Neen Solars or Neen Sollars Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Neen Solars or Neen Sollars. A parish in the hundred of Overs, a rectory in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Burford, and archdeaconry of Salop. 42 houses, 231 inhabitants. 2 ½ miles south of Cleobury Mortimer.

In the church of Near Solars there is a monument to Humphrey Conyngsby, Esq. On the top is a fair coat of arms of the Conyngsbys, with the motto, Jacta Libertas. Below this is written in four columns as follows: -

‘Time cutteth down the body,
But Christ raiseth up the spirit.
Here, Conyngsby, in lively shape thou liest,
Who sometimes wert the champion of Christ;
Didst travail Europe for his only sake
(And, found the foe) his quarrell undertake;
What greater valour, piety, could be,
Then bleed for him who shed his blood for thee ?
Alas our life, although we stay at home,
Is but a toylsom pilgrimage on earth
But thou a double pilgrimage didst roam,
Thou was almost abroad, ever from thy birth.
Thy journey’s end was heaven, of homes the best,
Where till thou camest, thou never couldst take rest.
One life is lost, yet livest thou ever,
Death has his due, yet diest thou never.’

‘This statue and monument were made in commemoration of Humphrey Conyngsby, Esq., only son of John Conyngsby, of Neen Solars, Esq. and of Anne his wife daughter of Thomas Barnaby, of Hull, in the parish of Brockleton and county of Worcester, Esq., which Humphrey Conyngsby was late Lord of this Neen Solars and patron of this church; and was heir of the eldest line and family of Conyngsby from whom all the rest are derived: which before King John’s time were barons of England, and then resided at Conyngsby in Lincolnshire.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824