Churches of Humber

• St. Mary the Virgin - Humber

  The Church of St. Mary the Virgin was built in the 12th century, with additions in 14th century. There was much restoration work in the late 19th century.

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Restoration of Humber Church

  In November 1878 the church was re-opened after initial restoration work.

  The chancel was restored over a two year period, and then the south wall was re-built;  the open timber roof over the chancel was replaced and varnished, and the chancel re-seated with open benches of pitch pine.  New encaustic tiles were laid down, with some of the ancient and valuable tiles re-laid within the altar rails.

  A stone screen was erected between the nave and the chancel, with steps rising towards the altar.

  Outside, the chancel roof was re-tiled;  a stone cross was placed at the east end and crustiles formed the ridge.

  The north walls of the nave were crumbling, so they had to be supported from the outside.

  Mr. Thomas Wyatt of London was the architect, and J. Davies, a Leominster builder, carried out the work, and the stone used was taken from the quarry of Mr. Scarlet at Luston.

  Further Restoration of Humber Church

  A new transept was put in the north side, the gift of Captain Heygate of Buckland, and the old wooden spire was due to be replaced when funds allowed.

  Part of the west wall was taken down, and the windows were much enlarged.

  A new vestry was made out of the old belfry, and the whole of the nave was laid with encaustic tiles supplied by Messrs. Godwin of Lugwardine.

  The high backed pews were removed and replaced with pitch pin seats, and the font was given new plinths.

  There was a barrel organ in the old gallery at one time, but the Rector provided a harmonium.

  Heating was hoped for but the money wasn’t available, so a coal stove did its best until such time as funds could be raised.

  All of this work was enabled by voluntary donations, and a little help from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

   

   

   

  Memorial

  Henry Greenwood

  In loving memory of Henry Greenwood – for 24 years Headmaster of Humber School who died 17th June 1919 aged 5I. “Peace, perfect Peace”. And of his wife Cicely Ann who died 3rd October 1935 aged 75 years. “Reunited”

   

   

   

   

  

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News from the Past of Humber

• Humber News from the Past

  School news and aggressive sons

  1885 – Humber National School

  The school was said to have done extremely well – Her Majesty’s Inspector said that 92% of the children passed their standard.

  The Excellent Merit grant was obtained and the full grant for class subjects was awarded.

  The results very much reflect the efforts of the new Master, Mr. T.S. Annandale, as well as his predecessor Mr. F.H. Erye who left at Easter

  1896 – Sons Accused of Assaulting Father at Humber

  John and George Parry, labourers of Humber, aged 23 and 18,  were charged with assaulting and beating  their father George Parry.

  George Parry had gone into Leominster in order to take out a summons against his sons, and on returning home ordered them out of the house saying that he had the backing of the police.  They refused to go, and pushed him out then locked the door.

  George went round to the back door, but that too was locked so he set off to go to the police;  suddenly a gun went off behind him and he saw that his youngest son was holding the gun and assumed that he had fired at him, but he knew that here was no shot in it, only powder.

  A neighbour stated that she heard the commotion and saw an axe outside the door and the two boys were at the window……she said that George Parry asked her to go and find a policeman, but the son George said that if she did he would put out her bloody lights, and his father’s.  After that she heard the gunshot.

  It seems that the boys had been increasingly difficult since the loss of their mother, and although George Parry had tried to be both father and mother, they were aggressive and difficult to live with – hence the summons to order them out of the house.

  At the hearing, father George was a rather unwilling witness despite being in “bodily fear”.  The Bench considered that the charge of assault was proved against both boys, and said that the charge of firing a gun at their father was serious – and that it was lucky that it wasn’t loaded.

  The sentence in the end was lenient, just 14 days hard labour.

   

   

  Read More >

1885 – Humber National School

The school was said to have done extremely well – Her Majesty’s Inspector said that 92% of the children passed their standard.

The Excellent Merit grant was obtained and the full grant for class subjects was awarded.

The results very much reflect the efforts of the new Master, Mr. T.S. Annandale, as well as his predecessor Mr. F.H. Erye who left at Easter

1896 – Sons Accused of Assaulting Father at Humber

John and George Parry, labourers of Humber, aged 23 and 18,  were charged with assaulting and beating  their father George Parry.

George Parry had gone into Leominster in order to take out a summons against his sons, and on returning home ordered them out of the house saying that he had the backing of the police.  They refused to go, and pushed him out then locked the door.

George went round to the back door, but that too was locked so he set off to go to the police;  suddenly a gun went off behind him and he saw that his youngest son was holding the gun and assumed that he had fired at him, but he knew that here was no shot in it, only powder.

A neighbour stated that she heard the commotion and saw an axe outside the door and the two boys were at the window……she said that George Parry asked her to go and find a policeman, but the son George said that if she did he would put out her bloody lights, and his father’s.  After that she heard the gunshot.

It seems that the boys had been increasingly difficult since the loss of their mother, and although George Parry had tried to be both father and mother, they were aggressive and difficult to live with – hence the summons to order them out of the house.

At the hearing, father George was a rather unwilling witness despite being in “bodily fear”.  The Bench considered that the charge of assault was proved against both boys, and said that the charge of firing a gun at their father was serious – and that it was lucky that it wasn’t loaded.

The sentence in the end was lenient, just 14 days hard labour.

Restoration of Humber Church

In November 1878 the church was re-opened after initial restoration work.

The chancel was restored over a two year period, and then the south wall was re-built;  the open timber roof over the chancel was replaced and varnished, and the chancel re-seated with open benches of pitch pine.  New encaustic tiles were laid down, with some of the ancient and valuable tiles re-laid within the altar rails.

A stone screen was erected between the nave and the chancel, with steps rising towards the altar.

Outside, the chancel roof was re-tiled;  a stone cross was placed at the east end and crustiles formed the ridge.

The north walls of the nave were crumbling, so they had to be supported from the outside.

Mr. Thomas Wyatt of London was the architect, and J. Davies, a Leominster builder, carried out the work, and the stone used was taken from the quarry of Mr. Scarlet at Luston.

Further Restoration of Humber Church

A new transept was put in the north side, the gift of Captain Heygate of Buckland, and the old wooden spire was due to be replaced when funds allowed.

Part of the west wall was taken down, and the windows were much enlarged.

A new vestry was made out of the old belfry, and the whole of the nave was laid with encaustic tiles supplied by Messrs. Godwin of Lugwardine.

The high backed pews were removed and replaced with pitch pin seats, and the font was given new plinths.

There was a barrel organ in the old gallery at one time, but the Rector provided a harmonium.

Heating was hoped for but the money wasn’t available, so a coal stove did its best until such time as funds could be raised.

All of this work was enabled by voluntary donations, and a little help from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

Memorial

Henry Greenwood

In loving memory of Henry Greenwood – for 24 years Headmaster of Humber School who died 17th June 1919 aged 5I. “Peace, perfect Peace”. And of his wife Cicely Ann who died 3rd October 1935 aged 75 years. “Reunited”