Hitchin Church is a handsome structure of stone, occupying the site of a more ancient fabric near the middle of the town, and apparently of the age of Henry the Sixth, or Edward the Fourth. It is built in the pointed style, and is dedicated to St. Andrew. The name of St. Mary, given to it by Chauncy, as the modern appellation, belonged more properly to a Guild, or Fraternity, in the Church, as appears from the inscription on the monument of Thomas Abbot in the south chancel. The interior is spacious, and consists of a nave, chancels, and side aisles: its length is upwards of 150 feet; and its breadth, sixty-seven. At the west end is a massive tower, (which has originally opened into the Church by a pointed arch,) twenty-one feet in diameter, terminated, like many other churches in this county, by a small octagonal spire. The whole fabric is embattled; and the principal chancel is additionally ornamented by pinnacles. The north and south porches are well wrought; the latter has a groined roof, with canopied niches, and ether ornaments in front. The Sepulchral monuments in this Church are very numerous. An inscription for Sir Robert de Kendale, Knt. and three effigies greatly mutilated, which are now placed under windows of the north aísle, are of more ancient date than the present fabric. The first or most westward of these effigies represents a Knight, crosss-legged, in chain armour; the chain-work fitted close to his head, with an oval opening for the face: his head rests on a square cushion; and at his left side is a large plain shield; his right hand is on his breast. It is probable that this figure is a representation of one of the Baliols, who were Lords of this manor, as above stated, from the time of William Rufus to that of Edward the First. The two remaining effigies, though now separated, appear to have been originally conjoined, and on one tomb; as the sides, which seem to have been outward, are more particularly finished than the others. These represent SIR EDWARD De Kendale, Knt. Lord of Hitchin, who died in the forty-seventh of Edward the Third, and his Lady, whose decease occurred two years afterwards. The former is in armour, with his head resting on a helmet, having a cap of rich foliage for a crest, and his feet on a lion; his hands are closed as in prayer; and on his breast, deeply carved, are the arms of Kendale, a bend surmounted by a label of three points in chief, gules. His Lady is in the habit of the time, with her hood thrown back, and her head resting on a cushion: the hands are broken off, but appear to have been closed as the former.* Some very fine Brasses, both of the fifteenth and the following century, occur in different parts of the Church. The monument of THOMAS ABBOT, already mentioned, had the following inscription, now almost obliterated: Hic jacent Thomas Abbot, de Hitchin, Merceras, et Johanna, Among the other monuments, are several for the Radcliffes of Hitchin Priory; and some inscriptions record the families of the Skynners and Bydes, who became allied by the marriage of the heiress of the former, with Sir Thomas Byde, Knt. of Ware. The Font has been ornamented with figures of the twelve Apostles, under niches; but these are now almost defaced. At a short distance south-east from the Church was the PRIORY OF BIGGIN, founded for Nuns of the Gilbertine Order; but at what period is uncertain: at the time of the Dissolution, its annual revenues were, according to Dugdale, estimated at 131, 16s. but, according to Speed, at 151. 1s. 11d. Henry the Eighth granted the Priory, with the estate appendant, to John Cokke, and his heirs; in process of time, it became the property of Mr. John These figures are described from information communicated by an invaluable literary friend, who has made considerable manuscript collections towards a History of this County, and about five years ago, took the pains to clear the above effigies from all the whitewash that had been periodically plastered over them at the times of white-washing the interior of the Church. Since that period, the arms have been again ob scured; and the fine parts of the sculpture filled up as before. John Kempe, M. A. and school-master in Hitchin, who, on his decease, in 1684, vested this estate in trustees for charitable uses in this parish. HITCHIN PRIORY was founded for White Carmelites, in the time of Edward the Second, and dedicated to Our Saviour, and the Virgin Mary. Its annual revenues were valued at only 41. 9s. 4d. when it was surrendered to Henry the Eighth by John Butler, the Prior, and four of his brethren. Alexander, a fifth brother, bad begun to sign his name to the deed of surrender, but repenting before he had finished, struck it through with his pen. The Priory was afterwards granted by the King to Edward Watson, and Henry Herdson, who soon conveyed it to Ralph Radcliffe, Esq, in whose descendants it continued till the death of John Radcliffe, Esq. who represented the Borough of St. Alban in three Parliaments. He died in December, 1783, having married Frances, daughter of Henry Howard, Earl of Carlisle, who still survives, but had no issue. It then devolved to Penelope, his eldest sister, who was twice married; but she also dying without issue, it became the property of her niece, married to Emilius Henry Delmè, Esq. who has assumed the name of Radcliffe, and is now possessor. The present Mrs. Delmè Radcliffe was sister to the late unfortunate C. J. Clarke, Esq. who died at Paris in December, 1801, in consequence of the injuries he had received by the fall of a temporary scaffold, on which he was seated to view some fireworks while attending the celebration of the rejoicings made after signing the preliminary treaty of the Peace of Amiens. Very few traces of the Priory remain: the immediate site is occupied by a Mansion, which is now fitting up as a residence for the family. The Charitable Donations in this parish are numerous; some of the principal were bestowed in the year 1668, by John Skynner, Gent. who gave 300l. to build Alms-houses; 3001. to purchase lands to endow the same; 100l. to apprentice poor children; 1001. towards the further endowment of the Free School in Hitchin: and the produce of his orchard, next the Church-yard, to keep the Alms-houses in repair. The respective estates are now vested in trustees, and produced lately, about 211. for the alms-people; 1 51. 51. for repairs; and 51. for the School, annually. In 1697, Ralph Skynner, Gent. (probably son of the above,) bequeathed 2001. to buy lands to augment the revenue of the vicarage; 8001. for building and endowing eight Alms-houses; and 601. for apprenticing ten poor children. The market at Hitchin has existed from an early period; and very large quantities of corn and grain are annually sold in it; probably in some degree from being free of toll, by prescriptive right. Formerly, the wool trade was very flourishing here; this town having become the residence of many merchants, on the removal of the staple from Calais by Edward the Third. The town is locally divided into three wards, and is governed by two Constables, two Headboroughs for each ward, two Leather-sellers, two Aletasters, a Bellman, &c.* these officers are elected in the Manor courts. The town consists of several streets and lanes; and, according to the returns under the Population Act, contains 674 houses, mostly irregular buildings; and 3161 inhabitants; of whom 1508 were males, and 1653, females GREAT WIMONDLEY, called Wimundslai in the Domesday Book, is recorded in that record to have been forcibly taken from the Nuns of Chatteris, by Earl Harold; but at the time of the Survey, it was in possession of the Conqueror, who is stated to have given it to a noble Norman, named Fitz-teck, to hold by the service of grand sergeantry. Ellen, daughter and heiress of Guy Fitz-tecon, married John de Argenton, or Argentine, whose family held this manor during several generations, by the service of offering to the King the first cup of drink which he tasted at his dinner on the day of his coronation; the cup containing the drink becoming the property of the Lord of Wimondley by the said service. Sir John de Argentine, the last of this family, left three daughters his co-heiresses; Joan, married to Bartholomew Nanton; Alice, married to Baldwin St. George; and Maud, married to Ivo Fitz-warrine: but having likewise an illegitimate son, Sir William Argentine, Knt. he gave to him this estate; and he, in respect to the *Chauncy's Herts, p. 390. the tenure, claimed the office of Cup-bearer at the coronation of Henry the Fourth, and had the same allowed, notwithstanding a counter-claim made by Ivo Fitz-warrine in right of his wife. Sir John Argentine, Knt. grandson and heir to William the Bastard, left two sisters co-heiresses: Elizabeth, the eldest, married Sir William Allington in the time of Henry the Sixth, who, in her right, became possessed of this manor. From this marriage descended William Allington, created Baron Allington of Killard, in Ireland, in the seventeenth of Charles the First: William, his son and heir, was created Baron Allington of Wimondley, in the thirtyfifth of Charles the Second, and was succeeded by Giles, third Lord Allington, who dying a minor in 1691, this manor was sold, under a decree of the Court of Chancery, for raising portions for the daughters of William, second Lord Allington, and other purposes. The purchaser was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Culpepper, some time Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Master of the Rolls, and widow of James Hamilton, Esq. eldest son and heirapparent of Sir George Hamilton, Bart. of Nova-Scotia, fourth son of James Hamilton, first Earl of Abercorn in Scotland. The said James was Groom of the Bed Chamber to Charles the Second, and a Colonel in the army, and was with his regiment on board the navy with the Duke of York, in one of the sea expeditions against the Dutch, when his leg was taken off by a cannonball, of which wound he died on the sixth of June, 1673: his body was afterwards brought to England, and buried in Westminster Abbey, where a monument was erected to his memory. They had issue, James Hamilton, who became sixth Earl of Abercorn, &c. but he did not succeed to this estate, which, as it had been purchased by his mother, was again sold by her, to Hildebrand, Lord Allington, of Killard, the uncle of Giles, Lord Allington, and younger brother of William, the second Lord. He dying without issue, Wimondley descended to the daughters of the above William: Diana, the youngest, married Sir George Warburton, of Arcley, in Cheshire, Bart, and by him had a daughter, also named Diana, who conveyed this manor, in marriage, to Sir Richard Grosvenor, of Eaton, in Cheshire, Bart. From the Grosvenors it was |