St Michael and All Hallows Church, Didlington

Last Sunday (12th September 1999) my wife and I visited the Church of St Michael and All Angels at Didlington - one of those isolated Norfolk churches which is quite a way from public roads - in this case within the grounds of Didlington Hall.

The church is certainly very fine, and in good condition, showing signs of recent repairs to the fine wooden ceiling, and the tower (locked) evidently - from the hanging rope - contains 1 bell. The church is without fixed seating of any sort, but has three very fine and beautiful stained glass windows, one at the east end of the chancel and one on either side of the nave aisles.

There are a number of tablet memorials to the family of Didlington Hall, as follows:

On North side of Chancel, to:
MARY (eldest daughter of the late Andrew FOUNTAINE of Narford Hall, Esq.), the wife of William George Tyssen Amhurst of Didlington Park, Norfolk, Foley House, Kent and Hackney, Middlesex, Esq. She died 9th February 1854, aged 48 years
also
William George Thyssen Tyssen Amherst who died 30th December 1855, aged 54.

Robert WILSON, of Didlington Park, eldest son of Edward WILSON Esq. d. July 22nd 1765 in his 78th year.

and on the South wall of the Chancel:

Robert WILSON, Son and Heir of Robert WILSON of Merrow, Surrey, d. 10 Dec 1701 in his 51st year.
and:
Edward WILSON, Second son of Robert WILSON of Merrow, Surrey, d. 3 Apr 1708, aged 53(? - partly illegible),
also Katherine WILSON, daughter of EW, d. 29 Sep 1698 (or 5?)
and Katherine WILSON another daughter of EW, d 11 Feb 1708.

In the base of the tower are a number of small brasses in memory of:

Francis Thyssen AMHERST 24 Sep 1841 - 3 Jan 1887

Margaret, widow of Admiral Robert MITFORD of Mitford, Northumberland, 9 Sep 1807 - 25 Jan 1878

Beatrice Margaret Thyssen AMHERST 23 Sep 1809 - 20 Nov 1861

Amelia Thyssen AMHERST 27 Jan 1837 - 9 Aug 1890

Charles Amherst Daniel THYSSEN, Captain King's Dragoon Guards, 6 Jun 1804 - 10 Jun 1882.

William Amherst Thyssen AMHERST, 1st Baron AMHERST, b. 25 Aug 1835 d. 9 Jun 1909

Furthermore there is a brass on the wall near the door in the south side of the nave to those of Didlington who lost their lives in the 1914-18 war:

CORBETT, A.R. Aged 28 1st Essex Regiment
HUGHES, R.L. Aged 18 4th West Yorkshire Regiment.

[The above are transcribed to the best of my ability, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed]

It may be interesting also to note that the present [1996] Baron Amherst of Hackney (4th) is William Hugh Amherst Cecil, b.1940, succeeded 1980; and his heir is the Hon. H. William A. C., b.1968.

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