Beport of the Meetings fur 1895. 241 



To the east of the church,* and within the same park, stood 



" the tower of Widdrington, 

 Mother of many a valiant son," 



of which the Rev. John Horsley, writing circa 1730, says: — 



" This seat has been built at several times, for which reason it 

 wants true regularity and uniformity, which it might have had if the 

 design and building had been at once. But yet it has an agreeable 

 situation and somewhat that looks grand and magnificent." 



We have all heard of the doughty hero of Chevy Chase, 

 and of the oft quoted lines : — 



" Then bespayke a squyar of Northombarlonde, 

 Eic. Wytharyngton was his nam ; 

 It shall never be tolde in Sothe Ynglonde, he says, 

 To kyng Herry the fourth for sham. 



I wat youe byn great lordes twaw, 



I am a poor squyar of lande ; 

 I wyll never se my captayne fyght on a fylde, 



And stande myselfe and loocke on. 



For Wetharryngton my harte was wo. 



That ever he slayne shulde be ; 

 For when both his leggis were hewyne in to, 



Yet he knyled and fought on hys kny. 



Forfeited to the Crown on the attainder of the Lord 

 Widdringtonf for taking an active part in the rebellion of 

 1715, Widdrington with its territories was sold to what was 

 known as the York Buildings ComjDany, an association of 



* The Raine Testamenta contain a curious will of a gentleman 

 of the neighbourhood, who desires to be buried in the chapel of 

 Widdrington. It is dated 29th July 1616, and the testator was 

 Lancelot Ubancke of Drerige, gent. — "to be buried in the chappel of 

 Woodrington — to my son Thomas thre jacobuses — to my daughter 

 Margery one— to my son Henry one — to my master's son, Mr 

 William Widdrington, my puppy coult — my sister Annas — my wife 

 — my master Sir Henry Woodrington." Proved at Durham 18th 

 November 1616. 



t In the graveyard is a tombstone with the following M. I. : — 

 In memory of Elizabeth, wife of William Clavering, who died 

 January 27th 1811, aged 68 years. William, her husband, died 

 January 1st 1815, aged 84 years. Thomas, their son, died December 



