Some Monumental Inscriptions of West Langdon Church
Some Monumental Inscriptions of West Langdon Church, noted by Rev Bryan Faussett in 1759. Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Zechariah Cozens about 1795, added 10th October 2008. Kindly typed up for the website by Pat Tritton.
1. This Church is desolate; The Walls only being now standing. It was very small, and consisted only of the Chancell and Body. In the Middle of the Area, or Floor (which is coverd with Earth and Grass) I discovered a Flat black Marble Gravestone, with ye following imperfect Inscription. Here lieth the …. of Robert DUNCAN, who lived at Langdon Abbey. He …………/ 1630.
2. The Inhabitants told Me they had often seen another flat Stone, somewhere in ye Chancell, in memory of Sr. Timothy THORNHILL; but that it was now cover’d with Stones and Rubbish which had fallen from the Walls. The Inhabitants still bury in ye Church Yard.
3. There is very little of The Abbey, wch. was in this Parish, now standing; but, by ye old Foundations, it appears to have been pretty large.
4. The Farm House seems to be built out of its Ruins.
5. Philpot, Fol.210, tells us that "it was founded by Sr. Wm. de AUBERVILLE of Westenhanger, Knt. in the Time of RICHARD ye 1st in Honour of St. Mary and St Thomas ye Martyr, of Canterbury, and filled with Canons Praemonstratenses."
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Also some Monumental Inscriptions Noted by Zechariah Cozens about 1795, added 10th October 2008
6. From East Langdon we set out for West Langdon, the ruins of whose Church we discovered in the corner of a field, about two miles and an half to the North-west of the last described church. Its remains are considerable, clearly pointing out that it originally consisted of an aile, and a chancel; the walls which are standing about twenty feet high, are so covered with ivy, that the few windows and doors which it had are hardly discernable, though they appear to be of Saxon architecture: the whole makes a very picturesque object.
Epitaphs.
7. On a plain stone, in the midst of the ruins, about the center of the aile, is remaining: 1619 …../ ……/ Years.
8. On a plain grave-stone, at the West side of the church yard: Here Lieth the Body of Richard BROCKMAN who departed this Life July 27th 1762, Aged 26 Years. Weep not my Tender Parents/Dear for I am only Sleeping/Here my Debts are paid/my Grave you See Prepare/For death and Follow me.
9. The church-yard is inclosed, and appears still to be the burial place of the inhabitants of this parish; though there are not any other memorials remaining.
10. This Parish is but small, though it could once boast an abbey of the order of Praemonstratenses: founded by Sir William de AUBERVILLE Knt. about the year of 1190; and valued at its dissolution at £56.6s.9d. per annum. There are some few remains of the structure at a small distance to the Eastward of the church.
11. The soil and prospects in this Parish are much the same as in the last described.
12. The Living is a Curacy, and the Church is dedicated to St. (blank).
13. Patron: The Archbishop. 1795. Incumbent: Thomas DELANOY.
Valuation £16.0s.0d.
The next Parish that we have to visit in this Deanery is Coldred.
Index of Names
NamesBROCKMAN 8
de AUBERVILLE 5, 10
DELANOY 13
DUNCAN 1
THORNHILL 2