ABBOTS RIPTON
Riptone (x cent.); Riptune (xi cent.); Magna
Riptona, Ryptone or Riptone Abbatis (xii and xiii
cent.); St. Johns Ripton (xvi cent.).
The parish of Abbots Ripton, consisting of 4,191
acres, lies near the centre of the county, and directly
north of Huntingdon itself. The land is flat and lowlying; a stream rising in the west of the parish
runs through it, passing a little to the north of the
village, by Abbots Ripton Hall, into King's Ripton.
Farming is the chief occupation of the inhabitants,
the principal crops being wheat, barley and beans.
The soil is gravel with a subsoil of clay. There is a
fair amount of woodland in the extreme east and
west of the parish. Early records show, however,
that the parish, with Somersham Chace and Sapley
Forest near by, was at one time very much more
wooded. In 1341 the Bishop of Ely claimed the right
to hunt deer freely 'throughout the whole forest of
Somersham, to wit, as the highway passes from
Huntingdon to Ramsey through Ripton,' the foresters
contending that woods bordering that road were the
king's forest and not the bishop's free chace. (fn. 1) The
timber on the manor at the time of the Dissolution
was reckoned a substantial part of its value and, while
it remained in the king's hands, the wood on it was
reserved by the Surveyor of Woods for the Crown and
its sale was not included in the ordinary accounts for
the manor. (fn. 2) At that time the trees in Holland
Coppice, Hyghe Grove, Wytes, Foxeholles and other
woods were returned as being from one to sixty years'
growth and valued at £44 14s. 0d.; besides these,
700 oaks of sixty years' growth stood on the site of
the manor, 300 of them being valued at 6d. per tree. (fn. 3)
The other 400 were reserved to the farmer of the site
of the manor and to thirty-eight copyholders for the
repair of their houses. It was probably soon after
this, when the property came to the St. John family,
that the value of the woodland began to fall quickly.
In the troublesome years following the grant to the
St. Johns it is evident that the inhabitants of the
manor were impoverished by high rents and reduced
privileges and, in return, constant actions for damage
to trees and unauthorised cutting down of timber
were brought by the lord against his tenants. (fn. 4) An
account is also found about this time of the decay of
houses on the manor.
The village lies somewhat scattered and is formed
into three groups of houses. The church stands
surrounded by trees on the road from Huntingdon
to Wood Walton. On its north side is the
rectory, a brick house with a large well-wooded
garden. Northward of the rectory is a group of
houses of the 18th century and later. A little
to the south-east of the church is a picturesque
group of some twenty 17th-century timber-framed
cottages with thatched or tiled roofs. East of these
cottages is the late 16th-century manor house now
called Moat Farm. It is a timber-framed and
plastered house with 18th-century and modern
additions. Many of the internal fittings are of the
17th and 18th centuries. The moat still survives
on its eastern side. To the south-east of the house
is a further group of houses round a large green with
a pond in the middle. Green Farm on the south side
is a good specimen of a 17th-century house with
exposed timber frame. Hall Farm, lying east of
Moat Farm, is a 17th-century house with modern
additions, while Shooters Green Farm, another
17th-century building, stands near Abbots Ripton
railway station.
The hamlet of Wennington lies nearly a mile to
the north of the village. Most of the cottages are
timber-framed, with roofs of thatch or tiles, and are
of the 16th century and later. Some time towards
the end of the Abbey's rule there is a record of the
foundation of a house for the poor, called 'le Almeshouse,' 'next the church there,' and the rent of two
capons, amounting to 6d., was allotted to its upkeep. (fn. 5)
Among our minor 19th-century poets, Mary
Sophia Stratton and Nicholas Stratton were residents
in Abbots Ripton, and W. E. Martin, inventor of an
automatic press for ensilage stacks and silos, also
lived here.
MANOR
In the 10th century Earl Alfwold,
brother of Aylwin, the founder of Ramsey
Abbey, granted Ripton, with Wennington, to that monastery, (fn. 6) subject to the life-interest
therein of his wife Alfild. She acknowledged her
husband's grant when she bequeathed the lands to the
Abbey, adding that: 'Alfwoldus eas adhuc vivens
viva voce eidem Ecclesie concessit.' (fn. 7) The original
grant must have been made at or soon after the
foundation, as King Edgar included these lands in his
charter of 974, by which he confirmed its possessions
to the Abbey. (fn. 8)
In 1086 Ripton was returned as a manor where the
abbot had 10 hides with land for 16 ploughs, and, in
demesne, land for two ploughs, exclusive of the said
hides; its value at the time of the Survey (1086),
as in the time of King Edward, was £8. (fn. 9) Subsequent
charters confirming its lands to Ramsey Abbey,
include Ripton, which appears to have become known
as Abbots Ripton in the 12th century, and was
usually so described from the latter part of the 13th
century. It was held by the abbey until the
Dissolution. (fn. 10)
A family which took the name of the place were
among the most important of the abbot's tenants,
holding freely of the abbey by military service. (fn. 11)
Hervey, Philip his brother, Reginald and Godfrey,
all called 'de Ripton,' held land here in the 12th
century. (fn. 12) In the next century Richard de Ripton,
and, later, Philip de Ripton, owed military service
to the abbey for their lands here. (fn. 13) The latter,
described as 'Dominus Philippus de Ripton,' had
several tenants here. (fn. 14) His son Alexander is mentioned in 1294, (fn. 15) and the manorial rolls and accounts
of the 13th and 14th centuries have constant references to the family. John son of Philip was pardoned
for outlawry in 1330, (fn. 16) but it is not apparent what
subsequently became of their holding.
About the time of the Dissolution the annual value
from rents and other issues in the manor of Abbots
Ripton, with Wennington and Esthorpe, averaged
£39, exclusive of profits from the sale of wood, from
fines, waifs and strays, or goods of felons and
fugitives. (fn. 17)
In 1541 the manor was granted by the Crown to
Sir John St. John, knt., and his heirs in exchange for
the manor of Paulspurye (Northants.) and the yearly
payment of £5 13s. 11d. (fn. 18) Two years later he settled
the manor on his son Oliver, (fn. 19) who became Baron
St. John of Bletsoe in 1559. (fn. 20) Various settlements of
the manor were made before Oliver's death in 1582. (fn. 21)
His son John inherited but died without male issue
in 1596; (fn. 22) Ripton, after being held in dower by the
widow, passed to a younger brother, Oliver, (fn. 23) who
died in 1618, leaving a son and heir, Oliver. (fn. 24) The
last-named Oliver was created Earl of Bolingbroke,
and conveyed Ripton, in 1640, to Hugh Awdley. (fn. 25)
After Awdley's death in 1662 there was much litigation as to the disposal of his property; (fn. 26) eventually
Abbots Ripton passed in separate moieties to Nicholas
and Thomas Bonfoy, his grandnephews and heirs. (fn. 27)
One moiety was inherited before 1679 by Nicholas's son
Hugh, the other by Thomas's daughter and heir Susan,
who married Sir Charles Cæsar, knt. (fn. 28) Both parties
joined in making a settlement of the manor in 1686. (fn. 29)
Sir Charles was succeeded by his son Charles
Adelmare Cæsar, who later joined with his eldest
son of the same name in mortgaging the property. (fn. 30)
The son predeceased his father, and a younger son,
Julius Cæsar, inheriting on the death of his father,
renewed the mortgage in 1741. (fn. 31) He appears to have
sold the manor, owing, no doubt, to the involved
financial condition of the owners. (fn. 32)
The main portion of the manor had been acquired
by 1794 by William Henry Fellowes, (fn. 33) whose descendant, Lord de Ramsey, is now lord of the manor.
The other part of the estate passed to the descendants of Hugh Bonfoy. His son and grandson, both
called Nicholas, followed him, the last-named,
Serjeant at Arms to the House of Commons, dying
n 1775. (fn. 34) The property was inherited by his niece
Elizabeth Martha, who married John Rooper, (fn. 35) and
their descendant, John George Rooper (d. 1924), was
a landholder in the parish.
Fillowes. Azure a fesse dancetty ermine between three lions' heads razed or
crowned with mural crowns argent..
Rooper. Sable an eagle close or.
The Abbot of Ramsey had view of frankpledge in
his manor here. (fn. 36) and in 1261 he claimed the right of
hearing and determining all pleas in Abbots Ripton. (fn. 37)
The manor had to supply the cellarer, twice a year for
a fortnight each time, with full farm, amounting in
value to £12 15s. 1d. for each fortnight. (fn. 38) Small
portions of land here were allotted as wages to certain
of the abbey servants, namely, to the porter of the
outer gate, to the cook in the abbey hall, and to one of
the carpenters. (fn. 39)
A good deal of information as to the relations
between the abbot and his tenants at Ripton is
found in a lawsuit in 1543, brought by several tenants
against Sir John St. John, (fn. 40) whose lordship, succeeding
that of Ramsey Abbey, was very little to their liking.
Sir John's aim was to increase his rents and to obtain
for himself rights in respect of their tenures and
privileges which were strenuously opposed. Seven
of the copyholders finally 'procured one common
purse' and brought a suit in the Court of Requests
against Sir John and his son Oliver. The plaintiffs
alleged that, whereas they had had their holdings by
copy of court roll from time immemorial, Sir John had,
by compulsion and threats, got hold of most of the
copies of court rolls and persuaded many tenants to
surrender their copyholds, receiving instead indentures
for a term of years, at the same time increasing the
rents. Numerous cases of assault and of collision
between tenants and bailiff were detailed. The
feeling against the new lord was very bitter, and even
his own witnesses were antagonistic. One, called to
give evidence that he had voluntarily surrendered his
copyhold, declared the bailiff had persuaded him by
threats: 'therefore this deponent thrwe or kast ye
said copyes to ye said Baylyf and badd hym take theym
and the devyll withall.' Sir John contended that
there were no copyholders. His deponents all
agreed that there had been copyholders from time
immemorial, and referred to 'a blak bokk of ye Regester
called a Garseyn Bokk,' where the copyholders were
registered. William Warwyck, (fn. 41) 'saithe that he
hathe hard hys father saye that before the batayle
which was callyd Ester Daye feld, (fn. 42) all the tenants of
Abbots Ripton were copie holders and held of the
Abbot of Ramsey. And the Northen men laye
there so long before the felde was fowghten that they
Impoveryshed the countrey and the tenauntes were
fayne to yelde up theyre copye holdes for that they
were not hable to Repayre theym. And then came
other tenauntes and occupyed them as tenauntes at
wyll and they had the Rentes abatyd. And further
saythe that during the tyme that the lands were in the
Kinges Maiesties hands the tenauntes were never
vext nor trowbelyd.' Sir John, besides raising the
rents, had forbidden the ancient privileges concerning
cutting and selling wood. The same deponent recalled that formerly all had felled and used the woods
and trees 'abowte theyre yardes and theyr woods in
the Comen hethe which have always been comen
and never denyed.' During this long suit, Sir John
and his son counterclaimed with actions against
various tenants for trespass in cutting down trees,
particular damage being caused to the timber in
closes called Pottars, Harppes, Eastroppe and in
Bugg grene, where many oaks were wrongfully felled—
'maple hasell and thorne they may fell yt as comyn,
but neyther oke nor ashe." (fn. 43)
The family of Vernon or le Vernoun held land here
of the abbot in the 13th and 14th centuries by military
service. (fn. 44) Whether this is the same family as that
which held the site of the manor some time before the
Dissolution is not certain, but when the site 'otherwise called the Berysted,' with lands belonging, including pastures called Burnesstocking and Deaconsstocking, was leased to Sir Richard Cromwell in 1535
for eighty years, it was described as having been
formerly in the tenure of Richard Verneham. (fn. 45) Oliver,
Lord St. John, to whom the reversion had been
granted, endeavoured to obtain immediate possession
by 'a synyster and fraudulente' suit against the
lessees of Sir Richard Cromwell. (fn. 46) The site was
afterwards held with the manor.
A windmill is mentioned among the abbey's
possessions here in the 13th century and later; (fn. 47)
its existence is recorded as late as 1654. (fn. 48) In the
16th century there is reference to a park of Ripton.
WENNINGTON,
WENNINGTON, which was included with Ripton
in the early grants to Ramsey Abbey, and descended
throughout with the manor of Abbots Ripton, does
not appear to have held separate manorial courts.
After the Dissolution, however, it is frequently
called the 'manor' of Wennington.
ESTHORPE
ESTHORPE is also called a manor after the Dissolution, but early references point to its having been
actually part of the chief manor. Its position may
apparently be found by the close called 'Eastroppe,'
or the closes in Esthorpe called le Bussheclose and
le Mote close, referred to when Abbots Ripton was
still under the abbey rule. (fn. 49)
The manor of RUSSHEBYES probably originated
in the land held of the abbot by the family of that
name in the 13th century. Agnes, widow of William
de Rouceby, quitclaimed a small parcel of land to
Richard de Ripton in 1232; (fn. 50) in 1362 William de
Risceby, king's yeoman, received a grant of free
warren in the demesne lands of his manor of Abbots
Ripton. (fn. 51) In 1440 the 'manor of Abbotts Ripton
called Russhebyes,' which included 220 acres of land,
was held by two heiresses, Julia Parker and Eleanor
Thornton, who, with Eleanor's husband, conveyed it
in that year to John Cullar and others. (fn. 52) John died in
1472, (fn. 53) and his widow was holding the manor in the
following year, (fn. 54) but afterwards sold to Thomas
Burton. (fn. 55) John Burton his son inherited, but the
manor became the subject of a suit in Chancery,
and was sold to Anthony Hansert in 1529. (fn. 56) The
latter appears to have conveyed to Oliver Leder, who
sold in 1535 to Richard Cromwell for 400 marks. (fn. 57)
In 1555 Thomas Bowles, Anne his wife, and his
son Thomas conveyed the manor to Robert Rowley
and Oliver St. John. (fn. 58) The manor was held by the
St. John family with the chief manor (q.v.) in 1586, (fn. 59)
and afterwards followed the same descent.
Plan of Abbots Ripton Church
A messuage called COLLESPLACE, with fifty
acres in a close called COLLESTOKKYNGE
and a parcel of land called LONDONESLANDE,
was granted in 1448 to the Warden and Fellows of
Trinity Hall, Cambridge. (fn. 60)
CHURCH
The church of ST. ANDREW consists
of a chancel (31 ft. by 16 ft.), north chapel
(15 ft. by 8½ ft.), nave (41¼ ft. by 15 ft.),
north aisle (8¾ ft. wide), south aisle (11¼ ft. wide),
west tower (11 ft. square) and south porch. Although
there was a church here at the time of the Domesday
Survey (1086), the earliest evidence in the present
building is of a church gradually reconstructed and
enlarged during the third and fourth decades of the
13th century. This church, which consisted,
apparently, of a chancel, nave, south aisle with
south porch, and perhaps a north aisle, was dedicated
by the Bishop of Lincoln in 1242. (fn. 61)
At the beginning of the 16th century it was evidently
intended to rebuild the church. The chancel was
at that date rebuilt and the north chapel added, a
new arcade on the north side of the nave was erected
and from the evidence of the west respond of the
south arcade it was apparently proposed to rebuild
that side also, but it is probable that instead of doing
so this arcade was taken down and rebuilt with the
same material. The tower is part of the same scheme
of reconstruction, but of a little later date than the
rest of the work. The church was restored by subscription in 1858, and in 1868 the roofs of the nave
and south aisle were restored as a memorial to Frances
Rooper by her brothers and sister.
The chancel has a modern east window of four
lights, on the south side of which is the piscina,
probably of the 16th century, now partly restored, that
served the high altar. The present altar table is
modern, but the oak table with turned legs, now in
the vestry, was probably that in use during the 17th
century and later. The windows of the chancel are
all of three cinquefoiled lights, with tracery in a
four-centred head, and belong to 16th-century rebuilding. West of the window, on the north side,
is a four-centred arch of two moulded orders with
attached shafts and moulded capitals and bases, leading into the north chapel. Bequests to a sepulchre
light in wills of the first quarter of the 16th century (fn. 62)
suggest the existence of an Easter Sepulchre, perhaps
on the north side of the chancel, but may not have
been a permanent structure. The chancel arch is
probably of the 16th century, but some of the
voussoirs may be of the 13th century. It is two
centred and of two moulded orders which die
into the responds. There is a squint on either side
of the chancel arch, that on the south side now
being blocked. Over the arch on the east side is a
recess, possibly for a sanctus bell, and on the west
side are hung four hatchments relating to the Bonfoy
and Rooper families. From wills it appears that a
rood loft which was gilded was erected about 1530. (fn. 63)
The chancel roof of two bays is of the date of the
chancel. It is flat pitched and at the feet of the
wall posts are figures of men and women.
The north chapel was possibly the chapel of the
Gild of Our Lady, of which there is frequent reference
in the early part of the 16th century. (fn. 64) It is now used
as the vestry. The east and north windows of
three cinquefoiled lights, with tracery in a four-centred
head, belong to the date of the building of the chapel
in the 16th century. In the south wall are the remains
of a piscina, now used as a cupboard, which served
the adjoining altar, probably dedicated to the honour
of the Virgin, and in the north-east angle are the
remains of a bracket that may have supported her
image, (fn. 65) which had a gilt canopy (fn. 66) in the early part of
the 16th century. The roof is of the date of the
chapel.
The nave arcades are of three bays; that on the south
side is of the 13th century, possibly rebuilt in the
16th century. It has two-centred arches, round piers,
with moulded capitals and bases. The 16th-century
north arcade has two-centred arches of two moulded
orders, the piers being formed of two responds set
back to back; on the north face are small shafts
carried up the wall probably for roof corbels. At the
east respond on this side there is a pedestal for an
image. The clearstory is of the 16th century rebuilding and has three windows on each side of two
trefoiled lights in four-centred heads. The roof is
contemporary with the 16th century rebuilding.
The north doorway and two traceried windows in
the north aisle are of the 15th century, and the
western of these windows contains fragments of 15thcentury glass, and the glass in the eastern is a memorial
to Constance, wife of Rev. S. King, daughter of John
Bonfoy Rooper, who died on 6 February, 1870.
The east window of the south aisle of three cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a four-centred head,
belongs to the 16th-century rebuilding. There is a
plain high wall arcade of three bays in the south wall
of this aisle, at the bottom of which is a stone bench.
The eastern bay contains a modern window of three
lights, the middle a 15th-century window of three
lights, with tracery in a four-centred head, restored,
and the western a 13th-century doorway, probably
rebuilt, leading into the 13th-century south porch,
which has a contemporary outer archway and a
15th-century window on either side.
The west tower is of three stages, with a stair turret
in the south-west angle, and has an embattled parapet
with pinnacles. It is wholly of the early part of
the 16th century. The two-centred tower arch is of
two chamfered orders, the inner of which springs from
attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases.
The west doorway has a two-centred arch and moulded
jambs, and the west window is of three four-centred
lights with uncusped tracery. The second stage has
a single four-centred light in the north wall and the
clock face on the south. The clock, according to a
brass tablet in the chancel, was given in remembrance
of the Rev. Plumer Pott Rooper, by his surviving
brothers and sisters. In the third stage is a fourcentred window of two lights in each wall. Under
the tower arch is an early 19th-century organ.
The font has an octagonal bowl with a quatrefoil
in each face, and probably dates from the 15th century.
The monumental inscriptions in the church are as
follows: On north wall of chancel, to Catherine
Cranwell eldest daughter of the Rev. John Cranwell,
d. 2 July 1783; to Rev. John Cranwell, d. 17 April 1793;
to John Rooper, d. 17 Dec. 1826; Elizabeth his wife,
d. 14 July 1824, and Rev. Thomas Rich. Rooper, their
youngest son, d. 7 April 1865. On the south wall of
chancel to Nicholas Bonfoy, Serjeant-at-Arms, son
and heir of Nicholas Bonfoy of Abbots Ripton, and
Elizabeth, daughter of William Hale, of Kings Walden,
d. 12 Oct. 1775; to John Bonfoy Rooper, d. 11 Mar.
1855; to Harriet wife of John Bonfoy Rooper, d.
9 Sept. 1841; Caroline eldest daughter of J. W. Buck,
of London, wife of Rev. Wm. Rooper, d. 20 April 1834,
and Henrietta Persis youngest daughter of Rev. Thos.
Rooper and Persis his wife, d. 14 Dec. 1833; to Rev.
Plumer Pott Rooper, d. 18 May 1881, and Georgina
his wife, d. 23 May 1890. In north chapel there
is on the north wall the inscription of a brass to
Thomas Cowche, d. 20 Feb. 1641–2, and a tablet to
Charles Trimnell, rector of the parish, d. 1702, and
Mary his wife, d. 1684. On north wall of north aisle,
to Howard Gilliat, lieutenant 16th Lancers, d. of
fever in Transvaal, 23 Sept. 1900; mural tablet erected
by the parishioners of Abbots Ripton and Wennington
in memory of those who fell in the Great War 1914–
1918. On wall of south aisle, to John George Rooper,
d. 15 Mar. 1924, and Arthur Somerville Rooper, d.
Dec. 1888.
There are three bells: the first by William Dawe
inscribed 'Non venit ad veniam qui nescit amare
Mariam,' date about 1400; the second by Tobias
Norris, 1671, and the old third inscribed 'Non clamor
sed amor cantat in aure Dei,' 1622, the present third
was recast by John Warner and Sons, London, 1875.
The plate consists of two silver cups marked 1828–9,
a silver plate used as a paten, (fn. 67) inscribed on the face
T.B. and B.T., marked 1656–7; a silver plate of uncertain date; a silver alms dish of uncertain date; a
silver flagon marked 1744–5 and inscribed 'Ecclesiæ
parochiali de Ripton Abbatis legavit moriens Mensæ
qz addixit Eucharisticæ Johannes Hotchkin A.M.
Per annos quadraginta tres Ibidem Rector Anno
Salutis Humanæ 1745.'
The registers are as follows: (i) Baptisms, marriages and burials, 10 March 1558–9 to 8 October 1684;
nine loose paper leaves, with baptisms, 10 March 1558
to 22 Feb. 1596; (ii) baptisms and burials, 14 April
1684 to 18 Oct. 1724, and marriages, 29 April 1684 to
6 Dec. 1744; (iii) baptisms and burials, 20 Nov. 1724
to 25 March 1768; (iv) marriages 6 Dec. 1744 to
5 Dec. 1753, baptisms and burials, 31 May 1768 to
29 Dec. 1812; (v) The official marriage book, 22 Aug.
1754 to 13 July 1812; the usual modern books.
ADVOWSON
The existence of a church with a
priest at Ripton is recorded in the
Domesday Survey (1086). It belonged, like the manor, to Ramsey Abbey (fn. 68) towards the
middle of the 12th century. Hugh, the priest of
Ripton, was a witness to an Abbey deed of 1135–60. (fn. 69)
In 1178 a confirmation of the possessions to the Abbey
by the Pope includes: 'Ripton and the other Ripton,
with the churches.' (fn. 70) The church continued in the
possession of the Abbey until the Dissolution, (fn. 71) and
afterwards followed the descent of the manor. At
the division of the manorial property after Awdley's
death in 1662, the advowson of the rectory was held
with the Bonfoys' moiety, (fn. 72) and so passed to the
Roopers. (fn. 73) The Rev. John George Rooper, owner of a
moiety of the estate, presented himself in 1881. He
conveyed the advowson to his sister, Lady Palmer,
who died in 1929 and whose executors are the
present patrons. In 1922 the benefices of Abbots
Ripton and Little Stukeley were united by Order in
Council, the patron of Abbots Ripton to have two
turns to one of the patron of Little Stukeley. (fn. 74)
From the 13th to the 15th centuries the value of
the church was returned as from 30 to 35 marks, a
pension of 2s. being due from it to the Abbot. (fn. 75) In
1535 it was valued at £22, payments of 2s. and 10s. 8d.
being due respectively to the abbot and to the archdeacon of Huntingdon. (fn. 76) In 1242 the expenses of
the Abbot of Ramsey included 53s. 4d. to the Bishop
of Lincoln for the dedication of the Church of Ripton,
and 3s. 2d. for two rochets for the same. (fn. 77) In 1252 a
very detailed inquisition as to the customs of the
manor gives full accounts of the possessions of the
parson at that time, with a description of his house,
land, services due to him and tithes paid; the dedication of the church to St. Andrew is recorded. (fn. 78)
About this time the estate held by the parson here
was described as a manor, from which the receipts
from rents, sale of hay, etc., amounted to £6 18s. 2¾d.;
the expenses, mainly stipends to the carpenter, smith,
collector of the tithe, men servants and serving woman
(ancilla domus), amounted to £8 12s. 9d. The parson
also returned receipts totalling £6 14s. 4d. from such
sources as oblations (43s. 2½d.), marriages, sale of wool
and sale of tithes. (fn. 79)
In the Edwardian Inventories of 1552 the goods of
the church included 'a paire of organes,' while the
churchwardens were stated to have sold a broken bell
for £7; a 'paire of broken senceres' and a 'hollywater stoppe' had been stolen. (fn. 80)
CHARITY
Church Land. The endowment of
this charity consists of a small field called
Church Acre and containing 1 acre.
The land is let by the churchwardens to Mr. F. W.
Ding as a yearly tenant at a rent of £1, which is carried
to the churchwardens' account.