Congerstone has many interesting local connections, a few of which are shown below…
John Grundy snr was born in Bilstone in 1696 and lived in Congerstone for 42 years before moving to Spalding. He was a self-taught Land Surveyor and Teacher of “Mathematicks” at Spalding Grammar School. His tomb is in St Mary’s churchyard.
Handel used to visit his friend Charles Jennens at Gopsall Hall, but contrary to some beliefs, he did not compose the Messiah while sitting in the temple in the grounds.
The monument to Georgiana Countess Howe who died in 1906 is in the chancel of St Mary’s Church (2nd left above) and was made by George Frampton. Frampton also designed the statue of Peter Pan that stands in Kensington Gardens and a monument to WS Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) on the Victoria Embankment in London.
The organ in St Mary’s was built by Henry Willis in c1891. Henry Willis & Sons built many notable organs including the Grand Organ in the Royal Albert Hall and the organ in Windsor Castle that was destroyed by a fire in November 1992.
In the early 19th century Lord Byron, the famous poet, peer and politician owned land within Congerstone Manor. His wife (Annabella Milbanke) and daughter (Augusta,known as Ada) lived apart from Lord Byron in Kirkby Mallory. Ada Lovelace (nee Byron) became the world’s first computer programmer! Earl Howe purchased Lord Byron’s land in Congerstone.
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The female saints stained glass window in the south nave wall of St Mary’s Church was created by Alexander Gascoyne. His stained glass windows can be found in numerous English churches as well as a number of churches in Australia.
During the Second World War, Gopsall Hall and its surrounding grounds were taken over by the army as a REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) radar training school and a vehicle distribution depot. The latter mainly involved the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service). Shown below are some ATS drivers about to drive a convoy of military vehicles to Scotland in the winter of 1942.
