1825.]

Destruction of Kibworth Church Steeple, Leicestershire.

son of Alcæus, son of Hercules, and a slave of Jardanus, King of Lydia. This places Hercules as before, about 940.

According to Herodotus, Homer and Hesiod lived about 400 years before his time, (i. e. 455) ; but whether he alludes to the births or deaths of these poets, is uncertain. I prefer the latter; for I believe that Homer was living at the very time of the Trojan War, and that in the Odyssey where he describes the blind Bard, who, at the Court of Phocoea, sung to Ulysses, and celebrated his exploits. The Arundelian marbles place him B. C. 907, Velleins 920, (Lempriere says 968; but has misunderstood the author.) These are neither inconsistent with one another, nor with Herodotus if he refers to his death.

How could Homer have been able to describe the war, the Trojan and Grecian chiefs so elegantly, so consistently? and what could have in duced a poet to signalise an event which took place 280 years before, and the memory of which could only have been preserved by tradition; as Cicero denies that even Homer could write? If too he lived so long after the war, why did he not mention the returns of the Heraclidæ, which occurred but 80 years after? for if he had heard of it he would certainly have mentioned it. There is a pas sage, Il. 20. v. 307,

Νεν δε δη Αίνιαιο βιη Τρώεσσιν ανάξει,
Και παιδες παίδων, τοι κεν μετοπισθε

In my opinion, we may conclude that the grandson of Æneas was contemporary with Homer, or about 50 years after Troy was taken.

Other critics explain this away, on the ground that the Trojans were not entirely subdued till the third genera tion after the destruction of Troy. Velleius Paterculus says that Homer lived longer after the war than was generally supposed; we may on that account be the more bold in opposing that author's opinion. Velleius eudeavours to prove what he advances by the expression in Homer, o TOV Boro But for a refutation of this, I must refer to Mr. Mitford's Greece. SEPTEMDECIMUS.

GENT. MAG. August, 1825.

Mr. URBAN,

113

Kibworth Rectory,

July 27. Taken place at Kibworth, co. HE awful event which has recently Leicester, together with the causes that led to it, having been variously represented, I deem it proper to request your insertion of the following particulars, authenticated by my own personal observation.

At nine o'clock in the forenoon of Saturday last, the ancient and venerable tower and spire of Kibworth Church fell to the ground. Various symptoms of decay, about the lower part of the South-west angle, had been discovered, and partially remedied, above two years ago. The originally defective materials having, since that period, more visibly yielded to the pressure of the superincumbent mass, Mr. Wm. Parsons, of Leicester, was called in about a month ago, to inspect the state of the tower; and, under his direction, the masons had made considerable progress in the work of reparation. On Thursday last, however, the fissures and bulgings which had appeared in numerous places, were found to have increased in so alarming a degree, that Mr. Parsous was again summoned without loss of time. On his arrival on Friday morning, he ordered that the tower should be propped with inclined beams, till permanent support could be given, by removing all the decayed parts, and supplying their place with strong masonry. The cariurday morning, but were almost im penters began their operations on Samediately compelled to desist. Violent disruptions in various places, accompanied by threatening sounds, were now incessantly going on, and the pile was left to its inevitable fate.

A short time before the final event, I had been informed at the Rectory from Leicester for the purpose of bethat Mr. Oldfield, who had just arrived ginning to paint the pews, desired to see me at the Church. Unacquainted which Mr. Oldfield had been equally as yet with the imminent danger, of ignorant, I immediately went to the advanced toward the West end where Church, entered at the chancel door, noises before mentioned, suddenly rethe mischief was gathering, heard the tired by the same door, proceeded round the East end toward the North

gate

114

Account of Kibworth Church, Leicestershire.

gate of the Church-yard, and there
found the different workmen with a
few other persons intensely watching
the steeple, and, as they told me, every
moment expecting its fall. I took my
station among them, and in less than
a minute after several premonitory
crashings, the whole fabric bowed
from the summit over the base, paused
for a few seconds, and then, as with
one collective effort, came down in a
thundering cataract of ruins. A thou-
sand years could not efface the impres-
sion made upon my soul and my senses
by the grand, the astounding catastrophe.
Through the immediate and most
merciful interposition of God's provi-
dence not a life was lost, not the
slightest bodily injury sustained by a
human being. Praise be to His Holy
Name!
J. BERESFORD.

As the singular and much-to-be lamented catastrophe detailed by our Correspondent, will naturally create a considerable interest, we have annexed to his Letter some account of the Church of Kibworth, accompanied by a view of it. (See Plate II.)

The Church, which is seated on an eminence, amidst a group of trees, is dedicated to Saint Wilfred. It consisted of a nave and chancel, with two lateral ailes; a steeple at the West end, and two large porches. The steeple was lofty and taper, measuring 53 yards in height, and rising from a sexangular basement without battlements or pinnacles. It was probably erected posterior to the Church. The steeple was repaired, the Church new floored, and some other improvements took place in 1778 at an expence of 801. Over both of the porches there are niches; the windows of the nave are lofty, and the Church is flanked by buttresses. The buttresses which flank the chancel window at the East end, are very obtuse, and the apex of the roof is ornamented by a quatrefoil. The East window is divided by mullions into five bays, with quatrefoil lights above. The architecture of the chancel differs in general appearance from that of the ailes, the arches being more obtuse in the former. The extreme length of the Church from the altar to the steeple is 120 feet, and the breadth 54 feet. The nave is separated from the ailes by four pointed arches, springing from light and airy pillars. The pulpit is curiously carved, and the font, which is octagonal and plain,

[Aug.

has a corresponding cover. On the South side of the chancel are three handsome stone seats and a small piscina. The galleries are of modern construction, and very neat.

Kibworth is situated nine miles from Leicester, in the great turnpike road from London. The parish is about four miles in length, and contains nearly 4000 acres of land.

Near the Hamlet of Kibworth Harcourt, is an encampment, consisting of a large mount, encompassed with a single ditch, the circumference of which, at the bottom, is 122 yards. The height of the slope of the mount is 18 yards, and its diameter at top is 16 yards. About 200 yards from the meeting-house, is a large barrow on elevated ground.

The Free Grammar School was founded and supported upon a liberal plan; but the founder, and the precise period of the foundation, can not be easily ascertained. Mr. Nichols thinks it was originally founded near the close of the 15th century. A new Schoolhouse was built in 1725 by Francis Edwards, esq. a gentleman eminent for liberality and munificence. The Trusteeship for the School was about expiring, when a few years ago Mr. Cradock, one of the last remaining Trustees, called a Public Meeting at the Church, and the number required was then filled up, and a new deed, which was judged necessary, was supplied from the Court of Chancery. Mr. Cradock was unanimously thanked by the gentlemen assembled, and his conduct has since been approved by the Court appealed to.-EDIT.

MERTON CHURCH, NORFOLK.
(Description continued from p. 14.)
HE South aile is lighted to the

TWest by one window, and to
the South by two windows, all point-
ed, and divided into cinquefoil-headed
lights, with a quatrefoil above; the
mouldings are ornamented on the in-
side by small heads and grotesque fi-
gures. The East window in this aile
is pointed and divided into cinquefoil-
headed lights by two stone mullions,
which form trefoil and other lights
above. There are many fragments of
painted glass. The South doorway is
pointed, the moulding terminated with
small heads. The seats are open; one
of them, about the middle of the aile,

has

1895.]

Account of Merton Church, Norfolk.

has the figure of a man, decapitated, kneeling before a desk, his hands, now gone, appear to have been clasped in the posture of devotion; the other end of the seat bears a shield cut with the De Grey's arms.

. 115

effigy is gone, but the inscription re

mains:

Here Ipeth intoumbed the Bodie of Cha de Breyt Esquior Sonne and bepre of Edm'nd | de Grep esquior who deceased the 12 of May 1562. And On the floor a stone plated with bad to his first Wife Anne Evrode | brass, formerly having two hands hold-Daughter of Henry Everode of Lining a heart, on which was the word Credo, and from the heart two scrolls;

on the first:

Credo quod Redemptor meus vivit.
On the second:

Et in novissimo die surrect................
Salbatorem meum.

The hands and heart are gone, but the scrolls, and the inscription remain: Hic iacet Alicia q'nd'm uxor Johis fpnch'm filii senioris Tobis Fonch'm [*Que quid'm Alicia fuit filia Chome Sedpagffeld armigeri soror Marie | Grep que qom Alicia obiit rrii die Maii X' d'm. MCCCCtppvii cujus aie ppicier'. de'. [

The arms were Fincham, three bars

and bend Erm. impaling Beding field,

but are now lost.

Another stone, shield and inscrip

tion gone.

On a brass plate against the South wall. Arms: De Grey, impaling FitzLewes, a chevron between 3 trefoils.

In this le peth burpd under one Stone Thomast de Grep Esquire and Elizabethe bis Wife, Dought of Spr Hpcharde Fitz-lewes Knight, and after her decease made hymselfe Preast and so lived rli Heres and dep'ted out of this Lpfe pe fprst of Septembre 1556.

At the East end of the aile lies a fair marble, having, on a brass plate, the figure of a man in armour, with clasped hands; the lower part of the

sted in Suffoke Esquior. And to his second Waffe | Temp'ance the Daughter of Sir Wpmonde Carewe of Anthonge in Cornewell | Knighte whose Soule God pardon.

There were formerly three shields, viz. two at the head, having his own Everard, on a fess between three mularms, impaled with his two wives: 1. lets; 2. Carewe, three lions passant; and one under the inscription, Grey and Baynard quartered; the last is gone.

The chancel is separated from the nave by a lofty pointed arch, under which is an open wooden screen carved. This part of the Church is lighted by five windows, two to the South, two they are all pointed; those to the North to the North, and one to the East;

pointed lights by two stone mullions,

and South are divided each into three

which form ramifications above. The four plain lights; the upper part was East window consists, at present, of once ramified, but is now blocked up.

"It appears by a MS." says Blomefield §, "that formerly in the North and South windows opposite to one another, in the entering into the chancel, stood the coat of De Gray or Cornerth quartered with Baniard, erected in 1403. And in a South window at the upper end of the Church were robes, holding in his left hand an arrow, the effigies of St. Edmund, in his princely and lower in the same window was depicted the portraiture of Sir Robert Clifton, knt.

The mark thus | denotes the end of the line on the brass plate.

He was eldest son of Wm. de Grey (by Mary Bedingfield, his first wife. See account of monument against the North wall of the nave), but did not inherit his father's estate; he died s. p.

He had no issue by his second wife, who outlived him, and married Sir Christopher Heydon of Beaconsthorp, Knt. He died seised of Hadston or Baynard's manor in Bunwell, held of the Earl of Sussex at one fee; Berry-hall manor in Ellingham, late Manning's, held of the Earl of Sussex as of his manor of Attleburgh'; the advowson of Bunwell, held of Sir Thos. Lovel by fealty, and 13s. 4d. rent; the manor of Merton, held of the Earl of Sussex, as of his manor of Woodham-Walter, in Essex; parcel of Fitz-Walter's, alias Baynard's Barony, 390 acres of land, 100 acres of pasture, 20 acres of wood, 1000 acres of marsh, and 300 acres of bruery, a fold course and commonage for 100 cows in Tompson, Griston, Watton, Tottington, and Merton, held of the Queen in capite, by the 20th part of a fee. Robert Kemp, of Gissing, esq. married Elizabeth, daughter of the above Thos. De Grey.

Thos. De Grey, his son and heir, was only seven years old at his father's death, and so became ward to Queen Elizabeth, but died a minor in 1556; his estate went to his uncle Robt. De Grey, esq. See Monuments in Chancel.

§ See "History of Norfolk," fol, ed. vol. 1. 582, 583.

kneeling,

Account of Merton Church, Norfolk.

*1661. Mris. Mary Warren, once espoused to Samuel Warren, Rector of Merton, departed this life Decemb. 8th, and was buried Decemb. 10th."-Parish Register.

1676. Samuel Warren, Rector of Merton, a pious, learned, and orthodox man, departed this life the last day of May, and was buryed the first day of June, Anno prædicto, Etatis sue 77."-Parish Register.

"Edward Kemp, of Gissing, esq. married Mary, daughter of Edmund De Grey, esq." -Bl. Nfk. 1. 117.