SMEETH

THE DOVBB EXPRESS AND BAST KENT NEW8 FHIDAY, 31 OCTOBER, 1902.
OUR VILLAGES

LXXVI.—SMEETH

Smeeth is well known as a station on the South-Eastern Railway between Westenhan-ger and Ashford, situate in the southern part of Smeeth parish, the village and the church lying 011 the hillside about a mile to the north-west.

HISTORY OF SMEETH.

This place name, which is of Saxon origin, was anciently written Smeed, but the pronunciation was the same as now. King L'ffa gave the pasture of tifty hogs 111 Smeetli to the church at Canterbury in the year 791, the Ecclesiastical authorities thereby gaining a tooting here; but the Archbishop now only retains the patronage of the living, although the Manor of Aldington, wnich was formerly the seat of the Archbishop, claims paramouutcy over the whole of this parish, its two Manors of Eve-gate and Hall being regarded as subordinate. The Manor of Evegate, formerly written Thevegate, lies to the south-west of the church. This Evegate sub-Manor, at the Conquest, was part of the possessions of Hugo de Montfort. When his grandson went into exile, Henry I. took possession, but the family of Passely soon after came m«o the estate, the Manor being held by 1 Robert de Passely, who, Matthew Paris says, ' was Treasurer of Henry III., and they continued to hold it till the 31st year of the reign of Henry VI. It. afterwards passed by marriage to Sir John Scott, of Scott’s Hall, which family held it until near the close of the 18th century, when it passed to the Honywoods. The other Manor in this parish was anciently called tihe Manor of Hall. aDparently from the fact that Scott's Hall, the seat ot it, stood on the hillside about three-quarters of a mile south-east of the church. This Manor was anciently it is supposed, a part of Evegate, for as a separate Manor there is no earlier history of it than the coming of the Scotts about the year 1420. Sir William Scott, whose family had previously settled at Brabourne, built Scott’s Hall, and being a more magnificent mansion than any other in those parts, it gave the name to the estate, which was thenceforward called the Manor of Hall. Another Sir William Scott, of the seventh generation, re-built Scott’s Hall, in the reign of Henry VIII. The Scotts continued to reside at Scott’s Hall until the year 1784, when it was conveyed with the rest of the Scott’s estates to 8ir John Honywood. Very near to Evegate. in the vicinity of Smeeth Railway station, there was a farm called Stocks. This was for many generations the property of the Lofties, originally of West-well, but who came to reside at Stocks in the reign of Charles II. The Lofties continued to own Stocks until about 1796. when they sold it to Mr. John Dunk, the Lofties having removed to Canterbury, where William Loftie was Mayor of the City in 1774. and his brother, the Rev. John Loftie, vicar of St. Dunstan’s. Evegate Mill is one of the most ancient water mills in this district, turned bv the stream of the Stour, which passes from thence towards Ashford and through the Wve gan of the North Downs to Canterbury. Smeeth was. in the vear 1338, granted a weekly market and two fairs. The fairs have since then been held on Mav 12th and September 29*h. The market was never used, and the fairs are now out of date.

THE SCOTTS AND SCOTT'S HALL.

The visitor to Smeeth who has read the annals ol the knightly family of the Scotts, naturally seeks for Scott s Hall, but all that is left of it is a mere fragment which has been converted into two cottages, one occupied by a gamekeeper. This being all that is now left of the Scotts and their famous ancestral Hall, of whom the average villager seems to know so little, a few reminiscences will be appropriate. These are the genera-| tions of the Scotts. The family was of royal Scottish descent, the first of them who settled in the neighbouring parish of Brabourne being Sir William Scott, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and Knight Marshal of England, obit 1350. Of the next iu the line, Michael Scott, nothing noteworthy is known; and of the next, William Scott, it is only recorded that he purchased property in Smeeth. Sir John Scott, son of the latter, resident at Brabourne, advanced the fortunes of the family by marrying the heiress of Combe. During the reign of Henry IV. he was Lieutenant-Governor <rf Dover Castle, and a Member of Parliament for Hvthe. Dying in 1413. John was succeeded bv his son Sir William, who built Scott's Hall. The situation which he chose for the family seat could not have been surpassed. He selected a spot on the hillside. about three-quarters of a mile eastward of the church, from whence there is a splendid view of the country and coast, from Lyminge to Dover Castle. Of the dimensions and pretensions of this first Hall there are many traditions, but as far as we know, there is nothing in the nature <,f a description left; yet it must have been an important mansion, judging from the fame of it. Sir William Scott, who represented the County of Kent in Parliament, kept his Shrievalty at it in the year 1429 He. dying in 1433. was succeeded by Ins only surviving son. Sir John Scott. He made himself famous as a statesman, was Lord Warden of the Cinaue Ports. Knight Marshall of Calais, twice Sheriff of Kent a Knight, of the Shire, making a considerable figure in Parliament, beinc appointed Comptroller of the Kine’s household and a member of the Privy Council. Edward IV. sent him as ambassador to the Duke of Burgundy and Bretange to bring back the escaped Earls of Pembroke and Richmond, for which service he received the grant of the Honour and Castle of Chilham. which had formerly been held by his ancestors, the Earls of Athol. He died in 1*85. and for him the beautiful tomb was built under the arched recrss on the north s^e of the chancel in Brabonrne Church. The seventh link in the chain was Sir WiMiam Scott, who. althoueh h<» made no ficrnre as *» sta,flsman. was « Knight of the T*»»th. Sheriff of Kent, T.ord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Constable of Dover Castle. His in-?prpst was chiefly in Coun*v and local flffnirs He rebuilt ficotts H*n from the foundations, giving it an appearance of
much grandeur, according to the style ol domestic aicunecture 01 1 nose times. Ol mis second ball there is 110 adequate description lett, but Hasted, writing ol it more than a century ago, says: "it is a very large mansion. Tue front of it eastward is modern, of brick and sashed, but the north trout, built in the reign ol King Heury V1L is very grand, and has a fine effect. lhe next two Scotts were not very eminent, fair J 01111, eldest son of William, who won some honours in fighting on the Continent under the Prince of Casuie, was a bhenlf ol Kent, and his son. Sir Reginald, was Captain of Calais. He died in 1599, and was succeeded bv Sir Thomas Scott, who was Sheriff ol Kent in 1576, and .was at the same time Knight of the 8hire m Parliament. 1“ memorable year of the Spamsh Armaaa 1588, he was appointed Commander-in-Ghief of the Kentish torces to oppose that threatened invasion. The day after he had received the Queen s letter of l,e was enabled to collect and Bend to.Dover 4000 armed men. He was much noted for his great and liberal housekeeping, which he continued for 38 years, at Scotts Hall teedhig in his house not less than ll» persons besides an extraordinary number erf visitors, notwithstanding which he increased his possessions largely. From his wise management of Romney Marsh he may he called the preserver of it, and from his contrivance at Dover Pier was called the founder of that haven So much was he beloved at he time oi his death in 1594 that the inhabitants of Ashford solicited to pay the charges of his funeral if they mightJbut have his remains deposited m their L/hurcn. He was buried at Brabourne, but. his magnificent tomb in the Scotts Chapel there was utterlv destroyed by fanatics in the Great Rebellion The eleventh link in the chain was Sir Thomas Scott, son of the former, who was Deputy Lieutenant of the County and Sheriff, but did not o'he^ise ^stingmsh himself This Thomas Scott died pinout issue? in 1617: his third brother Edward

SS- „8nY^reS a Kn,gh“ f^JBath

at !!'; Coronation of Charles T. in 1627. when he was also a Knight ofthc Shire in

yiwas succeeded bv his only son Edward: he was followed at Sc£t, HaH bv his son Georee, and George was succeeded bv his son Edward, of the fifteenth eenera-Lta in the year 1700 and d.ed at

Br;x i^mFr„n™e “

£ldSeoHs Hall t« ttoe Honevwoods about

in the "ear 1784. Sic transit gloria mundi THE FIRST LORD BRABOURNE.

e-*^ws£‘l23 sag: br srw*

RUtht Hon E. H. Knatchbull-Hugessen, wtforepresented the ancient port of S,u,d-

neither’there.”™Seas a MagWrate oi the

g& MASSE gJSWSSrt

Sover HarWry. was he in his real element. He was at heart a Literatus—in b^ magn cent library he was most at home^The writer of this sketch, in Lord Brabournes latter* days, had the pl<?“s“re

Kind'ly" iintTgeniaBy he led the way round

his library that he seemed to be in his full eniovment Except the door and spaces, the whole of the library w«s walled

SMS SUE E““fe.’P

of the £me”f life- ° He contr^a go^

deal to the Quarterlies and welj

known* ° There* i5 no'tomb of his within the

r«, landowner and Lord of the Manor.

* Smeeth is mo.

o nrottv earden beside the line, wnere

leisurely spend their time m

SJSUcSuS“8 of^he *Stour in the meadows, shaped like U.e 'vngglings

Me ™fl watered meadow, the S' wefl stocked with Bsh W ™ the sun, must havebeena ?he

dick* 3°tbe old Evegate Mill. These

Wd well watered meads gave the pansh itsname, Smeed in Saxon,Umes —

comes aeSS! from' Aldington and passing "p-ng

rls Postling ve;; » and the th

village nestles. There are seve

S,"noticeable in thffSwpect is the jillage Pt office, it seeming wi“"»

lege to structure Near the post

Hall, and the Church w

hamlet of Bidgewav »"d ®[ „ ' f Sta,Kls

the Paddnck there >s a «ry weeaid P

cuH™a"id. abundantly wood«l sm«,h are

pure air and great pleasantness.

SMEETH CHUKCH.
—one 011 the south side with a porch, one 011 the west side under the tower, and a door into the Scotts Chapel 011 the north. The fabric consists of a chancel, nave, north (Scotts) Chapel, a north aisle, and a low, comparatively modern western tower. The Church is said to have some fine Saxon arches but that which several writers have called Saxon is evidently early .Norman. The nave is lighted on the south by two windows, both modern insertions. On the north the nave has an arcade of three pointed arches, quite plain, resting 011 massive pillars. The chancel arch rests on solid piers, with engaged round shafts at the outer angle, wtj.h caps, pf acanthus leal mouldings, supporting a semi-circular arch with zig-zag enrichments, evidently Early Norman work. Over the centre of this arch, on the blank wall, is a mural tablet resting 011 a corbel, in the form of a cherubim’s head, and other emblems, over which is an inscrintion to the memory of Paul Loftie, who died 1703, and other members of the family who resided at Stocks. Through the wall at the back of the north pier of the chancel arch is a large “ squint ’’ which enables those sitting in that part of the Church to see the altar. The font, near the south door, is modern, on an ancient base. There is a round-headed door leading to the tower, which is piain on the inside of the Church', but the inside of the tower is enriched with zig-zag and billet mouldings, the bases and caps of the circular shafts being ornamented. This beautiful work was 110 doubt put there when it was an external door before the tower which now hides it was built. The north aisle has its original lancet lights. In the upper part of it is the organ. The chancel is paved with ancient tiles of geometrical pattern. The east window, a tripple lancet, is a memorial to Anna Maria, wife of the Rev. Wyndham Knatchbull, obit 1855. The reredos is of wood, the centre panels having the sacred monograms. On the south of the chancel is a very handsome stained glass window, having cartoons of St. John and St. Mary, with this inscription: “In memory of relations, 1886. E.A.S.” There are on the north side of the chancel some remains of ancient carving in the stall heads, and there is carved wainscotting in very dark wood, apparently of the Jacobean period at the back of the pulpit, and on both sides of the chancel within the altar rail. The pulpit and the canopy over it are of handsomely carved oak. A pointed arch leads from the chancel to tlie north (Scotts) chapel, and here remains the old fashioned box pews of the Scott family—one large and square for the members of the family and three behind for the servants. They are . now appropriated to the Paddock. There do not appear to be any of the Scotts of Scotts Hall, buried in this chapel, their tombs being at Brabourne, but at the back of these pews on the north wall of the 1 chapel is a large monumental tablet in memory of the two wives of Robert Scott, of Mersham. The two wives are represented in mournful attitudes standing each side of a small altar, with a poetic tribute inscribed under each. The first, Priscilla, died in 1648, aged 52, and the second, Mary, who died in 1654, according to the inscription, had previously married Richard Godfrey, of Wye, by whom she had 22 children, and, according to the quaint wording of the inscription. “ made Mrs. Honywood, of Char-1 ing, a great-grandmother of ye 5th genera-tin, who lived to see 366 issuing out of her loines.” There is also a mural memorial in the chancel to John Scott, gentleman, obit 1833. an-ed 74. and to members of his family. Also to the Rev. David Ball. 33 years rector here, obit 1823. erected by his nephew and niece, John and Sarah Scott. Outside in the east wall of the Scott Chapel is a stone quaintly inscribed: “ Heere lyeth neare ye body of Peter Holloway, servant to Sir Edward Scott, of Scott Hall, Kt. of ye Bath, his servant 30 yeeres. He died 18 Feb., 1644. above the age of 72 yeeres.” The Churchyard is rich in memorials, and near the south porch is a sundial inscribed :

“ Tempns fugit.” The grove of trees along the west front is very beautiful.