CHADDESLEY CORBETT
Ceadresleage (ix cent.); Cedeslaeh, Cedeslai (xi
cent.); Cheddesleg (xii and xiii cent.); Chedeslea,
Claydesle (xiii cent.); Chaddeslegh Corbett (xiv cent.).
Chaddesley Corbett is a large parish covering
6,079 acres, of which 3,065¼ are arable land, 2,247¼
pasture and 242¾ woodland. (fn. 1) The Elmley or
Doverdale Brook, which rises in Belbroughton, flows
through the south of the parish, forming part of the
southern boundary. Barnett Brook, which also rises
in Belbroughton and joins the Stour near Kidderminster, waters the northern part of Chaddesley
Corbett. The principal road is the main road from
Kidderminster to Bromsgrove which enters the parish
near the hamlet of Mustow Green. Another road
crosses it at Mustow Green and passes through
Harvington to Broom. The village lies to the south
of the Doverdale Brook, and consists of one street lying
on a road running off the Kidderminster and Bromsgrove road to Stourbridge On either side of the
street are red brick and timber and brick houses and
cottages of various dates. The church stands on the
west side at the south end of the village. In the
churchyard are the steps and base of a mediaeval
cross, the shaft and head of which were erected in
1903. Opposite the church is the Talbot Inn, a
well-preserved timber and brick house on a base of
sandstone built about 1600. It has two porches
approached by steps. A short distance further south
is Brockencote Hall, situated in extensive grounds
to which the Doverdale Brook forms the eastern
boundary. Standing on the north side of the
Bromsgrove road to the south-west of the church is
the Lodge, the residence of Mr. James Meredith.
Most of the house was rebuilt early in the last
century, though the north-west corner dates from early
in the 17th century. The walls of this part of the
house are of half-timber and brick construction, considerably modernized when the 19th-century alterations were made. To the north-west of the house is
a large half-timber barn. It is L-shaped in plan, and
was no doubt erected when the original house was
built. West of the church to the north of the
Bromsgrove road are the almshouses, built in 1637.
The hamlet of Harvington is rather more than a
mile north-west of the village. Harvington Hall,
formerly the seat of the Yates, Pakingtons, and
Throckmortons, is approached by a small by-road
running north off the main road from Kidderminster
to Bromsgrove, and is built at the south-east corner
of the area inclosed by the surrounding moat. This
moat has been in places partly filled in, and, though
comparatively narrow on the south and east, it is
much wider on the west, while on the north it
stretches away in a large sheet of water, now divided
into two by the road. The Hall itself is in a very
dilapidated condition, and much of the older part—
though still roofed and retaining all its floors—is in
a ruinous state and overgrown with ivy. The general
plan of the buildings takes the form of the letter
L, the east block being built along the side of the
moat, the south some few yards back from the water's
edge.
The latter is the original building, and is late
Elizabethan. About the middle of the 17th century
from the east end of this block a low wing was thrown
out on the north, while early in the following
century a tall three-story building was erected at the
end of this addition. The later buildings, with a
part of the original block, have been divided up into
tenements, but the rest of the house is quite uninhabitable. The interior has been stripped of its
panelling, and the fine oak staircase is now at Coughton
Court, Warwickshire.
The Elizabethan building is three stories high
with attics in the roof. It is built of red brick with
red sandstone quoins, dressings and plinth. The walls
are generally carried up in pointed gables, and the
tiled roofs are of a fairly high pitch. The original
windows throughout were mullioned with the larger
ones subdivided by transoms. On plan it is an
irregular H, and the principal rooms appear to have
been on the first floor. Two interesting features of
the building are the hiding-places and the number of
entrances or exits. One of these is in the middle of
the south front, one on the west, and one in each of
the side walls of the projecting wings on the north;
these last two entrances face each other. The main
staircase was in the north-west corner of the house,
and a second, built round a central newel, is in the
south-east corner of the central block. There is a
third staircase in the east wing. The whole of the
ground floor was probably given up to the domestic
offices, the kitchen occupying the east wing.
The principal room on the first floor was the hall,
a large T-shaped apartment extending over the whole
of the central block and lighted by large transomed
and mullioned windows from both the north and
south. It was entered on the west, directly off the
principal staircase, while another doorway in the south
wall gave access to the central newelled stair. Opposite
this doorway high up in the north wall is one of the
hiding holes, now exposed to view through the dismantling of the building. The fireplace is in the
centre of the south wall. A small room on the south
side of the principal staircase gives access to a large
hiding-place, situated above an adjoining passage.
In the 17th-century extension the same materials
have been used as in the original building, though the
mullioned windows here are of oak. At the north
end of this wing is a large square-headed entrance to
the courtyard in the angle of the two blocks. The
wing contains two principal apartments, one above
the other, the upper being ceiled with a segmental
barrel vault of plaster. On the north side is a hiding
hole, now blocked up, and at the same end is a tall
brick chimney stack of an ornamental design. The
18th-century addition is built of the same materials
as the older portions and is rectangular on plan.
Harvington Hall from the South-east
The malt-house stands at the south-west corner of
the site and is contemporary with the Elizabethan
building. It is two stories high, the lower one being
built of red sandstone and the upper of half-timber,
much of the brick filling in being laid diagonally.
The roof is tiled and the floor of the upper story is
plastered.
Another outbuilding, now used as a school, stands
to the north of the malt-house, but this is an 18thcentury erection. Quite close to the house is a
Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to St. Mary, built by
Sir George Throckmorton in 1825. (fn. 2) Near the chapel
is a memorial crucifix to Father Wall, who officiated at
Harvington in the 17th century, and was executed
at Worcester in 1679. Many of the inhabitants of
Chaddesley Corbett during the 16th and 17th
centuries were presented for recusancy, among them
being Humphrey Pakington. (fn. 3) A Roman Catholic
congregation flourished at Harvington in the early
18th century. Father Charles Dodd, author of
English Church History, succeeded in 1726 to this cure,
and during his residence at Harvington finished his
great work. He was buried in 1742–3
at Chaddesley Corbett. (fn. 4)
Winterfold, which has for some years
been the seat of the Harwards, (fn. 5) is a
red brick mansion standing in a wellwooded deer park.
Chaddesley Corbett once formed
part of the forest of Piperode, which
was later absorbed in Feckenham
Forest.
The land is undulating, varying in
height from about 180 ft. above the
ordnance datum in the south near
Doverdale Brook to 400 ft. in the
north. The soil is loamy and the
subsoil red sandstone, raising good
crops of wheat, barley, beans, oats and
potatoes. Agriculture is the chief industry, but the steam saw and cornmills of William Seager, Ltd., at
Cakebole and the scythe works of Isaac
Nash at Drayton give employment to
some of the inhabitants.
Noake writing in 1868 states that
the parish wake at Whitsuntide was
then still held. (fn. 6) Among the placenames are:—Clatcote, Berehull, Taggeburne, (fn. 7) Derewalle, Monkeswall, Wallersrudyng, Truggesrudyng, Grimbaldesmede (fn. 8) and Fresefield. (fn. 9) The name
of the hamlet of Drayton occurs as
early as the 13th century, (fn. 10) while
Woodrow (Woderowe) and Cakebole
(Cakeball, Cakbawle) are mentioned in
the 15th and 16th centuries (fn. 11) and
Brockencote in the 16th century. (fn. 12)
MANORS
In 816 King Coenwulf of Mercia
exempted twenty-five 'manentes' at
'Ceadres leage' from various royal services. (fn. 13) The land at that date evidently belonged
to the Bishop or church of Worcester. Heming, in
his chartulary of the possessions of Worcester Priory,
states that CHADDESLEY was taken away from that
church by Earl Leofric, but that his wife Godiva
restored it to the priory after his death. Shortly
afterwards it was again seized by Edwin and Morcar,
but 'to their swift confusion,' the former being
murdered and the latter dying in captivity, (fn. 14) when
their lands, including Chaddesley, passed to the
Crown. (fn. 15) The overlordship of Chaddesley Corbett
was apparently granted by William I or William II
to Robert Fitz Hamon, (fn. 16) whose eldest daughter
Mabel married Robert Earl of Gloucester, natural
son of Henry I. (fn. 17) William Earl of Gloucester, son of
Robert, died in 1183, leaving three daughters and
co-heirs, Mabel wife of the Count of Evreux in
Normandy, Amice wife of Richard de Clare Earl of
Hertford, and Isabel divorced wife of King John,
and afterwards wife of Geoffrey de Mandeville Earl of
Essex. (fn. 18) The overlordship eventually passed to Gilbert
de Clare Earl of Hertford, son of Amice, who became
Earl of Gloucester, and it descended with the earldom
of Gloucester till the death of Gilbert de Clare in
1314, (fn. 19) when the fee at Chaddesley Corbett was
assigned to his widow Maud, daughter of the Earl
of Ulster. (fn. 20) After her death it probably passed to
Eleanor wife of Hugh le Despenser, jun., eldest
sister of Gilbert de Clare, as the manor was said
in 1323–4 to be held of Hugh le Despenser, jun.,
as of the honour of Gloucester. (fn. 21) Hugh was executed
in 1326, and the fee seems then to have passed to
Margaret, second sister and co-heir of Gilbert de
Clare, and her second husband Hugh Audley, who
was created Earl of Gloucester in 1336–7, (fn. 22) as at the
time of Hugh's death in 1347 he was said to be
holding this fee at Chaddesley. (fn. 23) He left no male
issue, and the fee was evidently restored to Hugh le
Despenser, son of Hugh and Eleanor mentioned
above, for he was holding it at the time of his death
in 1348–9, (fn. 24) and it was assigned as dower to his
widow Elizabeth. (fn. 25) It passed on her death in 1359 (fn. 26)
to Edward le Despenser, nephew of Hugh, who died
seised of it in 1375, leaving a son Thomas, his heir. (fn. 27)
Elizabeth Lady le Despenser, widow of Edward, appears
to have had some interest in this fee, for in 1394 she
allowed William de Beauchamp to grant the church
of Chaddesley to the college of Warwick. (fn. 28) The
agreement of her son Thomas was also obtained. (fn. 29)
It is difficult to account for the fact that before this
date the fee had passed to Thomas Earl of Stafford,
great-grandson of Hugh Audley and Margaret de
Clare, (fn. 30) for at the time of his death in 1392 he was
said to be holding a fee at Chaddesley. (fn. 31) His widow
Anne by special dispensation of the pope married her
late husband's brother Edmund, (fn. 32) and was holding this
fee as dower at the time of Edmund's death in 1403. (fn. 33)
She died in 1438, (fn. 34) but before that time her right in
the fee at Chaddesley seems
to have lapsed. After 1403
no connected descent of the
overlordship can be traced.
In 1410–11 the manor was
said to be held of Richard
Earl of Warwick for a rent of
a rose, (fn. 35) and in 1435–6 of
the Prior of Little Malvern. (fn. 36)
It was stated in 1439 and in
1446 that it was not held of
the king in chief, but neither
the lord nor the service due
for it was known. (fn. 37) In
1487–8 it was held of the king as of the earldom of
March, (fn. 38) in 1492–3 of the king in chief for service
unknown, (fn. 39) and in 1505 of the king as of the manor
of Elmley. (fn. 40)
Harvington Hall from the North-east
Clare. Or three cheverons gules.
Despenser. Quarterly argent and gules fretty or with a bend sable over all.
Audley. Gules fretty or.
Before the Conquest 'a certain woman' Eadgifu
held Chaddesley, and was still holding it in 1086. (fn. 41)
At that time it seems to have been a place of considerable importance, having eight berewicks attached to it,
and consisting of 25 hides, of which 10 were free
from geld, the value of the whole being £12. (fn. 42) The
manor passed in the 12th
century to Robert son of
Payn, who was succeeded by
his son and grandson, both
named Richard Folliott. (fn. 43) By
the latter's daughter Hawise,
who married firstly Robert
son of Richard, and secondly,
before 1199, Roger Corbett, (fn. 44)
the manor came to the Corbett family. William Corbett
appears to have been in possession of the manor in 1235,
as at that date an agreement
was made between him and
the Abbot of Tewkesbury as
to a rent and tenement which the abbot's men held
in the manor of Chaddesley. (fn. 45) He still held it in
1261–2, (fn. 46) but had been succeeded before 1266 by
Robert Corbett. (fn. 47) This Robert died without issue
about 1270, and the manor passed to his nephew
William, son of William Corbett. (fn. 48) On his death
about 1282–3 (fn. 49) a third of the manor was assigned to
his widow Ada. (fn. 50) She outlived her son Roger, who
died in 1289–90, (fn. 51) and on her death about 1290–1
the whole manor passed to her grandson William
Corbett. (fn. 52)
Corbett of Chaddesley Corbett. Or a raven sable in a border engrailed gules.
The inquisition taken in 1290 after the death of
Roger Corbett gives a good idea of the value and
extent of the manor. It contained a capital messuage
worth 10s., four vineyards worth 26s. 8d., and two
water-mills worth 26s. 8d. 'if they are kept in
repair'; the tenant of each virgate of land ought
among other services 'to do average to the bridge of
Tewksbury' twice a year, 'to get the lord's cloth
within the county,' and to give the lord two hens at
Christmas worth 2d. in return for which he gave them
'reasonable furze and dead wood'; twelve cotarii each
paid yearly 11s. 6d. and 'ought to do lesser service to
mend the lady's linen.' (fn. 53)
William Corbett, son and heir of Roger, appears to
have lived to a great age. In 1304 he obtained a
grant of free warren at Chaddesley Corbett. (fn. 54) He
had been knighted before 1314–15, (fn. 55) and appears to
have been implicated in the rebellion against the
Despensers, for in 1322 his estates were seized. (fn. 56) In
1328–9 he made three separate grants of rents of
£200 annually from his manor of Chaddesley Corbett. (fn. 57)
In 1330 he complained of Roger de Mortimer Earl
of March and John Wyard, (fn. 58) who enticed him to
Berkeley, where they detained him for four days, took
away his seal, and forced him to make a recognizance
to John Wyard for 1,350 marks. (fn. 59) In 1340 William
Corbett's conduct to his wife drew down episcopal censure and he was ordered to amend under penalty of
£40. (fn. 60) He was appointed in 1340 one of the commissioners in Worcester to value the king's ninths. (fn. 61)
In 1351, when he was said to be an octogenarian, he
was exempted for life from public services. (fn. 62) Four
years later, however, William Corbett of Chaddesley
is mentioned as a justice of the peace, (fn. 63) and in 1358–9
he settled the manor on himself for life with reversion
to Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick. (fn. 64)
The latter settled this property, described as a
fee in Chaddesley Corbett, and the advowson of the
church in tail-male upon his younger son William
Lord Bergavenny and his wife Joan, with contingent
remainder to himself. (fn. 65) William died in 1411, (fn. 66) and
the manor was held by his wife Joan until her death
in 1435. (fn. 67) As her only son Richard had died
without male issue in 1422, the manor reverted to
Richard Earl of Warwick, grandson and heir male of
Thomas Earl of Warwick mentioned above. (fn. 68) The
manor then descended in the same way as Elmley
Castle (q.v.) to George Duke of Clarence and his wife
Isabel Nevill. (fn. 69)
Isabel died in 1476 and the duke in 1477–8, (fn. 70)
when the manor passed into the hands of the king
on account of the minority of their son Edward. (fn. 71)
It apparently remained in the king's hands until
about 1481, (fn. 72) and it was probably at about this time
that the heirs of Henry Duke of Warwick—namely,
the descendants of his sister Anne and of his halfsisters Margaret and Elizabeth—claimed the manor
under a settlement made by Richard father of
Henry. (fn. 73) These co-heirs were Anne wife of Richard
Duke of Gloucester (afterwards Richard III), Edward
son of George Duke of Clarence, Elizabeth wife of
Edward Grey Lord Lisle, and Elizabeth Lady Latimer.
The manor of Chaddesley seems to have been
assigned to Elizabeth Lady Lisle, for she died seised
of it in September 1487. (fn. 74) It is difficult to explain
the fact that in December of the same year Anne
Countess of Warwick, having obtained an Act of
Parliament for her restoration
to the Beauchampestates, (fn. 75) conveyed the manor, together with
nearly all her other recovered
property, to Henry VII, (fn. 76) for
the ownership certainly remained with the Greys.
Edward Viscount Lisle held
the manor by courtesy until
his death in 1492, when it
passed to his son John, (fn. 77) who
died in 1504. A daughter
Elizabeth was born shortly
after his death, (fn. 78) but she died
without issue in 1519, (fn. 79) and
the manor passed to her aunt
Elizabeth, then wife of Arthur
Plantagenet, (fn. 80) who was created Viscount Lisle in
1523. (fn. 81) In 1522 and 1528–9 the manor was settled
upon Arthur Viscount Lisle for life, with reversion
to John Dudley son of Elizabeth by her first husband
Edmund Dudley. (fn. 82) Sir Arthur and John leased the
manor for forty years in 1527 to John Pakington, (fn. 83)
but in 1529 John Pakington and Lord Lisle released
their claims in the manor to Sir John Dudley, (fn. 84) who
in the same year sold it to John Pakington, at first
retaining a yearly rent of £40, but later compounding
for it. (fn. 85)
Grey, Lord Lisle. Barry argent and azure with three roundels gules in the chief and a label argent.
As he had no children Sir John settled the manor
in 1538 on John son of his brother Humphery in
tail-male. (fn. 86) Humphery, who succeeded his father
John in 1578, (fn. 87) died without male issue in 1631, (fn. 88)
leaving the manor to his eldest daughter Mary wife
of Sir John Yate. She, being a staunch Roman
Catholic, was prohibited in 1680 from leaving
England, which she desired to do on account of her
health. At length she was permitted by special leave
of the Secretary of State—on condition that she left
within fourteen days—'to
imbarque with her trunks of
Apparel and other necessaries
not prohibited at any port of
this kingdom.' (fn. 89)
Throckmorton, baronet. Gules cheveron argent with three gimel bars sable thereon.
She was succeeded in 1696
by her granddaughter and heir,
Mary wife of Sir Robert
Throckmorton, (fn. 90) whose descendant Sir Nicholas William
George Throckmorton, bart.,
is now lord of the manor, (fn. 91)
and until recently held most
of the land in the parish.
The Court Rolls from the
time of Henry IV and other deeds relating to the
manor are in the possession of Sir N. W. G. Throckmorton, bart., at Coughton Court, Warwick. (fn. 92)
A deer park at Chaddesley Corbett, held with the
manor in the 15th century, (fn. 93) was sold with it to
John Pakington. (fn. 94) In 1417 repairs were done to
the 'Dere house' in the park. (fn. 95)
Three mills rendering twelve horseloads of grain
belonged to Eadgifu, lady of the manor, at the time
of the Domesday Survey. (fn. 96) In 1290 Roger Corbett
held only two mills, (fn. 97) but another mill possibly
belonged to his mother Ada Corbett, who had one
third of the manor in dower. (fn. 98) Humphery Pakington
had three mills near Barnettbrook in Chaddesley and
Moorhall Bell in 1604, (fn. 99) and 'certain mills' in
Chaddesley belonged to Lady Mary Yate in 1675 (fn. 100)
and to Sir Robert Thockmorton in 1747. (fn. 101) These
probably survive in Lower Bellington, Bellington and
Barnett mills, the first of which is now disused. A
mill called 'Sythemill' belonged to the manor in
1481, (fn. 102) and a mill at Drayton is still used for scythe
grinding.
In 1544 a water-mill called Walke Mill or Heth
Mill in Chaddesley, with land called Mawtes Furlong
in Chaddesley in the lordship of Dunclent, and Spelley
Hull in Chaddesley in the lordship of Stone, was
granted to John Maynard and William Breton, (fn. 103) who
sold it in the same year to Thomas Vaughan of
St. Albans. (fn. 104)
It is not known of whom the reputed manor of
HARVINGTON (Herewynton, Herwinton, xiii cent.;
Hervyngton, xv cent.) was held in early times, but
from 1410–11, when the overlordship is first
mentioned, until the manorial rights of Harvington
lapsed it was identical with that of Chaddesley
Corbett. (fn. 105)
John de Harvington held land at Harvington in
1280. (fn. 106) Adam son of William de Harvington, (fn. 107)
probably a descendant, held the manor in the middle
of the 14th century. He was a clerk in holy orders,
and became chancellor of the Exchequer in 1327. (fn. 108)
He had been appointed chancellor of the Exchequer
at Dublin in 1326. In 1342 he conveyed the
reversion of the manor after his death to Thomas
Beauchamp Earl of Warwick. (fn. 109) The earl apparently
afterwards sold or leased the manor to Richard de
Stonleye, for in 1346 Richard released to the earl all
his lands in England, except his estate in the manor
of Harvington. (fn. 110) The manor reverted before 1357–8
to the Earl of Warwick, for in that year he leased it
at a rent of £10 a year to Edmund de Brugg and
Joan his wife. (fn. 111)
Plan of Chaddesley Corbett Church
From that time it followed the descent of Chaddesley Corbett Manor (fn. 112) (q.v.), but all manorial rights
apparently lapsed before 1578. (fn. 113) The manor-house
seems to have been the seat of the Pakingtons and of
Lady Mary Yate. (fn. 114)
Humphrey Pakington of Chaddesley Corbett was
confined at his mansion-house at Harvington for
recusancy in 1595, and on 9 November in that year
the council ordered him to be brought to London
'to th'end he may have conference with som learned
devines to work him (if possibly yt may be) to som
conformity.' (fn. 115)
CHURCH
The church of ST. CASSIAN consists
of a chancel 44 ft. 2 in. by 18 ft. 11 in.,
modern north vestry, north chapel
31 ft. 10 in. by 15 ft. 11 in., nave about 54 ft. 6 in.
by 20 ft. 3 in., north aisle of nearly the same length,
14 ft. 1 in. wide, south aisle 56 ft. 5 in. by 10 ft. 1 in.,
and a west tower 15 ft. by 14 ft. 10 in. These
measurements are all internal.
The north arcade of the nave, which is the earliest
portion of the existing building, dates from the first
half of the 12th century. At this period the nave
had a north aisle only, but before the close of the
century an important enlargement took place. The
west wall was taken down and the nave lengthened
by one broad bay, and at the same time the southern
arcade and aisle were added. During the following
century a chapel of two bays was built on the north
side of the Norman quire, and this was suffered to
remain when the early chancel was replaced by the
present handsome structure in the 14th century.
The same century saw the rebuilding of the outer
walls of both the nave aisles, only the west end of
the southern being left of the 12th-century work,
and the tower arch was reconstructed at the same
time. Early in the 16th century the southern windows of the south aisle were inserted and in the 18th
the existing tower was built.
The chancel throughout, with the exception of the
arcade shafts, is of early 14th-century date, very rich
in detail, the tracery of the four windows being
remarkable for its elegance and variety.
The five-light east window has flowing tracery of
the 14th century, and on each side is a niche with a
crocketed canopy over and a foliated bracket.
In the north wall is a round-headed late 14thcentury door, opening into a modern vestry, which
occupies the site of an earlier one.
In the same wall is a recess, with trefoiled ogee
head and a crocketed canopy above. An arcade of
two bays divides the north chapel from the chancel.
The responds are formed with three engaged shafts,
but the column is octagonal. Up to the capitals the
work is of the 13th century, but the arches above are
14th-century work and the capitals were probably
re-cut at the same period. The three plain lancet
lights under a segmental rear arch, in the east wall
of the chapel, date from c. 1250, and the three
windows in the north wall are of similar date and
description, but of two lights only. Below the east
window is a moulded ledge, which probably carried
a decorated beam above the chapel altar.
The arch between the chapel and the north aisle is
of the same type as the chancel arcade.
In the south chancel wall are three windows, of
three lights each, the heads filled with flowing and
geometric tracery. The label of the centre window
is stopped on carved masks, but the others have stops
of foliage. Below the third can be traced the position
of a 'low-side' window, which has been restored,
externally, as a two-light square-headed window.
Beneath the centre window is a doorway similar to
that at the north-east.
The chancel arch is pointed, of two plain chamfered orders, the inner dying on to the walls, the
outer continuing down as chamfered responds. The
exterior is very rich in appearance. The buttresses
have each two gabled offsets filled with tracery, the
upper finished with crockets and finials.
The northern arcade of the nave consists of three
bays, with round arches of two plain orders and a
fourth and larger bay at the west end, with a similar
but pointed arch. The cylindrical columns and
responds of the three earlier bays have scalloped
capitals slightly differing in design. The western
half of the third pier, where the work of the two
periods joins, has also a scalloped capital, and the
west respond is similar.
The southern arcade consists of three bays, with
tall pointed arches of two plain orders, similar to the
western bay of the north arcade in spacing and detail
of capitals.
The four windows of the north aisle are modern
restorations in the style of the 14th century, and the
three-light west window in the tower is likewise
modern. The north doorway appears to be of the
original 12th-century date. The head is semicircular, and the external jambs are shafted, the
shafts having scalloped capitals.
In the south aisle the three-light windows in the
south wall date from the early 16th century. The
east window is modern, but at the west end is a twolight 14th-century window inserted in the earlier
wall. The aisle walls were raised in the 16th century,
and the earlier roof line is still visible at the west
end. There are traces of a south door, now blocked.
Externally there is a tomb recess with a crocketed
canopy, with a buttress springing over the opening
to the wall above. In the west window are some
fragments of old glass.
The tower, with embattled parapet and spire, was
built in the 18th century.
The chancel has a plaster barrel-ceiling with wood
ribs. The nave roof is modern, but the pent over
the south aisle is ancient. At the intersections of the
moulded beams are roses, with carved bosses at the
wall plate on the ends of the intermediate timbers.
These bosses, with one exception, bear angles, some
with shields and one holding a censer.
The font is of red sandstone, circular in shape,
and a fine piece of 12th-century work. On the rim
of the bowl is a double band of interlaced work, and
below this five dragons with knotted tails. The
stem has a deep band of interlaced work, and the
base a double row of 'Stafford knots.'
In the chapel are two life-size effigies: a priest in
mass vestments, and a late 13th-century knight in
chain mail. The latter wears a mail coif, knee cops,
a long surcoat, and a shield on the left arm. The
feet with prick spurs rest on a dog, and a line of
rosettes extends along the edge of the slab on which
the effigy rests.
In the south aisle is a tomb slab of a man and
his wife with a broken inscription round the edge,
running: 'Thome Fforest Parcarii de Dunclent et
Margaritae uxoris ejus et omnium puerorum suorum
quorum . . . .' Between the words are arrows,
hunting horns, leaves, &c., and at the four corners
the symbols of the Evangelists.
In the north chapel is a monument in alabaster and
black marble to Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Holt
of Aston, bart., died 1647, with arms: Azure two bars
or in chief a cross paty. Another monument commemorates Humphery Pakington (died 1631) and his
wife (died 1657), with arms: Party cheveronwise
sable and or with three mullets or in the chief, and
three sheaves gules in the foot. A fourth monument
is to Ann wife of Sir Henry Audley of Burechurch,
Essex, and daughter of Humphery Pakington, died
1642.
An ancient altar slab about 5 ft. long and 13 in.
thick is preserved here.
In the tower is a fragment of a 12th-century
'Majesty' in a vesica.
There is a peal of eight bells and a small ringing-in
bell. The treble and second are dated 1783, and
encircled with bands of ornament; the third is by
Abraham Rudhall, and inscribed 'I sweetly sing when
you mee ring A.R. 1701'; the fourth and fifth are also
by Abraham Rudhall, and are respectively inscribed
'Wee all to ring God save the King 1701' and 'God
prosper this Church and Parish 1701'; both the
sixth and seventh are by C. G. Mears, 1856; and
the tenor, which was originally by Abraham Rudhall,
1701, and inscribed with the names of the vicar and
churchwardens and 'God save the King,' was recast
by Messrs. Stainbank in 1905. The small bell is by
Mears & Stainbank, 1891.
The plate consists of a chalice dated 1571 and
made in the preceding year, a paten of 1724, a
modern chalice, paten and cruet.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) mixed entries 1538 to 1727 (this book is
preceded by a note that the injunction for keeping registers was first read at Chaddesley Corbett
24 November 1538); (ii) baptisms and burials 1728
to 1812, marriages 1728 to 1753; (iii) marriages
1754 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
From the mention of two priests
at Chaddesley Corbett in the Domesday Survey (fn. 116) it may perhaps be
inferred that there was a church there in 1086.
The advowson appears at first to have belonged to
the lords of the manor. In 1200 the Abbot of
Tewkesbury sued Roger Corbett and Hawise his wife
for the right of presentation, which he claimed to
have been given to one of his predecessors by Robert
Fitz Hamon, and to have been confirmed to the
monastery by Henry I, William Duke of Gloucester,
the heir of Robert and Simon Bishop of Worcester. (fn. 117)
Roger Corbett and Hawise opposed this on the
ground that Robert Fitz Payn great-grandfather of
Hawise, Richard Folliott the elder, her grandfather,
and Richard Folliott the younger, her father, had each
in turn presented to the church, and that when a
dispute about the advowson arose between Robert
son of Richard, her former husband, and Fromund,
predecessor of the abbot, the former presented
Ralph Folliott, who was admitted by the bishop. (fn. 118)
The claim of the Corbett family was probably
well founded, and the dispute was amicably settled
by the abbot surrendering his rights in return for
4 virgates of land in 'Wadehamet' and 4 in
'Dreiton.' (fn. 119)
The advowson remained with the lords of the
manor (fn. 120) until 1385, when the king granted licence
to William de Beauchamp, Lord Bergavenny, to
alienate it to the collegiate church of St. Mary,
Warwick, which had been founded by one of his
ancestors. (fn. 121) This gift was confirmed in 1397 by the
king, (fn. 122) and by Sir William and his wife Joan in
1410. (fn. 123)
The dean and chapter probably appropriated the
rectory of Chaddesley Corbett in 1394, and the
vicarage was ordained in the same year. (fn. 124) At the Dissolution they were receiving a rent of £24 16s. 8d.
from the rectory of Chaddesley. (fn. 125)
The college of Warwick was dissolved in 1544, (fn. 126)
and the advowson of Chaddesley Corbett was granted
in 1545 to the burgesses of Warwick. (fn. 127) They appear
to have presented for the last time in 1639, (fn. 128) and
the advowson has since that time been vested in the
Crown. (fn. 129)
The rectory was granted with the advowson to the
burgesses of Warwick, (fn. 130) who retained the rectorial
tithes after parting with the advowson. (fn. 131) The great
tithes are now in the hands of the Warwick Municipal
Charity Trustees.
About twenty years before the dissolution of
chantries a certain William Newman gave tenements
in Chaddesley Corbett worth £5 3s. 8d. yearly to
trustees for the maintenance of a school there. (fn. 132)
Land at Chaddesley Corbett called 'Our Ladyes
Lands,' given for the maintenance of a priest,
obits and lights, was granted in 1562 to Cicely
Pickerell. (fn. 133)
The churches of Rushock and Stone were at one
time chapelries of Chaddesley Corbett. (fn. 134)
At Bluntington there is a Primitive Methodist
chapel, erected in 1873, and at Drayton there is a
Church mission-room.
CHARITIES
The School and Poor's Lands are
regulated by a scheme dated 29 June
1878. (fn. 135) By the scheme trustees were
appointed and the following charities were merged in
the foundation, namely:
Humphrey Westwood's, will, proved in the P.C.C.
1622, consisting of a rent-charge of 50s. payable out
of a messuage known as the Horseshoes;
Simon Westwood's, being originally a rent-charge of
50s. issuing out of lands at Harborne, of which 18s.,
part thereof, was in 1895 redeemed by the transfer to
the official trustees of £36 2½ per cent. annuities;
Gilbert Penn's, will, 1653, now consisting of
£43 12s. 8d. consols, with the official trustees, producing £1 1s. 9d. yearly, arising from redemption
in 1867 of original rent-charge of 26s.;
James Pratt's, will, proved 1828, consisting of
£678 0s. 10d. consols, with the official trustees, of
which one moiety (£339 0s. 5d.) belongs to the
Delabere Almshouses (see below).
Out of the income of the foundation a sum of £50
a year is distributed in doles to about 120 poor
people, and the balance in scholarships, technical education and prizes for the children of parishioners.
The almshouses founded by Margaret Delabere in
1637 for five poor widows are endowed with a house
with 2 a. 1 r. 19 p., and 14 a. or. 35 p. of the annual
rental value of £40 18s.; also with £357 5s. 9d.
consols and £36 2½ per cent. annuities, producing
together £9 16s. 8d. a year. The stock is held by the
official trustees, and includes a sum of £339 0s. 5d.
consols, being a moiety of £678 0s. 10d. consols
representing a legacy by will of James Pratt, proved in
the P.C.C. 29 October 1828. The other moiety is
included in the property of the Endowed Schools (see
above).
The inmates receive £2 each a quarter.
The almshouses founded in 1691 by Dame Mary
Yate for four poor widows are endowed with six
pieces of land with buildings thereon, containing
19 a. 2 r. 15 p., and a house and garden, the whole
producing £35 yearly. Each inmate receives £6 per
annum and £4 is spent on coal for their use.
The Dame Mary Yate Charity for apprenticing,
founded by indentures of lease and release 18 and
19 August 1674, is endowed with 16 a. 2 r., seven
cottages and salt works at Droitwich, producing £48
a year, and 22 a. 3 r. 13 p. at Chaddesley Corbett,
let at £52 a year; also £1,647 5s. 7d. consols, with
the official trustees, producing £41 3s. 8d. a year,
arising in part from sale of land and in part from
accumulations of income.
In 1909 the sum of £104 was expended in apprenticeship premiums.
Eleemosynary Charities:
In 1620 William Seabright by will devised an
annuity of £3 0s. 8d. payable out of property in
Bethnal Green to be applied in the distribution of
fourteen penny loaves every Sunday to fourteen poor.
The parish clerk also receives 6s. 8d. for selecting the
recipients.
In 1687 John Taylor by his will gave 40s. yearly
out of two fields called the Off Meadows in Stone to
the poor.
In 1732 Jonathan Harrison, by his will proved at
Worcester 25 March, bequeathed £5, the interest
to be laid out in bread on 21 December yearly. To
secure punctual payment a sum of 5s. a year was
charged by the testator's son, John Harrison, upon
certain property in Lower Chaddesley, and this is
distributed in twenty loaves to twenty poor.
In 1817 William Wheeler, by a codicil to his
will, left a legacy for the poor, now represented by
£191 2s. 2d. consols with the official trustees. The
annual dividends, amounting to £4 15s. 4d., are distributed among the poor in sums varying from 2s. 6d.
to 10s. In 1909 there were fourteen recipients.
In 1836 Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt by her will
bequeathed £700, the income on £300 to be applied
for the organist, on another £300 for poor parishioners,
and on £100 for singers. The legacy was invested
in £754 15s. consols with the official trustees, producing £18 17s. 4d. yearly. The proportion due to
the poor is applied in the distribution of coal, meat,
groceries and cash.
In 1899 John Giles, by his will proved at London
28 June, gave a sum of £2 yearly to bell-ringers for
ringing a muffled peal of bells annually on the date of
testator's decease. A sum of £80 consols is held by
the official trustees in respect of this charity.
The parish is in possession of 2 a. or. 15 p. of
land of the annual letting value of £2 10s. which is
applicable towards the repairs of the highways.