In the chancel is a mural monument of black and white mar ble, with the following inscription: "In memory of RALPH BRADLEY, ESQ. an eminent Counsellor at Law, born in this parish, who bequeathed a large fortune, acquired in a great measure by his abilities and integrity, to the purchasing of books calculated to promote the interests of virtue and religion, and the hap piness of mankind. He died December 28, 1788, in the seventysecond year of his age." In consequence of the indefinite manner of the bequest, and the execution of it being left to the Court of Chancery, it was set aside by a decree of that court, August the second, 1791, in favor of the next of kin. The property intended to have been thus applied, amounted to above 40,0001. The number of inhabitants in Greatham township, according to the return under the population act, 1801, is 484; of which 226 are males, and 258 females. GREATHAM HOSPITAL adjoins the village of Greatham, a little to the west, and was founded by Robert de Stichill, Bishop of Durham, in the year 1272; the lands he appropriated to this purpose being a part of the forfeitures of the Montford family, in the reign of Henry the Third. Some difference of opinion has arisen among antiquaries on the subject of this foundation. Grose mistakes the date of the foundation, as well as the name of the founder. Dugdale does the same. Hutchinson says, "the Earl of Leicester, or Peter de Montfort, his son, was possessed of the manor of Greatham."+ Peter de Montfort was undoubtedly the possessor, but he was not Simon's son, but his cousin. As this has not been before investigated, we offer the following observations. A short time before the celebrated battle of Lewes, the King laid siege to Northampton, where fifteen Barons and sixty Knights were made prisoners. Among the persons of note enumerated on this occasion by Rishanger, the continuator of Matthew Paris, is Peter de Montfort. Matthew of Westminster calls him Peter de Montfort, Jun. and Tindal's note on Rapin (from Wikes, p. 60, The words of his Will. History of Durham, Vol. I. p. 217. 60, and Heminford, p. 582) styles him Peter de Montfort, the Earl's cousin. Had he been Simon's son, the addition junior could not have been used. At the battle of Evesham, the celebrated Simon, Earl of Leicester, lost his life; and at the same time Henry his son, Peter de Montfort, and many others who fought. on the same side, were slain. Edward, the King's son, gave orders to the Monks of Evesham, that the bodies of the dead should be decently interred; but he confined his own attentions to that of Henry, and assisted personally at his exequies; (Rishanger.) The remains of Simon were shamefully mutilated; his head was sent by Roger de Mortimer, as a signal of victory, to his wife; his body was interred with that of his son in the Abbey of Evesham, No particular distinction was paid to the remains of Peter. Amongst the names of the illustrious persons taken prisoners or wounded in this battle, we find “ Guy de Montfort, son of the Earl, Peter de Montfort, Jun. &c." (Matthew of Westminster.) Thus both father and son were engaged in the same cause; one lost his life, the other his liberty and lands; and, without all doubt, the latter is the person whose name occurs in the original deed of the foundation of Greatham Hospital. The Manor of Greatham thus forfeited, being part of the property, as the deed recites, of "Peter de Montfort, the King's enemy," Henry gave to his faithful and well-beloved Thomas de Clare. But the King discovering that the privileges of the palatinate of Durham prevented the confirmation of this grant, he soon afterwards executed a deed of revocation, in which he allows, in their full extent, all the jura regalia of the Bishops of Durham. It might have been imagined, that the Bishop, upon this, would have taken possession of the forfeited lands immediately. Perhaps he did so. But the next deed we meet with, is a grant of Peter de Montfort to Robert de Stichill, of the lands in question. From the names of the witnesses to the deed, it appears to have been executed within the palatinate; and cheerfully resigned by Peter to the Bishop, (perhaps he made a virtue of a necessity,) in conformity with his intention to found an Hospital. That this was the case, is rendered still more apparent, by his calling it in the deed, a confirmation, as well as a gift and a grant.* Robert de Stichill, knowing that no comforts equalled those of religion in rocking the cradle of declining age, united with his charitable foundation a religious establishment, and enjoined that the members of his Hospital should live together according to the habits of the times in the manner of Monks, (more monachorum;) that they should live in one house, and mess at one table; and that they should consist of one Master, five Priests, and forty poor persons. This Hospital was dedicated to God, St. Mary, and St. Cuthbert. The foundation and grant of Bishop Stichill were confirmed by the Edwards Third and Fourth: the latter granted the master and brethren a weekly market and two annual fairs. In the time of James the First, this Hospital was re-founded, and a new charter granted, dated 20th July, 1610. It is there called the Hospital of God in Gretham: the five priests of course were not re-established, and the number of brethren was reduced to thirteen. The establishment at present consists of one Master, (who is a layman,) one Chaplain, six Brethren, maintained wholly in the Hospital, six out Pensioners, and one Bailiff of the Manor. Besides the maintenance and pensions of the brethren, a certain quantity * Wharton, from Rob. de Graystanes, in the Anglia Sacra, p. 742, sets forth, "nam ipsam villam episcopus emerat a quodam Bertramo cognomine." In the list of Knights from Durham at the battle of Lewes, 1264, we find Sir Robert (or Roger) Bertram de Gretham. See Hutchinson, Vol. I. 218. In answer to this, it may be said, the Bishop could not purchase the lands of Bertram, because they were not then in his possession. The grant itself is a proof of this. When Northampton was taken by the King's troops, Roger Bertram was made a prisoner at the same time with Peter de Montfort. As he was in arms against the King, he might probably be liberated by the successful rebellion of the Earl of Leicester; and if a conjecture may be made in a case of uncertainty, he might sell his lands to his fellow prisoner Peter; or, which is more likely, he might die (and Peter might purchase them) in the intermediate space between the battles of Lewes and Evesham. This conjecture is founded on the cir cumstance, that though his name is mentioned at the former period, it is alto gether omitted at the latter, notwithstanding the names of the principal persons on both sides are recorded in history. quantity of dough, ready prepared for the oven, is distributed monthly to poor persons of the village. The original buildings of the Hospital are now no more. They formed a quadrangle, or at least three sides of one, a little to the north and west of the parish Church. An excavation in the ground, surrounded by a line of trees, marks the situation of the ancient dormitory, and other necessary buildings. The habitation. of the brethren has been taken down during the last year, 1803, and another, on an elegant plan, drawn by Jeffrey Wyat, is erecting at the sole expence of the Earl of Bridgewater, the present Master. The building lately removed was in a very decayed state, and consisted of two rows of arches, supported by octagonal pillars, built up both on the north and south sides, with a small porch in front, as if it had formed the middle aisle of a Church.* The Lodge, or Mansion-House of the Master, is pleasantly situated in a garden surrounded by trees, and commanding a fine view of the river Tees, and the Cleveland hills. Over the door is the following inscription, under the arms of Mr. Parkhurst, one of the former masters. "Edificium hoc extrui curavit Et comitatus Palatini Dunelmensis Cancellarius Temporalis. Within the garden, on a rising ground to the left, is the Chapel of the Hospital, rebuilt also by the present Master in the year 1788. It occupies the chancel part of the old chapel; and contains the two following inscriptions, preserved in the demolition of the ancient building. Orate pro animabus Nicholai Hulme, Johannis Kelyng, et Willelmi * This alteration appears to have taken place when the hospital was re-founded by James the First. This is in the black letter. The following, in the Saxon character, is inscribed on the brass edging of a tomb-stone. Hic jacet Magister Wilelmus de Middiltoun sacre pagine doctor quondam custos domus istius, orate pro eo.-* The brethren of this Hopital are celebrated for their longevity. The ages of the six brethren last year were as follows: 96, 82, 82, 80, 80, 63. Total number of years 483. The Rev. James Horseman, Chaplain of the Hospital, and Vicar of the parish, died in the year 1790, aged 88, having filled those offices during 60 years. Dormer Parkhurst, L. L. B. and his father, John Parkhurst, L. L. B. having enjoyed the mastership of Greatham Hospital from the year 1676 to 1764, (S8 years,) the latter built, at his own expence, and endowed an Hospital in the same village for six poor females, in the year 1761, who shall be widows, or unmarried, and upwards of fifty years of age, settled in, or belonging to, the town of Greatham, if fit objects of charity. If no woman in Greatham be found of this description, then to be elected from some town or place in the neighbourhood. Six neat apartments of brick, with a small garden annexed to each, are appropriated to this purpose. The endowment consists of lands situated in the parish of Stockton, the rents of which are thus applied, viz. 41. 16s. Od. a-piece by twelve monthly payments; 4s. at Christmas; 2s. at Easter; and 2s. at Whitsuntide; on the first day of October, a gown ready made, to be all of the same color, and decent; a reasonable and sufficient quantity of coals and fuel; and when any are visited with sickness, or incapable of taking care of themselves, a fit person of their own sex is to be employed and paid for attending them. The women to keep their apartments clean and neat, and be quiet and peaceable in their behaviour, and constantly attend divine service in the church and chapel. The residue of the funds of this Hospital, if any, to place out poor boys belonging to the town of Greatham, apprentices to William de Middilton was Master from 1312 to 1351. such |