Wormley Church, Real Photo Postcard, No 34307
Wormley Church, Postcard published by Langsdorff & Co, 1906
Up to the time of the 1883 restoration, the church had been equipped with the old 'horse box' type of pew. Great jealousy existed among the parishioners as to their occupation and mention is made to such disputes in the parish registers.
In 1698 we learn that Samuel Harris had the impertinence to enlarge the pew immediately below that in which Sir Benjamin Maddox, of Fernbeds, usually sat 'without the consent either of the parson or of the churchwardens', and a few years after similar trouble arose over the next adjoining pew occupied by Samuel Croft.
In 1783 Sir Abraham Hume erected a new pew on the south side of the nave '12 or 14 feet square' and appropriated another 'adjoining to the reading desk' to himself and his family.
In 1844 all the pews were painted or stained and the floors and 'pavement' repaired where necessary, but in 1853 it was discovered that they were affected by dry-rot and Mr Smith, an architect, was instructed to arrange for new floors to be laid under the pews.