ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 161 



WOOLLAND. 



MARY ARGENTON. 



Mary, daughter of Robert Williams of Herringston, wife 

 of Robert Thornhull, and then of Lewis Argenton, 1616, 

 inscription in 12 lines Eng. mural Chancel, Haines. 



Position. Mural in the South aisle. 



Size. Effigy 98in. high, by 11 Jin. broad at the base ; 

 inscription is 20 Jin. by 13in. 



Description. This curiously worded inscription described 

 above by Haines is dated 1616, but the kneeling effigy above 

 would appear to be of earlier date ; if not, the figure is a very 

 late example of its type. The Church of Woolland was 

 wholly rebuilt in 1743, " being ancient and ruinous ; " in its 

 removal further West monuments to the Thornhulls are said 

 to have suffered. Mary Williams was the second wife of 

 Robert Thornhull, and by her he had seven children ; his 

 first wife was Jane, daughter of John Tregonwell of Milton 

 Abbey Esq r " and by her he had two sons and one daughter, 

 Margaret, who married John Skerne of Bere Regis. Margaret 

 Skerne's kneeling figure* in the Chancel at Bere Regis, 1596, 

 although considerably smaller, is very similar to that of her 

 kinswoman at Woolland. 



The inscription, in Roman letters, reads as follows : - 



Here lyeth our Landladie loved of all, 



Whom Mary Argenton last wee did call, 



But formerlie Thornhull of Thornhull she hight, 



Yet sister to Williams of Heringston, Knight. 



But Thornhull did leave her in Joyncture most sure 



This Mannor of Wolland, whilst lyfe did indure ; 



The Revenew whereof she freelye did spend 



In good hospitalitie untill her lives end. 



* Page 205, 1902 Proceedings, Part I., The Ancient Memorial Brasses 

 of Dorset. 



