GREAT GRANSDEN
Grantesden (xi cent.), Grantendene, Granceden
(xii cent.), Grauntedene, Magna Granteden (xiii
cent.), Grantisden (xiv cent.), Grandesden, Gransden
(xvi cent.).
The parish of Great Gransden contains over 3,402
acres of land. The greater part of the parish is arable
land; the subsoil consists of Ampthill Clay and Lower
Greensand. Various streams crossing the parish are
named Waresley Dean, College Dean, Vicars Dean,
Mandean and Gransden Brooks, while Home Dole
Brook separates the parish from Little Gransden in
Cambridgeshire.
The village is large and lies about four miles to
the north-east of Gamlingay station on the London
Midland and Scottish Railway. The streets form an
irregular four-sided figure. The principal part of the
village is at the south-east angle of this figure, where
stands the fine 15th-century church, to the north-west
of which is the vicarage, a brick house with tiled roof,
built by Barnabas Oley, vicar, probably in his second
period of ministration from 1660 to his death in 1685.
The house was refaced and heightened in the 19th
century, but it still retains its original staircase and
some moulded ceiling beams, probably reused from
an earlier house. To the south of the church is the
College Farm belonging to Clare College, Cambridge,
an 18th-century brick house with shaped gables and a
tiled roof. Rippington Manor Farm lies to the east
of the church, and is an interesting 16th-century
house, with remains of a surrounding moat. It was
probably built by Robert Audley towards the end of
the 16th century, as it is of that date and he is the first
of the Audleys of Houghton Conquest (co. Beds.)
to be described as of Great Gransden. Apparently
the house was originally constructed partly of timber
and plaster and partly of stone, but was recased in
brick in the 17th century, probably about 1631,
when the Audleys sold it to Sir Charles Adelmare
or Caesar. It consists of a central block and two
wings. Some of the original fittings remain, including
mullioned windows and stone fireplaces. In the
south-west wing is the chapel, which has some 18th-century panelling. The house of the chief manor
doubtless stood within the moated site in Gransden
park to the south-west of the church. At the end of
the 16th century Simon Mason bought two considerable freeholds, one from Stephen Lorde in 1589 and
the other from Thomas Daunger in 1594 (fn. 1) . It was his
son Simon who appears to have built the present
Gransden Hall in the middle of the 17th century.
The house is of brick with a tiled roof, and consists
of a main block connecting two wings with shaped
gables. A later Simon Mason remodelled the house
and refaced the central block in 1716 according to a
date on the central front. Simon Mason, besides
owning the two freeholds above referred to, valued
at £300 a year, was leaseholder of Baldwin's and
Berristead manors. Part of the estate was sold by
a third Simon Mason, whose younger son Nathaniel
was the last member of the family to live at Gransden
Hall. (fn. 2) It passed through a great many hands,
and in 1879 was bought by Mr. T. V. Webb, who
moved to it from Audley House, (fn. 3) which is now a
farmhouse.
There are many old half-timbered houses and
cottages of the 17th and 18th centuries in the village.
Of the more important ancient buildings there is in
Crowtree Street a house called Safford's Farm, a
much altered and partially rebuilt house with an
ancient barn adjoining, probably of the 16th century.
The house takes it name apparently from a Thomas
Safford who was a party to a suit as to land here
in 1617–21. (fn. 4) At the north end of Eltisley Road is
Mannock Manor Farm, which is called after the family
of Mannock who owned it in the 15th, 16th and 17th
centuries. The house was built about 1700, when
John Rutherforth acquired it. Fox Street is named
after the Fox Inn, a 17th-century half-timber house.
In Middle Street are many old houses and a row of
almshouses with a fine chimney stack, founded by
Rev. Barnabas Oley, vicar, in 1676, which date is cut
in a panel in the south gable.
The parish hall was built in 1872 by Mr. T. V.
Webb, who also started the Gransden Agricultural
Society. (fn. 5) The parish was inclosed by Act of Parliament in 1843, when from two to four acres were
assigned for recreation grounds, (fn. 6) but owing to their
position a mile away from the village they were not
used for the purpose. (fn. 7) Leycourt or Leecot and
Hardwick, which are now found as the names of two
farms in the northern part of the parish, were mentioned in a lawsuit of 1228–9. (fn. 8)
Great Gransden owes much to Barnabas Oley,
who was instituted to the vicarage in 1633. He was
a fellow of Clare College and editor of George Herbert's
Works. During the Civil War he was one of the most
active Royalists in the university. He was ejected
from his fellowship and living in 1644, but they were
restored to him in 1660, and from 1664, though he held
other appointments for a time, he lived chiefly at
Great Gransden. Besides rebuilding the vicarage he
restored the church, (fn. 9) and was mainly responsible for
building the old school-house, now pulled down, and
the almshouse. He also left various other benefactions
to the village, where he died in 1685. (fn. 10) Three other
vicars may be mentioned: James Plumtre, 1770–
1832, a dramatist and divine (fn. 11) ; Arthur Tozer Russell,
1806–1874, a hymn writer; (fn. 12) and Arthur Jonathan
Edmonds, instituted to the vicarage in 1884, (fn. 13) the
historian of the parish.
MANORS
In the reign of Edward the Confessor, Earl Aelfgar held the manor of
GREAT GRANSDEN, (fn. 14) and in 1086
it was among the king's lands, and was in the custody
of one Ralph. (fn. 15) It later appears to have been granted
to Robert, Earl of Gloucester,
son of Henry I (d. 1147), (fn. 16)
and from that time formed
part of the Honour of Gloucester. (fn. 17) On the partition of
the lands of Gilbert de Clare,
Earl of Gloucester, in 1308,
the overlordship of the
knight's fees in Great Gransden was assigned to Margaret,
wife of Hugh Audley. (fn. 18) The
whole of the manor was
apparently subinfeudated, but
it is extremely difficult to trace back the separate
portions.
Clare. Or three cheverons gules.
An interesting tenure is found in 1210–12, when
Geoffrey de Caxton held 30 acres by the serjeanty
of collecting the scutage due from the tenants of the
Honour in Huntingdonshire. (fn. 19)
The manor of GREAT GRANSDEN or REPPINGTON manor may be identified with the ten
librates of land held by Earl Robert's daughter, Maud
wife of Ralph, Earl of Chester, presumably as a gift
in frank-marriage. (fn. 20) Between 1172 and 1181 she gave
this land to the Priory of Repton (fn. 21) to hold in frankalmoin. At the dissolution of the Priory in 1538 the
Prior granted the manor with lands in Hardwick and
Leycock to Henry Audley and others. (fn. 22) Audley was
succeeded by his son Henry, (fn. 23) who died seised in
1545, (fn. 24) and it passed in direct succession to Thomas, (fn. 25)
Robert and a second Robert Audley. (fn. 26) In 1631 the
last-named Robert sold it to Sir Charles Adelmare
or Caesar, Master of the Rolls (fn. 27) who died in 1642. (fn. 28)
The manor seems to have passed to his younger son
Charles, (fn. 29) who was succeeded by his son and grandson, both named Charles. (fn. 30) The latter died in 1780, (fn. 31)
but the family seems to have been forced by poverty
to sell the manor, probably before the death of Henry
Caesar, son of the last-named Charles, in 1825. (fn. 32)
In 1830 it was bought by the Rev. William Webb,
D.D., Master of Clare Hall, Cambridge, (fn. 33) from whom
it passed to his son Theodore Vincent Webb, (fn. 34)
who was holding in 1860 and who died in 1885. It is
now owned by Mr. W. B. P. Fowler.
The manor of GREAT GRANSDEN or GRANSDON BERRISTEAD may possibly be traced back
to the land held by Richard de Cardiff, who was a
tenant of the Honour of Gloucester in 1166. (fn. 35) In
1197 a partition of his lands was made between his
daughters and heirs, a quarter of a knight's fee in
Great Gransden being assigned to Mabel and her
husband Thomas de Sandford. (fn. 36) In 1211 Thomas was
a tenant of the Honour. (fn. 37) The next tenant was probably Nicholas de Bassingburn, who held a third
of a knight's fee in 1230. (fn. 38) In 1262, Thomas de
Bassingburn sold a messuage and two carucates of
land, then held for a term of twenty years by the
Priory of Repton, to Hugh Sansaver. (fn. 39) Hugh died
in 1284, and was succeeded by his son Ralph (d. 1314),
and he by his son Ralph (d. 1346). (fn. 40) Thomas, son
of the last Ralph, (fn. 41) died before 1350, when his widow
Elizabeth was living. (fn. 42) About 1377, Henry Husee
granted the manor to Sir John Arundel (fn. 43) and it
was held by the Earls of Arundel, (fn. 44) until 1546,
when Henry Earl of Arundel sold it to Sir Richard
Sackville. (fn. 45) His son, Thomas Sackville, created Lord
Buckhurst and Earl of Dorset, sold it in 1571 to
Edward Leeds, LL.D., (fn. 46) who died in 1589. (fn. 47) In 1599
another Edward Leeds gave it to Emmanuel College,
Cambridge, (fn. 48) who are the present owners. (fn. 49)
The manor of GREAT GRANSDEN or MANNOCKS may perhaps be identified with the land held
by the family of St. Remy.
William de St. Remy (de
Sancto Remigio), who had
apparently succeeded Robert
de St. Remy, (fn. 50) held a tenth
of a knight's fee in Gransden
of the Honour of Gloucester
in 1210. (fn. 51) His lands were
seized about 1222 as the
lands of a Norman, and the
custody of them was granted
to Ralph Tyrel. (fn. 52) Ralph
forfeited as an adherent of
Faulkes de Breauté, (fn. 53) and the
custody of his lands was
granted to the Bishop of
Chichester in 1224. (fn. 54) William
de St. Remy died before 1228, leaving two
daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, by which date Ralph
had been reinstated, and then declared that he held
William's lands only as bailiff of the king. These
lands comprised 4 virgates and 19 acres of land, and
the rent of 25s. 6d., 2 lb. of pepper and a pair of spurs
in Gransden, Hardwick and Leycock. (fn. 55) Ralph Tyrel
appears to have acquired the fee of the manor which
followed the descent of the manor of Wilden (co.
Beds.). (fn. 56) Ralph Tyrel was succeeded by his son Peter
(d. c. 1246), when the manor went to his brother
Thomas (d. 1264). His son Ralph succeeded
him (fn. 57) and died leaving a daughter Alice, the wife
of William Norton, about 1314, when reference is
made to the heirs of Ralph Tyrel. (fn. 58) The land,
however, seems to have passed to Philip son of
Hervey, (fn. 59) who also held the neighbouring manor of
Eltisley (co. Cambs.), (fn. 60) of which there are fuller
records. Philip died before 1315 and was succeeded
at Great Gransden by Agnes, presumably his daughter,
and her husband Baldwin de Stowe. (fn. 61) His widow
Sarah claimed dower in the manor in that year, when
she was the wife of Walter le Bret or le Breton. (fn. 62)
Philip de Stowe succeeded before 1329, (fn. 63) and was
living in 1337. (fn. 64) His successors before 1350 in Eltesley
were Alan de Buxhall in one moiety and Eleanor and
her husband, John Goldingham, in the other. (fn. 65) Great
Gransden seems to have come into the possession of
the latter, since in 1408 Sir Walter Goldingham held
lands there, (fn. 66) which in 1428 were assessed as half a
knight's fee. (fn. 67) He died before 1448, (fn. 68) leaving two
daughters as his heirs, but
eventually all his lands passed
to the eldest Eleanor and her
husband John Mannock of
Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk. (fn. 69)
Their descendants held Mannock's manor until the Commonwealth, (fn. 70) when the lands
of Sir Francis Mannock, bart.,
were sequestrated for recusancy. (fn. 71) In 1657 he sold the
manor to Major-Gen. John
Desborough. (fn. 72) It was bought by Thomas Rutherforth
in 1702. (fn. 73) His son John left a son Thomas who sold it
to William Lightfoot in 1736. (fn. 74) William Lightfoot was
succeeded by his brother Robert, on whose death it
passed to his sisters, one of whom married John
Lloyd Baker, who had issue Thomas Lloyd Baker. (fn. 75)
In 1803 William Lloyd Baker and his wife Mary
sold it to John Margetts. (fn. 76) The trustees of the
latter's will were the owners at the time of the
inclosure of the parish in 1843, (fn. 77) but it was bought
before 1885 by T. V. Webb, who died in that year.
It is now the property of Mr. W. B. P. Fowler.
Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Argent a lion azure holding a wreath of laurel vert and in chief a scroll sable inscribed with the word Emmanuel in letters of gold.
Mannock. Sable a cross paty argent.
Another holding of the Honour of Gloucester was
granted by William Earl of Gloucester (d. 1173),
to Gerbod as a hide of land in Gransden, the daughter
and heir of the owner of which was in the custody
of the king. In 1201 this land was unsuccessfully
claimed by John, son of Simon against William, son
of Gerbod. (fn. 78) William Gerbaud was holding a knight's
fee in Gransden in 1210, and Adam Gerebode and
Juetta de Abodele a quarter fee in 1242–3. (fn. 79) Adam
Gerbaud sued Alan de la Maister for pasturing cattle
on his common at Great Gransden in 1306, (fn. 80) and was
holding here in 1314. (fn. 81) In 1350 an Adam Gerbaud
conveyed to Robert Huchoun 5 messuages, 192 acres
of land, etc., in Great Gransden, (fn. 82) which is the last
reference found to this holding. This property may
be the same as that held by the Mason family above
referred to. (fn. 83)
BALDWIN'S MANOR
BALDWIN'S MANOR took its name from a family
who appear in Great Gransden early in the 14th
century. It is called Baldwin's manor or farm, but
courts were certainly held there in the 17th century. (fn. 84)
Ralph Baldwin appears in 1316, (fn. 85) Richard Baldwin in
1327, (fn. 86) and John Baldwin in 1353. (fn. 87) John was
succeeded by his son Richard, (fn. 88) who seems to have
granted his lands to Clare Hall, Cambridge. (fn. 89) It seems
that the gift appears in the grant by John de Harleston,
John de Donewich and
Richard de Mordon, clerks, as
trustees, in 1364 of a messuage, 100 acres of land, an
acre of meadow, an acre of
pasture and 13 acres of
wood, together with 5½ marks
of rent to Clare Hall, although
Baldwin's name does not
appear. (fn. 90) The college still
owns the estate. (fn. 91)
Clare College, Cambridge. Clare impaling De Burgh in a border sable sprinkled with drops or.
The Earls of Gloucester
held a view of frankpledge
in Great Gransden, which
is mentioned in 1279. (fn. 92) It
passed to Elizabeth de Burgh, and from her to the
Earls of March. (fn. 93) Edward IV inherited it, and in
1461 granted the view to his mother, Cicely, Duchess
of York. (fn. 94)
The Prior of Repton had a grant of free warren in
his demesne lands in 1296. (fn. 95)
Early in the 13th century a mill belonged to
Reppington manor, (fn. 96) and in 1353 the Prior of Repton
was presented at the leet of the Honour of Gloucester for unjustly taking tolls at his mill. (fn. 97) It was
not mentioned in the grant of the manor in 1538 (fn. 98) to
Henry Audley, and had possibly been separated from
the manor, since in 1600 a windmill was held by
Robert Adler and his wife Alice, who sold it to
Thomas Marshall. (fn. 99) Before 1629, however, a windmill was appurtenant to Rippington manor. (fn. 100) There
is a windmill in the parish at the present day. Other
mills seem to have been in existence in 1354, (fn. 101) and
there were formerly a mill on the road to Longstow
and another on the Caxton Road, which gave the
name to the Mill Weir. (fn. 102)
CHURCH
The Church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW
consists of a chancel (38¼ ft. by 17¼ ft.),
with modern organ chamber and vestry
(18¼ ft. by 9¼ ft.) on the north, nave (58¼ ft. by
18 ft.), north aisle (10¾ ft. wide), south aisle (10¾ ft.
wide), west tower (12¼ ft. by 13¼ ft.), and north and
south porches. The walls are of rubble with stone
and clunch dressings, and the roofs are covered with
lead.
Although mentioned in the Domesday Survey
(1086) there are no remains of early date existing, and,
with the exception of the tower, which is of the late
14th century, the whole church was rebuilt and
widened to the south in the 15th century, and all
the architectural features (except where otherwise
stated) belong to these two periods respectively. The
church was restored in 1873, when the organ chamber
and vestry were built and the north porch entirely
rebuilt.
The chancel has a five-light east window, and one
three-light window in the north wall and two in the
south; one of those on the south retains some fragments of 15th and 16th century glass, including a
shield—Argent, on a bend within a bordure engrailed
gules three Cornish choughs sable, a mullet for difference—said to be the arms of Dunholt. In the north
wall also are a large modern arch to the organ chamber
and a modern doorway to the vestry; while in the
south wall are a piscina with ogee arch, crocketed
label and a flat canopy over all, and traces of a blocked
doorway. The chancel arch is of two moulded
orders resting on engaged shafts with moulded
caps and bases. The roof is original but much
restored.
The nave has an arcade of four bays on each side
having moulded arches resting on piers consisting of
four casement mouldings and two engaged shafts.
The stairs to the rood-loft are in the north-east
angle, and both the upper and lower doorways
remain in the nave, but the former is blocked; the
turret is continued up above the nave parapet. The
clearstory has four three-light windows on each side,
and is finished with an embattled parapet; the
stringcourse below the clearstory and the labelmouldings of the nave arches were added in 1873.
The roof is original, and has carved figures at the feet
of the intermediate principals, but it has been much
repaired in the 17th century, the third tie-beam being
inscribed 'William Livett, Edward Ingell (?) Churchwardens.' 'Matthew Bans pt.' and 'Carpentr.'
The north aisle has a three-light east window now
opening into the organ chamber, and a modern doorway below it. The north wall has three three-light
windows, and a doorway with a moulded arch in a
square head and traceried spandrils. The west wall
has a three-light window. The original roof has
carved figures at the feet of the intermediate principals; the eastern half bay is panelled with moulded
ribs and carved bosses. (fn. 103)
The south aisle is generally similar to the north,
but has no west window, and there is a large niche in
the south-east corner with remains of a pyramidal
canopy. In the south wall there is a plain piscina. (fn. 104)
The roof is original, but the fourth tie-beam is
inscribed 'Edward Edw …' 'Churchwardens
1675.'
The west tower has an arch to the nave of two
moulded orders resting on splayed responds with
moulded caps and bases, apparently modified in the
15th century. The west doorway is of the 15th century, and has a two-centred arch under a square head
with traceried spandrils containing shields charged
with (1) … a cheveron between three eagles displayed … and (2) … the arms of Clare Hall … (fn. 105)
South of it is an almost destroyed stoup. The west
window is of three lights, and in the next stage is a
modern quatrefoil in the north, south and west walls,
and above these the same walls have each a narrow
ogee-headed light. The belfry has coupled two-lights
in each face. The tower is surmounted by a plain
embattled parapet, behind which rises a small lead
spirelet. On the north parapet is a lead plate inscribed 'N.L., E.E., C.H.W.R. 1676. (fn. 106)
The modern north porch, rebuilt in 1873, has a
two-centred outer arch within a square with traceried
spandrils, and two-light windows in the side walls. (fn. 107)
The south porch has a two-centred outer arch
within a square, the arch resting on engaged jamb
shafts with moulded caps and bases. The two-light
windows in the side walls are largely modern.
The font has a plain octagonal bowl of 15th-century
date resting on a modern stem and base.
There are six bells, inscribed:—(1) J. Taylor &
Co: Founders, Loughborough, 1883; (fn. 108) (2) C. & G.
Mears, Founders, London, 1854 …; (3) Bryanus
Eldridge me fecit, 1658; (4) …; (5) Bryanus
Eldridge me fecit, 1658; (6) R: Taylor, fecit.
(incised with a chisel). (Another inscription filed off,
but the date 1787 is still legible.) (fn. 109) The first, second
and fourth bells were inscribed similar to the third
previous to the re-casting. The bells were rehung in
1895, when the fourth bell was recast. There is also
a clock with mechanical chimes, put up in 1683, but
now much restored.
Part of the 15th-century chancel screen now stands
between the vestry and the organ chamber. (fn. 110) Some
early 16th-century seating with traceried panels
remains at the west end of the nave and south
aisle.
The 17th-century pulpit is of oak, hexagonal, with
carved cartouches in curiously shaped panels on the
sides. (fn. 111) It now stands on a modern stone base, but
formerly had an oak post and coving and a carved oak
sounding board.
In the vestry is a communion table with turned
legs, c. 1630.
In the churchyard, to the north-west of the church,
is the base and part of the stem of the churchyard
cross.
There are several indents of brasses:—(1) On the
north wall of the tower (previous to 1873, in the middle
of the chancel), a very large stone with foliated cross
and demi-figure of a priest, and marginal inscription
in Lombardic letters 'Hic jacet Thomas de Neusum
Condam Rector istius Ecclesiae, Cujus animae propicietur Deus.' He was rector, 1301–1328; (2) in
churchyard, at the east of the chancel, a stepped
cross with demi-figure of a priest with label and
marginal inscription; (fn. 112) (3) a similar cross with figure
of a priest and foot inscription; (fn. 113) (4) in churchyard, to east of porch, civilian and wife with
inscription plate and a third figure. (fn. 114)
There are the following monuments: In the chancel
to the Rev. Barnabas Oley, Vicar, d. 1685; Charles
Kettle, d. 1788; the Rev. James Plumptre, Vicar,
d. 1832; and a window to Theodore Vincent Webb,
d. 1885; in the north aisle, War Memorial, 1914–19;
in the south aisle, window to Martha Sophia Webb,
erected 1911.
The registers are as follows:—(i) Baptisms,
marriages and burials, 1538 to 1653; (ii) ditto, 1654
to 1700; (iii) ditto, 1701 to 1752; (iv) baptisms and
burials, 1753 to 1812; (v) the official marriage
book, 1754 to 1812.
The church plate consists of: a silver cup inscribed
'Great Gransden,' and bearing the arms of Caesar,
and further inscribed 'This Communion Cupp and
cover wayeth Ninetene Ounces three quarters,'
hall-marked for 1634–5; a silver cover paten inscribed 'Great Gransden' and a crest, a dolphin
nowed, apparently added at a later date, hall-marked
for 1634–5; a silver standing paten inscribed
'Great Gransden,' hall-marked for 1634–5, (fn. 115) but
the base hall-marked for 1917–18; a silver-mounted
glass flagon, hall-marked for 1913–14.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church of
Great Gransden seems to have been
granted with the manor (q.v.) to
Robert, Earl of Gloucester. His son, Earl William
(1147–1183), granted it to the Abbey of St. Augustine,
Bristol. (fn. 116) In 1295, the advowson was recovered by
exchange by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. (fn. 117)
and on the partition of the possessions of the Honour,
it was assigned to the youngest of the heiresses,
Elizabeth de Burgh. She made various plans for its
alienation, (fn. 118) but finally, in 1346, gave it to Clare Hall,
Cambridge. (fn. 119) The college is still the owner of
the rectory. (fn. 120)
About 1150, the Priory of St. Neots brought a lawsuit against the rector of Great Gransden, as to the
tithe of Kingsfeld, but he relinquished his claim. (fn. 121)
The dispute was revived later (between 1191 and
1197), when it was decided that the rector should
receive the tithe, but should pay 5s. a year to the
priory. (fn. 122) A pension of 10 marks a year was payable
to the Abbey of St. Augustine. (fn. 123)
The vicarage was ordained in 1354, the patrons
being Clare Hall. (fn. 124)
About 1367, William Wedrefelde, vicar of Great
Gransden, granted lands obtained from Richard, son
and heir of John Baldwin, to Clare Hall, to find a
chaplain to celebrate divine service in the church
for the soul of Richard Baldwyn. (fn. 125) He also gave to
the college an acre of copse called 'the Master's
Acre.' (fn. 126) Clare Hall continued to hold this land
after the Dissolution. (fn. 127)
About 1547, Agnes Goodgame left £192 to find a
priest to sing masses for her soul for 36 years. (fn. 128)
John Rashdell, vicar of Great Gransden, who died
in or before 1533 and is buried in the church, left
26 acres and more of arable land and 1 acre of wood
for finding a perpetual obit. (fn. 129)
A rent of the yearly value of 4d. to provide a lamp
for ever was also given to the church. (fn. 130)
An Independent chapel was founded by Thomas
Holcroft, who was ejected from the vicarage of Great
Gransden in 1662. The Meeting House was formerly
on the old burying ground, and the first Church Book
dates from 1694. In 1733, the congregation joined
the Particular Baptists and a new Meeting House,
which is still the Baptist chapel, was built shortly
afterwards. (fn. 131)
CHARITIES
Thomas Carrington, by will dated
17 August 1816, bequeathed to the
vicar and churchwardens the sum
of £30, the interest to be distributed amongst the
poor of the parish. The endowment now consists of
£31 13s. India 3½ per cent. stock held by the Official
Trustees producing £1 2s. annually in dividends.
Robert Disher, by will dated 1 January 1656, gave
to the poor the sum of £4 per annum to be paid out
of his lands and estate. The rentcharge is received
regularly and distributed to industrious poor by
trustees appointed by the Parish Council of Great
Gransden.
Simon Watson, by will dated about 1674, gave
4 nobles yearly to buy coals for the poor of the parish.
This charge was originally paid out of an estate at
Over in Cambridgeshire, but no payment has been
made since about 1882, and the charity is now lost.
Poor's Land. The following benefactions for the
poor, viz.: £15 left by Elizabeth Clifton in 1660
and £40 by William Disher in 1661, were laid out
with some addition from the parish in a purchase of
land in Eaton Socon, in lieu of which an allotment of
4 a. 2 r. 29 p. was set out on an inclosure in 1798. The
land is now let for about £12 per annum, which is
distributed to the poor of the parish by trustees
appointed by the Parish Council.
Parish or Church Lands. The endowment of
this charity consists of an allotment of land known
as 'The Church Land,' containing 15 a. 2 r. 13 p.
and now in the occupation of Mr. H. A. Christmas.
The land is let for £10 per annum, which is paid towards church expenses.