THE DOVER EXPRESS AND EAST KENT NEWS—FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1902.

XLI.—KNOWLTON.

Knowlton is a small parish of 430 acres about three miles from Adisham railway station, and about five miles south-west from Sandwich.

SITUATION.

Beautiful for situation is Knowlton, standing on a knoll from which Hasted’s history of Kent says it takes its name and embosomed in a park which covers nearly three-quarters of the parish. The scenery is charming, and the place remarkably salubrious, for although it stands high, the woods shelter it from the bleak winds so that at all times it is a pleasant place of residence.

HISTORY, OF KNOWLTON.

In Saxon times it was written Chenolton and the lands were held by Edward, a Thane, who paid King Edward the Confessor a tribute of £4 a year. After the Conquest the Bishop of Bayeux took Knowlton as part of his possessions, and land which was taxed at one sulin was held under the Bishop by Thurstin at a rental of eight pounds. After the disgrace of Bishop Odo, William de Albineto, a Norman, had Knowlton granted to him, but the lands were sublet to a family named Pyrot, who continued at Knowlton until 1278, Henry Pyrol, of Knowlton, being the Sheriff in that year. About the year 1300, John de Sandhurst was Lord of the Manor of Knowlton; and his daughter married William de Langley, and the Langleys were the owners of Knowlton until, by marriage, it passed to Sir Edward Ringley, who resided at Knowlton, and died there in the year 1543. Leaving no issue, the estate, descended to his wife’s brother, Sir Robert Peyton, of Peyton Hall, in Suffolk. The Peytons were at Poulton for nearly two centuries from the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII. down to the reign of James II. During that time honours were showered on the Knowlton family. Sir Samuel Peyton was created a baronet in the year 1613, and his eldest son, Sir Thomas Peyton, of Knowlton, dying in the year 1684, was buried in Westminster Abbey. We have made a fruitless search in the Abbey for the tomb of Sir Thomas Peyton; but by the courtesy of one of the attendants we were shown the register where the record of his burial in the Abbey is entered. The reason why this honour was accorded to Sir Thomas Peyton, of Knowlton, is found in the record of his actions on the occasion of the Royalist rising in Kent in favour of Charles I. in the year 1648. Sir Thomas Peyton was one of the Grand Jury at the Canterbury Assizes, who, on the 11th of May in that year signed the celebrated Kentish petition asking and practically demanding that the King should be brought back to treat with the two Houses of Parliament, and that Lord Fairfax’s army should be disbanded. This petition, which started with 200 names of leading county gentlemen at Canterbury, in few days had 20,000 names affixed to it. The petition, before it was presented, was condemned Parliament as being seditious, and it was suggested that two of the petitioners should be hung in every Kentish parish. That treatment raised the ire of the Kentish Royalists, who then began to arm, and determined to march to Westminster with the petition in one hand and the sword in the other. The fleet in the Downs caught the infection, and declared for King Charles and Kent. The Royalists mustered altogether about 7,000 armed (badly armed) men; the chief command was given to Edward Hales, Esq., and the second in command was Sir Thomas Peyton, of Knowlton. It would be too long a story to here relate incidents of that rising, of the enthusiasm which stirred the men of Kent and enabled them to secure the possession of the whole county excepting Dover Castle and some Government buildings at Sheerness — and even Dover they besieged, taking possession of everything outside the Castle walls and bombarded that. Sir Thomas Peyton, however, was not with the forces before Dover; he marched with the main force towards Westminster, and was in the fierce conflicts about Rochester and Maidstone. As proof that Sir Thomas Peyton was taking an active part is the fact that when the Royalists sent a message to the Parliamentarians stating that all they asked was that a pass should be given to ten of their number to proceed to Westminster with their petition, Lord Fairfax sent the reply — a refusal — addressed to Sir Thomas Peyton. After that conciliation was thrown to the winds. General Hales replied, “We have taken up arms to defend ourselves; we invade not your right, but stand firm to secure our own.” The Parliament considered the matter, and their reply was, “That they do leave the whole business to the General.” The General, Lord Fairfax, very soon settled the business. By forced marches with disciplined and well-armed troops, he soon routed the undrilled and ill-armed Kentish men, and the Parliamentary pamphlets issued by the Government were headed. “Bloody news from Kent,” and after boasting that the Kentish men were forced back on Rochester, the Parliamentary paper adds. “The Kentishmen are but ciphers in this business. Our soldiers hope their estates will not prove ciphers.” The leaders of the routed Kentish men crossed into Essex with the intention of raising the Royalists in the Eastern counties. Eventually the great bulk of the Royalist army was surrounded at Colchester and had to surrender. A writer of that time, commenting on this struggle, wrote the epitaph of the fallen men of Kent thus, “They rose naked and solitary — stood so; and so they fell. Their defeat was rather a surprise than a conquest. They spake firm for liberty and monarchy. Let their ashes find peace for it; their memories honour; and let them that come after mend it.” Sir Thomas Peyton was not amongst those who fell at Colchester. He was taken near Bury St. Edmunds, and was brought to the House of Commons and committed on the 10th of June, just a month, less a day, after he signed the petition at Canterbury. Events moved quickly in those times; but after the suppression of the rising, the examination and punishment of those who took part dragged over two or three years. We have read some of the records penned by Milton (the poet), who was then Secretary of State, but find no record as to how Sir Thomas Peyton was dealt with, but that he suffered in his estate is pretty evident. In fact it was the estates of the leading delinquents rather than their lives that were in danger, as indicated by this reference to the Kentish Rising in one of the papers issued by the Parliament “There are some fat rats in the trap, whose estates will help to bear part of the charges.” Sir Thomas Peyton was in the prime of life when he headed the Kentish Rising, and he lived 36 years after. His funeral at Westminster Abbey was a grand but an empty honour, for his widow had not sufficient means left to keep up Knowlton, which was let to Edward Lord Wotton, and ultimately Sir Thomas’ four daughters (his only son, Thomas, having died in his life time), sold the estate to Sir John Narborough, an admiral, who was created baronet by James II. The Narborough term at Knowlton, which began auspiciously, was very brief. Sir John Narborough only lived four years after Sir Thomas Peyton, and the estate went to his eldest son, also Sir John Narborough. He was the owner of Knowlton for but 19 years, and then the Narborough line came to a sad end, Sir John Narborough and his brother James were shipwrecked with their father-in-law, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel, while with several other ships of the squadron, they were, in a voyage from Toulon, wrecked on the rocks of Scilly on October 22nd, 1707. That ended the Narborough male line, but their only sister, Elizabeth, became heir to the estate, and she marrying Thomas D’Aeth, of North Cray (afterwards created a Baronet), the D’Aeth family came in, and has retained the ownership of Knowlton until the present generation. The name Narborough too, has been kept alive, by being adopted as the Christian name of several members of the D’Aeth family. The D’Aeths were an ancient family prior to coming to Knowlton, having descended from William D’Aeth, of Dartford, who was principal of Staple Inn in the reigns of Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth, and, dying in 1590, lies buried with his two wives in Dartford Church, in which parish his descendants resided until Thomas D’Aeth, before mentioned, removed to North Cray. The pedigree of this family finds honourable mention in the Heraldic Visitation of the County of Kent. A.D. 1619, Sir Thomas D’Aeth, in taking up his residence at Knowlton, found an ancient mansion, which had been built in the latter part of the reign of Charles I, by Sir Thomas Peyton on the foundations of an older house that had been the seat of the Perots and the Langleys. The mansion, left by Sir Thomas Peyton, Sir Thomas D’Aeth almost entirely rebuilt in the year 1715. The front, the north wing, and the domestic offices were rebuilt, but on the south side part of the old building remains, with the arms of Peyton on a chimney piece.

KNOWLTON OF TO-DAY.

We have already spoken of Knowlton as a parish, but the village of Knowlton exists only by courtesy. There is the church on the north-east side of the mansion — Hasted writing of Knowlton a hundred years ago, says, “At the back of the mansion is the Church and parsonage house. Besides those two houses there is only one more, a farm house, in the parish.” Since then there has been very little change. Approached from the west, the park and grounds are extensive, and the farm buildings are well kept up. The finely wooded park in front, and coppice wood in the rear, shelter the place on nearly all sides. From the front of the mansion there is an extensive prospect of the country towards the sea, and of the English Channel.

KNOWLTON CHURCH.

Knowlton Church, dedicated to St. Clement, is a long narrow structure, consisting of a nave and chancel, the nave being comparatively short and the chancel unusually long. It is in a perfect state of repair, and beautifully ornamented, having more the resemblance of a private chapel than of a parish church. There is nothing definite about the architecture to indicate its age, but there is no doubt it was originally built late in the 13th or early in the 14th Century. This Church is an embodiment of the memorials of the families who; have centuries after centuries occupied the adjoining mansion. Probably it was built by the Pyrots, as their arms, together with those of their successors, the Langleys, are on the ancient font, and in some of the windows. All the windows are stained glass memorials, and there are many mural slabs and brasses, and on either side of the chancel are very fine marble altar tombs. The windows of the nave are memorials of the D’Aeth family. The south window is a very handsome window in three compartments, (1) The Good Samaritan, (2) Christ Stilling the Tempest, and (3) Christ Walking on the Sea. Underneath is the following inscription, “In Mem. E.H.H.D. obit 1855.” The north window of the nave has but one subject, “Christ at the Well of Samaria,” with a broad margin of ornamentation. On a brass underneath it is the following inscription, “To the glory of God and in most dearly beloved memory of my husband, George William, 3rd son of Admiral Hughes D’Aeth, of Knowlton Court; this window is placed by Sarah D. Hughes D’Aeth; born Ap. 13, 1825, died Dec. 18, 1866.” Over the south door is a mural tablet in Latin to the memory of Dorothy, daughter of the last Sir Thomas Peyton, who married Sir Basil Dexwell. The chancel has the appearance of a miniature Westminster Abbey. On the north side of the chancel is a magnificent white marble altar tomb in memory of the two sons of the first Sir John Narborough, who, as before stated, were lost in the wreck of a ship of the Royal Navy. The front of the tomb is richly sculptured, representing a ship in a storm being driven on the rocks. The inscription is as follows: In memory of Sir John Narborough. Bart., and James Narborough, Esq., sons of Sir John Narborough, Kt„ Admiral of the Fleet in the reigns of Charles II, and James II., and of their entirely beloved father-in-law, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Kt., were in the reign of Queen Anne shipwrecked in the night on the rocks of Scilly, 22 Oct., 1707.” It should be Mentioned that although Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel lost his life with the two others, he was not drowned, but cast ashore, unconscious, on an island, and a native murdered and buried him for the I sake of the jewellery he wore. He was buried, some months after, in Westminster Abbey. There is a corresponding altar tomb of white marble on the south side of the chancel, inscribed, "In memory of Lady Elizabeth D’Aeth, only daughter of the famous Admiral Sir John Narborough, and sister of the two brothers mentioned on the other monument. She was the fruitful mother of 12 children by her husband, Sir Thomas D’Aeth. Bart. Died 1721." On this tomb is sculptured in the marble a medallion head representing Lady Elizabeth D’Aeth. There are two windows on each side of the chancel with stained glass. On the north side runs a brass strip engraved, “For many unmerited mercies"; and on the south side a similar strip engraved. “For many un-asked for blessings.” The Lord’s Prayer, Creed, and Commandments are beautifully written at the east end of the chancel in memory of the Rev. Cloudesley Hughes D'Aeth, 1869. The east window represents Christ, bearing the cross, and the colouring is very rich. On either side of the window are niches in which formerly stood images. On the south wall is a slab to the memory of Mrs. Hannah D’Aeth, relict of Thomas D'Aeth, Esq., Italian merchant of the City of London who until the Civil War, were of St. Charles’ Place, Dartford. On the north wall is a brass, "In loving memory of George Graham, son of Narborough Hughes D'Aeth, late Lieut, of 2nd Batt. of the East Kent Regiment, died at Fort Neade. Florida, U.S.A., 1892, aged 32 years.” Near by is a memorial for  Colonel Sir Narborough D'Aeth died 6th April, 1880 aged 59 years. On the south wall is a brass, "In loving memory of Narborongh Hughes D’Aeth, son of Admiral Hughes D’Aeth, died July, 1886, aged 64." near is a slab in memory of Edward henry, second son of Edward Henry, second son of Admiral Hughes D'Aeth, 1st Lieutenant on the ship Sidon, wounded in the trenches before Sebastopol. Died 1855, aged 31. The stained glass window in the west end has on the cill a large brass with this inscription, “To the glory of God and in loving memory of their father E. N. Hughes D’Aeth, by his loving sons and daughters. Born April 22, 1786, died April 28, 1873." On the north and south sides of the chancel near the east end, are two large mural tablets to the Peyton family, that on the north being to Sir Samuel Peyton, with a long inscription in Latin. He died in 1623, aged 33 years. That on the south is to Sir Thomas Peyton Boyes, who died 1610, aged 70 years. In the graveyard is the grave of the Rev. Edward Kissack, B.A., late rector of Chillenden-cum-Knowlton, who died in 1901, aged 64 years. As to the style of Knowlton Church it is of the Decorated and Perpendicular periods, mostly of the latter. It is built of flint and stone, and has a bell gable at the west end containing a clock and one bell. The south door has over it sculptured in stone the arms of the D’Aeth family. The seating of the church is very substantial, and the pulpit, reading desk, and clerk’s desk are of the more modern three-decker type. The font at the west end is of Caen stone and appears to be of the same age as the building. It is octagonal, and has the Pyrots’ arms engraved on it. Round the rim is “Suffer little children to come unto me,” and it has a beautifully carved oak cover rising nearly two feet above the bowl. On the south side of the chancel is a piscina. The register dates from the year 1550. The church was thoroughly restored in the year 1841. The present rector, who was inducted last week, is the Rev. S. G. H. Sargent, M.A., who is also vicar of Nonington.

POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLDERS.

The population of Knowlton, although now small, is supposed to have been much larger in ancient times. In the woods and fields hereabouts old inhabitants say there used to be many disused wells, which covered over for many years used to fall in. During the last few centuries this populous condition of the country, which is supposed to have extended right across to Adisham, has certainly not existed. In 1810 it numbered 18, in 1831 it had increased to 30,in 1841 there were 3 houses and the inhabitants numbered 27; and in 1891 the population was 36. The houses in Knowlton are fewer than a hundred years ago. There are now but two registered householders according to the electoral list now in force, namely William Herbert Peto, Esq., and Mr. Edward Jarvis, Knowlton. Strangely enough, although there were but two names to print in the register, the one is wrong, the occupier of the mansion having his name printed as Pets instead of Peto.