FELMERSHAM with RADWELL
Flammersham (xi cent.).
Felmersham, a parish of 1,990 acres, is bounded,
except in the south-west, by the River Ouse, which
divides it from Odell and Sharnbrook in the north
and from Bletsoe in the east. The land, especially
in the neighbourhood of the river, where it is liable
to floods, lies low, being nowhere higher than 256 ft.
above ordnance datum. Of the total area 989¼ acres
are arable land, 768 permanent grass and 16 woods
and plantations. (fn. 1)
Mr. Marsh thus describes the soil: 'Loam.
Gravel, not very good, in considerable quantity at
Radwell. Some useful stone for building and roads.
Good clay for bricks on Lynch Hill, where there is
a fine spring reckoned good for the eyes.' (fn. 2) The
principal crops are wheat, barley, beans, oats and
root crops.
The river is crossed here by a comparatively
modern stone bridge of five arches, the voussoirs of
which are narrow and regular, while the spandrels
and parapet are of coursed rubble. The intermediate
piers have cutwaters on one side.
The main road through the parish approaches
from Sharnbrook, and has three offshoots to Chellington, Pavenham and Radwell. The last of these
crosses the Ouse at Radwell Bridge, which was built
in 1766. It then consisted of five arches, and was
added to in 1806, when it was made a county
bridge. (fn. 3) A small branch of the Radwell Road leads
to Moor End, an outlying district of this parish.
Felmersham village, approached by Felmersham
Bridge on the north, is pleasantly situated on the
south bank of the Ouse. The parish church, dedicated in honour of St. Mary, stands on the east
of the road facing the river; adjoining it is the
parsonage formerly the Rectory Farm belonging to
Trinity College, Cambridge. The old vicarage is
now a labourer's cottage near the schoolhouse. On
the opposite side of the road is a large mediaeval
stone barn having buttresses taking the thrust of the
roof. Tradition asserts that 4 poles square of land
in Sharnbrook Meadow, by the river, nearly opposite
the church, were given for furnishing grass to be
laid in the church at Whitsuntide, by a person who,
having lost his way on a dark night, would have
fallen into the river at this spot had he not heard
Felmersham Church clock strike. (fn. 4)
Radwell is a compact hamlet towards the centre
of the parish, and contains a Wesleyan Methodist
chapel dating from 1807. Radwell Hall, the former
seat of the Radwells and the Rands, was taken down
in 1825, when some valuable coloured glass was removed. Its former position is at present marked by
a modern farm-house. Felmersham Hardwick is a
district in the south-west of the parish. (fn. 5) This parish
was inclosed by Act of Parliament in 1765. (fn. 6)
MANORS
Gilbert son of Salomon owned 11 hides
in Felmersham at the Survey of 1086,
of which 7½ hides, forming one manor,
were held of the king in chief (fn. 7) and 3½ hides of the
Countess Judith. Gilbert son of Salomon was
followed by the Meppershalls, (fn. 8) and the lands of the
Countess Judith became known as the honour of
Huntingdon. In 1205, (fn. 9) and again in 1278–9, (fn. 10) the
dual overlordship which resulted is distinctly defined,
when the tenant of each moiety into which the
property had become divided is described as holding
13 virgates by serjeanty of the Meppershalls and
7 virgates of them as of the honour of Huntingdon. (fn. 11)
After 1286 (fn. 12) no further reference has been found to
the serjeanty due to the Meppershalls. In 1331
Robert de Meppershall held in Felmersham of the
honour of Huntingdon by half a knight's fee and suit
at the court of Barton. (fn. 13) In 1346 and again in 1428
a quarter of a fee was owing to the Meppershalls in
this parish, but at the latter date, on account of subdivision, nothing was declared to be owing to the
king. (fn. 14) No further reference to the overlordship
has been traced.
By the beginning of the 13th century two tenants
are found holding this property of the Meppershalls,
namely the Laundres and the Peyncourts. In 1204–5
Gilbert de Meppershall acknowledged the right of
Emery de Laundres to 5 hides of land in Felmersham. (fn. 15)
Stephen de Laundres was holding about 1240, (fn. 16) whilst
another Emery possessed property in Felmersham in
1278 which included a moiety of a mill and a free
fishery from the head of the mill pond of Felmersham
to Odell Mill; he also had villeins and cottars under
him. (fn. 17) He still held in 1284–6 and in 1316. (fn. 18)
He had a son Robert de Laundres, who quitclaimed
land in Felmersham to his father in 1309–10, (fn. 19) and
who held here by knight service in 1346. (fn. 20) Nothing
further has been found of this family, who by 1428
had given place to Richard Colfox, (fn. 21) whose connexion
with Falmersham previous to this date has not been
ascertained. As seen below, it is suggested that in
the manor found a generation later in the Harveys
is to be traced the continued descent of this property.
Turning to that moiety owned by the Peyncourts
it is found that Richard Peyncourt and 'Egelina'
his mother owned 5 hides in Felmersham in 1205, (fn. 22)
which a generation later had passed to Nicholas
Peyncourt. (fn. 23) He was still holding in 1278–9, when,
as shown above, he shared a mill and free fishery
with Emery de Laundres. (fn. 24) In 1302–3 Walter
Peyncourt had succeeded him, (fn. 25) between which date
and 1316 an alienation appears to have taken place
to Robert Albyn. (fn. 26)
In 1323–4 Walter de Trikynham quitclaimed
land to him in this parish, (fn. 27) and in 1346 Robert
Albyn is still described as holding here by knight
service. (fn. 28) As in the other moiety there is no further
record of this property until 1428, when it is
declared to have passed to Thomas Milton. (fn. 29)
In 1474 John Harvey died seised of FELMERSHAM MANOR, which may represent either of the
two Peyncourt and Laundres moieties, or possibly an
amalgamation of both, for, though there is nothing
to show how this manor came into his possession, it
evidently represents the chief property in the parish. (fn. 30)
It was at this time held of the king for 6s. 8d.
yearly, but on the death of Agnes Paston widow of
John Harvey was declared to be held of Sir John
St. John as of his manor of Felmersham. (fn. 31)
Felmersham Manor was retained by the Harveys
(see Thurleigh) until 1588, in which year they sold
it to William Goddard. (fn. 32)
He died seised of Felmersham in 1615, having
settled it on his wife Joan for her life, with reversion
to his son Vincent Goddard. (fn. 33) In the same year
the latter was declared to have been a lunatic for
some time past. Joan Goddard died at this time,
and William Goddard, son of Vincent, a minor, (fn. 34)
held the manor in 1632. (fn. 35) At this date he conveyed the manor into the hands of trustees, probably
preparatory to an alienation which took place about
this time to the family of Leach. (fn. 36) John Leach
suffered a recovery of the manor in 1671–2. (fn. 37) He
died in 1687, (fn. 38) and the same year his widow Judith,
William Leach (probably his son) and May his wife
made a settlement of the manor. (fn. 39) From them it
was purchased in 1717 by Thomas Orlebar, (fn. 40) who
died in 1721, and whose widow Judith Orlebar
lived here till her death in 1766. Felmersham then
became the property of her three daughters Diana
widow of the Rev. Edward Smith, Judith wife of
the Rev. Oliver St. John Cooper, rector of Tilbrook,
and Ursula wife of John Marsh. (fn. 41) John Marsh and
Ursula his wife held their third in 1773. (fn. 42) In
1814 John Cooper, representing Judith's portion,
combined with Charles Bloodworth to sell his third
of the manor to Thomas Payn, (fn. 43) who in 1831 conveyed the 'manor of Felmersham' by fine to William
Medland. (fn. 44) The manor, thus dispersed amongst
various owners at the beginning of the 19th century,
was subsequently bought up and reunited by Joseph
Tucker of Pavenham (q.v.), (fn. 45) whose family since
1864 have been principal landowners in this parish,
the present representative being Joseph Tucker
Burton Alexander.
Nigel de Albini held RADWELL MANOR assessed
at 7 hides 1½ virgates in 1086. (fn. 46) Like the remainder
of the Albini property it is subsequently found attached to the Cainhoe barony, last mention of the
overlordship being found in 1428. (fn. 47) Nigel Wast
held this manor as tenant of Nigel de Albini at the
time of Domesday, but by the 12th century it appears to have passed to a family who assumed Radwell
as a surname, and continued to hold the manor for
upwards of three hundred years. (fn. 48) In 1197 Gilbert
son of William recognized the right of Eustace
Mordaunt to 1 virgate of land in Radwell which his
father Osmund had held. (fn. 49) In 1224 Gilbert de
Radwell, who may probably be identified with the
above Gilbert, received quitclaim from Muriel widow
of Robert le Liz of one-third of a virgate of land
here, giving her in return 2 loads of corn and 2
loads of wheat annually. (fn. 50) Gilbert was followed
by Robert de Radwell, who died in 1266 holding
land (of which 10 virgates were arable) to the value of
£8 19s. 8½d. (fn. 51) The inquisition taken at his death
does not give his heir, who appears to have been
another Robert de Radwell, who in 1278–9 was
declared to hold 7½ hides as one fee. The manor
included a water-mill, a free fishery in the Ouse
'from Humberdale to the hedge (sepes) of Pavenham'
in common with other lords in this parish. He held
2½ hides ½ virgate in demesne, 3 virgates in villeinage and John le Wolf was declared to hold
9 virgates of him. (fn. 52) Two cottagers owed him a
money rent and three cocks, and the villeins were not
allowed to give their daughters in marriage without
their lord's consent. Robert de Radwell died before
1289, at which date a son Henry born to his widow
Beatrice after his death was declared to be illegitimate
according to the law of England, and John de Radwell, probably a brother of Robert, acquired seisin of
the manor. (fn. 53) John de Radwell held by knight service
in Radwell in 1302–3, (fn. 54) and was part lord of the
vill in 1316. (fn. 55) The following year his son John
with Alice his wife was concerned in a suit respecting
lands in Radwell. (fn. 56) He was still holding in 1346. (fn. 57)
By 1428 another John Radwell held the knight's fee
by which this manor was held, (fn. 58) and in 1445
Thomas Radwell his son died seised of the estate, (fn. 59)
which was held by Margaret widow of John till her
death in the same year. The manor then passed to
Edmund Randes grandson of Margery Radwell, sister
of John Radwell, who was holding in 1428. (fn. 60)
The Randes family continued to hold Radwell Manor
in direct descent for upwards
of three hundred years. (fn. 61) John
great-grandson of Edmund
Randes made a settlement of
the manor in 1551 (fn. 62) and
again in 1560. (fn. 63) Edward
Randes his son held Radwell
in 1591–2 (fn. 64) and Oliver
Randes his son and heir had
succeeded to the property in
1618. (fn. 65) He died in 1658, (fn. 66)
and in 1723 his daughters
Katherine Randes, spinster,
and Mary wife of Henry Ventris conveyed the
manor in trust to William Salisbury. (fn. 67) It continued
in this family until 1753, in which year it was
sold to Jeffery Fisher of Flitwick. (fn. 68) His daughter
Anne wife of James Hesse held the manor in 1783. (fn. 69)
On the death of her first husband she married George
Brooks and settled this manor on her daughters by
her first marriage, Anne wife of William Horne, and
Martha wife of Rev. Arthur Bold, (fn. 70) who were holding in 1820.
Randes of Radwell. Sable a cheveron ermine between three crosslets fitchy argent.
A second property in Radwell called in the 17th
century FELMERSHAM MANOR had its origin as
follows. In 1086 Hugh (de Beauchamp) held 2 hides
2½ virgates of the Countess Judith, which had formerly
belonged to Tovi, a house carl. (fn. 71) This land appears
to have passed by some
arrangement from the honour
of Huntingdon to the barony
of Beauchamp of Bedford, and
was held of that barony by
Simon de Patishull for half a
knight's fee. (fn. 72) John de Patishull held 2½ hides ½ virgate
here in 1278–9, having as
free tenant William de Broy
holding 7 virgates for 16s.
and 1 lb. of pepper. (fn. 73) The
Patishulls continued to hold
during the 14th century, (fn. 74) and
this manor as in the case of
Bletsoe (q.v.) passed to the
Beauchamps of Bletsoe and so
to the St. Johns of Bletsoe,
who claimed a manor in this parish from the early
16th century. (fn. 75)
Trinity College, Cambridge. Argent a cheveron between three roses gules, and a chief gules with a leopard of England therein between two books or.
In 1706 it was still enumerated in a list of manors
belonging to Lord St. John, (fn. 76) but by 1766 it appears
to have been dispersed, though Lady St. John and
her younger children are said to hold land in Radwell, (fn. 77) and as late as 1865 a small farm in this hamlet
was sold by Lord St. John. (fn. 78)
Trinity College, whose connexion with this parish
will be found described under the advowson, appear
to own a manor here, of which, however, no mention
has been found till 1550, when Sir Michael Fisher
died seised of lands in Felmersham held of Trinity
College, Cambridge, as of their manor of Felmersham. (fn. 79)
It does not appear in the original grant of Edward III
to King's Hall, Cambridge, in 1342, or in the confirmation of Henry VIII in 1543 to Trinity College.
Lysons mentions it as a manor, however, and what is
still more conclusive, the parish award of 1766 mentions Daniel Berry as a copyholder of the manor held
by Trinity College in this parish. (fn. 80)
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of a chancel 40 ft. by
18 ft., a central tower 16 ft. by 17 ft.,
north transept 15 ft. 10 in. long by 17 ft. 3 in. wide,
south transept 11 ft. long by 14 ft. wide, nave 57 ft.
2 in. long by 19 ft. 8 in. wide, with north and south
aisles the same length and 7 ft. 3 in. wide. It is a
most beautiful piece of work of quite unusual scale and
richness for a country church, begun about 1220,
and carried through to completion in some twenty
years; the only alterations that have since been made
are the rebuilding of the south wall of the south
aisle in the 14th century and the heightening of the
tower, the addition of a clearstory to the nave and
the insertion of several windows in the 15th century.
The chancel is built with small oolite rubble
walling, and has clasping buttresses at the eastern
angles; on the north and south sides shallow buttresses divide the length into three bays, each containing a lancet with moulded jambs and head and a
label which on the south side, towards the road, has
dog-tooth ornament, but is plain on the north and
less conspicuous side. Beneath the eaves of the tiled
roof is a row of mask corbels. The east window is
modern and is of five lights with net tracery in 13thcentury jambs; and two of the three southern lancets,
and one on the north, are restorations. Round the
chancel a moulded string runs under the windows,
both inside and outside. In the north wall is a
square locker fitted with modern doors, and opposite
to it is a double piscina with a central pillar having a
foliate capital; in the second bay is a south doorway
with a moulded arch and dog-tooth label.
The east and west crossing arches are of three
orders, the two outer richly moulded towards the
west, but the north and south arches have only one
moulded order, the others being chamfered; the
jambs have engaged round shafts alternating with
keeled rolls, and the inner order of the east and west
arches is corbelled off 10 ft. from the floor. The
capitals are plainly moulded. In the east end is a
beautiful 15th-century screen of three bays with
tracery and the coved half-vault under a former
rood-loft, now finished with a band of cresting; its
lower panels have pierced tracery, and over them is
the inscription, 'Orate [pro] a[nimabus] Ricardi Kyng et agnet'
uxoris eī constructorum ist' operis.' The crockets
and finial of the central arch take the form of angels
in attitudes of prayer—a most charming piece of
detail.
The north transept, which is blocked up by a large
organ, has a door at the south-east leading to the
tower staircase, which is octagonal in plan, ending in
a conical stone roof. The north wall contains three
deeply-chamfered lancets connected by a small outside
label, and there is a single lancet in both the east and
west walls. Over the three north lancets is a modern
foiled circular opening. The south transept is
curiously planned, being very shallow, with one gable
narrower than the other, its east and west walls being
carried on half arches to the tower walls. It has
lower east and west walls bringing it to a symmetrical
plan. There is a lancet on the east, and at the west
it opens to the aisle by a plain pointed arch like the
north transept. On the south it has two tall lancets
with a vesica over, and a trefoiled piscina at the
south-east.
Felmersham Church from the South
The nave has an arcade of four bays on each side,
the two eastern bays being markedly wider than the
two western; the arches have a moulded outer and a
chamfered inner order with moulded labels, springing
from columns and responds alternately round and
octagonal, having moulded capitals and bases which
vary slightly in detail. Above each arcade are four
15th-century clearstory windows, each of three tall
cinquefoiled lights.
The roof, which is modern, is carried by large stone
corbels, those at the east and west being the four
evangelistic symbols and the rest mere grotesques.
The west end of the nave is a very beautiful composition in three stages, having a deeply moulded
central doorway flanked by moulded arches containing
blank tracery; above is a wall arcade of seven bays,
the arches of two moulded orders having dog-tooth,
or, in one instance, a peculiar wavy ornament in the
inner order; each arch springs from four moulded
capitals standing on as many slender round shafts,
standing clear of the wall. The top stage has a wide
three-centred central arch, with detached marble
jamb-shafts, flanked by two narrower pointed arches,
each inclosing a lancet window: the central opening is now filled by three modern lights in 14thcentury style, but may have contained three lancets in
the first instance. The original steep tiled gable is
gone, and a low-pitched 15th-century embattled
parapet takes its place; but the gable cross on the top
looks like the 13th-century one re-used.
At the west of each aisle is a lancet under a
moulded arch, and the pitch of the steep lean-to roof
of the aisle is still to be seen.
The north wall of the north aisle contains two
large restored 15th-century windows, each of three
cinquefoiled lights with tracery under a four-centred
head and label; between these windows is a plain
13th-century doorway with a label stopped by masks,
and a moulded segmental rear arch with a shaft on
each side.
The south wall of the south aisle contains two
restored 14th-century square-headed windows of three
lights with net tracery, and between them is a 14th-century porch with a pointed doorway of two chamfered orders and a large scroll-moulded label. The
south doorway of the aisle, set in a projecting block,
with a contemporary niche over it, is almost entirely
renewed, having a moulded arch of three orders,
clustered shafts in the jambs and a moulded segmental
rear arch.
The font near the south doorway is an octagonal
block with trefoiled panels, and an 18th-century
domed cover with a hinged door on the west side.
East of the south doorway is a recess for holy
water.
The tower rises three stages above the roofs, the
lowest stage being short, with two lancets on each
side except the east. The second, which was the top
stage in the 13th century, has on the east and west
an arcade of three bays, the middle bay being roundheaded and inclosing a two-light opening, while on
the north and south there are two arches in place of
the middle bay, inclosing two lancets. Above is a
corbel table, stopped by flat pilaster buttresses at the
angles. The top stage was added in the 15th century
and contains on each side except the north a two-light
trefoiled window with a quatrefoil over, above which
is an embattled parapet and south-east turret. Before
this stage was added it would seem as if the tower
had, or was intended to have, a broach spire. On
the north side are two trefoiled single lights.
The pewing is modern, but in the chancel are four
arm-chairs and a communion-table of the 17th century.
In the north transept are the 17th-century brass
figures of a man and woman, without inscription;
and in the middle aisle of the nave is a brass to Richard
Ottway, a merchant tailor who died 1621.
There are five bells; the first by Hugh Watts
with inscription 'I H S NAZARENUS: REX: JUDEORUM:
FILI: DEI: MISERERE: MEI: 1634'; the second and
fourth by Newcombe, 1617; the third and tenor
treble by Eayre of St. Neots, 1766.
The plate consists of a communion cup of 1594
with a small cover paten, and a modern silver paten.
The registers are in good condition, in six books:
(i) has all entries 1660 to 1744; (ii) the same,
1745 to 1762; (iii) marriages 1756 to 1812; (iv)
baptisms and burials 1763 to 1811; (v) the same,
1811 to 1812; (vi) Registers of Pavenham, all
entries 1640 to 1799.
ADVOWSON
Felmersham Church was granted
to Lenton Priory by Robert son of
William de Meppershall (fn. 81) in the
reign of Henry II, (fn. 82) the gift being confirmed by
King John in 1200, (fn. 83) whilst in 1207–8 Gilbert de
Meppershall acknowledged the prior's right to the
advowson. (fn. 84) From 1204 onward the chapels of
Pavenham and Radwell are mentioned as attached to
Felmersham. (fn. 85) In 1255 a further confirmation was
received by Lenton (fn. 86) of Felmersham Church, whose
total value in 1281 was assessed at 70 marks. (fn. 87) In
1283 an exchange was made between Lenton Priory
and the Crown, by which the latter obtained the
advowson of Felmersham, giving in return that of
Horsley. (fn. 88) This exchange was ratified at various
dates between the years 1283 and 1401. (fn. 89) The king
continued to exercise the right of presentation (fn. 90) until
1342, in which year he granted it, together with a
licence of appropriation of the church, to King's
Hall, Cambridge, (fn. 91) which he had founded. This
Hall was later merged with Michael House by
Henry VIII into his Trinity College, which in 1543
received a grant of the rectory, church and advowson
of Felmersham, (fn. 92) which they have since retained. (fn. 93)
In 1278–9 the parson of Felmersham held 1 virgate
of land and 3 acres of meadow pertaining to the
church of Felmersham for the support of a chaplain
to celebrate mass in the chapel of 'Cadewelle,' probably a scribal error for Radwell. (fn. 94)
CHARITIES
Poor's Estate, or Town Lot, consists
of 5 a. 1 r. 11 p. in Rowley Field,
awarded under the Inclosure Act of
1766 in lieu of certain open fields, let at £8 15s. a
year, which, subject to the payment of £1 a year to
the church, is distributed among the poor.
The Wesleyan chapel at Radwell, conveyed by
trust deed, 1807, is regulated by scheme of the
Charity Commissioners of 1871.