KIDDERMINSTER
Chedeminstre (xi cent.); Kedeleministre, or
Kideministre (xii–xiii cent.); Kidereministre (xiii–xv cent.); Kidderminster (xvi cent.).
The original ecclesiastical parish of Kidderminster
covered all the land lying in the angle between the
Severn and the Stour, with the exception of Over
Mitton, a hamlet of Hartlebury situated in a bend
of the latter river. An arm of the parish also extended castwards, taking in the districts about Hurcott
and Comberton. The northern boundary was formed
by a chain of pools connected by a tributary of the
Severn. The area of this triangular district is nearly
11,000 acres, of which 173 acres are covered with
water, over 4,000 are arable land, 4,000 meadow and
pasture and nearly 1,000 are covered with wood. (fn. 1)
MANORS AND BOROUGH
The present town of Kidderminster
has developed from a settlement on
the left bank of the Stour. (fn. 2) There
is, however, evidence pointing to still
earlier settlements elsewhere in the
parish. In Mill Street, on the right bank of the river,
there are caves in the sandstone cliff resembling the
rock dwellings found in other parts of the country.
The exact nature of the camps at Warshill near
Trimpley (fn. 3) and of a tumulus near the Severn below
the railway bridge is as yet undetermined.
Local tradition places at Broadwaters, on the
northern boundary of the parish, the site of a
Saxon monastery. It is at least certain that the
10 cassates of land in the province of Usmere near
the River Stour granted in 736 by Ethelbald, King
of the Mercians, to his companion (comes) Cyniberht
for the purpose of founding a monastery were near to
Kidderminster. This land lay on both sides of the
Stour and touched on the north 'Cynibre' wood
(? Kinver), and on the west another wood called
'Moerheb,' part of which was also granted to
Cyniberht. (fn. 4) Nothing is known of the monastery
which Cyniberht was to have built. He had power
to bequeath or alienate the land. It was certainly
included in the 13 cassates at Stour-in-Usmere which
his son, the Abbot Ceolfrith, gave to the Bishop and
Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Worcester. (fn. 5)
In 781 Bishop Heathored, in consideration of the
restoration of certain disputed lands, is stated to have
obtained from King Offa a confirmation of the rights
of the bishopric in 14 'mansae' at Stour-in-Usmere. (fn. 6)
This document, however, is not certainly authentic,
as are both the charters previously cited. There is no
question as to the charter by which in 816 Denebert,
then bishop, gave 14 cassates in two portions (fn. 7) at
Stour to Coenwulf, King of the Mercians, in return
for certain privilages to be enjoyed upon the lands of
his see. (fn. 8)
The identification of Kidderminster with a part of
the land at Stour-in-Usmere rests upon the fact that
the name 'Ismere' is now applied to the series of pools
at 'Broadwaters,' (fn. 9) and that Usmere was in 964 a
part of the boundary between Kidderminster and
Cookley in Wolverley. (fn. 10) The identification is supported by the fact that both Wolverley and Kidderminster were after 816 lands of the Crown.
No other record of Kidderminster is known before
the Domesday Survey, in which it is described as a
central 'manor' with sixteen outlying farms or 'berewicks.' These were Wannerton, Trimpley, Hurcott,
'Bristitune,' Habberley, 'Fastochesfeld,' Wribbenhall, Sutton, Oldington, Mitton, 'Teulesberge' and
'Sudwale,' and two berewicks each at Franche and
Ribbesford. (fn. 11) In the time of Edward the Confessor
the whole vill was possibly held by the king. In
1086 it was held by William I, but most of it lay
waste and the king had added the woodland to his
forest (of Feckenham). It had probably suffered
from depredations by the Danes, who certainly ravaged
Ribbesford, one of its berewicks. (fn. 12) Three small
estates in the manor were separately held. The land
of one 'radknight' was held by the reeve of the
manor; the land of another 'radknight' was held
by a certain William, and Aiulf held a virgate of land.
Moreover, two houses, one at Droitwich, the other
at Worcester, belonged to the manor. (fn. 13)
The sheriff accounted to the king for the proceeds
of the manor (fn. 14) until Henry II alienated it to his
'dapifer' or steward, Manasser Biset, (fn. 15) some time
between 1156 and 1162. (fn. 16) Manasser had witnessed
many of the king's charters, (fn. 17) and was present at
Clarendon in 1164. (fn. 18) He died in or shortly before
1186. (fn. 19) The manor was to be held by knights'
service, but the exact amount of the service is uncertain. In 1431, after its division into three portions, Lady Bergavenny, who held two portions,
owed service for two-thirds of one half-fee. (fn. 20) The
service from the whole manor was possibly that of
half a fee. The statement made in 1428 that 'Hugh
Cokesey, the Lady of Bergavenny and the Prior of
Maiden Bradley hold one-third of a fee severally and
none of them holds as much as a quarter' (fn. 21) should
clearly read 'one-third of half a fee.'
In 1187 livery of Kidderminster was given to
Manasser's heir, (fn. 22) who seems to have been his son
Henry. (fn. 23) Henry Biset paid £8 as the farm of the
town for one quarter in 1194. (fn. 24) In 1201, however,
Geoffrey Fitz Piers was holding the manor at farm
from King John, (fn. 25) but Henry Biset the dapifer
received a new grant from the king (fn. 26) of this and
other manors, and agreed (May 1199) to pay 500
marks in instalments for the vills of Kidderminster
and Sandhurst (co. Hants). (fn. 27)
Two suggestions may be made to account for this.
One is that there were two Henry Bisets, (fn. 28) but this
is weakened by the evidence of pedigrees produced in
13th-century pleas concerning the manor. More
probably the manor was held in pledge for a debt
due by Biset; he still owed £100 14s. 8d. (? of
the 500 marks) in 1201 when Geoffrey Fitz Piers
accounted for a year's farm. (fn. 29) Shortly afterwards
Henry Biset evidently recovered his lands, and upon
his death the wardship of his heir was given to William
of Huntingfield. (fn. 30)
Huntingfield was a prominent member of the
baronial opposition to John. (fn. 31) Upon the outbreak
of war the sheriff seized Kidderminster for the king.
At Runnimede 21 June 1215, when Huntingfield
had been appointed one of the 'conservators' of the
Great Charter, the king restored the lands of which
he had been dispossessed (fn. 32) ; but in the following
November Kidderminster was delivered to Roger la
Zouche 'during pleasure,' (fn. 33) and in 1216, when
Huntingfield was subduing the eastern counties on
behalf of Louis of France, John made a new grant of
the town to his 'beloved and loyal' follower John
L'Estrange. (fn. 34)
Kidderminster appears to have been restored to
the Bisets after King John's death. It does not
appear whether Henry Biset's heir, his son William, (fn. 35)
ever actually held the manor. William's widow,
Sarah, married Richard Keynes (de Cahannis), (fn. 36) and
in 1223 failed to defend her claim to dower in
Kidderminster against her daughter-in-law Isolde,
widow of William Biset the younger, and her second
husband, Aumary St. Amand. (fn. 37) Under an exchange
with John Biset, brother and heir of the younger
William, Aumary held the whole manor instead of
the third which was his wife's dower. (fn. 38) In 1228 he
had grant of free warren and a yearly fair. (fn. 39)
This grant was renewed to John Biset in 1238. (fn. 40)
He also came to an agreement (1240) with the Prior
and convent of Worcester as to the bounds of their
respective lands on the heath between Wolverley and
Kidderminster. (fn. 41) A year later (1241) he died, (fn. 42)
leaving three daughters as co-heirs, of whom the
eldest, Margery, was the wife of Robert Rivers, while
Ela married firstly Ralph Nevill and afterwards John
Wotton; Isabel, the third daughter, became the wife
of Hugh Ploseys, (fn. 43) probably the son of John Pleseys,
who in 1241 had a grant of the custody and marriage
of the two younger daughters. (fn. 44)
The division of the inheritance among the co-heirs
caused some dissension. (fn. 45) The manor of Kidderminster was apportioned in three parts.
The share of the one daughter, Ela Wotton (second
by birth), was known later as the manor of KIDDERMINSTER BISET. (fn. 46) John Wotton survived his
wife, and settled her inheritance on their son John, who
took the name of Biset, and
on his wife Katharine. (fn. 47) John
Biset died shortly before 1307,
leaving a son John. (fn. 48) The
latter alienated a messuage and
certain of his lands in Kidderminster to Hugh Cooksoy c.
1330. (fn. 49) Shortly afterwards
Biset died, and the manor
passed to his sister Margaret
wife of Robert Martin of
Yeovilton ('Yevelton'), co.
Somers. (fn. 50) She and her husband granted a lease of the
manor to Hugh Cooksey and his wife Denise for their
lives. (fn. 51) Denise Cooksey lived till 1376, when, owing
to the fact that Robert Martin and his two sons
Robert and William, to whom the manor should have
reverted, were already dead, (fn. 52) Kidderminster Biset
passed to the surviving heir of Margaret, Sir Walter
Romsey, kt., her son by a second husband. (fn. 53) In 1380
Sir Walter settled the manor in tail-male on his son
John and the latter's wife
Alice, (fn. 54) but John Romsey
died in his father's lifetime.
His widow apparently married
Malcolm de la Mare, for in
1385–6 Sir Walter sold the
reversion of the manor contingent upon the death of
Alice wife of Malcolm de la
Mare to Sir John Beauchamp
of Holt. (fn. 55)
Biset. Azure ten bezants.
Beauchamp of kidderminster. Gules a fesse between six martlets or.
Beauchamp also acquired a
second share of the main
manor, viz. the portion known
as Burnells (q.v.). He had
been knighted during the Scottish expedition (1385) (fn. 56)
of Richard II, and rose rapidly in the king's favour.
In 1386 he had grant of free chase 'in vert and
venison,' infangtheof, utfangtheof and the chattels
of felons and fugitives in Kidderminster. (fn. 57) In
October 1387 he was created Lord Beauchamp of
Kidderminster 'in consideration of his good and
gratuitous services, the trusty family from which he
was descended and his great sense and circumspection.' (fn. 58) In the following May he fell a victim to
the 'Merciless' Parliament, and in consequence of his
attainder Kidderminster Burnell and the reversion of
Kidderminster Biset were forfeited to the Crown. (fn. 59)
In 1389 his rights in Kidderminster were purchased by Thomas Earl of Warwick on behalf of
John de Hermesthorpe and others, (fn. 60) who shortly
afterwards conveyed to Nicholas Lilling and others
as trustees for a reconveyance. (fn. 61) In June 1400,
on the death of Alice widow of Malcolm de la
Mare, (fn. 62) Lilling and his co-feoffees entered upon
Kidderminster Biset, and settled it with Kidderminster Burnell on Warwick's younger brother, Sir
William Beauchamp Lord Bergavenny. (fn. 63) His widow,
Joan Lady Bergavenny, held both manors in dower (fn. 64)
until her death, which took place 14 November 1435. (fn. 65) Kidderminster, apart from Bergavenny
Castle and her other entailed estates, descended to her
granddaughter Elizabeth wife of Sir Edward Nevill
and daughter of Richard Earl of Worcester. Sir
Edward was summoned by writ as Lord Bergavenny
in 1450. (fn. 66) His son and heir George Lord Bergavenny (d. 1492) instructed his bailiff to allow the
Priors of Maiden Bradley to take their part of the waifs
and strays within their third of the manor and to
avoid summoning the priors' tenants to Bergavenny's
court. (fn. 67)
George Nevill Lord Bergavenny, a favourite with
Henry VII and son of the first-named George,
entailed all his estates upon
himself and the heirs male of
his body. (fn. 68) He died in 1535,
and during the minority of
his son Henry the king appointed John Avery to be
bailiff of the lordship of Kidderminster Foreign. (fn. 69) Upon
the death of Henry Lord
Bergavenny in February
1586–7 the heir male to the
estate was Edward Nevill of
Newton St. Loe, Somerset,
sometimes styled Lord Bergavenny. (fn. 70) His son Edward
disputed the barony with the heir general and received
a writ of summons as Lord Nevill of Bergavenny in
1604. (fn. 71) He died in London 1 December 1622, and
was succeeded by his son Henry. (fn. 72) It was his son
John Lord Bergavenny who in 1663 leased the
manor and market tolls to William Dike for three
lives. (fn. 73)
Nevill of Bergavenny. Gules a saltire argent with a rose gules thercon.
He was succeeded in the barony by his brother
George, whose son and heir George Lord Bergavenny
died without issue in 1695. Thereupon his estates
passed to his kinsman, George Nevill, descendant and
heir male of Sir Christopher Nevill, younger son of
that Edward Lord Bergavenny who died in 1622.
He died in 1721. His sons George and William
died of smallpox in 1723 and 1724 respectively,
whereupon their first cousin, William Nevill, inherited
the entailed property and
barony of Bergavenny. (fn. 74)
In 1733, under Act of
Parliament, he sold his manorial rights in Kidderminster
in order to purchase an estate
in East Grinstead. (fn. 75) Conveyance was made to Edward
Harley, (fn. 76) possibly in trust.
Within the next forty years
the manors were acquired by
Thomas Foley, created Lord
Foley of Kidderminster,
1776. (fn. 77)
Foley of Kidderminster. Argent a fesse engrailed between three cinqfoils and a border all sable.
Thenceforward these
manors, with the remainder of
Lord Foley's estate in Kidderminster, became entitled
the manors of Kidderminster Borough and Foreign,
and their history is coincident with that of the Great
Witley estate (q.v.). The present owner of both is
the Earl of Dudley.
The portion of the main manor assigned to Isabel
Pleseys, the youngest daughter of John Biset, was
known after 1476 by the name
of KIDDERMINSTER BURNELL. It was evidently alienated before the death of
Hugh Pleseys to Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and
Wells, the great chancellor of
Edward I, who purchased
other lands in the county.
He held one-third of Kidderminster at his death in 1292,
'doing for it to the king
reasonable service with arms
and horses in time of war, as
the king may desire.' (fn. 78) He
was succeeded by his nephew
Philip Burnell of Holdgate, co. Salop, who rapidly
wasted his estate. (fn. 79) His son Edward, left heir to his
father in 1294, (fn. 80) was summoned to Parliament as
Lord Burnell in 1314, (fn. 81) but died without issue in the
following year. (fn. 82) His sister and heir married firstly
John Lovel, secondly John Handlo. In 1321 this
portion of Kidderminster was entailed upon John
and Maud Handlo and their heirs male (fn. 83) ; in 1339
a new settlement was made upon their son Nicholas
(afterwards called Burnell) and his wife Mary. (fn. 84) He
entered upon the estate after his father's death in
1346, (fn. 85) served in the wars in France, and was summoned to Parliament as Lord Burnell in 1350. (fn. 86) In
January 1382–3, upon the death of Nicholas Burnell,
Kidderminster Burnell descended to his son Hugh. (fn. 87)
Having no sons, he alienated it to his friend Sir John
Beauchamp of Holt, (fn. 88) who also acquired the reversion
of Kidderminster Biset. Thus two divisions of the
original manor were re-united.
Burnell of Holdgate. Argent a lion sable with a crown or in a border azure.
The third share, that of Margery Rivers, was
inherited by her son John Rivers of Burgate. (fn. 89) He
gave it to the Prior of Maiden Bradley, co. Wilts.,
and the leprous sisters in that house, which was of the
foundation of Manasser Biset, receiving in exchange
land in Burgate. (fn. 90) In confirming to the priory the
possession of the church of Kidderminster (fn. 91) he further granted the land and person of his villein, Hugh
'in la Grava.' (fn. 92) In 1270 Queen Eleanor confirmed
to the priory the lands thus received, (fn. 93) and this portion of Kidderminster became merged in the priory's
manor of Comberton. (fn. 94)
In the partition of the manor after John Biset's
death the hall or manor-house seems to have been
assigned to the lord of Kidderminster Biset. (fn. 95) It
is said that a portion of the hall, including the
kitchens, was converted into a Brussels carpet factory,
which still existed in the last century. (fn. 96) The foundations of the old building were discovered when the
savings bank was being built. (fn. 97) It lay in close
proximity to the church on the sloping ground which
rises from the left bank of the Stour. Hall Street,
Dudley Street (formerly known as Barn Street), (fn. 98) and
Orchard Street occupy the site of the demesne.
From early times the River Stour with its tributaries
has been a source of industry. Two corn-mills were
attached to the manor in 1086, while the reeve held
another. The demesne mill, known as the Great
Mill, (fn. 99) was burnt down late in the 14th century. (fn. 100)
The Heathy mill south-east of the town was known
as 'Walkmill,' and belonged to Bordesley Abbey. (fn. 101) In
1272 the Prior of Maiden Bradley had in view the
building of a mill, probably Comberton Mill. (fn. 102) The
mill at (Over) Mitton was known as 'le kylemilne.' (fn. 103)
The TOWN and BOROUGH of KIDDERMINSTER owes its development to its position
upon four main roads and on the River Stour, and
to the consequent early establishment of the cloth
industry.
To the south of the site of the hall already referred
to, and on the same bank of the Stour, was the old
market-house, with the town hall and gaol, the last
being a cellar which acquired, not without reason,
the ill-omened name of the 'Blackhole.' (fn. 104)
The roads from Birmingham and Dudley meet in
the old market-place and are crossed at their junction
by a third road. This last is continued across the
river by the curve of the 'Bull Ring'; on the right
bank it branches into the main roads to Bewdley and
Bridgnorth, on the left, but beyond the area of the
old market, it leads to Worcester and to Bromsgrove.
The old Worcester road formerly joined the Bromsgrove road at a point more distant from the market
than at present. The new road was brought into the
centre of the town about 1835. (fn. 105) In the immediate
proximity of the old market-place the Dudley road is
known as Blakewell Street, the Birmingham road as
the High Street.
Standing at the bottom of the High Street is a
small 16th-century inn, now known as the 'Three
Tuns,' but formerly as the 'King's Head.' (fn. 106) It is a
two-storied gabled building, of half-timber and brick
construction, though many of the uprights have been
taken out and solid brickwork inserted, while the
front to the ground floor is modern. On the east an
archway through to the yard at the back divides the
inn from another building of the same date, the
front of which is entirely modern. The backs of
both buildings overhang on the first floor.
On the south side of Church Street (no. 12)
stands a small half-timber building, roofed with
tiles, of early 17th-century date. It is rectangular on
plan with a central stack, and is divided on the
ground floor into four rooms, each having an angle
fireplace, only one of which remains in its original
state, the others having been blocked up. The front
elevation is of symmetrical design, and it is in an
excellent state of preservation. The upper floor projects over the street with small shaped brackets beneath
the main beam. In the front are four windows of
four lights each, with ovolo-moulded transoms. The
timber framing to the walls is composed solely of
vertical and horizontal members, there being no braces.
The panels are all plastered.
The parish has from time immemorial been divided
into the borough and the foreign. (fn. 107) The exact
origin of the distinction is not clear. The earliest
known record of the foreign as distinct from the
borough is the 'Custom of the Lords of Kidderminster,' (fn. 108) which probably belongs to the fourth
decade of the 14th century. Here it is stated that
the profits of strays within the borough ought to be
shared by the 'two lords' (possibly of Kidderminster
Biset and Burnell), while strays on the commons or
roads of the foreign belonged to the three lords
(including the Prior of Maiden Bradley) and each
lord ought to have those on his own lordship within
the foreign.
The borough evidently centred round the marketplace. The lord had toll on all sales within certain
bounds: 'Dakebroke in Blakestanstrete (? Blakewell
Street), the Cross in Worcester Street, the Cross in
Milstrete (? Proud Cross) or the barriers in Churchstrete.' (fn. 109) Leland, who visited the town about 1540,
remarked that the 'fair and chief' part lay on the
left side of the Stour; and in the centre of the
market was a pretty cross with six pillars and arches
of stone, with the seventh pillar in the middle to
bear up the fornix. (fn. 110)
It remains uncertain whether the bounds given
above were those of the original borough or only of
the market. They were considerably smaller than
those of the borough in 1837. (fn. 111) The borough and
the foreign were distinct also for poor-law purposes
and each had its own churchwardens. In 1616 the
inhabitants of the borough petitioned that those of
the foreign should contribute to the support of the
poor of the whole parish. (fn. 112) The jealousy between
the two districts was aggravated in the 18th century
by the growth of considerable hamlets just outside the
limits of the borough. (fn. 113) It was only partially allayed
by a Boundary Act of 1841, (fn. 114) but is at last settled in
1912 by the incorporation into the borough of most
of the outlying districts.
The division into two wards apparently dates only
from the division of the borough for parlimentary
purposes in 1832. (fn. 115)
Henry II in granting the manor to Manasser
Biset gave him also full jurisdiction over his tenants,
'soke and sake, toll and theam, infangtheof and
utfangtheof with all liberties and free customs whereof
any of my Barons of England holds best.' (fn. 116) John
Beauchamp had a further grant of the goods and
chattels of felons and fugitives within his manors (of
Kidderminster Burnell and Biset). (fn. 117)
The men of Kidderminster were slow to acquire
any degree of independence. The possession of the
manor by William I in 1086 gave them the position
of tenants on ancient demesne of the Crown, rendering them free from toll, stallage, murage, &c.,
throughout the kingdom and exempting them from
contributing to the expenses of knights of the shire
or from sitting on juries outside the manor court.
These privileges were confirmed to them in 1386,
1427, 1530 and in 1586. (fn. 118) The town was regularly
tallaged by the king from 1177 onwards. (fn. 119)
The town was governed in the early period by a
prepositus or reeve appointed by the lord. In 1086
he held the land of one radknight. (fn. 120) The reeve is
again mentioned in 1221, when he with other freemen of the town 'testified that Robert Patrick's son
had confessed himself a thief.' (fn. 121) Burgage tenure is
frequently recorded. In the early 13th century
Wulfric gave to Maiden Bradley a 'burgage' held of
the lord by 12d. rent yearly, (fn. 122) and in 1254 Richard
of Trimpley enfeoffed Hugh Attwood (de Bosco) of
another burgage. (fn. 123)
The extent of Kidderminster Biset drawn up in
1300 mentions only the rents of free tenants (40s.)
and services of customary tenants (fn. 124) ; but seven years
later the rent of thirteen free tenants was 104s. 11d.,
toll of market was worth 53s. 4d., and there were
sixty-three burgesses in addition to the free and
customary tenants. (fn. 125)
Before the time of William de Cauntelow, who
first took office as sheriff in 1200, the town was free
from the sheriff's jurisdiction. In consideration of
16 marks of silver Walter Beauchamp (between 1237
and 1241) gave to John Biset and his heirs written
acknowledgement of this exemption. (fn. 126) In 1275 it
was recorded that the 'commonalty' of the borough
had distraint save in cases of debt. (fn. 127) In 1305 the
'commonalty' joined the lord of Kidderminster
Biset in presenting a chaplain to the chantry of
St. Mary, (fn. 128) but what right they had to do so does
not appear.
Two representatives, Walter Caldigan and Walter
Lihtfot, were sent by Kidderminster to the 'Model'
Parliament of 1295, but the burgesses were probably
deterred by the contingent expense from returning a
member to any other Parliament, until they sent a
single member to the reformed Parliament of 1833. (fn. 129)
The borough is still represented by one member.
The town probably owed its development during
the 13th century to the valuable properties of the
Stour water, which had already been recognized.
In 1280 William the Dyer (tinctore) was assessed
towards the payment of a subsidy, (fn. 130) and in 1292 a
fulling-mill was standing. (fn. 131)
The town also received frequent visits from the
king. Henry III was there in July 1221, when an
expedition was proceeding against Llewelyn ap
Iorwerth; the Welsh war brought him thither again
in October 1223. He was there in September
1224 and 1226, August 1228, May 1231, August
1232, when there were renewed troubles with
the Welsh and his visit seems to have been prolonged for at least ten days, and in June and September 1233. (fn. 132) He seems to have been entertained
at the Hall (fn. 133) either by Aumary St. Amand, who
took an active part in the Welsh negotiations in
1231, (fn. 134) or by John Biset, whose kinswoman Margaret
saved him from an assassin when at her midnight
devotions. (fn. 135)
The division of the manor between the three
co-heirs of John Biset about the middle of the 12th
century probably facilitated the growth of autonomy.
Each of the three lords had the amercements from
his own free and customary tenants. They shared
the waifs found on the highway or common lands of
the foreign. They divided with the rector (fn. 136) the
fines from burgesses who imperilled the town by
stacking brushwood near the houses, and from buyers
and sellers who did business without the prescribed
limits. (fn. 137)
In 1333 the steward of the lord of Kidderminster
Biset held an inquiry into the claims of the 'community of the burgesses.' From this it appears that
they elected their own bailiff or reeve, and twice
yearly sent six representatives chosen by the bailiff
to the lord's view of frankpledge held on the hill.
The bailiff also collected the lords' toll, placing it
in a box without rendering any account, after deducting the payment for his own dinner. These
customs were from time immemorial, and were
held for law. The burgesses were also free from
relief and heriot. (fn. 138)
To about the same date evidently belongs another
account of the customs of the town known as the
'Composition of the manor and borough of Kidderminster,' which adds that the bailiff was to be chosen
by twenty-four of the burgesses the Monday after
Michaelmas. The bailiff was to choose an assistant
(the 'low' bailiff) to make attachments and serve
distraints, and two catchpolls 'to see the market in
order.' Two honest burgesses were to walk the fairs
and the markets, which were probably prescriptive in
origin (see below) with the bailiff, and the three
eldest burgesses were to aid him in keeping the peace.
The bailiff acted as clerk of the market, giving
bread that fell short in weight and 'misselled'
(measled) pork or brawn to the poor. He appointed
a borough herdsman to keep the cattle on the lord's
waste, and took half the fines from offenders against
the regulations of the cloth trade, the lord taking the
other half. Aided by six burgesses he appraised
waifs and strays, and he 'took the advisament' of at
least three of the elder burgesses in 'redressing of all
matters for the prince (fn. 139) and the lord.' His gaoler
handed over prisoners to the constable of the manor
at Worcester Cross. He was allowed to hunt a
couple of rabbits in the lord's warren three days in
each week, whereas the ordinary burgess might only
shoot one without going out of the highway, and
the 'tenter' might not kill any.
Twice yearly at the great courts leet the town
clerk, his wife and his man, the twelve men (of the
jury) and their wives, the low bailiff and his wife
dined at the expense of the bailiff. The officers
were bound to present their accounts on these
occasions. (fn. 140)
The 'Twelve and the Twenty-four' presented to
the lord's officers the man who desired to become a
burgess, and if he could not pay the fine 'they ought
to make him able.' (fn. 141)
In 1332, the year in which he took steps to introduce Flemish weavers into England, Edward III
spent three days at Kidderminster. (fn. 142) The townsmen
were then making broad and narrow cloths and
kerseys and the trade of the 'tenters' (stretchers or
dyers of cloth) was strictly regulated. (fn. 143)
There were at that time sixty-six men rated for
the subsidy in the town itself, as opposed to fifty-eight in 1280. (fn. 144)
The commercial part of the town centred about
the High Street, where the Prior of Maiden Bradley
let land on a building lease in 1414. (fn. 145) The trades
included those of draper, goldsmith, ironmonger and
glover. (fn. 146)
A newly-built house in 'Blaxter Street' (? Blakewell
Street) was owned by Sir Humphrey Stafford, a
supporter of Richard III, attainted and executed at
Tyburn, 17 November 1485. He also possessed a
two-storied tavern, cottages in Worcester Street and
Mill Street and the 'Courthouse' Tavern. (fn. 147) The
rents of tenements in Shop Row were subsequently
devoted to supporting obits, (fn. 148) while Sir Edward Blount
bequeathed a tenement 'behind the shops' for the
maintenance of his almshouses. (fn. 149)
Trade disputes arose between Kidderminster and
Bewdley in the 15th century, and in January 1493–4
Prince Arthur of Wales is said to have made peace
between the towns, commanding them 'to eschew all
manner of debates and discords' and apply in future
to himself and his council to settle all differences. (fn. 150)
The quarrel apparently related to the toll on wool
brought out of Wales across Bewdley Bridge. (fn. 151)
The cloth industry continued to flourish, and in
1533–4 an Act was passed limiting the industry to
certain towns, (fn. 152) including Kidderminster. There
were then in the town fifty-two men able to bear
arms, and in the outlying hamlets forty-three. (fn. 153)
'By reason of the confluence of many thither
daily' the town grew populous. In February 1632–3
the inhabitants petitioned for a royal charter. (fn. 154)
They were probably influenced by disputes as to
market-rights recently settled in favour of the lord of
the borough. The charter was granted 4 August
1636. The town was incorporated under the name
of 'the bailiff and burgesses of the borough of Kidderminster.' The bailiff (fn. 155) was to be chosen on the
Monday after Michaelmas from the twelve capital
burgesses, election being made by the whole of the
burgesses. The capital burgesses were to hold office
for life and join the bailiff in filling up vacancies in
their number. The bailiff and burgesses chose a
steward (Sir Ralph Clare of Caldwell being named in
the charter). He was assisted by an under steward
learned in the law.
The bailiff and capital burgesses were to assemble
in the gildhall or elsewhere to make by-laws for the
government of the borough, and they might claim the
advice of twenty-five assistant burgesses appointed by
themselves from the more honest and upright inhabitants. The bailiff, his immediate predecessor and the
under steward were to be justices of the peace within
the borough, but the rights of the lords of the manor
to court leet, &c., were reserved. To the bailiff and
burgesses were granted fairs and markets 'as they
had lawfully held the same.' (fn. 156) The twelve capital,
and twenty five assistant, burgesses may be compared
with the 'Twelve and the Twenty-four' mentioned
above.
The bailiff and capital burgesses aided by the
'assistants' proceeded to make by-laws at the 'courthouse,' the junior of the assistants speaking first.
They provided themselves with 'comely and decent
black gowns' in which to attend the bailiff to church
on the Sabbath and festivals, and without which the
bailiff might not walk the streets. They appointed a
constable to keep order and bade every burgess keep
at hand a club, bill or halbert. Innkeepers were
forbidden to give entertainment on Sunday or holiday
save 'due repose to strangers passengers and travellers';
and the churchwardens and constables left the church
at the Second Lesson to make diligent search for such
offenders. They ordered the cleansing of the streets
on Saturday afternoons and the removal of standings
from the street and market-place at night. Trading by
any 'foreigner' not a burgess was prohibited unless
he had been apprenticed seven years in the town or
had gained permission from the burgesses and paid
scot and lot. (fn. 157)
The position of Kidderminster at the meeting of
three main roads rendered it of some importance
during the Civil War.
In 1642 Essex, expecting that the king would
advance on London by the Worcester road, sent a
regiment to Kidderminster under Lord Brooke. He
withdrew before a feigned advance on the part of
Prince Rupert (fn. 158) with the loss of one soldier who fell
down the steep cliff into Bewdley Street. (fn. 159) 'From
haste or fear' some wagons and three or four pieces
of ordnance were left behind, (fn. 160) and the townsmen
hastened to deliver these to the Royalists. (fn. 161)
Many of the townsmen declared that they would
have lived peaceably at home, but that they were
driven by the 'rage of soldiers and drunkards' (who
persisted in identifying the sober-minded with the
rebellious) to take refuge with the Parliamentary
garrison at Coventry. (fn. 162)
Early in June 1644 the men of Kidderminster
were threatened with ruin by a troop of Royalist
horse if they should send provisions to the Parliamentary army, while an order was issued to Parliamentary commanders to forbear from plundering the
fulling-mills of Robert Wilmot, treasurer to the
County Committee of Stafford, in Mitton. (fn. 163) A week
later a Royalist force for the relief of Dudley marched
through from Bewdley, (fn. 164) and when Waller arrived in
the town next day he found it 'little better than an
empty farm.' He took prisoner Lieut.-Col. Stamford
and a captain of foot with 'some poor soldiers' and
the French agent M. de Sabran, (fn. 165) and moved to
Stourbridge next day.
In the following June Charles passed through the
town on his way from Naseby to Bewdley, leaving
behind a poor woman who had been wounded in the
late battle. (fn. 166) Shortly afterwards there was skirmishing
at Trimpley, and in November 1645 Sir Thomas
Aston with a Royalist force encamped there, probably
on the site of the ancient camp at Warshill. Attacked
by the Parliamentarians under Captain Stone, Aston
made a stout resistance, but was taken prisoner, his
troops being routed.
A skirmish in the town itself, in which Captain
Denham and two soldiers were killed, (fn. 167) may be that
in which tradition relates that the beaten party were
driven from Clensmore to take refuge in St. Mary's
chantry. (fn. 168) In December the town was again
molested by 'the most rude and ill-governed [Royalist]
horse that . . . ever trod upon earth.'
Sir Ralph Clare of Caldwall and other residents at
Kidderminster favoured the king's cause. Edward
Broad of Dunclent was assisted in preparing guns to
be used against the 'Roundhead rogues' by a Kidderminster man. (fn. 169) It was said, too, that Thomas Crane
of Kidderminster sent horses and arms to Hartlebury
Castle and to Bristol. (fn. 170)
In 1651 Charles II and his Scottish army, marching
southwards, 'passed most by Kidderminster a field's
breadth off.' (fn. 171) After their defeat at Worcester the
fugitives fled back along the same road, although
Charles himself turned off at Hartlebury. (fn. 172) Some of
Cromwell's men, stationed at Bewdley Bridge, entered
Kidderminster to cut off the retreat of the Royalists.
Thirty troopers stationed in the market-place shot at
many hundreds, who, 'not knowing in the dark what
number it was that charged them, either hasted away
or cried quarter.' (fn. 173) Subsequently the bailiffs were
eager to show their zeal for the Commonwealth in
searching for plots against Cromwell, (fn. 174) but they were
backward in collecting the excise on ale. (fn. 175)
Though the name of 'gildhall' is applied by the
charter of King Charles to the town hall or courthouse, no trace has been found of a gild-merchant in
Kidderminster, but there is some later record of
craft gilds. In 1650 the bailiff and capital burgesses drew up ordinances for the craft gilds which
then existed in the town. There were companies of
weavers, tailors, smiths and shoemakers. Each
fraternity was governed by two wardens elected
yearly. The annual assembly of each gild took
place on the Monday after Midsummer, and the last
man to arrive before 11 a.m. was made beadle or
messenger to his company. There were strict rules
against trading by non-members, half the fines being
paid to the bailiff and burgesses, half to the fraternity.
The wardens supervised the appointment of apprentices and journeymen, while the bailiff and capital
burgesses could fine negligent wardens and control
their expenses. (fn. 176)
Shortly after the Restoration the prosperity of the
town was much increased through the completion of
Andrew Yarranton's scheme for making the Stour
navigable from Stourbridge to Kidderminster. Coal
was first brought thither by water in 1665. (fn. 177) The
construction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire
Canal brought not only a more satisfactory connexion
with the Severn, but also a continuous stream of
through traffic. (fn. 178)
The cloth trade, falling into decay early in the
18th century, was replaced by the manufacture of
fancy materials, silk and woollen. (fn. 179) Carpet-weaving,
introduced early in the 18th century by Pearsall and
Broom, rapidly became the staple trade of the town. (fn. 180)
New streets were built by Lord Foley within five
years of the introduction of the first Brussels loom, (fn. 181)
and the old streets were widened and improved. (fn. 182)
Four-loomed shops were established in Dudley Street,
Queen Street, Union Street and Broad Street. (fn. 183) With
the rise of a new and important body of traders in the
town, discontent at the exclusiveness of the governing
body increased. (fn. 184) During the 18th century municipal elections were riotous. The mob threw
cabbage-stalks at each other and respectable inhabitants were invited to pelt the bailiff-elect with apples. (fn. 185)
In 1766 the high price of butter gave rise to serious
disturbances, and the rioters visited neighbouring
towns, forcing farmers to lower their prices. (fn. 186)
The capital burgesses were drawn chiefly from a
single family; the assistant burgesses were not
invited to vote in the common council, and, even
after the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts,
it was long before a Dissenter was admitted as
assistant. (fn. 187)
Ill-feeling was increased when, 6 August 1827,
the corporation succeeded in gaining a new charter
confirming their old constitution, save that the twelve
capital burgesses gained the title of 'aldermen,' instituting the office of recorder and increasing the
number of magistrates by creating the three senior
aldermen ex officio justices of the peace. (fn. 188)
During the rioting which accompanied the great
weavers' strike of 1828 the impartiality of the high
bailiff was called into question. (fn. 189)
The local government was extended and reformed
by the Municipal Reform Act of 1835, (fn. 190) which
divided the borough into three wards represented by
six aldermen and eighteen councillors. (fn. 191) The number
of wards was doubled in 1880.
Previous to 1835 the sole jurisdiction possessed by
the corporation was due to the charter of 1632–3,
which constituted the bailiff, his predecessor and the
under steward justices of the peace. Petty sessions
had thenceforward been held weekly, but quarter
sessions were regularly dismissed at once, owing to the
lack of a sufficient gaol. (fn. 192) The Court of Requests
established in 1772 was held by a commission distinct
from the borough magistrates. (fn. 193)
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, Kidderminster
The corporation insignia include a silver-gilt
mace, a Jubilee gift of Mr. George Houldsworth
(mayor 1886–7), and the mayoral badge and chain
purchased in 1875. The common seal given in
1775 bears an ornate cartouche with the town arms:
Azure two cheveronels or, between three bezants, and
each charged with four roundels, and the legend
'Deo iuvante arte et industria floret.'
The corporation also possesses a beautiful Elizabethan loving-cup of silver-gilt with elaborately
chased bowl and cover. Round the top is inscribed
'Given formerly p[er] Thomas Jennens of Kitterminster and inlarged p[er] his grandchild Thomas
Jenens of the Citty of London Grocer A° D[omini]. 1623.'
Hall-marks: London, 1611–12. (fn. 194)
During the 19th century Kidderminster increased
rapidly in population and prosperity.
A period of depression from 1851 to 1861 was
ended by the development of the railway, which
had been constructed in 1852. Power loom machines
were introduced 1860–5 and hand looms were
entirely superseded. Not only was an impetus
given to the carpet manufacture, which has
since increased threefold, but also the town has
expanded in all directions and especially upon
the rising ground in the neighbourhood of the
station. Much of the new town was built with
bricks made near the Stour Vale Works, on the
canal side and at Caldwall. (fn. 195)
The canal was almost superseded by the
railway. The former donkey traffic (fn. 196) has quite
disappeared and a system of electric tramways
has been established. Moreover, the condition
of the town has been immensely improved since
the 17th century, when every burgess and innholder set a lantern before his door on dark
nights. (fn. 197) Steps were taken for better lighting
and paving in 1813, (fn. 198) and gas was introduced in
1818. (fn. 199) The old watch, consisting of about
eight householders, (fn. 200) was replaced by professional
watchmen before 1835. (fn. 201)
The town hall in High Street was replaced
in 1877 by the present more spacious and commodious building in Vicar Street. It was erected
on the site of the vicarage (fn. 202) and its frontage is
adorned by a statue of Sir Rowland Hill, the
great reorganizer of the postal system, who was
born at Kidderminster 3 December 1795. (fn. 203)
Near the town hall are the Corporation Buildings with the Corn Exchange, purchased in
1853. (fn. 204) At the corner of Market Street, near
by, are the Science and Art Schools and the
Borough Free Library, removed to its present
position in 1894.
The town owes a part of this prosperity to
the market, which was probably prescriptive in
origin or due to the grant of toll made to
Manasser Biset. (fn. 205)
The lord of the manor had a grant of a three days'
fair at St. Bartholomewtide in 1228. (fn. 206) The (undated)
'Customs of the Lords of Kidderminster,' (fn. 207) which
may probably be assigned to the 14th century, show
that it was usual for each burgess to set up stalls
before his tenement, but for the lord to receive 1d.
as toll from strangers and the low bailiff ½d. as stallage
on fair and market days. The ambiguity of the
charter of Charles I and the unsettled state of the
town during the Civil War aggravated disputes
between the burgesses and Lord Bergavenny's agent
for the collection of tolls. About 1620 Lord Bergavenny offered the burgesses a lease of the tolls, but they
refused, being under the impression that the high bailiff
ought to receive the whole of the tolls towards his
charges incurred in dining the lord's officers at the courts
leet and baron and supping the low bailiff and the
constable on market days. (fn. 208) The dispute was brought
before the court of Exchequer and decrees given in
favour of the lord, (fn. 209) who subsequently leased his rights
to William Dike of Font, co. Sussex. (fn. 210) The latter
sublet the tolls and court-house to the corporation, (fn. 211)
who finally obtained from the lord a lease for
1,000 years. (fn. 212)
The general market is now held on Thursdays and
Saturdays in a covered hall built by the corporation in
1822. (fn. 213) The cattle market, held fortnightly on
Saturdays, was similarly moved from the streets to an
inclosed space between Backmarket and Market
Streets, (fn. 214) the new market being opened 26 October
1871. (fn. 215)
In 1694 there were three fairs yearly—one at
Ascensiontide, one on Corpus Christi Day (Thursday
after Trinity Sunday), and the third the chartered
fair of St. Bartholomew. (fn. 216) The origin of the first two
is unknown. The only existing fair is that which was
formerly held in the town at Ascensiontide. It is
now purely a pleasure fair, has been transferred to the
third week in June, and is held in the suburbs. (fn. 217)
The cattle and cheese fair, held on 4 September
until the middle of the last century, was probably a
survival of the St. Bartholomew fair. (fn. 218) Early in the
19th century an additional fair was held on the
Monday after Palm Sunday, and another, held on
29 June, may have been the original Corpus Christi
fair, but these were all abolished before 1872,
when a hiring fair was held the second Tuesday in
each month and the pleasure fair was established
in June. At Stourport the markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, said to have been established in
1768, were at first well attended, especially in the
hop season, but they are now almost extinct. There
were also fairs on the first Tuesdays in April, July
and October. (fn. 219)
The Grammar School was founded by charter,
1636; but it may have originated in the school held
in St. Mary's Chantry. (fn. 220)
Pearsall's Endowed Grammar School, founded in
1795, is now merged in the 'New Meeting' Schools.
There is a High School for Girls in the Chester
Road. In addition to the Science and Art Schools
there are seventeen elementary schools in Kidderminster and its hamlets, while Stourport has five and
Wribbenhall three.
Some names of interest are Burlasshe, Conyngeshall
and the Rose and Crown (temp. Charles II), Crossof-the-Hands and Spout Inns.
Beyond the town itself lies the extensive parish of
which it is the centre. Numerous outlying hamlets
and farms represent the sixteen berewicks of the
Domesday Survey. Two of these lay at Ribbesford
across the Severn; the sites of three others—Bristitune, Fastochesfeld and Teulesberge—remain
unknown.
The eastern arm of the parish contains Wannerton,
still (as in 1086) no more than an isolated farm, and
Hurcott, a hall with manorial rights of its own. (fn. 221)
Near Hurcott, in a commanding position, stands
Park Hall, the residence of Mr. G. E. Wilson, J.P.
South of Hurcott and Park Hall the parish is
traversed by the Birmingham road and the Oxford,
Worcester and Wolverhampton branch of the Great
Western railway, and beyond these are the fertile
fields and pasture-lands of the Little Dunclent,
Offmoor and Comberton Farms.
Comberton itself is a residential district of Kidderminster which lies along the main road to Bromsgrove. Comberton Hall (fn. 222) is in the occupation of
Mr. R. Howard Krause. It dates from about the
year 1600. The house has been much altered by
the removal of its curvilinear gables and the addition
of bay windows, but retains generally its original
plan of central hall with rooms on both sides, its
old heavy beams, some of which are encased, and
at the top of the stairway a moulded handrail and
turned balusters of the early 18th century. At the
back are the original brick stables with curvilinear
gables.
Aggborough Farm lies on the hill-side between
Comberton and the Stour, near the old Worcester
road and the hamlet of Hoobrook, where there is a
(now disused) paper-mill.
The low lands near the Worcester road, and
indeed the whole valley of the Stour, are liable to
floods, except in the town itself, where the stream is
for the most part walled in. Such inundations frequently gave rise to 'malignant fevers' in the 18th
century, (fn. 223) when many of the Kidderminster weavers
lived in 'small nasty' houses along the river-side; but
the townspeople declared that the high death-rate was
due to smallpox. (fn. 224) The town, however, was thoroughly
drained in 1872–3.
The road to Stourport following the river skirts
Sutton Common, the 'Sudtone' of Domesday, near
which is said to have been 'Sudwale,' (fn. 225) and, leaving on
the left Brinton Park, given to the town in 1887
by Mr. John Brinton, D.L., J.P., formerly M.P.,
leads through Foley Park, a rapidly growing suburb
of substantial houses, villas and small shops.
Beyond lies Oldington, another berewick; its woods
extend from the road to the river-side. Oldington
Farm, the probable site of the manor-house, stands
back from the road. It has been converted into a
sewage farm.
Stourport lies about the junction of the Stour and
Severn, and is approached through Upper Mitton,
formerly a part of Hartlebury parish. It is a town
consisting mostly of modern houses, grouping generally on the road from the iron bridge over the
Severn, which passes northward through Bridge Street,
High Street and Lombard Street, and reaches the
north end of the town in Foundry Street. In
Lombard Street there is a fine square brick chimney,
which rises to a great height, with perfectly plain
sides, gradually diminishing in size. In 1863 Lower
Mitton with Stourport adopted the Local Government Act of 1858, (fn. 226) uniting to form a local board
of health, and in 1894 Lower and Upper Mitton
were combined in the single urban district of Stourport. (fn. 227)
The town of Stourport grew up in consequence of
Brindley's choice of the junction of the two rivers for
the basin of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire
Canal. The three great basins of the canal are the
main feature of the town. There are large iron and
carpet works built on the banks of the Stour. Green
meadows sloping down to the left bank of the Severn
form a pleasant contrast to the crowded shops and
warehouses of the High Street and Bridge Street.
The iron bridge was erected about 1870 to replace
one which dated from about 1806. (fn. 228)
Lower Mitton is of older date than Stourport. It
consists of a few scattered houses on the Wribbenhall
road parallel with the Severn. Overlooking the
river are Moor Hall, the residence of Mr. J. Brinton,
and Lickhill Manor House, the seat of the ancient
family of Folliott until the early part of the last
century, when it became the property of the Craven
family. (fn. 229)
On the way from Lower Mitton to Wribbenhall
is Blackstone Rock, a massive sandstone cliff overlooking
the river. A cave cut in its face is known as the
Blackstone Hermitage.
Wribbenhall, another of the Domesday berewicks,
a picturesque village on the Birmingham and Coventry
road, is clustered about the bridge of Bewdley, where
the main road to Birmingham crosses the Severn.
The men of Kidderminster Foreign had to repair
Wribbenhall bridge. (fn. 230) The older cottages with
terraced gardens on the high banks of the Kidderminster road and the gabled houses facing the river
are fast being replaced by modern villas, for Wribbenhall is practically a suburb of Bewdley, and since the
construction of the Severn Valley Line about 1859 (fn. 231)
it has afforded the only approach to that town by rail.
Wribbenhall was constituted a separate civil parish
in 1901. (fn. 232)
On the outskirts of Wribbenhall is the small hamlet
of Catchem's End, which is said to have been the limit
of the sanctuary of Bewdley. (fn. 233) Beyond is the large
park of Spring Grove, the residence of Mr. Thomas
Wakefield Binyon, J.P.
When the high ground on the left bank of the
Severn above Wribbenhall is reached the Bunter
Pebble Beds, upon which lies the greater part of the
parish, give way to a portion of the Forest of Wyre
coalfield. The Coal Measures are covered by North
Wood and Eymore Wood, east of which is a sill of
basalt extending to Warshill Wood, where a ridge of
breccia occurs. (fn. 234)
At North Wood a house with land was acquired by
the Prior of Great Malvern about 1318. (fn. 235) Park Attwood, long the property of the Attwood family, (fn. 236) lies
in the northern part of the parish. Local legend
relates that a crusading member of the family, miraculously brought back from prison in a trance, delayed the
fulfilment of a vow to devote his life to the protection
of the Holy Sepulchre. He returned from a second
imprisonment ragged and in chains, and was recognized by a faithful dog just in time to prevent the
re-marriage of his despairing wife. The galloping of
his horse and rattling of his chains are said to be still
heard near Park Attwood. (fn. 237)
The chapelry of Trimpley marks the site of another
of the Domesday berewicks. It consists of scattered
farms and a few cottages lying near the road from
Park Attwood to Kidderminster. The open common
upon which the tenants of Trimpley Manor have
common of pasture lies on either side of the road.
During the last century it was planted with fine
poplars by members of the Chillingworth family, (fn. 238)
and in the midst are the grounds of Trimpley House,
the residence of Mr. Arnold Crane Rogers.
The road leads eastwards over Ridgstone Rock about
400 ft. above sea level. Thence is obtained a perfect
panorama of the county, stretching eastwards to the
Clent and the Lickey Hills and southwards to Worcester
and Great Malvern. The steep incline below descends
by the rough natural steps of 'Jacob's Ladder' into
the wood and heathland of Habberley Valley, broken
by a quaint peak called the Pekket Rock.
Low Habberley is a hamlet on the left of the road
facing the present manor-house, while High Habberley
lies on the cross-road leading to Catchem's End.
The existence of one Habberley only is recorded in
1086, unless either hamlet is to be identified with
one of the neighbouring berewicks of Franche.
Franche is a village 1 mile from the town of
Kidderminster, and with its church, schools and
club lies on either side of the Bewdley to Stourbridge
road, extending from the cross-roads at Honeybrook
Terrace to Franche Hall, built by Mr. Michael
Tomkinson.
MANORS
The lepers of Maiden Bradley acquired the manors of COMBERTON
(Cumbrintun, xiii cent.; Comerton,
Cumberton, xiii–xix cent.) and OLDINGTON
(Aldintone, xi cent.; Oldinton, xiii–xiv cent.;
Oldington, xv cent.) in the 13th century. Manasser
Biset (d. about 1186) had enfeoffed Sir Ralph de Auxeville of these, together with Mitton Mill, and a rent-charge on the great mill of the manor, (fn. 239) and Sir Ralph
had granted them piecemeal to the priory, partly
in consideration of the payment of his ransom of
100 marks, (fn. 240) and partly for the welfare of his own
soul and that of his lord, Henry Biset. (fn. 241) Already
the prior had rights in Kidderminster Church (q.v.)
of the gift of Manasser Biset.
From others the priory acquired various houses
and pieces of land in the town, (fn. 242) and Margaret
sister of Henry Biset, who built herself a house within
the priory court in order to live a life of contemplation, gave rents in Kidderminster, assigned to her by
her brother. (fn. 243) John Rivers of Burgate subsequently
exchanged one-third of Kidderminster Manor with
the same priory.
The prior's reeve had charge of the whole estate
during the 13th and 14th centuries. (fn. 244) He collected
rents and enforced services, kept the houses in repair,
supervised the sale of wood (which in one year
included as many as fifty-one oaks), provided for the
wants of the prior when he visited the 'halls' of
Oldington or Comberton, presided over the courts
with the aid of a clerk, and disbursed liberal alms to
the poor.
In 1390, however, the prior leased the third part
of the manor of Kidderminster, with Oldington and
Comberton and the tithes of Kidderminster, to
Thomas Mal, chaplain, and John Mal for thirty-four
years, subject to a rent, which was to be increased
later unless 'great pestilence came to those parts.'
Other tenements were also let out on lease. (fn. 245)
It became customary to let the estate for considerable terms of years. (fn. 246) John Blount was collector of
rents, and held the rectory on lease in 1455–6, (fn. 247) and
in 1522 Sir Thomas Blount and his son Edward had
a lease of the whole estate for ninety-seven years. (fn. 248)
Thus the property was little affected by the dissolution of Maiden Bradley Priory in 1535, (fn. 249) or by the
subsequent grant of the rights of the priory to John
Dudley, the Great Admiral of England, Viscount
Lisle, and afterwards Duke of Northumberland, (fn. 250) then
embarrassed by debts incurred in the king's service at
Boulogne (fn. 251) (1544).
When in 1553 Northumberland was attainted and
executed for his attempt to secure the throne for his
daughter-in-law, the Lady Jane Grey, his lands were
forfeited to the Crown, and in February 1559–60
Thomas Blount (said to be the grandson of the former
lessee of 1522) (fn. 252) purchased all the property in
Kidderminster which had formerly belonged to Maiden
Bradley Priory. (fn. 253)
Thomas Blount died on 28 November 1568, (fn. 254) and
was buried in the parish church. His son, Sir
Edward Blount, kt., married (firstly) Mary Nevill,
sister of Edward Lord Bergavenny, (fn. 255) and from him
obtained a lease of the remainder of the original
manor of Kidderminster. (fn. 256) In 1603 Sir Edward
settled the reversion of his portion of the manor contingent upon his death on his kinsman Charles
(Blount) Lord Mountjoy, who bequeathed his rights
to his wife Penelope and her son Mountjoy Blount,
afterwards created Earl of Newport. (fn. 257)
Sir Edward Blount died in 1630. In 1634 the
Earl of Newport, then Master of the Ordnance, sold
his estate at Kidderminster to Edmund Waller (fn. 258) the
poet, who (either to raise money for the fine which
purchased his safety after the discovery of his 'plot'
against the Long Parliament, or to provide funds
during his exile in France) split up the estate, selling
it in three portions.
Daniel Dobbyns, a merchant of London, who was
related to Waller by marriage, (fn. 259) purchased the 'fair
house next the church' (fn. 260) and the manorial rights,
apparently including Comberton. Dobbyns's house
was pulled down shortly before 1782. (fn. 261) The site is
now the property of the vicar. (fn. 262) Dobbyns reconveyed the 'moiety of the manor,' and possibly the
manor of Comberton, to Waller, who sold it about 1652
with Comberton to Adam Hough and Thomas
Hunt. (fn. 263) Adam Hough's descendant of the same
name sold the 'manor of Comberton' to Samuel
Steward c. 1772. (fn. 264) In this family it remained until
about 1832. (fn. 265) It was bequeathed by two sisters and
co-heirs, Mary Anne wife of Henry Evans and
Charlotte Elizabeth Steward, to their kinsman Henry
Steward Oldnall-Russell in tail. His son John Edwin
took the name of Russell-Oldnall. Comberton is now
the property of his brother Captain Roger William
Oldnall of Stone (fn. 266) (q.v.).
It is not clear whether Oldington was sold to
Daniel Dobbyns or not. It was certainly severed
from Comberton by 1656, when William Bromhall
and his wife Anne, Thomas Cowett and his wife
Anne, John Somers (probably the father of the great
chancellor) (fn. 267) and his wife Catherine, Francis Walker
and Richard Whettall conveyed it to Thomas Foley,
who was then sheriff of the county. (fn. 268)
It was thus among the first acquisitions of Thomas
Foley in Kidderminster. It descended with the
Foley estate till its purchase by the trustees of Lord
Ward. (fn. 269) It is still the property of the Earl of Dudley.
The 'hall' at Oldington appears to have been the
principal dwelling-house attached to the estate of
Maiden Bradley Priory in Kidderminster. In 1281 a
lock was bought for the door of a room in the hall,
and thirty cuttings (inserti) for the lord's garden. (fn. 270) It
was at Oldington that the vicar paid his yearly rent. (fn. 271)
In 1281 the prior had another hall at Kidderminster which may have been on the site either of
Comberton Hall or of the house near the churchyard. (fn. 272)
The manor of CALDWALL (Caldewell, xiii cent.;
Caldewall, xv cent.; or Cawdewall, xvi cent.) was
held of the Prior of Maiden Bradley (fn. 273) in the 14th
century. Possibly it was included in the lands given
to the priory by John Rivers, for Henry 'of Caldwall' was one of the witnesses of his grants. (fn. 274)
Of its subinfeudation nothing is known. Henry
of Caldwall settled a life interest in two messuages
and land in Kidderminster, Caldwall and Franche
upon William de Verdun and his wife Margery in
1248–9. (fn. 275) A Henry of Caldwall was a tenant of the
prior in 1283–4. (fn. 276) The tenant in 1327 was evidently
Hugh Cooksey of Cooksey in Upton Warren (fn. 277) (q.v.).
In 1330 he acquired the services of a bondman of
the lord of Kidderminster Biset, (fn. 278) and in 1335 he
had a grant of free warren at Caldwall. (fn. 279) He also
held the manor of Kidderminster Biset (q.v.) on
lease. About 1376 Caldwall was the property of
Denise widow of Hugh Cooksey. (fn. 280)
For two centuries the history of this manor was
identical with that of Cooksey, being inherited by
Roger Winter, kinsman of
Joyce Beauchamp, sister and
heir of the Sir Hugh Cooksey,
kt., who had died in 1445. (fn. 281)
Roger Winter's grandson
George Winter sold Caldwall
in 1589 to Francis Clare, (fn. 282)
son of Simon Clare, lord of
Over Mitton. Francis Clare
died at Caldwall, 8 June
1608. (fn. 283) His son and heir,
Sir Ralph Clare, kt., was a
zealous supporter of the king
and the most bitter opponent
of Baxter. He took a prominent part in the defence of
Worcester, 1642, but his presence there in 1651 is
doubtful. (fn. 284) Baxter describes him as a courtier noted
for his eminent civility and a churchman very zealous
for conformity, the ruler of the vicar and of all
business at Kidderminster. (fn. 285) His brother and heir
Francis Clare was a captain of foot in the service of
Charles I, and died in 1680. (fn. 286) His son Francis
evidently succeeded to the manor. (fn. 287) It seems to
have remained in the Clare family until 1777, when
Antony Deane the younger, nephew of Francis Clare
of Henwick in Hallow, sold it to Matthew Jeffries
of Kidderminster and Thomas Jeffries of London,
goldsmith. (fn. 288)
Clare of Caldwall. Or three cheverons gules and a border engrailed azure.
In 1897 the estate was purchased by the corporation from the trustees of George Turton. (fn. 289)
The park possibly dated from the grant of free
warren to Hugh Cooksey in 1335.
Caldwall Castle stands on the low-lying land at
the south end of the town. The site is bounded on
the north-east and south-east by the Stour, which
here takes a small bend. Of the mediaeval building
only one octagonal tower remains, but this was added
to in the latter part of the 17th century by the erection of a three-story brick building on the north-west.
Beyond this a low castellated extension was built in
the 19th century, containing a few offices. The
original tower is built of red sandstone, is three
stories high with an embattled parapet, and appears
to have been erected early in the 15th century. The
stonework on the outside is much decayed and
greatly overgrown with ivy, while the interior of the
two upper floors has been considerably modernized.
In the north corner is a vice going the full height of
the tower and crowned with an embattled parapet
and a stone roof. The ground floor-now a basement—retains its original stone vault, the ribs springing
from small moulded corbels and meeting in a boss
carved with a lion's face. In the north-west wall is
a pointed doorway, now leading up a few steps into
the 17th-century addition. The vice opens, by an
ogee-headed door, from the north side of the opening
cut through the wall to this doorway. In the north-east wall are the jambs and pointed rear arch of an
original opening, through which a modern doorway
has been cut, while in the south wall is a three-centred opening in which are three steps leading up
to the outside, but externally this is blocked up. In
the west wall is a square-headed cupboard, divided in
front by a central stone post, the jambs, head and sill
being rebated for doors.
The upper floors are much modernized, but the
second retains a late 16th-century window with four
lights and a transom.
The road which runs along the north side of the
castle is only a little below the level of the first floor
and comes right up to the tower walls. (fn. 290)
The staircase of the 17th-century addition was
erected immediately against the tower and has moulded
handrails and strings and heavy twisted balusters.
The newels are square and have moulded cappings
crowned with spherical finials and large acorn-shaped
drops. Sash windows have been inserted throughout
the addition, with the exception of the two upper
floors fronting the road, where the original wooden
transomed and mullioned window frames, fitted with
iron casements, have been retained. Two chimney
stacks have been carried up on the north-west wall
through the centres of two stepped gables. The roof
is tiled.
The reputed manor of EYMORE (Eymer, xvii
cent.) evidently originated in Edward Burnell's gift
of 160 acres of wood, parcel of the manor of Kidderminster Burnell, to the Prior and convent of Worcester (circa 1312). (fn. 291) Shortly afterwards the prior
had licence to impark his land at Kidderminster. (fn. 292)
When the endowment of the priory was bestowed
upon the dean and chapter (fn. 293) in January 1541–2
the lands in Eymore and Kidderminster were included. (fn. 294)
After the abolition of the chapter by the Long
Parliament, Eymore was purchased (1649) by John
Corbyn, the dean's lessee, for over £3,000. (fn. 295) The
dean and chapter recovered their lands at the
Restoration, and Eymore remained in their possession
until 1861, when it was purchased by Mr. Edward
Crane of Broom, who bequeathed it to his nephew,
Mr. Arnold Crane Rogers of Trimple)
House. (fn. 296)
HABBERLEY (Haburgelei, x
cent.; Haberlegh, xiii cent.
Haburley, xvi cent.), (fn. 297) a Domesday
'berewick' of Kidderminster, lay at
least in part within the main manor
of Kidderminster (fn. 298) ; but Francis
Clare is recorded to have possessed a
separate 'manor' of Habberley in
1606, (fn. 299) part of which may have been
the land in Habberley which formerly
belonged to the chantry of St. Katherine in Kidderminster Church and
was granted to Simon Clare after its
suppression. (fn. 300) It subsequently descended with Caldwall Manor (q.v.)
to Matthew and Thomas Jeffries
Reversionary rights were purchased
by Thomas Crane of Habberley and
Bewdley, who died 12 December
1824. Shortly before his death he
made over the property to his nephew
John Crane, who died in 1866, leaving Habberley to his youngest brother
Henry Crane. Upon the latter's death
in 1882 it descended to his son,
Mr. John Henry Crane, of 'Oakhampton,' Stourport, the present
owner.
The original manor-house was
burnt down in 1718; it stood on
the site of the present Low Habberley Farm and had been occupied by
the Crane family since or before 1563.
Of late years the tenant of Habberley House has
called it the 'Manor House.' There seems no basis
for a local tradition that an old house occupied by
Mrs. Miller was at one time the manor-house. (fn. 301)
The reputed manor of HEATHY (Hetheye, xiii
cent.; Dunclent Hethey, xiv cent.) lies near Dunclent on the borders of the parish of Stone. In
1275 Thomas Attwood granted a messuage, carucate
of land and 2 marks rent in Heathy to Robert
Attwood for life. (fn. 302) This was possibly identical with
the quarter of a knight's fee in Dunclent which was
held by Stephen Attwood (de Bosco) and subsequently passed to Avice Dunclent, 1346. (fn. 303)
The manor was held of Lord Bergavenny, 1544, (fn. 304)
and therefore was doubtless a sub-manor of Kidderminster Biset or Burnell.
In 1524 John Hore and his wife Margaret conveyed the manor of Heathy to Gilbert Clare, Simon
Rice and others with warrant against the heirs of
Margaret. (fn. 305) Two-thirds of the manor subsequently
came into the possession of Thomas Hey, and after
his death in 1543 was divided between his three
daughters, Elizabeth wife of Thomas Browne,
Margaret wife of Peter Romney, and Joan Hey. (fn. 306)
Caldwall Castle from the North
The portion assigned to Elizabeth Browne descended to her son William, (fn. 307) who in 1574 conveyed
it to Humphrey Doolittle of Stone. (fn. 308) His son John
Doolittle had livery of it in 1583, (fn. 309) but died in
January 1585–6, leaving an infant son John. (fn. 310) In
1607 this John had livery of his father's estate. (fn. 311) Its
later history is unknown.
The portion of Heathy assigned to Margaret
Romney was held after her death by her husband,
and descended in 1577 to their son William. (fn. 312) In
1627 William and Paul Romney conveyed their
interest in the manor of Heathy to Edward Broad
of Dunclent, (fn. 313) who sold it with Dunclent (fn. 314) to
Thomas Foley. (fn. 315)
The estate subsequently descended with that of
Great Witley (q.v.), and is now the property of Lord
Dudley.
The later history of the portion assigned to Joan
Hey is unknown.
HURCOTT (Worcote, xi cent.; Hurecot, xiii cent.;
Hurcott or Huthcott, xvii cent.) was a berewick of
Kidderminster in 1086. (fn. 316)
The manor appears to have belonged for a considerable time to the successive incumbents, possibly
since the time of Robert of Hurcott, who was rector
when Manasser Biset (d. circa 1186) gave the church
to Maiden Bradley Priory. (fn. 317)
In 1211, when Adam of Hurcott was vicar, Thomas
Esturmi quitclaimed to the Prior of Maiden Bradley
and to the church of Kidderminster all his rights in
2 virgates at Hurcott. (fn. 318) Robert son of Adam of
Hurcott released his rights in the whole 'vill' to the
vicar of Kidderminster and his successors in 1235. (fn. 319)
In the 14th century Hurcott Hall was the dwelling-place of the vicars. Their house with the demesne
lands and fish-ponds was worth 40s., the rent from
bond tenants 58s. 3d., the mill 20s. and pleas of
court 18d. (fn. 320)
When in 1335 the vicarage was re-ordained
Hurcott was not included in the vicar's portion, but
was assigned to the Prior of Maiden Bradley. In
1340, however, Sir John de la Doune, the newly
inducted vicar, obtained from the bishop an appropriation more favourable to himself, especially stipulating
that the vicar should enjoy 'the manor of Hurcott
where the rectors were formerly accustomed to
reside.' (fn. 321) Subsequent ordinances (fn. 322) seem to have
again deprived the vicar of the manor of Hurcott.
About 1449 the Prior of Maiden Bradley let it to
farm to the mother of Thomas Everdon. (fn. 323)
It remained in the possession of the prior and
passed with his other estates in Kidderminster to
Edmund Waller the poet. He sold Hurcott to
William Walsh of Abberley. (fn. 324) It appears to have
been purchased by George Evelyn, brother of the
diarist, John Evelyn. The latter bought it from his
brother 27 June 1648, and sold it six months later
at a profit of £100 to Colonel John Bridges, (fn. 325) who
also purchased the jointure of Lady Mary widow of
Sir Edward Blount in Kidderminster. (fn. 326)
Colonel Bridges was 'a prudent pious gentleman'
who lived at Kidderminster and supported Baxter's
work there. (fn. 327) In 1662 he sold the manor to Thomas
Foley, (fn. 328) with whose estate at Great Witley it has
since descended.
LOWER MITTON
(fn. 329) was a berewick of Kidderminster in 1086. (fn. 330) Its early history is obscure; but
it was clearly separate from Over Mitton by 1280,
when the one township was styled Mitton was the
other Mitton Walter. (fn. 331) Lower Mitton was the
property of the Lygon family during the 16th century,
and probably at an earlier date. Thomas Lygon died
in 1507 holding two messuages in Lickhill and Lower
Mitton. (fn. 332) He left a son Richard. A Richard Lygon
died seised of the 'manor of Mitton' in 1556. (fn. 333) His
son William Lygon held the manor of 'Nethermytton' in 1560. (fn. 334) He was evidently succeeded by
Richard Lygon, whose son William ultimately inherited the manor. (fn. 335) Sir William Lygon, kt., is said
to have sold to every tenant the inheritance of his
tenement. (fn. 336) This was probably the Sir William
Lygon who in 1616 with his wife Elizabeth sold the
manor to James Clent or Clint. (fn. 337)
Miles Clent and his wife Dorothy conveyed it to
Thomas the second Lord Folliott, governor of Londonderry in 1662. (fn. 338) In March 1716–17 the barony
of Folliott became extinct by the death of Henry the
third Lord Folliott, only son and heir of the above
Thomas. (fn. 339) Lower Mitton and Lickhill were inherited
by his niece Rebecca wife of Arthur Lugg (who died
at Lickhill in 1726) and daughter of Anne Soley, sister
of Henry Lord Folliott. (fn. 340) In 1740 Rebecca Lugg,
then a widow, made over the property to her 'kinsman
John Folliott in consideration of her natural love and
affection . . . and for his advancement in point of
fortune,' reserving to herself for life the occupancy of
Lickhill Manor House. He was lieutenant-colonel
of the regiment of horse commanded by Lord
Cathcart, and in 1750 devised his Worcestershire
estates to Captain John Folliott of the Royal Hospital,
near Dublin, with successive remainders to the latter's
second son John, and eldest son Francis, in tail.
Captain John Folliott entered upon the estate in 1762,
and was succeeded by John his second son, who died
at Lickhill unmarried in January 1814. The estate
then descended to John Folliott of Sligo, grandson of
Francis Folliott, and a minor. He resided mostly in
Ireland, and represented the county of Sligo in Parliament. In 1822 he barred the entail on the
Worcestershire property, and subsequently sold the
Lickhill Estate with its manors of Lower Mitton and
Lickhill to Joseph Craven, J.P., of Steeton in Craven,
co. Yorks.
Joseph Craven died 30 March 1867, having
devised his Worcestershire property to his younger
son John William Craven. The latter died in
Scotland 12 October 1871, and the estate is now the
property of his posthumous son, Mr. Campbell J.
Craven. (fn. 341)
LICKHILL, also the property of Mr. Campbell J.
Craven, has been accounted parcel of the Lower
Mitton estate at least since 1429, when Robert
Nelme of Worcester, who had in right of his wife
Agnes the reversion of two messuages, a carucate of
land, 6 acres of meadow and 11 marks rent in 'Leykhill,' Kidderminster, and Lower Mitton upon the
death of Margaret wife of Walter Corbet, conveyed
his title to Thomas Lygon, Thomas Heuster and
others. (fn. 342) In 1507 Thomas Lygon's holding at
Lower Mitton included a messuage at Lickhill. (fn. 343)
Lickhill Manor House has long been the capital
mansion of the Lower Mitton and Lickhill estate,
and has been successively occupied by the Folliott
and Craven families and their tenants. The house
is of red brick, and is situated on the banks of the
Severn between Stourport and Bewdley. It contains a fine oak staircase and some panelled rooms.
During the time the Folliotts occupied it some choice
tapestry covered the walls of the drawing-room.
John Folliott, M.P., before referred to, removed the
tapestry and Folliott family portraits to Hollybrook
House, Sligo, his Irish seat, where they can still be
seen.
At WRIBBENHALL the monks of Worcester had
a small estate, which they asserted had been given to
their monastery by King Offa. (fn. 344) It was assigned to
the cellarer towards providing firewood for the use of
the monks. (fn. 345) Its subsequent history is uncertain;
possibly it was included in the land at Kidderminster
and Eymore with which the dean and chapter was
endowed in 1542. (fn. 346)
PARK ATTWOOD evidently originated in the
licence granted in 1362 to John Attwood of Wolverley, the king's yeoman, to inclose 600 acres in
his demesne lands at Kidderminster and Wolverley. (fn. 347)
The reputed manor of Park Attwood remained in the
Attwood family at least till 1595. (fn. 348) In 1661 John
Attwood had rights in a considerable estate in Wolverley and Park Attwood, (fn. 349) and a John Attwood
seems to have dealt with the manor in 1685. (fn. 350) The
greater part of Park Attwood was purchased about
1797 by Henry Chillingworth of Holt Castle, and
remained in the family until its recent sale by
Lieut.-Col. William Henry Chillingworth. Thomas
Hessin Charles, barrister-at-law, purchased the manor
and lands of Park Attwood in 1912. (fn. 351)
TRIMPLEY (Trinpelei, xi cent.; Trimpelei,
xiv cent.) was a berewick of Kidderminster in 1086, (fn. 352)
and was probably the fee in Kidderminster granted
by Manasser Biset to Stephen Attwood. (fn. 353) It descended to his grandson John
Attwood in 1294, (fn. 354) and land
at Trimpley remained in the
Attwood family until the end
of the 16th century. (fn. 355) The
manorial rights were probably
absorbed in those of Park
Attwood.
Attwood. Gules a lion argent with a forked tail.
Henry Chillingworth
bought the bulk of the Trimpley estates about 1797. They
remained with his descendants
until recent times, when
William Henry Chillingworth
sold Trimpley to Mr. Mills,
whose daughter Mrs. Hudson is the present owner.
WANNERTON (Wenuerton, xi cent.; Wenfertone, xiii cent.; Wenforton or Wannerton, xvi cent.)
is a reputed manor. It was one of the berewicks of
Kidderminster in 1086, (fn. 356) and appeared as a separate
hamlet on the Subsidy Roll of 1280. (fn. 357)
Three generations of the Wannerton family are
said to have been lords of Wannerton during the
15th century. (fn. 358) John Wannerton, whose father and
grandfather lived here, had a son John Wannerton of
Worfield, co. Salop, whose daughter and heir Jane
married Sir George Bromley, kt., justiciar of Chester. (fn. 359)
The manor of Wannerton apparently formed her
marriage portion. (fn. 360) She outlived her husband and
settled Wannerton upon her grandson Thomas
Bromley of Bridgnorth, who died without issue
20 February 1609–10. (fn. 361) He had settled the manor
on his widow Eleanor, but it afterwards reverted to
Sir Edward Bromley of Sheriff Hales, son of Sir George
and Dame Jane, in accordance with the will of
Thomas Bromley. (fn. 362) In 1677 William Bromley was
in possession, (fn. 363) and in 1683 he conveyed Wannerton
to Thomas Foley. (fn. 364) The manor has since descended
with the Great Witley estate (q.v.).