THE CHAPEL OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST.

JAMES, WIGGINTON, TAMWORTH.

BY CHARLES LYNAM, Esq., F.S.A.

"PHILIP DE MARMYON founded the hospital of St. James, close to Tamworth. In accordance with the directions of the king's writ, an Inquisition was taken in 1285, to ascertain the amount of damage which the Crown would sustain, if license should be given to Philip de Marmyon to assign certain properties to the master of the hospital, for the maintenance of five priests who should celebrate divine service there, and the issue was in his favour."

"Two years afterwards, Philip de Marmyon granted this hospital, with its appurtenances, and pasture in Ashfield for four oxen and two horses, to William de Combrey Hall, for a time, there to celebrate services for his soul, until he should place in it either religious men of the Premonstratensian Order, or secular priests who should bear upon them signum clypei. This hospital remained to the time of Henry VIII; and in 1534, when Robert Perrott was chaplain, was endowed with lands valued at £3 6s. 8d. annually."1

HE remains of this chapel are situate in the parish of Wigginton, and about twothirds of a mile from the parish church of St. Editha, at Tamworth. The plan is of the earliest and simplest type, consisting of a nave, 21 ft. 3 ins. long and 14 ft. 8 ins. wide inside, and a chancel 14 ft. 9 ins. long and 10 ft. 10 ins. wide. Its last use was that of a dwelling-house, and its perversion to that purpose brought about much mischief to the original structure. Its west wall was taken down and substituted by one of bricks, with a fireplace and domestic windows therein. The south and east walls of the chancel were partly taken down and pierced for windows, and the south wall of the nave was broken into for the insertion

1 The History of Tamworth. By Charles Ferrers Palmer.

of a window. The chancel-arch was removed, and the void in its wall made considerably wider. At the present time the chancel is roofless, and the roof of the nave is in bad condition. Notwithstanding all this destruction, there still remains a most interesting little building, bearing its own unerring testimony to its ancient origin and later alterations. Except the west wall, all the others remain very much as they were first built. There is detail sufficient remaining to make it apparent that it was in the Norman period that this little house of prayer was raised. The masonry of its walls, the north doorway, the remaining impost on the line of the spring of the chancel-arch, and the base mould on the north flank, are all clearly indicative of the work of this date. The architectural feature of main interest is the south doorway, which is an insertion of an exquisite early example of the Early English period. The window south of the nave, with its head of two lights and its upper jambs of the right width for them, is also of architectural interest; and not less so is the fact that the wall beneath this window had been in early times converted into a doorway, the jambs and other features of which still remain. At the east end of the chancel the head and jambs and sill of a window of three lights are still preserved, corresponding with the window to the south of the nave; but these windows are later insertions into the early walls. It is probable that the little chapel originally depended for its window light on a few small single openings in each of its walls. The accompanying drawings roughly illustrate the architectural character of the building as it now appears. As an architectural relic of the far past the little building is worthy of appreciation by all who value historic memories.

NOTE.

In view of the fact that this Association has made a small grant in aid of the restoration of this valuable relic, we insert the following additional information, kindly supplied by Mr. Lynam.

The ruins are on part of a site recently purchased for building on. The owner of the land and chapel entered upon his building arrangements with the intent of taking down the little ruin, but the interest

attached to it having been brought to his notice, he has conceded that in consideration of the sum of £100 the chapel and a sufficient quantity of land, about 500 yards in extent, shall be given up, provided the building be restored to its original use, and that services will be resumed and maintained. The Vicars of Wigginton and Tamworth are willing that services should be revived as far as practicable, and would rejoice if the little building is saved, and a resumption of its original purposes brought about.

In addition to the cost of the site and building, the expense of restoration will have to be met; but the amount of this will, of course, depend on the character of the work carried out. The whole reason and aim of this proposal would be negatived if any course were adopted not of the strictest conservative kind, for it is the preservation of every possible tittle of what remains of the old building that alone is sought for, and therefore nothing more than simple repair and reinstatement should be attempted. At the same time it must be brought up to a due fitness for church attendance, and this will involve considerable outlay. The chancel-roof will require reinstating, and the nave roof repairing generally. The walls will require making good where taken down, and repairing throughout, and the west wall externally repairing, being now of a single brick only in thickness. The internal plastering will require to be made good, and also the floor throughout. The reinstatement of the chancel-arch would be desirable, but not an actual necessity. Doors and windows will have to be provided. Altogether, the cost of purchase and restoration will amount to £350. For this sum an ancient Staffordshire relic of Norman and later times would be preserved, and the church's services revived in a consecrated fabric, desecrated for many years past.