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Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.374
the Saxon times have the family constantly deposited their
dead. A quieter and more peacable resting place could not
well be imagined. It is between three and four miles from
the hall, lying apart from any habitation in a sequestered
nook of land occupying the bend of the river, and altogether
is one of thoses little quaint old-world spots consecrated
by religion which are more frequently mentioned in books
than to be found in reality.
The church itself is a very similar structure to the chapel
at Brougham, but not near in so good repair, and has a
musty, mouldy smell of decay so usual in such out-of-the-way
churches. Beside the chancel door lie three stone
coffin-lids, seemingly kicked out of the chancel to make
room for some subsequent memorials, since become also
antiquated, and till of late years but little either noticed
or cared for. The church has an open timbered oaken roof,
arches with wind braces, &c. and, in spite of repairs
circa 1660, which have destroyed and nearly obliterated the
original architecture, it has a solemn gloom, from the
smallness of its round-headed windows, filled with dim old
dingy and smudged green glass. The principal object of
attraction is the disinterment made in the year 1846, and so
well described in the Archaeological Journal by Mr.
Brougham, with attendant notes by Mr. Albert Way. Oaken
trap-doors have been contrived, in the most judicious
manner, which lift up with rings, and now disclose the
remains, as discovered, but minus the relics of the spur,
metallic end of horn, and sword, now at the hall. The first
skeleton discovered was cross-legged, and with the spur in
question upon the left-heel, but with none on the right, or
any trace of there having been any. This curious fact, in
opposition to the well-known importance attached to a pair
of spurs, has caused much speculation. One similar instance
is mentioned by Mr. Way, but of a more remote period. Some
of the figures amongst the anceint decorations of the
Painted Chamber at Westminster are so portrayed in the
Vestuta Monumenta. This skeleton is known to be that of
Udard de Brougham, who flourished in the 12th century, and
is surmounted by a flag or coffin-lid, incised with a cross
flory and a cross-hilted sword, with what appears to be a
sort of circular shield. This stone tradition has always
pointed out as the "Crusader's tomb." Upon another incised
flag, with a cross and sword upon it, is a rough incision of
the letter B, and this is supposed to cover the remains of
Gilbert de Broham, who succeeded Udard, and died 1230. Nine
of these skeletons were examined, and with one supposed to
be Saxon, was discovered a circlet seemingly of silver gilt,
and apparently the end of a horn. It is about three inches
in diameter and three quarters of an inch broad, and covered
with interlacing work, intermingled with a sort of cherub
with the hands raised. As only two incised flags are
remaining, it may not be improbable that those on the
outside may appertain to these remains. It would at all
events be interesting to lift them from their present
resting-place, and examine what is beneath.
In the family vault, close by where these skeletons lay, are
several coffins of lead of various ages, and one large one
of stone filled with bones; collected into this no doubt to
make room for others.
What storms have passed over the land since the remote
period when these lifeless figures lorded it over the
surrounding country in all the pomp and circumstance of
barbarous power! How peaceful now, with not a sound to
dispel their rest, but the gurgling of the adjacent river,
or the sighing of the breeze! The stillness is so solemn
that the opening of the rusty-hinged heavy chancel door is
quite startling, and the harsh grating of the trap-doors
sounds enough to awaken the sleepers of the six and eight
centuries below.
Dr. Markham further says, "From Browham or (as it was
sometimes writ) Burgham, an ancient and warlike
family took their surname and designation. They resided and
flourished at this place for several ages. In or about the
reign of Edward I. Gilbertus de Burgham was in possession of
the whole, which he held in drengagio, a sort of
military service, from the Danish word drenge, which
signifies a servant. One moiety of the estate and manor he
remits and gives up with the mill and advowson of the
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