Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/254

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vn. SEPT. n, 1020.

^Gardens, all (of) which are inclosed w(i)th (in) a anoate. In the Base Court Yard, a large Gate- howse, two Stables, a cowe howse w(i)th Boarded Jjofts over them, and two Barnes contaiiiinge in 'the whole by Estim(ation) Five Acres."

This survey is of special interest for the {identity of the moat and gate-house in the base court. To whom it was sold by the ^Commissioners I .have not ascertained. Lyson states that the lease was held for many years by the Marsh family, connected with Dr. Marsh. Bishop of Gloucester. 'Certainly the Rate books show that they were in* occupation from 1678 to 1713. These Marshes took a prominent part in the Government of the parish, and John Marsh overseer, surveyor and constable.
 * of Mapes, held the office of churchwarden,

From 1717 to 1735 Thomas Budd was Tated as the occupier. Nothing is known of this gentleman, but probably he built the existing house, that still retains on its attic floor some of the original boards and, to the ground-floor windows, bars and window- catches of the period. In 1724 Charles White, of the Inner Temple, leased the manor, and was in residence at the elate of "his death. 1754. By his will, dated Dec. 1, 1752, he bequeathed a life interest in Mapes- foury to Captain Henry Hyatt, who occupied it from 1754 to 1774. The estate reverted back to the White family and they were in occupation from 1774 to 1827. During this .period, in 1784 to be exact, a survey was made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who describe the property : " a substantial Brick mansion House containing Four Garrets Four lodging Rooms and two Closets on the Chamber Floor Two Wainscoted Parlours a Kitchen and Dairy with a Servants Hall and Pantry and two Cellars under. A Wash- house adjoining, but under another Roof.

" At a short distance from the House : A stable and coach house with Chambers over them, and a Hay Barn brick and tiled."

Except that the barn has disappeared in recent years, and the washhouse is badly -decayed, this is a fairly accurate description of the House to-day. The moat was filled in I suggest, at the last rebuilding but it may still be traced.

The last tenant, Mr. Chester Foulsham, was in occupation from 1885 to 1916 and in the intervening period, the following were the tenants : W. Anderson, E. Biggs, John Anderson, Anderson and Steward, G. B, Sheward. During its occupation by John Anderson (circa 1850) it was visited by William Keane and is described in his work, Beauties of Middlesex.'

Its only literary association was the brief period when Edmund Yates was in occupa- tion. This record compiled from data kindly supplied by Mr. Stanley W. Ball and the Ecclesiastical Commission is so far com- plete, that there is little required to make it a consecutive record of nearly four centuries. The surrounding land has been so circum- scribed by the erection of villas and the making of new roads as to lose its identity. A casual examination some few years ago brought to light in the kitchen- garden a large iron plate possibly the back of a fireplace bearing date and initials I.M. 1598 I.B. This may have been in the old moated manor house ; equally it may have been brought here from an entirely different house, but it carries the pleasant suggestion that tho house occupied by Richard Bancroft was then built. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

THE MAIDEN'S TOMB, CAISTER. As I was standing by the gate at the entrance to the path leading up to the church at Caister in Flegg, Norfolk, a brake-load of trippers went by, the tout standing upon the steps and pointing out the features of the land- scape. Indicating the summit of the church tower he called out " Ther' used ter be a young woman buried up there." This evoked considerable interest, but the vehicle passed on, and I heard no more.

The tradition is, however, so general in the neighbourhood that it may be as well to state that the whole story is a myth, having its origin in the coped roof of the tower, which, viewed from the ground, had the appearance of a tomb. This was taken down at the 1894 "restoration," and there were no indications of any interment having taken place therein.

The story it varies in detail? is as follows :

A maiden had a lover who was mate of a ship trading with the north, and their marriage was to have taken place at the termination of a certain voyage. The weather was stormy, and day after day she ascended the tower and watched for the return of the ship. After many days of weary waiting, one wild morning she saw a vessel corresponding to his and evidently out of control strike upon the Barber sands and in a very brief space of time entirely disappear. Distraught with grief she went home, took to her bed, and died of a broken heart, making a request that she might be buried on the summit of the tower.

WILLIAM DE CASTBE.