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.
[Picture: Ancient Monuments in Scrivelsby Church]
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. {62} 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;
{63a} 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. {63b} 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; but 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, Lewis Dymoke, Esquire, is the sixteenth of his family, from Sir
John Dymoke, who has inherited that high and singular office.
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 present proprietor has
recently made, to those parts which escaped the ravages of the fire.
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:
“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.” {64}
The shield contains these arms:
1. DYMOKE. Sable, two lions passant in pale argent, ducally crowned or.
2. MARMYON. Vairè, a fesse gules, frettè or.
3. HEBDEN. Ermine, five fusils in fesse gules.
4. RYE. Gules, on a bend argent three ears of rye proper.
5. WELLES. Or, a lion rampant double tailed sable.
6. ENGAINE. Gules, a fesse dauncette between six crosselets or.
7. WATERTON. Barry of six ermine and gules, three crescents sable.
8. HASTINGS. Or, a manche gules.
9. LUDLOW. Azure, three lions passant guardant in pale, argent.
10. SPARROW. Argent, six martlets sable, three, two and one; on a chief
indented gules, two swords in saltire, points upwards, proper, between
two lions heads erased.
Beside these arms, the sides and ends of the tomb were ornamented with
others contained in eight shields of brass, none of which are now
remaining.
On the floor of the aisle is a stone which has once contained a brass
figure, with corner shields and an inscription, all which are now gone.
On the floor at the south side of the communion table is a plate of
copper, on which is this inscription:
“Under this Stone lyes Sir Charles Dymoke, Knight, who was Champion
at the Coronation of King James the 2d. On his left hand lyes the
Lady Dymoke; next to her, the Honourable Lewis Dymoke, their youngest
son; next to him lies Capt. Dymoke, the eldest son of Sir Charles,
who died in France; next to him, Mrs. Dymoke, Daughter of Sir
Charles; at the head of Sir Charles, lyes Mrs. Eliz. Dymoke, the
youngest daughter of Sir Charles Dymoke.”
On the floor at the north side of the communion table, is a stone,
containing this inscription:
“Here lyeth the Body of the Honourable CHARLES DYMOKE Esq. of
Scrielsby, Champion of England, who departed this life the 17th day
of January, and in the year of our Lord, 1702.
“This Gravestone was laid at the proper cost and charge of His widow,
Jane Dymoke, and in the year 1726.”
Against the south wall of the chancel is a very handsome marble monument,
ornamented with a bust of the individual whose memory it perpetuates, at
the top is a shield containing the arms of DYMOKE, with the crest, a
sword erect; and underneath is the following inscription:
“Near this place lieth Interr’d the Body of the Honorable LEWIS
DYMOKE, Esq. late Champion of England, who performed that service at
the Coronation of King George the 1st and King George the 2d. He was
the youngest Son of Sir Charles Dymoke and Eleanor his wife, eldest
Daughter of the first Lord Rockingham. He departed this Life on the
5th of February, 1760, in the 91st Year of his Age.”
On the north side of the chancel is a mural tablet containing this
inscription:
“Sacred to the Memory of the Honourable JOHN DYMOKE of Scrivelsby, in
this county, Champion of England, who performed that service at the
Coronation of His Majesty George 3d, and whose body lieth interred in
a Vault near this place: He departed this life, March 6th, 1784.
Aged 52 years.”
Against the south wall is the following inscription on a small marble
tablet:
“Sacred to the Memory of LEWIS JONES, Esquire, of Great Hale in this
County, who departed this Life May 1st 1786. Aged 71 Years.”
The rectory, united in 1741 to that of the adjoining village of Dalderby,
is in the presentation of the lord of the manor.
On the inclosure of Wildmore Fen, pursuant to an act of parliament
obtained for that purpose in 1801, a portion thereof was allotted to this
parish, in lieu of right of common.
By the returns of 1811, this parish at that period contained 22 houses,
and 126 inhabitants.