ABOUT two miles south of Horncastle, on the road leading from that place
to Boston, stands the village of Scrivelsby, which is included in the
Hundred of Gartree.
At the time of compiling the Domesday survey, it appears that part of
this parish, then called Scrivelesbi, was annexed to the Soke of
Horncastle, which was then retained by the conqueror. {61a} By the same
record, the manor appears to have been then holden by Robert de Spenser,
but by what service is not said. How it passed from De Spenser to the
family of Marmyon; whether by inheritance, or escheat of the crown, and
subsequent grant, cannot now be ascertained. It was however shortly
after in the tenure of Robert Marmyon, whose male descendants enjoyed the
same until the twentieth year of Edward the first, 1292, when Philip the
last Lord Marmyon died seized of this manor, holden by barony, and the
service of champion to the kings of England on their coronation day; and
seized also of the castle of Tamworth in Warwickshire, held therewith as
parcel of his barony, but by the service of knight’s fees, to attend the
king in his wars in Wales. {61b} This Philip had only female issue, and
between them his great estates here, in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and
elsewhere, were divided. By this partition, the manor and barony of
Scrivelsby were allotted to Joan, the youngest daughter, by whose
grand-daughter and heir the same passed in marriage to Sir John Dymoke,
who, with Margaret his wife, had livery thereof in the twenty-third year
of Edward the third.
At the coronation of Richard the second, Sir John Dymoke claimed in right
of his wife, to perform the office of champion: this right was
counterclaimed by Baldwin Freville, who, as lord of Tamworth, also
claimed to perform that service; but the commissioners of the court of
claims deciding in favor of Sir John Dymoke, he performed that office;
and from that period to the present time, nearly five hundred years,
their male issue have continued in possession of the same inheritance.
The present champion, the Reverend John Dymoke, is the seventeenth of his
family, from Sir John Dymoke, who has inherited that high and singular
office. {62}
The chief part of Scrivelsby Court, the ancient baronial seat, was
destroyed by fire, between fifty and sixty years ago. In the part
consumed was a very large hall, on the pannels of the wainscottings of
which were depicted the various arms and alliances of the family, through
all its numerous and far traced descents. The loss has been in some
degree compensated for, by the addition which the late proprietor
recently made to those parts which escaped the ravages of the fire.
[Picture: Ancient Monuments in Scrivelsby Church]
The church is a small building, consisting of a nave, with a north aisle,
and a chancel. At the eastern end of the aisle are two tombs, on one of
which is the figure of a knight, in chain armour, cross-legged; on the
other that of a lady, with a lion at her feet. By the side of these is
the tomb of Sir Robert Dymoke, who was champion at the coronations of
Richard the third, Henry the seventh, and Henry the eighth; by the last
of whom he was made a knight banneret. On the top of the tomb is a plate
of brass, on which is sculptured his figure in full armour, in a
recumbent posture, with his helmet under his head, and a lion at his
feet. Above him is a shield, containing arms, and under him is the
following inscription, in black letter:
“Here liethe the Body of sir Robert Demoke of Screvelsby knight &
baronet who departed owt of this present lyfe the xv day of Apryl in
ye yere of our lord god mdlxv upon whose sowle almighte god have m’ci
Amen.” {63}
The shield contains these arms:
1. DYMOKE. Sable, two lions passant in pale argent, ducally crowned
or.