Lady Of Lydlinch
THE LADY OF LYDLINCH Set into the east wall in a glazed and barred recess in which there is a 14th century urn which, at one time, held the heart of the Lady of Lydlinch. She is said to have been the Lady of the Manor of West Parley, but on her marriage was compelled by her husband to live at Lydlinch near Sherborne. She said, however, that as her heart was in West Parley during her life she wished it to go there after her death. We do not know her name but we do know that she is supposed to have endowed this church with certain glebe and tithes of her lands, except that of Dudsbury, which she reserved for Lydlinch. Tradition always stated that the heart was buried under a circular stone 5ft 2inches (15.75 cms) outside the old west wall. This was carefully excavated on the 25th May 1895 and found three feet from the surface by the Revd. R.A.Chudleigh's workmen when enlarging the chancel. The urn was filled with earth, somewhat stony at the top but mostly fine below. Eight skulls and many bones were found buried round the urn and one skull had coins in the eye-sockets. In the churchyard to the south and under a beech tree you will notice a Table Tomb with its original railings. This is in memory of Ethelbert Elliott who lived at Parley Court and was churchwarden in the mid 19th century.
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