DUNMOW (LITTLE), a parish in the hundred of
DUNMOW, county of ESSEX, 2 miles (E.S. E.) from
Great Dunmow, containing 342 inhabitants. The living
is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Middlesex,
and diocese of London, endowed with £200 private
benefaction, £600 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary
grant. N. R. Toke, Esq. was patron in 1824. The
church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists only of the south
aisle and part of the nave of a church which belonged
to a priory of Augustine canons, founded in 1104., the
revenue of which, at the dissolution, was £173.2.4.
Under an arched recess in the south wall is a cofnnshaped
tomb, supposed to be that of Lady Juga, sister
of Ralph Baynard, foundress of the priory; near it is a
monument, with the figures of an armed knightand a
lady, said to have been erected for Sir Walter Fitz-Walter,
who died in 1198 j and on the opposite side of the church,
a monument with a female figure in alabaster, said to represent
Matilda Fitz-Jalter, famous in legendary story
as the wife or mistressof Robin Hood, and the object of
the illicit passion of King John, who is stated to have
caused her to be poisoned, in revenge for her having
rejected his addresses. There is an ancient custom cqnnected
with the manor of Little Dunmow, of delivering
a gammon, or flitch of bacon, on demand, to any couple,
who, after having been married a year and a day, will,
swear that neither party has repented, and .that no
cause of quarrel or complaint has arisen between them.
Before the Reformation, the oath used to be administered,
and the bacon given by the prior of the convent;
and since, the ceremony has been occasionally performed
at a court baron before the steward of the manor.
The institution of this custom is-supposed to
have taken place soon after the Norman Conquest, but
the earliest instance on -record of the delivery of the
bacon is in the 2Srd of Henry VI., and the latest in
1751; and the whole number of successful claimants is
said to have, been but six couple.