Wymondham

Extract from White's Leicester and Rutland Directory 1877

WYMONDHAM, a considerable and well-built village, is pleasantly situated 7 miles E, of Melton Mowbray, and N. of Oakham, on the banks of one of the rivulets which contribute to the formation of the river Eye. Its parish, which is in Framland Hundred, Melton Mowbray Union and County Court District, had 624 inhabitants in 1821 and 851 in 1861, but only 776 in 1871, and comprises 2852 acres of fertile land, mostly clay and partly a red loam. The Countess of Harborough is lady of the manor, but a great part of the soil belongs to the Earl of Dysart, the executors of the late Dr. Day, and W. J. Blake and William Day, Esqrs. In 1086 Ansfrid held, under Robert de Buci, 34 carucates, with one plough in the demesne; and here were 5 villans, 4 socmen, and 2 bordars, with 2 ploughs; and 30 acres of meadow. The manor was afterwards held by the Earls of Lancaster, and in 1403 it was held by Roger le Scrope. Henry Berkeley sold it in 1630 to the Sedleys, who sold it to the Tuftons, of whom it was purchased by Sir Richard Ellys. By marriage it passed to the Earl of Buckinghamshire, who sold it in 1770 to the Earl of Harborough. The CHURCH (St. Peter) is a large and handsome structure, consisting of a nave, chancel, aisles, transepts, and south porch, with a fine square tower rising from the west end, and crowned by a lofty spire. In the tower, which was restored in 1868, is a good clock and an excellent peal of six bells. At the same time the gallery was removed, the west arch with the lower part of the tower opened to the church, and a good organ placed the south transept. The money for these improvements was raised by a rate. The chancel was restored a cost of over £300, mostly borrowed on the living from Q.A.B., in 1867, when it was newly roofed and fitted with carved oak stalls. In 1873 the nave, aisle, and transepts were re-floored and newly seated, at an outlay of £435, raised by subscription, through the exertions of the rector and the sons of the late rector, the Rev. J. Bacon, in memory of their father. The church contains a chalice, 71/2 inches high, hearing the hall mark of 1568. There was a chantry in the church, endowed with £4 12s. 4d. per annum. The rectory, valued in KB. at £12, and now at £579 lOs. per annum, has 59A. 12P. of glebe, and the tithes have been commuted for £440 15s. per annum. The Bishop of Peterborough is patron, and the Rev. J. M. Byng, B.A., is incumbent, and has a handsome rectory house, built in 1829, near the site of the old one. The parish feast is on the Sunday after Old St. Peter's day. Here is an INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, built in 1840, at the cost of £800, including the minister's house. The FREE SCHOOL, a stone building adjoining the church-yard, was founded in 1637, by Sir John Sedley, who left £400 to be laid out in land, for the support of a school-master, to be nominated by his heirs. 'The land, &c., purchased with this legacy, in the parish of Melton Mowbray, was exchanged at the enclosure in 1761, and consisted of 70 acres, and a yearly rent-charge of £3, out of the Bell Hotel. By the sale of this land the income of the school has been greatly increased. After providing for the erection of the new buildings, &c., the annual value will be about £300. A new scheme for the management of the school has been issued by the Charity Commissioners, and it provides that there shall be eight governors, who shall provide school accommodation for forty day scholars and ten boarders, and a residence for the head master; that the yearly salary of the head master shall be £120; that the governors shall apply not less than £15 yearly in maintaining scholarships tenable at the school; that ten per cent of the boys shall be foundation scholars, free; and that there shall be a Repairs and Improvements Fund. A Wesleyan Chapel, built here in 1841, was purchased by Dr. Day, and is now a school for girls and infants. The mistress has the interest of £500, left in 1850, by the late Mrs. Anne Day, and the children's pence. The poor ought to have the interest of £50, left by Robert Hurst, in 1789, but it has been lost.

POST and MONEY ORDER OFFICE and SAVINGS' BANK at Mr. William Payne's. Letters are received at 8.15 a.m., and despatched at 4.15 p.m., viâ Oakham.

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