 51) By 1558,
however, the advowson, and most probably the
manor, had come to Robert Hyett, (fn. 52) and had passed
to Thomas Hyett by 1575. (fn. 53) In that year Hyett and
his wife made over the property to Edward Dyer. (fn. 54)
Four years later Andrew Dyer granted the properties to Giles Penney. (fn. 55) By 1595 the manor, at least,
had come to Sir Edward Phelips of Montacute; (fn. 56) his
son, Sir Robert, settled both manor and advowson
on his second son, Robert. (fn. 57) Robert Phelips sold
them in 1673 to Thomas Napper of Tintinhull, (fn. 58)
and the manor descended from this Thomas (d.
1700) to his grandson, Thomas (d. 1736), and to his
great-grandson, also Thomas. (fn. 59) At the latter's death
in 1760 the manor passed to Andrew, his brother;
and at Andrew's death in 1781 to his nephew,
John. (fn. 60) By this date, however, the manor of Thorn
had virtually lost its identity by merger with the
other manor in the parish.
A second estate in Thorn, later known as the
manor of THORN PRIOR, belonged to Ralph
the priest in 1086, having been held before the
Conquest by two thegns 'in parage'. (fn. 61) Ranulph
the chancellor is said to have given this estate to the
abbey of Cluny, and it became part of the endowment of Montacute priory between 1091 and 1104. (fn. 62)
Richard son of Drew is also said to have given his
estate at Thorn to the priory, but its subsequent
descent proves this grant to have been ineffective. (fn. 63)
The estate, known as Thorn Prior by 1376, (fn. 64) was
retained by the priory until the Dissolution in 1539. (fn. 65)
It was considered part of the manor of Montacute
Forum, and descended with that manor until
1566 or later. (fn. 66)
This holding was already known as Thorn farm
well before the Dissolution, when it was let to the
Salmon family. Elizabeth Darrell of Littlecote
(Wilts.) attempted to gain 'forcible entry' in 1546, (fn. 67)
but the Salmons continued in occupation at least
until 1574. (fn. 68) At some date probably after 1574 Thorn
was sold to one Downing. (fn. 69)
Leasing obscures the descent thereafter, but
what must have represented a substantial portion
of the former Montacute holding in succession to
the Salmons became the property of Edward Alford
of Hamsey (Suss.) and later of Offington (Suss.).
By 1601 he was holding some 300 a. in Thorn
Coffin and Thorn Prior. (fn. 70) Alford leased the estate
in that year to Thomas (later Sir Thomas) Freke of
Cerne (Dors.), and subsequently to the Fettiplace
family. (fn. 71) The division of the manor-house of Thorn
Prior in 1635 (fn. 72) suggests further and radical fragmentation of the estate, though there are indications
that the Hawker family of Chilthorne Vagg reformed at least part of the holding. (fn. 73) Charles Hawker
died in 1740 as occupier of a house and lands called
Thorn Prior, evidently held in trust by him for his
nieces and heirs, Sarah and Mary Hawker. (fn. 74) The
Misses Hawker were succeeded by Thomas Napper
in 1756, (fn. 75) and the estate was absorbed into the larger
Napper holding. By 1785 the whole was known as
Thorn Prior, though it evidently comprised parts
of both former manors. (fn. 76)
The manor of 'Thorn alias Thorn Prior' was
sold by John Napper in 1785 to his second cousin,
Edward Berkeley Napier. Much of the land seems
to have passed, with the manor-house, to the
Revd. T. H. Pearson, but the lordship and some land
belonged in 1840 to the Revd. George Bale. (fn. 77) Capt.
Charles Pearson, R.N. (d. 1864), owned Thorn
House by 1839; in 1843 he also held Manor farm,
the largest single unit of the Napper estate of
Thorn Prior. (fn. 78) He was succeeded by a Major Pearson (fn. 79) who, in 1869, sold the property to J. J. (later
Judge) Hooper. (fn. 80) Hooper subsequently purchased
a number of isolated holdings in the parish to form a
consolidated estate, which came to be known as
the manor of Thorne. At his death in 1895 the
manor passed to his widow and, on her death in
1913, to her daughter by her first marriage, Miss
M. E. Warry. (fn. 81) G. F. C. Warry (d. 1959) succeeded
her in 1930. (fn. 82) The estate was sold, mostly to the
tenants, about 1947. (fn. 83)
In 1635 the manor-house of Thorn Prior was
divided into two parts, Hugh Donne acquiring the
hall, kitchens and rooms above, and a room 'within
the hall', together with part of the barn. (fn. 84) In 1740
the house, considerably enlarged if not rebuilt, and
in sole occupation, comprised a hall, parlour,
pantry, and kitchen, with six rooms above, and
cellars. (fn. 85) By 1785 this 'good dwelling house' had
'pleasure grounds disposed and planted with flower
shrubs by the modern taste' and was 'a fit residence
for a gentleman'. (fn. 86) In 1839 the road which passed
directly in front of the house was diverted to the
west to improve the grounds. (fn. 87) The present house,
built in the neo-Elizabethan style for Judge Hooper
in 1882, was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson. (fn. 88)
Some walls and outbuildings from its predecessor
have survived.
Economic History.
Before the Conquest
there were two estates at Thorne, one held 'in
parage' by two thegns. The whole comprised 3
hides and 1 virgate, with land for 5 ploughs, though
only 3 seem to have been in use. There were 24 a.
of meadow. Three-quarters of the larger estate,
that of Ralph the priest, was in demesne, cultivated
by 5 villeins and 2 bordars. These also shared a
plough and worked the rest of the land. One hide
of the other estate was in demesne, worked by 3
bordars and 3 serfs. Ralph's estate, worth 32s. in
1086, had been worth 40s. T.R.E.; the other had
increased in value from 10s. to 20s. (fn. 89)
Montacute priory, Ralph's successor, had an
estate described as half the vill in 1302–3, worth
£4 10s. 5d. (fn. 90) It then comprised 83 a. of arable,
6 a. of meadow, and 6 bovates of pasture in demesne.
There was one free tenant holding half a virgate.
Villein tenures seems to have increased in number,
but no services were demanded; two ½-virgate, two
furlong, and five cottar tenements were held for
rents in lieu of all services. The priory also owned
the estovers of all the houses and a dovecot. (fn. 91)
At the Dissolution the priory estate, known as
Thorn farm, was entirely let. The Salmon family,
sole tenants from 1533 (fn. 92) until at least 1574, (fn. 93) by
1539 held 150 a. and attached tenements for a
rent of £9 6s. 8d. (fn. 94) The other estate in the parish
was also let entirely, and rents, some of which
were described as customary, amounted to £4 0s. 4d. (fn. 95)
There are no direct references to open fields, but
in 1302–3 there were tenants known as ferlingarii,
holding furlongs in villeinage. (fn. 96) By 1566 the manor
of Thorn Prior was entirely in closes. (fn. 97) So late as
1717 common pasture is mentioned, though this
formed part of the glebe, and probably was a
close, shared with other tenants, known as Little
New Close, of which the rector possessed half in
1639. (fn. 98)
The nature of the soil suggests that arable has
always been less important than grazing. The 4
swine and 30 sheep of Domesday compared with
the 3 ploughs on the combined estates probably
represented the balance of farming throughout the
Middle Ages and later. (fn. 99) In 1834 about a third of the
parish was arable (fn. 100) and in 1905 about a sixth. (fn. 101) This
ratio continues.
The division of the two manors into small
leaseholds, particularly during the 17th century,
included the physical division of the manor-house
of Thorn Prior, (fn. 102) though by the middle of the 18th
century the house was again in single occupation, (fn. 103)
and by c. 1785 the estate had been so far consolidated
as to include two farms, one of over 173 a. (fn. 104) The
whole of this estate, in the hands of the Nappers,
included 11 houses or cottages, held on leases for
99 years or three lives. (fn. 105) The rest of the parish was
still in many small holdings, and the ownership
was still 'much divided' in 1834. (fn. 106) In 1843 Manor
farm, the nucleus of the Thorn Prior estate, comprised over 130 a., and was held with Thorn House
by Capt. Charles Pearson. There were three other
farms of c. 50 a., and one of 33 a. (fn. 107) There were three
farmers in the parish in 1861, (fn. 108) four in 1875, (fn. 109)
and five in 1878, (fn. 110) but most were tenants, the lord
of the manor having purchased most of the property
between 1869 and 1878. (fn. 111) Apart from farming the
only other important occupation in the parish in
the 19th century was glove-sewing, in which most of
the women and girls were employed in their homes. (fn. 112)
Local Government.
Throughout the Middle Ages two courts had jurisdiction in Thorne.
The prior of Montacute's court governed his holding, together with lands in Mudford, (fn. 113) for which he
owed suit to Stone hundred. (fn. 114) The prior of Taunton, successor to the Coffins and to the prior of
Stavordale, administered as one bailiwick his holding in Thorne and property in Bruton. (fn. 115) Thorn
Prior by 1539 was considered part of Bishopston
tithing in the manor of Montacute Forum, (fn. 116) and
continued to be so regarded for fiscal purposes and
for local administration in the 17th and 18th centuries. (fn. 117) Parts of Thorn Coffin were still in the 19th
century outside this jurisdiction, and in 1837 constituted part of the out-hundred of Tintinhull
manor. (fn. 118) There was, therefore, in 1841, doubt
whether the parish was in Stone or Tintinhull
hundred. (fn. 119)
There was a poorhouse in the parish c. 1785, (fn. 120)
but it was probably closed by 1802–3, when only
out-relief was given. (fn. 121) There was certainly no workhouse in 1834. (fn. 122) The parish became part of the
Yeovil poor-law union in 1836. (fn. 123)
Church.
There was a church at Thorne in
1327. (fn. 124) Its omission from the Taxatio of 1291,
where the prior of Montacute's estate in the village,
but no church, is noted, (fn. 125) suggests a foundation
after that date. At least from 1327 the advowson of
the rectory was in the hands of the Coffin family,
the resident lords of the manor, and it is possible
that the church was founded by them between these
two dates. The present building is of that period.
Since c. 1926 the rectory has been combined with
Yeovil Marsh, and from 1937 has been held with
Chilthorne Domer, where the incumbent lives. (fn. 126)
The advowson of Thorn Coffin was held by the
Coffin family at least from 1327 until 1376, (fn. 127)
although the mesne lords, the Clevedons, presented
during minorities in 1340, 1341, and 1351, (fn. 128) and
Alice Borde in 1362. (fn. 129) The Crown presented in
1384, 1385, 1392, and 1398, because of the fragmentation of the Coffin inheritance. (fn. 130) John Credy
presented in 1412, but two years later he headed
a group of patrons, some of whom were evidently
co-heirs of the estate. (fn. 131) By his will, dated 1426,
Credy gave the advowson to Richard Burdon and
his wife. (fn. 132) By 1428, however, the whole advowson
had passed to John Stourton of Preston Plucknett
who, with other feoffees, was concerned to reunite
the divided estate before granting it, with the
advowson, to Stavordale priory about 1442. (fn. 133) At
the next vacancies, in 1454 and 1465, the bishop
and the vicar-general respectively collated to the
benefice by lapse. (fn. 134) The priory presented between
1468 and 1510. (fn. 135) The Crown presented in 1552 and
again in 1554 after a deprivation, (fn. 136) followed in
1558 by Robert Hyett. (fn. 137) Thomas Hyett sold the
advowson, with the manor, to Edward Dyer in
1575. (fn. 138) Andrew Dyer transferred it to Giles Penney
in 1579. (fn. 139) In or before 1622 John Wilkinson (rector
1622–66) acquired the patronage and presented
himself, (fn. 140) but it subsequently passed to Sir Robert
Phelips of Montacute, lord of Thorn manor. He
settled both properties on his second son Robert,
who presented in 1666 and 1673. (fn. 141) The advowson
was sold to Thomas Napper in 1673, and descended
with the manor until the death of Thomas Napper
in 1760. (fn. 142) Napper left the advowson to his brother
John (d. 1774), whose son, also John (d. 1791),
conveyed it to his second cousin, Edward Berkeley
Napier (d. 1798). (fn. 143) In 1804 it was sold to the Revd.
John Hawkes Mules, (fn. 144) whose son and namesake
presented himself in 1812. (fn. 145) Subsequently there
were frequent changes of ownership: the Revd.
Alfred Tooke was patron and rector from 1824 at
least until 1840; by 1853 the patronage had been
acquired by the Revd. Philip Rufford, rector of
Great Alne (Warws.), himself shortly afterwards
incumbent. (fn. 146) The Revd. Williams Sabine (rector
1846–53) was patron in 1857. (fn. 147) From 1859 until
at least 1883 the Revd. Hugh Helyar, rector of
Sutton Bingham, held the advowson; (fn. 148) from 1889
until 1892 it was held by W. Hargreaves, (fn. 149) who was
succeeded by J. H. Hargreaves. By 1902 it passed to
Mrs. Simpson, (fn. 150) and by 1906 to Miss M. E. Warry,
who was patron until her death in 1930. (fn. 151) Her
nephew, G. F. C. Warry, was patron from 1932
until 1934 and from 1940 until 1959. H. C. Warry,
his father, was patron from 1935 until 1940. (fn. 152)
The executors of G. F. C. Warry presented in
1965 and 1971. (fn. 153)
The benefice was small and was not taxed in
1334. (fn. 154) In 1535 its net value was £5 5s. 0½d. (fn. 155)
By about 1668 it was said to be worth £30. (fn. 156) It was
augmented in 1749 by Andrew Napper, son of the
patron, and by a grant from the Pincombe trustees. (fn. 157)
In 1774 the incumbent received a number of
'leazes' in the common fields of Tintinhull. (fn. 158) Further
augmentations were made in 1811 and 1813 by the
Revd. J. H. Mules, patron and rector, and by a
further grant from the Pincombe trustees. (fn. 159) Thus
in 1831 the net income was said to be £200 (fn. 160) and
in 1851 £210. (fn. 161)
In 1535 the tithes were valued at £4 18s. 8d. (fn. 162)
By 1639 the rector claimed tithe corn and hay
throughout the parish, and 3d. for a cow's milk,
2d. for a heifer's milk the first year; tithes of wool,
lambs, and calves, hemp and flax, apples and
pears, honey and pigs; 1d. for the fall of a colt, ½d.
for every weaned calf, and 1d. for a garden. Outsiders who rented land in the parish were to pay
these charges at the rector's discretion. (fn. 163) In 1842
a rent-charge of £135 was assigned to the rector. (fn. 164)
The glebe was valued at 8s. in 1535. (fn. 165) In 1639 the
rector possessed 9½ a., of which 7½ a. were arable. (fn. 166)
At the time of the tithe award in 1843 the rector
had only 8½ a., (fn. 167) but by 1861 he had 30 a., and by
1894 32 a. (fn. 168) Most of this was sold between 1919 and
1923. (fn. 169)
The parsonage house needed thatching in 1554
and required 'other needful reparations'. (fn. 170) In 1623
and 1629 it was reported to be 'very decayed'. (fn. 171)
By 1815 the rector could not live there because the
house was 'poor, mean and very small and greatly
dilapidated'. (fn. 172) It was later used as a labourer's
cottage, but by 1840 was unoccupied. (fn. 173) In 1847 it
was depicted in that condition, and was evidently
a small, three-bay thatched house with a central
door and gables to the first floor. (fn. 174) The present Old
Rectory, probably erected on the same site, was
described in 1861 as 'a good residence'. (fn. 175)
William Brett (rector 1412–14), then only in
minor orders, combined his benefice with the
office of registrar of the consistory court at Wells. (fn. 176)
Edward Fletcher (rector 1435–41) was only in subdeacon's orders when appointed. (fn. 177) William Grayner
(rector 1507–10) was a brother of St. John's Hospital, Bridgwater. (fn. 178) Besides the rector there was
a curate and a chaplain in the parish in 1532. (fn. 179)
Like several of his neighbours Bartholomew Stare
was deprived in 1554, leaving the church without
parson or curate. (fn. 180) In 1608 the justices ordered John
Hearne (rector 1579–1622) to be gaoled without
bail in a paternity suit. (fn. 181) Four years later he was still
'in danger of process for debt and other trouble'
and had been absent from his cure for several
months. He promised, however, that he would
'perform to the uttermost his duty in the parish'. (fn. 182)
His wife was accused of brawling in 1606. (fn. 183) Hearne's
successor, John Wilkinson (rector 1622–66), remained in his benefice without interruption during
the Interregnum, though in 1629 he was reported
for non-residence and for failure to catechize. (fn. 184)
Edward Napier (rector 1772–1812) combined the
living with the perpetual curacy of Tintinhull and
the rectory of Sutton Waldren (Dors.), where he
lived. The rectory house was let in his time. (fn. 185)
John Mules the younger (rector 1812–24) lived with
his father at Ilminster and was employing a curate
in 1818. (fn. 186) He probably resigned the rectory on
succeeding his father at Ilminster. (fn. 187) Alfred Tooke,
rector from 1824, was living at Grove House, near
Yeovil, in 1827 and at Alvington in 1833 because
the rectory-house was uninhabitable. (fn. 188)
At a visitation in 1612 it was reported that the
absence of the rector deprived the parish of its
usual monthly sermons; at the same time the
warden was presented for not providing Jewel's
Works. (fn. 189) There was no Bible 'of the new translation'
in 1623, and the surplice was 'very insufficient'. (fn. 190)
In the early 19th century services were held alternately morning and evening, (fn. 191) but by 1827 two
services were held each Sunday from March until
September. (fn. 192) By 1833 the second service had been
abandoned because the rector 'could not raise a
congregation on account of the small population and
other churches close at hand'. (fn. 193) Still in 1840 only
one service was held and the rector did not catechize. (fn. 194) Three years later, however, two services
had become the rule, (fn. 195) and in 1851 the average congregation was 44 in the morning and 50 in the afternoon. (fn. 196) By 1870 only one service was again being
held every Sunday, with celebrations of the Holy
Communion four times a year. (fn. 197) By 1914 Matins and
Evensong were said daily, Communion was celebrated every Sunday, with Matins and Evensong
alternately. (fn. 198)
The church of ST. ANDREW, on a hillside with
a commanding view north over the village, consists
of a chancel with south vestry, a nave with a north
porch and a double bellcot in the west gable-end,
all in the Decorated style. The church was much
restored and partially rebuilt in 1895. The porch
is dated 1613, and the vestry was added by public
subscription in 1913. (fn. 199) The pulpit, dated 1624, was
evidently provided after a presentment in the
previous year that its predecessor was 'much
decayed'. (fn. 200) The oak altar rails, in which figure
carving has been incorporated, also date from the
17th century.
The plate includes a chalice and paten of 1573 by
'I.P.' (fn. 201) There are two bells, dated 1673 and 1679,
both by Thomas Purdue. (fn. 202) The registers begin in
1695 and appear to be complete. (fn. 203)
Nonconformity.
The house of Hugh Donne,
possibly the manor-house of Thorn Prior, was
licensed for use by dissenters of unknown denomination in 1705, and the houses of William and Alice
Marks in 1718. (fn. 204) About 1745 'parson Marks', described as a dissenting teacher, was still living in
the village. (fn. 205)
Education.
In 1818 there was a Sunday school
in the parish supported by the curate and attended
by 10 boys and 15 girls. (fn. 206) The poorer classes were
then said to be 'very desirous' of having their
children educated but were 'deficient in the means'. (fn. 207)
This school had been abandoned by 1833, (fn. 208) but
was revived by 1847, when it was held in the church. (fn. 209)
Eight boys and 5 girls were then taught by 3
voluntary teachers, and the school was supported
by subscriptions. There was also a dame school in
the village by 1847, with 6 boys and 7 girls. (fn. 210) By
1861 the Sunday school was still being held in the
church, (fn. 211) but by 1883 was held in the rectory
house. (fn. 212)
Charities for the Poor.
None known.