Attached to the south side of the chancel is a large and lofty chapel, in ancient times variously called “The Leybourne Chapel” and “The Trinity Aisle.” There is every probability that it was founded about the year 1300, by one of the Leybournes of Berwick, as a place of sepulture for the family, and was subsequently enlarged into its present form by the Drapers’ Company of the town, soon after their incorporation in 1461. In the south-east wall are three stone sedilia, with canopied arches; and on the north side of the altar, a small locker, once used for keeping the Eucharist. A fine pointed arch, in the pure style of the 14th century, communicates with the chancel through the north-east wall. Under this is an altar, tomb, (probably of SIMON DE LEYBOURNE, lord of Berwick, who died between 1300 and 1315,) [Picture: Altar-tomb, Simon de Leybourne] the sides of which are adorned with canopied niches, formerly containing figures; and on the table reclines the figure of a knight, cross-legged, and in chain armour. In this tomb the headless corpse of Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester, “ill-spirited Worcester,” who was taken prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, 1403, and beheaded, is believed to have been interred. The windows on the south side contain figures in stained glass:—commencing eastward the subjects are—St. Christopher, Count Horne, St. Catherine:—Bishop, Count Horne, St. John, St. Catherine, St. Barbara:—St. John the Baptist, Angel, Count Horne, Joseph of Arimathea, and the dead Saviour, St. Anne, Angel, Countess Horne:—Bishop, Countess Horne, St. James, with armorial bearings of the family of Horne. Several of these figures are old, the rest are modern, executed by Mr. D. Evans, after designs by P. Corbet, Esq., of this town. Underneath which is a rich Gothic monument to Master WIGRAM.
MAN KNOWETH NOT HIS TIME. AT THE WEST SIDE OF THIS CHURCHYARD ARE INTERRED THE MORTAL REMAINS OF HEATHCOTE WIGRAM, SECOND SON OF MONEY WIGRAM, ESQ. AND MARY HIS WIFE, OF WOODHOUSE, IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, HE WAS A PUPIL IN THE ROYAL FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL OF THIS TOWN AND WAS DROWNED WHILE BATHING IN THE SEVERN SEPTEMBER I, MDCCCXXXVIII, AGED XIV YEARS. THE CONDUCT OF THIS AMIABLE YOUTH HAD GREATLY ENDEARED HIM TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HIS NATURAL TALENTS IMPROVED BY SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION HAD ALREADY GIVEN PROMISE OF FUTURE EXCELLENCE WHEN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER CALLED HIM AWAY FROM THIS EARTHLY STATE OF TRIAL FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THEM THAT FEAR HIM AND HOPE IN HIS MERCY TO DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH. THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY HIS MASTERS AND SCHOOL-FELLOWS TO THE MEMORY OF HIM WHOM THEY LOVED AND LAMENTED AND FOR THE CONTINUAL ADMONITION OF THE YOUNG IN THIS CONGREGATION THAT THEY— REMEMBER NOW THEIR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THEIR YOUTH.
