120 Sporting and Rural Records of the Chevelev Estate. 



Saxton Hall. About this time Will Simonds, an eccentric " lad," who had 



T,, „ . , for many years filled the once important office of turnspit at 

 1 he I urnspit s -^ -^ "^ ^ 



Epitaph. Cheveley Park, died, and was buried in Woodditton Churchyard, 

 where a tombstone was erected over his grave bearing the following 

 characteristic inscription : 



TO THE [DRIPPING PAN.] MEMORY OF 



WILLIAM SIMONDS, 



Wlio died March i, 1753. 

 Aged 80 years. 

 Here lies my corpse who was the man' 

 That loved a sop in dripping pan 

 But now believe me I am dead 

 Now here the pan stands at my head 

 Still for sop to the last I cry'd 

 But could not eat, and so I died 

 My neighbours they perhaps may laugh 

 Now they do read my epitaph. 



The dripping pan (said to be copper bottomed) is about Sin. 

 by 5in., and is let into an excavated or chiseled out part of the 

 tombstone on the apex of it between the four first words of the 

 inscription. The original stone was accidentally broken on the 

 occasion of a wedding party at Woodditton Church about twenty- 

 five years ago. It was soon after removed, and the present stone 

 substituted, in which the original dripping pan was placed ; and 

 it was re-erected at the expense of a Miss Dobito, of Wood- 

 ditton, and executed by Richard Arber, Newmarket. 



" Crockford's The notorious William Crockford was a tenant on the Cheveley 



arm. estate, and amused himself with farming on new and scientific 



principles near The Links Steeplechase Course, where his labours 

 In the role of Cincinnatus attracted numerous visitors between 

 the years 1825 and 1840. Crockford's farm has been and still 

 is celebrated for producing some of the best barley in England. 

 During this period he also ran a gaming house at Newmarket, 

 on the occasion of the race meetings there, as an adjunct of 



