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This was largely rebuilt in the C14th and now houses many monuments of the Pickering family.
Gilbert Pickering bought the manor of Tichmarsh from Charles Somerset’s grandson in 1553, and for more than two hundred years it remained in the possession of his descendants. When the direct line came to an end, the estates were acquired in 1778 by Thomas Powys, later the first Lord Lilford.
John Pickering married Susannah Dryden of Canons Ashby in 1609, and twenty-one years later Susannah’s brother, Erasmus, married John’s cousin, Mary Pickering. Of these unions were born two men well known in the highest circles of their day; the notorious Sir Gilbert Pickering (1613-1668) and the famous John Dryden, the poet (1613-1700).
Sir Gilbert was a convinced Parliamentarian and became Lord Chamberlain to Oliver Cromwell. John Dryden’s upbringing in Tichmarsh is mentioned in one of the monuments. This and another were painted by Sir Gilbert’s daughter Elizabeth, who became the wife of John Creed. A woman of talent with needle, pen and brush, Elizabeth Creed was responsible also for the wording of the altar tomb and wall-angle memorials in the south aisle, as well as the Dryden monument which has been moved to the north transept. She is mentioned in the diaries of Samuel Pepys.
The North Aisle looking east
The memorial to John Dryden
Medieval Boss in the North Transept
Medieval Boss in the North Transept