LETCHWORTH
The parish of Letchworth, containing about 888
acres of land, lies between Walsworth and Willian;
its northern boundary is formed by the Icknield
Way, the southern by the main road between Great
Wymondley and Baldock. The detached part of the
parish surrounding Burleigh Farm, 8 miles south of the
town of Letchworth, was transferred to Knebworth
by a Local Government Board Order of 1907. By
the same order Norton and Willian were amalgamated
with Letchworth for civil purposes, but by a further
order of 1908 the latter was made a civil parish.
The town of Letchworth stands on the borders of
Bedfordshire. It has a station on the Hitchin and
Cambridge branch of the Great Northern railway.
The grounds of Letchworth Hall, now an hotel
belonging to the Garden City, adjoin the churchyard
on the south side. It is said to have been built by
Sir William Lytton about the year 1620, on the site
of an earlier house, and all the old parts of the existing
building are Jacobean in character. In plan it
resembles the letter T, the hall and some rooms to
the southward forming the vertical portion, while a
wing on the west containing the dining room, &c.,
and another on the east, occupied by the kitchen
offices, form the upper part of the T. A large block
of buildings was erected on the north side by the
Rev. John Alington before 1846. He also built some
detached stables to the south of the hall. The old part
of the building is of thin 2-in. bricks. Some blocks of
clunch and flint in a small disused porch at the extreme
south end may be a portion of the former building.
The eaves of the central hall are low, but rooms are
formed in the roof, lighted by dormer windows at the
back, and on the front by a window in a brick gable
which seems to be a much later addition or a rebuilding. The principal entrance is by a porch, with
a room over, on the east side of the hall. This porch
has a low entrance of brick with a flat three-centred
arch. Each of the gables has a brick coping, with an
octagonal terminal at the apex, but the top of the
finial at the apex has disappeared. All the roofs are
tiled. At the back or west side of the hall is a
boldly projecting chimney, with offsets above the
roof, and finished on the top with two square
detached shafts set diagonally. All the older windows
have oak mullions, but many of the others are more
modern in construction. On the south wall of the
west wing are three stone panels; the central one,
which has been rebuilt into a modern bay window,
bears a shield with the following arms: Quarterly
of 4: (1) Ermine a chief indented with three crowns
therein, for Lytton; (2) Three boars' heads, for
Booth; (3) A fesse between six acorns with three oak
leaves on the fesse for Ogden; (4) Ermine a cross with
five escallops thereon. The shield on the right bears
the arms of Lytton impaling St. John. The panel
on the right is carved with two birds holding a ring
between them, with the inscription above: 'Sic nos
junxit amor.' Beyond the porch is a passage running
the full width of the hall, under what was, until
Alington's time, the musicians' gallery, now built up
and thrown into a bedroom. A small modern stair
at the end of the passage no doubt occupies the
position of the old gallery stair. Some old balusters
and newels have been re-used on this stair. The oak
screen next the hall is a very fine and highly enriched
piece of work of the time of James I. It is in a
perfect condition, though one section of it has been
moved about 2 ft. forward to give more room for
the stair behind, and the upper part has been removed.
There are two openings in the centre, each about
4 ft. wide, with flat arches over, the openings being
separated by a circular column with Doric capital.
The remainder of the screen is filled in with diagonal
panelling. The spandrels of the arches and the
mouldings are carved. Above is the cornice which
formerly supported the front of the gallery. It
projects about 2 ft. On the frieze is a row of small
squares and circles alternating, with leaves carved in
them. There are carved consoles at intervals along
the cornice. On the small brackets carrying the outer
ends of the arches thistles are carved. The hall is a
large apartment 47 ft. by 21 ft. It has windows on
each side and is flat ceiled with plaster. There is a
large fireplace 6 ft. wide with splayed three-centred
arch on the west side near the screen. Over the fireplace a carved stone shield has been inserted, bearing
the arms of Alington, which are Sable a bend engrailed
between six billets argent. On the other side there
is a brick seat along part of the wall, which, however, appears to be modern. The floor is paved
with modern bricks. At the north end of the hall
is the modern entrance to the additions of last
century. The dining room, about 37 ft. by 16 ft.,
extends to the west of the hall. The old doorway,
now built up, still remains. A modern doorway has
been opened into the dining room, which contains
a good stone fireplace and carved oak chimneypiece.
The fireplace is of the usual early 17th-century type
with four-centred arch with the outer moulding
carried square above it. The overmantel is carried
up to the ceiling, and is divided into two panelled
compartments flanked by human demi-figures and
crowned by a cornice. All the work is elaborately
carved. The upper floor of the main building,
including over the hall, is subdivided into a number
of rooms, most of them small, and containing little
of interest. There is a fine fireplace, however, over
that in the dining room, but owing to the formation
of new rooms it is now in a passage. The lower
part is of clunch, having a four-centred arch with
mouldings similar to that in the dining room; on
either side are half female figures undraped, on carved
pedestals, supporting the projecting portion of the
entablature, which has a moulded cornice, with dentil
enrichment, moulded architrave, and carved frieze
with consoles at intervals. All this work appears to
be Jacobean, but above it is a large panel reaching to
the ceiling containing four figures in high relief,
representing the Judgment of Paris, which is probably
of late 17th-century date. It is executed in plaster
and the figures are only slightly draped. Paris stands
in the centre offering the apple to Venus, who has a
Cupid clinging to her knees; beside her are Juno with
a peacock at her feet and Minerva with a helmet.
Letchworth Hall: Ground plan
North of the church is a timber-framed house now
divided into cottages; it is of early 17th-century date
with a projecting porch. The post-office is a house of
the same age and style of construction, now L-shaped,
a south wing having apparently been removed.
Little Rustling End Farm, a mile and a half west
of Knebworth Church and now in that parish, is a
rectangular two-storied timber-framed house of the
17th century. The construction, with brick filling
below and plaster above, is only seen at the back of
the house, the front being cemented. The kitchen
has an open timber roof supported by a beam. At the
back of the house is a small staircase wing.
The Garden City Pioneer Company are now the
sole landowners in Letchworth parish, which is being
laid out by them for residential and business purposes; it is said that over 9 miles of new roads have
been made.
Letchworth Hall: Part of Stair
The soil is sandy loam, in some parts clay with
beds of sand and gravel; the subsoil is chalk.
MANORS
LETCHWORTH (HANCHETS or MONTFITCHETS).
—Before the
Norman Conquest Letchworth was
held by Godwin of Souberie (Soulbury), a thegn of
King Edward the Confessor. In 1086 it formed
part of the domain of Robert Gernon, and
was assessed at 10 hides. (fn. 1) Robert Gernon's estates
were acquired early in the reign of Henry I by
William de Montfitchet, (fn. 2) who with his wife Rohais
seems to have been holding Letchworth at the
beginning of the 12th century. (fn. 3) His son William (fn. 4)
succeeded him before 1135 and married Margaret (fn. 5)
the daughter of Gilbert Fitz Richard de Clare. (fn. 6)
His wife outlived him and was still holding some of
the Montfitchet lands in 1185. (fn. 7) The rest of William's
lands seem to have passed about 1167 to his son
Gilbert, (fn. 8) whose wife's name was Avelina. (fn. 9) Gilbert
was succeeded by his son Richard
about 1190, (fn. 10) whose son, also
named Richard, (fn. 11) was one of the
confederate barons of 1215 who
demanded the Charter of Liberties
from King John. (fn. 12) He was among
those excommunicated by Pope
Innocent III in 1216, (fn. 13) and was
taken prisoner by Henry III at
Lincoln in 1217. (fn. 14) In 1244 he
was one of the barons' deputies
chosen to consider the king's
demand for a subsidy. (fn. 15) He appears in connexion with Letchworth in 1240. (fn. 16) He died without
issue about 1258, (fn. 17) his heirs being
his three sisters: Margery wife of
Hugh de Bolbek, Aveline wife of
William de Fortibus Earl of Albemarle, and Philippa wife of Hugh
de Pleyz. (fn. 18) The third of his inheritance, including the portion
held by his widow Joyce in dower
until 1274, was assigned to the
children of Margery de Bolbek,
the eldest sister, and was divided
between her daughters Philippa
de Lancaster, Margery Corbett
and Maud de la Val, (fn. 19) Letchworth being apportioned to the
second daughter Margery and her
husband Nicholas Corbett. (fn. 20)
Margery afterwards married Ralph
Fitz William. (fn. 21) She is known to
have conveyed her lands in Ayot
St. Peter to Robert Burnell,
Bishop of Bath and Wells and
chancellor of Edward I, and as
Philip Burnell, Robert's nephew
and heir, (fn. 22) died seised of Letchworth in 1294, (fn. 23) it seems probable
that Margery conveyed Letchworth also to Philip's
uncle. In 1295 Letchworth was assigned to Philip's
widow Maud in dower, (fn. 24) and passed after her death
to her son Edward, who died childless in 1315, and
subsequently to his sister Maud, the wife of John
Handlo. (fn. 25) Nicholas son of Maud and John assumed
the surname of Burnell; he was holding Letchworth
in 1346 (fn. 26) and died in 1382, when he was succeeded
by his son Hugh. (fn. 27) Hugh Burnell died in 1420
seised of the Montfitchet lands on the Essex border, (fn. 28)
which may have included Letchworth, though it is
not mentioned by name. His heirs were his three
granddaughters Joyce Erdington (who died childless),
Katherine Ratcliffe and Margaret Hungerford. (fn. 29)
Edmund Hungerford, husband of Margaret, was
seised of the Montfitchet lands in Essex, but the overlordship of Letchworth cannot be definitely traced
any further.
Letchworth Hall: West front
Very little is known of the early sub-tenants of
Letchworth. In 1086 William of Letchworth, a
Norman and one of the Domesday jurors for Broadwater Hundred, (fn. 30) held the manor of Robert Gernon. (fn. 31)
Later the sub-tenancy seems to have been acquired
by a younger branch of the Montfitchet family. In
1274, when Margery and Nicholas Corbett acquired
the manor, the sub-tenant was a John Muschet, (fn. 32)
whose name is probably a corrupt form of Montfitchet. (fn. 33) In 1295 Letchworth is said to have been
held of Maud Burnell by 'the heirs of Richard de
Montfitchet,' (fn. 34) and a Richard de Montfitchet claimed
the advowson in 1302. (fn. 35) In 1303 Custancia Montfitchet was assessed for the fee, (fn. 36) and seems to have been
holding it as late as 1314 (fn. 37) ; in 1346 it was held by
another Richard Montfitchet. (fn. 38) Edmund Barrington
was assessed for it in 1428, (fn. 39)
but it is not clear whether he
acquired it from the Montfitchets. About the middle
of the 15th century it came
into the possession of Thomas
Hanchet of Bedford, who was
holding it in 1474. (fn. 40) He
was succeeded by William
Hanchet, who died seised of
it in 1515, leaving a son
Andrew. (fn. 41) Andrew, however,
died in the following year
and his lands passed to his
brother John, an infant of
two. (fn. 42) Letchworth had been settled to the use of
John's mother Margery for her life. (fn. 43) John attained
his majority in 1535, (fn. 44) and together with Bridget
his wife sold Letchworth in 1547 to Thomas
Snagge. (fn. 45) Thomas was succeeded at Letchworth by
his second son Robert Snagge, (fn. 46) who was lord of the
manor in 1574. (fn. 47) His brother and successor William
Snagge (fn. 48) died before 1596, leaving a widow
Margaret, who by that time had married William
Walford, and a son William. (fn. 49) William Snagge, jun.,
soon after conveyed the manor to Sir Rowland Lytton
of Knebworth, (fn. 50) who died seised of it in 1615. (fn. 51)
Letchworth then followed the descent of Knebworth
Manor (fn. 52) until 1811, (fn. 53) but a few years later it was
sold to John Williamson of Baldock, who possessed
it in 1821. (fn. 54) He died in 1830 and left Letchworth
to his grandson the Rev. John Alington, son of his
daughter Sarah, who died in 1863. (fn. 55) The manor
then passed successively to John Alington's second
but eldest surviving son William, who died childless
in 1874, and to his youngest son the Rev. Julius
Alington of Little Barford. (fn. 56) The latter possessed
Letchworth until 1903, when the First Garden City
Pioneer Company acquired the whole parish by
purchase. (fn. 57)
Snagge of Letchworth. Argent three pheons sable.
William Lytton was granted court leet and free
warren in Letchworth in 1616. (fn. 58)
Half a fee in Letchworth was held by the Knights
Templars in the 13th century, and 120 acres in
addition were granted to them by Richard de Montfitchet for a term of fifty years. (fn. 59) Nothing more is
known of the descent of this half fee.
Nevells or Nevills
NEVELLS or NEVILLS was a small manor which
was held of the manor of Letchworth. (fn. 60) It is not
called a manor until 1324. In 1198 John de Nevill
claimed 4 virgates of land in Letchworth as his
inheritance from Alban his grandfather, who was
seised of it. (fn. 61) A John de Nevill appears again in
1247–8, (fn. 62) and in 1324 Walter de Nevill, son of this
or another John, conveyed the reversion of the manor,
which another Walter de Nevill held for life, to
John de Blomvile, (fn. 63) lord of the manor of Chesfield in
Graveley. Following the descent of this manor (fn. 64)
(q.v.) it passed to the Barringtons, (fn. 65) and remained in
that family until it came to John son of Nicholas
Barrington (fn. 66) in 1515. In 1524 the wardship of
John Barrington was granted to Henry Earl of Essex, (fn. 67)
but John seems to have attained his majority in the
following year. (fn. 68) Soon after this the Barringtons
must have conveyed Nevells to the Snagge family,
who acquired Letchworth in 1547, for in 1596
William Snagge and his mother conveyed Nevells to
Sir Rowland Lytton. (fn. 69) Sir Rowland died in 1615
seised of the reversion of the 'capital messuage called
Nevill' after the death of Margaret Walford (William
Snagge's mother), and was possessed of the residue of
the manor. (fn. 70) He already held Letchworth, and from
that date Nevells and Letchworth followed the same
descent and were presumably amalgamated.
Burleigh or Burley
BURLEIGH or BURLEY (Borneleye, Boureleghe,
xiii cent.; Borleye, xiv cent.; Burlee, xv cent.) is
now represented by Burleigh Farm in a detached
portion of Letchworth parish between Stevenage and
Knebworth, situated about 8 miles south of Letchworth. In the 14th century it appears held with
Wollenwich as a quarter of a knight's fee, so it is
possible that in 1086 it was included in the half hide
and half virgate in Wollenwich (Wlwenewiche) held
of Robert Gernon by the William who held Letchworth. (fn. 71) The overlordship of Burleigh appears in
the same hands as that of Letchworth (q.v.), passing
from the Montfitchets (the successors of Robert
Gernon) to the Burnells. Philip Burnell died seised
of a quarter fee in Burleigh in 1294, (fn. 72) and in 1303 a
quarter fee in Burleigh and Wollenwich was held of
the heirs of Philip Burnell by Laurence de Brok. (fn. 73)
The family of Brok had probably been holding the
fee in sub-tenancy for some time previous to this, for
a Laurence de Brok, who died about 1275, appears
as grantee in conveyances of land in Wollenwich. (fn. 74)
He had a son Hugh, who was the father of the
Laurence of 1303. (fn. 75) This Laurence (fn. 76) was holding
Burleigh in 1294, (fn. 77) and died before 1330, leaving
a widow Ellen, (fn. 78) after whose death his lands passed
to their son Ralph. (fn. 79) Ralph's heirs, who were
holding Burleigh in 1346, (fn. 80) were his three daughters,
Joan, who died childless, Ellen and Agnes. (fn. 81) There
is no evidence to show which of the two latter
inherited Burleigh, but Agnes is known to have had
a daughter Joan and a granddaughter Katrine, whose
daughter was named Cecily. (fn. 82) Possibly the Thomas
Vinter who was holding the property in 1428 (fn. 83)
was the husband of Katrine or Cecily, in which case
Burleigh would have descended to one of Cecily's
granddaughters, Joan Alington, Elizabeth Taillard
and Margaret Langley, who claimed some of the
Brok lands in 1468. (fn. 84) Early in the 16th century
Burleigh came into the hands of Ralph Fraunces, son
of William Fraunces, from whom he perhaps inherited
it. Ralph died seised of it in 1533, leaving an infant
son William, who was placed in the wardship of
Sir Henry Sacheverell. (fn. 85) In 1557 William Fraunces
and Elizabeth his wife conveyed the property to
John Godfrey or Cowper. (fn. 86) The latter died in 1565,
leaving Burleigh to his younger son Francis, then
under age. (fn. 87) The latter died in 1631, leaving
'Burley Ground and the Hault' to be divided between
his three sons Edward, William and John, (fn. 88) after
which all records of the estate cease, but it seems to
have subsequently come into the possession of the
Lyttons of Knebworth, (fn. 89) whose estates it adjoined.
CHURCH
The parish church, the dedication of
which is unknown, stands to the north
of Letchworth Hall and about half a
mile to the south of the village. It is built of flint
rubble with freestone dressings, and the roof is tiled.
It consists of a chancel and nave, with a south porch,
and has a bellcote at the west end. (fn. 90) The original
church of the 12th century is represented by the
nave, while the chancel of the 13th century appears
to have been rebuilt, as it leans to the south. In the
15th century the south porch was added and the church
was re-roofed. About 1500 windows were inserted
in the nave, and the bellcote appears to date from
about the same time, though it has been altered externally. The church was repaired in the 19th century.
The east wall of the chancel appears to have been
rebuilt in the 16th or early in the 17th century,
and the east window of three lights under a square
head is of that date. In the north wall is a 13th-century lancet window, and there is a low-side window
of about 1350 in the west end of the north wall.
In the south wall are similar windows and a 14th-century doorway, which has been blocked and can
only be seen on the outside. The chancel arch has
very coarse mouldings, and appears to have been
rebuilt in the 16th century. The roof is plastered,
but the 15th-century trusses and wind-braces are
visible. The nave has two single-light windows in
the north wall, of about 1500, with tracery in fourcentred heads. The easternmost of these contains
15th-century glass, with a shield of Montfitchet:
Gules three cheverons or and a label azure. There
is also in this wall a blocked doorway, apparently of
14th-century date. At the north-east angle a
thickening of the wall probably indicates the position
of the rood-loft stair, of which the foundations have
recently been discovered. At the same angle is an
early 15th-century niche for an image. The head
is partly buried in the north wall, and the south
jamb has been cut back. The windows in the south
wall are modern, of two lights, in 13th-century style.
The west window, of two cinquefoiled lights, is of
about 1500, and contains some fragments of mediaeval
glass. The ceiling of the nave is plastered, but the
beams and wall cornices of the 15th-century roof are
still in position. The south doorway, of two moulded
orders, with a four-centred head, is of the same date,
and on the door is some ironwork of the 13th century.
The south porch has a two-centred entrance arch of
two moulded orders, with shields in the spandrels;
the western shield is carved with lozenges, the other
is illegible. There is the base of a stoup in
the north-east corner. The bellcote, which is
cemented externally, has north and south windows
with two-centred heads, and is supported on a fourcentred wooden arch, now painted, which spans the
nave at the west end. Its roof is pyramidal and
tiled. It contains a bell, probably of the 14th
century, by an unknown founder, with the inscription
'Ave Maria Dracia (sic) Plena.'
The bowl of the font is probably of the 14th
century, and there are some 15th-century benches
with broken ends in the nave. A remarkable
monument on the sill of the north-east window of
the nave is a miniature recumbent effigy (2 ft. 2 in.
long by 1 ft. wide) in chain armour and a long surcoat,
holding a heart in his hands. The figure is of about
1300 and is much defaced. In the chancel is a
brass of a priest in eucharistic vestments, with an
inscription and the date 1475. In the nave is a
brass with the half-length figures of a man and his
wife, with a fragmentary inscription which records
the name of the wife, Isabelle; the man is said to
be William Overbury, and the date is about 1470.
The plate includes a cup and cover paten of late
16th-century style, but without hall-marks.
The registers are in four volumes: (i) 1695 to
1748; (ii) baptisms 1749 to 1806, marriages
1749 to 1754, burials 1749 to 1804; (iii) baptisms
and burials 1807 to 1812; (iv) marriages 1754 to
1805.
ADVOWSON
There is mention of a priest at
Letchworth in 1086. (fn. 91) The church
of Letchworth was granted, with
all appurtenances and 12 acres of land in the
parish, to the monastery of St. Albans by William
de Montfitchet and Rohais his wife and William
their son at the beginning of the 12th century. (fn. 92)
The living was not appropriated and is still a
rectory. About 1297 John de Ulseby, rector of
Letchworth, was deprived of his living for his
connexion with Cardinal James Colonna, who
was excommunicated by Boniface VIII for his
opposition to that pope's election. (fn. 93) The Abbot of
St. Albans then presented Robert de Donnebrugge,
but the Bishop of Lincoln refused to institute him;
in 1301, however, Pope Boniface VIII sent a mandate
to his successor commanding the institution. (fn. 94) In
1302 and in 1320 the king presented by reason of
the voidance of St. Albans (fn. 95) ; on the first occasion
Richard Montfitchet claimed the right, but his claim
was not allowed. (fn. 96) The advowson remained to the
monastery of St. Albans until its surrender at the end
of 1539, (fn. 97) after which it was presumably held for a
while by the Crown. Some time before 1610 it was
granted to Sir Henry Cock, who died possessed of it
in that year, and was succeeded by his grandson
Henry Lucy, son of his elder daughter Frances and
Edmund Lucy. (fn. 98) Soon after this the advowson was
acquired by the Lytton family, William Lytton
presenting in 1676, (fn. 99) and after this it followed the
descent of the manor until 1903, when it was sold
to Mr. Walter Plimpton, Mr. Henry William Hill and
Major Gilbert E. W. Malet, who form a syndicate. (fn. 100)
In 1544, after the dissolution of St. Albans
Abbey, a pension of 13s. from Letchworth rectory
was granted to George Nodes (fn. 101) of Shephall, and
apparently remained in his family, for in 1643 a
George Nodes died possessed of 'rent from the
rectory of Letchworth,' leaving a son Charles. (fn. 102)
In 1638 the parsonage contained 'one hall, one
pallor, one kichin, two buttries, one milkhouse, one
larder, five chambers with a study.' The glebe lands
then consisted of about 45 acres. (fn. 103)
St. Michael
The mission church of ST. MICHAEL in Norton
Way was built before 1910.
A Roman Catholic church dedicated in honour of
St. Hugh was built in Pixmore Way in 1908; the
Presbytery adjoins it. There is a meeting of the
Society of Friends at Howgills, Sollershott; the
Wesleyan Methodists hold services in the Pixmore
Institute, and the Salvation Army in the Co-operative
Hall. There is also a Free Church in Norton Way,
which was built in 1905 and enlarged in 1907.
A chapel existed at Burleigh at the beginning of
the 13th century, and is mentioned in 1218 as
attached to the church of Letchworth, and therefore
as belonging to St. Alban's Abbey. (fn. 104) In 1311 licence
was given to the Broks, lords of Burleigh, for a
chantry in the chapel of Burleigh, (fn. 105) and the whole
seems to have been subsequently known as Brook's
Chapel or Burleigh's Chapel. It seems to have soon
decayed, for in 1548 it possessed no plate, ornaments,
goods or chattels beyond the tithes of the land
attached. The incumbent was then William ap Rise. (fn. 106)
Upon its dissolution the site and lands pertaining
were granted in 1553 to John and William Dodington
and their heirs, (fn. 107) but seem to have come not long
after into the possession of John Godfrey or Cowper,
who held the manor of Burleigh (q.v.) and died in
1565. He held the 'tithe called Brokes Chappell
or Burleyes Chappell' of the queen as of her manor of
East Greenwich in socage, (fn. 108) and left it to his younger
son Francis, who died in 1631 seised of ' Burley
Ground, le Hault, and Brooks Chappell,' which he
had settled on his younger sons William and John. (fn. 109)
There are no endowed charities. The children
attend the school at Willian.