The Adwick Owl
If anybody has ever visited or attended Adwick Park Junior School, you will have more than likely noticed the emblem, which is an Owl.
The owl ensign is taken from a carving of an owl that was incorporated into the Old Rectory tithe barn. The barn stood alongside the south entrance to Adwick Park until it’s demolition in the late 70’s.
The Owl is the crest of the Savile family. In 1630 Sir Henry Savile of Methley acquired a large part of the lands in Adwick and one hundred and fifty years later, John Savile, Earl of Mexborough, from another branch of the family, is recorded as still having an estate at Adwick.
With the lands the Saviles acquired the tithes of the Parish (formerly held by Hampole Priory until its dissolution) and also the advowson.. that is the right to choose the clergyman. Up to that time the church had been served by Priests formerly paid by the priory.
In 1671 Mrs Anna Savile, moved by conscience, gave the tithe income to the incumbent and with the appointment of the Rev. Joshua Brook in 1682, Adwick had its first Rector. He built the first part of the old Rectory.
By 1724 the Saviles had bought the manor of Thrybergh Together with the advowson of Thrybergh Church. From 1772 to 1843 two Rectors of Thrybergh, the Rev W Hodges, who died in office aged 92! and the Rev. H Milner, were also Rectors of Adwick at the same time. They lived in Thrybergh and a curate did the work at Adwick. In 1843 the Rev. T Symonds became Rector of Adwick and just Adwick, he had the Old Rectory extended in 1844.
Through death in the male succession the advowson passed to the female line of the Savile family and hence by marriage into the Fullerton family, the present Patrons, about 1800.
One member of the family was Sarah Savile whose husband , Joseph Leech, became Rector of Adwick in 1731. Four years later he was suspended for his drinking habits. Sarah was buried at Adwick in 1757, then a widow. Her gravestone is in the Lady Chapel for safe keeping, it was outside but became broken. In her will she left a large Silver flagon to Adwick Church, which is on loan to Doncaster Museum, this also bears the crest of the Adwick Owl.
