REED
Rode (x cent.); Retth, Rete (xi cent.); Rede
(xii cent.); Rud, Roed, Ruth (xiii cent.); Estrede
(xiv cent).
The parish of Reed is a long, narrow piece of land
containing about 1,477 acres. By far the greater
portion of the parish consists of arable land, but woods
exist, mostly in the south part, where Reed Wood,
the largest in the parish, is situated. Reed lies high,
the ground rising to as much as 500 ft. above the
ordnance datum. It is near the summit of the chalk
range, from which the waters on the north join with
the Cam and run into Lynn Deeps, while those on
the south run into the Lea and the Thames. The
chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and roots. The
commons of Reed were inclosed in 1808. (fn. 1)
The village of Reed lies almost midway between
Royston and Buntingford (at which two towns are its
nearest railway stations), and a little to the east of the
Roman road, known as Ermine Street, which connects
these towns and forms the western boundary of the
parish. There is a reference to this road as Arning
Street in 1251. (fn. 2) A road runs east through Reed from
Ermine Street to Barkway. Running south from this
is a road which forms the main street of the village,
then turns sharply west and south and joins Ermine
Street. At the angle thus formed stands Reed Hall,
the manor-house, close to which is the church of
St. Mary. The manor-house of Queenbury stands
east of the road a little further north. There is a
Congregational chapel near Queenbury and brickworks further north. On a road running parallel
with this road are situated the church mission-room
and Wisbridge Farm, to the north-east of these are
North Farm and a smithy, whilst other scattered
parts of the village lie at Fiddler's Green and
Billingsgate.
The most distinctive feature of Reed is the number
of homestead moats about it. Two of the more important of these lie near Reed Hall, one inclosing a
rectangular space of 1¼ acres and the other a space
of half an acre. Both are nearly dry. At Queenbury
a moat runs round three sides of the house and
gardens, inclosing altogether a piece of land about
400 ft. square. There appear to have been two
inclosures here originally. At Fiddler's Green is a
dry fosse which forms a square. A moat at Gannock
Green incloses a piece of land 200 ft. by 300 ft., and
at Bushwood a moat incloses a rectangular piece of
land containing over half an acre. There were also
probably other moats whose position can now only
be traced by ponds. Such a pond lies west of Reed
Hall. It is large and irregularly shaped, and there
seem to be traces that it was once connected with the
two moats which adjoin the house and also with the
moats at Queenbury. Connecting fosses also appear
to have run from Queenbury to the moat at Fiddler's
Green. The two ponds which lie near Goodfellows,
a house standing south-east of Reed Green, also
probably mark the site of an old moat. (fn. 3)
There are several greens in the parish: Fiddler's
Green to the east of Queenbury, Gannock Green in
the south, and Reed Green, which lies north of
Queenbury.
Among those who have been rectors of Reed may
be mentioned Andrew Willet (1562–1621), a theologian and Biblical critic of some note. He was also
a famous preacher, and his learning was so great that
he was called a walking library. He held the living
of Reed from 1613 to 1615. (fn. 4)
MANORS
Challers
The manor of CHALLERS (Deschalers, xv cent.), known also as the
manor of REED or EAST REED, was
formed from several of a number of holdings which
existed in Reed in the reign of Edward the Confessor.
The most important of these holdings was that of Siret,
a man of Earl Harold, consisting of 4 hides a virgate
and a half. (fn. 5) Two other holdings of I hide and I virgate were in the hands of Sinod, a man of St. Mary
Charteris. (fn. 6) One hide was held by Eddeva the
Maiden of Archbishop Stigand, (fn. 7) and two of her men,
Leuing, a priest, and Turbern, each held a hide. (fn. 8) Of
these in 1086 Hardwin de Scales had obtained all
the land of Siret and I hide of the land of Sinod,
which together made his manor. (fn. 9) He also held of
Count Alan the land which had belonged to Leuing,
the priest. (fn. 10) Eudo Fitz Hubert had obtained the
remaining virgate of Sinod, (fn. 11) and the land of Eddeva
the Maiden was held by Osbern of the Bishop of
Bayeux, (fn. 12) and that of her man Turbern was held by
Alward of Count Alan. (fn. 13) Of these smaller holdings
no further trace is to be found, and it is probable that
at an early date they became absorbed in the manor
held by Hardwin de Scales. But it is perhaps due to
the varied origin of this manor that, while it was always
held of the king in chief (fn. 14) by barony, (fn. 15) certain portions
of it were held of other overlords. Thirty acres
called 'Gannok' (fn. 16) were held of the Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's in the 14th century. (fn. 17) Other
land was held of the Earl of Hertford in 1364, (fn. 18) and
part was held of John de Lancaster as of his manor of
Barkway in 1342. (fn. 19) Challers was probably the head
of the Scales' holding in Hertfordshire, for here they
had a little castle, consisting merely of a moated
mound, the remains of which still exist. This
accounts for the fact that the manor was held by
barony.
On the death of Hardwin de Scales his lands
were divided between his two sons Richard and
Hugh. (fn. 20) Reed evidently fell to the share of
Hugh, and from him descended to his son Henry, (fn. 21)
for in the reign of Henry II the abbey of Coggeshall held land in Reed of the fee of Henry de
Scales. (fn. 22) On the death of Henry, his son Hugh
succeeded to his lands in Reed, but in 1195 William
de Scales, grandson of the above-mentioned Richard
de Scales, brought a suit against him claiming various
lands of his inheritance, including those in Reed. (fn. 23)
The case was adjourned in 1199 for so long as Henry
son of Hugh should be in the service of the king
beyond the sea. (fn. 24) But later it was adjudged that
Richard was not seised of the lands which Hugh held
at the time of the death of Henry II, and judgement
was given in favour of Hugh. (fn. 25) On Hugh's death
his lands descended to his son Henry, who made a
pilgrimage to Jerusalem and died there, leaving no
children. (fn. 26) His brother Geoffrey was his heir, and did
homage for his lands in 1221. (fn. 27)
Scales. Gules six scallops or.
In 1258 Geoffrey de Scales found himself too old
and infirm to perform in person the services due to
the king for his lands, and at
the instance of Queen Eleanor
Henry III granted that his
son Geoffrey de Scales should
do service in his stead in the
king's armies and expeditions.
In consideration of this
Geoffrey de Scales granted
his son his lands in Reed and
Wyddial on condition that he
should perform these duties
and also attend the courts of
the justices in eyre and of the
sheriff. (fn. 28) In 1260 Henry III
granted Geoffrey de Scales free warren in his lands in
Reed and elsewhere. (fn. 29) Geoffrey de Scales, the father,
and his son Geoffrey both died before 1267, and the
custody of Thomas, son of the younger Geoffrey and
a minor, was granted to his mother Eleanor, and the
tenants of his lands were allowed quittance of suit at
the hundred and county court during the minority of
the heir. (fn. 30) In 1268 Thomas de Scales brought a
suit against Ralph de Chamberlain for deforcing him
of his lands in Reed while he adhered to the king
against Simon de Montfort. (fn. 31) As Thomas was only
five years old at this date (fn. 32) the suit must have been
brought by his guardian, and the statement that he
adhered to the king must refer rather to his family
than to himself. Eleanor de Scales continued to hold
in custody for her son until 1283. (fn. 33) Thomas then
came of age and wished to assume possession of his
lands, but his mother and her second husband, Robert
Angot, opposed this on the ground that he was not
yet twenty-one and that as he had been born at
Boulogne he could not be admitted to proof of age. (fn. 34)
An inquisition was held by which it was determined
that he had reached his majority, (fn. 35) and the following
year his mother and her husband acknowledged this
and restored him his lands. (fn. 36) They obtained a grant
of Reed, however, for the term of their lives. (fn. 37) It
had reverted to Thomas de Scales by 1303, (fn. 38) and he
continued to hold it till his death in 1341. (fn. 39) It
then comprised a capital messuage worth nothing
beyond repairs, 100 acres of land, of which 70 acres
were sown before his death, 1 acre of meadow and
4 of pasture. There were four customary tenants.
Thomas de Scales's heir was his son, also Thomas,
aged forty-two. He immediately granted the manor,
with the exception of 30 acres of wood, to John de
Scales for life. (fn. 40) In 1356–7 Thomas de Scales settled
the reversion of the manor on himself and his wife
Amice with remainder to his son Thomas in tail and
contingent remainder to another son John. (fn. 41) Thomas
de Scales died in 1364, and his son Thomas must
have died before him, as his heir then was his grandson
John the son of Thomas. (fn. 42) John died in 1388, and
Reed descended to his son Thomas, (fn. 43) who held it
until his death in February 1442–3, (fn. 44) His son John,
aged twenty, succeeded him, (fn. 45) and was the last of this
name to hold the manor, which had been in the possession of his ancestors for 400 years and by this date was
called after them the manor of Deschallers or Challers.
He died in 1467, leaving three daughters, Alice the
wife of John More of More, co. Oxford, Margaret de
Scales, and Anne the wife of John Harecourt. (fn. 46) The
manor of Challers became the possession of Anne. (fn. 47)
On the death of her first husband she married Giles
Wellesborne, who also predeceased her. (fn. 48) Both her
husbands suffered from financial embarrassment, as
appears from the marriage settlement she made on her
daughter and heir Margery with Humphrey Wellisburne in January 1493–4. (fn. 49) By this, in consideration of this marriage and of the fact that Humphrey
had paid several of her debts and of the debts of her
two husbands, she granted him the yearly issues of
the manor, receiving only for the maintenance of
herself and her maid 20 marks a year if she made her
home with Humphrey or 40 marks if she lived elsewhere. (fn. 50) Margery seems to have had another suitor,
John Rushton, who alleged a contract between them
which Anne refused to acknowledge. In the event
of John Rushton taking any step to annul the marriage
of Humphrey and Margery, Challers was to go by
her settlement to Humphrey for life with reversion
to the heirs of Sir John de Scales, kt., other than the
said Margery. (fn. 51) Anne died in March 1493–4, when
Margery, her heiress, was aged eighteen. (fn. 52)
Humphrey Wellisburne died in 1516, and by his
will left his wife all his lands in Great Wycombe for
life and £40. In return for this, and in accordance
with a promise she had made him, Margery Wellisburne in 1516 conveyed the manors of Reed and
Wyddial to trustees to be settled to her use for life
with remainder to her son Arthur Wellisburne and his
heirs, or failing such heirs to her sons Ardewyn,
Jasper and Henry Wellisburne and their heirs in
succession. (fn. 53) Margery married as her second husband
Thomas Cheyne, and in 1522 she sold the manor of
Reed to Robert Dormer, (fn. 54) to whom Arthur Wellisburne also conveyed his rights in the manor. (fn. 55) Robert
Dormer held the manor until 1530, when he
received licence to alienate it to John Bowles. (fn. 56) In
1543 John Bowles died and his grandson Thomas
inherited his estates. (fn. 57) Thomas Bowles was only
thirteen, and his wardship and marriage with an
annuity of £20 out of his estates were granted to
John Sewester, attorney of the Court of Wards. (fn. 58) In
1557 Thomas sold Challers to William Hyde of
Throcking, (fn. 59) who held it till 1567–8, when he sold
it to Robert Bell of the Middle Temple and Dorothy
his wife. (fn. 60) Sir Robert Bell, kt., chief baron of the
Exchequer, died in 1576 seised of the manors of
Chamberlains and Challers, with fisheries, free warren,
court leet and view of frankpledge. (fn. 61) His eldest son
and heir Edmund Bell of Beaupre, aged fifteen, succeeded to the property in Norfolk (fn. 62) which Dorothy
Bell née Beaupre had brought her husband in marriage. (fn. 63) The property in Reed had been settled in
1573 on the second son Robert Bell with remainder
to his father Sir Robert Bell and his heirs. (fn. 64) Robert
Bell was captain of a company in the Netherlands and
died leaving no children. (fn. 65) The manor of Challers
appears to have reverted to his mother, who took for
her second husband Sir John Peyton, Lieutenant of
the Tower of London, by whom she had a son
John Peyton. (fn. 66) In 1612 Sir John Peyton, sen., and
Sir John Peyton, jun., and his wife Alice sold the
manor of Challers to Sir Julius Adelmare alias
Caesar, kt. (fn. 67)
Sir Julius was the son of an Italian named Caesar
Adelmare, who came to England in 1550 and was
court physician successively to
Queen Mary and Queen
Elizabeth. (fn. 68) In 1596 Sir
Julius was made master of the
hospital of St. Katharine, (fn. 69)
and is said to have held a
lease of the manor of Queenbury. (fn. 70) He was appointed
chancellor of the Exchequer
in 1606. (fn. 71) He married twice,
and in 1625 he settled Reed
on John, (fn. 72) the eldest son by his
second marriage. (fn. 73) John
Caesar was knighted in 1617,
and married Anne the
daughter of William Hungate. (fn. 74) In 1636 his father
died and he came into possession of his property in
Reed. (fn. 75) This he continued to hold (fn. 76) until 1668,
when with his wife Anne he sold it to William
Newland. (fn. 77) On the death of William it descended
to Thomas Newland, who presented to the church
in 1718. (fn. 78) In 1722 Thomas Newland and Mary
his wife sold their property in Reed, which at this
date appears for the first time as one manor styled
Challers Chamberlains alias Chamberlains Challers
(see below for Chamberlains), to John Manley and
Kendrick Edesbury for ninety-nine years during
their lives and the life of Isaac Manley of Dublin
and of their son George Newland. (fn. 79)
Caesar. Gules a chief argent with six roses countercoloured.
Reed soon after came into the hands of Sir John
Jennings, kt., commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean in 1711, who presented to the church in
1727. (fn. 80) Sir John died in 1743, (fn. 81) and the manor
descended to his son George Jennings, (fn. 82) who
married Mary the daughter of Michael Bourke,
tenth Earl of Clanricarde. (fn. 83) He had a daughter
Hester Elizabeth, who married John Peachey, the
only son and heir of Sir James Peachey, bart. (fn. 84)
In 1787 George Jennings settled the manor on
John Peachey and Hester Elizabeth, (fn. 85) and on the
death of George Jennings in 1790 it descended to his
daughter and her husband. (fn. 86) In 1794 Sir James
Peachey was created Lord Selsey, and on his death
in 1808 his son succeeded to the title. (fn. 87) He held
Reed (fn. 88) till his death in 1816, (fn. 89) when it passed to his
son Henry John Peachey, third Lord Selsey, who
died in 1838, leaving no children. (fn. 90) His sister the
Hon. Caroline Mary Peachey inherited his estates. (fn. 91)
She married the Rev. Leveson Vernon-Harcourt, but
had no children. (fn. 92) On her death in 1871, according
to the will of her mother Hester Elizabeth Jennings,
Reed passed to the Rt. Hon. Hugh Henry Rose, first
Lord Strathnairn of Strathnairn and Jhansi, who
was descended through his mother from Philip
Jennings of Dudleston Hall, co. Salop, the father of
Sir John Jennings before mentioned. (fn. 93) He had
gained his titles for his services in India. (fn. 94) He died
unmarried in Paris in 1886, (fn. 95) and Reed passed to his
brother Sir William Rose, who only survived him
one month. It then descended to Admiral the Hon.
George H. Douglas, the son of his sister the Countess
of Morton, who subsequently sold his lands in Reed
to Mr. Edward Pigg of Chipping, but all manorial
rights appear by this date to have lapsed. (fn. 96)
Jennings. Argent a fesse gules between three plummets sable.
Peachey. Azure a lion ermine with a forked tail and a quarter argent with a pierced molet gules therein.
Chamberlains
The manor of CHAMBERLAINS possibly represents that hide of land which before the Conquest
was held by Leuing, a priest, one of Eddeva's men. (fn. 97)
In 1086 this land had come into the possession of
Hardwin de Scales, but was held by him of Count
Alan of Britanny apart from his other and more
important lands in Reed. (fn. 98) It remained with the
descendants of Hardwin de Scales until the reign of
Henry III. (fn. 99) At that time, while they adhered to the
king in his struggle with Simon de Montfort, Ralph
le Chamberlain seized some of their land by force. (fn. 100)
A suit was brought against him in 1268 for its
recovery by Thomas de Scales, (fn. 101) but it is probable that
Ralph kept possession, for in 1346 his descendant
Ralph le Chamberlain was holding land in Reed of
Thomas de Scales by service of half a knight's fee. (fn. 102)
It is from this family that the manor takes its name.
Ralph le Chamberlain died in 1346, and his lands
descended to his son Ralph, aged twenty. (fn. 103) Nothing
further is heard of the Chamberlains in Reed, but
their lands may have come into the possession of Adam
Esmond or Edmond, who was imprisoned for debt
in 1373, at which date he held 3 acres of meadow,
34 acres of pasture and 3 acres of wood in Reed, (fn. 104) for
in 1405 John Edmond was holding the manor of
Chamberlains (fn. 105) first mentioned by that name. He
conveyed it in that year to feoffees, (fn. 106) apparently in
trust for John Walsingham, (fn. 107) for the latter granted it
during the reign of Henry IV to John Grey and Joan
his wife, (fn. 108) and Margaret Walsingham, widow, released
all right in the manor in 1430. (fn. 109) On the death of
John Grey Chamberlains descended to his son Ralph
Grey, kt., (fn. 110) who presented to the church in 1450. (fn. 111)
He died in 1464, when the manor passed to his son
Ralph, aged at that date twenty-four. (fn. 112)
Shortly after this Chamberlains came into the possession of John Home, who presented to the church in
1477. (fn. 113) He must have died soon after, for John Shukburgh, husband of his daughter Clemency, presented in
her right in 1479. John Shukburgh predeceased his
wife, and she took to live with her her son Thomas
with his wife and three children. (fn. 114) Leaving them in
her house at Reed, she went to London, where she
married Thomas Staunton, 'contrarie to the will and
mynde' of her son, who refused to allow Staunton to
enter the house at Reed and assaulted his servants. (fn. 115)
In consequence he was arrested, but escaped with the
help of his friends and tried to break into the house. (fn. 116)
Clemency and her husband brought a suit against her
son in 1493, (fn. 117) but in February 1494–5 she joined
with her husband and son in making a settlement of
the manor. (fn. 118) By 1511 Chamberlains had descended
to John Shukburgh, (fn. 119) who sold it in 1519 to Robert
Dormer. (fn. 120) In 1522 Robert Dormer purchased the
manor of Challers (q.v.), and from this date the two
manors have descended together.
Queenbury
The manor of QUEENBURY (Querenebury,
Quinbury, xvi cent.) was held in the time of Edward
the Confessor by Aelfward, a man of Earl Harold.
By 1086 it had become part of the possessions of
Count Eustace of Boulogne, and was held of him by
Robert Fitz Rozelin. (fn. 121) Queenbury always remained
part of the honour of Boulogne. (fn. 122) From Robert
Fitz Rozelin it passed, as did other fees held in this
county by Robert, to the Trikets, who were possibly
his descendants. (fn. 123) It was held by Hugh Triket, (fn. 124)
who was living in the reign of Henry II, and
descended to Simon Triket, who was holding it in
1210. (fn. 125) The Trikets do not again appear in Reed.
Apparently a sub-feoffment of the manor had already
been made to John Fitz Bernard, (fn. 126) and from him it
descended to Walter Fitz Bernard. (fn. 127) In the reign
of Henry III he sold it to Queen Eleanor. (fn. 128) In
1255 Eleanor had caused the
dissolution of the hospital of
St. Katharine outside the
Tower of London, which
had been founded by Queen
Matilda, wife of Stephen, and
the patronage of which was
vested in the Queens of England. (fn. 129) She refounded it in
1273, and bestowed on it,
among other estates, all her
lands in Reed to be held in
frankalmoign without power
of alienation, (fn. 130) a grant which
was declared to be to the
king's loss. (fn. 131) It is to this
circumstance that the manor
of Queenbury appears to owe
its name. In 1278 the hospital claimed in Reed
view of frankpledge, gallows, and assize of bread and
ale. (fn. 132) In 1287 it claimed these liberties and also
tumbril. (fn. 133) At the time of the Dissolution the manor
was farmed out for £7 6s. 8d. (fn. 134) It is probable that
Henry VIII intended to dissolve the hospital, but
that it was saved by Anne Boleyn, to whom as Queen
of England it belonged. (fn. 135) Queenbury remained with
the hospital of St. Katharine, which for many years
leased it for a term of three lives to the lords of the
manor of Challers. (fn. 136) The Hon. Mrs. Vernon-Harcourt,
who died in 1871, (fn. 137) left the remainder of her lease
to her god-daughter the Hon. Caroline Mary Frances
Jervis. (fn. 138) About the year 1900 the hospital of St.
Katharine sold Queenbury, (fn. 139) which passed through
several hands before it was purchased about 1909 by
Mr. Thomas E. Brandt, the present owner. (fn. 140)
St. Katharine's Hospital. Party fessewise gules and azure with a sword lying fessewise in the chief and a broken Katharine wheel or in the foot
The tithes of the manor of Queenbury, together
with certain lands called the demesne lands of Mynchey
Porcyn, were held by the priory of St. Leonard of
Stratford-at-Bow. (fn. 141) These lands were valued at £2
in 1535. (fn. 142) After the dissolution of the priory of
St. Leonard they were granted in 1539 to Ralph
Sadleir. (fn. 143) He restored them to the Crown in exchange for other lands in 1547–8, (fn. 144) and they then
came into the possession of Richard Chambers, who
died in 1549, and left them to his son Robert,
aged eleven. (fn. 145) Robert Chambers received a quitclaim from a certain Robert Johnson and his wife
Audrey (possibly lessees) in 1562. (fn. 146) In 1573 Francis
Ridall, rector of East Reed, claimed all tithes in
East Reed except those from certain freeholds and
demesne lands of the manor of Queenbury, and he
brought a suit against Robert Chambers and his
tenant John Cannon, who refused to pay tithes
from the copyhold land of that manor. (fn. 147) Robert
Chambers claimed that these tithes never had belonged
to the rector of East Reed. (fn. 148) Mynchey Porcyn and
the tithes of Queenbury came later into the possession
of Richard Turner, who in 1597 demised the close
called Mynchens to Thomas Turner for eighty years
with reversion to John Turner. (fn. 149) John Turner died
in 1602, and Thomas Turner, aged sixty, was his
brother and heir. (fn. 150) Richard Turner died in 1604, at
which date he was seised of the tithes and the close. (fn. 151)
It appears, however, that in lieu of tithes the rectors
of Reed had the right to half an acre of wheat and
half an acre of barley in Queenbury. This, before
1722, had been commuted for a payment of 40s.
chargeable on an acre of land called Parson's Acre. (fn. 152)
Certain lands in Reed, appendant to the manor
of Sandon, were held by the Dean and Chapter of
St. Paul's in the 10th century, and the latter were confirmed in their possession by King Athelstan in 939. (fn. 153)
These lands are not recorded in the Domesday Survey
in 1086, but they remained attached to the manor of
Sandon (q.v.), which was subsequently called Gannocks
Manor. In the 14th century the lands in Reed
were also called Gannocks, (fn. 154) and were described as
30 acres of land held of the Dean and Chapter of
St. Paul's. (fn. 155) No record of these lands occurs after this
time, but there still exist in the south of the parish a
grove and green which bear the name of Gannocks.
Plan of Reed Church
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY consists
of chancel 21 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft., nave
34 ft. by 19 ft., south porch and west
tower 10 ft. 6 in. by 10 ft.; all dimensions taken
internally. The walls are of flint with stone dressings, the roofs are tiled.
The nave appears to belong to a pre-Conquest
period, probably about the middle of the 11th
century; part of the chancel dates from about 1350;
the west tower is early 15th-century work; the east
wall of the chancel, the chancel arch and the south
porch were rebuilt in the 19th century, when other
repairs were made.
The large five-light east window of the chancel is
modern, but parts of the reticulated tracery belonged
to the 14th-century window. In the north wall is
a window of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in
the head, of about 1350 date; the two-light window
in the south wall is modern; the chancel arch also
is modern.
In the north wall of the nave are two windows, each
of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head, and
of 15th-century date; they have been much repaired;
between them is a blocked north doorway, which has
a semicircular head, rudely moulded, and with a plain
tympanum; the jambs have engaged shafts with
roughly voluted capitals under a heavy splayed abacus;
the bases are much decayed. The doorway appears
to date from the beginning of the 12th century. The
doorway itself is of Barnack stone, but the inner arch is
of clunch. There are two modern two-light windows
in the south wall of the nave, but the doorway between
them is of late 14th-century work, with arch and
jambs of two orders continuously moulded; the label
has foliated stops. In the east jamb of
the doorway outside are remains of a
stoup. In the north-east corner of the
nave are remains of the stair to the roodloft. Each of the four angles of the nave
externally is formed of long-and-short
work of Barnack stone. The western
angles have two splayed base-courses, one
2 ft. above the other; the lower one has
the base-course on the angle quoin only,
all the rest, which presumably was carried
round the nave, has disappeared; the
upper base-course has also disappeared
round the church, but is carried round
the west tower. (fn. 156) The quoin stones are
flush with the flint walling.
The pointed tower arch is of two
splayed orders, and in the north jamb is
an ogee-headed shallow niche, about 3 ft. from the
ground. The west tower is of three stages, with an
embattled parapet, except on the east, which is plain.
The west window is of two trefoiled lights, with
much of the stonework restored. Under the window
there has been at one time a rough opening, now
blocked. The second stage is pierced on the south
side with a narrow single light; the belfry has a
single pointed light on each face, much worn.
The font is modern, but the remains of the 15th-century one formerly in the garden of Reed Hall,
are now in Barkway Church; the bowl is octagonal, and
underneath are carved flowers and shields and some
emblems of the Passion; some fragments of tracery
are also at Reed Hall.
The communion table is of early 17th-century
work and has turned and moulded legs.
There are no memorials in the church.
There are three bells: the treble and second are
unmarked, but the tenor, by Robert Oldfeild, is
inscribed 'God save the King,' and dated 1614.
The communion plate consists of paten, 1806, small
cup, 1804, and another paten, 1863.
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms and
burials from 1539 to 1768, marriages 1540 to 1752;
(iii) marriages 1755 to 1807. In 1830 there was
a book (ii) baptisms and burials 1768 to 1812, but
this has since disappeared.
ADVOWSON
The living of the church of
Reed is a rectory. The advowson
was originally held by the Scales
family, who were lords of the manor of Challers.
Henry de Scales and Hugh his son granted it in the
reign of Henry II to the Cluniac convent of Lewes,
together with an annual pension. (fn. 157) This pension
was still chargeable on the church in 1428, (fn. 158) but it is
probable that at some time while the convent of
Lewes was in the king's hands during the wars with
France the advowson was acquired by the lord of
Chamberlains, or that the convent itself alienated it,
for in 1405 John Edmond, lord of the manor of
Chamberlains, held the advowson, (fn. 159) and from this
date it descended until lately with that manor (q.v.).
When Admiral the Hon. George H. Douglas sold
his lands in Reed he retained the advowson, and it
is held at the present time by his son, Captain George
Sholto Douglas. The parish of Reed was united to
that of Barkway in 1800.
CHARITIES
In 1602 Richard Turner by his
will gave 20s. a year to the poor.
This sum is paid out of the close
called 'Barton's' and is distributed in bread.