"Small country house. Late C16, C17, 1699, c.1720"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062854

Owned by the Thorold family who first came to Marston in mid C14.

DB 23 July 2018

The old North Bridge, carrying the road to Hougham, has now been bypassed but it is still in use for pedestrian purposes.

DB 29 May 2020

Dame Margaret Thorold founded a school in the village in 1716 in memory of her husband Sir John Thorold.

The present school - Thorold's Charity C of E School - was built in 1861 and has been extended twice in the twenty-first century.

It was Grade II listed in 1984.

March 2016

Thorold's Charity Church of England Primary School with the Thorold coat of arms at the front. 

"Each stack has moulded ashlar panel, that to the north-west with coat of arms and inscribed 'Cervus non Servus A.D.1861""

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062856 

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1885 states "Lady Thorold's School, erected in 1861 by the trustees of the charity, & enlarged in 1874; it will hold 192 children; average attendance, 96: the school is supported by a yearly endowment of £120, a Government grant, & school fees; William Handcock, master; Mrs. Frances H. Handcock, mistress"

DB 29 May 2020 

Largely built of ironstone and in the Early English period with later tower.

The chancel was built in 1878-80 by Sleaford architect Charles Kirk.

March 2017

St Mary's tower is from the Decorated period. The slender spire has three tiers of lucarnes in alternating directions.

March 2016

St Mary's church viewed from Bridge Street with the village sign visible bottom left.

Kelly's Directory 1919 states "The church of St. Mary is an ancient building of stone in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, with south chantry chapel, nave of three bays, aisles, south porch and a western tower, with a broach spire of the Early Decorated period, containing a clock and 5 bells:

near the chancel arch, previous to the restoration, was the ancient entrance to the rood loft:

the south aisle arcade is Early English, and that of the north aisle Decorated:

the Perpendicular south porch is adorned with pinnacles at its angles, and has three canopied niches over the arch:

in the chantry chapel are several monuments of the Thorold family, the oldest, lately removed to the east end of the south aisle, being a tomb of Purbeck marble, with a reredos of the same material rising above it, and inscribed to William Thorold esq. ob. 1569: five shields of arms surround the base:

in the chantry chapel of the south aisle is a similar tomb with reredos and canopy, and an alabaster effigy in the costume and armour of the late 16th century, to Sir Nathaniel Thorold knt. son of the William Thorold above mentioned, who was sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1570, and died in 1594; at the back are three shields of arms, and below the effigy the letters N.T. and the date 1602, supposed to indicate the time of the erection of the monument:

in the south aisle is a memorial to Annie (Thorold), widow of Sir Thomas Hodgson knt. of Bramwick, ob. 1719, and foundress of the almshouse at Ruskington; there are also several later monuments of the Thorold family:

the chancel was rebuilt in 1878-80 at a cost, inclusive of minor restorations, of £2,300, and is a rich specimen of the Early English style: the reredos is a memorial: all the windows are stained: the east window being the gift of the late Rt. Rev. Anthony Wilson Thorold D.D. Bishop of Winchester 1891-95, and son of the Rev. Edward Thorold, sometime rector of Hougham with Marston, as a memorial to his sister, Frances Thomasine Thorold :

the whole of the wood work, including the roofs, flooring, seats, pulpit and reading desk, was restored at a further cost of £850, and an organ was erected at a cost of £400:

there are 180 sittings"

DB 28 May 2020

White's Directory 1872, before the chancel was rebuilt, states "The church (St. Mary) is a large edifice in the Decorated style, and consists of nave, aisles, chancel and tower, containing five bells, and surmounted by a broach spire.

In the south chapel is the recumbent effigy of one of the Thorolds.

The benefice, which is a rectory consolidated with that of Hougham, and jointly valued at £730 per annum, is in the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Baugh Thorold, B.A."

DB 23 July 2018

Church Guide Notes read "Charles Kirk of Sleaford extensively restored the church in 1878-80, for the Revd. Henry Baugh Thorold (Rector 1835-85):

it was he who rebuilt the chancel with its elaborate and scholarly Early English details, its pretty tiled floor, reredos, and handsome family pew and prayer desk.

This is Victorian work of the highest quality"

DB 23 July 2018

Stained glass by Ward & Hughes 1880.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_and_Hughes 

Gift of the Right Reverend Anthony Thorold, Bishop of Winchester. 

DB 23 July 2018

Colourful Victorian floor tiles in the chancel.

March 2016

Piscina - or maybe simple shelves (there appears to be no drain) - built in the Victorian chancel.

March 2016

C19 woodwork - the chancel was rebuilt around 1880.

DB 7 April 2018

Described by Pevsner as 'the climax of the interior, sumtuous and leaf-encrusted', this elaborate reredos was provided as part of the work of Kirk in 1878-80.

March 2016

"The churchyard cross at Marston is a good example of a medieval standing cross with a stepped base which was restored in the early post-medieval period"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1009209 

Sundial was part of the later restorations.

DB 23 July 2018

Hatchment for Sir John Thorold, 4th Bt who married in 1701 Margaret Waterer, widow of the Hon. Francis Coventry, and d.s.p. 14 Jan 1716/17.

March 2016

Another hatchment with the Thorold coat of arms "Sable three goats salient Argent".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorold_baronets 

DB 23 July 2018

Another hatchment with the Thorold coat of arms "Sable three goats salient Argent" impaled on the right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorold_baronets 

DB 23 July 2018

Faint remains of a mass dial. 

"Some 3,000 mass, tide or scratch dials have been recorded in the UK.

Typically located on the south wall of a parish church, this form of sundial was used to mark the "variable" time of liturgical services in the medieval world."

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/mass-dials/mass-dials.htm

See also

http://sundialsoc.org.uk/dials_menu/mass-dials/ 

DB 23 July 2018

Alabaster monument to Sir Anthony Thorold, d 1594.

March 2016

Detail of the monument to Sir Anthony Thorold - the recumbent effigy on a rolled-up mat.

March 2016

Tomb-chest monument for William Thorold, d.1569, made of Purbeck marble.

March 2016

Tablet by Edmund Ware to Ernest Hayford Thorold.

He was Assistant Chaplain-General, Western Command from 1924 and an Honorary Chaplain to the King from 1926 - 1935.

He was then from 1935 - 1939 successively Chaplain to Kings George V, Edward VIII and George VI.

After further commands with the Southern Command and the Aldershot Command he was Chaplain-General to the British Armed Forces (and also Chaplain of the Tower of London) from 1931 to 1939.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Thorold 

DB 23 July 2018 

The inscription seems to read "To the memory of Anne Lady Hodgson ... one of the daughters of Anthony Thorold of Cranwell ... died the 11th of Aug 1739(?)"

Church Guide Notes state "in the south aisle the distinguished monument by Edward Stanton and Christopher Horsnaile to Anne, granddaughter of Sir William Thorold, 1st Baronet, and wife of Sir Thomas Hodgson of Bramwith, Yorkshire (d. 1716)"

"Alabaster monument on south wall to Anne, Lady Hodgson (nee Thorold), died 1719, with ornate crown and apron, flanking corinthianesque pilasters and draperies"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

DB 23 July 2018

On the right, part of the 3-bay south arcade with its round piers and round abaci. Also can be seen one of the openings in the spandrels between the arches.

The north arcade on the left has quatrefoil piers and double chamfered arches.

March 2016

Looking west towards the organ and C14 tower arch.

South arcade of c.1175, with round piers and double chamfered pointed arches. 2 pierced almond shaped openings in spandrels.

North arcade of c1200, each pier of clustered shafts with fillets, moulded capitals and double chamfered pointed arches.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

DB 23 July 2018

Looking east towards the 1881-2 chancel arch.

4 bay south arcade c.1175 and north arcade c1200.

Early C20 pews.

http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946

DB 23 July 2018

Pulpit of 1881-2.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

DB 23 July 2018

Memorial boards for the first and second world wars.

Located beside the chancel arch. 

DB 23 July 2018

Altar at the east end of the north aisle in front of an early C14 3-light window.

The Church Guide Notes state "There is no ancient glass in the church, but the Victorian glass is of interest; the small panel at the east end of the north aisle is of the Virgin (Patron of the church), and of mid 19th century date" 

Also "At the east end of the north aisle is the blocked doorway to the former Rood staircase".

DB 7 April 2018

Looking across the nave towards the south arcade and south aisle.

"4 bay south arcade of c.1175, with round piers and double chamfered pointed arches ... 2 pierced almond shaped openings in spandrels, and small heads"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

Church Guide Notes read "The great mystery of the nave is the existence of the two vesica windows in the spandrels of the south arcade which perhaps survive from an earlier aisleless church"

DB 23 July 2018

"C15 south porch of ironstone with limestone bands ... coped gable with C19 crosses on south-east and south-west corners"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

DB 23 July 2018

"Late C12 south doorway restored in C19, of 2 orders, the innermost of 2 shafts, the outer of single clusters of 3 shafts, with stiff-leaf capitals, filleted roll mouldings and head label stops"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1146946 

DB 23 July 2018

Erected to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of Marston School 1966.

"TO THE MEMORY OF DAME MARGARET THOROLD FOUNDRESS OF MARSTON SCHOOL.

BENEFACTRESS OF THIS PARISH DAUGHTER OF JOHN WATERER OF CARSHALTON SURREY SHE MARRIED FIRST THE HONBLE FRANCIS COVENTRY, SECONDLY SIR JOHN THOROLD 4TH BART.

SHE DIED 23 JANUARY 1732 AND WAS BURIED WITH HER FIRST HUSBAND IN MORTLAKE CHURCH SURREY"

Church Guide Notes state "Near the font the recent memorial by Francis Johnson to Dame Margaret"

DB 23 July 2018

A simple but well-proportioned octagonal font with recessed panels on each face of the stem.

March 2016

Stained glass by Christopher Whitworth Whall to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee 1897. 

"Christopher Whitworth Whall (1849-1924) was an English stained glass artist who worked from the 1880s and on into the 20th century and is widely recognised as one of the key figures in the modern history of stained glass"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Whall 

DB 23 July 2018

The Thorold Arms in Marston, Lincolnshire used to be a pub, shop, restaurant and bed & breakfast, before closing its doors in July 2015.

Good news that sufficient funds appear to have been raised to purchase and reopen the pub as a community venture.

https://save.thethoroldarms.co.uk  

The Thorold family are Lords of the Manor and first came to Marston in mid C14.

DB 23 July 2018

Located off Bridge Street near the church.

Central scenes featuring the Thorold coat of arms, Church, School and River Witham.

DB 28 May 2020