Mavis Enderby is nearly 8 miles from Horncastle, in an easterly
direction, the road passing through High Toynton, skirting Scrafield, and
through Winceby, and Lusby, and being part of the old Roman road from
Doncaster to Wainfleet. It is about 3 miles west by north of Spilsby,
where is the nearest telegraph office; the nearest money order office
being at Raithby. Letters, via Spilsby, arrive at 7.30 a.m. The village
is prettily situated on a slope of the wolds, the houses clustering about
the church, except solitary farm residences of a substantial kind; the
parish is roughly divided into Northfield and Southfield. To the north
formerly stood a religious house, a dependency of Revesby Abbey. It was
last occupied by C. J. H. Massingberd Mundy, Esq. It fell into decay
some years ago, and nothing now remains of it, beyond the turf-covered
foundations and some fine yew-trees, apparently survivals of a former
avenue leading to it. A varied view is seen to the north-east, towards
Aswardby and Langton, including the wooded height of Harrington Hill, and
other elevated ground, with the graceful spire of Sausethorpe church
conspicuous in the intervening valley, one of the most successful
creations of the Architect, Stephen Lewin, who, fifty years ago, did some
good work among our Lincolnshire churches, notably in his restoration of
Swineshead, and his re-building of Brothertoft. The stranger might, by
the name of this parish, be reminded of the lines of Sir Walter Scott.
{47a}
Merry it is in the good green woods,
When the Mavis {47b} and Merle {47c} are singing,
When the deer sweep by, and the hounds are in cry,
And the hunter’s horn is ringing.
But no groves or hedgerows vocal with their songsters, gave the parish
its name. The Lord of the Manor, in the 12th century was Richard de
Malbyse, or Malbishe, a large proprietor, and exercising considerable
influence in this neighbourhood, and elsewhere. The epithet has been
retained to distinguish this from Bag Enderby, and Wood Enderby; one of
which is near and the other not far away. The name Malbyse or Malbishe,
means, in old Norman French, an evil beast (compare Bis-on); and the arms
of the family, as still preserved at Acaster Malbis, near York, once
belonging to a member of the family, are a chevron, with three wild stags
heads “erased,” _i.e._, raggedly severed from the body.
Domesday Book, however, tells us of owners of land before the Malbyshes,
in pre-Norman times. The Saxon, Thane Elnod, held land in Mavis Enderby
and Raithby and East Keal, in the reign of Edward the Confessor (p. 31)
{47c}; while another Saxon, Godwin, whose name appears in connection with
several other parishes, had the Manor of Mavis Enderby (p. 159) {47c}
The old hereditary owners of the lands met with no mercy from the
Conqueror, who had to provide for his Norman followers. The historian
records that as William passed along the ranks of his army before the
great Battle of Hastings, he addressed them in a loud voice thus,
“Remember to fight well, if we conquer we shall be rich, if I take this
land, you will have it among you,” and the promise then held out, was
amply fulfilled; the vanquished Saxons were robbed of their lands, to
reward William’s favorites who had capacious maws. Among those rewarded
extensively with plundered territory, was William de Karilepho,
consecrated Bishop of Durham in 1082, and also made Chief Justice of
England; he received grants of land in Mavis Enderby, Raithby, Spilsby,
Hundleby, Grebby, and many other places. Ivo Taillebois (equivalent to
the modern Underwood), who was then leader of the Angevin Auxiliaries of
the Conqueror, also received very extensive grants; among them being
lands in Mavis Enderby, Raithby, Hareby, Halton Holgate, Asgarby,
Miningsby and many other demesnes. About the same time also (1070),
another of the Conqueror’s favourites Eudo—son of Spirewic, subsequently
the founder of the Tattershall family, received very extensive domains,
among them being the Manor of Mavis Enderby, a Berewick (or smaller
outlying portion) in Raithby, another in Hundleby, and in the two Keals,
Hagnaby, and endless more possessions, his head-quarters being at
Tattershall, all of which he held “in capite” or directly of the King.
But, as we have repeatedly observed in these notes, these early Norman
tenures were precarious, they were acquired by violence, and when the
hand that held them waxed feeble, a stronger hand, in turn, took
possession. Mavis Enderby, like very many other parishes, became an
appurtenance of the Manor, or Honor, of Bolingbroke, and throughout that
great appanage of the Crown there were many changes in the Lords of
demesnes.
The first of the Malbishes, whose name is recorded, is Osbert Malbishe,
who, with others, is witness to a charter of Revesby Abbey, of date 1173;
this probably is accounted for by the fact of there being a cell of
Revesby Abbey at Mavis Enderby. Another Malbishe, William, also
witnesses another Revesby charter in 1216. Both these lived before the
Richard Malbishe who is generally referred to as being the Lord of the
Manor, whose name became attached to the parish.
Among the “Final Concords” (p. 162), we find it recorded, that in a deed,
dated 5th June, 1222, Matilda, wife of the above William Malebisse,
claimed certain lands in Enderby (not yet specially designated “Mavis”),
as her dower, but that through the agency of Robert de Wion, she
quit-claimed all her rights to that particular portion in favour of one
Nicholas and his heirs, for which the said Nicholas gave her 20s.
In a Chancery Inquisition, 4 Edw. III., 1330, it is shown that the heirs
of Alan Malbish hold certain lands in Sausthorpe and Langton; and another
Inquisition in 1352, mentions ¼ fee held in Sauzethorpe and Langton,
which the heirs of Alan Malbish hold. (“Archit. S. Journ.,” 1894, p.
170.)
After this we hear nothing more of the Malbishe family. But in a
Chancery Inquisition post-mortem, 18 Henry VII., No. 34, taken at “Est
Rasen, 26th October, 1502, after the death of Thomas Fitzwilliam, heir of
Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Knight, lately deceased,” it is stated that John
Vere, Earl of Oxford, Sir Robert Dymmok, Knight, Robert Rede, Justice of
the Lord the King, Thomas Chaloner, and others, were seized of the fee of
the Manors of Malburssh Enderby, Maydinwell, Malberthorp, etc., with
their appurtenances (which are described as extensive) to the use of the
heirs male of the said Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam lawfully begotten, and the
Jurors further say, that the Manor of Malburssh Enderby, with
appurtenances, etc., are held of the Lord the King, of the Duchy of
Lancaster, as of his Manor of Bolingbroke, and that certain lands are
held of Sir George Taylboys (doubtless a descendent of Ivo Taillebois,
owner in the days of the Conqueror), but by what services they do not
know. (“Architect. Soc. Journ.” 1895, p. 14).
The Fitzwilliams still held lands in Mablethorp in the reign of Henry
VIII. One of the family, Sir William Fitzwilliam was Lord High Admiral,
and a staunch supporter of the King in the rebellion of 1536. Only two
years later, in an Inquisition, 20 Henry VII., No. 14 (January 31,
1504–5). After the death of George Gedney, it is stated that a certain
John Billesby (of Billesby) {49} and Nicholas Eland were seized of the
Manor of Mabysshenderby, with appurtenances, as well as lands in
Hagworthynham, Bag Enderby, Holbeche, Fleet, and Swaby, and that they
enfeoffed the said George Gedney and Anne his wife of the aforesaid
Manors, to them and their heirs for ever. The Gedneys continued for many
generations an influential family in the neighbourhood. Andrew Gedney,
of Bag Enderby, married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Skipwith, of
South Ormsby, 1536; and within recent years Arthur P. Gedney, Esq. (a
cousin of the writer of these notes), owned the Manor of Candlesby, and
resided at Candlesby Hall. (“Arch. S. Journ.,” 1895, page 27.)
In an Inquisition p.m. in the same year No. 52, after the death of the
said Anne, wife of George Gedney, much of this is repeated, but it is
further specified that the property in Hagworthingham is held of the
Abbot of Bardney; some in Bag Enderby is held of the Warden of Tateshale,
some in Holbeche of the Lady Dacre de la South, and some in Flete of the
Lord Fitz Water; that the said Anne died on the Saturday after the feast
of the Holy Trinity, and that John Gedney is son and next heir. In a
deed of 14 June, 1535, John Gedney, of Bag Enderby, refers to his wife’s
jointure of lands in Mavis Enderby and other parishes; the said wife
being Isabel, heiress of the Enderbies of Bag Enderby.
In the register of Mavis Enderby, one book of which extends from 1579 to
1772, an entry shows that George Lilbourne was Rector from 1522 to 1588,
or 66 years. He was a relative of the Smyths of Elkington, near Louth,
who are still represented in the two parishes of North and South
Elkington, as is shown by his will, dated 5th July, 1587 (Lincolnshire
Wills), in which he requests that he may be buried on the north side of
the chancel, bequeathing “to my niece Lacon, my niece Hansard, and my
niece Simpson, an old English crown apiece; to Sir Edward Hustwaite, all
the books he hath of mine, and a great book of St. Gregory’s works, in
the hands of Sir Robert Welles, Parson of Howell; to my servant Agnes
Cressie, a silver spoon with akorne at the end of it; to George Smithe
3li.; to Dorothy and Susan Smyth, 10s. apiece; to my nephew Herbert
Lacon, a macer (mazer or drinking bowl), lined with silver and gilt; to
my cousins Thomas Smithe and Anthony Smithe, and my nephew Tristram
Smithe a little silver salt (cellar). I make my nephew Herbert Lacon,
and Mr. Thomas Taylor, supervisors.” (Prob., 8 May, 1588).
It would appear that he was more generous in lending his books than his
friends were careful in returning them, the latter, a failing not unknown
in our own day, and even St. Paul could write to Timothy (2 T. iv. 13),
“Bring with thee the books, but especially the parchments.”
Among Lincolnshire Wills is one of Roger Metcalf, clerk of Mavis Enderby,
dated 18 July, 1606, in which he desires to be buried in the chancel,
John Downes of Lusby, clerk, being left executor, and George Littlebury
of Somersby, Gent., and John Salmon of Haltham-on-Bain, clerk,
supervisors. We thus see that in Saxon times, lands in Mavis Enderby and
Raithby were held by the same owner, and that in early Norman times,
lands in the two parishes were held more than once by the same Lord. In
a Feet of Fines, Lincoln, file 68 (32), 30 Ed. I., there was a dispute
between John Beck (of the ancient family of Bec, of Eresby, Lusby, etc.)
and Robert de Wylgheby (ancestor of the Lords Willoughby) about the
Manors and advowsons of Enderby Malbys, and Ratheby, as well as other
properties, in which the said Robert granted to the said John the said
lands and advowsons. “Architect. S. Journal,” 1897, p. 56. And in the
present day the two benefices are held together by the Rev. George Ward,
who is himself patron of Mavis Enderby, Raithby being in the gift of the
crown.
Early in the seventeenth century, the benefice was held by the Rev. James
Forrester, who was chaplain to Anne, Queen of James I., and wrote a
curious book, entitled “The Marrowe Juice of 260 Scriptures, or
Monas-Tessera-Graphica”; printed at the signe of the crowne, in Paul’s
churchyard, 1611.
The head of one of our old and distinguished Lincolnshire families, Sir
Edward Ascough, presented to the benefice in 1679 and 1685. In 1734,
Decimus Reynolds presented, and in 1782 Henry Best, Esq., presented.
“Liber Regis.,” s.v., Malvis, alias Maurice, Enderby.
The present owners of the parish are Mrs. Rashdall of London, Mrs.
Coltman of Hagnaby, Mr. Holmes of Eastville, and the Rector.
It need hardly be said that the poem, by Miss Ingelow, of Boston, called
“The Brides of Mavis Enderby,” has no connection with this parish, being
entirely imaginary, except that it is founded on the fact of a high tide
on the Lincolnshire coast. It was published in 1849, and Tennyson, the
Laureate, much admired it. “Life of Lord Tennyson,” Vol. I., p. 287.
The name was chosen as being euphonious.
The Church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of tower, nave with south
aisle, and chancel. The tower is of three stories. In the western wall,
above the west door, is a three-light trefoiled perpendicular window,
above this a clock, above that a smaller three-light window, similar
windows being in all four faces. The sill of the west door is an ancient
stone, with the “Runic involuted knot” pattern, which, however, is almost
obliterated by the tread of worshippers entering by the door. It is
similar to the Runic stone at Miningsby. The church has been restored or
rebuilt at various periods. The tower, originally a lofty one, but a
large part of which, through decay of the sandstone, had fallen down, was
partly rebuilt in 1684, and a lower bell-chamber provided. In 1894 it
was again restored, and carried up to its original height. The chancel
also was rebuilt to its original length in 1871, and the nave, aisle, and
porch were handsomely restored in 1878. There are three bells. On the
south interior wall of the tower is an inscription on a tablet, recording
that the tower was restored and clock set up in 1894, in memory of four
generations of the Ward family, “who were married in 1704, 1728, 1783,
1836, G. Ward, F.S.A. (Rector), W. Sharpe (Churchwarden), their 23rd year
of office together, C. Hodgson Fowler (Architect), Edwd. Bowman and Sons
(Contractors).”
In the north wall of the nave is a door, two three-light trefoiled
windows, with two quatrefoils above. The south aisle consists of three
bays, one of the original sandstone pillars still remains in the north
corner of the west end, next to the tower wall, where there is also a
two-light window behind the font. In the south wall, east of the porch,
are two windows of three lights, one of the decorated style, the other
perpendicular, both square-headed. The eastern one has coloured glass,
by Clayton and Bell, the subjects being—in the centre the annunciation,
to the east the angel appearing to Zacharias, to the west the visitation,
adapted from the famous picture by Mariotto Albertinelli, in the Academy
Gallery, at Florence. The seats are of modern oak, with carved
poppy-heads, except one or two ancient ones preserved from an older
structure near the tower, and the roof throughout is of red deal. There
is a modern oak rood screen, with rood-loft, having standing figures of
angels, one on each side, as well as one over the pulpit. These were
originally in Louth church. The pulpit and reading desk are of modern
oak. The font is octagonal, decorated with plain Ogee arch on each face.
The south porch is modern, but having a curious old stoup, the pedestal
being a cluster of early English columns, the bowl of a rather later
date, in keeping with the carving round the doorway; these have probably
been imported from elsewhere. The chancel, entirely modern, has a
three-light east window, both the tracery and coloured glass being
adapted from a window in Louth church (where the Rector was formerly
Curate), the glass being by Clayton and Bell, the tracery by the late Mr.
James Fowler of Louth. The subjects are—below, the agony, crucifixion
and entombment, and above, the annunciation, with six-winged cherubim on
either side. In the south wall are two windows of two lights, with
quatrefoil above. On the north is an organ chamber, with low wide arch,
and a modern piscina and aumbrey in the wall. The altar cloths are very
handsome, the upper cover being crimson plush, decorated with shields,
and the cross and scales; the frontals are gifts of various persons, one
of Algerian red silk and gold work in three compartments; a second of
white silk, worked by Mrs. Clarke, late of Stainsby House, with the Agnus
Dei in the centre; the third is of green silk, with very rich embroidery;
the fourth, of plain purple velvet, with four bands of darker purple, for
the Lent season.
The churchyard cross has been recently restored after the fashion of the
Somersby cross, a portion of the shaft being old. There is also a modern
sun dial, erected by the present Rector. Fragments of the old tower, and
of the Norman sandstone pillars, form ornaments in the Rectory garden.
The present Rectory was built in 1871, the architect being the late Mr.
James Fowler, of Louth, it has been added to since that date, and now
forms a commodious residence in pretty grounds, and a picturesque
situation.
It may be added, as an incident of special interest, that the father of
the late Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer, on retiring from
business in Spilsby, bought a portion of ground in this parish, in south
field, and built a house, now occupied by Mr. W. R. Cartwright, in which
he resided for some years, and in which Sir John Franklin spent his
youth.
Some years ago, the Rector found in his garden a silver groat of Philip
and Mary, two Nuremberg tokens, and a half-penny of William III.
The church and parish, in their past and present history, are among the
most interesting in the neighbourhood.