GRENDON
Acreage: 2,415.
Population: 1911, 693; 1921, 873; 1931, 1,256.
The parish lies on the eastern edge of the county,
divided from Leicestershire by a small stream and by
the River Anker as far as Fieldon Bridge, for the repair
of which the Abbot of Merevale had a grant of pontage
in 1332. (fn. 1) The boundary then runs up the Innage Brook
between Grendon and Atherstone to the Watling
Street, and up the street for ½ mile. It then diverges to
the south-west down Waste Lane to Grendon Wood,
the largest block of woodland in the parish, and skirting
Baddesley Common turns northwards to Suckle Green,
to rejoin Watling Street for 200 yards; after which it
runs north-east down Penmire Brook to the mill (mentioned in 1086) (fn. 2) on the Anker, which river divides
Grendon from Polesworth on the west.
In the south-west the parish is crossed by the
Coventry Canal and by the Trent Valley section of the
L.M.S. Railway. The country is for the most part open
and flat, lying between 220 and 250 ft., except in the
south-west, where heights of just over 300 ft. are attained on the Watling Street. The church, the Rectory,
the site of Grendon Hall, and a few farm-houses and
cottages lie on the east bank of the Anker on the road
from Atherstone to Polesworth.
Grendon Hall was pulled down in 1933, but some
of its 18th-century outbuildings (stables, &c.) have now
been converted into tenements. West of it is an ancient
hump-backed bridge across the River Anker. The
bridge, of coursed ashlar, may be of the 15th century
and has four depressed pointed arches below the 11-ft.
roadway, and piers with cut-waters on both north and
side faces. The arches have no ribs; only one pier has
the V-shaped recesses on the restored parapets: the tops
of the others have been sloped back below the parapets.
The bridge is not now used for traffic, the road having
been diverted southwards to cross the Anker at the mill,
and the present bridge was built in 1825. (fn. 3)
In 1627 Grendon bridge had to be repaired, and the
Warwick Quarter Sessions ordered an inquiry to be
made to discover who was responsible for this. (fn. 4) Three
years later they decided that the charge should fall on
the whole parish, and ordered 26s. 8d. to be repaid to
one Alice Walton, widow, who had been forced to pay
for the whole. (fn. 5) The repairs then executed cannot have
been very permanent, and, in 1633, the Sessions decided to make a thorough job of it, and ordered a levy
to be made to raise £40, appointing William Dugdale,
gentleman, and Richard Bickly, gentleman, collectors
of the same. (fn. 6)
MANORS
Before the Norman Conquest, Grendon
was held by Siward Barn with other property in Warwickshire and elsewhere. After
the Conquest his lands were confiscated and given to
Henry Ferrers, (fn. 7) from whom, in the Conqueror's
Survey, one Turstin held 5½ hides in Grendon. (fn. 8)
The overlordship remained with the Ferrers family
and with their other lands was absorbed in the Duchy
of Lancaster as part of the Honor of Tutbury. A
mesne lordship of the fee was held by the Camviles, and
the manor was held of them by the Grendons. In
1242 (fn. 9) Robert de Grendon (son of Robert son of
Richard son of Roger de Grendon) (fn. 10) is returned as
holding 1 knight's fee in Grendon and Whittington,
held of Richard de Camville of the fee of Earl Ferrers.
In 1276 (fn. 11) Robert's son Ralph de Grendon agreed to
pay to Geoffrey de Camville scutage for 1 knight's fee,
with homage and relief, and that he should render suit
at the court of Geoffrey at Clifton Campvill whenever
judgement is given there for a plea moved by the king's
writ or a thief is judged by inquisition of the court.
Subsequently, in 1299, (fn. 12) his son Ralph and Joan his
wife obtained from John de Clinton of Coleshill, who
had married Alice sister of Ralph, (fn. 13) a quitclaim of all
his right in the manor. This Ralph had by his first wife
a son Robert and a daughter Joan (married to John de
Rocheford), and by his second wife three daughters,
Joan wife of Roger de Chetwynd, Alice wife of Philip
de Chetwynd, and Margaret wife of John de Freford. (fn. 14)
Grendon. Argent two cheverons gules.
Chetwynd. Azure a cheveron between three molets or.
Geoffrey de Camvile, who was holding of Blanche
of Navarre, widow of Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, in
1297, (fn. 15) died before 1330, for, in that year, his heirs
held 3 knights' fees in Bramcote and Grendon with
their members. (fn. 16)
In 1346 the immediate tenancy of the manor was in
the hands of Robert de Grendon, his half-sisters Margaret de Freford and Alice widow of Philip de Chetwynd having granted to him their right to two-thirds of
the manor. (fn. 17) This Robert died without issue about
1348, and apparently half the manor went to his
nephew Ralph Rocheford and half to Sir William son of
the Philip de Chetwynd mentioned above, (fn. 18) this half
becoming known as CHETWYND'S MANOR.
William's son William died in 1396 (fn. 19) and his widow
Aline was sued for one-third of the manor by William
Stokley and Elizabeth his wife, (fn. 20) who had been the
second wife of Roger, uncle of William Chetwynd; but
eventually William and Elizabeth renounced their
claim. (fn. 21) Custody of half the manor of Grendon until
Roger Chetwynd, William's elder son, came of age was
also claimed against Aline by Edmund Stafford, Bishop
of Exeter, on the ground that Sir William held that half
from him by knight service. (fn. 22) Roger died in 1397 and
was succeeded by his brother Richard. (fn. 23)
In 1427 Sir Philip son of Richard Chetwynd settled
the manor of Grendon on himself and Joan his wife
jointly. (fn. 24) On his death on 10 May 1444 he was
stated (fn. 25) to hold of John Stanley as of the manor of
Clifton Campville the half-manor of Grendon called
Chetwynd Manor, and other lands, jointly with his
wife Joan, who survived him. John Chetwynd his
uncle was his next heir.
This John Chetwynd sought to gain possession of the
manor on the grounds that Sir Philip's settlement of the
manor was invalid. (fn. 26) Philip's widow Joan was by this
time married again to Sir Thomas Littleton, the judge
and legal author. (fn. 27) John lost his case, and in 1454 (fn. 28)
Robert Chetwynd his son and heir ratified to Thomas
Littleton and Joan his wife half the manor of Grendon
and other estates during the life of Joan. At her death
in 1504 she was seised of the (whole) manor, (fn. 29) said to
be held of John Camville, and her heir was William
Chetwynd, wrongly described as her grandson, actually the great-grandson of John. (fn. 30) On the death of
William in 1546 (fn. 31) he was holding the manor of the
heirs of Baldwin Frevill, with the advowson of the
church and a water-mill.
Sir William's grandson John Chetwynd was twice
married and had a large family. (fn. 32) On his death in 1592
Grendon passed to his eldest son (Sir) William, (fn. 33) who
died without issue in 1612 and was succeeded by his
brother Sir Walter. His grandson Walter Chetwynd
'the Antiquary', (fn. 34) who died in 1692, was the last of
this line. Grendon then passed to Charles, grandson of
Thomas, 4th son of the John who died in 1592, and he
seems to have made it over to his grandson Walter,
who died in 1733. (fn. 35) He had married Barbara Goring
and left two sons, Walter, who died in 1750, and
William Henry. The latter died without issue in 1755.
His uncle John Chetwynd had a daughter Mary who
married Montagu, Viscount Blundell, and they had
three daughters: (1) Elizabeth (? unmarried); (2) Mary,
who married William Trumbull and was grandmother
of Mary, Baroness Sandys, who married in 1786 Arthur,
Marquess of Downshire; (3) Chetwynd, who married
first Robert, Lord Raymond, and second Lord Robert
Bertie. (fn. 36) William Henry Chetwynd is said to have left
Grendon to his cousin Lady Robert Bertie, (fn. 37) who is
sometimes called Chetwynd (fn. 38) and sometimes Mary. (fn. 39)
She died c. 1800 and left the manor to her distant relative Sir George Chetwynd, 1st bart., of Brocton, (fn. 40)
with whose descendants it remained for five generations,
until the death of the last baronet, Sir Victor Chetwynd, in 1935.
The reversion of the second moiety of the manor of
Grendon was conveyed by Margery daughter of Sir
Ralph Rocheford to Thomas Bosevyle in 1387, being
then held by Hugh de Grendon and Joan his wife for
her life. (fn. 41) This Hugh seems to be Hugh de Assheby,
who had married Joan widow of Sir Ralph Rocheford. (fn. 42)
Presumably this is the manor of GRENDON which by
the beginning of the 16th century had come to Margaret
daughter of William Stafford of Frome (fn. 43) and wife of
Sir George de Vere. She gave it in 1537 to her daughter
Elizabeth and her husband Sir Anthony Wingfield,
subject to annuities of £20 each to her other two
daughters, Dorothy wife of John, Lord Latimer, and
Ursula wife of Edmund Knightley. (fn. 44) Between 1552
and 1598 there were a number of conveyances, evidently for settlements, between members of the Wingfield family, sometimes of 'the manor' (fn. 45) and sometimes
of '¼ of the manor', (fn. 46) but the subsequent history of this
portion is unknown.
On 20 June 1558 Robert Harcourt died seised of a
manor of GRENDON, held of John Ferrers. (fn. 47) This
he had inherited from his father John Harcourt, whose
grandfather John had obtained property here by marriage with Margaret daughter and heir of William
Bracy, together with the manor of Freeford (Staffs.); (fn. 48)
which suggests that this represents the portion held by
Margaret de Freford in the 14th century. (fn. 49) Robert
Harcourt's heir was his brother Simon, but he left
these estates to his mistress Cassandra Cooke and their
four illegitimate sons. (fn. 50) They, with Elizabeth
(daughter of Simon Harcourt) and her husband
Michael Ludford, in 1585 conveyed their rights in the
advowson of Grendon Church to William Cave and
Robert Harcourt, (fn. 51) but no more is known of the
Harcourt interest in Grendon.
At some time in the 16th century a manor of
GRENDON (and the advowson of the church) was
held by three sisters: Elizabeth wife of George Pollard,
Margaret, who married first — Slater and then Humphrey Harrison of Biggin (Derby), and Jane wife of
Thomas Knyveton of Merraston (Derby). The whole
came to Margaret, who in 1601 settled one moiety of
Grendon on her daughter Elizabeth Slater and her
husband John Digby and the other half on her son
George Slater, who subsequently exchanged it to
Elizabeth for other lands. Their son, John Digby,
succeeded to the property in 1624, (fn. 52) but no more is
known of this alleged manor.
The hamlet of Whittington lies about 1¼ miles to the
south-east of Grendon Church. It consists of about
500 acres, and has long been the property of the
Dugdales of Merevale.
Although it is not mentioned in Domesday, WHITTINGTON existed as a separate manor as early as 1219,
when Julian widow of Serlo de Grendon claimed
a third part as dower against Roger de Stratton. (fn. 53)
Roger was son of Isolde, one of Serlo's three daughters
and co-heirs; the other two were Joan wife of William
de Stratton and Agatha wife of Henry de Brayleford. (fn. 54)
Whittington had fallen to Roger's share, and in 1220 he
assigned one-third of the vill to Julian as dower. (fn. 55) In
1227 and 1229 justices were appointed to hear an
assize of novel disseisin between Roger de Stratton and
Robert de Grendon about a tenement and pasture in
Whittington. (fn. 56)
This manor was held in 1242 of Earl Ferrers, with
Grendon, as 1 knight's fee by Robert de Grendon
under Richard de Camville. (fn. 57)
We next hear of Whittington as part of the estate of
Thomas de Estleye, killed at the battle of Evesham.
His grandmother is said (fn. 58) to have been a sister and coheir of Roger de Camville. It was confiscated after his
death, when it was valued at £12 3s. 4d. and was said
to be held in chief of the Earl of Warwick. (fn. 59) In 1265
Thomas's lands were granted to Warin de Bassingburne, (fn. 60) but the king later granted of grace that Edith
widow of Thomas should have various lands, including
Whittington, for the maintenance of herself and her
children for life. (fn. 61) In 1316 a fee in Whittington was
held of the Earl of Warwick by the heir of Nicholas de
Asteleye, grandson of Thomas. (fn. 62)
In 1383 (fn. 63) half the manor was held of Grendon by
Margery Ribbyf, with reversion to Sir Godfrey Foljambe. On his death in 1389 this moiety passed to his
infant daughter Alice. (fn. 64)
In 1435 John Hekling and Joan his wife granted 10
messuages and some 470 acres of land and pasture in
Whittington to William Repington. (fn. 65) The estate apparently remained in this family (fn. 66) until 1663, when
Sebright Repington granted to Lettice Hounsell,
widow, the manor of Whittington, 10 messuages, &c.,
with common of pasture and view of frankpledge in
Whittington, Grendon, and Atherston. (fn. 67)
In the 16th century Whittington had appeared as
one of the members of Grendon in the Court Leet
Roll (fn. 68) of the honor of Tutbury, but it appears again
as an independent manor held by Sir Robert Burdett in
1741, and Sir Francis Burdett between 1780 and 1807, (fn. 69)
and, with Grendon and Dordon, in the hands of Sir
George Chetwynd in 1824. (fn. 70)
By 1829 (fn. 71) this manor had come into the hands of
the Dugdale family of Merevale, and the present lord
of the manor is Sir William Francis Stratford Dugdale,
bart.
Plan of Grendon Church
CHURCH
The parish church of ALL SAINTS
consists of a long chancel, nave, narrow
north aisle, wider south aisle overlapping
the chancel, modern south porch, and modern west
tower.
The remains of thick walls east of the arcades indicate a 12th-century origin of the nave, but no details of
this period survive. The chancel, which leans to the
south of the nave-axis, was rebuilt and enlarged early
in the 13th century. A clearstory was added to the
chancel in the 16th century. The north aisle and
arcade date from about 1260. Probably the original
windows were narrow lancets and were replaced by the
present late-14th-century windows, or else the walls
were entirely rebuilt, the 13th-century doorway being
reset. The south aisle and arcade and probably also the
chancel arch were built about 1320 and the aisle was
carried eastward beyond the chancel arch to form a
chantry chapel (the Chetwynd chapel). (fn. 72) The clearstory to the nave may be a little earlier than that of the
chancel.
The west tower and south porch are modern; the
date 1820 is on the latter. The tower, built in 1845,
replaced an earlier tower.
The chancel (about 38½ ft. by 19½ ft.) has a modern
east window of three lights and tracery of late-13thcentury style. The wall was originally pierced by three
lancet windows; there are external traces of the outer
jambs of the outer lights. In the north wall are two
13th-century lancets (10½ in. wide) with rebated and
chamfered jambs, plastered internal splays, and pointed
rear-arches of square section. The third was replaced
by a late-15th-century window of three trefoiled lights
and tracery in a three-centred head; the mullions and
tracery are restored. In the south wall were two similar
lancets, both now blocked with old masonry. Half the
eastern and the whole outline of the western are visible
outside. Between them was a large square-headed
window, 8 ft. wide, of the 15th or 16th century; this
was walled up for a funeral monument of 1750. West
of the blocked windows is a tall and higher 14thcentury window of three trefoiled pointed lights and
three quatrefoils in a two-centred head. Below it is a
13th-century priests' doorway with roll-moulded jambs
and pointed head with an external hood-mould. It is
blocked to form a recess outside. West of this is a
modern archway into the aisle. On the north side are
two square-headed clearstory windows of the 16th
century and one on the south, all blocked.
The walls are of irregular rubble of mixed grey, red,
brown, and yellow stones up to the base of the clearstory and have chamfered plinths. At man-height in the
side walls and east buttresses is a 13th-century stringcourse below the sills of the lancets; also a later and
higher string-course. At the angles and against the sidewalls are original ashlar small buttresses, one on the
south side being reduced in height for the former large
16th-century window. They divide the side walls into
three bays, the southern bays being less than the
northern because of the eastward position of the south
chapel. Against the west sides of the eastern side
buttresses are later larger buttresses, probably 16th
century, to support the clearstory. The clearstory walls
are of grey-white ashlar in large courses. The heads of
the westernmost window on each side extend up into
the clearstory, possibly later heightenings. The parapets are of 18th-century restoration, with older stringcourses. On the second south buttress is scratched a
medieval sun-dial. The roof has a flat plastered ceiling
of uncertain age, divided by ribs into eight double
panels having conventional foliage bosses at the intersections and against the walls.
The chancel arch, which has similar detail to that of
the south arcade, is probably of early-14th-century
origin, but has been considerably restored. The responds have half-round shafts with moulded capitals and
bases. The head, of two chamfered orders, is plastered.
It has lost its normal two-centred form by subsidence,
and there is a vertical crack above the north respond.
The nave (about 38 ft. by 18½ ft.) has north and
south arcades of three bays. The north, of c. 1260, has
10½-ft. bays with octagonal pillars and responds. The
moulded capitals are decorated with two rows of nailhead ornament; the moulded bases may not be original.
All has been oil-painted grey. The lower half of the
east semi-octagonal respond has been cut back for a
panelled dado. The pointed arches are of two chamfered orders.
The south arcade has 11 ft. 8 in. bays with pillars of
four filleted half-round attached shafts, with moulded
capitals and bases resembling those of the chancel arch,
and responds to match. The two-centred heads are of
two quarter-round moulded orders. East of both responds the wall thickens to about 3½ ft. on the nave side
up to the base of the clearstory, probably remains of a
12th-century nave. At the west end are splayed projections east of the tower wall, which may be altered
remains of the original west wall. The clearstory has
three north windows of two trefoiled ogee-headed
lights under a square main head. The easternmost is of
modern widening, the others probably 15th-century.
The three windows in the south wall have plain squareheaded lights of the 16th or 17th century. The clearstory walls are of large ashlar and have ancient plain
parapets. The roof has a flat plastered ceiling like that
of the chancel.
The north aisle (about 7¼ ft. wide) has a 14thcentury east window of three trefoiled ogee-headed
lights and net tracery in a two-centred head. The two
windows in the north wall are each of two similar
lights and semi-quatrefoils under a square head. West
of them is the 13th-century north doorway with an
edge-roll to the jambs and pointed head and a plain
hood. The west window, probably later, is of two
cinquefoiled pointed lights under a square head.
All the masonry of the windows is treated with
cement inside and out. The walls are of largish greywhite ashlar with a large chamfered plinth and old
plain parapets with a hollow-chamfered string-course.
The north wall is divided into three bays by 14th-century buttresses.
The lean-to roof has an arched plastered ceiling that
cuts across the rear arch of the east window.
The south aisle (16 ft. wide) has an early-14th-century east window of three cinquefoiled pointed
lights and foiled intersecting tracery in a two-centred
head with an old external hood-mould having headstops. In the south wall are two windows, each of two
trefoiled ogee-headed lights and a quatrefoil in a twocentred head. The south doorway has weatherworn
jambs and pointed head of three orders with filleted
edge-rolls; the middle order also has an outer hollow
decorated with ball-flowers at irregular intervals. The
hood-mould has been cut away. The west window has
jambs and two-centred head, probably of the same
date, but the mullion and tracery were removed in the
19th century. In the south chapel is a 14th-century
piscina with a trefoiled head; it is now mostly concealed
by a monument. The walls are of grey-white ashlar,
large in the east wall and smaller in the other walls.
The low-pitched east gable and the lower parts of the
south and west walls have been restored, with the
string-course below the sills and the moulded plinth.
The parapet is like that of the north aisle, but the stringcourse is decorated with ball-flowers. The square buttresses at the angles and against the south wall have
original foiled gable-heads (except that east of the
porch). That to the west wall has also a quatrefoil panel
in the tympanum. On the eastern intermediate south
buttress is cut an elaborate circular medieval sun-dial
with roman numerals. The roof has a modern ceiling.
The south porch, with cemented walls, is dated
1820, but there are slight traces on the aisle wall of a
former higher porch.
The west tower (14½ ft. square), of three stages with
ashlar walls, is about a century old. It has west and
south pointed doorways and an east doorway into the
nave. The lowest stage, now used as the vestry, has a
low three-light north window. Above the vestry are
windows of two lights and tracery. The second stage
has lancet windows, and the bell-chamber windows of
two lights and tracery. Over the north and south windows are clock dials. In the east wall is a blocked
circular window. The cornice is coved and above the
parapet are angle pinnacles.
The font is modern, but near the chancel arch is a
disused font of the 15th century with a plain octagonal
bowl; it had been discarded and used as a flower-vase.
The Chetwynd chapel is separated from the rest of
the south aisle by a screen of c. 1680. It is of five bays
with a middle doorway; the openings have round heads,
with enriched key-blocks, carried on panelled square
posts with Corinthian capitals, all standing on a middle
rail; the spandrels are carved with cherubs' heads. The
entablature is plain, and above is an achievement of
arms of Chetwynd impaling Bagot, and two urns. Wood
fittings imported from elsewhere, some of them foreign,
include the communion rails in the chancel, which are
of five bays divided by panelled square posts with
carved figures in 17th-century costume. These are the
Virgin and Child, St. Peter with a key and book, a
shepherd boy playing a pipe, and another with a bagpipe, and two cherubs. Between the posts are twisted
balusters. The frieze to the top-rail is carved with
cherubs' heads, vine pattern, scrolled foliage, &c.
There is also a piece of late-17th-century cresting, probably part of a Flemish reredos, with a figure of Christ
in Majesty, in a scrolled cartouche surrounded by altorelievo carving of flowers, fruit, &c. It has rams' heads
as north and south consoles and four gilded cherubs'
heads.
At the west end of the nave is an enclosed gallery
pew brought from St. Mary's Church, Stafford, and
said to have been the Mayor's pew. It is three-sided
with open bays having round arches enriched with egg
and tongue ornament and shallow foliage carving to the
spandrels: the sides have scrolled brackets. Between
them are flat posts with low relief carving and over
them a frieze carved with ornament and an inscription:
RICHARD DRAKEFORD STEPHEN WINKLE CHVRCH WARDENS
ANNO DOMINI 1618. There is a carved side-door to the pew.
Over it is a modern organ-gallery front and on the
front of it some late-17th-century scroll ornament with
cherubs' heads.
In the chancel is an 18th-century domestic chest.
On the south wall of the south aisle are the Royal
Arms carved in wood, (fn. 73) and there is a modern achievement over the north doorway, of wood or plaster.
On the south side of the chancel is a fine well-preserved recumbent effigy in alabaster of an early-15thcentury lady. She wears a draped high head-dress,
necklace and locket, tight corsage with sleeves buttoned
at the wrists, close skirt, and over it a sideless gown.
Below the sideless gown across her hips is a narrow
belt; over all is a mantle, loosely fastened across the
breast with cords from rosette brooches. The head rests
on two cushions and at the feet is a small dog.
On the north side is a large alabaster grave slab of
[Margaret wife of William Chetwynd] 1538–9. It is
incised with her effigy in pedimental head-dress, loose
sleeves through which appear the real tight sleeves,
frilled cuffs, hands in prayer and holding a rosary, and
a full skirt. By her left side is an infant in swaddling
clothes inscribed 'Wilm Chetwyn'. A marginal inscription in black letter reads: 'Of your Charyte pray
for the soul of … qwyer w[ife?] m[ar]gett decessed …
February in the yere of or lord god M
l
CCCCCXXXVIII.'
At the top are shields of arms (1) Chetwynd quartering
Grendon. (2) Two charges; upper, three pheons, for
Salter (?); lower, a bend cotised, in chief a bird; impaling, a bend with three sheaves thereon, in chief a
molet, for Ottley. (fn. 74)
Mural monuments in the chancel include: (1) to
Frances daughter of Walter Chetwynd and Anne
(Bagot), died 1673 in 20th month of age; (2) Frances
(Haseling) wife of Walter Chetwynd and afterwards of
Wolston Dixey of Bosworth, died 1686; (3) to Mary
daughter of Charles Chetwynd, died 1750, aged 95. It
has a life-size figure of a mourning woman and an urn
set in a half-round recess in the south wall. A 16thcentury window was walled up for it.
In the 'Chetwynd Chapel' are several monuments
to members of that family. One, an alabaster tablet
brought from Ingestre and reset in front of the piscina,
has an inscription to John Chetwynd of 'Ingistrent',
Staffs., and Marjorie (Middelmore). His first wife
Mary (Meverell) had a son William. He had five sons
by the second and died 1592. Another of alabaster is to
William Chetwynd, 1612; the monument was set up in
1676 by Walter Chetwynd. Others are later.
On the west wall of the south aisle is another to John
son of Thomas Chetwinde of Rudge, co. Staffs., died
1652. A monument to Sir George Chetwynd 1850
records that he restored and beautified the church in
1825.
In the south porch is a grave slab with indents of the
brass effigy of a 15th-century woman, inscription, a
rectangle over, and four roundels down each side.
A number of kneeling figures and armorial shields
in the windows were figured by Dugdale (c. 1650), but
all the figures and most of the shields had already been
lost by 1730. (fn. 75)
There are six bells: (1) 1699 by Henry Bagley;
(2) 1615 by William Clibury of Wellington, Salop;
(3) Recast 1906; (4) inscribed MELEDE GERIT by Newcombe; (5) 1623 by Hugh Watts, Leicester; and (6) the
tenor of 1906 by Taylor & Co., Loughborough.
The communion plate includes a cup of 1635 with a
baluster stem; a plain paten of 1632 with a shield of the
donor; and a flagon of 1756.
The registers date from 1570.
ADVOWSON
The advowson has followed the
descent of the manor throughout. In
1360 and 1369 it was in the hands of
the Duke of Lancaster owing to the minority of the
heir.
In 1703 a case was brought in Chancery by Robert
Mosse, clerk, against Anne Gibson, widow of Francis
Gibson, the late rector, concerning the tithes and parsonage house at Grendon, which, it was alleged, the
defendant refused to vacate, allowing it to fall into
ruins. The defence was that Thomas Gibson was
rector for about seven years, until his death in 1690/1,
and, far from allowing it to become ruinous, he rebuilt
the dove-cot and retiled most of the house. Various
other points emerge from the case, notably that Thomas
Gibson was absent from the parish at the University
during the whole of the first two years after his presentation, and after that was always sickly and requiring
curates to do his work. The living was then worth
about £100 a year. (fn. 76) Previous to this it had been
valued at £10 13s. 4d. in 1291, (fn. 77) and at £20 3s. 4d. in
1535. (fn. 78)
CHARITY
Gibson's Charity. An inscription on a
monument in the church at Grendon to
the memory of Arthur Stevens states that
he charged an estate at Dostill, called Hockley, with the
payment of Mrs. Gibson's legacy to the poor of
Grendon viz. 50s. per annum to be distributed on
Good Friday. The charge is now paid out of Hockley
Hall Farm at Wilnecote and distributed to the poor of
the parish.