COPLE
Cochepol (xi cent.); Coggepole, Coupol (xiii and
xiv cent.); Cowepyll (xvi cent.).
The parish of Cople contains 2,132 acres, of which
1,352¼ are arable land, 560 permanent grass and 4¼
are woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The land lies low and
in the neighbourhood of the River Ouse, which forms
the northern boundary, is liable to floods. The slope
is irregular; the highest point above the ordnance
datum is 200 ft. at Moxhill, the lowest 70 ft. in the
east. The soil is clay, the subsoil chiefly gravel; the
principal crops being wheat, barley, peas and turnips.
The village, which is entirely modern, is in the west
of the parish. The church of All Saints, in the
north of the village, stands in a wooded churchyard
surrounded by a stone wall. The vicarage, south of
the church, is on the site of an older timbered building. (fn. 2) Cople House, the principal residence, formerly
the seat of the last Earl of Ludlow, who died there in
1842, is now occupied by Mr. Thomas Barnard. In
the south of the parish is Woodend, now a farm-house,
built on the site of the old manor-house of the Luke
family. Some portion of the old buildings and the
dove-cot still remain. At Woodend Manor Samuel
Butler wrote his 'Hudibras,' of which Sir Samuel
Luke is supposed to have been the original. Hudibras'
Hole still exists as a local place-name. Roman coins
were found in this parish in 1851, near the road to
Northill. (fn. 3)
MANORS
Of the 10-hide vill of Cople, 9¾ hides
belonged in 1086 to the fee of Hugh
de Beauchamp, and were divided among
no fewer than eight tenants. (fn. 4) So extreme a division
of a vill is highly remarkable. Of these tenants one
only, Robert, is described as holding a manor of
4 hides, which later became known as WOODEND
or LAUNCELAYNS MANOR. The overlordship
passed to that branch of the Bedford barony which
became vested in the Dukes of Norfolk. (fn. 5) The
tenancy of this manor was early vested in the
family of Rufus, of whom mention has first been
found in 1201, when Godfrey Rufus owned 1½ hides
in Cople. (fn. 6) In 1248 the same name appears in
connexion with this parish. (fn. 7) By 1293 Robert son
of John Rufus appears to have succeeded Godfrey
in Cople. (fn. 8) Simon Rufus' name occurs in 1300, (fn. 9)
and he was followed by William Rufus, who died
seised of a messuage and land in Cople in 1310,
leaving a son and heir Simon, aged nine. (fn. 10) In 1347
a settlement was made of land in Cople on the
occasion of the marriage of Laura daughter of Simon
Rufus to John Oyldeboeuf. (fn. 11) No further trace of the
Rufus family has been found in this manor, which
next appears in the possession of a family called
Launcelyn—a Bedfordshire family of some standing.
Walter Launcelyn owned land in the adjacent parish
of Northill in 1316, (fn. 12) and Richard Launcelyn was
justice of the peace for the county in 1382. (fn. 13) John
Launcelyn, justice of the peace for the county in
1423, (fn. 14) is the first member of the family whose name
has been found in connexion with Cople, which he
held of the Duke of Norfolk in 1433. (fn. 15) He died in
1435, as is testified by a brass in Cople Church to the
memory of himself and his wife Margaret. (fn. 16) His
daughter and heir Anne was nurse to Henry VIII
and married Sir Walter Luke, justice of the King's
Bench. (fn. 17) Sir Walter Luke held Woodend (fn. 18) until his
death in 1544, (fn. 19) when his son Nicholas, baron of the
Exchequer under Henry VIII, succeeded him. Sir
John Luke son to Nicholas died in 1566 seised of the
manor of Woodend, (fn. 20) which descended from father
to son in due succession for at least four more generations. (fn. 21) Sir Nicholas Luke son and heir of Sir John
died in 1613 (fn. 22) and was buried at Cople. (fn. 23) He was
succeeded by Sir Oliver Luke,. who sat in Parliament
for a long period as member for the county of Bedford, and probably died soon after he was secluded
from the Long Parliament in 1648. (fn. 24) His son Sir
Samuel Luke took an active part in the Civil War.
He fought courageously by Hampden's side at the
battle of Chalgrove Field (twice in 1643 receiving
the thanks of Parliament for his services) and
also showed great energy and efficiency as scoutmaster-general in the army of the Earl of Essex. (fn. 25)
Butler severely satirizes even these good qualities
equally with his pedantry, his 'Presbyterian
true blew' religion, his clothing and his horse.
He puts the following lines into the mouth of his
hero:—
Cople Church from the South
''Tis said there is a valiant Mamaluke
In foreign land, yclep'd . . .
To whom we have been oft compared
For person, parts, address and beard.' (fn. 26)
Sir Samuel died in 1670 and was buried in Cople
Church. (fn. 27) In 1686 his successor sold the manor to
Sir William Gostwick, (fn. 28) and it follows the same
descent as his more important manor of Willington
(q.v.) (fn. 29) until 1902, when the Duke of Bedford sold
his property in this parish. It was immediately
bought up from the purchasers (Messrs. Keeble) by
various persons, Colonel Shuttleworth acquiring the
largest portion—about 1,200 acres.
Launcelyn. Gules a fleur de lis argent.
Luke. Argent a hunting horn sable with its strings gules.
Chicksands Priory owned COPLE MANOR in this
parish. It originated in a grant made by Adeliza
wife of Wigan which is mentioned in the foundation
charter of Payn de Beauchamp. (fn. 30) During the 13th
and 14th centuries this grant was supplemented by
various others. (fn. 31) In 1291 its value was £10 8s. 8d., (fn. 32)
and in 1330 the prior claimed view of frankpledge in
his manor of Cople. (fn. 33) At the Dissolution it was
granted to Sir John Gostwick in 1539, (fn. 34) and hence-forward follows the same descent as his manor of
Willington, to which, as seen above, Woodend became
attached in 1686, and its later history runs with the
latter manor (q.v.).
A property known as ROWLANDS MANOR
appears in the parish in the 16th century, and was
then held of Sir Thomas Snagge as of the barony of
Bedford. (fn. 35) Its origin is uncertain, but a family of
Rodland or Rowland is associated with this parish
from the 13th to the 15th century. (fn. 36) The first
mention of it as a manor is found in 1531, when
John Spencer made a settlement of it. (fn. 37) His father
Robert's name occurs a few years earlier as holding
land in Cople. (fn. 38) Thomas son of John Spencer died
seised in 1547. (fn. 39) He was succeeded by his son
Robert, who was followed by his son Nicholas, who
died about 1625. (fn. 40) His son, another Nicholas,
married Mary daughter of Sir Edward Gostwick of
Willington, and died in 1643. (fn. 41) William Spencer,
son and heir of Nicholas, was living and in possession
of Rowlands in 1691. (fn. 42) The Spencer estates in
Cople were bought by Francis Brace for the Dowager
Duchess of Marlborough, (fn. 43) probably about the same
time that the other Cople property was purchased of
Sir William Gostwick. It
still bore its distinctive name
as part of the Duke of Bedford's estate in this parish at
the beginning of the 19th
century. (fn. 44)
Spencer. Argent quartered with gules fretty or and a bend sable over all with three fleurs de lis argent thereon.
A further manor in Cople,
known as HOTOFTS, is first
mentioned in 1548, when it
was held by Thomas Spencer. (fn. 45)
It follows the same descent
as that of Rowlands (q.v.),
and was still named as a
distinct manor in the early
19th century. (fn. 46)
A family called Maryon,
resident in Cople in the
16th century, appear to have given their name to a
property later known as MARYONS or MALENS
MANOR, which in 1545 was stated to be held of
Lord Braye as of the barony of Bedford. (fn. 47) It appears
to have originated in the messuage called Horwodys
which Thomas Maryon held in Cople about the
middle of the 15th century. On his death his
widow Isabel enfeoffed William Bole and George
Gostwick, on condition that they should re-enfeoff
her and her heirs. When required to do so they
refused, and between 1463 and 1470 she brought
an action in Chancery against them. (fn. 48) This property was owned by Godfrey Hatley at his death
in 1545. (fn. 49) It is stated to have belonged previously
to Matthew Stepynge; William Hatley, son and heir
of Godfrey, was then six years of age. (fn. 50) No further
trace has been found of this property.
In 1310 William Rufus held a messuage and
46 acres of land of Walter Wigan, (fn. 51) in which is to be
sought the origin of WIGGONS MANOR, later
found in Cople. It is first so called in 1506, (fn. 52) and
follows the same descent as Woodend (q.v.), mention
of it by its distinctive name being still found in the
18th and early 19th centuries. (fn. 53)
Countess Judith held 1 virgate in Cople in 1086,
having as tenant Hugh de Beauchamp (fn. 54) ; since no
trace of the honour of Huntingdon is found later
in this parish, the virgate probably became merged in
Hugh's estate in chief.
The Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem claimed
view of frankpledge extending into Cople in the 14th
century. (fn. 55) This view was included in the grant of
the Hospitallers' property made in 1540 to Sir Richard
Longe. (fn. 56)
CHURCH
The church of ALL SAINTS consists
of a chancel 22 ft. 8 in. long by 16 ft.
3 in. wide, with north and south chapels,
a nave 33 ft. 3 in. long by 15 ft. 9 in. wide, with north
and south aisles 9 ft. wide, and a west tower 12 ft.
3 in. square. The chapels appear to be 16th-century
additions, but otherwise the whole building seems to
be of one date—the first half of the 15th century.
The chancel has a 15th-century east window of
four cinquefoiled lights with tracery, and opens to the
north chapel by an arcade of two four-centred arches
with a pier of four engaged shafts, and two angel
corbels bearing shields charged with hats and the word
'ley.' In the east bay is an altar-tomb of Purbeck
marble, with a vertical panel at the east end bearing
the brass figures of Sir Walter Luke, 1544, and his
wife Anne Launcelyn, 1538. He was justice of the
King's Bench, and wears a coif and scarlet gown and
hood; she wears a mantle with her arms. The
remains of inlaid colour are considerable, and the
white of the heraldry and the coif is shown by
pewter. Above are the arms of Luke, and Luke
impaling Launcelyn. On the base of the tomb were
three shields, only that of Launcelyn remains.
On the south side of the chancel are a chamfered
piscina recess with a four-centred head and an arcade
of two bays taller than that opposite, differently
moulded, and having corbels of angels bearing shields
of Grey and Launcelyn. Under the east arch is an
altar-tomb with a marble slab having 16th-century
brasses of Thomas Grey and Benet (Launcelyn) his
wife, with their four sons and nine daughters; their
arms were on each corner of the slab, the two
remaining being Grey and Launcelyn. The inscription is quaint enough to be given in full:—
'What can myght powr' or auncyet bloode avayll
Or else ryches, that men cownte felicite:
What can they helpe ferfull dethe to assayll.
Certes nothynge. And that is [pro]vyd by me:
That had thos yiftis rehersed wt all plente:
Neũthelesse yit am I leyd lowe in clay
That whylom was Scuyer callid Thõs G\[re]y.
Benet my wyf she is fro this world past
Yit we trust to be had in memory:
As longe as the paryshe of Coople shall last
For our benefitis don to it largely:
As witnesse xx,tl pound wt other yiftis many
Wherfor all cristen men that goo by this way
P[ray] for [th]e soulis of Benet and Th[oma]s Gray.'
On the base of the tomb are three shields of Grey
in stone very roughly cut. In the east jamb of the
arch is a recess for a figure. The chancel arch is of
the same character as the nave arcades, which have
piers of four engaged half-octagonal shafts with rolls
in the angles between the shafts—a 14th-century
motif which here, as elsewhere in the county, occurs
in 15th-century work, the roll having no corresponding member in the arch, but ending awkwardly at the
capitals.
The nave has a clearstory with three square-headed
windows of two cinquefoiled lights on each side,
probably contemporary with the arcades. The nave
roof is 15th-century work, in three bays, with moulded
timbers of low pitch.
The north aisle has a plain parapet, and is rebuilt
with two north windows of three lights and perpendicular tracery under four-centred heads; the jambs
of the north doorway seem to be 14th-century work
re-used, and may have come from the wall of an
aisleless nave rebuilt in the 15th century; the head is
later or modern.
The north chapel has two similar windows in the
north wall and one at the east end containing some
15th-century work; the arch between the aisle and
chapel is continuous of two chamfered orders.
The south aisle has an embattled parapet and
modern three-light windows, and the south chapel
windows are also modern. The aisle extends westward to form a vestry overlapping the tower, lighted
by a window of two cinquefoiled lights. There is a
piscina in the aisle having a distorted ogee head, due
to a late repair, and in the south-east angle of the
chapel is a large bracket carved with an angel carrying
a shield; the arch between the chapel and aisle is
similar to those between the chapel and chancel.
The porch is new with square-headed windows of
five cinquefoiled lights on each side, that on the east
being a queer piece of 18th-century Gothic, while
the other is quite new and of correct Gothic detail.
The inner doorway is in two double ogee orders
forming a pointed arch under a square head with
carved spandrels; the door itself is original with its
wrought-iron hinges.
The tower is built of ironstone in three stages, with
diagonal buttresses and an octagonal stair turret at
the north-east angle. The west doorway is in two
chamfered pointed orders, and the window above it
is of three cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a pointed
head. The embattled parapet is modern, and the
belfry windows are in two cinquefoiled lights with
tracery in a pointed head.
There are four late 15th-century standards with
poppy-heads and two old linen panels, from which the
rest are copied, in the ohancel, and the roofs of the
nave, aisles and chapels are old. The chancel screen
has a central opening and two bays on each side of
good late 15th-century work; it is made out with
modern copies to fill the space between the jambs of
the chancel arch; the doors also are old. The tracery
in the heads of the bays and doorway is very good
and in excellent condition, and there is a little old
work in the tracery of the screen at the west end of
the south chapel. In the nave and north aisle is
some late 16th-century pewing.
Besides the brasses already mentioned there are
several others in the church; in the chancel floor
are those of John Launcelyn and Margaret his wife,
1435, and of Nicholas Rowland and Pernel his wife, the
latter with a French inscription. In the north chapel,
on a vertical panel against the wall, are two brasses of
Nicholas Luke, baron of the Exchequer, 1563, and
Cecyle his wife, one of the daughters and the heiress
of Sir Thomas Wauton, kt. In the same chapel is
a brass, c. 1400, with a French inscription to Walter
Rowland and his effigy in plate armour. Under the
organ is a brass to a daughter of Robert Bulkeley, who
died in 1590, and on an altar-tomb under the north-east window are three brass shields with the arms of
Luke, Luke impaling argent a cheveron gules with
a ring for difference, and the latter coat alone.
On the south wall of the south chapel are two brass
plates to Roger Bulkeley and Joan his wife, 1556,
and to Robert Bulkeley, 1550.
There are five bells: (1) '1628, God save our
King,' by James Keene of Bedford; (2) a 14th-century
bell, uninscribed; (3) 'Be wise and return, remember to die,' by J. Eayre of St. Neots, 1762;
(4) 'Fidelis m[en]suris (fn. 57) nomen Campana Mykaelis'
(in black letter with Gothic capitals) by Robert
Crouch of London, c. 1440; (5) 'God save our
King, 1624,' also by James Keene.
The communion plate consists of a cup of 1623,
the gift of William Spencer, with his arms; also a
modern silver paten and an electro-plated paten.
The registers previous to 1812 are in five books:
(1) 1563 to 1686; (2) 1687 to 1740; (3) 1741 to
1800; (4) printed marriages 1755 to 1812; and
(5) baptisms and burials 1801 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
Cople Church was granted to
Chicksands by Simon de Beauchamp, (fn. 58) and confirmed by his son
William in the reign of Henry III. (fn. 59) In 1291
it was worth £5. (fn. 60) It remained in the possession
of the priory until the Dissolution. It was
granted to the Dean and Chapter of Christ
Church, Oxford, (fn. 61) who still hold the right of
presentation.
CHARITIES
There was formerly an ancient
almshouse in the village for four poor
widows, the inmates receiving a customary annual allowance of wood from the Duke of
Bedford of the value of £2 13s. 4d. In 1870 and 1871
the charge was commuted, and the dilapidated almshouses and site sold to the Duke of Bedford. The
trust property now consists of £216 1s. 9d. consols,
with the official trustees, producing £5 8s. a year,
which under a scheme of 9 October 1876 is applicable
for the benefit of four deserving poor widows resident
in the parish.