NORTH MIMMS
Mimmine (xi cent.).
The parish of North Mimms comprises 4,966
acres, and extends four and a half miles from east
to west. It is traversed from north to south by the
Old North Road, the main line of the Great Northern
Railway, and the St. Albans road. The surface of
the parish is almost flat, but rises gradually to a height
of 400 ft. in the east. A small stream rises in Brookman's Park, flows west, wends its way north to the
middle of the parish, then strikes north-east, and
eventually joins the Colne. In one part of its bed
there are some deep circular rifts in the chalk, locally
called Swallow Holes, down which the water rushes
in whirlpools when the stream is high.
The parish is well wooded and includes three large
parks, that of North Mimms Park in the west,
Potterells in the centre, and Brookman's in the east.
The surface soil is very varied; chalk, gravel, and
clay occur at intervals. Pasture covers 2,623 acres,
cornland 1,231 acres, and woodland 648 acres. (fn. 1)
There are several large sheets of water which cover
some 26 acres. The parish was inclosed in 1777–8
and 1782. (fn. 1a)
It may be said of North Mimms that it consists of
many hamlets rather than of one compact village.
Entering the parish from Hatfield by the North
Road and going south, the hamlet of Bell Bar lies
along a road striking off to the right. It is a small
hamlet having its own post office and mission-room.
There are two farms and some old red-tiled houses,
but none of importance.
Further on, the North Road leads through Little
Heath, now a separate ecclesiastical parish possessing a
church, but until 1894 only a hamlet of North
Mimms, and served by a mission-room. Little
Heath is growing, and has now a population of some
700 people. In the north-east, near the road to
Northaw, is Mymwood House, the residence of
Mr. Archibald Thompson, J.P.
The Great Northern Railway, which runs nearly
through the centre of the parish of North Mimms,
passes through the hamlet of Marshmoor in the north
and skirts Welham Green a little further south. Marshmoor is merely a few small houses and one larger
house called Frowick House, inhabited by three
brothers named Lermitte. Welham Green extends
from the railway towards the middle of the parish
along a road which meets the road to Colney Heath in
the west. It is a hamlet of considerable size, with a
few old cottages, a good many new slated ones, a new
boys' school, and a large house on the Potterells
estate, the residence of Mr. George Curtis.
In the north-west of the parish, roads from St. Albans
and Hatfield meet, and the former continues south-east to Chipping Barnet by way of Cecil Road in
the parish of South Mimms, and then joins the high
road from St. Albans to Chipping Barnet. Before
the St. Albans and Hatfield roads meet they are connected by a third road, and the triangle so formed
incloses the hamlet called Roestock. There is a seventeenth-century farm-house called Estate Farm belonging to North Mimms Park, and a good many small
houses and one good red-brick house now called
Roestock Hall, but till lately known as the Grange.
This is the residence of Admiral Sir John Fellowes,
K.C.B. There is a mission-room here. A small part
of the common called Colney Heath extends into
this parish, and near to it is a mill now worked by
steam, but formerly a windmill. Leaving Roestock
southwards the road leads along the edge of North
Mimms Park and through the hamlet of Water End,
near the little brook. This hamlet consists of an
irregular row of small houses with their gardens, and
some old half-timber houses called Mother Chuck's
Cottages. The old village pound has been cleared
away within the last few years. A little to the south
of Water End is Abdale House, a building of white
stucco belonging to North Mimms Park estate, occupied by Mr. C. H. Ommanney, C.M.G.; and not
far away is Hawkshead House, the property of Mrs.
A. C. Clauson, the wife of Mr. A. C. Clauson, barrister-at-law. Moffats, the residence of Mr. Wilson
Fox, C.B., is north-east of Hawkshead House.
None of these highways lead to the parish church,
but its spire may be frequently seen, and an avenue
of lime trees leads from Tollgate Road up to it and
the vicarage and two or three small houses. The
only other house near is North Mimms Park, but the
church serves several hamlets.
Place-names which occur in early deeds are Foxcroft, Walter's Grove, Merlyng, Bukmermedewe,
Bushcroftfield, the Florysh Hach, Strytley, Worsdell,
Rothstoke or Holstoke Farm, Gybbysworth, Roundcroft, Pepperland, Rougelond, Rochebrache, Danefeld, Eldley, Aberdenecroft, Christmas Pond, Ravenshethgat, and Friday Grove.
There is a moat at Puttock's Farm, near Welham
Green. A pond on the left hand of the farm entrance probably originally formed part of this moat,
which included nearly an acre of ground. In a field
not far from this and north of Pancake Hall (fn. 2) there is
a small irregular moat of three sides, one of which
is much widened out. This moat may have included the large pond on the opposite side of the
road called Dixon's Hill. Its overflow is into a branch
of the Colne.
The 'Folly Gates' near Potters Bar are said to
have been erected by Sir Jeremy Sambrooke, and
there is a tradition that a farthing was placed
under each brick. Another story is that they were
erected to commemorate a visit of Henry VIII, possibly during the time when Sir Thomas More lived
at More Hall. (fn. 3) Swanley Bar is thought to be a
corruption of Swanlond Bar, taking its name from the
family of Swanlond. It is probable that at Swanley
Bar the lords of the manor took toll from all who
passed through, as the lords of Hatfield did at Bell Bar.
Henry Peacham, the author of The Compleat
Gentleman, was born at North Mimms about 1576.
He was a very talented man, being well versed in
science and mathematics, as well as in drawing,
painting and music.
MANORS
A manor of NORTH MIMMS was
held before the Conquest by three
thegns, Queen Edith's men, who were
able to sell it. In the Domesday Survey Mimms is
entered among the possessions of the see of Chester,
but it is stated to be the personal inheritance of
Bishop Robert de Limesei from his father Rayner. (fn. 4)
The manor next appears as one knight's fee held of
the honour of Gloucester, to which it probably belonged as early as the twelfth century. But in 1303
it is returned as held of the earls of Gloucester and
Hereford jointly, (fn. 5) and it sometimes occurs as held of
the honour of Mandeville. (fn. 6) Possibly, therefore, lands
in North Mimms were included in the possessions
of the lords of Mandeville, which extended over
the adjoining parishes of Shenley and South Mimms
in Middlesex, at the time of the survey.
Somery. Quarterly or and azure a bend gules.
The holding of Bishop Robert was probably included in the fee held of the honour of Gloucester in 1212 by Miles de
Somery, (fn. 7) who was succeeded
in 1229 by his son Roger, (fn. 8)
on whose death without issue
in 1235–6 the manor passed
to his brother Stephen. (fn. 9) In
1239 Stephen died childless, (fn. 10)
and his possessions were inherited by his sisters, Maud
widow of Sir Robert de Bachesworth, wife of Traher or
Trakel son of Hoel, Amabilia wife of Sir Ernald de
Mounteny, and Ela wife of
Sir Robert de Selton or Shelton, and by Peter, a
minor, the son of Peter Picot or Pygot, and Muriel,
a fourth sister of Stephen. (fn. 11) Maud acquired the
capital messuage of Mimms, two knights' fees held
by Ralph de Chenduit and Ralph de Swineshead,
and three-quarters of a fee in the tenure of Bijanus,
Bayton, and Fannel. This Ralph de Swineshead was
probably the father of Walter de Swineshead, knt.,
who in or about the year 1263 held lands, gardens,
and a brew-house in North Mimms. (fn. 12) The reversion
of the messuage of Hammedon after the death of
Radina wife of Roger de Somery, and three knights'
fees held by Robert de Somery and Richard de
Eppelgar, fell to Amabilia de Mounteny. A capital
messuage near the gate of Maud's lands was allotted
to Peter Picot, while Ela became possessed of the
reversion of the capital messuage of Haselingfield,
then in the tenancy of Joan wife of Stephen de
Somery, and of three knights' fees held by Peter
Eardun. (fn. 13)
Maud was succeeded by her son, Roger de Bachesworth, who settled his manor on his stepfather Trakel
for life; (fn. 14) and Ela by her son John by a second
husband, Hubert de Monchesny, (fn. 15) who in 1278 enfeoffed his brother Ralph of his share of the manor. (fn. 16)
According to a presentment made before the hundred
court in 1274–5 North Mimms had withdrawn its
suit at the sheriff's turn for ten years. (fn. 17) In 1277–8
Peter Picot, Roger de Bachesworth, Ernulph de
Mounteny, (fn. 18) and Ralph de Monchesny successfully
claimed view of frankpledge, amendment of the assize
of bread and ale, gallows, waifs, and free warren in
the vill of North Mimms, and quittance of the
sheriff's turn by the payment of half a mark. (fn. 19)
Roger about 1294 granted his share of the manor
to his brother, Richard de Bachesworth, (fn. 20) who in
1299–1300 granted all his possessions in North
Mimms to Ralph de Monchesny and Albreda his
wife for their life; or to them
and their heirs for eight years
if they should die within such
period. In return Ralph and
Albreda gave £60 to Richard,
and undertook to provide an
esquire armed and mounted,
who should be at Carlisle on
the day of the Nativity of
John the Baptist, to fight for
forty days against the Scots,
and thus to discharge a moiety
of the service for which Richard
was bound to the abbot of St.
Albans, and through him to the king, and for which
Ralph would indemnify Richard. (fn. 21) It is likely that
Richard set off to fight the Scots. All his rights in
North Mimms were released to him by Sir John son
and heir of Ralph de Monchesny in 1322, (fn. 22) a formality probably necessary to complete the conveyance
of Richard's manor in North Mimms to Simon Swanlond, citizen and merchant of London, in 1316–17. (fn. 23)
A grant to the same person by John de Monchesny
of his fourth part of the manor,
with the retention for himself
of a life interest, was completed
apparently in 1317–18. (fn. 24)
Monchesny. Or three scutcheons barry vair and gules.
Mounteny. Azure a bend between six martlets or.
The share of Ernulph de
Mounteney was probably acquired by Simon Swanlond at
much the same time. It was
certainly held by him in
1347, (fn. 25) and he thus was
possessed of three parts of
the capital manor of North
Mimms. He received grants
of free warren in North
Mimms in 1316 (fn. 26) and in 1327, (fn. 27) and in 1332
he settled the manor on his children John, William,
Simon, Thomas, Maud, and Katherine, in tail
male. (fn. 28) The members of this family appear to have
been absentee landlords. In 1332–3 the manor,
with the reservation of a rent and certain pastures,
was granted in farm by Simon to William of Pichicote, chaplain, for the term of his life, in return for
£200. (fn. 29) Later it was similarly bestowed for nine
years for a yearly rent of 30s. on William de Kesteven,
who held the fourth part of the manor. This lease
was confirmed by John son of Simon Swanlond in
1355. (fn. 30) In 1367 William son of Simon Swanlond,
presumably John's brother and heir, leased the manor
for ten years, with all rights except those which were
attached to a tenement called Someries, to John
Mountviron and Beatrix his wife, for a yearly rent of
£33 6s. 8d. (fn. 31) Such lease was apparently renewed,
for John and Beatrix held a court of the manor in
1378–9, (fn. 32) and in 1409 William son of the William
Swanlond who held in 1367 made a grant to Richard
Whittington, merchant and citizen of London, and
others of the rent of £40 due to him from Beatrix
Mountviron for the term of her life and for one year
after her death. (fn. 33) This William Swanlond with
Dionisia his wife sold his three parts of the manor in
1428 to Thomas Knolles, grocer, (fn. 34) who 'purchased
it with a part of his goods duly gotten by merchandise. . . . He was a merchant in the city of London,
and by his wisdom and governance was an alderman
of the same city, and he was twice chosen mayor, in
which time he did many notable things which do
great easement to many people; and moreover with
the part of his goods did marry his children to such
men as were at that time much taken heed by.' (fn. 35)
The fourth part of the manor passed from Peter
Picot to his son John in 1285–6, (fn. 36) and from him to
another Peter Picot, (fn. 37) probably identical with Peter
son of Ralph of North Mimms, who with Joan his
wife conveyed a manor of North Mimms to John of
Hertford in 1291. (fn. 38) It is probable that the surname
of this John was Hedersete, and that he had for his
wife Margery, who afterwards married Roger heir
and relative of Roger Cosyn of Norfolk, (fn. 39) who appears to have conveyed a life interest in the manor
to Walter de Castello and Sarah his wife. After
Walter's death Sarah continued to hold the manor,
and afterwards married Gerard de Oudenard. Roger
Cosyn confirmed the manor to her and her second
husband, (fn. 40) and this grant was confirmed in 1321
by William Hedersete, son of Margery Cosyn, to
whom the manor was to revert on the death of Gerard
and Sarah. (fn. 41) In 1310–11 Sarah conveyed her right
to Swyneshedlond, in North Mimms, Shopwelle,
and la Roche, to Ralph de Bokenham, rector of
Ellingham. (fn. 42) It is probable that this land included
all or part of the possessions of the family of Swineshead, a member of which was a tenant of the manor
in 1239. In 1315 Swyneshedlond was held by
Peter de Bokenham of Norfolk, and sold by him to
Simon de Swanlond. (fn. 43) In the same year Margery
Cosyn, now a widow, by a release of her right, rendered Simon's ownership complete in a grant which
was witnessed by her sons William and Simon
Hedersete. (fn. 44) The reversion of the main part of her
share of the manor remained, however, in her
tenure. It was mortgaged by her in 1317 to John
Vance, clerk, once citizen of London, and son and
heir of John Vance of Lucca. (fn. 45) It passed from her to
her son William Hedersete, citizen of London, who
held this part of the manor in 1337. (fn. 46) He was a collector of the great custom of the king in London, and
because of arrears in his account certain of his
lands in North Mimms escheated to the crown,
and were granted to William de Kesteven, clerk. (fn. 47)
Hedersete's heirs were his daughters, Cicely the
wife of Alan Ruddock, and Katherine, and they
in 1339 conveyed the remainder of his possessions
in North Mimms to William de Kesteven. (fn. 48) The
new owner became involved in a quarrel with
Simon Swanlond as to respective rights in the
common of Rotemere, which pertained to the manor
of North Mimms, and in 1347–8 it was provided that such portion thereof as belonged to the
fourth part of the manor should be defined and inclosed. (fn. 49) In 1388 William de Kesteven sold his share
of the manor to the farmer of its other three parts,
Beatrix Mountviron. (fn. 50) Beatrix had in 1391 become
the widow of William Bakton, and as such she sold
her fourth part of the manor to Thomas Knolles and
Joan his wife for a hundred marks of silver. (fn. 51)
This Thomas Knolles, lord of all the manor of
North Mimms, died in 1435–6, and left as his heir
a son Thomas, (fn. 52) who, like his
father, is called citizen and
grocer of London. (fn. 53) He devised the manor to his son
Robert, who came into possession in 1446, and in that year
settled it on himself and his
heirs, with remainder to his
brother Richard, in tail male. (fn. 54)
In 1457 Robert did homage
to Richard duke of York for
the manor which he held of
the honour of Clare by military
service, (fn. 55) and in 1478 he paid
6s. 8d. which he owed for suit at the court of the
same honour. (fn. 56) In 1483 he discharged to the feodary
of Essex and Hertfordshire the suit due from North
Mimms to the honour of Stamlorne, (fn. 57) and in 1484
he paid 3s. 4d. to the feodary of the duchy of Lancaster in Essex and Hertfordshire, as suit of court to
the honour of Mandeville. (fn. 58) Further, in 1484 he
paid 4s. 4d. due to the sheriff of Hertfordshire, to the
gardener of the 'king's grenewey,' (fn. 59) and in 1447, as the
holder of one knight's fee in North Mimms, he contributed 2s. to the aid for the marriage of Princess
Anne, the king's eldest daughter. (fn. 60)
Knolles. Gules a cheveron argent with three roses gules thereon.
Osborne. Quarterly ermine and azure a cross or.
Up to this date the manor appears to have been
thickly wooded, (fn. 61) , but Robert is responsible for the
cutting down of much timber. (fn. 62) A moiety of his
property was inherited by each of his two daughters,
Anne who married Henry Frowick, and Elizabeth
the wife of James Stracheley. (fn. 63) Henry and Anne
Frowick held their share in 1495, (fn. 64) and in 1507
sued John More and Joan his wife for rent at their
court of North Mimms. (fn. 65) They had a son Thomas
who died without issue, and two daughters, Isabel
who married Thomas Bedlowe and Elizabeth the
wife of John Coningsby. (fn. 66) Anne's share of the
manor came to John Coningsby and Elizabeth, (fn. 67) and
in 1529–30 James Stracheley and Elizabeth conveyed
their half of the manor to John Coningsby, (fn. 68) who
thus became possessed of the whole manor. Elizabeth Coningsby survived her husband and afterwards
married William Dodds, (fn. 69) and the manor was settled
upon them for their lives in 1557 by Henry (later
Sir Henry) Coningsby, son of John Coningsby and
Elizabeth, with reversion to Henry. (fn. 70) Sir Henry
died seised of the manor in 1590, and at this time
it was held as of the honours of Clare and Mandeville for fealty and two suits at the court of the
honour. (fn. 71) It passed to his son Sir Ralph Coningsby,
who died in 1615, having settled the manor on
Francis his eldest son. (fn. 72) Francis died without issue
in 1628, and the manor came to his brother Thomas, (fn. 73)
who was a loyal adherent to the cause of Charles I.
He forfeited all his lands under the Commonwealth,
but North Mimms was restored to his widow Martha
and his sons Harry and Thomas in 1652. (fn. 74) Martha
and Harry sold it in 1658 to Sir Thomas Hyde of
Aldbury. (fn. 75) Bridget the only
daughter and heir of Sir
Thomas married Peregrine
Osborne, Viscount Dunblane,
afterwards duke of Leeds, and
on the death of her father in
1665 (fn. 76) she and her husband
succeeded to the manor of
North Mimms. (fn. 77) Peregrine
died in 1729, and his second
but eldest surviving son Peregrine Hyde in 1731. Bridget
died in 1733, and her grandson
Thomas, duke of Leeds, son of
Peregrine Hyde, succeeded her. (fn. 78) He married Mary
Godolphin, and on his death in 1789 left as heir his
youngest son Francis Godolphin, (fn. 79) who died in 1799,
and whose son and heir George William Frederick (fn. 80)
and Charlotte his wife sold the manor in 1800 to
Henry Browne. (fn. 81) In 1823 Henry Browne and his
wife Caroline Susannah sold it to William Heygate, (fn. 82) who after holding it for about a year sold it
to the trustees of Fulke Southwell Greville-Nugent,
afterwards Lord Greville, then a minor. (fn. 83) He sold the
manor and park of North Mimms in 1870 to Coningsby
Charles Sibthorp, (fn. 84) eldest son of Gervaise Tottenham
Waldo-Sibthorp, a descendant of Thomas and Martha
Coningsby through their
daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 85) From
Coningsby Charles Sibthorp,
who had already become possessed of Potterells, the other
estate of the Coningsby family
in this parish, this manor
passed by sale about 1888 to
Mr. Hamilton Bruce, who sold
it in 1893 to Mr. Walter
H. Burns. His widow, Mrs.
Burns, now holds it (fn. 86) and
resides in North Mimms Park,
the present manor house,
which was considerably altered about a hundred
years ago, and to which Mr. Walter H. Burns made
extensive additions. (fn. 87)
Sibthorp. Argent two bars gules and a border sable.
The house is of red brick with diaper patterns of
a different colour and stone dressings. Though a
good deal repaired the general appearance has been
little altered since its first building. The exact date
of this is not known, but it must be somewhere in
the neighbourhood of 1600. Sir Ralph Coningsby
was its builder, and the arms of Coningsby are over
the west doorway. The house has a central block
containing the hall and main entrance, and gabled
side wings projecting to form a court which is open
towards the north. The principal doorway is set in
a projecting block with two ranges of large mullioned
and transomed windows, finished with two gabled
roofs. In the middle of each side of the court is a
square turret, with a leaded cupola, and the chimneystacks are everywhere of excellent detail, with tall cut
brick shafts and moulded cornices. Throughout the
building the windows are stone-mullioned, and though
the detail is plain the whole effect is very good, and
the house is one of the most attractive and interesting
domestic buildings in the county. Its internal arrangements, as might be expected, have been a good deal
modernized, but there is a fair amount of carved ornament, the best of which is a chimney-piece with
figures of Pyramus and Thisbe, dated 1563.
The old manor house, which was probably destroyed when the present building was erected, appears to have stood a little more to the north-east,
and nearer the church. It was in the old mansion
that Princess Elizabeth stayed on her way to London
from Ashridge, when summoned to answer for her
supposed complicity in Wyatt's rebellion in 1553–4. (fn. 88)
There appears to have been a considerable number
of tithings in the manor of North Mimms. (fn. 89) A view
of frankpledge took place annually on the feast of
St. Gregory, and a court leet was held every three
weeks, of which the average yearly profits amounted in
1428–9 to £10. At this date all the liberties claimed
in 1277–8 existed. In the lease to John and Beatrix
Mountviron it was provided that they should choose a
reeve from the villein tenants every year. (fn. 90) In
1428–9 the fourfold division of the manor into
Bacheworthes, Pigots, Mounteneyes, and Monchesnyes
survived. The lord had gallows at Wamborenghill, a
tumbril and a pillory which stood between Pigots
and Bacheworthes. At Colney Heath, Mymwode, and
Northawwood he had commons. In 1403 there
was a mill on the manor of William Swanlond, (fn. 91)
and in 1428–9 a horse mill existed on Mounteneyes. (fn. 92)
A mill at North Mimms is mentioned in 1658 and
in 1666, (fn. 93) and there is now a disused mill at Colney
Heath. There were 'ponds, ditches, and fisheries'
in the manor of Hubert de Monchesny, (fn. 94) and his
son John demised to his brother rights in the
manorial waters. (fn. 95) Simon Swanlond reserved to himself the path which led to the fishery, and 'wheels
and other engines which appertained to Roughdell,'
when he made a lease of the field called Longeforleng. (fn. 96) Fisheries were held by William Swanlond,
and Thomas Knolles had a fishery which lay in the
Ponde Garden. (fn. 97) In 1469–70 it was decided at the
court of the manor that the lord should make a bridge
at 'Westburnbrigge' on the king's highway, and repair
'Delbrigge.' (fn. 98)
At 'Nevellyfeld' the priest of the chantry of Hatfield had his chamber, for which he paid suit to the
court of North Mimms. (fn. 99) In 1367–8 the king's
highway led from the church of North Mimms to
London. (fn. 100)
In 1428–9 there was a house with gardens at
Bacheworthes which may have occupied the site of
that which Maud de Bachesworth inherited, or have
been identical with it. The capital messuage of
Pigots was then the guest house of the lord of
the manor, and two dovecots were annexed to
it. Another capital messuage was called Swineshead. (fn. 100a)
POTTERELLS (Potterells Grove) was held at an
early date of the manor of North Mimms by John
Firth. (fn. 101) The land which bore this name was acquired
by the family of Lord Scales. In 1417–18 William
Swanlond granted to Thomas Knolles a rent due to
him from Matilda, Lady Scales, for a tenement in
North Mimms, (fn. 102) and in the court of the manor held in
1454–5 it was presented that Sir John Fortescue had
acquired from Thomas, Lord Scales, a tenement
called Potterells. (fn. 103) When Robert Knolles was lord of
the manor, Lord Scales claimed the overlordship of
'a place called Potterell Roynge.' In reply Robert
declared that the manor of Potterells had been held
of the manor of North Mimms by the yearly rent of
14s., and by suit of court, the customs of wardship,
marriage, and release, at and since the time of his
grandfather's purchase, and that it had been acquired
by John Fortescue. (fn. 104) Potterells continued to follow
the descent of Brookmans, and in 1621 it is described
as a manor appurtenant to Brookmans. (fn. 105) In 1632 it
was sold by Thomas son of Robert Faldo to Thomas
and Martha Coningsby, (fn. 106) and thus was united to
the capital manor, becoming the head quarters of the
Coningsby family at North Mimms. From Martha
Coningsby it descended to her second son Ralph, (fn. 107)
who died in 1703 without issue, (fn. 108) and left Potterells
to Roger son of his brother Thomas. (fn. 109) Roger
married Mary Fish and died in 1707, leaving Roger,
his third and eldest surviving son, his heir. (fn. 110) Roger
Coningsby died in 1753 without issue (fn. 111) and left
Potterells to his cousins Charles De Laet and Catherine
Dell jointly, with remainder to Charles De Laet. (fn. 112)
Catherine died in 1769, and Charles became sole
possessor of the estate, which on his death in 1792
he devised to Justinian Casamajor, (fn. 113) with remainder
in tail male to his six sons (omitting Justinian the
eldest son), who were godsons of Charles De Laet, and
to another godson Gervaise Tottenham Waldo-Sibthorp. (fn. 114) Justinian Casamajor died in 1820, and all
his sons died without issue. (fn. 115) Charles De Laet
Waldo-Sibthorp, father of Gervaise Tottenham mentioned above, seems to have been possessed of Potterells. (fn. 116) He died in 1855 and was succeeded by
his son Gervaise Tottenham, on whose death in 1861
the property came to his eldest son, Coningsby
Charles Waldo-Sibthorp. (fn. 117) The Potterells estate was
sold by Mr. Sibthorp to Mr. T. Hamilton Bruce, and
in 1893 Mr. Hamilton Bruce sold the house and the
fields surrounding it to Mr. William Cotton Curtis,
then residing at Potterells. Mr. Curtis died in 1905
and the property passed to his son, Mr. George
Curtis, who lives there now with his sisters. The
house is of red brick with slated roof and straight
front and a high stone porch.
The manor of BROOKMANS (Bruckmans or
Mymmeshall) was held as of the honour of Clare
in socage. (fn. 118) In 1388 Nicholas de Mymmes sued
Walter atte More of London and Katherine his wife
for the manor of North Mimms called Mymmeshall.
Nicholas claimed the manor by descent from his grandfather John de Mymmes who was living in the reign
of Edward II. (fn. 119) It was held in 1400 by John Brookman, from whose family it probably took its name, (fn. 120) and
whose widow Elizabeth, afterwards wife of John Chamberlain, evidently settled the manor on her second husband for her lifetime in 1437–8. (fn. 121) Thomas Betley, one
of the trustees to whom the manor had been given by
John Brookman, had already enfeoffed Richard Swaynesey of the manor, and litigation arose between
Richard Swaynesey and John Chamberlain. A
memorandum at the end of the suit states that John
Twyer and Peter Aumener constituted themselves
sureties for John Chamberlain and Elizabeth, and
undertook to pay the expenses of Thomas Betley and
Richard Swaynesey if the case was decided in their
favour. (fn. 122) In 1455–6 John Twyer sold the manor to
John Fortescue, (fn. 123) who died
seised of half the manor of
North Mimms in 1500–1,
and was succeeded by his son
John. (fn. 124) He died in 1517,
and the manor passed to his
son Henry, (fn. 125) who died seised
of it in 1576, having settled
it upon his son Dudley, (fn. 126) who
died in 1604. His son and
heir Daniel (fn. 127) sold it in 1617
to Robert Faldo of Gray's
Inn, (fn. 128) who died seised of it in
1621, leaving his son Thomas
his heir. (fn. 129) In 1638 William, Thomas, and Henry
Faldo conveyed a messuage and land in North
Mimms, Bell Barres, and elsewhere to Paul Pinder, (fn. 130)
who died seised of Brookmans in 1643, leaving Paul
his son and heir. (fn. 131) He died without issue, and the
manor came to his sister Mary wife of Sir William
Dudley. (fn. 132) William and Mary sold it in 1666 to
Andrew Fountain, (fn. 133) who is supposed to have pulled
down the old mansion and erected a new one, as the
date 1680 was upon the spouting of that house, which
in its turn was destroyed by fire about 1892, (fn. 134)
and has never been rebuilt. Andrew sold the
manor in 1702 to George
Liddell and Charles Sanderson. (fn. 135) It subsequently came
to John, Lord Somers, baron
of Evesham. (fn. 136) Lord Somers
had appeared as junior counsel
for the seven bishops in 1688,
and held many high offices
of state, being in turn Attorney-General in 1692, Lord
Keeper of the Great Seal in
1692–3, and Lord Chancellor
in 1697. (fn. 137) He was impeached by the House of Commons in 1701 for
various crimes, of which the chief was that he was
supposed to be the instigator of the second Partition
Treaty. After this he retired to his Brookmans estate,
and passed the rest of his days in literary pursuits.
He died in 1716 without issue, and his heirs were
his sisters, Mary wife of Charles Cocks of Worcester,
and Elizabeth wife of Sir Joseph Jekyll, knt., Master
of the Rolls. (fn. 138) By a subsequent partition this manor
came to Sir Joseph Jekyll and Elizabeth. (fn. 139) Joseph
died in 1738 without issue, and on the death of his
widow in 1745 the estate
came to her nephew James
Cocks, son of her sister Mary. (fn. 140)
He was succeeded in 1750 by
his only son James, who died
unmarried in France in 1758, (fn. 141)
when the manor came to his
uncle John Cocks of Castleditch. He died in 1771 and
was succeeded by his son
Charles, (fn. 142) who with his son
John Somers Cocks sold the
estate in 1784 to William
Strong. (fn. 143) From him it passed
to Alexander Higginson, who sold it in 1785 to
Humphrey Sibthorp, (fn. 144) of whom it was purchased
in 1786 by Samuel Robert Gaussen. (fn. 145) On his death
in 1812 it descended to his eldest son Samuel Robert
Gaussen. He died in 1816 and was succeeded by
his son Robert William, (fn. 146) who
married Elizabeth Christian
daughter and co-heir of James
Casamajor of Potterells. On
his death in 1880 Brookmans
came to his eldest son Robert
George Gaussen, who died in
1906, when the manor passed
to his eldest daughter Emilia
Christian wife of Mr. Herbert
Loftus Tottenham, who now
holds it. She has recently
changed the name of Tottenham for that of Gaussen. The
stables, which were untouched
by the fire of 1892, have been
added to and converted into a residence where Mrs.
Gaussen now lives.
Fortescue. Azure a bend engrailed argent between two cotises or.
Somers. Vert a fesse dancetty ermine.
Cocks. Sable a cheveron between three pairs of harts' horns argent.
Gaussen. Azure a lamb argent standing on a mount vert and a chief argent with three bees therein.
The manor of MORE HALL (More, Gobions or
Gubbins) was held by knight service as of the honour of
Gloucester. (fn. 147) Salmon in his history of Hertfordshire
states that this manor was held by Sir Richard Gobion
in the reign of Stephen, (fn. 148) but the first authentic
mention we have of it is in 1300, when Roger de
Bachesworth, on granting his share of the manor of
North Mimms (q.v.) to his brother Richard, retired
to a certain manor of the Hospitallers called Morehall, where he died. (fn. 149) In 1390 John More held the
manor, (fn. 150) and in 1397 one knight's fee and a half in
North Mimms was held by John More of London. (fn. 151)
In 1500 it was held by Sir John More, father of
the famous Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor, who
is said to have written 'Utopia' there. (fn. 152) After the
trial and execution of Sir Thomas in 1535 the
property was confiscated, and
was granted in 1546 by
Henry VIII for twenty-one
years to William Honynges. (fn. 153)
Edward VI in 1550 granted
it to his sister Princess Elizabeth for her life, (fn. 154) and she
in 1586 granted it to Margaret
Knolls for twenty-one years. (fn. 155)
Queen Mary in the first year
of her reign granted the reversion after the expiration
of these leases to Anne More,
widow of John More, eldest
son of Sir Thomas, and to
Thomas son of John, and the heirs of Thomas,
to be held as of the honour of Hunsdon for a
twentieth part of a knight's fee. (fn. 156) Thomas More
died in 1606, having settled the manor in 1603
upon his son Christopher Cresacre on his marriage
with Elizabeth Gage. (fn. 157) In 1629 Christopher
conveyed the manor to Thomas Rooper, for a
settlement on the marriage of his son Thomas with
Mary daughter of Sir Basil Brooke. (fn. 158) Christopher
was succeeded by Thomas, and from him it passed to
his second son Basil, his eldest son William having
died before him without issue. (fn. 159) In 1693 Basil
and his wife Ann, and his son Christopher Cresacre
and Katherine his wife, sold the manor to Sir Edward
Des Bouverie, (fn. 160) who died in 1695, leaving two sons
William and Jacob. (fn. 161) They in 1694, in fulfilment
of their father's will, conveyed it to John Williams in
trust for Jacob, (fn. 162) who afterwards sold it in 1697 to
Robert Beachcroft. (fn. 163) He sold it to Jeremy Sambrooke, (fn. 164) who by will dated 14 May, 1746, left the
manor to Judith Sambrooke for life, with remainder
to his nephew John Freeman, second son of his sister
Susannah wife of John Cook Freeman. (fn. 165) On the
death of Mrs. Sambrooke it came to John Freeman,
who sold it in 1777 to John Hunter. (fn. 166) John by
his wife Ann had a daughter Ann, wife of William
Hornby, (fn. 167) by whom she had a daughter Hannah.
Ann Hornby died in 1777, (fn. 168) and her father by his will
dated 27 February, 1802, left the manor to Thomas
Holmes husband of his granddaughter Hannah, (fn. 169)
who in 1804 settled it upon himself and his son
William. (fn. 170) Thomas assumed the name of Hunter, (fn. 171)
and afterwards sold the manor to Thomas Nash Kemble, (fn. 172) who died in 1833. (fn. 173) In 1836 the estate was
sold by the trustees of his will to Robert William
Gaussen of Brookmans Park. (fn. 174) Shortly after Mr.
Gaussen acquired this estate, he pulled down the
house and incorporated the grounds surrounding it
with Brookmans Park. (fn. 175)
More. Argent a cheveron engrailed between three moor - cocks sable.
In the time of Thomas Nash Kemble the gardens
at Gobions, which had been laid out by Bridgman, (fn. 176)
were widely celebrated.
LEGGATTS is a small estate in the hamlet of
Little Heath, about four miles south-east of the parish
church. It was a portion of Gobions, but was not
sold with the estate on the death of Mr. Kemble.
Mrs. Virginia Kemble his widow held it till her
death, which occurred in 1870, when it was sold to
William Webb More. (fn. 177) In 1881 it was bought by
Mr. Samuel Gurney Sheppard, (fn. 178) from whom it
passed to his sons Samuel Gurney and Gerald. The
house is now occupied by the former.
Manor of the RECTORY.—There seems to have
been a manor attached to the rectory of North
Mimms, of which successive rectors were lords,
for in 1306–7 free warren was granted in North
Mimms to John de Kirkeby, parson of the church
of North Mimms, (fn. 179) and in 1366 and 1371 Thomas
de Horton, rector of the church, held courts in
North Mimms, (fn. 180) and William de Kesteven, a former
rector, seems to have done so also. (fn. 181) There is
now a farm known as Parsonage Farm in the north of
the parish, which belongs to Mrs. Gaussen, and is
occupied by Mr. Herbert Bosanquet.
CHURCHES
The church of OUR LADY, North
Mimms, consists of chancel 32 ft. 3 in.
by 18 ft. 4 in., with north vestry and
north chapel 23 ft. 4 in. by 13 ft.; nave, 43 ft. 3 in.
by 18 ft. 2 in., with north and south aisles 10 ft. 2 in.
wide; south porch, and west tower. The masonry
of the walls is of flints, with a certain quantity of
Totternhoe stone and brick, and a few blocks of pudding stone, the roofs of nave and chancel being redtiled, and those of the aisles of flat pitch, leaded. The
oldest part of the church is the chancel, which is of
the same width as the nave, and has a slight lean to
the south. The north chapel, which appears to have
been built for a chantry founded in 1328 by Simon
Swanlond, and had an altar of St. Katherine, follows
the line of the chancel, and the chancel walls are
doubtless older than the date of the building of the
chapel. About 1340 the nave and aisles were entirely
rebuilt, though it is probable that the dimensions of
the former nave were preserved; and a central tower,
which would have taken up the western half of the
existing chancel, was planned but never carried out.
The date of the stoppage is significant, and may be
another instance of the effects of the Black Death of
1348–9, though the division of liability at this point
between rector and parish must also be taken into
account. When building was again undertaken it
was on a less ambitious scale, and the lack of a tower
was supplied by the erection of the present west tower
in the fifteenth century. In modern times (1860) the
church has been repaired, and the north vestry and
south porch are modern additions.
The chancel has a three-light east window, with
net tracery, but only the arch and jambs are old. In
the south wall are two windows, both with modern
tracery, the eastern of the two, which has an ancient
head and jambs, being of two cinquefoiled lights with
a quatrefoil over, and the second having net tracery.
Between the windows is a plain pointed doorway, the
external stonework being modern, and below the first
window an arched recess for the sedilia, with a fourteenth-century cinquefoiled piscina to the east. No
stonework in the windows or doorway appears to
be older than the beginning of the fourteenth century,
but the masonry of the walls may possibly be of somewhat earlier date. At the east end of the north wall
is the door to the vestry, made of white marble, and
forming part of the basement of the large white marble
monument of John, Lord Somers, 1716. The greater
part of the north side of the chancel is taken up by
an arcade of two bays in modern stonework, opening
to the north chapel. The chancel arch, which was
intended to be the western arch of a central tower, is
high and massive, of three chamfered orders springing
from recessed and chamfered piers with moulded
capitals and bases, and is abutted on north and south
by smaller arches of like detail which would have
opened from the aisles into the transepts, that on the
south being blocked. Parts of the west jambs of the
northern and southern arches of the tower also remain.
The north chapel, the east end of which is blocked
by an organ, has two original windows on the north
of two trefoiled lights with a flowing quatrefoil in the
head, the lines of the inclosing arch following those
of the tracery. The modern vestry is built against its
east wall, and is lighted by a two-light east window,
copied from those of the chapel.
The nave is of three bays with north and south
arcades of two orders, the details being like those of
the chancel arch, and the aisles are lighted by three-light windows with net tracery, three on the north and
one at the west of the north aisle, and two on the
south and one at the west in the south aisle, the
middle bay of the latter containing the south doorway with a continuous moulded outer arch having a
hollow casement between two double ogees. Externally the windows have moulded labels, and all the
stonework in the nave, except where repaired, is of
the date of the rebuilding, c. 1340. At the east end
of the south aisle is the blocked arch already noticed,
and the south-east buttress is of red brick with a stone
sundial which appears to be dated 1584 and has a
mutilated inscription. The south-west buttress is of
wrought stone and comparatively modern date. The
tower has diagonal buttresses at all four angles, and
has been built outside the west end of the nave, the
junction being made by means of the eastern buttresses. It is tall, of three stages, with a plastered
embattled parapet and a wooden spire covered with
sheet copper. The belfry stage has windows of two
cinquefoiled lights with flattened heads, and the stage
below is blank except on the west, where there is a
three-light window with net tracery, like those in the
nave.
Below it is a fine fourteenth-century doorway of
three moulded orders with flowers in the hollows and
jambs, with three engaged shafts and excellent foliate
capitals. The labels over the arch and window are,
however, of fifteenth-century section, though much
patched with Roman cement, and it seems probable
that both door and window were originally in the
west wall of the nave, and have been reset here at the
building of the tower. The wall on either side of the
west door has bands of wrought stone, and in the lower
part chequers of stone and flint. The east arch of
the tower is of fifteenth-century date, with an engaged
shaft and moulded capitals to the inner order, and at
the south-west angle is a stone stair.
The pulpit, of early seventeenth-century date, is a
good specimen of woodwork, hexagonal with panelled
sides, and a deep band of carving above the panels,
the base and cornice being modern. The altar-table
is also of the seventeenth century, with baluster legs,
but with these exceptions the church retains no
old woodwork in roofs or fittings, though the
stone corbels of a former fifteenth-century nave
roof remain. In the north chapel is some seventeenth-century heraldic glass with Coningsby alliances, and a few pieces of white and gold fifteenth-century glass with a well-preserved figure of a
majesty.
The font stands at the west end of the nave, and is
modern.
The church is rich in monuments. On the north
wall of the church is a beautiful fourteenth-century
brass (probably Flemish, c. 1350), said to be that of
Thomas de Horton, 1360. It shows the figure of a
priest in mass vestments holding a chalice, which
is covered by a paten, and standing under a cusped
canopy on a bracket-shaped base on which are two
lions seated back to back, having between them a
shield charged with a saltire between four crosses
crosslet fitchy. Beneath the priest's feet is a stag.
Above the canopy is a row of arched panels, that in
the middle containing a figure of our Lord holding
the soul of the deceased, between censing angels; and
on either side, in the jambs of the canopy, are figures
of Sts. Peter, James, and Andrew on the right hand,
and Paul, John Evangelist, and Bartholomew on
the left. On the south wall of the chancel, below the
piscina, is a brass plate with an inscription to Thomas
Hewet, 1587, and his wife Elizabeth, 1590; and east
of the south door are the figures of a knight in plate
armour with fluted tuilles and a mail hauberk, of a
civilian and his wife with four sons and six daughters,
and of Richard Butler and his wife, c. 1560. West
of the south door is the figure of Elizabeth Knolles,
1458, and two sons, and an inscription below to her
husband Robert Knolles, the date of his death being
left blank. All these brasses were taken up from the
floor in 1860.
In the north-east angle of the chancel is the large
white marble monument of John, Lord Somers, 1716,
with a seated figure of Justice. The marble door in
the base of the monument has been already noticed.
In the north chapel is a panelled altar tomb of early
fifteenth-century style, said to be that of Elizabeth
Coningsby; and below the north-west window of the
north aisle a late sixteenth-century altar-tomb of
alabaster with an incised figure of a woman on the
slab, the lines being inlaid with a black composition.
Round the edge of the slab is a much-worn inscription
in raised black-letter, a fine and effective work. It
commemorates a lady of the Barford family. Near
it on the walls are several eighteenth-century marble
monuments, the best being that of George Jarvis,
1718, with a white marble bust.
There are six bells, all by John Briant of Hertford,
1806, and a blank priest's bell.
The plate comprises a silver communion cup of c.
1570, the marks being obliterated, with two bands of
strap-work round the bowl; a second cup, copied
from it in 1849; a paten of 1717, and a flagon of
1707, both engraved with a lozenge containing six
ostrich feathers; and a brass almsdish. Besides these
there are two unusual and interesting pieces, a tall
standing covered cup of Nuremberg make, c. 1610,
of silver gilt, and a very remarkable amber tankard,
silver-gilt mounted, with figures of the Virtues in low
relief, German work of the seventeenth century. This
latter is loaned for safety to the British Museum. (fn. 182)
The earliest register preserved is a strip of parchment with entries of baptisms 1565–67, the book next
in date containing all entries from 1656 to 1725, and
five entries of baptisms between 1647 and 1655.
The third book, 1679–1749, contains the burials in
woollen, and the fourth has all entries 1725–55. The
fifth has marriages 1754–1812, the sixth baptisms
1755–93, the seventh burials 1755–1810, the eighth
baptisms 1793–1812, and the ninth burials 1810–12.
Christ Church, Little Heath, is a modern building
in fourteenth-century style, erected in 1893, consisting
of chancel, nave, and transepts. The registers date
from the year of erection.
ADVOWSONS
The church of North Mimms
was in early times attached to the
manor. In 1237–8 Stephen de
Somery presented, (fn. 183) and in 1239 the right of
patronage was apportioned to Peter Picot as part of
his share of the manor. (fn. 184) In 1293–4, however,
Peter and Ralph de Monchesny agreed to present
alternately, (fn. 185) and John, son and heir of Ralph,
gave the advowson to John Sendale, bishop of
Winchester, who was vicar from 1307 to 1311.
The apparent absence of any like grant from the
holders of the possessions of Peter Picot may partly
account for the later disputes as to the tenure of the
advowson. John, son of William Sendale and heir
of Bishop John, gave it to Bartholomew Badlesmere
and Margaret his wife, (fn. 186) and they, in 1320, were
licensed to grant it to the canons of the religious
house which Bartholomew had founded in Badlesmere. (fn. 187) In 1322 Bartholomew was executed for his
adherence to Thomas, earl of Lancaster, and his
wife Margaret was kept a prisoner in the Tower,
until, through the mediation of William, Lord Ros
of Hamelak, she obtained her freedom. (fn. 188) She afterwards retired to the house of the Minorite Sisters,
without Aldgate, where a sum of 2s. a day was paid
for her maintenance. (fn. 189) Giles, son of Bartholomew
and Margaret, was a minor at the time of his father's
death, (fn. 190) and when he died in 1338–9, he was seised
of the advowson of North Mimms. It must, therefore,
have been recovered from the canons at Badlesmere
before this time. (fn. 191) Giles left no children, and his heirs
were his four sisters, Margery wife of William, Lord
Ros de Hamelak, Maud wife of John de Vere, earl of
Oxford, Elizabeth wife of William de Bohun, earl of
Northampton, and Margaret wife of John Tiptoft, (fn. 192)
but the advowson was assigned to his wife Elizabeth,
daughter of William de Montacute, earl of Salisbury,
who afterwards married Sir Hugh le Despenser. The
reversion was allotted to Margaret wife of John
Tiptoft, who had two sons, John and Robert. (fn. 193)
Margaret died before Elizabeth, and on the death of
the latter the advowson descended to John. He
died a minor in 1360, and his brother Robert
succeeded. (fn. 194) On attaining his majority, three years
later, (fn. 195) Robert enfeoffed John de la Lee of the
advowson, who in turn enfeoffed Thomas Strete,
Henry Strete of Knesworth, and Adam de Wyvelingham. (fn. 196) They enfeoffed Nicholas de Thorneton, and
Thomas Bedewin, clerks, (fn. 197) who in their turn granted
the advowson to Richard II and William bishop of
London. (fn. 198) These grantees confirmed it to the prior
and convent of the Charterhouse, London, in 1378, (fn. 199)
and the church was appropriated to them in 1383. (fn. 200)
In 1399, Beatrix Mountviron impleaded the prior
as to his right to the advowson, as it had been
included in the lease of the manor made to her by
William Swanlond, (fn. 201) and she alleged that it had
been inherited by William from his father Simon, (fn. 202)
who had indeed been able to usurp a presentation
during the minority of Robert Tiptoft. (fn. 203) Further,
during the course of a suit between Henry, earl of
Lincoln, and William son of Simon Swanlond, 'a
certain venerable and trusty man' testified that his
uncle, William de Kesteven, had been induced to
insert a grant of the advowson in the charter by
which he gave a quarter of the manor to the husband
of Beatrix Mountviron, although he had openly said,
at the time of the sale, that he had no right therein.
In 1398 Beatrix had alienated this quarter of the
manor to Thomas Knolles, and had presented John
Rowland to the church. In this year she united
with Thomas Knolles in promising to Rowland
forgiveness of a certain payment of £500, if he
should maintain her right and come to no agreement with the prior. (fn. 204) The king, however, ordered,
in 1401–2, that restitution of the patronage should
be made to the Charterhouse. (fn. 205) In 1508 the
abbot and convent leased to Thomas King and
Joan his wife, for twenty years, all the parsonage
of North Mimms, except the advowson of the
vicarage, and a stable and chamber annexed to the
upper end of the hall of the said parsonage. (fn. 206) This
may possibly be the manor of the rectory already
referred to. After the expiration of the above lease
they re-leased it in 1526 for thirty years to Allen
Hord, with the same exceptions, and on condition
that if the prior or proctor or other servants of the
Charterhouse should come to the said parsonage
twice or thrice every year during the said time,
Allen 'shall find and minister to the prior or
proctor and to three or four of their servants, with
their horses by the space of two days and two nights
there abiding, sufficient meats and drinks, with hay,
provender, and litter for their horses at every such
time during the said thirty years.' Allen also undertook to deliver at the Charterhouse every year,
between Easter and Midsummer, as many loads of
good 'char colys,' every load containing twenty-four sacks well filled with 'colys,' as shall be needful
to be spent within the said Charterhouse, receiving
for each load 6s. (fn. 207) Allen was pledged not to cut
or poll any timber or underwood on the land of
the said parsonage, except for reasonable cart-bote,
plough-bote, and fire-bote. The lease was to be in
force only three years after the death of Allen, if he
should die within the said thirty years. (fn. 208) After the
Dissolution the rectory and advowson were granted in
1544 to Henry Grubbe, (fn. 209) who died seised in 1557,
leaving his son George his heir. (fn. 210) George died in
1577, and was succeeded by his son Eustace, (fn. 211) who
was a minor at the time of his father's death, and had
livery of the rectory and advowson in 1582. (fn. 211a)
From him they passed on his death in 1642 to
his son John, (fn. 212) upon whom it had been settled by
his father in 1612 on his marriage with Mary
daughter of William Preston of Childwick. (fn. 213) William
Emerton presented in 1681, (fn. 214) and it afterwards came
to the family of Blackmore. In 1691 it belonged to
Thomas Blackmore, who married Anne, second
daughter of Sir Jonathan Raymond. (fn. 215) Thomas
Blackmore, jun., presented in 1707, (fn. 216) and Raymond
Blackmore, probably a son of Thomas, conveyed it
in 1729 to Charles Osborn, (fn. 217) and in 1749 Henry
Blackmore presented. (fn. 218) He was the son of Thomas
and Anne, and was succeeded by his daughter
Elizabeth, wife of William Fullerton. (fn. 219) It afterwards
came to their son William Fullerton, who devised it
to Catherine Fullerton, his half-sister. (fn. 220) The king
presented in 1768 by a lapse, and Catherine Fullerton in 1790. (fn. 221) In 1801 Catherine conveyed the
advowson to Samuel Robert Gaussen, from whom
it descended, with the manor of Brookmans, to Mrs.
Herbert Loftus Tottenham, now Mrs. Gaussen, the
present patron.
The living of Christ Church, Little Heath, is a
vicarage in the gift of the Church Patronage Society.
In 1328 Simon Swanlond founded a chantry of
one priest in the chapel of St. Katherine in the
parish church of North Mimms. The chaplain was
to say one mass daily at the altar of St. Katherine for
Simon and his wife during their lives; and after
their death for their souls and those of their parents
and of all faithful departed. He might celebrate
nowhere else without the leave of Simon or his heirs,
and he was not to say mass on Sundays and feast-days
until after the celebration in the parish church had
been completed. The presentation rested with
Simon and his heirs. The priest must swear at his
institution to keep the ordinance of his chantry, and
was removable by the diocesan. (fn. 222) In 1334 Simon
obtained licence to increase the endowment of the
chantry, (fn. 223) and in 1404 the advowson was transferred,
with leave from the pope, by William Swanlond to
Thomas Knolles. (fn. 224)
In 1549 land and tenements which had been
granted for lights and repairs to the church were
granted to Sir John Perient and Thomas Reve.
The tenement was called Berdford or the Church
House, and had lately been in the tenure of John
Pavys, and was then held by Henry Grubbe. (fn. 225)
A brotherhood of our Lady existed at North
Mimms in the sixteenth century, for William Hottyng bequeathed a legacy to the brotherhood by his
will dated 1515. (fn. 226)
In this parish there is only one licence of a house
as a meeting-place for Nonconformists. This house
was registered in 1776, (fn. 227) but the Nonconformists
seem to have obtained no footing in the parish, and
have no chapel here at the present time.
CHARITIES
By an order of the Charity Commissioners, dated 11 August, 1891,
the following charities were brought
under one body of trustees, (fn. 228) and are administered
together for the benefit of the poor of the parish,
namely:—
Charities of a donor unknown (prior to 1622) and
of John, Lord Somers (deed 1716), the charity estates
consisting of Reddall Field and Carpenter's Grove
Field, near Hawkshead, containing 16 acres and
6 acres 3 roods respectively, producing together a
yearly income of £20.
Charities of Thomas and Anne Edwards (deed
1626), consisting of a cottage, barn, and garden, and
about 10 acres of land in the parish of St. Peter,
St. Albans, producing £25 a year; also of three
pieces of land in Angerland Common containing
about 2 acres.
Charity of Sir Thomas Hyde (deed 1655), consisting of 1 acre 3 roods 27 poles abutting on Roestock
Common, in Angerland Common, and 35 poles in
centre of the common. The lands in Angerland are
let together to one tenant at £4 a year.
Charity of Martha Coningsby, consisting of
2 acres 2 roods 20 poles in Woodsdell Common, producing about £2 10s. a year, distributable among ten
of the poorest inhabitants on Shrove Tuesdays.
The real property above mentioned was vested in
the official trustee of charity lands by order of 12 May,
1882.
The official trustees of charitable funds hold the
sums of stock belonging to the following charities also
comprised in the above-mentioned order of 1891,
namely:—
Charities of Edmund Faldo (will 1626), Sir Thomas
Hyde, and John Seranck (1655), £1,179 11s. 9d.
£2 10s. per cent. annuities arising from sales of land;
income for poor and apprenticing.
Charity of Dame Lydia Mews (will 1727),
£305 14s. 9d. consols.
Charity of Anne Hunter (will 1784), £256 10s. 3d.
consols.
Charity of Joseph Sabine (deed 1816), £109 12s.
consols; income for bread and meat to widows on
Easter Eve, and
Charity of Miss Holmes (will 1847), £121 5s. 5d.
consols, income for one poor widow.
The net income of the charities, amounting to
about £100 a year, was applied in 1904 as to £53 for
widows' allowances, £19 in the distribution of bread
at church, and £21 in apprenticing, and in the distribution of Mrs. Coningsby's, Mr. Sabine's, and Miss
Holmes' gifts.
Caroline Lydia Casamajor, by her will, proved at
London, 10 September, 1853, left £3,000 consols
for support of a school at Water End for educating and
in part clothing the children of the poor, and for
repairing and improving the school-house, the school
to be a Church of England school. In 1905 the
consols were realized and proceeds re-invested in
purchase of £3,264 9s. 1d. India 2½ per cent. stock;
a sum of £166 13s. 4d. stock was subsequently sold
out to be replaced within a period of twenty-five
years for making an addition to the girls' and infants'
school, leaving a balance of £3,097 15s. 9d. India 2½ per
cent. stock with the official trustees, which, under an
order of the Board of Education of 9 February, 1906,
was apportioned as to £196 1s. stock for repairs of
schoolhouse, £2,176 6s. 1d. stock for salaries of
schoolmistresses, and £725 8s. 8d. for girls' clothing,
fuel, books, &c. Two-thirds of the dividends computed as if of the original sum of £3,264 9s. 1d.
India 2½ per cent. stock, are now paid over to the
Herts. County Council.