LEAMINGTON HASTINGS
Acreage: 3,366.
Population: 1911, 377; 1921, 356; 1931, 331.
Leamington Hastings is a parish and scattered village
4 miles north-east of Southam. The river Leam, from
which the name is derived, forms the northern boundary and receives two tributaries; one flows north-west
from Grandborough and, with several branches, one
rising at the hamlet of Broadwell, drains the eastern
part of the parish; the other flows due north from
Stockton and forms the western boundary. The land is
fairly flat, rising from 233 ft. where the road from
Southam to Rugby crosses the Leam at Kites Hardwick or Thurlaston Bridge (fn. 1) to 339 ft. where this
road receives a branch from Napton near the southwest corner of the parish. The only other road of
present-day importance is that running from Hill in
the centre of the parish, through Leamington Hastings
village to Birdingbury and Marton; but there are
numerous unmetalled roads and tracks, one of which,
running from Hill across Grandborough Fields towards
Flecknoe and Staverton (Northants.) seems to have
once been more frequently used; the inhabitants of
the parish, who had been presented at Quarter Sessions
for its non-repair, had by Michaelmas 1637 done this
'well and sufficiently'. This road is described as that
from Leamington Hastings to Daventry. (fn. 2) The Warwick branch of the Oxford Canal runs along the
southern edge of the parish parallel to the WeedonLeamington Spa branch of the former L.M.S. Railway,
whose station of Napton and Stockton is just within
its borders, but the station nearest the village is Birdingbury, 1½ miles away on the Rugby-Leamington branch.
There is no woodland in the parish except for a few
small copses. Besides the main village there are three
hamlets, Broadwell, Hill, and Kites Hardwick, each
at one time a separate manor; Broadwell has a separate
post office, a Church of England mission church and a
Methodist chapel, and Hardwick a mission room, but
the population, at less than 1 person to 10 acres, is
distinctly sparse. Most of the land was in pasture but
much has now been converted to arable.
Among famous men connected with Leamington
Hastings are Sir Thomas Trevor (1586–1656), a 17th-century lord of the manor, Baron of the Exchequer and
parliamentarian judge, (fn. 3) and Richard Congreve (1818–99), the Positivist, who was a native. (fn. 4)
Some interesting particulars are contained in an
early-17th-century document endorsed 'A Note of the
p'ticuler commodities of Lemmington Hastings',
printed in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica
(vol. i, pp. 293–4). The glebe land of Ougham and
Westcroft (in Kites Hardwick) was capable of supporting 10 milch cows besides 'rearers' and two or
three hundred sheep, and also contained 4 yard land (fn. 5)
of corn and hay. The tithe corn of the parish had been
sold to certain Coventry men for 200 marks a year,
reckoning corn at 18d. the bushel, and was now considered worth at least £200 yearly; the tithes of wool had
been sold for £40 yearly. The demesnes of the manor
comprised over 600 acres, 'all inclosure for corne, sheepe
and meadowe'; 1,000 sheep could be kept on them.
About 1665 Thomas Gill gave to Sir Thomas
Wheler and other trustees lands in the common fields
of Leamington for the building of a school and a
hospital. Some two years later his widow Susan Gill
opposed the proposal to inclose the fields, on the ground
that they produced good crops and that inclosure would
ruin the freeholders and cause depopulation. (fn. 5a) The
inclosure, however, was carried through (fn. 5b) , and a
portion allotted as the Poor's Land was charged with
providing £25 yearly for the school. (fn. 5c)
A little to the south-east of the church there is a row
of 17th-century almshouses. They are built of coursed
squared limestone with very thin alternate courses and
red sandstone dressings, except two, added later, which
have white sandstone dressings. It is a long rectangular
building of two stories under one roof, the upper floor
lighted by dormer windows. The south front faces the
road and over one of the doors towards the east there
is a brass tablet with an inscription (fn. 6) recording that
Humphrey Davies founded the almshouse in 1607 and
bequeathed lands for its endowment, which were
detained for 26 years and only recovered in 'this present
year 1633' with the help of Sir Thomas Trevor, baron
of the Exchequer and lord of the manor. Towards the
west there is a further inscription in a carved frame
on a stone tablet as follows: 'This Home for the
maintenance of two poor people of this parish for ever
was built and endowed 1696, pertinant to the last will
of Dorothy relict of Sir Charles Wheler Bart.' Internally the accommodation has been much altered. It seems
probable that the earlier building consisted of four
appartments, that two in the same style were built on
to the west in 1696, and later another was added, also
at the west end, with a gable instead of a dormer to
light the upper floor. All the fireplaces have modern
chimney-pieces, except one, much mutilated, with
stone jambs and a chamfered oak lintel. On the south
front there are three doorways, all cut through the walls
and finished with thin timber lintels, six three-light
flat-headed windows, with label mouldings returned
at the ends, two later square windows cut through the
walls, five dormers, and a buttress marking the junction
between the two periods of building. On the north
are brick additions, one dated 1841, into which some
original stone two-light windows have been built, but
without their label mouldings. The whole has been
reroofed (1949) and the chimney-stacks rebuilt in
modern brickwork.
Kites Hardwick, 1¾ miles east of the church on the
east side of the Southam-Rugby road, is a tall threestory square red brick building with stone dressings,
of early-18th-century date. It is built against the
remains of a 16th-century house which retains an
original two-light square-headed window with moulded
jambs and mullion. The north and east elevations are
plain brickwork without openings or stone dressings,
which suggests that the present house is part of an
ambitious scheme that was never completed. The main
front to the south has a stone moulded plinth, rebated
quoins, and a central doorway with a moulded architrave, keystone, and segmental pediment. There are
three sash windows to each of the upper floors and one
on either side of the door, all with stone moulded architraves, sills, and projecting keystones. At each floor
level there are moulded string-courses, which are
returned round the keystones, and above a stone
moulded cornice on which rests a parapet divided into
panels by stone piers and finished with a moulded
coping. The west elevation, with four windows to
each floor, is less elaborate than the south, but the
cornice, parapet, and plinth have been continued.
There are no internal features of interest. In the church
there is an 18th-century memorial tablet to John Smith
of Kites Hardwick; and William Smith in 1711 left a
rent-charge on his lands in Hardwick for the poor of
this and neighbouring parishes. (fn. 7)
Manors
The chief estate of LEAMINGTON was
according to Domesday Book held by
Hasculf Musard of the king and was rated
at 12½ hides and half a virgate; 2s. of its total value
of £12 was represented by a mill, and the pre-Conquest
tenant had been one Azor. (fn. 8) Hasculf also held Whitnash
and Haseley in Warwickshire, besides extensive estates
elsewhere, and the three villages were held by his
descendant Robert Musard in 1235 as 2 knight's fees. (fn. 9)
The overlordship of the Musards was still recognized
in 1410 (fn. 10) and 1419. (fn. 11)
Hasculf's tenant on his other Warwickshire estates
was Humfrey, the ancestor of the Hastang family, who
subsequently appear at Leamington also and gave the
village its distinctive name. Robert Hastang, Humfrey's
great-great-grandson, according to Dugdale, (fn. 12) granted
a hide in Leamington Hastings and Hill to Hugh son
of Henry in 1248. (fn. 13) His grandson John had right of
free warren in his demesnes in 1305, (fn. 14) and two years
later lost 78 sheep, worth £20, concerning whose
killers a commission of oyer and terminer was issued. (fn. 15)
He was stated to be lord of Leamington cum membris
in 1316. (fn. 16) In 1309 and 1315 he and his wife Eve
settled the manor on themselves in tail with contingent
remainder to his right heirs. (fn. 17) Fresh settlements were
made in 1319 on his son Thomas (fn. 18) and in 1325 on
John for life with remainder to Thomas and Elizabeth
his wife and the heirs of the former. (fn. 19) Their son Sir
John Hastang was the last of the male line and died
before 1375, when his daughter Maud proved her
age and with her husband Ralph de Stafford received
the rents, services, and customs of all tenants in
Leamington and Hill, valued at £56, and the site of
the manor with all except 100 acres of the demesne
lands. (fn. 20) These 100 acres, valued at 41s. 8d., with land
in Bradwell worth £38 11s. 9d. were reserved for
Maud's sister Joan, who was still a minor, and later
became the manor of Bradwell (q.v.).
Hastang. Azure a chief gules and over all a lion or.
Stafford of Grafton. Or a cheveron gules and a canton ermine.
Ralph Stafford also received small grants of land and
rents from William de Halughton and Maud his wife
(1370) (fn. 21) and Thomas Chircheyard and Joan his wife
(1398). (fn. 22) At his death in 1410 his son Humphrey
was 26; (fn. 23) the latter made a settlement of the manor on
trustees and died 8 years later, when his son John
succeeded. (fn. 24) John's brother, another Humphrey, was
killed at Sevenoaks in Jack Cade's rebellion in 1450, (fn. 25)
and Humphrey's sons Humphrey and Thomas were
implicated in Lord Lovell's rising of 1485, the former
being attainted and executed. (fn. 26) After a short interval
in crown hands the manor was granted to Sir Edward
Poynings, (fn. 27) who died in possession in 1521. (fn. 28) He left
no legitimate issue, his heir being his cousin Henry
Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland, (fn. 29) but Sir Humphrey Stafford's son Humphrey, having been restored
to favour in 1514, (fn. 30) regained the manor, which he
held at his death in 1545. (fn. 31) His grandson Humphrey
was dealing with it in 1554 (fn. 32) and made a settlement
in 1563, (fn. 33) and Humphrey the grandson of this latter
Humphrey was vouchee in a recovery of 1602. (fn. 34) He
seems to have died very soon after, for his brother Sir
William Stafford was in possession in 1606 when he
settled the manor on his heirs male with reversion to his
brothers Walter and Anthony and daughters Bridget,
Elizabeth, and Mary; he died the same year. (fn. 35) The
Staffords finally relinquished the manor when William
and John, Sir William's sons, and Elizabeth the wife
of the former, sold it in 1630 to Sir Thomas Trevor,
Baron of the Exchequer. (fn. 36) Sir Thomas's son, another
Thomas, was created a baronet in 1641 but died (1676)
without issue, bequeathing Leamington Hastings to
Sir Charles Wheler, whose maternal grandmother was
the sister of the elder Sir Thomas Trevor. (fn. 37) Sir William
Wheler, Sir Charles's grandson, was dealing with the
manor in 1724. (fn. 38) The Whelers were still lords in
1796, (fn. 39) but 2 years later, on the death of Sir William
(son of the preceding), the estates were divided, part
remaining with the baronetcy but the manor-house
and some 2,000 acres (of 2,700 acres in all) going to
Lucy his only surviving child. (fn. 40) Her husband Edward
Sacheverell Wilmot Sitwell was lord 1801–19, (fn. 41) and
the manor still remains with this family. (fn. 42)
Wheler. Or a cheveron between three leopards' heads sable.
Sitwell. Barry or and vert three lions sable.
Joan Hastang, to whom BRADWELL or BROADWELL was allotted in 1375, (fn. 43) married Sir John
Salisbury (executed 1388). (fn. 44) She was lady of the
manor in 1398, when her husband was Rustin de
Villeneuve. (fn. 45) Later she married Roger Swynnerton; (fn. 46)
her heir was her daughter Joan, wife of Henry Delves,
aged 28 at her mother's death in 1420. (fn. 47) There seem
to have been no children of this marriage, and in 1514
when the Stafford family were restored to their estates,
it was passed to Humphrey Stafford by Edward
Littelton, (fn. 48) whose wife Helen was the daughter of
Humphrey Swinnerton. (fn. 49) The last mention of Bradwell as a separate manor is in the inquisition post mortem
on Humphrey Stafford (1545). (fn. 50)
A manor of HARDWICK, known in the 16th
century as HARDWICK GRIMBALD, (fn. 51) is to be
identified with the hamlet of Kites Hardwick in the
north-east corner of the parish. The first mention is in
1236, when Robert Hastang made Richard de Wulurinton his attorney in a suit against William de Herdewic
regarding the customs and services owed by the latter. (fn. 52)
The Herdewick family were of Lindley (Leics.), but
some of them at least seem to have resided at this manor
of theirs, John Herdwyk being a collector of a subsidy
in Warwickshire in 1349, 1350, and 1352, (fn. 53) and a
justice when Coventry was given a separate commission
of the peace in 1377. (fn. 54) The male line died out with
another John in 1510, (fn. 55) and in the partition of his
estates Hardwick was assigned to William Dyngley
and Alice his wife, John's eldest daughter. His son
John and grandson Henry were dealing with the
manor in 1538 (fn. 56) and 1575, (fn. 57) and Francis, son of the
latter, sold it in 1589 to Richard Clever, (fn. 58) whose
grandson was lord in 1640. (fn. 59) It was again sold, to
the Trevors of Leamington Hastings, before 1676,
since when it has descended with that manor (q.v.).
Two hides in HILL were in 1086 held by Abingdon
abbey, having been bought (emit) by the abbot of the
fee of Turchil; Warin was the sub-tenant. (fn. 60) The early
history of this estate is conflicting, for the abbey's
chronicle states in one place that the lands in question
were granted (concessit) by Turchil and confirmed by
William the Conqueror, and in another that the abbot
bought (emit) them of the king himself. (fn. 61) In 1201
Ralph son of Wigan stated that his ancestor Wigan
had been enfeoffed of one hide in Hill, which the abbot
was claiming from him, by Henry I as a result of the
felony of Roger de Causton, the previous holder.
Judgement was given in favour of the abbot. (fn. 62) It was
probably this hide which was 2 years later granted by
Hugh, Abbot of Abingdon, to Henry son of Pagan as
one-sixth of a knight's fee; (fn. 63) Hugh, surnamed of
Abingdon, Henry's son, was holding this portion of
the abbey in 1242–3, and William de Curly a similar
fraction of a fee, thus accounting for the original
2 hides. (fn. 64) Hugh had sold all his holding here to Robert
Hastang by 1251–2; the service was then stated to be
castle-ward at Windsor. (fn. 65) By his marriage to Joan,
coheiress of William de Curly, (fn. 66) Robert Hastang also
obtained possession of the other Abingdon Abbey
holding, which henceforth descended with Leamington
Hastings, being allotted to Maud and her husband
Ralph Stafford on the partition of the Hastang estates
in 1375. (fn. 67)
Church
The church of ALL SAINTS is
situated on the south of the village, and
stands to the west of the churchyard. It
consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles and
porches, and west tower. Built about the middle of
the 13th century it then consisted of a chancel, nave,
and south aisle, and soon afterwards a north chapel
was added. At the beginning of the 14th century the
nave and south aisle were extended by the addition of
two bays, and a small south porch was erected. About
the end of that century the north chapel was extended
to form the north aisle, and the tower and north porch
were built. In 1677 the chancel was entirely rebuilt,
a clearstory added to the nave, the windows in the
south aisle replaced and the aisles re-roofed. In 1703
much of the south side of the church was rebuilt and
the south porch was extended. In 1875 extensive
repairs were carried out, the chancel re-roofed, reusing some of the old timbers, the stonework of the
three large windows in the north aisle replaced, and
the open timber roof of the nave concealed by a flat
matchboarded ceiling.
The chancel is built of roughly squared rubble, with
a plinth of one splay and a low-pitched roof covered
with slates. The east end has angle buttresses with
crocketed finials, the finials being renewed as part of
a modern rebuilding of the upper part of the gable in
red sandstone ashlar. (fn. 68) The window is of three cinquefoil lights, a flat head and a hood-moulding with mask
stops, and above a tablet with the date 1677. The
north side has two similar square-headed windows, but
of two lights, and between them a narrow doorway,
slightly projected, with a gable, in the form of a porch.
The doorway has a pointed arch, its mouldings continued down the jambs without capitals, and is probably
the north door from the destroyed 13th-century chancel.
The south side has been considerably rebuilt and has
no plinth; a note in the church registers for 1704 states:
'The south side of the church was rebuilt including
the arches from the foundations.' It has two two-light
windows similar to those on the north.
The north aisle, divided into four bays by three
buttresses with gabled crocketed heads, is built of red
sandstone ashlar, except the west bay, which is of small
limestone rubble. The parapet to the low-pitched
roof is plain, but supported on a hollow corbel-course
with human heads in its hollow. On the east it is
lighted by a pointed window of three trefoil lights and
tracery, all modern with the exception of the jambs and
hood-moulding. It has an angle buttress similar to the
others, and in the angle against the chancel there is a
grotesque gargoyle. In the east bay on the north side
is a single narrow trefoil light of one splay with an
ogee head, which has probably been lowered, as its
rear-arch is considerably higher. The next bay has a
three-light window similar to that in the east wall, and
the next contains the north doorway, a fine example
of late-14th-century work. It projects 3 ft. 6 in. from
the wall face to form a small porch with a gable, roofed
with slates. Its ogee arch is richly moulded and in the
wide hollow of the moulding a vine stalk, issuing from
the mouths of the head-stops and a head in the apex,
fills the hollow with its leaves and fruit; the ogee label
is finished by a head terminal, and the round mouldings
of the jambs are provided with capitals, now badly
defaced. The three-light tracery window in the west
wall is modern. The use of rubble for this bay is
obviously contemporary with the rest of the aisle, it also
applies to the west wall and the west bay of the north
arcade. The clearstory on this side has no parapet, but
an eaves-gutter, to the low-pitched nave roof, and it is
lighted by four two-light square-headed windows. The
south aisle has a low parapet with a string-course at its
base, which is raised over the aisle windows to form
hood-mouldings. It is built of sandstone ashlar, with a
moulded plinth and buttresses with gabled heads.
There are three windows of two trefoil lights, with flat
heads, in the south wall and one in each of the east and
west walls, all dating from 1677 except that in the east
wall, which is a modern replica. The clearstory has a
low plain parapet with a string-course at its base raised
as a hood-moulding to the four flat-headed windows,
each of two round-headed lights. The south door has
a pointed arch; the porch is divided by a rough, pointed
arch, and beyond this is the 18th-century addition with
a pointed arch entrance of two chamfers, perhaps
re-used. It is flanked by buttresses and has a tiled roof.
In the apex of the gable there is a tablet with the date
1703 and the names of two churchwardens.
Plan of Leamington Hastings Church
The tower, built of red sandstone ashlar and dating
from the end of the 14th century, is in three stages with
angle buttresses at each corner rising in six weathered
stages to the string-course at the base of the embattled
parapet, which has shields in the merlons, crocketed
finials at the angles, and gargoyles in the centre of each
face. The west door has a segmental-pointed arch
with a moulded splay continuous down the jambs,
flanked by small pilasters with crocketed finials and
surmounted by an ogee crocketed label with a foliated
finial; above this there is a three-light plain tracery
window in a deep splay with a four-centred arch and
hood-mouldings with grotesque head-stops; the tracery
is modern but the head and jambs are original. Over
this window there is an empty niche with the remains
of a canopy. The north side is plain, but the south has
three loop lights to the tower staircase, and a large
sundial painted on the wall of the second stage; the
east side has a clock dial in the second stage with a small
square window below. On all faces of the belfry there
are two windows close together, each of two trefoil
lights with four-centred heads set in deep splays, the
lower part of each light is panelled in stone with
louvres above.
The chancel (51 ft. by 17 ft.), entirely rebuilt in
1677, is probably much longer than its 13th-century
predecessor, of which no trace remains. The walls are
plastered and the floor paved with red and yellow
brick, the choir portion with modern tiles surrounding
memorial slabs of the 17th and 18th centuries; there
are two steps to the choir and two to the altar, which is
of modern oak with a carved panel representing the
Lord's Supper. The roof, which is of the king-post
type, is modern, but some of the 17th-century timbers
have been re-used. Opposite the north door there is a
pointed arch recess which may have been intended for
a south door and not completed. On the south wall
there is a large mural monument of black and white
marble with the busts of a knight and his wife on a shelf
on which there are also two skulls; this is to Sir Thomas
Trevor, bart., died 1676, and Mary his wife, died
1695; by the side hang a helmet and gauntlet. On the
north side there is another large marble mural monument, with the bust of a knight, to Sir Thomas Trevor,
'One of the Barons of ye King's Exchequer and Lord
of this Mannour', died St. Thomas's Day, 1654; by
the side are hung a helmet, sword, and gauntlet. In
the recess on the south side there is a white marble
monument to John Allington, the vicar who was
responsible for the complete restoration of the church,
died 1682. On each side of the chancel are marble
tablets to members of the Wheler family who died
during the 17th century.
The nave (56 ft. by 24 ft.) has a modern red tiled
floor, with wood blocks under the seating, the walls
unplastered, and its old timber roof concealed by a
modern matchboarded ceiling. The west bay of the
north arcade is screened off with a 17th-century oak
screen with carved panels. The south arcade, of five
bays, has pointed arches of two splayed orders supported
on octagonal pillars with moulded capitals and bases,
the latter resting on low square plinths with chamfered
corners; the moulded capital to the east respond, which
has a row of nail-heads in a hollow moulding, has been
restored. The first three bays are contemporary with
the nave, the two other bays were added early in the
14th century. The north arcade has four bays of
similar detail to those on the south side, the east bay
opened into a chapel built late in the 13th century and
embodied in the arcade when the north aisle was
erected late in the 14th century. The chancel arch and
its responds have been replaced by a modern segmental
arch, concealed by a modern oak panelled and traceried
screen resting on carved stone corbels. The tower arch
is pointed, with two splayed orders to the nave and
three to the tower, the inner order supported on
responds with moulded caps and the outer continued
down to splayed bases and on the tower side the third
splay dies out on the walls.
The north aisle (57 ft. 5 in. by 11 ft. 5 in.) is paved
with modern tiles and has a low-pitched roof dating
from the 17th century, the beams supported by carved
brackets resting on stone corbels. Against the east
respond of the arcade there is a narrow doorway, with
a four-centred head, to a blocked staircase which gave
access to the rood loft; it still retains its iron hinge-pins.
In the east bay there is an altar table, with turned legs,
dating from the 18th century. The pointed rear-arch
of the north door and its label with head-stops are
formed with plaster.
The south aisle (57 ft. by 11 ft. 6 in.) has a floor and
roof similar to the north. The east bay forms the organ
chamber and the west bay is screened off as an additional
vestry. The south door has a plaster rear-arch similar
to the north, but above it, a little to the west, is a
blocked semicircular arch, probably the rear-arch of
the 13th-century doorway.
The tower (12 ft. by 11 ft. 9 in.) is paved with
modern tiles and the walls are unplastered. The southwest corner is splayed for the doorway to the tower
stair, which has a four-centred head of one splay. In
the belfry there are corbels for an octagonal spire which
either was never built or has been destroyed. In the
west window there are a number of coats of arms of
Trevor and Wheler and their alliances.
The hexagonal sandstone font stands at the west end
of the nave and beneath the rim moulding, on each
face, there is an angel with outstretched wings holding
a plain shield; the stem is also hexagonal, each face
having two trefoiled panels; the base and step are
modern. The pulpit on the north side of the chancel
arch is octagonal with alternate long and short
sides. It is of oak with carved trefoils, quatrefoils
and similar work of varying detail, with linenfold
panels in later framing. The carving dates from the
end of the 16th century. The seating throughout is
modern.
The church plate includes: a large silver chalice and
two patens engraved with the Trevor crest and an
inscription recording their gift by Sir Thomas Trevor,
bart., in 1633; a large silver flagon, and another of
pewter, both given in 1699 by William Binckes,
vicar.
Of the five bells, nos. 1 and 2 are by G. &. G. Mears,
1821; the other three by Hugh Watts, 1620, 1631,
and 1615 respectively. (fn. 69)
The registers begin in 1559.
Advowson
There was a priest here in 1086, (fn. 70)
and the church was given to Nostell
priory (Yorks.) by Aytrop Hastang in
the reign of Henry I, (fn. 71) confirmed in 1222 by Robert
Hastang. (fn. 72) The appropriation took place in 1232, in
the episcopate of Bishop Stavensby, when the vicarage
was charged with annual pensions of 15 marks to the
canons of Nostell and a similar sum to the chapter of
Lichfield. (fn. 73) The value in 1291 was £6 13s. 4d. in
addition to these pensions, (fn. 74) and in 1535 £20, plus £20
paid in pensions to Nostell and 9s. 4d. for procurations
and synodals. (fn. 75)
The first post-Reformation presentation (1558) was
made by William Hygden, who had been granted it
by the Prior of Nostell before the Dissolution. (fn. 76) The
advowson was granted in 1599–1600 to Richard
Locksmith, (fn. 77) and Jane Locksmith widow presented in
1619. (fn. 78) From 1646, when it was in the hands of the
Trevors, the advowson has descended with the manor,
except in 1683 when a presentation was made by
Samuel Fortrey, the second Sir Thomas Trevor's
father-in-law, and others. (fn. 79)
Gilbert Walden, the intruded Cromwellian minister,
was in trouble both with his predecessor John Lee,
sequestered in 1649 for 'drunkenness, swearing and
malignancy', who had brought a suit against him
and detained his income, (fn. 80) and with his successor
Tristram Sugge, appointed by Sir Thomas Trevor at
the Restoration, who prayed the House of Lords for
Walden's removal, supported by a petition of the
inhabitants. (fn. 81)
A sum of £50 from the rectory was assigned in 1655
for the augmentation of the vicarage of Winchcombe
(Glos.). (fn. 82)
Charities
Humphrey Davis's Almshouse, Dame
Dorothy Wheler's Almshouse, and
The Poor's Land (exclusive of the
Poor's Land Educational Foundation), formerly
administered together under the title of the United
Charities pursuant to a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 5 December 1893 as varied by a scheme
of the said Commissioners dated 20 January 1905, are
now regulated by schemes of the said Commissioners
dated 26 August 1910 and 3 April 1925 under the
title of the Consolidated Charities. The schemes
appoint a body of trustees to administer the charities,
of which the annual income amounts to £443 approximately.
William Goode by will proved on 29 December
1841 bequeathed to the clergyman, churchwardens,
and overseers of Leamington Hastings £100, the
interest to be expended in bread to be distributed on
the first Sunday in April amongst the poor inhabitants
of the parish. The annual income of the charity
amounts to £2 13s. 4d.
William Smith. This parish participates in the
charity of William Smith and receives 4s. per annum
which, in accordance with the terms of the bequest is
required to be distributed in bread to the poorest
people of the parish. For particulars of the charity see
under parish of Birdingbury.