FECKENHAM
Feccanhom (ix cent.); Feccheham (xi cent.);
Fekkeham, Fekeham (xii cent.); Feckeham, Feckaham,
Fecham (xiii cent.); Flechenham (xvi cent.);
Feckyngham (xvi and xvii cent.).
Feckenham is a large parish in the extreme east of
the county on the borders of Warwickshire and has an
area of 6,978 acres, (fn. 1) of which in 1905 1,035¾ were
arable land, 4,680½ pasture and 87 woods and plantations. (fn. 2) The civil parish of Feckenham Urban was
formed in 1894 out of the part of Feckenham parish
in Redditch Urban District, (fn. 3) and is governed by
the Redditch Urban District Council. The soil
varies considerably in different parts of the parish,
consisting chiefly of strong clay, gravel, marl and
sand. The ground rises gradually from the west to
the east, where the parish is bounded by a continuation of the Lickey Hills, which in some places rise to
a height of 530 ft. Brandon Brook, a tributary of
the Bow Brook, rises in the parish, which is also
watered by the Bow Brook and other of its tributaries. The chief roads are one from Alcester through
the village of Feckenham to Droitwich, which is
sometimes called the Lower Salt Way and is said to
be of Roman origin, and the Ridgeway, which passes
along the eastern boundary of the parish to Redditch and divides Worcestershire from Warwickshire.
There is no railway in the parish, the nearest station
being at Redditch, 5 miles away.
The chief industries are the manufacture of needles
and fish-hooks, for which the parish was well known
in 1790. (fn. 4) A later development has been the manufacture of cycles and motors. Agriculture also gives
employment to a number of people.
Besides the village there are the hamlets of Callow
Hill and Hunt End in the north, and Astwood Bank
and part of Crabbs Cross in the east, on the borders
of Warwickshire.
The village of Feckenham is situated about 8 miles
east of Droitwich upon the main road to Alcester.
Of the houses which compose the village itself the
majority are of red brick and include some good
examples of late Georgian work. The principal street
leads northwards from the main road to the church, on
the south side of which is an open space surrounded
by cottages, known as 'The Square.' At the
bottom of a lane leading westwards from 'The Square'
is the old grammar school, which seems originally to
have consisted of one large room, the master's house
being in the village. It has been turned into a
cottage within the last forty years, and hardly any
original details remain, with the exception of a fine
oak door, with its moulded posts and head. Before
being put to its present use, and while still the school-house, it had been drastically repaired, as recorded on
a tablet fixed upon the south wall, inscribed as follows:
'Erected A.D. 1611. Repaired A.D. 1848.'
The church lies to the north, and near it is the
site of the old prison, formerly known as 'Bennett's
Bower,' (fn. 5) which consists of about 4 acres of land
surrounded by a ditch, and was formerly used for the
punishment of offenders in the forest. (fn. 6) In the 16th
century the manorial courts were held in the upper
part of the prison. (fn. 7) It was evidently allowed to fall
into decay after the forest was disafforested in 1629,
and in the time of Charles II the ground it had occupied is said to have been 'planted with tobacco which
grew very well, till the planting of it was prohibited
by Act of Parliament, 12 and 15 Ch. II.' (fn. 8) The
parish is rich in fine examples of half-timber work,
of which one of the most notable is Shurnock Court
Farm, situated upon the main road about a mile
to the west of the village. The house is of the
normal central hall type of the 16th century, with
the private apartments on the left hand of the
entrance and the kitchen and offices on the right.
Some good early 17th-century panelling remains in
the room to the left of the entrance hall on the
ground floor. A new entrance and staircase have been
formed on the kitchen side, and the attic floor has
been abolished to heighten the first floor. The
stacks are of stone ashlar with good brick shafts.
A moat, now partially filled up, surrounds the house.
The farm buildings are modern. Some fragments of
15th-century tiles found in the house include the
In te dñe confidi pattern, met with at St. Peter's
Church, Droitwich, Salwarpe Church, Cookhill House
and elsewhere in the neighbourhood. Astwood Court
Farm, which stands about half a mile to the north of
Shurnock Court, is a two-storied brick house of mid-17th-century date, surrounded by a moat still filled
with water. In the central room on the ground floor
are some fragments of original wainscoting re-set in
modern work, on which is inscribed, without date,
'IOHN CVLPEPER.' Middle Bean Hall Farm, a two-storied house with attics and a tiled roof, is a fine
example of early 16th-century half-timber work of
the normal plan of the period. A row of attic gables
were added in the first half of the 17th century,
which give the front elevation a particularly elaborate
and symmetrical appearance. These have carved
barge-boards and ornamental curved strutting. The
windows, with one exception, have been blocked, as
this floor is no longer utilized for living rooms. On
a rain-water head is the date 1635. The porch, of
two stories, seems also to be an addition of this date,
and contains original benches with baluster legs.
There is some good Jacobean panelling in two of the
upper rooms, though the interior has been for the
most part completely modernized.
The most important house in the neighbourhood
is Norgrove Court, a fine red brick mansion of mid-17th-century date, two stories in height with a
mezzanine floor at the rear. The plan is oblong,
with the entrance hall and principal stairs near the
centre of the north side, occupying half the depth of
the house from back to front. The principal rooms
occupy the ground floor of the south or garden front.
The kitchen was originally at the north-west angle,
the accompanying offices being all on this side of the
house. The principal staircase has oak newels with
carved finials. The balusters and handrails have been
much repaired and restored. The interior generally
has suffered from alterations to suit it to the needs of
a farm-house. Some fine plaster overmantels remain
in two of the bedrooms on the first floor and in the
panelled room on the mezzanine at the west side of
the entrance hall. On the south or garden front
the level of the first floor is marked by a moulded
string-course of stone, and the windows have architraves, central mullions and transoms of the same
material. On the first floor are two blocked doorways with moulded stone jambs and two-light
openings above the lintels, which must have been
originally intended to open on to flights of steps leading down to the garden. It is possible that a balcony
may have connected the two flights, as the windows
of the ground floor beneath this portion have evidently
been disturbed, and have wooden frames in place
of the original stone mullions. On either side of each
doorway filled-up pockets in the brickwork mark the
position of the handrails or balustrades. The bricks
employed for the blocking of the doorways are of the
same depth as those employed for the rest of the
walling. It is, therefore, quite probable that the
arrangement, though designed, was never carried out.
Middle Bean Hall, Feckenham
At the angles of the walls are plain stone quoins.
Tiled hipped roofs of uniform height crown all four
elevations, and their projecting eaves are supported
by carved console brackets of wood. From the
central valley formed by the four roofs rises a large
octagonal chimney stack. The remaining stacks are
square on plan, with panelled sides, ornamented with
geometrical patterns in lighter bricks. The house is
a good example of the 'modernizing' plan of the
first half of the 17th century, where, though the
bedrooms are still 'en suite,' the later notions of
domestic privacy are beginning to obtain, and the
hall is reduced to a more staircase.
Originally the whole of Feckenham was included
in the extensive forest of the same name. About
1578 Sir John Throckmorton seems to have begun
inclosing the common in the forest, but met with
great opposition from the tenants, three of whom
were committed to the Marshalsea for 'plucking
downe of a frame of timber erected by Sir John Throgmorton in a copie holde of his.' (fn. 9) In 1579 Sir John
was ordered to cease inclosing the commons until the
suit between him and the tenants was determined. (fn. 10)
The commons were finally inclosed under an Act of
1816, the award being dated 1832. (fn. 11) The forest
was disafforested in 1629. (fn. 12)
Here, as elsewhere, the inclosures were followed
by riots; 300 people with spades and armed with
'warlike munitions of all sorts' began throwing down
inclosures. They were dispersed by thirty or forty
men sent by the sheriff and justices of the county,
but not before they had 'in most daring manner
presented themselves armed with pikes, forest bills,
and the like,' and not only slighted the power of the
sheriff and justices, but 'assailed their persons and
protested they would fight it out.' (fn. 13)
John de Feckenham, the last Abbot of Westminster
and a celebrated divine, was born in the parish or
forest of Feckenham.
Among the place-names are Wyshamclos, (fn. 14) Calnwehull (fn. 15) (xiv cent.); Ruyfel, (fn. 16) Harsfeldefurlonge, (fn. 17)
in deeds without date; Annetts Place, (fn. 18) Ruddyalls
alias Broderiche (fn. 19) (xvi cent.); Lovelyne, Prestfield,
Popeslade and the Burches, (fn. 20) Warkewoodes, (fn. 21) and
Tookes Farm, (fn. 22) Cruse Hill (fn. 23) (xvii cent.). Lovelyne
survives in the modern Love Lane Farm.
MANORS
FECKENHAM, which like Bromsgrove was given by Ethelric son of
Ethelmund to Wœrferth for life in 804
with reversion to the church of Worcester, (fn. 24) must
have been a place of considerable size and importance in the reign of Edward the Confessor, when
it was held of Eadwine, Earl of Mercia, by five
thegns who 'could betake themselves with their
land where they would,' and had under them four
knights 'as free as themselves.' (fn. 25) Shortly after the
Conquest it was granted to William Fitz Osbern, (fn. 26)
Earl of Hereford, who died in 1071. His son
Roger forfeited it in 1074 for rebellion against the
Conqueror. (fn. 27) It then appears to have been granted
to Walter de Lacy, who died just before 1086, and is
mentioned in the Domesday Survey as having granted
1 hide of land in Feckenham to a certain Hubert. (fn. 28)
The manor did not, however, pass to his son Roger
de Lacy, but belonged to the king in 1086, (fn. 29) and
remained a royal possession, subject to various grants,
for several centuries, probably on account of its position in the forest to which it gave its name. From
1191 to 1195 Elias de Etingehal paid £21 for the
farm of Feckenham. (fn. 30)
Norgrove Court, Feckenham: South Front
During the early part of the 13th century Hugh
de Nevill answered at the Exchequer for certain land
in Feckenham, which had been granted to him,
probably by King John, (fn. 31) and in 1217 the manor of
Feckenham was granted during pleasure to John
Marshall. (fn. 32) It was confirmed to him in 1221, (fn. 33) but
seems to have been taken from him in the following
year in order that the manor might be granted at
farm to the men of Feckenham. (fn. 34) They appear to
have held it at farm for some years, being still in
possession in 1229–30, (fn. 35) but their yearly fee-farm
rent of £20 and a rent of 30s. a year which they had
undertaken to pay to the abbey of Lire seem to have
fallen into arrears. (fn. 36) Probably on this account the
manor was taken from them and must have been
granted to Henry Earl of Arundel, for he surrendered
it to the Crown about 1243, when Henry III granted
it for life to his mother-in-law Beatrice Countess of
Provence. (fn. 37) She was still holding it in 1257, (fn. 38) and
it is difficult to account for a memorandum of 1250–1
to the effect that in 1248–9 Simon de Wautton,
farmer of the manor, restored it to the king, who then
granted it at farm to the men of Feckenham, who
were in 1261–2 still owing £38 10s. for the years
1244–5 and 1246–7. (fn. 39)
It was granted in 1272 as dower to Queen
Eleanor, (fn. 40) and in 1299 to Margaret of France. (fn. 41)
In consideration of her services in suppressing the
rebellion of the Despensers it was given by Parliament
in 1327 to Queen Isabella. (fn. 42)
On her fall in 1330 the
manor again returned to
the Crown, and was granted
in 1331 to Queen Philippa,
consort of Edward III. (fn. 43)
Repairs were undertaken at
the manor-house of Feckenham in 1355, (fn. 44) but in the
following year the queen sold
the hall to the Abbot of
Evesham, who demolished it
and carried away the materials. (fn. 45) In 1364 the queen
granted the manor for her life
to John Attwood, and in 1365
the king confirmed it to him for his life. (fn. 46) John
surrendered his Letters Patent in 1377 in favour of
William de Beauchamp, (fn. 47) to whom the manor was
confirmed in 1399 quit of a rent of £37 14s. 4½d.
which he had formerly paid. (fn. 48) The reversion after
Sir William's death was granted in 1410 to Humphrey
fourth son of Henry IV. (fn. 49) He was created Duke of
Gloucester in 1414, (fn. 50) and the manor was settled on
his second wife Eleanor Cobham in 1435. (fn. 51) On his
death without issue in 1446–7 it would have again
fallen to the Crown had not Henry VI granted the
reversion in case of failure of issue of the duke to
Henry Duke of Warwick. His interest passed on his
death in 1446 to his only daughter Ann, (fn. 52) and
reverted to the king on her
death without issue in 1449. (fn. 53)
The manor was granted in
dower to Elizabeth, consort
of Edward IV, in 1465, (fn. 54) to
Anne of Cleves in 1540, (fn. 55) to
Katherine Howard in 1541, (fn. 56)
and in 1544 to Katherine
Parr. (fn. 57) In 1553 it was granted
to John Duke of Northumberland, (fn. 58) but was forfeited by
him in the same year and
given by Queen Mary in 1558
to Sir John Throckmorton
and Margery his wife and their heirs male, (fn. 59) although
it is evident from a letter from Sir John to his brother
Sir Nicholas Throckmorton that he did not obtain
possession of the manor until about 1564. (fn. 60) He died
in 1580, and in 1583 his eldest son Francis was
arrested for a conspiracy against the queen and
executed in the following year. (fn. 61) The reversion of
the manor of Feckenham after the death of Dame
Margery Throckmorton was then granted to Sir
Thomas Leighton and Elizabeth his wife, (fn. 62) who
seem to have had some difficulty in preserving their
rights there. Lady Throckmorton was found to be cutting down and selling timber
in the park 'to the utter
spoileing and defacing thereof,' (fn. 63) and in 1594 Sir Thomas
Leighton writing from
Guernsey to Lord Burghley
complained that he was 'continually wronged in his living
at Feckenham by Sir Fulke
Greville,' and prayed that
'the queen will command Sir
Fulke to cease or allow him
to come over and defend himself.' (fn. 64) Edward Leighton,
grandson and eventually heir of Sir Thomas, sold
the manor in 1632 to Thomas Lord Coventry,
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, (fn. 65) in whose family
it still remains, the present Earl of Coventry being
now lord of the manor.
Eleanor of Provence. Or four pales gules.
Margaret of France. Assure powdered with fleurs de lis or.
Philippa of Hainault. Or a lion gules, for FLANDERS quartered with Or a sable lion for HOLLAND.
Wydvile. Argent a fesse and a quarter gules.
Coventry, Earl of Coventry. Sable a fesse ermine between three crescents or.
In 1086 there were at Feckenham a reeve, a
beadle, a miller, a smith, and a radman. (fn. 66) In 1591
there were still a reeve and a beadle, who with the
constable and other officers were elected by the tenants,
and a bailiff (fn. 67) chosen by the lord from among the
tenants and freeholders. The reeve and beadle were
still elected in 1679. (fn. 68) All freeholders owed suit to
the court baron and all tenants of the manor were
obliged to appear at the courts leet held on Whit
Tuesday every year. (fn. 69) Six tenants who attended the
court held every three weeks discharged the others
from appearance. The heriot claimed by the lord on
the death of every freeholder and every copyholder
paying rent 'by the free roll,' and on the alienation
of their land, was the best horse or gelding and best
bull or ox at the will of the lord and the best saddle
and bridle, the saddle going to the reeve and the
bridle to the beadle. (fn. 70)
In 1237 the king caused a market and fair to be
proclaimed in his manor of Feckenham. The market
was to be on Thursday and the fair on the eve and
day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and two
days following. (fn. 71) In 1253 the market day was
changed to Saturday. (fn. 72) The market seems to have
died out before the end of the 18th century, but
cattle fairs were held yearly on 26 March and 30
September until the middle of the 19th century, (fn. 73)
and a wake is still held on the first Sunday after the
feast of St. John the Baptist.
Owing to its situation in the forest, Feckenham
was visited by all the early kings of England (fn. 74) who
had a lodge in the park. There are several entries in
Pipe Rolls and Patent Rolls relating to the repair of
the king's houses in the manor, (fn. 75) and between the
years 1166 and 1169 the sum of £29 14s. 5d.
was expended on the king's chamber, (fn. 76) probably on
the occasion of a visit from Henry II. That king
granted a charter there in (probably) 1188. (fn. 77) The
manor-house was apparently not rebuilt after its
demolition in 1356, for when the manor was granted
in 1558 to John Throckmorton he complained of
being 'forced to wander up and down like an Egyptian
in other men's houses for want of one of my own.'
He intended to build a house in Feckenham Park,
and, since there was no water or spring there, wished
to obtain the adjoining manor of Hanbury, from
which water could be brought to Feckenham, agreeing in return to spend 1,000 marks on the house,
which if he died without issue would revert to the
Crown. (fn. 78)
A yearly rent of £58 17s. 8¾d. was reserved to
the Crown when the manor was granted to Sir Thomas
Leighton, and in 1672 was sold to a certain Richard
Wiseman. (fn. 79) He appears to have left it to six
daughters, who sold it to Thomas Harrison in 1681. (fn. 80)
An estate at ASTWOOD, now known as ASTWOOD COURT, was held partly of the manor of
Inkberrow by suit at the court of Newbury and
partly of the manor of Feckenham. (fn. 81) The first known
tenants of the manor were members of the Musard
family. In 1333–4 Nicholas de Wyshaw and his
wife Agnes obtained licence to retain 40 acres of land
in Feckenham which they had purchased without
licence of John son of Masculinus Musard. (fn. 82) John
retained land in Astwood, (fn. 83) and the estate bought by
Wyshaw, afterwards known as Wyshamclos, later
reverted to John or his heirs. (fn. 84) From John the
manor passed to his son Masculinus, (fn. 85) who died before
1389, leaving a daughter Elizabeth wife of Roger
Chaturley as his heir. (fn. 86) Elizabeth and Roger granted
the manor in 1389 to Sir Nicholas de Stafford and
Elizabeth his wife for their lives with reversion to
Roger and Elizabeth. (fn. 87) Elizabeth daughter and heir
of Roger Chaturley married John Huband, and she
and her husband were holding the manor in 1446–7. (fn. 88)
They granted it in 1470–1 to Humphrey and Edward
Huband, (fn. 89) but Edward and his wife Mary lost it in
1495–6, when it was awarded to Thomas Kebell and
others who claimed to have held it at the beginning
of the reign of Henry VII and to have been disseised of it by Humphrey Huband. (fn. 90)
The manor is next found in the possession of
Geoffrey Markham, who settled it in 1558 upon
himself and Jane his wife and the heirs male of their
son John. (fn. 91) Another conveyance of the manor was
made in 1566, to which John Huband, John Bowes and
John Markham and his wife Elizabeth were parties. (fn. 92)
John and Jerome Markham sold the manor in 1587 c
to Ralph Bowes, (fn. 93) who leased it for 1,000 years in
1595 to Walter and Martin Culpeper. (fn. 94) In 1598
Martin Culpeper settled the manor on himself and
his wife Lettice with remainder to their son Martin
on the occasion of his marriage with Joyce daughter
of Sir Edward Aston. (fn. 95) Lettice survived her husband
and married secondly Sir Robert Purslowe, and they
conveyed their life interest in the manor in 1616 to
John Culpeper. (fn. 96) In 1634–5 Sir Alexander Culpeper
and Mary his wife and John and Thomas Culpeper
sold the manor to Thomas Rich, (fn. 97) who was succeeded
by his eldest son, also called Thomas. (fn. 98) The latter
was created a baronet in 1660–1 for the help that he
had rendered to the king when in exile. (fn. 99) On his
death in 1667 the manor passed to his son William
Rich, who sold it in 1707 to Thomas Vernon. (fn. 100) It
then followed the same descent as Hanbury, (fn. 101) with
which its manorial rights may have become merged,
as it does not appear as a manor after 1819. Astwood
Court, which was formerly the residence of George
Webb, is now the property of George Hollington.
Another estate at ASTWOOD, afterwards called
Astwodesstreche or Strecches Astwood, belonged from
very early times to the Streche family. Osbert
Streche was holding land in Worcestershire in 1201–2. (fn. 102)
In 1220 Richard Streche was involved in a suit with
John de Inkberrow as to land at Astwood, which
John said had been held by a certain Sibilla in the
time of Henry II, and on her death without issue had
passed to her two aunts Edith and Edwina. Edith's
right descended to her great-grandson John de Inkberrow, the claimant, and Edwina's right came to
Walter de Portu. Richard refused to answer because
Walter de Portu was not mentioned in the writ, (fn. 103) but
he evidently gained the suit. (fn. 104) In 1243, however, the
land which belonged to the wife of Richard Streche
of Astwood was taken into the king's hands. (fn. 105) At the
same date Robert Streche was paying relief for land
in Worcestershire. (fn. 106) Robert died in 1261–2 holding
in Feckenham certain land by service of being the
king's woodward in the wood called 'Le Wercwode,'
and the profits of the king's bailiwick of the forest of
Feckenham with the lawing of dogs. He also held
other land in Feckenham of Robert de Morton, and
of the Abbot of Bordesley. (fn. 107) His son and successor
Ralph Streche died about 1301 holding land in
Feckenham, to which his son Robert succeeded. (fn. 108)
Robert sold property in Astwood to Richard de
Hawkeslow about 1319. (fn. 109)
Henry Winterfield was in possession of land at
Astwood in 1375–6, (fn. 110) but it is possible that the
Streches' estate at Astwood afterwards passed, like
Hawkesley in King's Norton, from the Hawkeslows
to the Staffords of Grafton, for in 1486–7 John
Darell and John Pimpe obtained a grant of all the
land in Feckenham forfeited in the previous year by
Humphrey Stafford, (fn. 111) and this land then followed the
descent of Hawkesley in King's Norton parish, (fn. 112) being
apparently restored with it to Sir Humphrey Stafford,
for in 1553 his son Sir Humphrey sold a messuage
and land in Astwood to Thomas Clarke (fn. 113) and a farm
called Ruddyalls or Broderiche in Feckenham to John
Morgan of Blatherwycke. (fn. 114) From that time the
history of the former estate has not been traced. The
latter was in 1618 in the possession of William Cookes
of Norgrove, (fn. 115) and it probably became merged in that
estate.
The Empress Maud seems to have given to her
foundation at Bordesley certain rights in Feckenham
Forest and a 'porcaria' and half a virgate of land at
Feckenham. Nicholas son of Bernard gave the monks
12 acres at Feckenham. (fn. 116) These gifts were confirmed
by Henry II and Richard I, (fn. 117) and seem to have included
land at Astwood, for at the Dissolution the monks
were receiving various rents from Feckenham and
Astwood. (fn. 118) In 1538 the abbot conveyed this estate
as the manor of Astwood and Feckenham to the king. (fn. 119)
As the 'manor of Feckenham Astwood' it was held
by John Phillips in 1809 and 1816 in right of his
wife Emma, (fn. 120) the heiress of the Vernon family.
NORGROVE was held of the manor of Feckenham. (fn. 121) In the 14th century it seems to have belonged
to a family called Northgrove, although Elizabeth de
Northgrove and William her son are the only members
of the family who are known to have held it. Elizabeth died about 1378 (fn. 122) and William in 1381, leaving
as his heirs his two sisters Catherine and Maud, (fn. 123) one
of whom probably married one
of the Jennetts, to whom Norgrove afterwards belonged.
Richard Jennett of Norgrove
received a general pardon
from Edward IV in 1471, (fn. 124)
and probably held the manor
which afterwards belonged to
Humphrey Jennett. (fn. 125) William
son of Humphrey died seised
of it in 1548, leaving his son
Humphrey, then ten years
old, (fn. 126) in the custody of his
wife Elizabeth. She afterwards married Richard Hopton, and with him seems to
have taken possession of Norgrove, refusing to give
it up when her son Humphrey came of age. (fn. 127)
Humphrey, having no son, settled it on his daughter
Anne on her marriage with William son of Henry
Cookes, (fn. 128) from whom it passed to their son Edward
Cookes, who died in 1637. (fn. 129) His son William
Cookes inherited the manor of Bentley Pauncefoot
in Tardebigge parish from his uncle, and since that
date Norgrove has descended with Bentley (fn. 130) (q.v.),
now belonging to Mrs. Cheape of Bentley Manor.
Jennett of Norgrove. Argent two cheverons between six martlets gules.
SHURNOCK (SciranAc, x cent.; Shirnak, xiii
cent.; Shurnak, xvi cent.) was granted before the
Conquest to the Prior and convent of Worcester by a
widow Wihburga. (fn. 131) It is not mentioned in the
Domesday Book, being probably then included in
the manor of Inkberrow, of which it was a constablewick at the end of the 18th century. (fn. 132) In 1240
the prior was receiving a rent of 5s. from Shurnock, (fn. 133)
and he was holding the manor in the time of
Edward I, (fn. 134) and continued to do so until the Dissolution. (fn. 135)
Habington states that Shurnock was given to the
priory of Worcester by William Molyns. (fn. 136) This
William is probably to be identified with William de
Molendinis, called lord of Shurnock in an undated
deed of the 13th century, (fn. 137) who in 1292 obtained
licence to give to the Prior and convent of Worcester
land to the yearly value of 100s. in Shurnock. (fn. 138) At
about the same time the prior and convent obtained
grants of land at Shurnock from various donors. (fn. 139)
The manor was granted in 1542 to the Dean and
Chapter of Worcester, (fn. 140) and confirmed to them in
1609. (fn. 141) In 1650 the capital messuage or farm-house
of Shurnock was sold by the Parliamentary Commissioners to John Egiock of Inkberrow, (fn. 142) but it was
restored to the dean and chapter on the accession
of Charles II. At the end of the 18th century the
estate passed to the Bearcrofts (fn. 143) of Mere Hall, who
still hold it. (fn. 144)
A tenement called Beanhall, just within the borders
of Feckenham, was formerly the residence of the Hanburys of Hanbury Hall. (fn. 145) It afterwards belonged
to a certain Jane Shelley, who died in 1610, leaving it
to her cousin Edward Lingen, son and heir of William
brother of John Lingen, the father of Jane. (fn. 146)
A capital messuage in Feckenham called TEMPLE
ARDLEY was inherited in 1616–17 by John Hanbury from his mother Margaret. (fn. 147) It evidently
passed from the Hanburys to the Neales by the
marriage of Anna Maria, daughter of John Hanbury,
with Henry Neale about the end of the 17th century, (fn. 148) and is mentioned in the will of Mary Neale,
who left it in 1805 to Edward Vansittart. (fn. 149) It is
probably to be identified with the land in Feckenham
returned in the Testa de Nevill as having been
alienated by William son of Robert de Feckenham
to the Templars of the Preceptory of Balsall, (fn. 150) but it
is not known how it passed to the Hanburys.
The tenement called WALLHOUSE, formerly in
Hanbury, now probably represented by Wallhouse
Farm in Feckenham, appears to have belonged to the
Rudings of Martin Hussingtree, for Edward second
son of John Ruding is called 'of the Wallhouse' in
the visitation of 1569. (fn. 151) He left two daughters,
Alice and Anne, the former of whom married
Thomas Grant. (fn. 152) According to Nash the estate
afterwards passed to the Cheatles of Worcester. (fn. 153) It
seems to have belonged to a Thomas Cheatle, who
agreed to settle it on his son Richard on his marriage
with Margery daughter of Andrew Henley of
Taunton, Somerset. Afterwards, however, Thomas
settled the manor on another son Thomas, and early
in the 17th century Margery and her son Richard
sued Thomas for the estate. (fn. 154) Thomas Cheatle of
Wallhouse died in 1690, (fn. 155) and it was probably his
son Thomas who died in 1714, and appears to
have been succeeded by John Cheatle. (fn. 156) From the
Cheatles it passed to the Vernons of Hanbury.
The PARK at Feckenham is first mentioned in
1177–8, (fn. 157) and descended with the manor until the
17th century.
A mill is mentioned with the manor in 1086, (fn. 158)
and seems to have followed the same descent until
the 17th century. (fn. 159) About 1656 the lord of the manor
expended £20 in repairing the mill, but it is not
mentioned after this time. (fn. 160) There is now a corn-mill
at Beanhall and a needle-mill in the town and another
called Old Yarr Mill to the north-east of the town.
The fish-pond at Feckenham seems to have been
of considerable importance. It was undergoing repairs in 1163–4 (fn. 161) and in many of the succeeding
years, and appears to have been partially reconstructed
in 1205. (fn. 162) It is constantly mentioned as an important appurtenance of the manor, and was known
from the 14th century as Feckenham Pool. (fn. 163) It is
mentioned as a mill-pool in 1585, (fn. 164) but had evidently been drained before 1656, when it is spoken
of as grounds called 'Feckenham Pooles,' and was
still appurtenant to the manor. (fn. 165) The site of the
pool seems to have afterwards become a separate
estate, and, according to Nash, was sold by one of the
Leightons to the Vernons, and was held by Henry
Cecil, in right of his wife Emma daughter of Thomas
Vernon, at the end of the 18th century. (fn. 166) It must,
however, at one time have belonged to Sir Thomas
Cookes, who died in 1701, as he endowed the
grammar school at Feckenham with £50 a year from
the estate called Feckenham Pools. (fn. 167)
CHURCH
The church of ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST consists of a chancel 39 ft.
by 19 ft., nave 49 ft. 6 in. by 26 ft.,
north aisle 12 ft. 9 in. wide, west tower 15 ft. by
14 ft. 6 in. and a south porch. These measurements
are all internal.
The 12th-century church consisted of a chancel
and nave, and the first tower was either contemporary
with the nave or was added shortly afterwards. In
the 13th century a north aisle was built, which was
completely reconstructed in the 15th century, together with the tower, though here much of the
earlier walling was retained.
The chancel was entirely rebuilt in 1853 and the
south wall of the nave in 1866–7, when the porch
was added and other repairs done to the stonework.
All the chancel windows are modern, that in the east
wall being of three lights with a traceried head.
The chancel arch is of two chamfered orders,
apparently old, the inner order springing from
modern moulded corbels.
The nave arcade consists of four bays of pointed
arches with circular columns, the bases of which are,
with one exception, modern. The first and second
columns have moulded bell capitals sadly mutilated,
while that to the eastern respond has been recut.
The bell to the third column is carved with typical
13th-century trefoiled leaves, and towards the south-west a crowned head; the capital to the west
respond is similar, but its very overhanging bell has
a filleted round for the top member instead of the
leaves. The three south windows and the porch are
modern. The south doorway has a pointed head and
is of two chamfered orders. The three-light east
window of the north aisle appears to be all of 15th-century date and is built in red sandstone, with
vertical tracery in the head and a two-centred drop
arch. The quoin stones of the old nave angle (south
of this window) are of several differently tinted stones,
grey, red, and white in the lower parts and brown
and green above. Most of the stonework of the first
two north windows is modern, and both are of three
lights with two-centred heads. The north doorway,
like the south, has a pointed head, and appears to
have been rebuilt with the old stones. The west
and north-west windows of the aisle are each of two
lights under a four-centred head, and have been
much restored. The aisle is supported externally by
modern buttresses. There are no quoin stones to the
angle of the original nave at the west end of the aisle,
but a straight joint is visible in the lias rubble walling.
The tower is of two stages. A pointed archway
of two continuous chamfered orders opens into it
from the nave. The 15th-century west window has
three lights under a traceried head, and small rectangular
lights pierce the side walls above the intermediate
string-course. The bell-chamber is lighted towards
the east by a pointed window, which has lost its
tracery, and is partially blocked with stone to receive
the head of the nave gable. The other three windows are of two ogee lights under a square head.
Diagonal buttresses of four stages support the western
angles of the tower, and above the roof are two early
clasping buttresses to the eastern angles. The embattled parapet has panelled and crocketed pinnacles
at the corners with angel corbels below. The walling
of the tower to a line just below the belfry windows
is of small coursed rubble with bands of larger stones,
but above this line the larger stones predominate.
The roofs are modern, as are the font and cover.
The sedilia and the east wall are panelled with 18th-century woodwork, and the benches are evidently cut
down from the 18th-century box pews. There is an
old chest with two lids formed out of a solid tree
trunk, and preserved in the church is a pair of
wafer irons (fn. 168) having two moulds, the larger with a
crucifix, the letters IHS and a heart, all within a
radial circle, the smaller with the crucifix alone; its
total length is 2 ft. 5 in.
In the easternmost arch of the arcade are traces
of ancient red decoration, a wavy line and a band
with scalloped edge. In the chancel was formerly
a raised tomb with effigies of a knight in armour, and
a lady with an infant and three daughters; this was
swept away in 1853, and is said to be buried beneath
the floor; the panel with the inscription belonging
to the tomb still remains on the north wall. It commemorates Sir Martin Culpeper, kt., of Dean, in
Oxfordshire, son and heir of Martin Culpeper of
Astwood; he married Joyce eldest daughter of Sir
Edward Aston of Tixall, Staffs., and died in 1604.
There are several other mural monuments and
gravestones of the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the churchyard to the south-east of the chancel
is the stump of an old cross.
There are eight bells, the treble and second cast by
Taylor, 1866, the third inscribed 'Joseph Hemming
and Edward Getley did contrive to have 6 where
was but 5,' 1776, the fourth with inscription 'Cantate Domino Canticum Novum 1676,' the fifth by
Henry Bagley, 1640, the sixth of the same date inscribed 'God save the King,' the seventh by T. Mears,
1841, and the tenor dated 1640 and inscribed 'By
my voyce people may know to come to heare the
word of God.'
The communion plate consists of a cup, paten,
and flagon of modern date.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: (i)
baptisms and burials 1538 to 1653, marriages 1538
to 1652; (ii) baptisms and marriages 1653 to 1664,
burials 1653 to 1663; (iii) baptisms and marriages
1664 to 1704, burials 1663 to 1704; (iv) baptisms
and burials 1705 to 1756, marriages 1705 to 1753;
(v) baptisms and burials 1757 to 1791; (vi) marriages 1754 to 1790; (vii) marriages 1790 to 1812;
(viii) baptisms and burials 1792 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The church and tithes of Feckenham were granted soon after the
Conquest by William Fitz Osbern
Earl of Hereford to the Abbot and convent of Lire
in Normandy, (fn. 169) who continued to hold them until
the 14th century. (fn. 170) During the 14th century all the
abbey's possessions were taken into the king's hands
on account of the war with France and remained in
the Crown until 1414, (fn. 171) when Henry V granted
them to the priory of Sheen in Surrey. (fn. 172) The
advowson of Feckenham belonged to the priory until
the Dissolution. (fn. 173) It was granted with the rectory
in 1545 to Richard and Robert Taverner, (fn. 174) who in
the same year sold them to Geoffrey Markham and
Elizabeth his wife. (fn. 175) Geoffrey died in 1568. (fn. 176)
John Markham, his eldest son, died two months after
his father, leaving a son John, (fn. 177) who seems to have
died before 1589, when his only surviving uncle
Abraham Markham, with Anne his wife, sold the
rectory and advowson to Humphrey Clerke. (fn. 178) The
latter in 1590 conveyed them for 1,000 years to
Martin Culpeper, son and heir of Martin Culpeper,
and to Thomas Culpeper of Wilmington, co. Sussex,
and in 1597–8 they were settled on Martin Culpeper,
the father, and Lettice his wife with reversion to
Martin the son in tail-male. (fn. 179) The latter died in
1604 and his only son Martin in the following year, (fn. 180)
leaving this property to his uncle Stephen Culpeper,
to whom Elizabeth Clerke had sold her right in the
advowson and rectory in 1595–6. Stephen also died
without issue in 1606, (fn. 181) and was succeeded by his
cousin John Culpeper of Sussex, who held the advowson in 1625. (fn. 182) Mr. Robbins claimed the patronage
in 1653, (fn. 183) and Henry Neale was patron in 1697. (fn. 184)
According to Nash, (fn. 185) the Neales inherited the advowson and rectory from the Hanburys, therefore it
is possible that both passed at the same time as
Astwood to Thomas Rich, (fn. 186) and that he may have
settled them on his daughter Anne and her second
husband, John Hanbury of Feckenham, whose
daughter Anne Maria married the above Henry
Neale. (fn. 187) The advowson remained in his family for
more than 100 years, passing from him in turn to his
two sons, John, who died without issue male, and
Thomas. (fn. 188) The latter was also succeeded by two
sons, Joseph Macpherson Neale, who died unmarried
in 1780, and John, who died childless in 1793, leaving
most of his property, including the advowson of
Feckenham, to his widow Mary. (fn. 189) By her will proved
1805 she left it to trustees for the use of the Rev.
Edward Vansittart, a great-grandson of the first John
Neale, in tail-male on condition that he would take
the name of Neale. (fn. 190) He died in 1850, (fn. 191) and the
advowson remained in the hands of trustees until 1909,
when it was transferred to the Bishop of Worcester.
There was probably a private chapel in the Royal
Lodge of Feckenham, for in 1176 a sum of £19 10s.
was spent in works in the chapel of Feckenham. (fn. 192)
The church of St. Matthias and St. George at Astwood Bank was consecrated in 1884 by Dr. Philpott,
Bishop of Worcester. It consists of a chancel and
transept in the style of the 13th century. There is
also a chapel of ease at Callow Hill.
In 1617 licence was given to the overseers of the
poor of Feckenham to erect a cottage for a poor-house
on waste land in the manor of Astwood. (fn. 193)
Parts of the parish of Feckenham were assigned to
the new ecclesiastical parish of Headless Cross in
1850. (fn. 194)
There is a United Methodist chapel at Feckenham,
Wesleyan Methodist chapels at Ham Green and
Astwood Bank, and a Baptist chapel, built in 1813,
at Astwood Bank.
CHARITIES
The Free School was founded by
will of Richard Hanbury. (fn. 195)
The endowments consist of the old
school building used as a cottage, let at £8 a year;
rent-charge of £6 13s. 4d. payable out of Warkwood
Estate; rent-charge of £50, payable out of Dunstall
Court Estate, known as Thomas Cookes' endowment;
and a rent-charge of 6s. 8d., payable out of Irish's
Close, known as the Arthur Bagshaw endowment.
The following charities are regulated by a scheme
of the Charity Commissioners 14 June 1907, under
the title of the United Charities, namely, the charities
of:
1. Henry Hewes, will (date not mentioned), consisting of an annuity of £2 12s., issuing out of lands
at Lentall, in the parish of Aymestrey, co. Hereford,
for bread for six poor people every Sabbath Day;
2. Sir John Hanbury, will, 1639, being an annual
sum of £13 for distribution in bread, paid by the
Merchant Taylors' Company;
3. Job Burman, will, 1704, being an annual sum
of 10s. on a house and land at Tamworth;
4. John Wiggett, will, previous to 1765, being 20s.
a year issuing out of land known as Cook's, for distribution on Sunday next after Candlemas Day to poor
widows and widowers;
5. Charities of William Butler, will, 1773, and
Samuel Watts, consisting of a rent-charge of £4 10s.
issuing out of a cottage and garden at Grafton
Flyford;
6. Robert Hunt, will, proved 21 October 1807,
£100, interest to be applied every Christmas Eve in
bread;
7. Christopher Hunt, will, proved 22 August
1814, £100, interest to be applied every Christmas
Eve in meat.
These legacies are represented by £199 10s.
consols, producing yearly £4 19s. 8d.
By the scheme the vicar is appointed an ex officio
trustee to act with four representative trustees, one to
be appointed by the urban district council of Redditch
and three to be appointed by the parish council of
Feckenham, to be resident in each of the three wards
of the parish. The income of the charities is applied
mainly in the distribution of bread and meat.
In 1824 Robert Bolton Waldron, by codicils to his
will proved in the P.C.C. 24 March, bequeathed
£100, the interest to be applied for the benefit of
the poor of the Callow Hill Division. The legacy,
less duty, is represented by £85 7s. 10d. consols,
producing £2 2s. 6d. yearly.
In 1890 the Rev. Alfred Marshall by his will left
£50, invested in £51 4s. 1d. consols, the annual
dividends, amounting to £1 6s. 8d., to be distributed
among poor members of the congregation of the
parish church. The several sums of stock are held
by the official trustees.
The Church Estate consists of two houses and
about 30 a. let at £50 a year, which is applied in
salaries of the organist and verger and towards repairs
of the church.