St Mary The Virgin, Marholm

The church here dates from the 12th century, with the tower, which is very low, dated at around 1180AD. The nave dates from the 13th century and the aisles were badly damaged by fire during the 16th century. Up until the 19th century, the nave arcading was blocked up by masonry. The nave was heavily restored in 1868. In the south aisle is a recumbant effigy of a man in armour, hands raised in prayer, with his feet resting on a dog which has a long flowing tail. This is thought to date from the 14th century and is suggested to be John De Wittlebury. This has been restored and now rests on a nineteenth century base. The chancel was restored in 1530 by Sir William Fitzwilliam, sherrif of Northamptonshire, from the nearby Milton Park estate. This was the family church although Milton Park is in Castor parish. It appears as if family members and inside staff were buried at Marholm, with outside staff being buried at Castor. The chancel is large and ornately decorated and was glorious with the sun shining in through the large south windows. There are several memorials to members of the Fitzwilliam family with the memorial to William Fitzwilliam, who died in 1534, being restored in 1674 after it had been damaged by Cromwellian soldiers during the English Civil War. See Peterborough Churchcrawler for further information.

Marholm Cambridgeshire