LITTLE COMBERTON
Cumbrinton, Cumberton Minor or Parva (xiii
cent.).
This small parish lies to the north of Bredon Hill,
2 miles south-east of Pershore, in one of the most
fertile parts of the county, the inhabitants being
mainly occupied in agriculture. The village is small,
consisting of one street of cottages, one of which on
the west side has a picturesque overhanging, timberframed gable. Opposite the church is a fair-sized
timber-framed house with brick filling known as the
Old Manor House, which formerly belonged to
the Wigleys. It is probably of early 17th-century
date, and has gabled wings at the north and south
ends and a massive stone chimney to the south
wing. A short distance to the north is Nash's
Farm, a black and white house of about the same
date. It has a gabled wing at one end, and in the
farmyard is a circular pigeon-house of stone.
The ground has a steady slope from its highest point,
500 ft. above the ordnance datum in the extreme southwest, to 66 ft. at the north of the parish, the village
standing at a height of about 100 ft. It has an area of
790 acres, of which 263 are arable land and 417
permanent grass. (fn. 1) The soil is marl, the subsoil Lower
Lias. The chief crops grown are wheat, barley and
beans, and there are extensive apple and pear orchards.
Romano-British objects have been found in the
parish. (fn. 2)
An Inclosure Act was passed in 1803, (fn. 3) the award
being dated 4 July 1806. (fn. 4)
Among ancient place-names have been found Newey,
Prestewey, Wymedewe, Putmedewe (fn. 5) (xiv cent.).
MANOR
The manor of LITTLE COMBERTON was probably included with part of
Great Comberton in 1086 in the manor
of 10 hides at Comberton which Gilbert Fitz Turold
then held, and which had formerly belonged to
Eadric, a free man. (fn. 6) Gilbert held this manor of the
Abbot of Westminster's great manor of Pershore. (fn. 7)
Later it became one of the fees held of the abbot's
manor of Binholme, (fn. 8) and it was still held of that
manor in 1610. (fn. 9)
The history of the under-tenants of this manor
from 1086 to the middle of the 13th century is not
known. It probably, however, passed with Gilbert's
manor of Hadzor to the Fitz Warins of Wick near
Pershore, for in 1256–7 William Fitz Warin settled
land in Comberton on himself for life with reversion
to his son William. (fn. 10) It was probably the same estate
which was sold between 1298 and 1315 to Guy Earl
of Warwick by William Fitz Warin. (fn. 11) It then seems
to have descended with Elmley Castle, (fn. 12) and was still
at the beginning of the 15th century called 'Little
Comberton of William Fitz
Warin.' (fn. 13) On the death of
George Duke of Clarence in
1478 the manor passed into
the king's custody on account
of the minority of the duke's
son Edward. (fn. 14) At this date
the manor was said to be
held of the king, but by
what service was not known.
In a Valor of the Earl of
Warwick's lands of 1526–7
it was still in the hands of
the king, (fn. 15) Edward Earl of
Warwick having forfeited all
his possessions in 1499. (fn. 16)
The manor must have been
granted before 1549–50 to
John first Earl of Warwick
of the house of Dudley, who
then sold it to George Willoughby. (fn. 17) From George
Willoughby it passed in
1549 to his younger son
Thomas, (fn. 18) by whom it was
sold to Edward Morgan in
1567. (fn. 19) Before Edward's death in 1578 he had
granted this manor to John Morgan, son of his brother
Thomas, (fn. 20) but it must have reverted to the Crown
before 1612, when it was granted to William Lloyd
and Thomas Parker of Holborn, for divers sums
granted by Thomas Berington and others, to hold of
the Crown in chief. (fn. 21) By Habington's day it had
passed to Mr. William Savage, and from him to
others. (fn. 22) It seems, however, to have again returned
to the Savages of Elmley Castle, a manor of Comberton
being held in 1753 by Thomas Byrche Savage, (fn. 23) and
in 1822 by Robert Clavering Savage. (fn. 24) Nash states
that the Savages held only the royalty of the manor,
the estates having passed to others. (fn. 25)
Old Cottages in Little Comberton Village
Another estate known as the manor of LITTLE
COMBERTON probably originally formed part of
the manor whose descent has just been traced, for it
was held in the 15th and 16th centuries of the barony
of Elmley Castle. (fn. 26) It may perhaps be identified
with the manor of Comberton for which William
Shepard of Birlingham owed a farm of 10 marks,
2 weys of wheat, 2 weys of barley and 5 weys of
pease in 1397, (fn. 27) and with the manor of Little Comberton of which Robert Hugford died seised in 1411,
holding it for life by grant of Thomas Earl of
Warwick at a rent of £6. (fn. 28) In 1496 Auchar
Beauchamp died seised of the manor, leased to him
at a rent of 6s. He bequeathed it for life to his
wife Avice (who was still living in 1500), after whose
death a priest was to be maintained out of the issues
of the manor. (fn. 29) In 1528 Robert Morgan of South
Mapperton (co. Dorset) died seised of this manor,
having ordained by his will the foundation of a
chantry in the convent of Studley for his soul and
those of Anthony (sic) and Alice (sic) Beauchamp. (fn. 30)
He was succeeded by his son John, who in 1533
killed Anchret Palmer in self-defence at Little Comberton, (fn. 31) and received pardon for this in the following
year. (fn. 32) He died at Studley in 1535 seised of the
manor, having bequeathed it to his son Robert and
his heirs, with remainder to his other sons Edward,
Nicholas and Thomas successively. (fn. 33) Robert succeeded him and settled the manor on 4 February
1550 on his wife Mary, directing by his will dated
15 July 1567 that his son George should not be
disturbed in his quiet possession of the manor for
seventy years after the deaths of himself and his wife
Mary, if the said George should live so long. (fn. 34)
Robert died on 15 July 1567 and was succeeded by
his son John, (fn. 35) who was convicted of murdering
Nicholas Turberville, his brother-in-law, (fn. 36) at Wells
(co. Somerset), on 23 January 1580, and hanged at
Ilchester gaol on 14 March following. His heir was
his brother Christopher, who died seised of the manor
on 8 January 1591. (fn. 37) He was succeeded by his son
Christopher, who died in 1609, his heirs being his
sisters Elizabeth wife of John Molford, and Mary
wife of Richard Brodrepp. (fn. 38) Elizabeth afterwards
married Thomas Trenchard. (fn. 39) By a partition of
Christopher Morgan's estates made in 1618 the manor
of Little Comberton was assigned to Richard Brodrepp
and Mary, (fn. 40) who held it in 1635. (fn. 41) Richard
Brodrepp, grandson of Richard and Mary, held the
manor in 1670 (fn. 42) and died in 1706, when his son
Robert succeeded. (fn. 43) On Robert's death in 1708 the
estate passed to his brother Richard, whose only son
George died without issue in 1739. (fn. 44) Thomas brother
of Richard succeeded, and he and his son Richard
sold the manor in 1748 to Edmund Makepeace. (fn. 45)
Edmund died in 1766, leaving it to his nephew
Henry Wigley, who was succeeded in 1801 by his
son Edmund, who assumed the name Meysey-Wigley. (fn. 46)
His son of the same name took the name Greswolde
and died childless in 1833. (fn. 47) Little Comberton then
passed to his sister Anne Maria, wife of John
Michael Severne, who sold it in 1854 to Charles
Abell of Little Comberton. (fn. 48) Of him it was purchased in 1867 by the executors of Mr. Bagnall,
and it now belongs to the latter's son Mr. William
Henry Bagnall of Bafford House, Charlton Kings,
Cheltenham. (fn. 49)
Old Cottage, Little Comberton
Morgan. Argent a bend cotised sable charged with a fleur de lis between two cinqfoils argent.
Brodrepp. Gules a cross between four swans argent.
The manor of GULLIVERS (Golofer, Golafres,
Golofoures, xvi cent.; Colyfers, Colefowers, xvii
cent.) was held of the abbey
of Westminster as of the
manor of Binholme. (fn. 50) It
seems to have been held by
the Golafres early in the
14th century. In 1327 John
Golafre headed the contributors to the subsidy in Little
Comberton, (fn. 51) and in 1328
land and rent in Little Comberton were recovered from
John Golafre by Walter de
Stanewey. (fn. 52) In 1332 John
Golafre again contributed to
the subsidy. (fn. 53) In 1340 Sir
John Golafre and Elizabeth
his wife granted to their son John and Amice
his wife tenements in Bricklehampton and Great
and Little Comberton. (fn. 54) In 1363 John Golafre
granted to Philip de Hambury and Joan his
sister lands and rents in Comberton on condition that the said Joan undertook to bring
no manner of action against him by reason of
her marriage and divorce from him. (fn. 55) In
1395–6 John Golafre did homage at the abbey
of Westminster's court at Binholme for his lands
in Little Comberton. (fn. 56) He seems to have sold
them before 1401–2 to Thomas Eode, who in
that year did homage for the land which he
bought of John Golafre in Comberton. (fn. 57) From
the Eodes or Edes the estate seems to have
passed at the end of the 15th century to Robert
Throckmorton, who in 1500–1 owed suit for
land lately belonging to Walter Eode in Little
Comberton, (fn. 58) in 1504–5 for 'land late Edys in
Little Comberton called Golafres', (fn. 59) and in
1506–7 for land in Little Comberton called
Edyes. (fn. 60) It may be identical with a manor of
Comberton claimed by John Stephens, cousin
and heir of Walter Bode, who complained that
William Gryme, a feoffee, had sold it to Thomas
Throckmorton, then deceased, to his disinheritance. (fn. 61) The Throckmortons must have retained
possession, as in 1556 Sir Robert Throckmorton
conveyed the manor of 'Golofoures' to Margaret
Browne, widow. (fn. 62) On 18 April 1620 Henry
Browne died seised of the manor, his heir being
his son William, to whom he had bequeathed his
'farm of Colyfers.' (fn. 63) Among the notes in the
Prattinton Collection for Little Comberton parish
is one under 23 July 1817, stating that 'Gulliver's
Manor' paid 15s. to Pershore, 10s. to the rector of
Comberton, 1s. to the clerk, and 4s. to the poor, (fn. 64)
but the owner of the manor is not given, and its
further descent has not been traced.
Golafre. Barry wavy argent and gules a bend sable with three bezants thereon.
CHURCH
The church of ST. PETER consists
of a chancel 30¾ ft. by 16 ft. with
north and south chapels, nave 38 ft. by
16 ft. with north porch and south chapel, and west
tower 14¼ ft. by 12½ ft. All measurements are
internal.
The 12th-century church appears to have consisted
of a nave and chancel of the same size as the existing
ones, and of these the north nave wall and the base of
the south chancel wall are still standing. A window
was inserted in the north nave wall in the 14th
century and the west tower built. Early in the
following century the chancel was largely rebuilt.
The north porch was added in 1639. The church
has been drastically restored and the side chapels are
modern additions.
The east wall is of ashlar with two-stage diagonal
buttresses and an old gable cross. The early 15thcentury east window is of three lights with a pointed
traceried head. In the north wall is a square-headed
window of three trefoiled lights. The external hood
has the letter S in the centre of the head and voluted
stops bearing the letters T and P. Further west are
two modern arches to the north chapel. In the south
wall is a three-light early 15th-century window
similar to that on the north, and west of it is a
modern arch opening to the south chapel or transept.
In the same wall is a trefoil-headed piscina with the
bowl cut away; the wall itself is partly of 12thcentury rubble masonry. The timber chancel arch
is modern, as is the north chapel; built into the east
wall is a two-light early 15th-century window with a
quatrefoil in the head and in the north wall is a later
square-headed window, both being formerly in the
chancel wall. The south chapel is entirely modern
with a three-light south window. The chancel roof
retains a few old timbers.
Little Comberton Church from the South-East
The nave has five windows in the north wall,
three of them being early 12th-century single-light
openings but much restored. The easternmost
window is square-headed and of late date, and the
third window is of two lights, pointed and of the
14th century. The jambs of both cut into the early
12th-century opening between them. The westernmost 12th-century window has an external cable
moulding round the head. The north door is of
similar date with a semicircular tympanum externally,
ornamented with a plain cross and four whorls on
each side. The rear arch is plain and round. At the
east end of the south wall are two modern arches
opening into the south chapel and west of them three
modern windows, the last two being of two lights and
coupled together; the rear arches, however, spring
from ancient jambs. The south chapel has a modern
arch on the east opening into the chancel chapel, and
in the south wall are two two-light windows, of
which the eastern is largely ancient and the western
mainly modern. The masonry of the north nave
wall is 12th-century rubble, but the south wall,
though much restored, appears to be later.
The west tower opens into the nave by a depressed
four-centred arch with moulded capitals and bases to
the responds; in the west wall is a three-light 14thcentury window with restored tracery and a pointed
head, the external hood has large 'ball-flower' stops.
The tower is four stages high, divided by stringcourses and faced with ashlar; it has diagonal buttresses at the angles, a moulded plinth and embattled
parapet. The latter has crocketed pinnacles at the
angles and gargoyles at the angles of the parapet string.
The bell-chamber is lighted by a 14th-century threelight window in each face with external labels and
head-stops. The north porch has stone side walls
with benches and a timber front and gable with a
segmental-headed outer door; on the face is inscribed
'A [inverted capital L], EP 1639.'
The font has a circular stem and a plain octagonal
bowl with a modern cross cut in one face. The
other fittings are modern and include a carved oak
reredos. In the coupled windows on the south of
the nave and in the south-east window of the south
chapel are some fragments of ancient glass. In the
chancel are a number of old tiles, mostly with conventional designs, but some bearing the arms of the
Confessor, of the Berkeleys and the Hungerfords.
There are six bells: the tenor, fourth and treble cast
by J. Taylor, 1866; the fifth inscribed, 'Richard
Neale, Thomas Young Ch-wardens 1750'; the third,
'Abel Rudhall cast us all 1750'; and the second
'Prosperity to this parish A.R. 1750.'
The plate includes a modern cup and paten.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1542 to 1693, marriages 1540 to 1693, burials
1585 to 1694; (ii) all entries 1695 to 1757,
marriages to 1754 only; (iii) baptisms and burials
1757 to 1812; (iv) marriages 1755 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The church was first mentioned
in 1283 when the advowson belonged to William Fitz Warin. (fn. 65)
The advowson was held by the lords of the manor (fn. 66)
until after the attainder of Thomas Beauchamp, Earl
of Warwick, in 1396. It was granted in 1397 to
Sir John Russell, (fn. 67) who settled it in 1399 on himself and his wife Elizabeth, (fn. 68) but on the reversal of
the earl's attainder the advowson was restored to him
with the rest of his estates in 1399. It passed with
the manor to the Crown in 1499, (fn. 69) and was granted
in 1545 to John Dudley, Lord Lisle, (fn. 70) afterwards
Earl of Warwick, who evidently sold it with the
manor to George Willoughby, by whom the presentation was made in 1550. (fn. 71) His son Thomas presented in 1580, (fn. 72) from which it appears that he had
not sold the advowson with the manor to Edward
Morgan, and Robert Willoughby died seised of the
advowson in 1595. (fn. 73) His heir was his daughter
Eleanor, (fn. 74) who probably subsequently married Thomas
Berington, by whom the presentation was made in
right of his wife in 1614. (fn. 75) The advowson was in
1616 and 1618 in the hands of James Tomkyns,
whose wife Judith was in a later lawsuit described as
seised of the rectory by virtue of a lease for 200 years
made by the rector with the consent of the patron in
1570. (fn. 76)
The advowson seems next to have been held by
daughters of James Tomkyns and their husbands, and
to have been involved in disputes as to tithes which
resulted from the above lease. Edward Somervile of
Edstone in Wootton Wawen (co. Warwick) presented
in 1632, (fn. 77) but by what title is not clear, unless he
did so by grant of Thomas Somervile of Toddington
in Gloucestershire and Mary his wife, daughter and
heir of James Tomkyns, Thomas and Mary themselves presenting in 1643. (fn. 78) Judith Tomkyns had
a son Edward Lawrence, who married Susanna
daughter of John Parsons, and had by her a son
Edward, father of another Edward, whose son Charles
left two daughters, Mary and Grace, as co-heirs. Grace
married as her first husband a Mr. Bright, and on
his death Mr. Henry Goodere, whose heir, his brother
John Dineley Goodere, presented Richard Parkes of
Pershore to the living in 1734. (fn. 79) His title to present
appears to have been considered invalid, and the king
presented Bridges Thomas in the same year 'on a
suggestion of lapse,' as was stated in a suit brought to
recover arrears of stipend by Edmund Thomas against
John Dineley Goodere in 1739. (fn. 80) In 1737 the
presentation was made by William Neale, (fn. 81) but in
1741 the advowson was in the hands of Thomas
Byrche Savage of Elmley Castle. (fn. 82) It then followed
the descent of the mansion and park of Elmley Castle,
passing from Richard Bourne Charlett in 1822 to
Colonel Davies. (fn. 83)
Before 1836 the patronage had passed into the
possession of the Rev. William Parker, the incumbent, who held the advowson until his death,
and in the hands of whose representatives it continued until 1900. It passed, through the marriage
of his daughter, to the Lowndes family, and is
now in the possession of the Rev. William Dobson
Lowndes. (fn. 84)
In the 13th century the bodies of persons who
were not owners of land had to be brought from all
the surrounding vills for burial in the graveyard of
Little Comberton. (fn. 85)
Depositions as to custom of tithing in Little Comberton in 1676 mention a payment of a penny to the
rector out of every noble paid to servants as yearly
wage, which seems to have been in practice a yearly
offering of 2d. from servants. (fn. 86)
There was a rent of 12d. from 2½ acres of arable
land given for the maintenance of certain lights in
the church of Little Comberton. (fn. 87)
CHARITIES
The Church Land consists of about
an acre of land allotted on the inclosure of the common fields in lieu of
a piece of church land recorded upon a stone tablet
in the church. The land is let at £2 8s. a year,
which is applied towards church expenses.