St. Nicholas Church, Hintlesham
St. Nicholas church dates to the eleventh century and possibly earlier. It may have been founded by Archbishop Stigand, who held the manor of Hintlesham prior to the Conquest of 1066. It was Stigand who officiated at the coronation of William the Conqueror, although he was quickly replaced by a Norman Archbishop. St Nicholas was the church used by the Timperleys of Hintlesham, at least until the foundation of the church of England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). Within the church are several monuments to the Timperley's of Hintlesham, who resided at Hintlesham Hall from 1454 until 1720. One of the most striking is the monument to Thomas and Nicholas Tymperley and their families. This monument sits on the south side of the chancel within the communion rails and was likely errected sometime between 1612 and 1624.
The inscriptions reads as follows (translated by Kenneth Baker )
(Left side) "Here lie Thomas Tymperley esquire who died on 14 January 1593 and Audrey his wife the first daughter of Nicholas Hare and Katherine his wife." They are depicted with their one son Nicholas and nine daughters. Nicholas Hare was a Knight and Master of the Rolls. His wife Katherine died in 1558.
(Right side) "Here lie Nicholas Tymperley esquire who died... and Anna his wife daughter and heir of William Markham Esquire". They are depicted with their six sons and eight daughters.
Apparently, Nicholas erected this monument as a tribute to his parents and their
children on the left, and to his own wife and children on the right. The monument seems to
have been damaged and restored on at least one occasion. Additionally, the monument blocks
an arched recess, which was discovered in 1988 when the monument was dismantled for
repair. Could it be that the recess originally held a tomb, of which the two remaining
panels made up either end? This would fit well with the enscriptions.
An artist visting in 1816 recorded details of the monument that no longer exist, and
strangely, some details were seemingly added. The coat of arms, centered above the
monument was at one time different than it appears today. Also, the gold letters above
each figure were enlarged or perhaps even an entirely new segment with the gold lettering
was added, since the stone has a seam and the grain no longer matches..
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Across the sanctuary, facing the monument to Thomas and Nicholas
Tymperley, is the monument to Captain Timperley, son of Nicholas. This stone, now fastened
to the wall, was originally part of a table on the floor of the chancel. Sometime around
the year 1824 it was mounted on the wall near the Vestry door. The monument is about six
feet in height and made of Tournai Marble, a very rare blue-black basalt which comes from
the banks of the river Scheldt near Tournai, Hainault in Belgium. The inscription reads: Here lieth interred the body of Captain John Timperley Esq. the son of Nicholas Timperley of the county of Suffolk Esquire. Who departed this life the 28th day of January A Dni 1629. He married the daughter of Richard Poovre of Bletchington in the County of Oxford Esquire whose pious memory his loving wife caused this memorial to. Too little to express either his desert or her affection. Let others tombs which the glad heirs [?] |
The oldest memorial is probably the large stone in the center of the chancel (now under the carpet). According to early historians it commemorated John Timperley and Margaret his wife, who died in the mid fifteenth century. The original brasses have been removed but the arms and the two figures on the stone were describe and illustrated in Randle Holme's Cheshire Collections and Harleian Manuscript 2129 folio 123 B and by David Elisha Davy in MS. Add. 19105 ff. 26-46, following his visits to the church in 1805-1829. Davy also adds "This, no doubt, is the stone which included the inscription mentioned by Weever, to the memory of John Timperley and Margaret his wife, but all the brasses had been removed by 1828". An original Court Roll clearly indicates that Margaret Pettistree, daughter and heir of William Pettistree of Sutton, Nr. Woodbridge, was the wife of John Timperley in the 11th year of the reign of Henry VI (1433).
Another Timperley stone can be seen towards the Eastern end of the center aisle of the Nave (now under carpet). The brasses of the figure and heraldic shields are missing, but the stone appears to be that of William Timperley, who died in 1528. This stone is described and illustrated in Harlien Manuscript 2129, folio 123 B
There is still a stone in the church that seems very much to be the one described by J.Weever, Ancient Funeral Monuments (1767 ed.) pp. 499-500. (The 1st ed. is of 1630, with a different pagination. So these notes were made before 1630):- In the middle of the chancel a fair blue marble stone, thereon in brass the proportions of a man in complete armor, under his head a helmet, thereon a wreath his crest. And on his left hand the portrait of a woman in brass, a little hound lying at her feet. Under both these this inscription;
Hic iacent venerabilis vir Johannes Timperley, arminger, heres at dominus de Hyntylsham, Hargareta vxor eius. Qui quidem Johannes obijt...die mensis...anno domini M.cccc. Quorum animabus propitietur altissimus.
Translation: "Here lies a venerable man, John Tymperley, esquire, heir and lord of Hintlesham, [and] Margaret his wife. Wich John died the ..day of the monthe of...in the year of our Lord 14... On whose souls may the Most High have mercy." "Hargareta" is obviosly a misprint. The date could be read 1400, but I feel sure it is simply incomplete. It is probably the John who died in the 1460s; he is thought to have come to Suffolk from from Cheshire, following his master the Duke of Norfolkk; his wife was Margaret (the is evidence that this was Margaret Pettestree); he was MP four times between 1445 and 1481. I do not undestand the word "heir" since he apparently bought Hintlesham in 1454. (This information is from the History of Parliament).
"Further church notes (Davy. British Library. Ms. Add. 19105, ff.26-46) Taken Sept. 24. 1824."
"Since I was last here (1805) great attention in consequence of a thorough repair have been made in the internal appearance of the church. The table monument to the memory of Captain Timperley, has been entirely removed, and the slab which contained it iis fixed into the wall on the north side of the church near the vestry door. (As you saw when you visited and took photographs)
The monument on the south wall within the Communion rails has been repaired and newly painted and gilded, as has also that against the north wall.
In the centre of the chancel lies a very large stone, about 8ft by 4ft, which was formerly mounted with brasses.......the brasses have all been taken away, but the clerk (Vicar) knows nothing of them, nor is he able to remember having seen them.
There is no doubt the stone which contained the inscription mentioned by Weever to the memory of John Timperkey Esq. and Margaret his wife. He died in 1400, "
Reyce "The Breviary of Suffolk" by Roberyt Reyce, the date should be1618, and the Editor, Lord Francis Hervey, 1902
An interpretation of the arms at one time displayed in the church and described by Robert Reyce in his "The Breviary of Suffolk" 1618, edited by Lord Francis Hervey, 1902, is as follows: Timperley, impaling Pettestree. Strangeman, impaling Timperley. Doyly, impaling Timperley. Timperlery, impaling Clayton. Rokewoode, impaling Timperley. Timperley, impaling Hare and Bassingbourne. Playter, impaling Timperley. Green, impaling Timperley. Fuller, impaling Timperley. Partridge, impaling Timperley. Berney, impaling Timperley. Thursbye, impaling Timperley. Beddingfielde, impaling Timperley. Barker, impaling Timperley.
The information on this page was provided by Kenneth Baker kenvin.baker(at)virgin.net. Ken is a noted authority on the Timperley's of Hintlesham and co-author (along with his wife Marjorie) of the guide book to St.Nicholas Church, Hintlesham. I'm sure he would be happy to answer specific questions about this illustrious Timperley family.
Additional information on St. Nicolas Church can be found at this web site http://www.suffolkchurches.plus.com/hintlesham.htm (thanks to David Vesey eseybrown(at)sympatico.ca for bringing this to my attention).