A HISTORY OF D Y R H A M & HINTON

D y r h a m Church in its setting within the Park

DYRHAM

AND HINTON

CHURCH

APPEAL

A HISTORY OF D Y R H A M & HINTON

DYRHAM AND HINTON

CHURCH

APPEAL

DYRHAM
Chairman of the Appeal
P. C . DYRHAM CHIPPENHAM

AND HINTON
Committee:

CHURCH
J A C K

APPEAL
Treasurer:
S A L M O N

D Y R H A M

G I R D L E S T O N E

HlNTON
CHIPPENHAM

Wiltshire
Telephone: A B S O N 456

Wiltshire
Telephone: A B S O N 225

1230

1960

WE NEED 6,600. Our A r c h i t e c t , Mr. E r n e s t P.Tew of Bath, has reported t h a t the following E s s e n t i a l R e p a i r s must " b e c a r r i e d out w i t h i n f i v e y e a r s : 1. 2. 3. 4. The r e p a i r and renewal of the s t o n e - t i l e d r o o f s , i n c l u d i n g the timber work and the l e a d g u t t e r s . The r e p a i r of the stonework and the r e l e a d i n g of a l l the windows. The overhaul or the drainage system, the heating and the e l e c t r i c nxring. The redecoration throughout. We a l s o want to improve tne Church path and provide l i g h t i n g . T h i s H i s t o r y has "been prepared and i s based on the manuscript by an unknown author l e n t by Mrs. H i l l y e r , with comments and c o r r e c t i o n s by the Squire, Mrs. F.L. Blathwayt, Mr. Kenworthy-Browne and Miss Ralph o f the Archives Department of B r i s t o l Corporation. Their help has been much appreciated. Please help us i n any way you can i n r a i s i n g t h i s large sum of money. Contributions can be put i n tne b r a s s s l o t of the green w a l l sare i n the tower, o r sent to me o r to the T r e a s u r e r . Yours s i n c e r e l y ,

Chairmro or the Appeal Committee.

THE HISTORY OF DYRHAM AND

HINTON.

The modern v i l l a g e o f Dyrham g o t i t s a n c i e n t name o f "Deorham" a t t h e time when the s t r e t c h o f ground f r o m the "banks o f t h e B r i s t o l Avon t o the Cotswolds was a f o r e s t . T h i s was c a l l e d the "King's Wood", and Deorham was "the home o f the deer". I t w i l l always "be famous i n h i s t o r y as the s i t e o f the B a t t l e o f Deorham ( 5 7 7 ) . The Anglo-Saxon C h r o n i c l e says "This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin f o u g h t w i t h the B r i t o n s and slew t h r e e k i n g s , Commail and Condi da and 3'arinmail, on t h e spot t h a t i s c a l l e d Derham and t o o k fro m them t h r e e c i t i e s , G l o u c e s t e r , C i r e n c e s t e r and Bath". T h i s " b a t t l e e n t i r e l y separated the B r i t i s h i n t h e west, i n what i s now Somerset, Devon and C o r n w a l l f r o m t h e i r b r e t h r e n i n .Vales and t o the n o r t h w a r d , and l e d t o the s e t t l e m e n t i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y o f the Saxons. There i s s t i l l t o be seen on H i n t o n H i l l the remains o f a camp o f about 18 acres which t r a d i t i o n a l l y was t h e s i t e o f the b a t t l e , b u t whether i t was o c c u p i e d a t the t i m e by the B r i t o n s o r by the J e s t daxons has o f t e n been d i s p u t e d . A t a l l events the r e s u l t was decisive. The b a t t l e was a t u r n i n g p o i n t i n G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e h i s t o r y , f o r t h i s p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y became s e t t l e d by the E n g l i s h and i n time formed p a r t o f Wessex the kingdom o f the West Saxons. Before t h e Conquest, i n t h e time o f the Confessor, Deorham was h e l d by a Saxon named A l u r i c . By the time Domesday Book was compiled he had been r e p l a c e d by a Norman, W i l l i a m f i t z W i d o . I n the survey i t i s s t a t e d t h a t by the King's o r d e r , .Jurand the S h e r i f f had endowed St. Mary o f Pershore w i t h t h r e e h i d e s b u t t h a t these were h e l d by t h i s same W i l l i a m . These h i d e s E a r l W i l l i a m had g i v e n t o T u r s t i n f i t z R o l f w i t h t h i s manor. A f t e r w a r d s , the manor o f Dyrham which T u r s t i n h e l d passed t o the Barons o f ITewmarch, the descendants of Bernard de Newmarch. W i l l i a m ITewmarch seems t o have

been t h e f i r s t o f the f a m i l y t o h o l d t h e manor. He was succeeded by h i s son Henry, who l e f t i t t o h i s b r o t h e r James. I n 1216 James Newmarch d i e d , l e a v i n g two daughters under the g u a r d i a n s h i p o f John R u s s e l , o f K i n g s t o n R u s s e l , Dorset. Russel m a r r i e d the e l d e r daughter I s a b e l t o h i s son Ralph. The younger, Howise, was f i r s t m a r r i e d t o John de B o t r e a u x , and a f t e r h i s death t o N i c h o l a s de M o l i s . Ralph, t h u s b e i n g the owner o f Dyrham, gave i t as dowry w i t h h i s daughter M a t i l d a (? I.iaud), i n marriage to Robert Walerand, Governor o f St. B r i a v e l ' s C a s t l e , a f o r t r e s s on the b o r d e r s o f the F o r e s t o f Dean. Robert Walerand was a d i s t i n g u i s h e d man i n h i s day and h i s name i s o f t e n met among those o f the g r e a t barons. He must have been e x t r e m e l y r i c h , f o r on the marriage o f t h e daughter o f Henry I I he was assessed a t t w e n t y - f i v e k n i g h t s ' f e e s towards the expense. He d i e d i n 1272, w i t h o u t i s s u e , and the manor r e v e r t e d t o h i s w i f e ' s e l d e r b r o t h e r , Robert Russel. He was succeeded by h i s son W i l l i a m who d i e d a t Dyrham i n 1311, h i s son and h e i r , Theobald, b e i n g aged t e n . I n 1330, John Canlop, R e c t o r o f the p a r i s h , was s e i z e d o f t h e manor, b u t he was o n l y t r u s t e e , and i n 1337 a n o t h e r Ralph Russel was i n possession and was f o l l o w e d by S i r Maurice Russel who d i e d i n 1416, a l s o l e a v i n g two d a u g h t e r s , c o - h e i r e s s e s . The brasses i n the s o u t h a i s l e o f the Church commemorate S i r Maurice and h i s w i f e . The e l d e r d a u g h t e r , Margaret, m a r r i e d S i r G i l b e r t Dennis and t h e younger, I s a b e l , m a r r i e d , f i r s t , S i r John St. Loe, and s e c o n d l y , S i r John (? W a l t e r ) Drayton. Both t h e daughters were j o i n t l y s e i z e d o f t h e manor b u t i n 1422 S i r John D r a y t o n s o l d h i s share o f t h e manor t o S i r G i l b e r t Dennis who t h u s became L o r d o f the whole manor. He was succeeded by h i s son S i r Maurice, and h i s grandson, S i r W i l l i a m . By a g r a n t o f September 22nd. 1508, W i l l i a m Denys conveyed t h e manor o r Dyrham and l a n d s i n Dyrham and H i n t o n t o o t h e r s ( i n t r u s t f o r himself). On September 8 t h . 1539 S i r N i c h o l a s Poyntz of I r o n Acton by a g r a n t conveyed the manor o f H i n t o n w i t h l a n d s i n Dyrham and H i n t o n t o Thomas White. I t i s n o t known how S i r N i c h o l a s Poyntz came i n t o possession o f H i n t o n Manor. However, the Conveyance

was f u r t h e r assured by a Common Recovery s u f f e r e d by Poyntz t o Thomas White on June 2 8 t h , 1540, On January 1 4 t h . 1541 Thomas White g r a n t e d h i s manor o f H i n t o n and lands i n Dereham t o Robert E l l y o t , Major o f B r i s t o l , so t h a t t h e r e n t s and p r o f i t s s h o u l d be used t o r e l i e v e Severn s h i p p i n g f r o m p a y i n g t o l l s i n B r i s t o l port. T h i s p r o p e r t y remained i n the hands o f the C o r p o r a t i o n o f B r i s t o l u n t i l 1921 and C o r p o r a t i o n Clump o b v i o u s l y d e r i v e s i t s name f r o m t h i s p e r i o d . S i r W i l l i a m ' s son, S i r W a l t e r , r e t a i n e d t h e Dyrham p a r t o f t h e e s t a t e . He m a r r i e d Margaret, daughter o f S i r R i c h a r d Weston o f Co. Surrey. His w i l l dated 2nd. February 1570 d e s c r i b e s him as o f St. A u g u s t i n e ' s Green, by B r i s t o w e . He bequeathes t o h i s son, R i c h a r d , a l l h i s armour a t Dyrham and elsewhere, a l s o h i s b e s t bed a t B o d r i n g t o n , and t o h i s s i s t e r Mary, h i s second b e s t bed. ( T h i s Mary was a nun a t Lacock and a f t e r w a r d s P r i o r e s s a t K i n g t o n , and was b u r i e d i n St. Gaunts on the Green, B r i s t o l i n 1593). He a l s o mentions h i s b r o t h e r , W i l l i a m , and h i s son, Thomas, a l s o h i s son, S i r W a l t e r , a parson o f Dyrham. The w i l l was proved on 1 2 t h . May 1571 by h i s widow and Thomas I v i e . Walter, the Rector o f Dyrham, was b u r i e d t h e r e on 3 r d . J u l y , 1577. E a r l i e r i n 1571 S i r W a l t e r j o i n e d w i t h h i s son, R i c h a r d , i n conveying t h e manor, by s a l e o r mortgage, t o George Wynter, b r o t h e r o f W i l l i a m Wynter, o f Lydney. George Wynter m a r r i e d Anne, s i s t e r and c o - h e i r e s s o f R o b e r t Brayne o f B r i s t o l . T h e i r e l d e s t son, John, m a r r i e d Mary Brouncker o f E r i e Stoke, W i l t s h i r e . He s a i l e d on a voyage w i t h Drake as h i s v i c e - a d m i r a l , and the p r o p e r t y was l e f t i n t r u s t " t i l l he should have c l e a r e d h i m s e l f o f t h e charge o f p i r a c y " . H i s son, S i r George Wynter, succeeded him i n 1581 and m a r r i e d Mary, daughter o f Edward Rogers o f Cannington, Somerset. She b r o u g h t t o t h e f a m i l y the Porlock Estate. He d i e d i n 1638 l e a v i n g a son, John, t h e n s i x t e e n years o l d . John Wynter m a r r i e d Frances, daughter o f Thomas Gerard o f T r e n t . He d i e d i n 1668, l e a v i n g an o n l y daughter, Mary, who i n 1686 m a r r i e d W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t , Secretary of State t o W i l l i a m I I I . He was a l s o C l e r k o f the P r i v y C o u n c i l t o Charles I I , James I I , W i l l i a m I I I and Anne, and Commissioner f o r Trades and P l a n t a t i o n s . I t was he who b u i l t some, i f n o t a l l , o f the west f r o n t o f

the mansion a f t e r designs "by Talman, t h e famous a r c h i t e c t , and many o f the p i c t u r e s and much o f the f u r n i t u r e show signs of h i s connection w i t h Holland i n h i s early l i f e , and when S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . He d i e d i n 1711. T h i s i s the f i r s t e n t r y o f the B l a t h w a y t s i n t o the h i s t o r y o f the manor, and they have remained i n p o s s e s s i o n o f i t u n t i l i t was a c q u i r e d "by the N a t i o n i n 1957/58. The f o l l o w i n g o f W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t ' s descendants have "been Lords o f t h e Manor:W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t , m. Thomasine Ambrose. Died 1742. W i l l i a m , m. ( l ) Penelope Jenkinson o f Hawkesbury, (2) Frances C l a r k e . (5) Mary C r e i g h t o n . D i e d 1787. W i l l i a m , m. Frances S c o t t . D i e d 1806. George W i l l i a m , m. Marienne, daughter o f Rev. Thomas Agmondisham Vesey. D i e d 1871. George W i l l i a m , m. C h a r l o t t e A m e l i a , daughter o f Major Baker. D i e d 1899. Rev. Wynter Thomas B l a t h w a y t , m. ( l ) Frances E l i s a b e t h , daughter o f Robert P h i l i p s . (2) Mary Sarah, daughter o f George H i b b e r t Oates. I n 1909 he was succeeded as owner, L o r d o f the Manor by Robert Wynter B l a t h w a y t who d i e d i n 1936. After a p r o l o n g e d law s u i t J u s t i n Robert Wynter B l a t h w a y t became L o r d o f the Manor, but the Park House was s o l d t o the N a t i o n i n 1957/58 and handed over t o the N a t i o n a l T r u s t i n 1960.

DYRHAM PARK. There are no r e c o r d s t o show when the f i r s t manor house was b u i l t here. We g e t t h e f i r s t w r i t t e n r e c o r d about i t f r o m John L e l a n d , who was commissioned by Henry V I I I t o i n v e s t i g a t e England's a n t i q u i t i e s . He w r o t e i n h i s " I t i n e r a r y " (1540-6) of, "From C o d e r i n g t o n t o Derham a M i l e and H a l f e where Mastar D i o n i s e d w e l l i t h e , havinge a f a i r e Howse

o f A c h e l e i ( a s h l a r ) Stones and a Parke Dereham V i l l a g e i s a 2 M i l s f r o m Tormerton. There i s a f a y r e Manor Place l o n g g i n g e t o Mastar Dionyse. The Lordeshipe of a u n c i e n t tyme l o n g y d t o the Russels. One John R u s s e l l and E l i z a b e t h e h i s Wyfe l y e t h e t h e r e b u r y e d i n t h e Paroche Churche, b u t t h e y had a meane Iiowse t h e r e . From them i t cam b y Heyre G e n e r a l l onto t h e D i o n i s i e s o f whom one G i l b e r t D i o n i s e was countyd as one o f t h e f i r s t t h a t t h e r e possessyd. Then cam Maurice, and he t h e r e b u i l d y d a new Courte. And Ser Guliam D i o n i s e ...uildyd a n o t h e r Gourte o f l a t e yeres. The D i o n y s i e s hathe here a f a y r e Parke, and a l s o a f a y r e Lordeshipe and a p r a t y Howse and 2 Myles f r o m Dereham a t S i s e t o n , and a n o t h a r Maner and Place cawlyd A l n e s t o n e 2 Myles f r o m Thornebyry". I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e any p a r t o f t h e b u i l d i n g e r e c t e d b e f o r e t h e B l a t h w a y t s t o o k p o s s e s s i o n , except p o s s i b l y some m u l l i o n e d windows and a fragment o f s t o n e s t a i r s i n the c e l l a r . S i r Robert Atkyns g i v e s a b i r d ' s eye view o f the b u i l d i n g i n h i s H i s t o r y o f G l o u c e s t e r s h i r e ( 1 7 1 2 ) . T h i s shows t h e gardens l a i d o u t i n Dutch s t y l e which was f a s h i o n a b l e i n those days. I n t h e p i c t u r e can be seen the w a t e r w o r k s , which s u p p l i e d t h e house w i t h w a t e r , a t the head o f which was a f i g u r e o f Neptune. The f i g u r e i s s t i l l t o be seen on t h e east s i d e o f t h e house on t h e t o p of t h e h i l l where i t stood f o r m e r l y . The east and west f r o n t s o f t h e house a r e designed w i t h g r e a t a r c h i t e c t u r a l beauty. On t h e east s i d e t h e r e i s a f i n e e n t r a n c e , and. as many as t h i r t y e i g h t windows can be seen, many o f them ornamented w i t h c a r v i n g s . Along the whole l e n g t h extends a p a r a p e t , designed a f t e r t h e s t y l e o f a b a l u s t r a d e , and ornamented a t v a r i o u s p o i n t s w i t h vases, and a l a r g e stone e a g l e , t h e B l a t h w a y t c r e s t , i n t h e c e n t r e . The west f r o n t i s s i m i l a r i n d e s i g n , and i s reached b y a double f l i g h t o f s t e p s , l e a d i n g t o a f l a g g e d t e r r a c e w i t h a balustrade. A charming view i s t o be had o f t h e grounds s l o p i n g down below. The Saloon c o n t a i n e d a f i n e c o l l e c t i o n o f p i c t u r e s and many s p l e n d i d specimens o f works o f a r t and e l e g a n t furniture. The Diogenes Room i s s o c a l l e d f r o m the f i n e M o r t l a k e t a p e s t r y hanging on t h e w a l l s r e p r e s e n t i n g Diogenes d i s p u t i n g w i t h the philosophers from h i s bath tub. The L e a t h e r H a l l i s so named f r o m t h e stamped Cordova l e a t h e r which covers t h e w a l l s .

The p i c t u r e s i n c l u d e d r o y a l p o r t r a i t s o f Charles I I and James I I by L e l y , and o f W i l l i a m I I I and Mary, Anne, P r i n c e George, and the Duke o f G l o u c e s t e r by K n e l l e r . There were a l s o many v a l u a b l e p i c t u r e s by famous J u t c h a r t i s t s and a s e r i e s o f f a m i l y p o r t r a i t s o f b o t h t h e Wynter and Blathwayt f a m i l i e s . The White Drawing Room was equipped w i t h f u r n i t u r e o f Chippendale style i n w h i t e and g o l d made by G i l l o w . The account f o r the s u i t e dated 1779 was s t i l l h e l d a t Dyrham, The two grand s t a i r c a s e s are r i c h i n b o l d c a r v i n g and over them and on the c e i l i n g o f the Saloon are some p a i n t i n g s by C a s a l i which came f r o m Alderman Beckford's house a t P o n t h i l l . The L i b r a r y on the ground f l o o r c o n t a i n e d some v e r y v a l u a b l e books and documents. An e x t r e m e l y i n t e r e s t i n g copy o f the B o d l e i a n L i b r a r y Catalogue dated 1605 was p r e s e n t e d t o i t s t h e n owner, R. Bower, by Thomas Bodley himself. There i s a doorway which leads t o the Church t h r o u g h a passage and v e s t r y . The Balcony Room i s p a n e l l e d i n p e r f e c t s t y l e o f the t i m e o f W i l l i a m I I I and has a v e r y handsome c e i l i n g . The w a l l s o f the T a p e s t r y Bedroom are hung w i t h v a l u a b l e t a p e s t r y p o r t r a y i n g garden scenes, and t h e r e was a p a i n t e d f o u r - p o s t bedstead s a i d t o be over two hundred years o l d .

THJL CHURCH.

The Church o f St. P e t e r , Dyrham, stands near the mansion on a steep slope v/hich has been l e v e l l e d up f r o m the south. I t c o n s i s t s o f a c h a n c e l , a nave w i t h two a i s l e s which reach t o the east end, and a w e s t e r n tower w i t h a porch a t t a c h e d t o the south w a l l . The p o s i t i o n o f t h i s porch i s p e c u l i a r . As t h e r e was no room f o r i t on the south s i d e o f the s o u t h a i s l e i t was b u i l t on t o the south s i d e o f t h e tower. However, the stonework o f i t i s n o t a t t a c h e d t o the tower and y e t i t seems to be as o l d , i f not older. The e a s t e r n p a r t o f the south a i s l e opens i n t o the chancel w i t h two arches.

The o l d e s t p a r t o f t h e Church dates f r o m t h e X I I I C e n t u r y , and i s t o "be seen i n t h e arcade o f t h r e e arches between t h e n o r t h a i s l e and the nave. The p o s i t i o n o f the a n c i e n t r o o d l o f t can be d i s c e r n e d by the two heavy p i e r s n o r t h and south. L a t e r , the arch east of the f i n e c l u s t e r e d p i l l a r was c u t away t o l e t i n the handsome oak Jacobean p u l p i t . The Church was r e s t o r e d by S i r M o r r i s Russel a t the c l o s e o f the XIV Century and c o n t a i n s f o u r " b e a u t i f u l f i g u r e s r e p r e s e n t i n g St. John the B a p t i s t , h o l d i n g a lamp, St. Mary as a c h i l d , h o l d i n g a book, S t . John the D i v i n e h o l d i n g a c h a l i c e , and a female s a i n t , w i t h hand r a i s e d , p r o b a b l y S t . Anne. The f i g u r e o f St. John t h e D i v i n e has been r e s t o r e d , the head b e i n g l a t e r . I n the top of the west window o f the n o r t h a i s l e i s a p i e c e o f r a r e o l d g r i s a i l l e g l a s s showing t h e Rose o f York. The Chapel i n the s o u t h a i s l e was once used by t h e G u i l d o f St. Denis. T h i s G u i l d was founded i n 1520 by S i r W i l l i a m Denys and h i s w i f e , Lady Anne, daughter o f S i r Maurice B e r k e l e y . I t was an i m p o r t a n t g u i l d , h a v i n g a l a r g e number o f members, some o f whom p a i d lOd. and o t h e r s 20d. per q u a r t e r as s u b s c r i p t i o n s . A c u r i o u s window i s t o be seen i n t h e s o u t h w a l l o f the south a i s l e . I t was p o s s i b l y a c o n f e s s i o n a l window where the c h a n t r y p r i e s t m i g h t be confessed t o , i n t h e p l a c e o f t h e p a r i s h p r i e s t . Nor-one can be c e r t a i n about t h i s . I t may have been a l e p e r window o r i t may have been the p l a c e where the Sanctus b e l l was rung. On the f l o o r o f the Denys Chapel i s a b r a s s commemorating S i r Maurice R u s s e l , i n f u l l armour, and h i s w i f e I s a b e l , b o t h under a double canopy. The late-Norman f o n t i s cushion-shaped, and stands on a h i g h s h a f t . The f o n t cover i s surmounted by a t u r t l e dove. T h i s was g i v e n by p a r i s h i o n e r s i n memory o f t h e Rev. Frank Blathv/ayt who was R e c t o r f r o m 1926 t o 1953, and who was a g r e a t b i r d l o v e r . One f e a t u r e a t t h i s Church t o which the a t t e n t i o n o f v i s i t o r s i s always drawn i s the number o f f i n e l y designed e n c a u s t i c t i l e s on t h e f l o o r o f t h e south a i s l e . They resemble t h e t i l e s a t Hayles Abbey and must have been b r o u g h t f r o m t h e r e a t t h e D i s s o l u t i o n , o r have been made a t the same p l a c e . A t the e a s t end o f t h e s o u t h a i s l e i s t h e tomb o f George Wynter, v/ho died i n 1581, and o f h i s w i f e Anne.

I t i s a f i n e f r e e s t o n e monument and the e f f i g i e s are surmounted "by a canopy supported on C o r i n t h i a n p i l l a r s . On the s o u t h w a l l near i s a t a b l e t i n memory o f John and Frances Wynter e r e c t e d by t h e i r daughter Mary and h e r husband, S i r W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t . Also on the s o u t h w a l l are t h r e e brasses. The f i r s t i s i n memory o f C o l o n e l George W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t o f Dyrham Parle, l a t e 23rd. L i g h t Dragoons and King's Dragoon Guards, 1797-1871. The second i s to the memory o f George W i l l i a m Blathv/ayt, l a t e King's Dragoon Guards, 1824-1899. The t h i r d i s t o the memory o f Wynter Thomas B l a t h w a y t , t h i r t y f o u r years Rector o f the p a r i s h , 1845-1909. There i s a l s o a monument to W i l l i a m Langton, a f o r m e r Rector who l e f t b e n e f a c t i o n s f o r e d u c a t i o n a l and o t h e r purposes. On the n o r t h w a l l are f i v e s m a l l brasses t o the memory o f members o f the Weare f a m i l y , a l l o f a n c i e n t d a t e . These were f o u n d on stones i n the a i s l e . One i s t o "Mary, l a t e w i f e o f Henry Weare, who concluded a h o l y and humble l i f e w i t h a c o m f o r t a b l e d e a t h , 1639". I n the chancel are two b r a s s e s , one t o the memory o f "Samuel Trewman, S.T.B. Hujus E c c l e s . R e c t o r , O b i i t XXX Dec. A.D. MDCLXXXXVIII". The o t h e r i s i n s c r i b e d . "Here l y e t h t h e body o f A m i i , l a t e w i f e o f Samuel Trewman, and daughter o f Thomas Symes, l a t e o f W i n t e r b o u r n e , Esq., who departed t h i s l i f e ye 2 0 t h . day of October 1677, aged 24 y e a r s " . Among o t h e r memorials i n the Church w i l l be f o u n d a c u r i o u s one o f p a i n t e d wood t o "Ye Rev. Mr. Mervyn P e r r y , 58 y e a r s Rector o f t h i s p a r i s h , d i e d 1753", a stone w a l l monument i n the n o r t h a i s l e t o Isaac T y l e r , another t o F r a n c i s Freeman, o f N o r t o n Malreward, and monuments i n b r a s s and marble t o the Rev. W.S.Robinson, R e c t o r f r o m 1828-75, and h i s f a m i l y . On one o f the chancel a r c h p i l l a r s i s a marble t a b l e t t o the Rev. P e t e r Grand, a f o r m e r R e c t o r , c o n t a i n i n g words f r o m h i s pen which remind us t h a t "he, b e i n g dead, y e t speaketh". H i s message i s as f o l l o w s : "Be d a i l y d i l i g e n t i n p r i v a t e , and i f o p p o r t u n i t y o c c u r s , i n public prayer. F r e q u e n t l y r e c e i v e the Holy Communion, w i t h humble, p e n i t e n t , f a i t h f u l , c h a r i t a b l e , and t h a n k f u l hearts. L i v e s o b e r l y , r i g h t e o u s l y , and Godly. Fear God and keep His commandments. The peace o f God be w i t h you a l l i n C h r i s t Jesus, Amen". The Rev. P e t e r Grand d i e d Nov. 9 t h . 1792 aged s e v e n t y f o u r and was f o r t h i r t y s i x years R e c t o r o f the p a r i s h . There i s a l s o a t a b l e t i n the v e s t r y w h i c h r e c o r d s t h e f a c t t h a t he was R e c t o r f o r t h a t t i m e , and t h a t the amount he gave away i n c h a r i t y

g r e a t l y exceeded h i s s t i p e n d . He b u i l t and p a r t l y endowed a s c h o o l f o r the p a r i s h . T h i s was b e f o r e t h e p r e s e n t s c h o o l was e r e c t e d i n 1875. I n t h e w a l l near t h e f a m i l y pew b e h i n d t h e C h o i r i s a c u r i o u s stone once used as a p a v i n g - s t o n e , b e a r i n g t h e arms o f the Dennis f a m i l y . I t was d i s c o v e r e d f a c e downwards, and u n f o r t u n a t e l y g o t broken. The h o l y water stoup i s s t i l l t h e r e i n i t s o r i g i n a l p o s i t i o n b u t i t has been p a r t l y c u t away. On a stone i n the c h u r c h y a r d , t o Frances S a i n s b u r y , d i e d 1711, i s t h e f o l l o w i n g e p i t a p h : T h i r t y years and more I was a widowed w i f e , Up t o the t h i r t i e t h year I l i v e d a wedded w i f e , And now a l a s no more I'm i n t h i s w o r l d o f s t r i f e , I'm n e i t h e r m a r r i e d woman, n o r y e t a widowed w i f e . There a r e s i x b e l l s and t h e i r age can be a s c e r t a i n e d f r o m t h e stops between t h e words o f t h e motto. These a r e t h e heads o f Edward I and E l e a n o r , h i s Queen. Edward I began t o r e i g n i n 1272 and d i e d i n 1307. The T r i p t y c h a t the back o f t h e A l t a r d e p i c t s the N a t i v i t y , t h e A d o r a t i o n o f t h e Wise Men and t h e F l i g h t i n t o Egypt. I t i s F l e m i s h work o f t h e XVI Century. I t stands on a s h e l f on t h e edge o f which i s c a r v e d t h e f i r s t message sent b y Morse i n h i s code "See what God h a t h wrought".

RECTORS OF DYRHAM. 1350 1520 1570 1577 1587 1648 1668 1680 John Cantop Robert L i e n . W a l t e r Dennys. John H a l l . John H a i l i n g . W i l l i a m Langton. Henry Hoskins. Samuel Trueman. 1699 1754 1803 1806 1828 1875 1909 1929 Mervyn P e r r y . P e t e r Grand. George W i l l i a m B l a t h w a y t G. Swayne. W i l l i a m Robinson. Wynter Thomas B l a t h w a y t . Wynter Edward B l a t h w a y t . Francis L i n l e y Blathwayt.