KELSHALL
Chelesele (x, xi cent.); Kelshulle, Kelshille
(xiii cent.).
The parish of Kelshall, containing about 4,703
acres, lies on the chalk hills. On its eastern side
the land rises as high as 519 ft. above the ordnance
datum, but falls to 300 ft. in the west. The Icknield
Way forms the parish and county boundary on the
north-west, and near to it on Gallows Hill is a
tumulus. The soil is chiefly clay or chalk and
gravel. The parish is mainly agricultural, the chief
crops being wheat, oats and roots, and only a small
proportion of the land is laid down to pasture.
There are only a few acres of woodland, and these
are principally in the south of the parish where
Philpotts Wood marks the site of the manor of
Woodhall alias Philpotts (q.v.). The common lands
were inclosed by Act of Parliament passed in 1795,
the award being dated 1797. (fn. 1)
The village lies about 2 miles to the south of the
Icknield Way, with which it is connected by roads
leading north, joining in the village and thence going
to Therfield and the Ermine Street at Buckland.
The main part of the village lies along the road
to Buckland and the church occupies a commanding
position in the highest part of it. Several small
ponds lie on the east of the church, and from the
formation of the ground it appears probable that
there was once a moat here. (fn. 2) On the small green in
the middle of the village is the stone base of a village
cross, which was found in 1906, and set up here on
a brick base. It has been very much worn by the
weather, but enough remains to show that it probably
belongs to the 14th century. The lower half is
square, and supports an octagonal shaft, with ogee
stops, which has a socket for a cross. It is surrounded
by iron railings, and is under the charge of the Hertfordshire County Council.
Kelshall has always been off the lines of communication and therefore dependent upon Royston.
When James I had a hunting lodge at Royston the
inhabitants of the surrounding villages, including
Kelshall, were compelled to cultivate their lands to
suit the king's pleasure. They were forbidden to
plough their fields in narrow ridges, their swine
had to be ringed that they should not root holes
to the danger of the king or prince when hunting
or hawking, and they had to take down any high
boundaries between their lands, that the king
might always have an easy passage whenever he
wished. (fn. 3)
In 1768 Richard Hassell, lord of the manor of
Kelshall, complained that his letters even from the
neighbourhood were sent him via London, so that
they took two days and cost 6d., whereas they might
have come direct to Royston for a penny. (fn. 4) The
nearest railway station is at Ashwell, 3 miles to the
north, though Royston is the nearest town.
Several notable men have been incumbents of
Kelshall. Among them may be mentioned the Rev.
John Watson, who, with a success that suggests the
policy of the Vicar of Bray, was known and rewarded
as a Reformer under Edward VI, received preferment
from Mary and was made Bishop of Winchester by
Elizabeth. He was appointed rector of Kelshall in
1554 and held it as a pluralist. (fn. 5) The Rev. Joseph
Beaumont, D.D., Master of Peterhouse and a poet,
held the rectory from 1643 but was non-resident. (fn. 6)
The Rev. George Henry Law, D.D., who became
successively Bishop of Chester and of Bath and
Wells, was rector of Kelshall for eleven years. (fn. 7)
His son Henry Law was born there in 1797.
He also entered the Church and was one of the
leaders of the Evangelical party. (fn. 8)
MANORS
Kelshall
The manor of KELSHALL was held
before the Conquest by the Abbot and
monks of Ely, (fn. 9) and is said to have been
given them in the year 1000 by Ethelflaeda wife of
Duke Ethelstan. (fn. 10) They were confirmed in their
possession by a charter of Edward the Confessor,
which confirmed the grants of his father and grandfather. (fn. 11) The Abbots of Ely retained possession of
the manor after the Conquest, (fn. 12) and when a bishopric
was erected at Ely in 1108–9 (fn. 13) Kelshall became
part of the possessions of that see. (fn. 14) In 1251
Hugh Bishop of Ely received a grant of free warren
in his lands in Kelshall. (fn. 15) Return of writs, pleas de
namio vetito, gallows and assize of bread and ale were
also claimed by the bishops. (fn. 16) In 1285–6 there was
a mill attached to the manor. (fn. 17)
See of Ely. Gules three crowns or.
Kelshall remained with the
bishopric till 1600, (fn. 18) when
Martin Heaton, then Bishop
of Ely, alienated it with
several other manors to the
queen. (fn. 19) It was then held
by the Crown for nine years. (fn. 20)
In 1609 James I granted it
to George Salter (fn. 21) in trust
for Ralph Freeman, and the
latter sold it in 1628 to James
Willymot. (fn. 22) He held the
manor till his death in 1662, (fn. 23)
when it passed to his son James Willymot, who was
Sheriff of Herts in 1683. (fn. 24) He sold it to John
Poynter in 1695, (fn. 25) at whose death in 1718 (fn. 26) the
manor descended to his son Samuel, (fn. 27) who held it
till his death in 1747. (fn. 28) It then passed to his sister
Sarah, (fn. 29) who married Richard Hassall in 1754. (fn. 30)
When Richard Hassall died the manor was sold to
John Kenrick of Blechingley, Surrey. (fn. 31) On his
death in 1799 it passed to his brother the Rev.
Matthew Kenrick. rector of Blechingley, (fn. 32) who died
in 1803, (fn. 33) when his property went by will to his
brother the Rev. Jarvis Kenrick, rector of Chilham,
Kent. (fn. 34) From him it descended to his son William
Kenrick. (fn. 35) After his death Kelshall was held by
Mrs. Kenrick until about 1899, when it passed to
Colonel Byrne. Mr. John Inns, the present lord of
the manor, purchased the property from Colonel
Byrne a few years ago.
Woodhall alias Philpotts
The manor of WOODHALL alias PHILPOTTS
was held of the Bishops of Ely as of their manor of
Kelshall. (fn. 36)
Philpott. Sable a bend ermine.
The earliest reference to the manor seems to be in
1430–1, when it was held by
John Philpott and Matilda
his wife. (fn. 37) It received its
second name from this family,
with whom it remained until
the beginning of the 17th
century. John Philpott died
in 1436, (fn. 38) and the manor
passed to his son John, at
that date aged five. (fn. 39) This
John was knighted and died
in 1502, when his son Peter
succeeded him. (fn. 40) Peter also
received the honour of knighthood, and died in 1540. (fn. 41) In 1543 his son Thomas
was seised of the manor, and was declared to have
been a lunatic since 1534. (fn. 42) In 1607 Sir George
Philpott, kt., made a settlement of the manor. (fn. 43) He
died in 1622 and was succeeded by his son Sir John
Philpott. (fn. 44)
The Philpotts had remained adherents of the old religion, and in consequence of heavy fines for recusancy
found themselves involved in money difficulties. (fn. 45) In
1625 Sir John Philpott, in order to pay the legacies
left in his father's will and also his own debts, demised
the manor of Woodhall with various other estates for
the term of sixteen years to three of his creditors,
John Lord St. John, Sir Thomas Stukely and Sir
Richard Tichborne. (fn. 46) John Lord St. John released
all his estate in these manors to his co-feoffees, and in
1627 the king confirmed the grant to Sir Thomas
Stukely and Sir Richard Tichborne for the term of
sixteen years. (fn. 47) The feoffees appear to have conveyed
their right in Woodhall to James Willymot, who held
a court there in 1635. (fn. 48) Henry Philpott was holding
in 1650, (fn. 49) but apparently he also released his right to
the Willymots, and the manor was given by James
Willymot to his younger son Thomas. (fn. 50) He married
Rachel the daughter of Dr. Pindar, and the manor
was settled on her. (fn. 51) Afterwards it was bought
from the Willymot family by Hale Wortham, who
died in 1778 and was succeeded by his son Hale
Wortham. (fn. 52) He died without any direct heir and
the manor passed to his brother James. (fn. 53) From him
it descended to his eldest son Biscoe Hill Wortham,
who sold it to John Phillips of Royston. (fn. 54) John
Phillips died in 1871 (fn. 55) and was succeeded by his son
Mr. John Phillips, the present lord. (fn. 56)
Horwellbury
The manor of HORWELLBURY (Ordwelle,
xi cent.; Orewell, xii cent.; Horewell, xiii cent.)
was held before the Conquest by three men of
Archbishop Stigand. (fn. 57) In 1086 half a hide was
held of the Bishop of Bayeux by Osbern, (fn. 58) while a
larger holding of nearly one and a half hides had
been acquired by Hardwin de Scales, under whom a
certain Wisgar held. (fn. 59) No further record exists of
the holding of the Bishop of Bayeux, but the lands
of Hardwin de Scales were divided between his two
sons Richard and Hugh and were held by their
descendants until the beginning of the 13th century. (fn. 60)
In 1195–6 William, grandson of Richard, claimed
(inter alia) three knights' fees in Horwellbury and
other places against Hugh grandson of Hugh.
Judgement was given for Hugh. (fn. 61) The Scales do
not appear again in Horwellbury, but possibly before
this date they had subinfeudated it to the Fitz
Ralphs, who were holding of them elsewhere, for in
1303 Horwellbury was said to be held of William
Fitz Ralph. (fn. 62) In the 16th century, when the
overlordships given in inquisitions are unreliable,
Horwellbury was said to be held of the king (fn. 63)
except a small portion called Kymberleyn's, which
was held of the queen as of her manor of Popshall. (fn. 64)
In 1229 John de Bassingburn, who was holding
half a knight's fee in Kelshall of the Bishop of
Ely, (fn. 65) claimed customs and services there from a
certain Ralph Marshal. (fn. 66) In 1282 a grant of the
manor in subinfeudation was made by William le
Moine of Raveley to another Ralph Marshal, clerk,
and Nichola his wife. (fn. 67) On Ralph's death it passed
to his brother Robert. (fn. 68) An attempt was made in
1291 by a certain John Deynill to gain possession of
the manor. He disseised Robert and affirmed that
Ralph Marshal had been his villein. (fn. 69) But Robert
successfully maintained that Ralph had been a free
man and held the manor of William le Moine, and
he recovered seisin of the manor. (fn. 70)
Paston. Argent six fleurs de lis azure and a chief indented or.
In 1303 Hugh Barry was holding the manor
of William Fitz Ralph. (fn. 71) Soon after this the manor
passed to Edmund Barry, who granted it to John
Barry, probably his son, and Elizabeth his wife.
From them it descended to their son Edmund
Barry. (fn. 72) He had two daughters, Agnes and Alice, (fn. 73)
and on the marriage of the
elder of these, Agnes, with
William Paston in 1420 the
manor of Horwellbury was
settled on them and their
heirs. (fn. 74) Her sister Alice and
her husband Thomas Bardolf (fn. 75)
renounced all right to the
manor in 1436. (fn. 76)
William Paston in 1444
left the manor by will to his
wife Agnes with remainder to
their heirs. (fn. 77) At the same
time he directed that all lands
not mentioned in his will
(except Sweynthorpe) should go to his two younger
sons William and Clement. (fn. 78) John Paston, however, his eldest son and heir, did not carry out
these directions, but took possession of all the lands. (fn. 79)
Agnes Paston held Horwellbury during her life, (fn. 80)
but on her death she left it by will dated 1466 to
her two younger sons in recompense for the lands
their brother had withheld from them. (fn. 81) Her son
John Paston died the same year and was succeeded
by his son Sir John Paston. (fn. 82) In spite of his grandmother's will, Sir John endeavoured on the death of
Agnes to take possession of Horwellbury, (fn. 83) and on
his death in 1479 his brother and heir John Paston
renewed the attempt to enter on the manor. (fn. 84) But
his uncle William Paston had leased the manor to
John King, who refused to recognize the right of the
elder branch of the family. (fn. 85) John Paston never
acknowledged his uncle's claim to the manor and
drew up long lists of complaints against him. (fn. 86) But
he had no supporters among the tenants of Horwellbury, (fn. 87) and finally William Paston sold the manor to
Thomas Bradbury, Mayor of London in 1507. (fn. 88)
Kelshall Church from the South-west
Before his death in January 1509–10 Thomas
Bradbury left it to his widow Joan Bradbury with
remainder to his nephew and heir William Bradbury. (fn. 89)
Joan at once bought the reversion of the manor from
her nephew, (fn. 90) but must soon after have sold it, for in
1536 it was held by John Bowles, (fn. 91) who died in
1543 (fn. 92) and left it to his grandson and heir Thomas
Bowles, then aged thirteen. (fn. 93) The manor again
changed hands within a short time and in 1577 was
held by Edward Hammond, who died in February
1579–80. He settled Horwellbury on his son
Alexander Hammond, (fn. 94) who held the manor (fn. 95) till
his death in 1604, (fn. 96) when it passed to his son
John Hammond. No further trace is found of the
Hammonds in Horwellbury, and in 1695 the manor
was held by James Willymot, (fn. 97) owner of the manor
of Kelshall (q.v.), and from this date the two manors
descend together.
The house called Orwellbury lies north of the
church and to the north-east of the road from
Kelshall to Sandon. In 1797, when the Kelshall
allotment award was made, there were three fields
in this district which were called Great Horwell,
Mead Horwell and Horwell Pightle, which adjoined
a piece of common land called Horwell Green. (fn. 98)
CHURCH
The church of ST. FAITH consists
of a chancel 29 ft. by 18 ft., nave 42 ft.
by 18 ft., north and south aisles 43 ft.
by 9 ft., south porch 12 ft. by 10 ft., and west
tower 12 ft. square; all dimensions taken internally.
The walls are of flint with stone dressings. The
whole of the church belongs to the 15th century,
but was thoroughly repaired, all but the tower, in
1870, most of the external stonework being replaced
and the church re-roofed. The tower was restored
in 1911 and a lych-gate was added in the previous
year.
In the chancel is an east window of three lights,
and in each side wall are two windows, and a doorway in the south wall, all modern. There is a carved
bracket for an image on either side of the east window,
a good deal damaged. The chancel arch is of two
moulded orders, with moulded responds, of the 15th
century. The nave has north and south arcades of
four bays with moulded arches and piers with engaged
shafts, which have moulded capitals and bases. The
two-light windows in the clearstory are modern, as is
also the roof. In the north-east angle is the stair to
the rood-loft; the lower doorway is blocked, but the
upper one remains.
In the east wall of the north aisle is a three-light
window with a traceried head; there are two windows
in the north wall and one in the west wall, each of
two lights with tracery above, all of late 15th-century work, with repaired stonework. The north
doorway has a double ogee moulding with label and
defaced stops. At the east end are two damaged
carved stone brackets. There are some fragments of
15th-century glass in one of the windows in the north
wall. In the north-west angle of the aisle is a tall
locker, circular on plan internally, with a diameter of
2 ft. 5 in.; the recess has a pointed arched head, and
is about 12 ft. in height; it has a rebate for door,
and the iron hooks for the hinges remain; it was
probably used to hold the processional cross and
staves. The roof of the aisle is modern, but a few old
timbers remain.
There is a three-light window in the east wall of
the south aisle, and two of two lights in the south
wall, all of modern stonework. A 15th-century
piscina, somewhat mutilated, remains at the east end
of the aisle. The south doorway, of 15th-century
date, has a moulded arch under a square head, with
traceried spandrels. The door is the original one of
oak, but has been restored. The west window of the
aisle is of two lights with a traceried head; it is of
15th-century work repaired.
The entrance doorway to the south porch and the
side windows are modern; it has a parvise over it,
approached by a turret stair in the north-west angle
outside, the door being in the south aisle.
The west tower is of three stages, finished with an
embattled parapet. The tower arch is of three
moulded orders, with moulded capitals and bases to
the jambs. The west window is of two cinquefoiled
lights, with a six-foiled opening in its head. The
second stage is pierced by single lights in the west
and south; the bell-chamber has, on each side, a
two-light opening with traceried head, much broken
and decayed.
The lower part of the rood screen remains in situ;
the panels are cusped, with carved spandrels, and
retain their original paintings; two of them have
kings, with their names, Edmund and Edward, on
scrolls, the other two being bishops, unnamed. All
the other fittings are modern.
In the churchyard, south of the church, is the
base of an octagonal stone cross of the 15th century.
Mr. F. J. Fordham gave a small piece of land for an
addition to the churchyard on the west side.
There are five bells : the treble by R. Catlin,
1748 (recast in 1860); the second by Miles Graye,
1642; the third by John Briant, 1790 (recast in
1860); the fourth and tenor by Miles Graye,
1642.
The communion plate consists of paten, 1685, and
modern chalice and paten.
The registers are in three books : (i) and (ii)
baptisms and burials 1538 to 1812, marriages 1538
to 1687, 1691 to 1753; (iii) marriages 1754 to
1812.
ADVOWSON
The patronage of the church was
originally attached to the manor of
Kelshall, (fn. 99) and remained so until
1600, when the Bishop of Ely surrendered the manor
to the queen, (fn. 100) but retained the advowson in his own
hands. (fn. 101) It continued to be part of the possessions
of the see of Ely until 1852, (fn. 102) when it was transferred to the Bishop of Oxford, (fn. 103) who in 1855
conveyed it to the Crown, (fn. 104) in whom it is at present vested.
In 1779 a meeting-place for Protestant Dissenters
was certified in Kelshall. (fn. 105)
CHARITIES
The Poor's Land consists of a field
called Town Closes of about 8 acres,
and 8 a. 1 r. of land let in allotments,
together producing £12 5s. yearly. In 1908 1s. 6d.
per head was distributed to each labourer and his
wife and all in family under sixteen years of age,
and 2s. 6d. a head to five aged and infirm widows.
There is also a close of 2 a. 1 r. 5 p., called the
Clerk's Close, the rent of which is payable to the
parish clerk, he paying land tax rates and tithecharge.