White Parish Church & Brickworth in Wiltshire

Conducting some research into the Eyre family of Wiltshire, as mentioned in Uncle Hampden's travelogue of 1934 where we learn that he visited Brickworth and the church at White Parish, we can see that both are still standing today.



The small town of Whiteparish is situated along the A-27 roadway, south of Salisbury. Their web site boasts a population of near 1,500 residents.

Within Whiteparish there are two churches - a methodist and All Saint's Church - which I believe to be a Church of England (pictured to the left). Let us focus on the All Saint's Church, which we have learned was the family church of the Eyre's of Wiltshire!

This church was first built c. 1190 - but has experienced substantial repair and remodel over the centuries since then!

The Wiltshire County Council web site tells us a great deal about this church( http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getchurch.php?id=706 ) :
Remains of the early church can be seen in the Norman priest's doorway and other pieces of stonework that have been reset in the church. The church was later re-modelled in the Early English period. The north aisle is 13th century, as is the altered chancel arch, while the south aisle is partly 14th century.
Improvements had been made to the interior in 1853 there was a major restoration by William Butterfield in 1870, and externally the church now appears to be all Victorian. It is in limestone and flint chequers with a shingled bell turret under a steep pyramid roof. In 1969 a polygonal vestry was built concealing the Norman priest's doorway.

The original church was built by the Saxons.

What I found to be quite interesting about this church, and others in England also, were the various monuments to the Eyre family. In a published brochure for the church, there is mention of "one of the most fascinating" monuments "on the West Wall, to the right of the West door". This particular 'monument' is regarding "GYLES EYRE", and it reads:

"Buried here Gyles Eyre Efq. and Jane his

wife. A man much opprefsed by publick power

for his laudable oppofition to the meafures

taken in the Reigns of James and Charles the

firft. In the year 1640 (for then well

known court reafons) He was * * * * was

afterwards plundered at Brickworth by the

King's Soldiers of 2000. value and imprifoned

for refufing to pay the sum of 400 illegally

demanded of him by two inftruments under the

privy Seal bearing date at Oxford 14: Feb:

1643. He was Bapt: Feb. 1579 dyed Jan:

1655: having ifsue 7 sons (3 of whom were

likewife members of Parliament) and

4 Daughters"

In the brochure available in the church, the 'mystery' of the astericks was solved in 1992 when an American descendant of the family sent a copy of the original inscription without asterisks. "This showed that, to the family's shame, Gyles Eyre was publicly flogged!"

To my enjoyment there were other 'monuments' to the Eyre family inside the church. Not in any order they follow. . . . .

This 'monument' seems to tell us that the bodies of James and his wife are buried on the Church grounds. I looked at all of the head stones but could not locate theirs - the oldest legible headstone was about 1740 or so, yet I was unable to locate theirs. There were several which were badly weather worn.

This monument is interesting inasmuch as it appears to demonstrate that the Brickworth property was still in the family over a hundred and fifty years after Gyles Eyre!

This monument appears to be an engraved marble marker which was mounted on a wall inside of the church.

The following monument is telling us that the wife of Gyles Eyre - Dorothy Eyre, daughter of John Ryves of Ranston in the County of Dorset - is buried at the church. It also tells us that Gyles Eyre was a barrister of Lincoln's Inn.

And there is a 'monument' telling us that the remains of Jane, daughter of John Eyre, and "relict" of Samuel ORR Esq., are buried. This marker is quite legible and was also mounted on a wall inside of the church.

The marker above reads:

"Near this place

are deposited the remains of

Jane

Relict of Samuel Orr, Esq. **

and eldest daughter of

John Eyre Esq.

of Landford House of this County

Having exemplified a Christian's Faith

By a Christian's practice

She died February Vth MDCCCXXVI

Aged LXXV

This Tribute

To the memory of an affectionate relative

is dedicated by her Nephew

Henry Eyre Esq.

Of Botleigh Grange

Hants"