reign of Edw. III. the parishioners had greatly decreased in number, and the yearly revenue having been reduced almost to nothing, the church became ruinous. Leland notices "the Chappel of St. Michaell, where sometime was a Colledge, havinge a Maister et confratres, but nowe it is taken as a Free-Chappell. The Kinge giveth it. The buildinges of the House are sore decayed[1]." Amongst the Collections in the possession of William Staunton, Esq., of Longbridge, there is a "Certificat of all Chauntryes and Hospitalls, Colleges, Free Chapells, Fraternities, &c. within the Countie of Warr', 37 Hen. VIII.," which was examined by Dugdale, who gives an account of the foundation of this hospital in the twelfth century, a list of the guardians, and states that it had fallen into a very reduced state.
East end. |
Elevation of the North side. |
Ground Plan.
The remains of St. Michael's church, after having been converted into a dwelling house and blacksmith's shop, were finally overbuilt in a row of houses, in the year 1819, and concealed from view: the point of the western gable may still be seen from the road, and the east end of the building is visible in the yard behind. The tracery in the east window has been cut away, but there are evidences which may suffice to supply a restoration: on the north side there was a small doorway, and a window of two lights. The dimensions of this little building are about 30 ft. by 17 ft., and the height within, from the floor to the ceiling, 18 ft. 6 in. The ceiling was panelled, and bosses ornamented with escutcheons covered the intersections of the framing, but no armorial bearings are now to be distinguished. It would be difficult to find a more
- ↑ Leland Itin. iv. part 2, f. 165 b.
