FRANKLEY
Franchelie (xi cent.); Frangelce (xii cent.);
Frankeleg, Francele, Fraunkel (xiii cent.).
The parish of Frankley is situated on high ground
3 miles south-east of Halesowen, the lowest part being
in the north-west about 500 ft. above the ordnance
datum, near the brook which divides the parish from
Hunnington. The parish is situated on the east side
of a continuation of the Clent and Lickey Hills.
Frankley Beeches, a high point in the parish, is one
of the great landmarks. The ridge from thence to
Frankley Hill commands fine views, extending from
the Cotswolds, Edge Hill, and the Leicestershire Hills
by Barr Beacon and Dudley to the Wrekin and North
Clee, and on a clear day as far as the Berwyn range,
70 miles away. The principal roads are a branch
from Scotland Lane in Northfield, which cuts through
the parish from east to west and then turns south
towards Bromsgrove, and a road from Rubery station,
which runs northward through the parish. This
station, which is just within Frankley parish, is on a
branch line of the Midland railway and was opened
in 1881. There are reservoirs here for the storage
of the water conveyed from Wales for the supply of
Birmingham.
The village of Frankley, in the north-east of the
parish, is very small and consists of the church, a farm
called Westminster Farm, and a few cottages. The
site of the old manor-house lies to the west of the
church. It was formerly the chief seat of the Lyttelton family, but during the Civil War was occupied
by Prince Rupert, who, on leaving it, burnt it to the
ground to prevent its falling into the hands of the
enemy. In 1601 the house was described as 'a very
fair brick house and in good repair, and hath large
and sufficient barns, stables, and outhouses.' (fn. 1) The
tower of the present church was built out of the ruins
of Frankley Hall. (fn. 2) The rectory is about a quarter of
a mile further west, where the two principal roads
intersect. The National school was built in 1865
and has since been enlarged.
Frankley Green (fn. 3) was formerly common land running on each side of the roadway now bearing the
name. The irregular line of its boundaries can still
be traced.
The parish, which is entirely agricultural, has an
area of 1,934 acres, of which the greater part is
pasture land, 682 acres being arable land and 112
wood. (fn. 4) The soil is chiefly clay and the subsoil sandstone and marl. A bed of running sand is found on
Frankley Lower Hill Farm, near the railway, where
it has caused landslips. A red stone from a quarry at
Holly Hill has been used for many years for road-making in the parish. The best of it has been taken
by the Birmingham Corporation to make concrete for
their reservoir.
The chief crops are oats, wheat, clover, roots, and
recently potatoes. Certain old field-names such as
the 'Hopyard,' now part of the station yard, and a
'Hop Leasowe' at Egg Hill suggest a former cultivation of this plant. There is a tradition of flax having
been grown, as at the 'Whitening Ground,' and old
women forty years ago used to talk of 'hurdening,'
i.e. making hurden in their younger days. Some nail-making used to be carried on some thirty years ago. (fn. 5)
Among the place-names are Grandynneslone Road, (fn. 6)
Whickeweye, (fn. 7) Bynghameslond, Berghenlond, Slowlond, Hullefeldes, (fn. 8) Brande Ground, (fn. 9) Hoblets, (fn. 10)
Jounax, Hobacre, Sling, Welsh Meadow, Sollycroft,
Kettles, Grumbling Leasowe, Price's Wood, or Priests'
Wood, Ravenhays Wood, Scotland Lane, and California.
MANOR
The manor of FRANKLEY belonged
before the Conquest to a certain Wulfwine,
but in 1086 was held by Baldwin of
William Fitz Ansculf. (fn. 11) The overlordship followed
the same descent as the barony
of Dudley (q.v.) until 1323, (fn. 12)
when on the division of John
de Somery's lands it was assigned to his younger sister
Joan de Botetourt. (fn. 13) The
representatives of Joan de
Botetourt held the overlordship until early in the 15th
century. (fn. 14) The Bishop of
Worcester was said to be overlord in 1481, (fn. 15) 1508, (fn. 16) and
in 1599, (fn. 17) after which date
the overlordship seems to have
lapsed. Of these lords the
manor was held by knight service. The amount of
service said to be due for it varies in different deeds.
See of Worcester. Argent ten roundels gules.
The names of Baldwin's successors as underlords
are not known before 1166, when Bernard de Frankley
is mentioned as holding four knights' fees of Gervase
Paynel. (fn. 18) This Bernard is known to have held the
manor of Trysull, co. Stafford, at the same time and
occurs about 1160 under the name of Bernard son of
Giles de Trysull. (fn. 19) In 1196 Miles Pichard conveyed half a hide of land in Frankley to Stephen de
Every and his wife Constance. (fn. 20) Nash mentions
a grant in the reign of Richard I by Philip de Frankley,
son of Philip de Worcester, of land in Frankley to
Simon de Heyles. (fn. 21) Philip was succeeded by Simon
de Frankley, (fn. 22) who early in the 13th century gave a
rent of 4s. to the Abbot and monks of Halesowen to
pray for the souls of Rose his wife and of 'Elicia' his
mother. (fn. 23) He is mentioned early in the 13th century
as holding a quarter of a knight's fee in Frankley, (fn. 24)
and was living in 1232, (fn. 25) but he must have died
before 1233, when his son and heir is mentioned as
having been given by Roger de Somery as a hostage
to Walter de Beauchamp. (fn. 26) Simon's heir is generally
supposed to have been a daughter Emma, (fn. 27) but the
above entry shows that he had a son. Further,
the Lyttelton charters show that the son's name
was Philip and that Simon also had a daughter
Margery. (fn. 28) Philip is called lord of Frankley in several
charters, (fn. 29) and Emma lady of Frankley, who married
Thomas de Lyttelton, (fn. 30) was evidently his heir, whether
as his sister or daughter is not known. She too left
an only daughter Emma, who married firstly Anger de
Talton, who died before 1276, (fn. 31) and secondly
Nicholas de Wheathampstead. In 1276 Emma, then
a widow, gave to the Abbot and convent of Halesowen
a rent of 2s. yearly from the land of Hugh de la
Ruding in Frankley, for the soul of Anger de Talton,
her late husband. (fn. 32) In 1280–1 she and her second husband settled the manor on themselves and the heirs of
their bodies with remainders to Nicholas son of Emma (fn. 33)
and to Emma's brother Edmund son of Thomas. (fn. 34) In
1286, under an agreement between Nicholas de
Wheathampstead and Nicholas de Talton (called de
Frankley) son of Emma by her first husband, (fn. 35) it was
provided that Nicholas de Wheathampstead was to hold
the manor for his life, and that Nicholas de Frankley
was to receive yearly from the manor of Frankley 5
marks until the should come of age, and afterwards all
the rents of the manor. (fn. 36) Emma died in 1298, her
son Nicholas being then twenty-eight years of age. (fn. 37)
He as Nicholas de Frankley sold the manor in
1299 to Sir Nicholas de Wymale, (fn. 38) to whom he also
granted the wardship and marriage of his eldest son
Thomas, (fn. 39) together with certain rents in Frankley
which Christine, lady of Frankley (possibly the wife
of Philip de Frankley), had held in dower. (fn. 40) These
conveyances extended over the years 1299 to 1302,
but before 1305 Sir Nicholas de Wymale must have
exchanged the actual possession of the manor for a
life estate in a rent of £25 from it, for in that year
Nicholas de Frankley released to Sir John de Benstede,
clerk, his right in the manor and the reversion of a
yearly rent of £25 which Sir Nicholas de Wymale
held for life of his grant. (fn. 41) At the same time Richard
de Capenore granted to Sir John a yearly rent of
£5 15s. which Nicholas de Frankley had given him. (fn. 42)
John de Benstede, who was chief justice of the
Common Pleas, received a grant of free warren at
Frankley in 1305, (fn. 43) and sold the manor in 1308
to Adam de Harvington, (fn. 44) whose right in it was
confirmed in 1319 by Thomas son of Nicholas de
Frankley. In 1323–4 Adam granted the reversion
of the manor after his death to Edmund de Grafton
and his heirs, (fn. 45) and in 1344 Thomas son of Nicholas
de Frankley confirmed the manor to Adam de Harvington and John de Grafton, who was presumably
the successor of Edmund de Grafton. (fn. 46) John son of
John de Grafton gave the manor to John Seers,
Richard de Doverdale and other clerks, who were
probably trustees, and they conveyed it in 1350 to
Gilbert Chasteleyn, (fn. 47) who in the same year obtained
a grant of free warren there. (fn. 48) Gilbert and his wife
Margaret sold the manor in 1354 to Sir John Beauchamp, (fn. 49) who died seised of it in 1360. (fn. 50) His
brother and heir, Thomas Earl of Warwick, must
have sold it to Sir Richard Fitton, for in 1383 the
executors of the will of Sir Richard were released by
the overlord John de Botetourt from all claims in
respect of the manor of Frankley. (fn. 51) Joan widow of
Sir Richard Fitton in 1384 sold her right to William
de Spernall, (fn. 52) who in 1399–1400 settled the manor
on himself and his wife Alice and their issue male,
with contingent remainder to his right heirs. (fn. 53)
William died without issue male, leaving two daughters,
Margaret, who married firstly Henry Hervyle, and
secondly William Wybbe, and Joyce, who married
William Swynfen. (fn. 54) Alice widow of William married
Sir Thomas Stafford, and afterwards John Mulsho. (fn. 55)
She apparently held the manor for life, and made
various settlements of it, conveying it to William
Sulney and John Alrewich as trustees, and in 1401–2
it was confirmed to them by Edward son of Thomas
de Frankley. (fn. 56) Later Alice conveyed her claim in
the manor to Cornelius de Wirleye, who reconveyed
it to Sir Thomas Burdet, Edmund Stafford, Bishop
of Exeter, and others, who were probably trustees
for Alice's daughters. (fn. 57)
In 1405 the manor was claimed from these trustees
by Thomas Lyttelton grandson of the first Thomas
Lyttelton of Frankley by his second wife Acelina,
daughter of Warin Fitz William de Upton. (fn. 58) He
based his claim on the fine levied in 1281 by which
Nicholas de Wheathampstead and Emma his wife
had settled Frankley on her son Nicholas de Frankley
and his heirs, with contingent remainders to her half-brother Edmund Lyttelton. Lyttelton stated that
Thomas son of Nicholas de Frankley and the said
Edmund had both died without issue, though it has
been seen above that Thomas had a son Edward,
who was alive in 1401–2, and the defendants stated
was still alive at the time of the suit. Thomas
Lyttelton, the claimant, was nephew and heir of
Edmund Lyttelton, (fn. 59) and, in spite of the numerous
sales that had taken place, he recovered seisin of the
manor, and in 1410 settled it on his wife Maud. (fn. 60)
He is said to have died in 1422, (fn. 61) leaving an only
daughter Elizabeth, who married Thomas Westcote
alias Heuster. (fn. 62) His widow Maud granted the manor
in 1429 to John Massy, (fn. 63) whom she is said to have
married as her second husband. (fn. 64) John was holding the
manor in 1431, (fn. 65) and granted it in that year to Thomas
and Nicholas Burdet and others. (fn. 66) Possibly they were
trustees for Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Lyttelton,
for in 1461–2 the manor was settled upon her and
her heirs, (fn. 67) and in 1476 Thomas Burdet gave up the
manor to Elizabeth and her son Sir Thomas Lyttelton, (fn. 68) who was known by his mother's name on
account of the importance of the property he inherited
from her. (fn. 69)
He was made justice of the Common Pleas in 1466,
and is famous for his book on Tenures, which he wrote
for his son Richard, who was a barrister. (fn. 70) In 1476
he obtained an inspeximus from Edward IV confirming his right to the manor of Frankley. (fn. 71) He died
seised of it in 1481 and was succeeded by his eldest
son William, (fn. 72) who was knighted by Henry VII after
the battle of Stoke in 1487. (fn. 73) Sir William died in
1507, having left the manor of Frankley to his wife
Mary for her life. (fn. 74) His son John married Elizabeth
daughter of Sir Gilbert Talbot, and settled the manor on
her in 1531. (fn. 75) He died in the following year, and was
succeeded by a son John, (fn. 76) who obtained livery of the
manor in 1541. (fn. 77) The manor of Hagley was purchased by this John in 1565, (fn. 78) and the further
descent of Frankley is identical with that of Hagley, (fn. 79)
Viscount Cobham being at present lord of both
manors.
A tenement called OLDENHULL in Frankley
belonged to a family of that name in the 13th and
14th centuries. (fn. 80) John son of John de Oldenhull
was outlawed in 1353 or 1363, (fn. 81) and his property
was taken into the king's hands. In 1382 Oldenhull
was claimed and recovered by Sir Richard Fitton as
lord of Frankley, (fn. 82) and continued to be held with the
manor. (fn. 83)
A deer park existed at Frankley in 1360, and it
was then worth nothing beyond the keep of the deer. (fn. 84)
At the beginning of the 17th century it is said to
have contained twenty red deer and 200 fallow deer. (fn. 85)
It seems to have been disparked after the house was
burnt down during the Civil War.
A wood called Bromwich Wood containing 'seaven
acres wherein are some few timber trees, some fire
wood [and] oak trees, the underwood [being] for the
most part alder trees,' (fn. 86) is mentioned in the 17th
century.
CHURCH
The church of ST. LEONARD consists of a chancel 24 ft. 7 in. by 13 ft.
2 in., a nave 41 ft. 6 in. by 21 ft. 6 in.,
a south porch and west tower about 8 ft. 6 in. square.
These measurements are all internal.
The earliest details in the building date from the
15th century. The modern east window of the
chancel is of three lights with old jambs, the stops
to the external label being carved with butterflies.
The five windows in the side walls are all modern, as
is the chancel arch.
The nave is lit by three two-light windows with
square heads in the north wall, with two similar
windows and one single light in the south wall, but
except for the jambs of the south-eastern window
all are modern. The south door and porch are also
modern. The modern tower opens with a round
arch on to the nave with smaller arches on the north
and south, the nave being prolonged on each side to
the western face. The west window is of 15th-century date, of two lights, with a four-centred head.
Both roofs are old, with arched braces to the principal
rafters and moulded wall-plates. The chancel roof
has two cambered tie-beams with braces.
The external facing of the church is of red and
grey sandstone, and the tower is finished with a plain
parapet with pinnacles at the angles.
There were formerly two bells; one being cracked
was exchanged for a school bell about 1865. The
remaining bell bears the inscription 'Sir Iohn Littilton 1588.'
The plate includes a large cup with cover paten of
the Puritan type, hall mark 1707. On the foot of
the cup is the inscription 'This belongs to Frankley
in the County of Worcester and Chappel of St.
Kenellum 1708.' The flagon is plated.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) and
(iA) bound together, containing baptisms 1598 to 1697,
burials 1642 to 1695, marriages 1604 to 1695;
baptisms and burials 1701 to 1748, marriages 1701
to 1745; (ii) baptisms and burials 1748 to 1812,
marriages 1748 to 1794. The marriages overlap
with volume iii, which includes marriages 1754 to
1812.
ADVOWSON
Frankley was formerly a chapelry
annexed to the church of Halesowen.
The chapel is first mentioned at the
end of the 12th century, when Simon, lord of Frankley,
granted to it certain lands in 'Cleilond in Frankley.' (fn. 87)
Evidently the right of burial belonged to the mother
church of Halesowen, since in 1236 Ralph, chaplain of Frankley, was accused of burying a dead body
there to the detriment of the mother church, and was
obliged to restore the mortuaries then made. (fn. 88) Nash
mentions a confirmation of the chapel of Frankley to
the monastery of Halesowen by Emma de Frankley
in 1275–6. (fn. 89) This was probably in consequence of
a claim by the prior and monks of Dudley to the
advowson of Frankley as part of the church of Northfield, but they gave up their claim in 1297 to the
Abbot and convent of Halesowen. (fn. 90) The advowson
of the chapel has always followed the same descent
as that of the church of Halesowen (fn. 91) (q.v.), and
now belongs to Viscount Cobham. The chapelry was
declared a rectory in 1866. (fn. 92)
By licence of Bishop Polton dated 1427 Maud
Lyttelton had an oratory where mass was celebrated
at Frankley. (fn. 93) A similar licence was granted to
Thomas Lyttelton in 1443. (fn. 94) This chapel is mentioned in the will of Thomas Lyttelton in 1481 as
Trinity chapel, Frankley. He bequeathed to it his
'gode litel massbook and gode vestment with the
apparyl to an auter of the same sort of vestments
which were my moder's,' while to the chapel of
St. Leonard he left his 'great antiphoner.' (fn. 95) The
Trinity chapel was probably destroyed with the
manor-house.
In 1471–2 the Abbot of Halesowen was summoned
to answer Sir Thomas Lyttelton why he did not find
a priest during all the time Sir Thomas was at
Frankley, (fn. 96) the reference probably being to the
chapel of St. Leonard, as it appears from an earlier
suit between the Abbot of Halesowen and the Archdeacon of Worcester that the abbot was bound to find
a priest three days a week to perform divine service
in St. Leonard's chapel. (fn. 97)
After the Dissolution Frankley was served by a perpetual curate, who was provided with a stipend of £10
by the Lytteltons. Sir Henry Lyttelton in the time
of Charles II endowed the chapel with tithes amounting to about £40 a year, in lieu of this stipend. (fn. 98)
In 1738 Sir Thomas Lyttelton, bart., inclosed a
plot of ground round the chapel for a cemetery, and
with the bishop's permission it was used as a common
burial-ground for the parishioners of Frankley. (fn. 99)
The vill of Frankley being in the county of
Worcester, but owning Halesowen, which was in
Shropshire, as its parish church, was occasionally
assessed for ninths in both counties. The inhabitants
complained that this had happened in 1341, and
prayed the king for a remedy. (fn. 100)
During the 15th century the inhabitants of
Frankley subscribed 7d. yearly for the 'hye light. (fn. 101)
The church ale at Frankley is mentioned in churchwardens' accounts of Halesowen in 1497. (fn. 102)
There are no endowed charities.