HIGHAM FERRERS

Higham Ferrers is only four miles from Raunds and Bennett's pilgrim would most likely visit Stanwick on the way.

The churchyard of Higham Ferrers is one of the best in Northamptonshire and rates with some cathedral closes. 

The rood  in St Mary's at Higham Ferrers had its own chapel as money and sheep were left for lights to burn there. William Gylys requested to buried in the chapel and left 4d for it. Bequests were also made to the Lady Chapel and to images of St Anne and St Michael.

Higham Ferrers main claim to fame is being the birthplace of  Henry Chichele, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury between 1414–1443. His tomb is in Canterbury cathedral. He founded ,All Souls College, in Oxford, but Chichele did not forget his home town. He founded the less well-known Chichele College in Higham Ferrers, which was provided with secular clerks and prebendaries. 

The remains of the college can be visited at any reasonable time. There is a recreated medieval garden at the back, with the plants that Chicheley may have known.

Across the church yard is the Bede House, dating to 1422, and again founded by Chichele. It is a striking building with alternating bands of pale limestone and dark brown ironstone. But if you look more closely, money was saved by using coarser limestone blocks on the east and south sides, that are generally out of sight! The Bede House was an alms-house for 12 men aged over 50, which is young by modern standards. They were looked after by one woman, who because she would be living, in close company, with the men, was to be of good name, fame and be quiet and honest! 

The Chantry Chapel is on the left as you approach the church from the Market Square. It was built by Chicheley. Chantry chapels were usually built for the recitation of masses and prayers for a particular person or family to help them through Purgatory. 

After the Reformation it became a Grammar School from 1542 until 1906. It was restored in 1915 by Temple Moore and again in 1942 by J White Esq. of John White shoes based in Rushden and Higham Ferrers, and once more dedicated as a chantry chapel.

Walking from the market you enter the churchyard. To your right is amcross which was known in 1463 as the Wardeyn, or Warden Cross. It was restored in 1919 as a war memorial. 

This musician can be seen on the outside window if you walk to the left of the main entrance to the church. 

The musician is a medieval one man band.

Most tabour pipes have three holes.  Two on the top and a thumb hole on the back. The scale can be played by over-blowing each note, which takes some practice. The drum provides the rhythm.

Pipe and tabourers can still be heard playing for some Morris dancing sides.