CLEEVE PRIOR
Clyve (xi cent.); Clive Prioris (xiii cent.); Priors
Cleve (xvi cent.).
'Clive surnamed Prior, seated in the fruytful Vale
of Evesham and the large spredinge medows of the
ryver Avon, runneth out as a foreland between the
countys of Gloucester and Warwicke.' (fn. 1) The parish
lies mainly on the left bank of the Avon, but a part
of the north-west boundary is formed by the Arrow,
about 100 acres of land known as Worcester Meadows,
on the right bank of the Avon, being thus included.
The village of Cleeve Prior stands about a quarter of
a mile from the river, backed by the long low ridge
of Cleeve Hill with its crest of trees. A road, locally
said to be Roman, (fn. 2) runs along the length of the
ridge to Marlcliff Hill in the north-eastern corner of
the parish; the hamlet of Marlcliff lies just beyond
the eastern border in Warwickshire. The boundary
here coincides for an unusual distance with the limits
of various fields, though in this respect the southern
border is even more remarkable, lying as it does
entirely along the edges of the fields in an almost
straight line. Possibly it marks the end of the old
common lands inclosed in 1775. (fn. 3) The parish contains about 1,521 acres of land, of which 685 are
arable and 711 under permanent grass. (fn. 4) The soil is
clay and the subsoil lower lias, (fn. 5) and the chief crops
are wheat, barley and beans.
An old road runs from the Icknield Street through
Marlcliff to Cleeve Prior and enters the village close
to the 'King's Arms,' where the beehive yew-tree and
quaintly cut bird above the hedge emulate the glory
of the 'Prior's Garden' at the manor-house.
The older houses and cottages of Cleeve Prior are
built of limestone quarried in the neighbourhood,
and their rubble walls present a marked contrast to
the half-timber construction elsewhere so abundant.
On the north-east of the church, which stands in a
large churchyard surrounded by stone walls, is the
manor-house, a T-shaped two-storied building of
Elizabethan and earlier date, with its principal front
towards the east. The oldest portion appears to be
the entrance hall, with the apartments on the south
side, the walls of which, though plastered inside and
out, seem to be half-timber. The house probably
assumed its present shape towards the end of the 16th
century, when the north wing, containing, on the
ground floor, the kitchen and offices, appears to have
been remodelled and an entrance porch added at the
south-east of the hall; perhaps, also, the rooms at the
south end belong to this period. All this later work
is of stone rubble masonry; the windows, where
left in their original form, have stone mullions. In
the north wing, approached from a lobby opening
into the hall, is a staircase of original Elizabethan
date. In the old court room, opening out of the
hall on the south, is some panelling of the same
date. now painted and grained. A second staircase
leads out of this room, entered by a door in the
panelling at the side of the chimney stack in its
south wall. The hall appears to have been repaired
internally in the first half of the 18th century, to
which date the bold marble architrave of the fireplace belongs. There is also good panelling of the
same period in the room at the east end of the north
wing. Under one of the floors there is a hiding hole
where Thomas Bushell is said to have been concealed
for many months in 1650. The most interesting
feature from an architectural point of view is the two-storied Elizabethan entrance porch on the east side.
The side walls are of rubble, but the front wall is of
ashlar work in a remarkably good state of preservation. The outer doorway has a semicircular head
with slightly sunk spandrel panels, each occupied by
a bust in high relief. The head of the bust in the
left-hand spandrel has been broken off. Over the
head of the doorway is an entablature, supported by
three carved consoles, the frieze enriched with human
heads and lions' heads alternately. The room over
the porch has a stone-mullioned and transomed
window of four lights with a moulded sill, beneath
which is a delicately modelled strapwork panel inscribed 'DWE+ETTE+MW | NE+DROITE' (Dieu et
mon droit). The whole is surmounted by a gable
with bracketed kneelers and moulded coping, crowned
by the figure of a winged boy. The entrance doorway within the porch has a moulded wood frame and
straight-sided four-centred head with foliated spandrels.
The door itself is a fine specimen of 16th-century
joinery. A magnificent avenue of clipped yews,
known as the 'Apostles and Evangelists,' borders the
flagged path leading to this entrance. In the yard
on this side of the house are some stone stables with
external stairs of the same material leading to the loft
above. From the detail of the woodwork remaining,
these appear to be of early 16th-century date. On
the north side of the house is a circular pigeon-house
of stone in excellent preservation.
On the east side of the road which leads out of the
village past the rectory in the direction of Marlcliff is a
stone house, now an inn, with the sign of the 'King's
Arms,' and in the gable is inscribed the date 1691
with the initials W.A. At the western extremity of
the village, on the north side of the main street, is an
interesting stone house, dated 1691, and formerly the
residence of the Charlett family, but now derelict and
used as a store-house for farm purposes. It is of two
stories with an attic story in the roof; each floor
contains two rooms, one on either side of the staircase, which is in the centre of the house. The room
at the east end of the ground floor has a stone fireplace with a moulded four-centred head and jambs,
and on the walls is a good plaster frieze, unfortunately
in an advanced state of decay. In the room above is
a fireplace of similar form. The handrail of the stairs
appears to be of the 18th century. The house is
gabled at each end and the single ridge-roof by
which it is crowned is covered with stone slates. The
windows throughout are mullioned, the attics being
lighted by windows in the end gables and the staircase landing on this floor by stone dormers. The
building is remarkable as an almost unaltered example
of a small early 17th-century house. To the west of
this, on the brow of Cleeve Hill, overlooking the
valley of the Avon, is the base of an octagonal cross,
probably of the 14th century. (fn. 6) Cleeve Mill, by the
River Avon, is chiefly interesting from the beauty of
its surroundings. The older portion of the building,
which appears to be of the 17th century, is of stone,
and in the gable of this part are pigeon-cells. The
channels in which the mill-wheels work, or rather
used to work, for it is no longer in active use, are
covered by arched roofs of stone rubble masonry. A
later addition has been made of brick.
The following place-names occur in local records:
Burgerd, (fn. 7) Styacre, Pewytelowe (fn. 8) (xiii cent.); Lowes
and Waye, Blackberd, Forendell-in-the-Moor, Prutz
and Rysam (fn. 9) (xvi cent.).
The Barnt Green, Evesham and Ashchurch
Branch of the Midland railway touches the north-west corner of the parish. The nearest station is
Salford Priors, about a mile and a half from the
village on the opposite side of the Avon.
MANOR
The monastery of Worcester held land
at CLEEVE PRIOR in early times; the
monastic chartulary credits Ethelred with
the gift. (fn. 10) In 1086 the church held in Cleeve Prior
and Atch Lench 10½ hides, of which 2 hides less
1 virgate were waste, (fn. 11) but by the time of the survey
of Oswaldslow (1108–18) the assessment of this
holding had been reduced to 10 hides. (fn. 12)
King John came to Worcester in January 1207,
and, after a solemn procession, prayed at the tomb of
St. Wulfstan until Prior Ralf of Evesham, thinking
the king's mind sufficiently softened for benevolence,
came to him asking for liberties in Cleeve and three
other manors, (fn. 13) which John granted, though not
until he had received 100 marks and a palfrey. (fn. 14)
In 1220 a violent quarrel arose between the
Worcester monastery and their bishop, William of
Blois, who deposed Simon the prior and put in his
own nominee, William Norman. (fn. 15) Eventually, however, it was agreed, by the mediation of the archbishop, that William of Blois should appoint another
prior from outside the Worcester community, and
that the convent should grant the manor of Cleeve
Prior as compensation to William Norman for his
life. (fn. 16) He died in 1233, and the estate then reverted
to the prior and convent, (fn. 17) in whose possession it
remained until the Dissolution. (fn. 18) Henry VIII
granted it to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, (fn. 19)
who continued to be the lords of the manor until
1650, (fn. 20) when it was sold by the Parliamentary Commissioners to Peter Langston. (fn. 21) At the Restoration
the dean and chapter once more became the owners,
and they continued to hold the estate until 1859, (fn. 22)
when it was taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are the present lords of the manor. (fn. 23)
At the time of the Domesday Survey the church
of Worcester held a mill in Cleeve which rendered a
sextaries of honey. (fn. 24) It seems to have been granted
with the manor to William Norman, (fn. 25) but was not
included in the lease made after his death to the men
of the vill (fn. 26) ; in 1237 it was let to the son of Thomas
the miller for his life. (fn. 27) By this time the nature of
the rent had been altered twice at least, and the
changes illustrate the process of commutation. During
the early part of the 13th century the rent was paid
partly in money, and the amount, probably up to
1233, was 3 marks and 40 'stiches' of eels yearly (fn. 28) ;
this was finally altered in the lease of 1237 to a
payment of 1 mark quarterly. (fn. 29)
The history of the mill after this date is difficult
to trace, but Cleeve corn-mill near the ford over the
Avon in the north-west of the parish probably stands
on the same site.
The privileges granted to the monks of Worcester
in Cleeve by King John during his visit to the city in
1207 were very extensive. They included 'soc et
sac, thol et theam et infangenethef cum judicio aque
et ignis et furcarum et ferri, et cum quitancia de visu
thethingarum, et de murdris et misericordiis et cum
omnibus aliis libertatibus et libris consuetudinibus.' (fn. 30)
A grant of free warren in their demesne lands was
obtained by the monks from Henry III in 1256, (fn. 31)
and confirmed to them in 1355 by Edward III. (fn. 32)
An interesting 'custom of the manor from time
out of mind' is mentioned in 1585: if a tenant
seised of any custumary land took a wife and died
during her confinement, the wife had the right of
holding all such custumary lands and tenements for
her life, unless she married again or had surrendered
her estate in the premises of her own free will during
her husband's life. (fn. 33)
In the register of Worcester Priory full details are
given of the tenants holding land in Cleeve under
the prior and of the services due from them in respect
of their holdings in 1240. (fn. 34) During the whole of
the 13th century the work of consolidating the
monastic possessions in Cleeve was actively carried on.
In the reign of John the prior and convent had
granted to William Ruppe for his good service a hide
of land. (fn. 35) This was afterwards let to Richard de
Saunford and Hugh his brother, against whom an
action for the recovery of the land was brought in
1211 by Thomas Ruppe. (fn. 36) The court, however,
held that the prior's charter did not bind him to
warrant to the heirs of William Ruppe, and the land
was left at the disposal of the monastery. (fn. 37) A littlelater the prior and convent obtained a small holding
from Henry de Cleeve, the son of Sweyn de Littleton, (fn. 38) and this gift was afterwards confirmed by
Robert the Franklin and Alice his wife. (fn. 39) In 1240
Hugh de Cleeve did homage for certain lands in the
parish which he held of the prior. (fn. 40) He died about
1240, when his lands passed to his widow Olive, (fn. 41)
who demised them after the death of her son Thomas
to Geoffrey Pipard. (fn. 42) The prior, however, declared
that Thomas had sold the land to him, and brought a
successful action for its recovery against Olive and
Geoffrey. (fn. 43)
More difficult to acquire was a carucate of land
belonging to Robert de Bellewe, which the priory
was anxious to hold in mortmain, but which Robert,
regardless of the health of his soul, seems to have
been most unwilling to sell. In 1293 the convent
tried to obtain licence for this alienation, but the jury
declared that it would be the loss of the king 'because
if the said Robert be hanged the King would have
the year's waste and chattels,' and of the county,
'because if he live on the land he may be useful in
assizes and summonses.' (fn. 44)
Fortunately for the monastery Edward I came to
Worcester in the following year, and the prior,
Philip Aubyn, apparently seized this golden opportunity to coax him into granting the desired licence, (fn. 45)
though even then it was only sub condicionibus satis
duris that the obdurate Robert at last agreed to give
up his land. (fn. 46)
Further grants in mortmain were made to the
monastery during the 14th century by Richard de
Hawkeslowe, (fn. 47) William the Freeman (fn. 48) and Henry
Austen. (fn. 49)
The manor-house and certain lands in Cleeve were
rented from the dean and chapter in the 16th century
by Edward Bushell, the second son of Edward Bushell
of Broad Marston, co. Gloucs. (fn. 50) Thomas Bushell,
the servant and admirer of Francis Bacon, is said to
have been a younger son of this family. (fn. 51) He became
the farmer of the royal mines,
and did the king much service
during the Civil War, having
the so-called silver mines in
Cardiganshire, and coining
money at the mint in Aberystwyth Castle. After the Commonwealth was proclaimed
he went into hiding for a
time, (fn. 52) according to a local
tradition, at Cleeve Prior, but
eventually gave securities for
his good behaviour and obtained a renewal of his lease
of the mines from the Protector. (fn. 53) The manor-house at this time was held by
Anthony Bushell, (fn. 54) a less ardent Royalist who deserted the king's service before the battle of Naseby,
and compounded for his delinquency in 1649. (fn. 55) He
lived to see the Restoration, and in 1662 'post
multa sub regiis vexillis fortiter gesta placide in
Domino obdormivit.' (fn. 56) His descendants were still
in the parish in 1720, (fn. 57) as
tenants of the dean and
chapter, but seem to have
disappeared before the end
of the century. (fn. 58)
Bushell. Argent a cheveron between three water-bougets sable.
Another family that was
established for some time in
the parish was that of Charlett, of whom Habington
says that his 'forefathers
were of Cleeve Prior.' (fn. 59)
Their name occurs in the
16th century, (fn. 60) and they
were still living in the parish
in 1698. (fn. 61) They continued
in other parts of the county
to a much later date.
CHURCH
The church
of ST. ANDREW consists of a chancel 30 ft. by
16 ft., a nave about 40½ ft. by 15¼ ft., a south
transept 16¼ ft. by 11½ ft. and a western tower 12 ft.
square. These measurements are all internal.
The earliest work visible is a 12th-century buttress
at the north-east angle of the nave. It is probably
not in situ, and the details of its rounded angles
suggest the jamb of a chancel arch rather than an
external member. The existing nave, however, is
but little later, dating probably from the first years of
the 13th century, and, from its proportions and the
irregular set-out with regard to the later chancel, may
possibly have been the complete church without a structural chancel. Later in the 13th century the present
chancel and small north and south transepts were
added, the priest's door and chancel windows being
inserted in the following century. The tower dates
from late in the 15th century. After the Reformation the transepts were destroyed, and the present
brick south transept was constructed in the 18th
century. The church has been repaired and restored
in recent years.
The three-light east window of the chancel is
modern and is in the style of the 14th century. The
north-east window has modern tracery, also of 14th-century detail, but the jambs of the reveal are original.
On the south side is a round-headed piscina, and in
the same wall a two-light window, identical with its
counterpart on the north. The south chancel door
is of the late 14th century, and has a chamfered round
head and jambs. The western windows in the north
and south chancel walls are also 14th-century work,
re-tooled, and have trefoiled heads. The chancel arch
is two-centred and of two chamfered orders, of which
the outer is continuous, but the inner dies on to flat
responds.
On the north side of the nave the first window is
of two lights under a square head and contains some
fragments of old glass. Between the first and second
windows traces indicating the position of a north
transept are visible in the wall. The second and
third windows are 13th-century lancets with wide
splays, and below the former begins a rough string-course carried west to the tower and repeated on the
south wall. The north door has a rebuilt round head.
The two-centred arch to the south transept springs
from 13th-century capitals, but the transept itself is
modern. The three windows in the south wall of
the nave are lancets similar to those on the north,
and the south door repeats the type of the north on
a larger scale. The tower arch is two-century and
of two orders, and the west window has three lights
with modern tracery in the 15th-century style. The
west door has a square external head, but is now
blocked up.
Plan of Cleeve Prior Church
Externally the tower is the finest feature of the
church and is an excellent example of 15th-century
work. The angles are supported by diagonal buttresses,
and the parapet is embattled and had originally eight
pinnacles, four of which now remain. The four
belfry windows are of two transomed lights, with
15th-century tracery. Below the belfry are single-light windows and niches decorated with crocketed
canopies. The chancel roof is modern, but that over
the nave is of open timber, with moulded tie-beams,
dating from the end of the 14th century.
The tower and nave are built of large ashlar work,
but the chancel is of rubble masonry. The transept
is mainly of modern red brick. On the north side
of the eastern nave buttress, as stated above, are several
12th-century stones re-used. The font has an octagonal bowl with a moulding round the lower edge
and a stem of the same form.
The tower contains four bells and a clock: the
treble is inscribed, 'Cantate domino canticum novum,
1658'; the second, 'God be our good speed 1658,
H.B.'; the third, 'Richard Sanders made me 1722,'
with the churchwardens' names; the fourth, with
the churchwardens' names, 1658.
Church Tower, Cleeve Prior
The plate consists of a cup of 1728 presented by
Mrs. Elizabeth Bromwell in 1729, a silver paten of
1858, a modern plated flagon, a pewter flagon and
two pewter almsdishes.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1598 to 1717, burials and marriages 1599 to
1717; (ii) mixed entries 1717 to 1793, marriages
extending only to 1754; (iii) baptisms and burials
1794 to 1812; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812. There
are no entries between 1641 and 1661. There is a
book of churchwardens' accounts from 1695 to 1823.
ADVOWSON
At the time of the Domesday
Survey there was a priest at Cleeve
Prior who held 1 hide of land. (fn. 62)
From the earliest date of which we have record the
advowson of the church belonged to the priory
of Worcester, (fn. 63) and in 1214 the living was
appropriated to the monks by Walter Gray,
Bishop of Worcester. (fn. 64) The church, which
was worth £6 in 1291, (fn. 65) was reserved to the
priory when the manor was granted to William
Norman, (fn. 66) and its appropriation was confirmed
in 1216 by Honorius III. (fn. 67) A vicarage was
immediately ordained, (fn. 68) but there is no record
at this time of a royal licence for the appropriation. This was probably not gained until
1308, when it seems to have been acquired
through the agency of Walter Reynolds, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. (fn. 69) The church
was dedicated to St. Andrew, and a graveyard
consecrated there by Bishop Walter Maidstone
in September 1315. (fn. 70) The advowson remained
in the possession of the prior and convent until
the Dissolution, (fn. 71) when it was granted to the
dean and chapter, (fn. 72) who retained it until the
Commonwealth. (fn. 73) It was recovered by them
at the Restoration, and has ever since that date
remained in their possession. (fn. 74)
Bishop John of Coutances is said to have
granted to the prior and convent out of the
revenues of their church at Cleeve 17s. for
pittances and 3s. for the maintenance of a
light. (fn. 75) called the light of St. Romain. The
latter grant was perhaps represented at the date
of the suppression of the chantries, in the reign
of Edward VI, by the rent of 1s. arising out of
the lands of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, which was applied to the maintenance
of a lamp in the church of Cleeve Prior. (fn. 76)
There do not appear to be any endowed
charities in this parish.