Wall Plaque on a building in Gedney Hill churchyard

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 9 Jan 2011

The building was possibly at one time a chapel of rest. In the east wall is this plaque which reads "HEAR LYETH THE BODY OF BRIAN MIDDLEBROOKE OF FLEETE FENN WAS BURIED DCEMBER THE 24 1671" Spelling was obviously not the mason's strongest point. But at that time not many could have corrected him. In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Fleet like this: FLEET, a village and a parish in Holbeach district, Lincoln. The village stands near the Spalding and Sutton-Bridge railway, 2 miles ESE of Holbeach; and has a station on the railway, and a post office under Wisbech. The parish comprises 6, 667 acres; and includes a tract called Fleet Fen. Real property, £14, 726. Pop. of the Fleet Fen tract, 167. Houses, 32. Pop. of the whole, 1, 312. Houses, 247. The property is divided among a few. Many copper coins of Gallienus, and other relics, have been found. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lincoln. Value, £1, 250.* Patron, Rev. J. Jerram. The church is ancient but good; and an embattled tower, with lofty spire, stands apart from it. There are chapels for Baptists and Unitarians. An endowed school has £48; and other charities have £69.

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