Withyham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Withyham (also Withiam) is a small village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It is situated 10 miles (16km) south west of Tunbridge Wells and 3.5 miles (5.6km) from Crowborough, in the valley of the River Medway. It is north of Ashdown Forest, the remains of a deer hunting forest, and famous as the setting of the Winnie the Pooh stories.

In the village is the Dorset Arms which was once a farmhouse.

1 The Church of St Michael and All Angels
2 The Withyham Timeline
3 The Millenium in Withyham
4 External links

[edit] The Church of St Michael and All Angels

The current vicar is the Reverend Adrian Leak

History and Art in Withyham

There has certainly been a church at Withyham since a very early period. It is mentioned in 1291 in connection with Edward I sending money to Pope Nicholas IV for a crusade and Withyham was then valued at 45 marks.

The Sackville Monument

The church was apparently almost completely rebuilt in the 14th century and consisted of a nave with a north and south aisle, chancel and west tower and at the east end of the north aisle was the chapel of the Sackville family.

The Fire of 1663

On 16th June 1663 the church was struck by lightening coming in at the steeple, melting the bells, and up to the chancel where it smashed the monuments to the Sackville family to pieces. The family steward wrote to his master saying:

'I was much trubled to see soo fine a fabrick and such stately monuments so suddenlye turned to lime and ashes'

The damage was estimated at £1,860, a very large sum, and a Brief was granted by the Privy Council allowing collections to be made in Sussex and neighbouring counties to enable the parishioners of Withyham to begin to rebuild. The rebuilding of the church does not seem to have been finished until 1672 and the Sackville Chapel was not completed for another eight years.

Of the old church only the lower part of the tower, the west wall from the belfry door to the north-west corner and the north and south east walls remained to be incorporated into the new building. It was also around this time that the Rectory was built. Two years later the bells were recast and a sixth bell (treble) was added in 1715. These bells remained until 1908 when they were recast and a further two added.

Later Improvements

During the 19th century much work was carried out on the church including the removal of the western gallery, a south aisle was built, the low ceiling removed and the chancel arch carried up in solid masonry. Carolean pews, pulpit and pannelling were removed and the ornate 17th century south porch was replaced. Oak seats to south and central ailses were installed and a screen between tower and nave erected.

The Gerini pictures 1849

George Ottley donated to the church 4 paintings depicting the passion of christ. Ottley had collected the pictures during his travels in Italy in the late eighteenth century. The pictures were assessed several years ago and are thought to be by Niccolo Di Pietro Gerini.

Gerini was a Florentine, the pictures were painted in the latter part of the fourteenth century. The paintings are too valuable to be kept in the church and are now on display at Leeds Castle in Kent.

Other

More recent improvements have included the installation of oil-fired central heating and the replacement of the vestry floor. The bells have been rehung and the organ overhauled.

[edit] The Withyham Timeline

by 1066

Although Withyham (which implies a Saxon settlement: ham meaning home) was not mentioned in the Domesday Book it was certainly placed under the patronage of St.Michael soon after the Norman Conquest.

1291

The first mention of a church at Withyham. A grant was made by Edward I to Pope Nicholas IV of a tenth of all benefices to help pay for a crusade. Withyham was valued at 45 marks (about £30).

1324

At the outbreak of War with France, King Edward II took possession of property held in England by foreign relgious houses. At that time Withyham was attached to the Benedictine Priory at Morteyn in Normandy, It is doubtful whether the Prior ever regained his rights.

by 1372

The Church was a cell of the Benedictine Abbey of St.Martin of Tours. By charter of King Edward II the right of preferment (or advowson) was given to his son: John of Gaunt.

by 1400

The Church had been almost completely rebuilt. It consisted of a nave, north and south aisles, chancel and weat tower. At the end of the north aisle was the chapel of the Sackville family.

1413

The confrement of the advowson on the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity at Hastings was confirmed by Henry V. From this time Withyham seems to have been a rectory.

by 1600

The patronage of the church was given to Lord Buckhurst during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It has continued in the possession of the family ever since.

1663

On 16th June the church was struck by lightning and almost completely destroyed.

1672

The rebuilding of the church was completed. Of the old church only the lower part of the tower, the west wall from the belfry door to the north-west corner and the north and south-east walls remained to be incorporated into the new building.

1674

The five bells melted in the fire of 1663 were re-cast.

by 1680

The Sackville Chapel had been rebuilt and the memorial by Cibber to Thomas Sackville installed.

1715

The sixth (treble) bell was added.

1841-64

The church was extensively restored. The gallery across the western end was removed; the south aisle built; the low ceiling removed and the chancel arch carried up in solid masonry. Carolean pews, pulpit and panelling were removed. The ornate 17th century porch was replaced.

1878

Oak seats in the south and centre aisles were installed and the screen between the tower and nave erected.

1883

The north aisle was re-seated.

1908

The bells were re-cast and two more added by John Taylor & Co.

1920

Fourteenth century alter piece installed in the Lady Chapel.

1954

Rector's stall given in memory of the late Rector, the Reverend Arthur Miles.

[edit] The Millenium in Withyham

To celebrate the millennium in Withyham, the vicar at that time Richard Parish planted a yew sapling taken from a tree said to be 2000 years old - ie from the time of Christ. Sadly, the sapling was uprooted by vandals.

A millennium map was also commissioned by the Church to commemorate almost 1000 years of Withyham.