Hidden Horsham - Howard Dudley
The History and Antiquities of Horsham
Illustrations - previous page - index
(41)
field, and north by Capel, and containing in 1831, 952 inhabitants. The village is rather extensive, and consists principally of one long narrow street, running N. and S.; the church on the west side is particularly neat, though exhibiting a variety of style, and consists of a nave and south aisle, with three chancels: the northern of these latter portions is divided from the south aisle, by a handsome oaken skreen, carved in the Gothic style, and formerly belonged to the Carylls. On the north side is a curious old mural monument, bearing the effigies of a man in armour and a woman kneeling; below are 8 smaller figures intended for their children, with another person armed, in the centre. The inscription informs us that it was erected to the memory of Sir John Caryll Knt., eldest son of Thomas Caryll esq. Of Warnham, and Maria his wife, daughter
(42)
of George Cotton of Warblington, ob. 1613. The south chancel belonged to the Mitchell family of Field Place, and contains monuments to the memory of Mary Mitchell widow, mother of Edward Shelley esq., by Sir Timothy Shelley gent, ob. 1731; John Mitchell gent. 1711: John Shelley esq. 1799; Mary his wife 1759: Edward Shelley esq. of Field Place 1747. The central chancel, formerly belonging to the appropriation, is at present, in conjunction with the other two, the property of Sir Timothy Shelley Bart. In the body of the church are slabs to Samuel Shuckford, 45 years vicar of Warnham and Eartham, Ann his widow, and Matthew Napper gent. In the pavement of the south aisle, the side of an alter tomb, adorned with shields and quatrefoils, and apparently of the time of Edward I, may be discerned: the font is square, and of the same date; the pul-
(43)
pit stands upon a basement of brick, which gives it a particularly singular appearance: the neat embattled tower contains five bells, and is of later construction than the rest of the building.
Warnham Court, a handsome mansion in
Warnham Court
the style of Elizabeth, and a very striking feature of the surrounding country, was erected about three years since, by Henry Tredcroft, esq.: the house contains about 50 apartments, and is built of brick faced with stone: the grounds are tastefully arranged, and the park, though so recently
(44)
laid out, assumes a beautiful and verdant appearance.
To the south of Warnham, is Field Place, the residence for several centuries of the family of Mitchell. The only daughter of the Rev. Theobald Mitchell, married the late
Warnham, Field Place
Sir Bysshe Shelley, by whose son Sir Timothy, it is now possessed. Percy Bysshe Sheely, the celebrated poet and friend of Byron, was born here: a brief but interesting account of his life, may be found in
(45)
Horsefield’s “History of Sussex,” vol. 2nd. under the description of Warnham.
To the east of Horsham, is a tract of land, containing between eight and nine thousand acres, called St. Leonard’s Forest: although its nearest point is seven miles from the upper part of Beeding, it is within the limits of that parish: the chief part of the soil is poor, it contained considerable quantities of iron stone, which was smelted, but as the timber became exhausted, the smelting of the iron has been long discontinued, and nothing remains to denote the former manufactory of cast iron, but several large ponds in various parts of the forest, still called Hammer ponds.
This forest has ever been the subject of the legends of neighbouring peasants, woe (according to their account) to the luckless wight, who should venture to cross it alone
(46)
on horseback during the night, for no sooner will he have entered its darksome precincts, than a horrible decapitated spectre in the shape of a former squire Paulett, disregarding all prayers or menaces, leaps behind him on his good steed, and accompanies the affrighted traveller to the opposite boundaries. The celebrated St. Leonard also, through whose efficacious prayers
|
“The adders never stynge, |
in its gloomy mazes is often the theme of the cottagers fire side conversation.
But neither ghost, nor cast iron, not saint Leonard himself have gained for this forest so much celebrity as its famous DRAGON, or serpent! This venomous reptile, which some persons have rendered into some obnoxious proprietor, has been honoured with
(47)
a long and minute description in the following account.
|
"True and wonderful, a discourse relating to a strange monstrous serpent or dragon, lately discovered, and yet living to the great annoyance and divers slaughters of both men and cattle by his strong and violent poyson, in St Leonard’s forest, and thirtie miles from London, this present month of August 1614, with the true generation of serpents. Printed at London by John Trundle 1614. In Sussex there is a pretty market towne called Horsham, neare unto a forest called St Leonard’s forest, and there in a vast unfrequented place, heathie, vaultie, full of unwholesome shades and overgrown hollowes, where this serpent is thought to be bred; but wheresoever bred, certaine and too true it is, that there it lives. Within three or four miles compass are its usual haunts, oftentimes at a place called Faygate, and it |
(48)
|
hath been seene within half a mile of Horsham, a wondre no doubt most terrible and noysome to the inhabitants thereabouts. There is always in his tracke or path, left a glutinous and slimy matter (as by a small similitude we may perceive in a snail) which is very corrupt and offensive to the scent, in so much that they perceive the air to be putrified withall, which must needs be very dangerous: for though the corruption of it cannot strike the outwards part of man, unless heated into blood, yet by receiving it in any of our breathing organs, (the nose or mouth) it is by authority of all authors writing in that kinde, mortal and deadie; as one thus saith, ‘Noxia serpentum est admixto sanguine pestis – LUCAN.’ The serpent, or dragon as some call it, is reputed to be nine feete or rather more, in |
(49)
|
length, and shaped almost in the forme of an axle-tree of a cart, a quantitie of thickness in the middest, and somewhat smaller at both ends. The former part which he shootes forth as necke, is supposed to be about an ell long, with a white ring as it were of scales about it. The scales along his backe, seem to be blackish, and so much as is discovered under his bellie, appeareth to be red: for I speak but of no nearer description than a reasonable ocular distance; for coming too neare, it hath already been too dearely paid for, as you shall heare hereafter. It is likewise discovered to have large feete, but the eye may be deceved, for some suppose that serpents have no feete, but glide along certain ribbes and scales, which both defend them from the upper part of the throat unto the lower part of their bellie, and also cause them to |
(50)
|
move much the faster. For so this doth, and rids away as we call it, as fast as a man can run. He is of countenance very proud, and at the sight or heareing of men and cattle, will raise his necke upright, and seem to listen and looke about with great arragoncie. There are likewise on either side of him discovered to great bunches, so big as a large footeball, and as some think will grow into wings, but God I hope will so defend the poor people in the neighbourhood, that he shall be destroyed, before he growe so fledge. He will cast his venom about 4 roddes from him, as by woefull experience it was proved on the bodies of a man and woman coming that way, who afterwards were found dead, being poysoned and very much swelled, but not preyed upon. Likewise a man going to chase it and as he imagined to destroy it with two mastiff dogs as yet not |
Illustrations - next page - index
Contributions, comments and suggestions are welcomed. Please use the contact page to let us know your thoughts. More information on the images is always welcomed
