FEN STANTON
Stantun, Stantone (xi cent.), Staunton, Stanton
Gisbrit de Gant (xiii cent.), Fenstanton, Fennystanton (xiv cent.).
Fen Stanton lies on the Cambridgeshire borders
of the county on the south side of the river Ouse.
As its name implies, it is for the most part on lowlying land, liable to floods, which rises somewhat to
the south. The area is 2,565 acres of land and 16
acres of land covered by water. The soil is of clay,
gravel, or fenny loam, producing wheat, barley,
potatoes and chicory.
The village is on the Roman road from Cambridge
to Godmanchester, here called the High Street, and
about a mile from the Ouse. It was originally, it
would seem, a nucleated settlement off the high road,
the church and early village lying on rising ground
about a quarter of a mile north of the road. From
the church, by-roads, along which the village has
grown, run down to the Roman road. The main part
of the village is the High Street, on the south side of
which are several 17th-century timber-framed houses.
At the west end of this road, where it is crossed by the
road called Hilton Road on the south and Chequers
Street on the north, is the old Clock House. This is
a square brick building with rusticated quoins built
at the end of the 17th century as a lock-up. In the
upper story is a clock. The slate roof is surmounted
by a timber cupola with round arches, containing a
bell cast by Thomas Norris in 1660 or 1666. On the
south side of Hilton Road, which here branches off to
the south-west, are two 16th-century houses, timber-framed, with tiled roofs. The earlier, which is
nearer the village, has a central block with wings on
each side, the north-east wing having a projecting
upper story supported on brackets. The other,
known as the Gables, is built on an H-shaped plan,
and has a projecting upper story to the street. There
are some 17th-century timber-framed cottages in
Chequers Street, towards the east end of which is the
Manor House, a good 17th-century brick house with
shaped gables at each end and a brick porch of two
stories, now the residence of Miss G. M. Peet. Some
of the internal fittings are original. This was the house
in which Lancelot Brown, generally known as 'Capability Brown,' lived after he obtained the manor from
the Earl of Northampton in 1768. Brown started life
as a working gardener and had a great reputation for
laying out gardens after the then new style of landscape
gardening, and later practised as an architect. He
amassed a considerable fortune, and was sheriff for
Huntingdonshire in 1770. It is said that Brown
received the manor of Fen Stanton from the Earl of
Northampton in payment for his work in improving
the gardens of Castle Ashby. (fn. 1) He died in 1783, and
there is a monument to him and his wife Bridget in
the church. He was succeeded by his son Lancelot,
who was member for the county. Not far from the
Manor House, in Church Lane, is a 16th-century
timber-framed house with projecting upper story and
a fine chimney stack of four shafts. To the west of
the village is the Manor Farm, a good 18th-century
brick house with stone dressings and a slate roof.
From its design and fittings it was evidently intended
for a private residence.
The parish runs in a sharp point up to St. Ives in the
extreme north-west, the Potton Road dividing it from
Hemingford Grey on the western side. In this projecting portion there are two disused corn mills and
a disused windmill, the gas works and residential
houses.
There is a Congregational chapel and a Calvinistic
Baptist chapel. Fen Stanton Literary Institute,
established in 1856, is now a boys' club. It was
rebuilt in 1880 by Thomas Coote, who also presented
the parish with a cemetery of an acre.
MANOR
The manor of STANTON cum HILTON or FEN STANTON, assessed at
13 hides, was held in the time of Edward
the Confessor by Ulf, but before 1086 it had been
given by the Conqueror to his nephew Gilbert de
Gant, son of Baldwin of Flanders. (fn. 2) Gilbert was
succeeded by his son Walter (d. 1139) from whom the
manor descended to Gilbert, his son, who married
Hawise, daughter and heir of William de Romare, Earl
of Lincoln, and through her took the title of earl. He
left a daughter Alice, who married Simon de St. Liz,
Earl of Huntingdon, on whose death without issue the
manor passed to her uncle, Robert de Gant. Gilbert,
son of Robert (fn. 3) succeeded before 1205, (fn. 4) but his lands
were seized for his rebellion in adhering to the Barons.
It would seem that the manor was at this time granted
to Alan de Dinant, the king's champion in France,
as in 1206 Agnes de la Roche (de Rupe) held it in
dower of the inheritance of Alan and was then engaged
in a dispute with her sockmen of Stanton regarding
their services. (fn. 5) She probably married Gilbert de
Pecche, who was holding a knight's fee in Stanton in
1210–12. (fn. 6) Before 1216 she seems to have married
again, as Daniel de Bures and Agnes, his wife, were
then holding the whole vill in chief. (fn. 7) Agnes and her
son, Eudo de Roche, granted a rent of 15s. 5½d. out of
the manor to the Priory of Legh (co. Devon). (fn. 8) Eudo
died beyond the seas without an heir, and the manor is
said to have escheated to the crown, (fn. 9) but in 1226
Richard Marshal, later Earl of Pembroke, did homage
for the manor, in right of his wife Gervaise, daughter
of Alan de Dinant. It would come to them after
the death of Agnes de la Roche, who then held it in
dower of the inheritance of Gervaise. (fn. 10) In 1228
Gilbert de Gant claimed 8 hides in Stanton against
Agnes, who pleaded she only held in dower. (fn. 11) The
Gants did not regain possession. Richard Earl of
Pembroke forfeited his lands for rebellion and Gervaise
died without issue, so that on the death of Agnes the
manor seems again to have escheated to the crown.
In 1234 Henry III granted it, as lately belonging to
Agnes de Roche, to Stephen de Segrave for the service
of one knight's fee. A few months later Stephen
forfeited for rebellion, and in the same year the king
granted the manor to his sister, Joan Queen of Scotland, for life, at the rent
of a sore sparrow hawk. (fn. 12)
The queen evidently built a
house here, as in 1235 the
king gave her 20 oaks and
other timber from the Forests
of Weybridge and Sapley for
the purpose. (fn. 13) The site of
this house is probably marked
by the homestead moat at
Grove House. In 1237, with
the king's permission, she
granted some 112½ acres of
the demesne, 9 virgates and other lands and certain
villeins and their sequels, 22 croftmen (crofmanni), a
meadow at Hilton, 29 acres of the marsh of Stanton,
and 15 acres of meadow in Hay, to the abbey of the
Blessed Place at Tarent (co. Dorset), together with her
body for burial in the abbey. (fn. 14) She died in 1238, when
the manor was restored to Stephen de Segrave. (fn. 15) In
1240 the abbess and nuns of Tarent demised to Stephen
all that they had in demesne in the manor as set out
above, retaining the 9 virgates of the villenage of
the manor. (fn. 16) An exchange of their lands in Fen Stanton and Hilton was made by the abbess of Tarent in
1240 and 1242, with Robert de Pavely and his wife
Parnel, (fn. 17) for lands in Tarent Keynes.
Segrave. Sable a lion argent crowned or
Stephen de Segrave was the father of Gilbert de
Segrave, (fn. 18) whose son Sir Nicholas was taken prisoner
at Evesham in 1265 and his lands seized by the crown. (fn. 19)
Before 1276 the manor had been restored to Nicholas,
who held it of the king in chief for service of ⅓
knight's fee. (fn. 20) Simon de Stanton, who was at this
time a free tenant of 3 carucates of land in the vill, (fn. 21)
made a conveyance of a mill, lands, etc., in Stanton,
Hilton, and elsewhere in 1286 to Nicholas de Segrave, (fn. 22)
who in 1292 as Nicholas de Segrave the elder, received
a grant of free warren in his demesne lands at Stanton. (fn. 23) He was summoned to Simon de Montfort's
parliament of 1264 and died seised of the manor of
Fen Stanton cum Hilton in 1295 and was succeeded
by John, his son. (fn. 24)
John was summoned to parliament as Lord Segrave (fn. 25)
and was returned in 1303 as holding Stanton with the
soke. (fn. 26) In 1315 he had a grant of a weekly market
in his manor of Fen Stanton on Thursdays, and of a
fair there yearly on the vigil and day of the Apostles
Peter and Paul and six following days. (fn. 27) He was
holding Stanton cum Hilton in 1316, then assessed
as one vill, (fn. 28) and died in Gascony in 1325. His
death was quickly followed by that of his son and
heir Stephen (fn. 29) (Constable of the Tower), whose son
John (aged 9) was found to be the heir of his grandfather before the year was out. (fn. 30) The manor of Fen
Stanton, with the members of Hilton and Wisbeach,
was assigned in dower to Christine, the widow of John
de Segrave the elder in 1326, (fn. 31) and in 1327 a rent of 4s.
out of it was allotted to Alice, the widow of Stephen,
and mother of the heir, who was then in the custody
of the king's uncle, Thomas de Brotherton, Duke
of Norfolk, (fn. 32) the 5th son of Edward I. Young John
Lord Segrave had married the duke's only daughter
and eventual heiress, later to be suo jure Countess of
Norfolk, in 1338, and the manor and advowson of Fen
Stanton with the exception of one-twentieth of the
same were settled upon her in 1344. (fn. 33) John Lord
Segrave died in 1353, leaving as his heir a thirteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth, married to John son of
John de Mowbray of Axholm. (fn. 34) Part of the manor
had been settled on John Lord Segrave's widow
Margaret, (fn. 35) who had married Walter de Manny. (fn. 36)
The death of Walter de Manny was followed by
orders in 1372 for the delivery to his widow Margaret
of the manor (one-twentieth and the advowson
excepted) which he had held for life (fn. 37) and in 1377 she
petitioned successfully, as Margaret Marshall, Countess of Norfolk and Lady Segrave, for exemption of
her towns of Everton and Fen
Stanton as parcel of the earldom of Norfolk and lordship
of Segrave, from pontage dues
unjustly demanded in respect
of Huntingdon Bridge. (fn. 38) She
was created Duchess of
Norfolk in 1397 (fn. 39) and died in
1399. (fn. 40) Her grandson and
heir, Thomas Mowbray Earl
of Nottingham and Duke of
Norfolk, (fn. 41) died in the same
year and was succeeded by
his fourteen-year-old son Thomas, who received maintenance from the manor. (fn. 42) Thomas was beheaded
in 1405 for joining in the Scrope conspiracy,
when his brother John succeeded (fn. 43) and in 1428
as Duke of Norfolk was assessed as holding ½ knight's
fee and ¼ knight's fee in Stanton which John de
Segrave formerly held. (fn. 44) The third duke died
seised of the manor in 1432, (fn. 45) and was succeeded
by his son John, whose aunt Constance, as Countess
Marshal, was holding a rent from the manor as
dower at her death in 1437. (fn. 46) John 4th Duke of
Norfolk made a settlement of the manor on his son
John, and Elizabeth wife of the latter, daughter of
John Talbot first Earl of Shrewsbury, and died in
1461. (fn. 47) The fifth and last duke obtained leave in
1475 to grant a five years' lease of the manor to meet
the costs incurred by him 'in this your grete viage
Royall beyond the Sea agen your auncient ennemye
of Fraunce,' (fn. 48) and died seised of it in 1476. (fn. 49) His heir
was his four-year-old daughter Anne, (fn. 50) wife of
Richard Duke of York, younger son of Edward IV.
The manor and advowson then held in dower by his
widow Elizabeth were settled upon this youthful
couple in 1477, when the prince was created Earl of
Nottingham and Duke of Norfolk. (fn. 51) Anne died
without issue in 1481. (fn. 52) Her heirs were the issue of
Isobel daughter of the first Duke of Norfolk, who had
married James Lord Berkeley, and the issue of Isobel's
sister Margaret, wife of Sir Robert Howard, i.e.,
William Lord Berkeley, created Earl of Nottingham
in 1483, and John Howard, created Duke of Norfolk
in the same year. An agreement as to the division
of the Mowbray estates between these co-heirs (fn. 53) left
Stanton cum Hilton in the hands of William Earl
Marshal and Earl of Nottingham, who in 1488 settled
the reversion of the manor after the death of the
Duchess Elizabeth on his wife Anne. (fn. 54) Before Elizabeth's death in 1507 a distress was taken on lands in
Conington (co. Cambridge) parcel of her manor of
Stanton, by the Duchy of Lancaster authorities,
which she disputed on the ground that the manor
was held of the crown, not of the duchy. (fn. 55) William
Earl Marshal and Earl of Nottingham, to whom the
manor was confirmed by Act of Parliament, (fn. 56) had
died without surviving issue in 1492 and the manor
was at a later date adjudged to his heir, his brother
Maurice Lord Berkeley, whom he had attempted to
disinherit, but to whom seisin was delivered in 1504. (fn. 57)
He predeceased the Duchess Elizabeth, dying in
1506, (fn. 58) and was succeeded by his son, also Maurice,
Lord Berkeley, who in 1524 died seised of the manor,
which was subject to certain charges and returned as
held of the heirs of Sir John Hastings, kt. (fn. 59)
Mowbray. Gules a lion argent.
The manor continued to be held by the Berkeleys,
and was in 1573 settled by Henry Lord Berkeley. (fn. 60)
In 1600 it was sold by Henry Lord Berkeley, his wife
Jane, son and heir Thomas, and the latter's wife
Elizabeth, Ambrose Cooper, and John Smyth, to Sir
John Spencer, kt. (fn. 61) Sir John Spencer died seised of
it in 1610, when it passed to his daughter and heir
Elizabeth, wife of William Lord Compton. (fn. 62) She
settled it in 1613, and died in 1632, (fn. 63) her husband,
created Earl of Northampton in 1618, having predeceased her in 1630, in which year his son Spencer,
as Earl of Northampton, was dealing with the
manor. (fn. 64) Spencer was slain
in 1643, and he and his son
James, who then succeeded
him, distinguished themselves in the Royalist cause.
The manor remained in the
Northampton family (fn. 65) until
conveyed in 1768 by Spencer
Earl of Northampton to
Lancelot Brown, with all
rights, including a yearly sum
of £5 payable out of certain
tolls and rates upon the
navigation of the Ouse. (fn. 66)
Lancelot Brown, the celebrated 'Capability Brown,'
died in 1783 and was succeeded by his son Lancelot,
M.P. for the county. He died in 1801 and the
manor passed to his brother Admiral John Brown,
who died in 1808, when it went to another brother,
Rev. Thomas Brown. Thomas died about 1815 and
was succeeded by his son, Rev. Lancelot Robert
Brown, at whose death about 1869 it went to trustees
for his two daughters. Between 1871 and 1885 the
trustees sold the property in lots, when the manorial
rights appear to have been lost. (fn. 67)
Compton. Sable a leopard or between three belms argent.
By the Inclosure Act an allotment was made to
persons having rights of common in Long Meadow
and Fen Stanton Fen (about 300 acres) then divided;
and also of a part of Hall Green, a common in Fen
Stanton, in lieu of rights of common.
George Symcote (or Symcotts), lessee in 1545 of the
rectory, bequeathed a property of 10 messuages,
3 dovecots, lands, rents, etc., in Fen Stanton to his
wife Mary for life or while unmarried, with remainder
to John, William and other sons. His widow Mary
leased it to her son John, who then leased it to Richard
[Cox], Bishop of Ely, and afterwards to Anthony
Stapleton, (fn. 68) to whom John Symcote and his wife
Phillis or Felicia made a conveyance of a messuage,
lands, etc., in Fen Stanton in 1563. (fn. 69) In the following
year a fresh conveyance to Anthony Stapleton was
made by John Symcote and his wife. (fn. 70) A Chancery
suit was brought against John Symcote of London,
merchant, and William Symcote, in connection with
this lease. (fn. 71) In 1575–6 the younger brothers of John
Symcote, William, Jonas, and George, conveyed this
property to Richard Arkinstall and Thomas Awder. (fn. 72)
A free fishery was held with the manor (q.v.). In
1279 it was returned that the lord had common of
fishery with the abbot of Ramsey with one 'Sagen'
from the bridge of St. Ives to Swyftsweir (fn. 73) in the
Ouse. The several fisheries held within the manor,
and in the demesnes of the abbot of Ramsey and
others by the Dukes of Norfolk, are referred to in the
inquisition taken after the death of the third duke in
1432. (fn. 74)
CHURCH
The Church of ST. PETER AND
ST. PAUL consists of a chancel (50½ ft.
by 25 ft.), nave (44½ ft. by 15½ ft.),
north aisle (59 ft. by 13 ft.), south aisle (59 ft. by
11½ ft.), west tower (11 ft. by 14 ft.) and south
porch. The walls are of rubble with stone dressings
and the roofs are covered with tiles, slates and lead.
Although mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086)
nothing remains of this early church except a few
stones reused in the walling. There was evidently a
rebuilding in the first half of the 13th century, of
which period are the responds of the chancel arch, the
plinth of the west respond of the north arcade, and
the north, south and part of the east arches of the
tower; and, apparently, a south porch was also built.
Early in the 14th century the south aisle and porch
were rebuilt, and in 1345–52, the then Rector, William
Longthorne, rebuilt the chancel, while at the extreme
end of the century the tower was practically rebuilt
and finished with a spire. In the next century another
reconstruction involved the rebuilding of the nave
arcades with a clearstory and roof above them, enlargement of the chancel and tower arches, building of
strong buttresses to stiffen the tower piers, and
finally, about 1500, the rebuilding of the north aisle,
new windows in the south aisle, and new roofs to the
aisles and porch. The galleries were pulled down and
the church generally restored in 1860.
The fine 14th-century chancel built by William de
Longthorne, rector, 1344–1352, who lies buried in its
midst, has a large and magnificent east window
of seven lights with a large circle and flowing tracery
in the head. The side windows, three on each side,
are three-lights with flowing tracery. In the south
wall there is also a doorway, and triple graduated
sedilia with piscina forming a fourth and eastern bay.
The chancel arch is of the 15th century but is supported on 13th-century responds reset, with 15thcentury caps to the jamb shafts. The roof is modern.
The 15th-century nave has an arcade of three bays
on each side, having arches of two moulded orders
resting on columns formed of four semi-octagonal
shafts with moulded caps and bases. The contemporary clearstory has four two-light windows on each
side. The roof is original but much restored; it has
some carved figures and bosses.
The north aisle, c. 1500, has no window in its east
wall, but the north wall has three three-light windows
and a blocked doorway, and the early 16th-century
west window has four lights. The contemporary roof
has large figures of feathered angels at the feet of the
intermediate principals.
The early 14th-century south aisle has a two-light
window of c. 1300 in the east wall. In the south
wall are three early 16th-century three-light windows,
a 14th-century doorway, a plain locker and a stoup.
In the west wall is a 14th-century three-light window.
The roof, c. 1500, is generally similar to that of the
north aisle. (fn. 75)
The west tower has a 15th-century eastern arch, of
three orders, but the outer order on the west is of
13th-century work up to the springing of the two side
arches; the respond piers are stiffened by large
15th-century buttresses on the north and south sides
respectively, each with a low half-arch at the base.
On the north and south the tower stands on 13th-century arches. The west door and the three-light
window above it and all the other features of the
tower and spire are of late 14th-century date; the
stage below the belfry has a quatrefoil in a square on
the south side, and a square-headed two-light window
in the west wall; the belfry windows are of two lights.
The octagonal broach spire has two tiers of lights,
the lowest on the cardinal faces.
The 14th-century south porch, which is set at a
curious angle with the aisle, has a reset outer archway
of two orders, the outer of 13th-century date with
moulded label enriched with the dog-tooth ornament,
and the inner of 14th-century date, the whole resting
on 14th-century responds. Above the arch is a reset
13th-century Vesica-shaped window. Each side wall
has a 14th-century two-light window.
FEN STANTON The PARISH CHURCH of S.S. PETER & PAVL
Reproduced by permission of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office from the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hunts.
The roof is of c. 1500.
The font is modern, octagonal, with tracery panels
in the sides.
There are five bells, inscribed (1) Thomas Norris
made me, 1636; (2) Joseph Eayre fecit, 1771; (3)
Anno Domini 1603; (4) Merorem mestis letis sic
leta sonabo, 1620; (5) Thomas Norris made me, 1636.
The third bell is a rough casting by an unknown
founder; the fourth by William Haulsey. The bells
were rehung by Messrs. Taylor & Co., of Loughborough. There were five bells in 1724. (fn. 76)
The oak pulpit is octagonal and has two tiers of
panels of elaborate linen-fold pattern made up with
modern framing, and having some small crocketed
pinnacles from the destroyed rood-screen fixed on the
angles. Other tracery from the screen has been
worked up in the modern lectern.
In the churchyard is the base of the 14th-century
churchyard cross.
On the chancel floor is a large slab of Purbeck marble,
6 ft. 10 in. by 3 ft. 10 in., with matrix of the demifigure of a priest and marginal inscription in Lombardic
letters:—
✠ HIC JACET DOMINVS WILELMVS DE LOVGTHONE
QVONDAM RECTOR HVIVS ECCLESIE ET FVNDA[TO]R ISTIVS
CA . . . . E.
The registers are as follows: (i) Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1612 to 18 March 1739/40; (ii)
baptisms, marriages and burials, 11 April 1740 to 13
March 1800; marriages end 3 Feb. 1754; (iii)
baptisms and burials, 23 Feb. 1800 to 10 January
1813; (iv) the official marriage book 17 May 1754 to
18 Aug. 1811.
The church plate consists of: A tall silver-gilt cup
engraved with Elizabethan ornament and inscribed
'This cuppe was made the third day of December
Anno Dom[ini] 1619 for the parish of ffenistaunton In
Huntington. sheir, Gregory Lindesey and william
Frigge then beinge churchwardens,' and on base
'22 oz.' hall-marked for 1619–20; a silver chalice
engraved '✠ Agnus Dei miserere nobis,' and inscribed
on base 'For SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Fenstanton,
1884' hall-marked for 1883–4; a silver paten similarly inscribed and hall-marked; a silver box inscribed
'The gift of Haylock Watson to the Church of St.
Peter and St. Paul, Fenstanton, 1885' hall-marked for
1885–6; a silver mounted mother-of-pearl baptismal
shell, hall-marked for 1914–15.
There are the following monuments: In the
chancel, to Launcelot Brown, d. 1783, Bridget his
widow, d. 1786, Launcelot Brown their elder son,
d. 1802, John Brown, second son, d. 1808, and Mary
widow of Admiral Brown, d. 1834; Peter Cowling,
d. 1786; Frances (Fuller) wife of Launcelot Brown,
d. 1792; Mary Elizabeth Cowling, d. 1799; Peter
Cowling, d. 1824, Mary Elizabeth his wife, d. 1847,
and the Rev. Peter Launcelot Cowling, d. 1848; and
glass windows to the Rev. Stanley Walton, Vicar,
d. 1875; Ann, widow of Haylock Watson, d. 1880;
Mary Anne Cowling, d. 1884; and Richard, Sarah
Jane and Richard Booker Hewlins (n.d.). In the north
aisle, to John Mann, d. 1867. In the south aisle, to
Martin Rawling Osborne, d. 1846, Mary (Allpress) his
wife, d. 1832, John Allpress her father, d. 1833, Anna
Maria Osborne their daughter, d. 1834, Charlotte
Osborne, 10th daughter, d. 1854, Allpress Osborne,
5th son, d. 1856, Martin Allpress Osborne another
son, d. 1899, Susan (Rowlandson) wife of the last, d.
1899; Ann Bruskill Rowlandson, d. 1908; and War
Memorial 1914–18.
ADVOWSON
A church and priest are entered
under Gilbert de Gant's manor of
Stanton in the Domesday Survey
(1086). (fn. 77) Before the end of the 12th century the
advowson had passed to the family of Stanton. It was
held by Leonard [de Stanton] who was succeeded by
his son Richard, and he by his brother Robert de
Stanton, who was dealing with land in Hilton in 1204. (fn. 78)
From Robert the advowson passed to his son Gilbert,
who gave it to Geoffrey de Sulingry, parson of the
church. In 1229 a dispute arose as to land in Stanton
which Walter Morel and others claimed against Gilbert
son of Robert de Stanton, Gilbert asserting that the
land belonged to the free alms of the church. A duel
had previously been fought between Robert, father of
Gilbert, and Walter. The land was finally adjudged
to be the lay fee of Gilbert. (fn. 79) The advowson probably
escheated to the crown, for the Stantons seem to have
followed their overlords the Gants in rebellion. In
1236 it was granted by Henry III to his sister Joan,
Queen of Scotland, (fn. 80) and passed with the manor to the
Segraves. It was held in dower in 1265 by Amabilia,
widow of Gilbert Segrave, who married Roger de
Somery. The advowson followed the descent of the
manor until 1352, when King Edward III recovered it
in an action against John de Segrave and William de
Overton, clerk. (fn. 81) The patronage remained with the
crown until 1393, in which year it was granted to
Thomas Earl Marshal and Earl of Nottingham, (fn. 82) who
in the following year alienated it to the dean and
chapter of the king's free chapel of St. Stephen in the
palace of Westminster, stipulating for a yearly dole to
poor parishioners, and the ordination of a vicarage. (fn. 83)
At the Dissolution the College of St. Stephen,
Westminster, was receiving £26 13s. 4d. yearly in
tithes from the rectory, (fn. 84) and the presentation
was made by them in 1544. (fn. 85) About 1560 the
advowson passed into the possession of Trinity
Hall, Cambridge, who granted it to the Bishop of
Ely in 1928.
The parsonage house, then in the hands of Thomas
de Segrave, parson, was enlarged in 1323, when John
de Segrave, the elder, alienated in mortmain for the
purpose a messuage in the manor held in chief adjoining it. (fn. 86) After the parsonage had been bestowed on
the College of St. Stephen, Westminster, this was
evidently at first used as the vicarage, but in 1437, on
the plea that it was so large and needed repair, the
college granted a messuage near the church to the
vicar and his successors for a vicarage. (fn. 87)
After the Dissolution the rectory, with the chapel
of Hilton appropriated to it, was granted by the
College of St. Stephen at Westminster in 1545 (the
advowson of the vicarage excepted) to George Symcote
for 21 years, (fn. 88) and in 1566 a grant of a fresh lease from
the expiration of that term was made to Henry
Trafford for 31 years at a rent of £6 13s. 4d. (fn. 89) A grant
for their lives at a rent of £26 13s. 4d. was made in
1582 to Thomas Martyn, with remainder to Henry
Martyn, and further remainder to Thomas son of
Thomas Martyn; (fn. 90) and in 1599 a fresh grant of the
same was made to Sir John Spencer, kt., at the same
rent. (fn. 91)
A lease of the parsonage was the subject of proceedings by Thomas Howell of Westminster, yeoman,
against Thomas Brightfelde and Thomas Ward,
executor of Joan Abbot the mother of Thomas
Brightfelde, who had apparently married the plaintiff
in order to secure renewal of a lease of the premises
she had held under the College of St. Stephen. (fn. 92)
The executors of John Ward brought an action
against James Feake, citizen and goldsmith of London,
husband of Parnell, a daughter of John Ward, to
recover possession of a lease of the parsonage to enable
them to maintain Leonard, son of John Ward, at the
'Grammar school of Powles' in London. (fn. 93)
CHARITIES
Thomas Carter, by will dated
3 August 1617, gave to trustees ½ acre
of fen in the Rey Furlong in Fen
Stanton, the rent to be distributed amongst the poor
of the parish. This property at some subsequent time
became combined with the Town Estate and has
since been lost.
Town Estate. (fn. 94) The origin of this charity is
unknown, and the property consisted of land in
Conington known as Friesland, containing 57 acres,
the Meadows, containing 24 acres, and the Bull Yard
containing 20 pls., both in Fen Stanton. The land
known as Friesland and the Bull Yard have been sold
under the authority of the Charity Commissioners
and the proceeds invested in the purchase of 5 per cent.
War Stock in the name of the Official Trustees. The
endowment of the charity now consists of the
Meadows and £471 13s. 8d. 5 per cent. War Stock,
together with a sum of Consols accumulating at
compound interest. The income of the charity,
amounting to about £70 per annum, is applicable for
any public purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants
of the parish not being an ecclesiastical or educational
purpose. The trustees consist of nine persons
appointed by the Parish Council of Fen Stanton.
Edward Martin by will dated 13 July 1717 gave to
the poor of the parish a yearly sum of £2 out of the
rents of his close called Old Dole Close. The endowment now consists of a rentcharge of £2 per annum
issuing out of a farm in Fen Stanton which is distributed to poor widows.
Church Estate. The endowment of this charity
consists of grassfield containing 14 acres and let to
the Huntingdon County Council on a seven-years
lease which expired on 11 October 1926 for £37 per
annum. The rent is applied to church expenses.