OVING
Olvonge (xi cent.); Ovunges, Eeunges, Vuinges
(xii cent.); Owynge, Oking (xiii cent.).
The parish of Oving has an extent of 990 acres,
in which are included 138 acres of arable land, 803
acres of permanent grass, and 2 acres of woods and
plantations. (fn. 1) The pasture land, which thus forms
the bulk of the parish, is of an excellent quality and
is well watered, since Oving is bounded on the east
and west by streams which meet at the northern
point of the parish, while various smaller springs rise
in the higher land in the centre. The pasture was
always important. In the 16th century the lords of the
manors and some of their freeholders had laid together
100 acres from their respective lands in Oving, to be
called the cow pasture and to be used as common for
their mutual benefit. This land was later claimed
as common of the manor of North Marston. (fn. 2) In
1607 a forty years' lease of this land, then reckoned
at 120 acres lately ditched and hedged, was made to
Silas Tyto. (fn. 3)
The soil of this parish is a sandy loam, on a
limestone stratum in the higher parts and stiff clay in
the valleys. The low land near the borders of the
parish is from about 350 ft. to 400 ft. above the
ordnance datum, save in the south-east corner, where
it is higher. Towards the middle of Oving, more
particularly in the south, the land rises considerably,
and the village, standing on a hill, is about 500 ft.
above sea-level. On the crest of the hill (529 ft.) is
the meeting-place of five roads. The main part of
the village lies around the road leading south down
the hill; it is, however, rather scattered and much
intersected by roads and lanes.
The church of All Saints is in the north-west; a
Primitive Methodist chapel, rebuilt in 1809, lies
beyond the village to the north. On the south of it
is Oving House, a fine building dating from the 18th
century, when it was built by Charles Pilsworth,
M.P. for Aylesbury; it has been altered and enlarged
by subsequent owners. (fn. 4) It was leased to Sir Digby
Aubrey, bart., in the 19th century, and after his
death in 1856 to G. H. Brettle. (fn. 5) Col. Caulfield
Pratt was a tenant for some years. (fn. 6) It is now in the
possession of Mr. Henry Yates Thompson.
South-west of the church is the manor-house, a
timber building with brick infilling, of late Elizabethan
date in its earliest parts; the brickwork is set in herringbone pattern, and inside the house the old ceiling
beams and framework are to be seen. In the hall is
a large open fireplace. The Black Boy Inn is of
similar construction, but perhaps a little later in date,
and there are several smaller houses in the village of
17th-century date.
There is no Inclosure Act for the parish.
Manors
Edwin, a thegn of King Edward, held
the manor of OVING before the Conquest; it was afterwards part of the lands
of the Bishop of Coutances and was held of him in
1086 by two knights, being then assessed at 10 hides
and having woodland for 200 swine. (fn. 7) After the forfeiture of the bishop's lands this manor became part
of the honour of Dudley, (fn. 8) belonging in the 12th
century to the Paynel family, (fn. 9) to whose manor of
Newport Pagnell it became attached, (fn. 10) the successors
of the Paynels claiming to hold view of frankpledge
in Oving in the 13th century. (fn. 11) The last mention
of the overlordship occurs in 1611. (fn. 12)
Towards the middle of the 12th century Wigan of
Wallingford had an estate here, (fn. 13) as in North Marston.
He died about 1156, (fn. 14) and was succeeded by his brother
Meinfelin (fn. 15) of Oving, who held here in 1167. (fn. 16)
Robert of Oving, who held two fees here about the
middle of the 13th century (fn. 17) and was still seised as
late as 1273, (fn. 18) may possibly have been a member of
the same family, as, although Oving was held as one fee
by Robert le Lord in 1284–6, (fn. 19) it had passed by 1302
to William Penros, who held it as 'Oving with Northmerston,' (fn. 20) and who may have been a descendant of
Wigan of Wallingford's nephew, Alan Penros. (fn. 21) In
1316 a portion of Oving was held as dower by William's
mother, Sara widow of Robert Penros. (fn. 22) William
Penros still held in 1323. (fn. 23) In 1332 he granted his
lands here to Thomas Tochwick and his heirs,
making an agreement with Thomas and with Jane his
wife (probably the daughter of William) whereby the
grantees were to allow to William Penros during his
life such meat and drink as they themselves used, and
to find him a robe, 2 pairs of breeches of the price of
2s. 8d., 2 new shirts of the price of 3s., 4 pairs of
shoes and a suitable bed. (fn. 24)
The Tochwicks were seised in 1346, (fn. 25) and in
1361 they settled the manor of Oving on themselves
for life with reversion to their daughter and heir Jane,
wife of Nicholas son of Richard Darches, and the heirs
of Jane and Nicholas, the remainder, in default,
being to Richard brother of Nicholas and his heirs. (fn. 26)
Richard Darches, probably the son of the last-mentioned Richard, left a daughter and heir Joan, who
married Sir John Dynham, kt., (fn. 27) afterwards Lord
Dynham. The latter died in 1458 seised of a messuage and a carucate of land in Oving, held in his
wife's right and worth 40s. yearly. (fn. 28) His son John
died in 1501 seised of the manor of Oving and
leaving as co-heirs his two nephews Sir Edmund
Carew, kt., and Sir John Arundel, kt., sons of his
sisters Margaret and Catherine respectively, and his
two remaining sisters Lady Elizabeth Fitzwarren
and Lady Joan Zouche. (fn. 29) The manor retained his
name, however, and was known after this date as the
manor of DINHAMS or DYNHAMS. In 1512–13
Sir Edmund Carew granted his fourth share to
Sir Robert Throckmorton and others, (fn. 30) feoffees of
Sir William Compton, who died seised of this portion
in 1528. (fn. 31) In 1576 Sir William's grandson Lord
Henry Compton (fn. 32) conveyed it to Ralph Redman, (fn. 33)
who obtained the Arundel fourth from Sir John
Arundel, kt., and Anne his wife in the following
year. (fn. 34) Elizabeth Fitzwarren, who afterwards married
Sir Thomas Brandon, kt., died seised of a quarter of
the manor in 1516, leaving as heir her son John
Bouchier (fn. 35) ; the Zouche family were still seised of
their share in 1531. (fn. 36) Which
of these portions passed to the
Dormer family and which to
the Westons is not clear, but
in 1554 Ambrose and John
Dormer conveyed a fourth to
Thomas Redman, (fn. 37) father of
Ralph, (fn. 38) who inherited it
before 1559, (fn. 39) and in 1579
Jeremy Weston and Mary his
wife conveyed their fourth,
which was held in Mary's
right, to Ralph Redman also, (fn. 40)
thus completing his possession
of the entire manor. The
manor, which in Redman's time was estimated at
6½ virgates, (fn. 41) was settled on Owen Westall and Jane
his wife, apparently the daughter and heir of Ralph
Redman and Bridget his wife. (fn. 42) Jane survived both
her husband Owen and her eldest son Ralph, and,
afterwards marrying—Bosse, died in 1609, leaving
her second son Thomas Westall as her heir (fn. 43) ; the
latter still held Dynhams Manor in 1612, (fn. 44) but its
further descent is uncertain.
Redman. Gules three cushions ermine having fringes and tassels or.
The family which held Oving in the 12th and
13th centuries, taking their name from the place,
appear to have subinfeudated a part of their holding
while retaining the rest—probably one of the two
fees which they had held at first. At the close of
the 12th century this holding became divided into
sevenths. In 1218–19 Castelusa, widow of William
Cratard, quitclaimed a virgate of land here to Hugh
Juvenis (fn. 45) and another virgate to John de Cruce or
de la Croye, (fn. 46) and in 1270 William Juvenis and Hugh
de la Croye held part of the demesne lands which had
formerly belonged to Wigan of Wallingford in Oving. (fn. 47)
The Abbot of St. Albans received a grant of land
here from Maud de Estuna, (fn. 48) probably one of the
co-heirs, as in 1254–5 Niel de Chaucon held a
seventh part of Oving of the abbot. (fn. 49)
In 1254–5 Robert 'Austin' (probably Justin,
vide infra) held a seventh part of the Abbot of Cirencester, (fn. 50) and this family still held land here in 1292. (fn. 51)
Again, at the former date the Abbot of Oseney held a
seventh part, of which he had been enfeoffed by
William de Toreney or Torence, (fn. 52) son of Robert,
confirmation of this gift having been made by William
de Beauchamp, the overlord, and Ida his wife. (fn. 53) In
1291 it included a mill. (fn. 54) Half of a seventh part
was held by the Abbot of Medmenham in 1254–5
of the gift of Godfrey de Gibwen. (fn. 55) At that date
two at least of the tenants were definitely stated to
owe various services to Robert de Oving, described
as the 'lord of the said vill.'
About 1267–70 these seven parts were in the
immediate possession of Walter Champion, Robert
son of Robert, John de Bedford, Ralph de Sanford
and Isabel his wife, Robert Justin, William Juvenis
and Hugh de la Croye (fn. 56) (the three latter families
having evidently retained their portions from the
12th century), who were all sued during those years
by the Masters of the hospitals of Wycombe and Crowmersh. The Masters claimed the tenth shock of corn
coming from 'the demesne lands which were of Wigan
of Wallingford in Oving,' parts of which were held
by the seven defendants, after the usual tithe had
been paid to the parish church, according to Wigan's
charter. (fn. 57) As a result of the suits the defendants
agreed to pay the tithe or the equivalent. (fn. 58)
Ralph de Sanford and Isabel his wife, who had
their own manorial court, (fn. 59) conveyed their part to
Walter de Wimberville and Damerond his wife in
1271. (fn. 60) Walter afterwards granted it to the Abbot
of Oseney, (fn. 61) when it became united to the abbot's
other holding here. This composite estate, retained
by the abbey until the Dissolution, (fn. 62) was granted as
a manor in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter of Christ
Church, Oxford, (fn. 63) and afterwards, in 1546, to
Sir Anthony Lee and John Croke. (fn. 64) There is no
further trace of it.
The moiety of a seventh part held in 1254–5 by
the Abbot of Medmenham must have been augmented at a later date. In 1474 it was described
as a manor and held directly of the manor of
Newport Pagnell (fn. 65) by Maud widow of Robert Bothe
and formerly wife of John Enderby, who died in
that year. Her son and heir Sir Richard Enderby,
kt., (fn. 66) died in 1487, holding the manor of the Abbot
of Medmenham. (fn. 67) John Enderby, son of Richard,
conveyed the manor in 1507 to the trustees of
Thomas Pigott, (fn. 68) whose son Francis had married
Enderby's daughter Eleanor, (fn. 69) and in 1510–11 the
manor was quitclaimed to Pigott by Sir Edmund
Lucy, kt., and Eleanor his wife, (fn. 70) who was probably
the widow of John Enderby. (fn. 71) Thomas Pigott, who
was a serjeant-at-law and held property in Whaddon
(q.v.), died in February 1519–20 holding Oving, (fn. 72)
which he left by will to his third (fn. 73) son Roger (fn. 74) ; Roger
leased it in 1542 for ninety-nine years to his brother
Thomas, whose son Thomas afterwards held the lease. (fn. 75)
Roger Pigott died in 1562 and was succeeded by his
son Francis, (fn. 76) who conveyed the manor in 1580 (fn. 77) to
Henry Manfield. (fn. 78) From the latter the manor
passed to Arthur Claver in 1594. (fn. 79) In 1623–4
Claver settled the manor (fn. 80) on the occasion, probably,
of the marriage of his son Marmaduke with Simon
Harborne's daughter Joan. (fn. 81) In 1675 the manor
was held by Marmaduke's son Arthur, (fn. 82) who apparently conveyed it in that year to John Smith, Francis
Nourse and others. (fn. 83) In 1677 Francis Nourse, John
Nourse and Ralph Smith sold to Gerard Langbaine
all their lands in Oving amounting to about 80 acres,
for £1,240. (fn. 84) Langbaine died in 1692. (fn. 85) It was
probably this manor which was held in 1714 by
William Bennett, who conveyed it in that year to
George Collins. (fn. 86) Henry Lovibond died seised of a
manor here in 1727, (fn. 87) and his son Henry (fn. 88) and
his nephew Henry Lovibond-Collins afterwards held.
The latter sold in 1735 to Francis Tyringham, (fn. 89)
whose sister and heir Parnell married Charles Pilsworth, who inherited Oving at her death in 1741. (fn. 90)
Pilsworth, dying in 1748, left all his property at
Oving to his second wife Elizabeth and her heirs. (fn. 91)
She left it by will, proved in 1755, to her brother
Sir Thomas Cave, bart., (fn. 92) and he sold it in 1756 to
Richard Hopkins and Anne Maria Hopkins, window. (fn. 93)
Richard Hopkins died in 1799, bequeathing this
property to his nephew Richard Northey, who afterwards assumed the name of Hopkins. (fn. 94) He attained
the rank of lieutenant-general in 1809, and still held
in 1842, (fn. 95) being succeeded by his son William Hopkins
Northey. (fn. 96) The latter's daughter married George
Ives Irby, Lord Boston, (fn. 97) and in 1861 Lord Boston's
property here, called the 'Oving House Estate,' was
sold by auction for £20,324. (fn. 98) Baron de Rothschild was a purchaser to the extent of £13,120, (fn. 99) and
Mr. Leopold de Rothschild is still an extensive landowner in the parish. Other buyers were J. Parrott,
R. Paxton, Sir T. Fremantle, bart., and—Vines. (fn. 100)
It seems, however, that the manorial rights have
lapsed, as a dispute as to the right of lordship of the
manor was opened at the beginning of the 19th
century and has never been settled.
Church
The church of ALL SAINTS has a
chancel measuring internally 26 ft. by
16 ft., a nave 33 ft., 6 in. by 16 ft. 6 in.,
with north transept, south aisle and chapel 9 ft. 6 in.
wide, and south porch and a west tower. A north
aisle to the nave formerly existed. The proportions
of the nave and chancel, and the fact that the latter
bends southward from the axial line of the former,
suggest that the chancel is a rebuilding. It dates from
early in the 13th century, so that the plan of the
nave is probably of the 12th century, through no details
of that date are now to be seen. The church underwent a restoration in 1867.
The chancel has three lancet windows at the east and
two in each side wall, all having original 13th-century
stonework on their inner faces, while the external
faces have been everywhere renewed in modern times.
The south-east chapel of the nave overlaps the
chancel, from the south-west angle of which an arch
of c. 1330 opens to the chapel. The chancel arch is
plain 13th-century work of two chamfered orders,
but the jambs are apparently of later date and are of
coarser workmanship, probably altered at the time of
the insertion of the rood screen, which still remains
in an imperfect condition. It is of 15th-century
date, with three open traceried bays on each side of
the four-centred doorway. The whole is a good deal
repaired, but retains traces of old red and green
colour; it is finished with a modern cornice.
The nave has in its north wall evidences of a
former north aisle of late 13th-century date, in the
remains of the arcade which opened to it; the aisle
seems to have been destroyed in the 17th century
and the arcade blocked, but the eastern bay has been
reopened and forms the entrance to a modern north
transept. The existing pillar of the arcade is
octagonal, with moulded capital and base, and the arch
of two chamfered orders. The blocked north doorway, of 13th-century date, has been reset on the line
of the arcade when the outer wall of the aisle was
pulled down, and to the west of it is a single trefoiled
14th-century light, similarly reset; it formerly had
tracery in the head. The south arcade is of three
bays, the two eastern of which, of similar date and
character to the north arcade, are separated from the
western bay by a blank wall. The latter bay is of
late 15th-century date, showing a probable lengthening of the south aisle at this time. The nave has a
clearstory of late 15th-century date, with one twolight window in the north wall and two in the south;
externally their stonework is modern. The nave
roof dates from the same period and is of three bays,
low-pitched, with tie-beams, purlins, ridge, and
moulded wall-plates. In the 17th century (1657
according to a date on the roof) braces were added
below the tie-beams, springing from scrolled corbels,
and one of the tie-beams is of this time. On the soffits
of the second and third tie-beams are carved bosses,
one with a lion's face and the other with a shield of
the Passion, both contemporary with the beams.
The chapel at the east end of the south aisle has an
east window of three trefoiled lights with net tracery,
c. 1330, and on either side of it an image bracket.
At the south-east is a contemporary trefoiled piscina
recess with the broken remains of a projecting basin,
and to the west of it a wide tomb recess with an ogee
arch, trefoiled and moulded, in the head of which a
small window opening of later date has been cut.
Between the piscina and the tomb recess is a threelight window of 16th-century date, and to the west
of the recess is a similar four-light window, of which
only the trefoiled heads of the lights are old. A
third south window is modern, and between it and
the second window is the south doorway, of plain
13th-century work, having a pointed head of one
chamfered order. Over it is a 14th-century porch,
the moulded outer arch being original work on
restored jambs, while above the arch is the date 1717,
recording repairs at that time. There is a holy-water
stoup, of 14th-century date, to the east of the inner
jambs of the south doorway, and the door itself is old,
with vertical chamfered fillets and wrought-iron strap
hinges of the 15th century.
The tower is of three stages, with a south-east
stair-turret and diagonal buttresses at the western
angles. The whole appears to be of early 16th
century date, but there is a good deal of modern work,
including the embattled parapets. The belfry
windows are single lights with round heads under
square frames, and the cornice over them has gargoyles
at the centres and angles of each face. In the ground
stage is a three-light west window, nearly all modern,
over a west doorway, both having low straight-sided
arches, and the tower arch is four-centred, of two
chamfered orders, dying out at the springing.
The font has a plain round bowl, which may be
of the 13th century. The pulpit is of stone and
modern. In the west end of the south aisle are four
oak benches with panelled standards, of 15th-century
character. No other old fittings remain, but in the east
wall of the nave, south of the chancel arch, is part of
an old wall-painting with a seated figure of Christ.
There are three bells and a sanctus: the treble and
second of 1627, by James Keene, and the tenor by
Robert Atton, 1617.
The communion plate includes a cup and cover
paten of 1569, a paten of 1708 on a stand, and a
plated flagon.
The registers begin in 1678.
Advowson
The church of Oving was in existence in the 12th century. (fn. 101) It was
held, from an early date until the
Dissolution, by the priory of St. John of Jerusalem in
England, the priors of that foundation presenting
rectors to the living as early as 1222 and until 1523. (fn. 102)
The church was valued at £4 6s. 8d. in 1291, (fn. 103) and
in 1535 at £11 1s. 10d., from which an annual
pension of 53s. 4d. was paid to the Prior of St. John. (fn. 104)
After the Dissolution the living came to the
Crown, in whom it has since remained, (fn. 105) presentation
to the rectory being made by the Lord Chancellor.
In 1902 the rectory of Pitchcott was annexed, (fn. 106) and
since then the presentation has been alternately in
the Lord Chancellor and the patron of Pitchcott, who
is at present Mr. H. Yates Thompson of Oving
House.
After an ecclesiastical visitation made in 1635 the
commissioners returned that Oving parish had no
copy of Bishop Jewell's works and no flagon to put
wine in at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. (fn. 107)
The Chantry Returns show that certain lands, of
the annual value of 12d., had been given for the
maintenance of a light in the church. (fn. 108) It was
probably these lands which were granted by Queen
Elizabeth in 1571 to Richard Hill and William
James as 1 acre and 1 rood in North Marston,
formerly given for the maintenance of a light burning before the image of St. Nicholas in the chancel of
Oving Church, half an acre near Fulwell Hill given
for keeping a light before the image of the Virgin
Mary, also in Oving Church, and 1½ acres in Oving
in the occupation of Edward Nicholls and Edward
Meyer, churchwardens (fn. 109)
Charities
Clock Money.—An annual sum of
8s. 2d. issuing out of 5 acres in North
Marston, now belonging to Captain
Henry Aubrey Cartwright, is applied towards the
upkeep of the parish clock.
For the charity of William Hill, founded by will
1723, see Bierton. (fn. 110) The annual sum of £1 received
from the trustees is distributed among the poor, and
one overcoat is also given to one old man each year.