Relhan Collection : 266 Quy church. SW view, showing dovecote on left

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>Relhan appears to have miscalculated the size of paper he would need and has superimposed his original sheet on a larger one later on. This may explain inaccuracy in the rising ground and churchyard wall that even then was close to Newmarket Heath turnpike road. The drawing includes 4 people, probably including Relhan senior. The church of St Mary shares similar characteristics of East Anglian stepped battlements with Teversham, or are these a repair and enhancement of the C17/C18 (five bells were hung in the belfry in 1670)? There is evidence for a C12 and C13 church in a round-headed window and an arch in the S wall. Otherwise, the church was largely rebuilt in the first half of C14 and a tower added later that century. In 1739, the E wall of the chancel was taken down and rebuilt 6m further W. Relhan’s drawing is carefully detailed, showing the weather-boarded nave/clerestory windows and blocked masonry openings to the S aisle and transept. Built from field stones and limestone rubble in C14 the embattled parapets look like brick; the upstanding feature on the roof may point to repairs here. This drawing, showing many cracks, is a remarkable record of the sad condition parish churches could be in by the early C19, and it was extensively restored 1877-80. Edward Ventris (<b>72</b>), as Vicar, had been complaining about dilapidation for years but had little support until Clement Francis bought Quy Hall in 1856. Francis employed the London architect William White (who previously worked on Quy Hall (<b>267 </b>and<b> 276</b>)), and along with his wife, who took over after his death in 1880, paid for the work, which was undertaken by Foster of Bedford. A monument to the Martin family, over their vault, was removed and also hatchments that Relhan depicts<i>. </i>New N and S porches and doors were built and upper stages of the tower, consisting of a wooden belfry in Relhan’s time, were reconstructed. Behind the church Relhan shows a rectangular dovecote but there is no sign of this today. The church now has busy roads on 2 sides and the churchyard is filled with mature trees and many graves.</p><p>Bradley and Pevsner 2014; Davis EM pers comm; RCHME 1978; Saunders P pers comm; VCH 2002; Watts undated</p></p>