CHEARSLEY
Cerdeslai, Cerleslai (xi cent.); Chaddesle (xiv
cent.); Chardesle Velence, Chardislee Molyns (xv
cent.); Cheardesley, Chersley (xvii—xix cent.).
Chearsley covers 942 acres, 322 of these being arable
land, 476 permanent grass, and 18 woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The soil is clay and loam, with a subsoil
of clay and limestone; the chief crops are wheat,
barley and turnips. The southern boundary of the
parish is the River Thame. Here and in the west the
land is low-lying, averaging about 250 ft. above the
ordnance datum. Towards the north-east, however,
the ground reaches a height of 407 ft. The small
and somewhat scattered village lies at the foot and on
the slope of this hill, the church of St. Nicholas being
at the southeren end.
The village contains a good number of 17th-century
timber-framed houses, most of which have been altered
and added to in later times. Remains of a moat
exist near the church.
An Inclosure Act for Chearsley was passed in 1805. (fn. 2)
There is a small Baptist chapel in the village, built in
1854.
Chearsley has been thought to be identical with
'Cerdicesleah,' at which Cerdic and Cynric fought
with the Britons in 527. (fn. 3)
There is a tradition that the lord's gallows formerly
stood on the hill near the cross-roads; the discovery
of several skeletons close by tends to bear out the
story. (fn. 4)
A few details concerning the land of the parish,
given during legal proceedings in the 17th century,
help us to form some idea of the local conditions at
that date. (fn. 5) It appears that the meadows lying near
the river and other brooks being frequently 'flotten
and utterly spoiled' by floods, and 'being exceeding
fruitful, mellow and tender,' were often so overstocked
with cattle that many rotted. The manor lay in open
fields and was 'a champion place' with a very fertile
and fruitful soil which was 'oftentimes hurtful and
very casual' for sheep but excellent for other animals,
although there was no convenient cow pasture save
among the corn and grain which 'by reason thereof
is much spoiled.'
Manors
Six thegns held a manor in Chearsley
before the Conquest, and in 1086 it
formed part of Walter Giffard's lands. (fn. 6)
Since the manor was parcel of the honour of Giffard, (fn. 7)
the overlordship passed to the Earls of Pembroke (fn. 8) and
descended with the manor of Pollicott in Ashendon (fn. 9)
(q.v.), the lords of this manor retaining rights in
Chearsley as late as 1739. (fn. 10)
The tenants at the time of the Survey were Ernulf
and Geoffrey. (fn. 11) In 1166 Hugh de Cressy held a fee
in this county of the Giffard Honour. (fn. 12) His son
Roger (fn. 13) died in 1246, leaving a son and heir Hugh, (fn. 14)
who in 1255 held Chearsley in demesne. (fn. 15) Stephen
de Cressy, brother of this Hugh, inherited about
1263, (fn. 16) and in 1268 Richard de St. Denis, Stephen's
heir, sued for his right in the manor against William
de Valence, who was at that time overlord (see Pollicott), and who claimed the manorial rights by a grant
from his brother, the king. (fn. 17) As a result of the suit
Richard quitclaimed all right, and for some time after
this the chief lord appears to have held the manor in
demesne. (fn. 18) Aymer de Valence, son of William, succeeding in 1296, (fn. 19) made a life grant of Chearsley to
Peter de Carbonel, Isabel his wife, and John their son
in survivorship, for an annual rent of £4. (fn. 20) After
the death of Aymer in 1324, (fn. 21) the partition of his
inheritance gave rise to disputes, but eventually the
annual rent and the reversion of the manor were
assigned to David de Strabolgi, Earl of Athole, and
John his wife, (fn. 22) niece and co-heir of Aymer. (fn. 23)
Their son David, a rebel, forfeited his lands to the
king, who made a grant in fee of the manor, (fn. 24) after
the Carbonels should die, to Sir Walter Mauny, kt.,
in 1335. (fn. 25) Sir Walter granted the reversion to Sir
John de Moleyns, kt., in 1339. (fn. 26) Peter de Carbonel
died about 1328, (fn. 27) and Isabel de Carbonel, who
obtained a confirmation of her right in 1329, (fn. 28) still
held in 1346. (fn. 29) Both she and her son John were
dead by 1353, (fn. 30) when Sir John de Moleyns obtained
full possession, and from this date Chearsley
descended with the manor held by this family in
Stoke Poges (fn. 31) until 1537, when George son of
Edward Lord Hastings and Mary Baroness de
Moleyns (fn. 32) joined with his son Sir Francis Hastings
in conveying the manor to Sir John Baldwin, kt. (fn. 33)
He was lord of Danvers in Little Marlow (q.v.),
with which Chearsley descended until 1594–5, when
William Borlase alienated it to John Dormer. (fn. 34) He
already held Long Crendon Manor (q.v.), with which
Chearsley descended, until the Cottrell-Dormers
alienated the former about the middle of the 18th
century. (fn. 35) Sir Charles Cottrell-Dormer made a settlement of Chearsley in 1745, (fn. 36) and by his will, proved
in October 1779, left it to his son Clement, (fn. 37) lord of
the manor in 1805. (fn. 38) On his death three years
later (fn. 39) his son Charles succeeded him and was dealing
with Chearsley in 1822. (fn. 40) From him the manor
appears to have passed between 1844 and 1854 to
Captain Wyndham, (fn. 41) who was still lord in 1864. By
the following year the property had come to Richard
Roadnight. (fn. 42) The trustees of Mr. Richard Roadnight
are now among the principal landowners in the parish
and his executors hold the Manor Farm.
The lord of the manor held view of frankpledge in
Chearsley in 1254–5, (fn. 43) and it was still among his
rights in 1594–5, when he was also stated to hold
free warren, return of writs, goods and chattels of
felons and fugitives and other privileges, (fn. 44) which had
been granted in extenso to John de Moleyns in 1339. (fn. 45)
A windmill is mentioned among the appurtenances
of the manor in 1296 (fn. 46) and in later inquisitions. (fn. 47)
A deed of 1822 mentions two windmills and two
water corn-mills here. (fn. 48)
In 1254–5 Hugh de Cressy claimed a common
fishery in the waters of Chearsley against John de
Columbars; the latter gave up all his claim, receiving
in return from Hugh certain fishery rights. (fn. 49) Free
fishery was held by subsequent lords until 1627 or
later. (fn. 50)
In 1356–9 the Prior of Rochester, holding the
manor of Haddenham, adjacent to Chearsley, complained that his free fishery in the Thame was greatly
interfered with by five weirs which Sir John de
Moleyns had raised; the sheriff, having made a survey,
caused the weirs to be thrown down. (fn. 51) In 1363 Sir
William de Moleyns brought a suit for trespass in his
fishery against the Abbot of Nutley. (fn. 52)
The manor afterwards known as BUCKTOFTS
probably originated in the half-fee held here of the
honour of Giffard in 1254–5 by John de Columbars. (fn. 53)
It was held by William de Columbars in 1284–6, (fn. 54)
and in 1294–5 Joan daughter of William conveyed a
messuage, land and rent in Chearsley to Michael de
Drokensford. (fn. 55) John de Drokensford, probably the
son of Michael, (fn. 56) held part of a fee here in 1302. (fn. 57)
In 1325 Ellen de Boketot or Bucktoft, widow of
Thomas de Bucktoft, (fn. 58) held a tenement consisting of a
messuage, garden, land, rents of free and customary
tenants and works. (fn. 59) Philip de Bucktoft her son (fn. 60)
held in 1346 (fn. 61) a part of Chearsley which had formerly belonged to the Drokensfords. (fn. 62) The manor
seems to have passed to Sir Edmund Hampden, kt.,
before 1465, (fn. 63) and was granted, after his attainder, to
Richard Croft and Thomas Croft for life, (fn. 64) but there
is no further record of it.
The Domesday Survey shows that 1½ hides of land
which Alden, a man of Earl Harold, had held
belonged in 1086 to Miles Crispin. (fn. 65) It afterwards
belonged to the honour of Wallingford, passing with
it to the Earls of Cornwall, (fn. 66) the last mention of this
overlordship occurring in 1469. (fn. 67) The sub-tenant
in 1086 was Richard, (fn. 68) who also held 4 hides in
Ickford (fn. 69) (q.v.), and these two holdings were assessed
together in the 13th century as a fee in Ickford and
Chearsley. (fn. 70) In the early part of that century
Walter son of John held the Chearsley portion for
half a fee, and the Ickford portion, also accounted half
a fee, was held by Thomas de Appleton. (fn. 71) He was
in possession of the whole fee in 1235, (fn. 72) but subinfeudated half a fee consisting of the Chearsley portion
and 2 virgates in Ickford, (fn. 73) and later, in 1270,
alienated the overlordship rights in this part to Denise
de Stokes. (fn. 74) There was some doubt as to the validity
of the conveyance, for in 1284 the heir of Thomas de
Appleton was said to be overlord of this half-fee, (fn. 75)
and an inquisition was held in 1292 as to alienation of lands in Chearsley and Ickford, at that time
held by Denise de Stokes and her son Robert. (fn. 76) The
Stokes's claims were evidently overruled, as Walter son
of Thomas de Appleton was stated to be overlord of
this half-fee in 1302. (fn. 77)
The subinfeudation had taken place before 1254,
when Walter Knight was holding. (fn. 78) In 1284 (fn. 79) and
1292 John Knight was in possession. (fn. 80) This estate
had passed by 1302 to Thomas de Zouche, (fn. 81) who
was probably a relative of the Knights, as it was held
in 1346 by a member of this
family, Walter, (fn. 82) whose name
occurs in connexion with
Chearsley in 1324 (fn. 83) and in
1342. (fn. 84) The property seems
to have come into possession
of the Brightwell family by
the 15th century. William
Brightwell of Chearsley is
mentioned in 1434, (fn. 85) and
Walter Brightwell, who died
before 1468, was seised of six
messuages and about 250 acres
of land in Chearsley, Warmeston and Quainton, which
he had granted to feoffees
with intent to defraud the king of the custody and
marriage of the heir, Walter's son Nicholas. (fn. 86) The
king granted the custody to Richard Fowler in 1469. (fn. 87)
In 1616 John Brightwell made a settlement of this
land on the marriage of his son Thomas with Ann
Lamborne. (fn. 88) Thomas died in 1633, the property
being called by the name of BRIGHTWELL'S FEE
in his inquisition. (fn. 89) His heir was his son John, a
minor, (fn. 90) who in 1666 was complainant in a dispute
over the conversion of arable land into pasture for
his cattle. (fn. 91) No later reference to this estate has
been found.
Brightwell of Chearsley. Argent a cross sable with five quatrefoils argent thereon.
Church
The church of ST. NICHOLAS consists of a chancel measuring internally
20 ft. 6 in. by 14 ft., north vestry, nave
44 ft. 6 in. by 18 ft. 6 in., west tower 12 ft. by 11 ft.,
and south porch, the last being built of brick, while
the other parts are of stone rubble roofed with tiles.
The nave dates from about 1300, the tower from
the early part of the 15th century, and the chancel,
which was probably erected at the same time as the
nave, was rebuilt about 1480, when it seems to have
been widened towards the north. The porch and
vestry are modern.
The chancel is lighted from the south by two late
15th-century windows of two lights under square
heads, and on the north are two similar windows, but
the westernmost has been blocked. The east window
is modern. A pointed doorway with moulded jambs,
in the north wall, and a similar one in the south wall,
both probably dating from the end of the 13th cen
tury, have been reset in the walls, and the chancel
arch, which is of the same period, has also been
rebuilt, and now centres neither with the chancel nor
the nave. In the south wall is a piscina with a
sexfoil bowl. The timber roof dates from the late 15th
century, but has been restored.
The north and south doorways of the nave, which
have pointed heads and moulded jambs, and a lancet
window in each of the north and south walls, are all
probably original; in each side wall there are also a
modern window and a 15th-century window of three
lights under a square head, while at the south-east is
a two-light window of about 1600, near the square
head of which a head corbel has been reset in the
wall. The north doorway has been partly blocked
and the upper part glazed. The pointed tower arch
on the west appears to have been rebuilt about 1480.
The nave has a fine timber roof, with curved braces
and foliated struts, which probably dates from the late
14th century; it appears to have been somewhat
altered about 1500, and has been repaired at a
modern period. The original pitch can be traced on
the tower wall.
The tower is of two stages with a stair turret at
the south-east rising above the embattled parapet.
The west window, of two cinquefoiled lights with
tracery in a pointed head, is original, and retains in
its head some fragments of painted glass. In each
wall of the bell-chamber is a window of similar
character, also original.
In the chancel is a brass with the inscription,
'Her lyth John Frankeleyn & Margarete hys wyff
which ordeyned [ ]stowe to this chirch & divine service to be doone every day in the [ye]r. A°.M.CCCC.LXII.
on whos soules god have mercy Amen.' Above the
inscription are their figures, and below are groups of
three sons and four daughters.
The font has an early 13th-century circular bowl,
with a cable mould round the rim and a band of
foliated ornament; it stands upon a later octagonal
stem and moulded base.
In the churchyard is the octagonal base and part
of the stem of a mediaeval churchyard cross.
There is a ring of three bells in the tower: the
first, inscribed 'Sancte Paule Ora Pro Nobis. W.H.,' (fn. 92)
is of about 1500; the second is by Thomas Lester of
London, 1741, and the third by Henry Knight,
1616. There is also a sanctus, with no inscription.
The communion plate consists of a silver cup of
1569, with a cover; a modern silver paten; and a
modern plated flagon.
The registers begin in 1570.
Advowson
The church of Chearsley, anciently
a chapel to Crendon, formed part of
the original endowment of the abbey
of Nutley, founded in the early 12th century by
Walter Giffard. (fn. 93) The grant was confirmed by later
deeds, (fn. 94) and the abbey continued to hold until the
Dissolution. (fn. 95) In 1535 the rectory was valued at
£10 10s. annually, from which sum an annual pension
of 22s. was paid to the rector of Ickford. (fn. 96) Henry VIII
granted the rectory and advowson of the vicarage to
the Dean and Canons of Christ Church, Oxford, in
1542. (fn. 97) In 1579 both were granted to Nicholas
Clerke, Helen Towers, widow, and William Fitz
William, jun., to be held in turn by each. (fn. 98) The
Fitz Williams held in 1595 (fn. 99) and conveyed to Sir
Robert Dormer in 1598, (fn. 100) and the property then
followed the descent of the manor until after 1864. (fn. 101)
Since that date the right of presentation has several
times changed hands. It was held by J. Oades in
1870 and by D. Bradley in 1877. It is now in the
hands of Col. F. T. H. Bernard.
In the Chantry Returns made in the reign of
Edward VI it was found that the annual rent of 12d.
from a rood of meadow in Chearsley was given for
the maintenance of a lamp within the church. (fn. 102) This
rood, lying in the west of the parish, was granted to
John Howe and John Broxholme in 1549. (fn. 103)
Charities
John Hart, by his will proved in
the P.C.C. 15 May 1665, devised
(inter alia) an annual rent-charge of
£2 issuing out of Easington Manor, Oxfordshire. A
sum of £97 0s. 3d. consols, arising from accumulations, is also held by the official trustees in trust for
this charity. By a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 14 April 1905 the annuity of £2
(less land tax) and the annual dividends, amounting
to £2 8s. 4d., are made applicable for apprenticing
a boy or girl, or in defraying the cost of an outfit of
an apprentice.
Church Land.—There are in the parish 5 acres of
land so called, the rents of which are applied for
purposes connected with the church.