Hidden Horsham - Howard Dudley
The History and Antiquities of Horsham

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Matthew White: Francis Read: James Waller: John Middleton esq: Ann Chourn: Isabella Ramsden: Sir Bysshe Shelley Bart. of Castle Goring: Mary Catherina his wife: Catherine their daughter. All of these monuments, with the exception of six, belong to the last century.

The font constructed of Sussex marble, is octagonal, and handsomely sculptured: date 1455.

The following inscriptions are noticed in the Burrel MSS (British Museum,) which at present do not remain.

In the window of the North chancel, was the following Gothic characters.

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“Madam Eversfield (according to Dallaway) gave one silver flaggon, two silver cups, one basin for oblation, gilt; pulpit cushion and cloth, with gold fringe, and a branch of candlesticks to the body of the church. Two dozen of penny loaves, to be disposed of among the poor every Sunday, that frequent the church, for ever; the gift of Mr Theobold Shelley.” “The same person with the Lady Matthews, gave this portion of bread to be disposed of every Sunday for ever, for the encouragement of the poor to frequent the church.” This is inscribed in front of the organ gallery. In the parish registers mention is made of an attack of the plague, by which this place was afflicted, though happily not to a very alarming extent, they com-

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mence in the year 1560. Over the vestry, (which was built in the reign of Edward VI) is a very curious old room reached by means of a spiral stair-case, terminated by a trap door: the oaken roof depends entirely upon a large beam in the centre. It is called the Lollard’s tower, and was most probably used as a place of confinement for that unfortunate sect: the apertures for light are thickly guarded by double iron bars, and in one place, on the north wall, the remains of an iron ring are visible: the only thing of any consequence in this cold and cheerless apartment, is a large oaken chest, curiously carved, with a secret drawer of superior workmanship. The beautiful service of communion plate is also kept here.

In the Roffy chancel is the beautiful monument of Mr Jamieson; the figure of the angel above, pointing upwards, is exquisite-

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ly sculptured, and deserves much attention.

Roffy Chancel: monument of Mr Jamieson

Dallaway mentions that there appear to have been two chantries and a brotherhood founded in this church, whose history is rather obscure, in some measure contradictory; the first he adds, “was built by Walter Burgess who in the year 1307, obtained a license to endow with 50 acres of land, a chaplain to celebrate divine service daily in the parish church of Horsham, for the souls of himself and his successors. The other was denomi-

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nated by Butler’s chantry, and was founded by one John Body and others by the lycens King Hen. VI, for one chapleyn so say diligent service for ever, as th’aulter of St Michauel in the church of Horsham; to pray for the soulles of King Henry &c. ; the said chapleyn to have for his wagis vijli for the year, for ever, which hath been continued accordingly till about viij yeares past, at which time Sir Will, Brandon, clerk, then incumbent, sold the same unto Sir Roger Copley, and after such sale by him made, he the said Sir William, did sing after the space vj yeares, and the said Sir Roger Coqey paid him wagis.’ “ “Horsham, Butler’s Chantry. William Brandon of th’age of --- yeares, was last incumbent there, but not resident, since anno reg. xxvij who sold his interest to Mr Copley for viijii

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xi s. ij d.* At the west end of the building is a large massy tower, lately put into thorough repair, this is surmounted by an octagonal spire, 230 feet in height, and formed of wooden shingles carefully fitted together. The great bell of this church is the largest in the county, and weighs nearly a ton and a half: the whole peal, consisting of eight, is extremely melodious.

On the 17th of November 1231, John de Broase granted the church of Horsham with all its appurtenances, to the prioress and nuns of Rusper, for their exclusive use; by same deed it was also ordained, that on account of the size of the parish, and the number of inhabitants, the vicar who shall officiate in the church from time to time, shall

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*Declaration of Chantries in the Augmentation office

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have one chaplain as his assistant, and two subordinate ministers, viz. a deacon and subdeacon, to officiate with him in the same church. At the dissolution of monastic establishments, in the reign of Henry VIII, the Archbishop of Canterbury came into the patronage of the vicarage.

County Gaol (Jail)

The county gaol is situated in East street, upon a very elevated site; it was erected

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about 50 years since, by William Griffith, who ruined himself, by contracting for the building: it is a neat and handsome structure, and extremely appropriate for the purpose, on the South is a small garden extending along the front of the building, which has two court-yards, of about half an acre each, with a gravel walk surrounding a fine grass-plot, and the whole is encircled by a lofty wall. To prevent confusion or danger in case of fire, every cell is arched over with brick, and a separate room allotted to each debtor and felon. The chapel is in the keeper’s house, where prayers are read daily, and a sermon delivered every Sunday by the chaplain. The annual salary of the keeper is £180 [2006:£13,033.95] : that of the Chaplain £160[2006:£11,585.73] shillings and of the surgeon £70 [2006:£5,068.76] per annum: the matron and the three turnkeys receive 8 shillings [2006:£28.96] each weekly: the internal management is regula-

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ted by rules made at the quarter session, and confirmed by the judges of assize.

Independents Chapel

The Independents chapel, is situated near the end of West Street, it is peculiarly neat, both as respects its external and internal appearance: an inscription upon an oval tablet in front, informs us, that it was erected by public subscription in the year 1814. At the distance of about a hundred yards from the above, is the Roman Catholic chapel, with an embattled front surmount-

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ted by a cross: service is performed here, only once a fortnight; proceeding on in the same direction, we arrive at the Anabaptist chapel, a respectable building of some antiquity, a little to the left of which is the Friend’s meeting house, in a very pretty retired situation. The Wesleyan chapel was

Wesleyan Chapel and Brunswick Place

erected in Brunswick place A.D. 1832, it is simple in its style, but exceedingly neat, elegant, and appropriate; the last religious edifice in Horsham is the Baptist’s chapel,

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