A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



dug up from beneath the foundations of the tower and 

 west wall of the nave. But better evidence of a 

 building is a rough fragment, possibly part of a turned 

 baluster shaft, and in the chancel, supporting a pre- 

 Reformation altar slab of Frosterley marble still in 

 use, are two turned balusters with capital and base, 

 which apparently have been dividing shafts in the 

 window of a late Saxon tower.'^ Whether these 

 latter shafts belonged to a church at Greatham 

 or were brought from elsewhere is necessarily 

 uncertain, but taken in conjunction with the 

 early fragments discovered in 1908 the evidence 

 seems to point to a pre-Conquest structure on the 

 site, restored or perhaps entirely rebuilt in the early 

 part of the 12th century. During a restoration in 

 i860 it is stated that 'the foundations of a smaller 

 church were found inside the present shell and the 

 substructure of the old chancel arch could be clearly 

 traced,'" but these remains, if still existing, are no 

 longer visible. Of the later fragments found in 

 1 90S one is a portion of a plain piscina of early 

 Norman type. 



The four western bays of the nave arcade belong 

 to the building of c. 1180-90. The arches are 

 pointed and of two orders, but differ in detail. The 

 westernmost piers on either side are octagonal, but 

 the others, including the two new piers at the east 

 end, are circular. On the north side the first, third, 

 and fifth arches from the east are of two plain cham- 

 fered orders, but the second and fourth (first and 

 third of the original work) have a double cheveron 

 moulding on the outer order towards the nave, while 

 the inner order has a roll on the angle. Towards 

 the aisle both orders are chamfered. The two original 

 cylindrical piers on the north side have circular necks 

 with octagonal abaci, the second bearing traces of 

 having had volutes at the angles, now cut away. 

 The bases follow the section of the pillars. The 

 octagonal western pier has a moulded oct.igonal capital 

 and base and the arch springs at the west end from a 

 semi-octagonal fluted corbel. On the south side the 

 arches consist of two plain chamfered orders and the 

 piers follow the design of those opposite. Built into 

 the north wall in i860 are three 12th-century frag- 

 ments, one with an indented moulding and the others 

 with star and other diaper p.itterns. 



The modern chancel has a three-light east window 

 and pointed chancel arch. The pre-Reformation altar 

 slab with its five crosses has already been referred to. 

 The reredos dates from 1880. 



The tower'* is of three stages with embattled 

 parapet and west window of three lights. It con- 

 tains two bells cast in 1837. 



The font is of the same date as the nave arcades 

 and consists of a circular bowl of Frosterley marble, 

 on a sh.ift and moulded base." The pulpit and all 

 the fittings are modern. 



The plate consists of a chalice and cover paten ot 

 I 57 I, the former with a band of leaf ornament, and 

 the latter with the date inscribed on the button** ; 

 and a chalice of 1839 inscribed ' In usum Ecclcs. St' 

 Johannis Bapt. in Greatham. D. D. — H. B. Tristram 

 olim Vicarius A.D. 1874.' There is also a plated 

 paten and flagon presented in 1842 by the Rev. John 

 Brewster, vicar, and a pewter plate. 



The registers begin in 1559. The Churchwardens' 

 Accounts extend from 171 5 to 1856. 



The churchyard was enlarged in 1887 by the 

 addition of an acre of land a little way off to the south- 

 east, given by the trustees of the hospital. In the 

 churchyard is a stone cross bearing the names of those 

 from this parish who fell in the Great War. 



The church of Greatham, which 

 JDyOlf'SON belonged in 1246 to the heir of 

 Roger Bertram,*' was granted with 

 the manor to the hospital of Greatham by Robert 

 Stichill.*^ His charter gave the master and brethren 

 the right of appropriating the church after the death 

 or resignation of Maurice the clerk, then holding it.*'' 

 A new licence for appropriation was granted by 

 Anthony Bek (l 284-1 3 I i),"'' presumably when the 

 living was vacated by Maurice. The appropriation 

 took place before 1 291.*' In 1 312 the master of 

 the hospital entered a conditional appeal against the 

 claim of some persons unnamed to present a rector to 

 the church of Greatham.*'' A vicarage was ordained 

 before 1343.*' The master and brethren of the 

 hospital have continued to exercise the patronage 

 down to the present day.*'* 



A chapel is attached to the hospital, and the vicar 

 held till 1855 theoflice of chaplain. Robert Betson, 

 'parochial chaplain,' is mentioned in a visitation of 

 1501.*' In 1594 the vicar said service at the hospital 

 twice a day and received in return his diet and a 

 yearly sum of ;^2.''' The office of chaplain was 

 abolished in 1855 and a rule was made that masters 

 were to be in holy orders." They were still per- 

 mitted to combine the two offices, which are now 

 held separately. 



A chapel at Claxton, belonging to the Prior of 

 Durham, was released between 1 23 3 and 1244 

 to Leo de Claxton for his private use. He was 

 to be at liberty to have divine service celebrated 

 there at his own cost, but was bound to attend the 

 mother church of Billingham on the four principal 

 feast days.'- This chapel was still in existence in 

 1430,''^ but is not again mentioned. Evidently 

 Claxton belonged originally to the neighbouring 

 parish of Billingham. Like Billingham, it was in the 

 original ward of Stockton, whereas Greatham was 

 part of the wapentake of Sadberge. The date when 

 it was transferred to Greatham parish is not known, 

 but the tithe corn of Claxton belonged to Greatham 

 Hospital in i 594.'^ 



" All these fragments and the balusters 

 supporting the altar slab are described 

 and figured in Arch. Ael. (Ser. 3), ii. 

 The Saxon origin of the balusters is 

 attested by Prof. Baldwin Brown. 

 They are 2 ft. 7 in. in height. The 

 fragments found in 1908 are in the 

 vestry, 



" Ibid. 



''^ Designed by Mr. C. Hodgson Fowler. 



" It is figured and described in Trait. 



Arch. Soc. Dur, and Northumb. vi, 253. 

 The bowl has been relined with lead. 



'^ The chalice is figured in Proc, Soc. 

 Anti^. Newcdsrlcy iv, 15. 



**' See above. 



"- Cal. Chart. R. I 2 57-1 300, p. 250-1. 



^'^ Ibid. Maurice was probably identical 

 with the ' Maurice called Samson ' who 

 was rector in 1255 [Cat. Papal L. i, 315). 



^* Allan, Collections relating to Greatham 

 Hospital. 



" Pope Nich. Tax. (Rec. Com.), 314. 



'^ Reg. Palat. Dunelm. (Rec. Com.), i, 

 218. ^' Ibid, iii, 451. 



s* Inst. Bks. (P.R.O.). 



^^ Bp. Barnes^ Injunc. (Surt. Soc), App. 

 xvi. 



«" r.C.H. Dur. ii, 121. 



^' Richmond, op. cit. 248. 



^- Feod. Prior. Dunelm. (Surt. Soc), 26 n. 



" Ibid. 2;. 



»< r.C.H. Dur. ii, 121. 



246 



