Yeoman+on+Worlingham

As the towns extend, so, of a necessity, must the countryside lose something of its attraction. Yet, at Worlingham, this attraction has been preserved as much as possible, for in the new building estate here we find houses of all kinds set in surroundings which still retain most of their original harm.

This, of course, is all to the good, the natural craving of many people to live a life as far removed from crowded streets as possible being quite wholesome, and if this an be managed without detracting from the age-old beauties of woodland and meadows, so much the better.

Not all the habitations in Worlingham are new, however, for some distance from the modern building estate and the older cottages in the main street are several farmsteads, amongst which must be mentioned Valley Farm, a rather expansive house standing in a narrow lane, in a countryside of hedge-shaded mossy banks, where in due season flourish violets and primroses. Not far from this is the Rectory one of those comfortable residences so often discovered in the Suffolk countryside, its garden made pleasant with waving shrubs and spreading trees.

The place of worship itself is in the main road, and its general appearance seems almost modern, a fact chiefly due to the plain aspect of the tower. Worlingham Church, however, has been considerably restored on several occasions, one of the most important occurring not exactly in recent times, but nearly 330 years ago. A modern lychgate graces the churchyard entrance, and once inside the church the modern atmosphere is very obvious, for the screen and the roof, the pulpit, and the seats have all come into being in recent times. Yet, despite this, much of the ancient items have been retained, notably the remains of the ancient screen which have been placed between the tower and the nave and renovated, whilst close by are bench-ends, whose excellent carving and suggestion of age contrast with the new seats already noticed.

Here, also, is a chest, not so old as one often discovers, but massive and excellently preserved. Undoubtedly, however, one of the best survivals in the church of All Saints at Worlingham is the font, for this is quite a remarkable affair, exhibiting magnificent carving, and, although mutilation has occurred to a certain extent, it still retains its old-time dignity and imposing air.

The steps formerly leading to the rood-loft remain, and in a much better condition than most, whilst the chancel retainsa good piscina in the usual position. Near this is a priest's doorway-now leading into a modern vestry-with heads, excellently carved.

The South chapel exhibits another piscina,and in it, also, is a mural monument to General Sparrow, whose death occurred in 1809. The Sparrows were connected with the Manor of Worlingham, as will be seen later, and the same remarks apply to the names of people mentioned on a hatchment next to the Sparrow memorial. Apart from anything else, however, this hatchment is exceptionally interesting, through the two quaint epitaphs in verse it bears. One, written in 1637, refers to Mrs. Parnell Rous, whose husband was John Duke of "Wallingham." and well deserves quoting in full:

//"A Rous by Birth; by Marriage made a Duke;// //Christ'ned Parnell, she Liv'd without Rebuke;// //She di'd : most St Like, now take All Together,// //She was unparrell'd, So lives for ever."//

Having said so much about this lady, it would be ungallant not to mention the other epitaph which commemorates her daughter Anne, a "Dovelike virgin," who outlived her mother some twenty-one years. Here again the verses are flattering, to say the least:

//"A virgin here doth Lie, a Duke by name// //No Soule more spotles, None more quitt// //from Blame;// //Now her Reward she hath, her Spouse// //doth See:// //Endles her Joyes, and Her Felicity.// //Divine Her Life Was, Modest, and Sincere;// //Untouched by Vice: her actions, pure and// //Clear;// //Kept as she hath, her Soul from What's// //Amisse,// //Even so, For Ever now, it Rest in Blisse.'//

Another Duke, Edward, who died in 1615, is represented by a shield and inscription in the floor of the tower, where, incidentally, are several floorstones of the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, whilst the chapel we have just left retains the effigies of Nicholas Wrenne, whose death occurred in 1511, and Mary, his wife, although, unfortunately, the inscription has disappeared long ago. The church of All Saints at Worlingham, therefore, despite the numerous modern features which have been inserted, still possesses quite a number of items dating from very early times, and items, moreover which in some cases are not only remarkable but uncommon.

As far as the manors of Worlingham are concerned, three are known to have existed here at the time that the Domesday Survey was undertaken, but definite information can be obtained of two only, those of Great Worlingham and Little Worlingham. The latter, however, possesses nothing of consequence in its story except that in early days it was sufficiently important to possess a separate church, dedicated to St. Peter, although the parish of Little Worlingham has long been combined with Great Worlingham, thus giving us the name of Worlingham only.

Exactly where St. Peter's Church was reared is a moot point, but we do know that it was used for worship until towards the end of the fifteenth century, although the date of its demolition has been lost. Probably, however, the Little Worlingham house of worship lasted only a short time after services ceased to be held there, or at any rate it started to decay about that time.

To return to the manor of Great Worilingham. At Domesday this was held by the famous Roger Bigod in keeping for the king, but eventually it seems to have passed into the possession of the "Great Abbey" at Bury St. Edmund's. And in the hands of that powerful religious establishment it appears to have remained until the eighth

Henry played havoc with such places, after which it came into the hands of the Bokenhams.

These new owners, however, stopped for but a short time, as very soon we find the Dukes in possession. And it is here that we have a link with Worlingham Church, for in 1600 John Duke chose for wife Parnell, daughter of Sir Thomas Rous of Henham, the representative of whose family at the present day is the Earl of Stradbroke, and to Parnell, of course, were dedicated the rather curious verses on the hatchment in the South chapel of the Worlingham house of worship.

Eventually, we find the manor connected with a family well known in the pleasant little village of Playford, close to Ipswich. This particular owner of the estate was John Felton, and he it was who built the residence known as Worlingham Hall.

The only daughter of John Felton married Sir John Playters. She lies buried in Worlingham churchyard, and her husband sold this estate and others in the district to Sir John Robinson, Bart, of Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, whose ancestor was a famous member of the legal profession, amongst the important offices he held being that of Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas. The new purchaser of Worlingham Manor eventually sold his Long Melford estates, and made his home at Worlingham Hall.

He died without issue in 1743, and his wife disposed of the property to her relation, George Hare, who, however, was only here for a short time, as in 1755 it was purchased from him by Robert Sparrow, of Woodbridge. In these days when again the youth of the country are asked as a patriotic duty to join the armed forces, it is interesting to discover that Robert Sparrow commanded a troop of Suffolk Yeomanry.

Both the son-incidentally, he was High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1777- and the grandson of Robert Sparrow predeceased him, with the result that on his death the manor went to his only daughter, Mary, who became the wife of the Right Honourable Archibald Acheson, second Earl of Gosford, although in 1835 he was created Baron Worlingham of Beccles.

It was to this owner of the manor that we owe the existence of Worlingham Hall as we know it to-day, for although, as I have said the house was actually erected by John Felton towards the end of the seventeenth century, Baron Worlingham altered and improved the place out of all recognition.

The mansion stands in a pleasant situation, close by the marshes, which, in ancient times, are believed to have formed the vast estuary of the River Yare. And it is in the park surrounding Worlingham Hall that those new houses mentioned in the opening paragraph are being constructed, thus making Worlingham a kind of suburb of nearby Beccles.

"Suburb," however, is scarcely the right word to use in this connection, suggesting as it does a vista of straight streets and houses mostly alike. Rather, within the shades of waving branches habitations of all kinds are springing into existence, so that here their occupants may enjoy something of the joys belonging to a life in the country, wih few of its attendant disadvantages.

YEOMAN