CROOME D'ABITÔT
Cromma (x cent.); Crumbe (xi cent.); Crumba,
Crombe Abetot, Crombe Osbert (xiii cent.); Croumbe,
Crombe Osbern (xiv cent.); Croom Dabitot, Abytotescrombe (xv cent.); Abbotts Crome (xvii cent.).
This parish, covering an area of 1,178 acres, lies to
the south of the county, 8 miles south-east from
Worcester. The land rises towards the north and
west; at the south-east of the parish it is only 51 ft.,
rising to over 100 ft. above the ordnance datum to
the north of Croome Court, on the Pershore road.
To the west of this road, on the border of the park, is
the new church of St. James, built in 1763, the site
of the old church near Croome Court being now
only marked by two trees. The high road from Severn
Stoke to Defford passes along the north side of the
park, and on it is the hamlet of High Green.
The village of Croome D'Abitôt, which lies on the
northern borders of the park of Croome Court, the
residence of the Earl of Coventry, is altogether devoid
of architectural interest. Croome Court itself is a
fine stone mansion, erected about 1750. The plan
is of the dignified and symmetrical character which
was then in favour, consisting of a central block two
stories in height, with four three-storied pavilions at
the angles, crowned by pyramidal slated roofs.
The whole is elevated upon a basement, and the
principal entrance, in the centre of the north front, is
approached by a balustraded flight of stone steps. In
the centre of the south or garden front is a tetrastyle
portico of the Ionic order. The banqueting-hall,
which occupies the whole of the western front, is a
beautiful example of the Adam style. The walls are
painted in monochrome, in imitation of sculpture, and
the ceiling is richly coffered. The chimney-piece, of
white marble, with caryatid figures, is an extremely
good and characteristic piece of design. The yellow
drawing room and saloon are also very perfect examples
of the same style. The library, which occupies the
ground floor of the south-east pavilion, still retains its
specially designed book-cases. The staircase is at this
end, and occupies the centre of the east front. The
decoration of these rooms seems to have been undertaken some years subsequently to the first erection of
the house. The panelling of the green dining room
and billiard room on either side of the entrance hall
is of the earlier date. The park was laid out by
'Capability' Brown, and, it must be confessed, with
very successful results. The 'properties' include an
artificial river, several temples and a ruined castle at
Dunstall, half a mile away. The park is thickly
wooded and abounds with deer. There is an arboretum which includes many rare trees and shrubs.
The soil in this parish is loam and clay with subsoil
of Lower Lias; 832¾ acres are laid down as permanent grass, 169½ acres are arable land, (fn. 1) the chief
crops being wheat, barley and beans, and 54¾ acres are
covered by woods and plantations.
MANOR
The church of Worcester had evidently
acquired land in CROOME D'ABITOT
before 969, when Bishop Oswald leased land
there for three lives to the thegn Cynelm. (fn. 2) This land
formed part of the bishop's manor of Ripple in 1086, (fn. 3)
and was still said to be held of that manor in 1640. (fn. 4)
In 1471 land in Croome D'Abitôt and Kerswell was said
to be held of the Bishop of Worcester as of his manor
of Kempsey, (fn. 5) but it is doubtful whether the manor of
Croome D'Abitôt was ever so held.
In the reign of Edward the Confessor Croome
D'Abitôt was held by Sirof. On the death of the
latter the bishop gave his daughter with this land to a
certain knight on condition that he should support her
mother and render service to the bishop. (fn. 6) Siward was
holding the manor in 1086, (fn. 7) but early in the 12th
century the estate was held by Walter de Beauchamp. (fn. 8)
His interest in the manor passed with the barony of
Elmley Castle until 1530, when it is mentioned for
the last time. (fn. 9)
Under the lords of Elmley the manor was held by
the family of D'Abitot. Robert
D'Abitot is mentioned in the
Pipe Roll for Worcestershire
in 1165–6, (fn. 10) and was probably the Robert whose heir
was holding 5 hides in Croome
D'Abitôt (Moldecrombe) of
William Beauchamp about
1182. (fn. 11) This heir was, perhaps, Osbert, who was living
in 1172. (fn. 12) He or a descendant of the same name was
holding the manor about the
middle of the 13th century, (fn. 13)
and Sir William D'Abitot was
probably the owner in 1254, when an agreement
was made with the Abbot of Pershore as to tithes. (fn. 14)
D'Abitot, of Croome. Ermine a chief bendy or and sable.
In 1283 Osbert D'Abitot was patron of the church
of Croome D'Abitôt, (fn. 15) and continued to hold property
in Croome during the early 14th century. (fn. 16) He had
been succeeded before 1319 by his son William
D'Abitot, (fn. 17) who in 1325 was called the lord of Croome
and was patron of the church. (fn. 18) William held half a
fee in Croome in 1346, (fn. 19) and was still living in 1361. (fn. 20)
Eight years later he had been succeeded by Thomas
D'Abitot, (fn. 21) who was still living in 1388, (fn. 22) and was
followed by William D'Abitot. (fn. 23) Before 1412 Richard
D'Abitot had become the lord of Croome. (fn. 24) He was
still living in 1424, (fn. 25) but William D'Abitot held the
manor in 1428. (fn. 26) In 1434–5 Richard D'Abitot presented to the church. (fn. 27) Joan Verney, who presented
to the church in 1452, was perhaps the widow of one
of the D'Abitots. (fn. 28) It is probable that after her death
the manor was divided among the heirs of William
D'Abitot, who were apparently descendants of another
branch of the D'Abitot family, for among the four
persons who presented jointly to the church in 1467
was Thomas Rice, (fn. 29) who is said to have married
Margaret the daughter and heir of John D'Abitot. (fn. 30)
Simon Rice, the son of
Thomas, held a share of the
manor at the beginning of
the 16th century. This appears
to have been the main portion
of the estate, and passed under
his will at his death in 1530
to Gilbert Clare. (fn. 31) His son
Simon Clare was lord of the
manor in 1554, when he
leased it to Edward Young
for sixty years. (fn. 32) Simon and
John Clare conveyed it to
John Blunt in 1559. (fn. 33) In
1584 Simon's son Francis was
holding this manor, (fn. 34) then called 'Clares Crome.'
This he sold to Thomas Coventry eight years later. (fn. 35)
The latter, who married Margaret Jeffery of Earl's
Croome, was a justice of the Common Pleas and was
knighted in 1606, dying in December of that year. (fn. 36)
His son Thomas, who succeeded to the estate, (fn. 37) was
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and was created Lord
Coventry of Allesborough in
1628. (fn. 38) He settled the manor
of Croome D'Abitôt in 1627
on his son Thomas on his
marriage with Mary Craven. (fn. 39)
George son of Thomas and
Mary inherited the property
on the death of his father in
1661. (fn. 40) His son John dying
unmarried in 1687, the property reverted to the latter's
uncle, Thomas Coventry, who
was in 1697 created Earl of
Coventry and Viscount Deerhurst, (fn. 41) and was succeeded in
1699 by his son Thomas.
Thomas, son of the latter, died unmarried in 1711,
when the next heir was his uncle Gilbert. (fn. 42) He
died in 1719, leaving only a daughter, and the
manor passed to William Coventry, a descendant of
Walter, a younger brother of Sir Thomas Coventry,
first Lord Coventry. (fn. 43) William Earl of Coventry
died in 1750–1. His elder son having died unmarried
six years previously, he was succeeded by his second
son George William. The Earls of Coventry continue to hold the manor of Croome D'Abitôt,
George William, the ninth earl (of the 1697 creation),
who succeeded his grandfather (fn. 44) in 1843, being the
present lord.
Clare. Or three cheverons gules and a border engrailed azure.
Coventry, Earl of Converty. Sable a fesse ermine between three crescents or.
Very little trace can be found of the other portions
of the estates of the D'Abitots in Croome, but some
light is thrown upon their descent by the records
dealing with the advowson. Associated with Thomas
Rice (son-in-law of John D'Abitot) in the patronage
of the church in 1467 were John Langston, Joan
Childe of Blockley and Margery Tounley. (fn. 45) Of these
Margery Tounley had been succeeded by Joan Person
in 1472. Joan Childe was then a widow, William
Childe (probably her son) presenting alone four years
later. (fn. 46) John Langston was represented by Joan
Langston in 1472, after which their interest in the
advowson ceased, although a family of the same name
held a considerable extent of land in the parish in
the 17th century. (fn. 47) It seems probable that these
three portions of the manor
and advowson were purchased
by John Young of Worcester
about 1486, when he presented alone to the church,
being styled John Young of
Croome D'Abitôt in the Visitation of 1569. (fn. 48) This property was sometimes called
Young's Croome, and in 1523
John's son Humphrey held
the patronage of the church
jointly with Simon Rice, (fn. 49)
who at that date owned the
chief portion of the manor
(see above), and Edward
Young, the son of Humphrey, held it in 1545 with
Rice's successor, Simon Clare. (fn. 50) In 1549 Edward
Young quitclaimed his interest in the manor to
Conan Richardson, probably as security for a debt of
£300. (fn. 51) Four years later William Sheldon, Edward
Grevill and Anthony Ashfield leased the manor for
sixty years to Edward Young, (fn. 52) and he (as stated
above) in the following year obtained a lease of the
Clares' part of the manor from Simon Clare. (fn. 53) After
this time the descent of Young's Croome has not
been traced.
Young, of Croome D'Abitôt. Argent a bend sable with three griffons' heads razed or thereon.
Another estate in Croome D'Abitôt can be traced
from the 14th century. In 1371 Thomas D'Abitot
sold 40s. rent in Croome D'Abitôt to John Marshal,
who granted it six years later to John Marsh of
Feckenham for life with remainder to John Clopton. (fn. 54)
His son Sir William Clopton died in 1419 holding of
the lord of Croome D'Abitôt a messuage and a carucate of land called Abovedoune of the yearly value of
20s. (fn. 55) Thomas son and heir of William must have
died without issue, for one of his sisters, Jane, inherited
this estate, (fn. 56) and on the death of her husband, Sir
John Burgh, in 1471 (fn. 57) his grandson John Newport
obtained these lands, which at this time were described
as the manor of Croome D'Abitôt. (fn. 58) It was found
by Prattinton among some papers lent to him by
Capt. Lingen of Redbrook that the estates of Sir John
Burgh were divided among his heirs 'by Lotts close
(? lots chosen) in balls of Worc.' (fn. 59) John Newport
was succeeded by a son Thomas, (fn. 60) who settled the
manor on his son Sir Richard Newport and his wife
Margaret. (fn. 61) On the death of Sir Richard Newport
in 1570 his heir was his son Francis, then thirteen
years of age, (fn. 62) but after this there are no further
traces of this estate.
In 1584 there were two mills at Croome D'Abitôt
which were at that time held with the manor by Francis
Clare. (fn. 63) No earlier record has been found of these
mills and no trace of them occurs again.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY MAGD ALENE consists of a chancel 22½ ft. by
18 ft., nave 39½ ft. by 18 ft., north and
south aisles 8½ ft. wide, and a western tower, which is
square outside but octagonal within and 11 ft. across.
These measurements are all internal.
The building was erected in 1763 by Lancelot
Brown for the Earl of Coventry. It is an interesting
example of an 18th-century building in the Gothic
style, and the result, while not altogether incongruous,
shows some peculiar features. The former Church
stood near the present site and was entirely removed.
The chancel is lit by a three-light traceried window
in the east wall, and the chancel arch is pointed,
with an attached shaft on the west face supporting
the crocketed and finialled label.
On either side of the nave are piers of four engaged
shafts with moulded bases and capitals, supporting horizontal lintels, with ornamental plaster soffits. The
ceiling is curved and enriched with three plaster pendants. The aisle windows are of two lights, with
traceried heads. The lowest stage of the tower forms
an octagonal west porch, with a vaulted roof springing
from round angle-shafts. The tower is three stages
high, and is strengthened by a pair of buttresses on each
face and finished with an embattled parapet and pinnacles. The belfry is lit by four-light transomed
windows and the stage below by quatrefoil openings.
In the west end of the north aisle is a round-headed recess with a vaulted canopy. The exterior
of the church is ashlar-faced, but the internal walls
are plastered. The elegant carved wood font, with
the seats, pulpit, &c., are all contemporary with the
building.
The church contains numerous monuments to
members of the founder's family, some of them removed
from the former church. Of the four large altar
tombs in the chancel, the earliest is to Thomas first
Lord Coventry, lord keeper, who died in 1639. It is
of Renaissance design in black and white marble. The
base supports a reclining figure in cap and robe with
a mace and cushion in white marble. Above the
figure is a large arched canopy, flanked by female
figures representing Wisdom and Justice, the latter
holding, besides her sword, the great seal of England.
Above is a shield of the arms, and on either side of
the arch an angel.
Another tomb, to Mary (Craven) wife of Thomas
second Lord Coventry, who died in childbed, 1634,
bears her reclining effigy holding an infant, with two
children kneeling at the feet. The canopy is supported on black marble twisted columns. The third
monument, to Thomas second Lord Coventry, who
died in 1661, is also in black and white marble,
with an effigy in coronet and robes. The fourth
commemorating John fourth Lord Coventry, who died
in 1687, has a similar effigy under a canopy, all in
white marble, flanked by figures of Hope and Mercy.
On the walls of the nave and aisles are various other
monuments to different members of the same family.
There are six bells and a small broken 'sanctus'
bell: the treble is dated 1812; the second is
inscribed 'Iesvs be our good speed, Iohn Langston
C.W. 1652'; the third '+ singe we meryly toe
God on hie Ralph Goodall C.W. 1652'; the fourth
'+ in time of need God be our speed John Pensham
C.W. 1651,' and below the inscription a heart inclosing the initials im and a bell; the inscription on the
fifth reads 'Soli Deo Gloria Pax Hominibus 1651,'
with the same stamp as the fourth; and on the tenor
is 'Renata et Restaurata impensis Prae honorabilis
Thomae Comitis de Coventre et Vicecomitis Deerhurst
et Baronis Coventrye de Allesborough Anno 1699.'
The plate consists of a large communion cup with
paten cover and a tankard-shaped flagon, silver gilt,
of 1635, bearing the Coventry arms.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) mixed
entries 1560 to 1591; (ii) baptisms 1592 to 1733,
marriages 1593 to 1729, burials 1592 to 1701;
(iii) baptisms 1741 to 1812, burials 1678 to 1812,
marriages 1741 to 1754; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church
of Croome D'Abitôt followed the
descent of the manor from 1283, (fn. 64)
the earliest time at which we have any mention of it,
being divided in the same way as the manor in the
14th century. Towards the end of the 16th century
the Clares appear to have become sole possessors of
the advowson, which evidently passed with the manor
in 1592 to Thomas Coventry. (fn. 65) The Earl of
Coventry is patron at the present day.
In 1384 Richard Loke, the chaplain, was cited
to appear before the bishop to show cause why
he held the chapel of Croome D'Abitôt with the
rectory of Harsfield contrary to canonical institution.
He stated that Croome D'Abitôt was within the
bounds and limits of the parish church of Ripple, and
that there were certain provisions and tithes arising
in the manor of Croome for the officiating chaplain,
but without cure of souls, and therefore it was tenable
with any other benefice. This was allowed by
Bishop Wakefield. (fn. 66) Although described as a church
in 1283 it was usually called a chapel or a free chapel
up to the middle of the 15th century, (fn. 67) 'the church
or chapel' of Croome D'Abitôt occurring in 1467. (fn. 68)
The rectory was valued in the middle of the 16th
century at £8 2s. It was then still, to a certain
extent, dependent upon the church of Ripple, paying
a yearly pension of 20s. to the rector. (fn. 69)
Nash says that in 1771 the parish of Croome was
united with that of Pirton, not by Act of Parliament,
but by consent of the bishop and patron. (fn. 70) The
living is still annexed to that of Pirton.
At the suppression of chantries it was found that
land worth 1s. 4d. yearly was in the tenure of the
churchwardens of Croome D'Abitôt for the maintenance of a lamp in the church there. (fn. 71) This was
granted in 1588 to Richard Branthwaite and Roger
Bromley, (fn. 72) and in 1637 to Francis Braddock and
Christopher Kingscote. (fn. 73)
CHARITIES
It appears from the Parliamentary
returns of 1786 that a William Tustin
charged certain lands, then the property of the Earl of Coventry, with the payment of
3s. 6d. a year to the poor. This payment, however,
is not now made as a definite charge.