REVESBY is situated at the distance of six miles south from Horncastle,
on the road from that place to Boston, and is included in the soke of
Bolingbroke.
What now constitutes the parish of Revesby, appears formerly to have been
three distinct manors, Revesby, Thoresby, and Seithesby; the greater part
of which was the property of William de Romara, Earl of Lincoln. In the
year 1142 he founded a Cistertian monastery at this place, and previous
to endowing it with the whole of his possessions here, he negotiated
exchanges with the other proprietors, by which he was enabled to give the
entirety of the three manors to his new monastery. {74}
To add to the solemnity of the ceremony of foundation, the Earl on this
occasion manumitted several slaves, who had petitioned for their liberty.
One of them, called Wilhelmus Medicus, was doubtless a physician;
another, Rogerus Barkarius, probably a shepherd: the surnames of persons
at that time being derived from their professions. A person named Roger
Barker resided until lately at a place called Stickney Wydale. This
place belongs to the parish of Revesby, though about four miles distant,
and is supposed to have been given to the monks, on condition of their
keeping Nordyke Causeway, formerly a dangerous pass, in repair.
Beside the endowment of William de Romara, the monastery was enriched by
numerous other benefactions. At the dissolution of religious houses, its
possessions with all its rights were granted to Charles Brandon, Duke of
Suffolk; and on the death of his two infant sons, who survived him only a
short time, their extensive possessions were divided among the heirs
general. On this division, Revesby fell to the lot of the Carsey family,
who resided here several years, and afterwards sold it to the Lord
Treasurer Burleigh, from whom it descended to the first and second Earls
of Exeter; the latter of whom settled it on his grandson, Henry Howard,
the third son of the Earl of Berkshire. About a century ago it was sold
by the descendants of Henry Howard, to Joseph Banks, Esquire, the great
grandfather of the late Right Honorable Sir Joseph Banks, Baronet, whose
widow is the present possessor.
[Picture: Revesby Abbey, Seat of Lady Banks]
The seat of the proprietor was built by Craven Howard, nephew and heir of
Henry Howard; but has been much enlarged by the family of Banks. Part of
an ancient mansion, formerly the residence of the abbots, now forms the
offices. The monastery, which stood at a considerable distance, has long
been entirely demolished.
The church, which is a small neat structure, was re-built by the before
mentioned Joseph Banks, Esquire. It is a donative of exempt
jurisdiction.
At the east end of the chancel is a tablet containing this inscription:
“Dedicated to the Memmorie of NEHEMIAH RAWSON, Esq. A Member of this
Common Wealth, and a Justice of Peace. Hee Married Frances the
Daughter of Thomas Knightley of Brough Hall in the County of
Stafford, Esq. By Whoome hee had Issue Six Daughters, Elizabeth
Married to Richard Parkes of Lutton, Gent. Hanna to Theophilus Hartt
of Birkwood Esq. Abigal to Daniell Hartt of London Grocer, Sarah,
Rebecca and Mary, Dyed Younge, he Departed this Life in January 1657.
Aged 80 Yeares.”
At the same end is another tablet, with the following inscription, and a
shield containing a bend, in the sinister chief three crosses fitchy:
“To the perpetual Memorie of HENRY HOWARD third Son of Thomas Howard
Earle of Barkshire by Elizabeth Daughter and heiresse to William
Cecill Earle of Exeter his Wife who departed this Life in the XLIIII
Yeare of his age in December MDCLXIII.
“This Monument was Dedicated and Erected by his Nephew whom hee made
his heir and successor to this Mannor of Revesby and his Lands in
Lincolnshire, Craven Howard Son of William Howard who was 4th Son of
the Earle and Countesse of Barkshire (before mentioned) in the yeare
1691.”
On the north side of the chancel is a large marble monument, surmounted
by the bust of the individual whose memory it perpetuates, and ornamented
with a shield containing the arms of BANKS, Sable, a cross or, between
four flowers de luce argent. This monument contains the following
inscription:
“H. S. E.
“JOSEPHUS BANKS Armiger ex antiqua familia apud Bank-Newton, in agro
Eborac Oriundus. Juris prudentiæ studio operam dedit illamq.
feliciter exercuit.
“In honorem Dei Ecclesiam hanc vetustate collahentem, a solo
restituit Vicinium Ptochotrophium in X Senum aut Mancorum subsidium a
fundamentis extruxit.
“Bis ad suprema Regni Comitia Senator Grimsbeiæ in Lincolnia, et
Totenesiæ in Devonia. Electus, Regi suo et Patriæ utriamque vicem
fideliter inservivit.
“Maritus et Pater benignus Amicus sine fuco Pacti et Promissi sui
observantissimus Annos LXII. vixit XXVII Septemb. A.D. MDCCXXVII
obiit.
“Liberos vidit adultos Josephum et Mariam Quorum hanc Dno Francisco
Whichcote Barnto. nuptam, Patre superstite præpropera mors abripuit;
Optimo Parenti superstes Ille.