Old Images of Scampton, Lincolnshire

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In the early days of the nineteenth century there was a revival of interest regarding the Roman remains. Among the numerous books published about them was one entitled: “A Topographical Account of the Parish of Scampton in the County of Lincoln, and of the Roman Antiquities Lately Discovered There; Together with Anecdotes of the Family of Bowles. By the Rev. Cayley Ulingworth, Archdeacon of Stow, and Rector of Scampton and Epworth in the County of Lincoln.” This book was published in London in 1810, and the following extracts from it form that part of the book which treats of the Bowles family:

Scampton the etymology of which is from the Saxon words “seen,” splendid, and “ton,” town, is situated about five miles north of Lincoln. The village and church are situated about the middle of the lordship. In the year 1796 some workmen digging for stone in a field southeast of the village, and north of Tillbridge lane, were observed to turn up several red tiles, which on inspection Mr. Illingworth conceived to be Roman. This discovery led him to explore the adjacent ground. The result was that the foundations of nearly a whole Roman villa were traced and accurately examined, and the situation of the place, the nature of the walls, the dimensims of some apartments, the number and beauty of the tesselated pavements and the regular plan of the whole, leave little doubt of its having been a villa of great distinction and elegance.

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Scampton Hall was situated in the midst of a small park, where yet remains a magnificent stone gateway (plate i), erected about the reign of James I and doubtless contemporary with the hall itself. The elegance of this gateway and the ruins of the walls which encircle the courtyard, the garden and the bowling green, bespeak the splendor of the mansion that once enlivened this spot. Passing, however, beneath the arch, scarcely a vestige of it can be discovered, save some old walls now incorporated into those of a farmhouse lately erected on its ruins.

There was a church here as early as the reign of the Confessor. The present one, a small stone structure, consists of a nave and chancel separated by a raised step in the floor, and an ancient arch; at the west end is a square, embattled tower. To the old church, erected about the reign of Edward III., there belong a rich pulpit cloth of Genoa velvet with a deep fringe of gold and the name of Sir John Bowles, baronet, embroidered thereon, a pulpit cushion, altar cloth, and cushion of the same. The elegance of these ornaments is scarcely surpassed by those of any parish church in England. They were the gift of Sir John Bowles, baronet, in 1700, who had previously given to this church a silver chalice and plate. [Plate 2]

In the chancel on the north side of the altar is the family vault of the first Sir John Bowles, baronet. On the north wall of the chancel, over the vault, remain affixed two brass plates, with inscriptions to the memory of Sir John Bowles, baronet, and Lady Katherine, his wife. [Plate 3.]

The old parsonage, situated about 100 yards eastward of the church, built of stone and covered with

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thatch, was of considerable antiquity, and ill-suited to the conveniency of modern times. In 1752 it was taken down, and a convenient stone house, with suitable offices, erected a few yards to the east of it. [Plate 4].

The only name yet discovered of any owner of this estate anterior to the conquest is that of Ulf Feniso. The family of De Gaunt, who from the conquest became lords of Scampton, held it for a considerable time in capite of the crown. They were great benefactors to many religious houses, and endowed several of them with possessions in Scampton. The first of this family, Gilbert de Gaunt, nephew to the Conqueror, and who came with him into England, was at the time of the survey in 1088 possessed of 113 manors in the county of Lincoln. The lordship of Scampton was conferred on him by his uncle for assistance rendered at the battle of Hastings.

Thomas Lawrence, esquire, in 1590, alienated the manor and lands to Sir John Hart, knight, then lord mayor of London. This gentleman twice represented the city of London in Parliament in the 35th and 39th years of Elizabeth. He was twice married, and had issue two daughters. The eldest, Jane, was married to Sir George Bowles, knight and alderman, afterwards Lord Mayor of London. Shortly before his death Sir John Hart made a settlement of his manor and lands at Scampton, with the advowson thereof, on Sir George and Lady Bowles and their issue.

Sir George Bowles, who became entitled to Scampton under this settlement, was descended from a very ancient family which had been resident in Lincolnshire as early as Henry III. In the reign of Ed-

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ward II they were tenants, in capite of the crown, of lands in Coningsby, parcel of the manor of Scrivelsby. They had at the same time large possessions at Swineshead, which they held of the Earl of Richmond by knight service.

…….

Sir George Bowles, a descendant of the younger branch, and lord of the manor of Scampton, was also a member of the Grocer’s Company, served the office of Sheriff of London in 1608, and that of Lord Mayor in

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1617, the duties of which office he discharged with a rigid impartiality, making no distinction between the sovereign and the citizen. A memorable instance of this is thus recorded: ‘King James not only commanded his book of sports to be published, but affected to give example to his subjects by putting the Lord’s day to the same use he enjoined by his book, and it was observed that his carriages commonly sat out on a Sunday when he removed from one place to another. Thus they passed through London soon after the declaration was made on a Sabbath day in time of divine service and making a great clatter and noise. The Lord Mayor, Sir George Bowles, commanded them to be stopped. The officers belonging to the carriages returned immediately to the court and complained to the king of this violence. Upon hearing which his majesty in a great rage swore: “he thought there had been no more kings in England but himself.” However, having cooled upon it a little, he signed a warrant to the Lord Mayor Bowles to let them pass, which he obeyed with this answer: ‘Whilst it was in my power I did my duty; but that being taken away by a higher power, it is my duty to obey.’ This answer being told to the king, he was so touched by it that he sent to Lord Mayor Bowles his thanks for it. King James shortly afterward conferred en him the honor of knighthood.’

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A manuscript copy of this Roll was secured from the original by the Hon. Spotswood Bowles, Ahern House, Conna, county Cork, Ireland, and by him transmitted to Mr. Samuel Bowies, of Springfield, Mass., accompanying it with the following letter:

“Springfield, Conna, co. Cork. Sept. I, 1891.
MR. SAMUEL BOWLES,
Springfield, Mass.

I now send you a most authentic pedigree of the Bowles Family, compiled after years of research by Mr. George Bowles, of London, with a few additions by myself concerning the North Aston family. This Roll is indeed a wonderful production, and far surpasses Illingworth’s Bowles Roll in the Book of Scampton, 1808.

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SIR JOHN BOWLES, Baronet, of Scampton, Sheriff of Lincoln in 1627, died March 8, 1648, aged 67. He married Katherine, eldest daughter of Thomas Conyers, of North Brodham, Notts. She died September 20, 1644. She bore three sons.

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SIR JOHN BOWLES, Baronet, of Scampton and Gray’s Inn, married (i) Elizabeth, daughter of John Pynsent, Esq.; {2) Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Vincent Corbet, Baronet, of Merton Corbet. Elizabeth, his second wife, bore two sons, John, afterwards knighted, and Henry, buried April 8, 1671, and two daughters, Elizabeth, buried April 9, 1679, and Sarah, heiress of her brother Sir John. Sarah died at Shrewsbury November 7, 1746, unmarried.