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This is the Commonwealth War Grave of John Frankpitt Woolway, located in the graveyard of St. Maurice’s Church in Briningham.

John was born in around 1889 and he got married to Clara Beatrice Laycock in Colchester on 8 June 1911 and at that point he lived at 68 Paris Street in Exeter. At the 1911 census, image above, he lived at 3 Water Tower Cottages, Kirby, Frinton On Sea, Essex where he was a boarder and working as a bookstall manager.

John signed up on 9 December 1915 and at that time he still worked as a bookseller. He served in the 7th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment, soldier number 241352 and his military record is one that survives. He was stationed in the UK between 29 April 1916 and 11 September 1917 before being sent overseas with the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) from 12 September 1917 until 11 October 1918. He had a period back in the UK on leave between 12 October 1918 and 24 October 1918, before being sent back out to the BEF on 25 October 1918 and then back to the UK once more on Armistice Day, 11 November 1918. For those who like this sort of thing, the battalion’s military diaries are on-line, it’s sobering to see the officers writing down the battles and troop movements they were having, it makes it feel rather real.

John died on 26 November 1918, likely as a result of his war injuries as he’s been given a war grave. His next of kin was his widow who lived at 9 Clifton Terrace on Manchester Street in Southampton and they didn’t have any children. John’s parents were James William Woolway and Alice Woolway who at the 1891 census were both running the Post Office in Briningham. On the night of the census, John was at his grand-parent’s house down the road in Burgh Parva. This then explains why he’s buried here, he’s buried with his parents. His widow married Harold Snook in early 1920 and she was living with him in Woolwich at the 1939 register and she died in 1957.

This really is a life lost to the war. It seems likely that he might have had children if he had survived, or at least stayed with his wife for some decades to build a career and life together. Instead, she had to find someone else to live her life with, but at least John came home and is laid to rest with his parents.

This article was published in the local newspaper in 1903 and I rather liked the little snapshot into the history of the village, although it gives details of the work which had been done to St. Maurice’s Church.

“BRININGHAM.

The ancient church of St. Maurice has during the past decade been undergoing a gradual process of restoration in perfect conformity with its time-worn architecture. A few years ago, chiefly through the munificence of the lay Rector, the late Captain S. H. Brereton, R.A., the walls were strengthened, the nave and chancel re-roofed, and the windows re-glazed with stained glass. During the incumbency of the present Vicar, the Rev. Herbert J. Foyster, strenuous efforts have been made to beautify and make commodious the interior. The church has been heated and lighted by the fixing of a large tortoise stove and handsome cathedral lamps. Some eighteen months ago it was discovered that the tower was unsafe; so critical indeed was the condition found to be that it was deemed advisable that the bell should remain silent. The Vicar set to work, and, by means of subscriptions and donations from friends far and near, raised the sum of £71 3s., and the work has been completed. The entire cost, with incidentals, will be about £140, so that there is an approximate deficiency of about £70. For the reduction of this debt, the Vicar and his co-workers determined upon holding a bazaar. Mrs. Henry S. Brereton placed the grounds of Briningham House at the Vicar’s disposal. The following is a list of stalls with vendors:—

Fancy Stall—Mrs. H. Brereton-Foyster, Miss Foyster, and the Misses Constance and Edith Foyster, the Misses Maroon and Martin.

Tea Stall (indoor)—Mrs. Henry Brereton and Mrs. Parkinson.

Tea Stall (outdoors)—Mrs. Alfred Clarke, Miss Kate Colman, Mrs. Groom, the Misses A. E. and M. Groom, Mrs. Jarrett, Miss A. Jones, E. Oliver, Mrs. and Miss Smorthwaite.

Jumble Stall—Mesdames Clements, Dewing, Everett, Kaye, E. Matthews, F. Matthews, H. Sheringham, and Watling.

Provision Stall—Mrs. B. Burwick, Brereton.

Bran Pie—W. Henry Beane, jun.

The Briston and Melton Constable Band played popular airs. In addition to the bazaar, there was a horticultural show, with exhibits from the labourers and workmen on the Briningham estate. The following is a list of the successful competitors, the judge being Mr. Samuel Dewing, of Swanton Novers:—

Collection of vegetables—1 William Daplyn, 2 Benjamin Colman, 3 Jacob Colman. Potatoes—1 William Daplyn, 2 Jacob Colman, 3 Thomas Dack. Cabbages—1 William Daplyn, 2 Jacob Colman, 3 Thomas Dack. Onions—1 William Daplyn, 2 John Watling, 3 Benjamin Colman. Bread—1 Mrs. George Quinan, 2 Mrs. Jacob Colman, 3 Mrs. Clements. Cottage gardens—1 William Daplyn, 2 Benjamin Colman, 3 Jacob Colman and Thomas Dack (equal). Neatest cottage—1 Mrs. William Daplyn and Mrs. David Watling (equal), 2 Mrs. Benjamin Colman, and highly commended, Mrs. Jacob Colman.

Notwithstanding the very unfavourable weather the proceeds amounted to nearly £50.”

St Maurice’s Church at Briningham is one of the rare situations where the church tower is off-set to the nave for reasons not relating to space. The reason that the church history gives is simply that it’s likely just how the architect and mason constructed it as that was their preferred style. There’s certainly no shortage of space here that would have required them to be creative with where the tower went, but no-one is entirely sure of the reason. The village dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era and its name means “the homestead of the people of Brina”, although it confuses Google as it thinks that I’ve mistyped Birmingham.

The church is reached by walking across the garden of the neighbouring rectory, which is likely handy for the security of keeping the church safe if nothing else. There’s been a church here since at least the Norman period, with the north wall likely being a survivor from that time.

The porch and I always wonder about all the people who have walked through this door over the last few centuries.

The nave.

I was pleased I didn’t have to climb this ladder arrangement. It would be the getting down that would particularly confaddle me, there’s not much to hold onto.

The font is perhaps plain and more focused on its function, but it dates to the fourteenth century so it’s seen a fair number of births over the centuries.

The end window in the nave is oddly oversized.

It’s evident that this seems out of place, perhaps it was the window for the end of the chancel that never got to be put in. It seems unlikely that this would be for lack of funds, more likely a lack of labour and so perhaps that dates this to around the Black Death period.

Looking back to the main door, it’s an airy and minimalist church, not much has changed here in the centuries and I rather liked that. Although there’s a long article from 1903 which details all the work that was done modernising the building, which I’ll post separately.

The altar, all neat and tidy.

The wooden figures are modern replacements for the ones that would have stood in these niches until they were destroyed in the Reformation.

The chancel and there’s no evidence of any rood stairs, but I imagine they would have had a nice rood screen going across here at one stage. More recently, they had a plasterboard screen across here until it was removed in the late twentieth century.

And some sweets, which I think Richard really wanted to eat, but I was able to stop him.

The exterior of the church. There’s an image taken by George Plunkett from around this spot in 1986 and I’m pleased that they’re removed that foliage from the building since he took that photo.

The outside of the chancel.

The church from the other side, it all feels well proportioned if ignoring that shed type construction shoved on the side (or the vestry as they would probably call it). This feels like a slightly forgotten about church on-line, there aren’t the same number of photos and documents that are usually available, I can’t even find a photo of inside from before 2000 of just to look at the plasterboard arrangement.