WORMINGHALL
Wermelle (xi cent.); Wormehale (xii, xiii cent.);
Wrmehale (xiii, xiv cent.); Worminghale (xiv, xv
cent.); Wornall (xviii cent.).
The parish of Worminghall with the hamlet of
Thomley is contained within an area of nearly 2,075
acres, including 1,366 acres of permanent grass, 420
acres of arable land, and 200 of woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The soil is loam and clay, the subsoil clay,
and the chief crops are wheat and beans. The land
slopes from 244 ft. above the ordnance datum in the
north of the parish to 195 ft, west of Court Farm.
The south of the parish bordering on the River Thame
is liable to floods. The village, with numerous outlying farms, is situated in the east of the parish. It
contains several 17th-century buildings a good deal
altered and restored. The almshouses founded by the
will proved 15 April 1671 of John King, (fn. 2) son of
Henry King, Bishop of Chichester and grandson of
John King, Bishop of London, are of brick and stone.
The buildings with their stone-mullioned windows,
stone cornice, and tiled roofs form a picturesque
group. The school stands to the east, and the vicarage
to the south-east, of the almshouses. The church is
about a quarter of a mile south-east of the vicarage,
with Court Farm to the west of the churchyard.
The farm-house is a plain, unpretentious building,
formerly the manor-house. The old vicarage-house
south-west of the church had been turned into two
cottages before 1862. (fn. 3)
Wood Farm, an 18th-century building in the
north-western part of the parish, contains some reused 17th-century panelling; a stone barn attached
to the farm may be mediaeval.
The forest of Bern wood in the 13th century
stretched 'between the field of Worminghall and the
field of Thomley.' (fn. 4) In 1235 Rose de la Rokell was
ordered to make a trench in her wood of Worminghall for the security of passers-by, under the superintendence of the king's forest officials. (fn. 5) As late as
1610 Sir George Tipping claimed certain lands in
Bernwood Forest as part of his Worminghall estate. (fn. 6)
The hamlet of Thomley (Tubele, xi cent.;
Tumele, xii cent.; Thornele, Thumele, xiv cent.)
forms a low-lying marshy district to the west of
Worminghall, and lies partly in this parish and partly
in that of Waterperry, Oxfordshire. It contains one
farm, sometimes called Thomley Hall, and a few
cottages, and is part of the Worminghall estate, now
in the hands of Lord Annaly as trustee for Leopold
fifth Viscount Clifden.
The following place-names occur in Worminghall
in the 12th century: Bradeput, Brancesbeg, Hangerforlong, (fn. 7) Boggeburg, Garbrode (fn. 8) ; and in the 13th
century in Worminghall, la Porteweye, (fn. 9) and in
Thomley: Bremor, Gorstilond, Evedeburn, Tunestowe, (fn. 10) la Leaweye, Monk's Water, (fn. 11) la Bidelonde,
Hemestreme, la Longorstilond, la Shortorstilond, la
Ockestubbe, Waterilonde, (fn. 12) Etwerdesbegge, Stewescrubbes, (fn. 13) Boche, Esturbroderode, Harse (lake),
Widenden, (fn. 14) and Mora. (fn. 15)
Manors
WORMINGHALL, which before the
Conquest had formed part of Queen
Edith's lands, in 1086 was held by the
Bishop of Coutances as one manor assessed at 5 hides. (fn. 16)
It was afterwards one of the fees of the honour of
Gloucester. (fn. 17) The overlordship of Worminghall passed
through his mother Margaret, granddaughter of
Hugh Audley, Earl of Gloucester, to Hugh second
Earl of Stafford. (fn. 18) It was eventually merged in the
duchy of Lancaster, (fn. 19) apparently passing in 1397
with some of the forfeited
estates of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, (fn. 20)
to Henry Earl of Derby,
afterwards Henry IV. Reference to the Crown rights in
Worminghall occurs in 1562. (fn. 21)
Duchy Of Lancaster. England with a label of France.
Robert was tenant in Worminghall under the Bishop of
Coutances in 1086. (fn. 22) Geoffrey
son of Robert, who was holding six fees of the honour of
Gloucester in the early 13th
century, (fn. 23) was probably his
descendant, since Thomas,
Geoffrey's son, was holding Worminghall in fee later
in the century. (fn. 24) He or his successor was identical
with Thomas de Doynton, Gloucestershire, who was
holding similarly in 1254 (fn. 25) and 1284. (fn. 26) Amice de
Doynton, probably his widow, held Worminghall
before 1290, (fn. 27) and his heirs were holding six fees of
the honour of Gloucester in 1295, of which Worminghall was one. (fn. 28) In 1302 the latter had passed
to John de la Rivere (fn. 29) (de Ripariis), who died seised
about 1315. (fn. 30) In 1333 his son and heir John proved
his majority (fn. 31) and obtained livery of Worminghall
Manor (fn. 32) (half the original estate, the other half
having been subinfeudated long before). Thomas
Darches was holding in 1346, (fn. 33) Denise, widow of
John de la Rivere, who was still alive in 1340, (fn. 34)
retaining dower in the manor (fn. 35) until her death in
1347. (fn. 36) Before 1363 Worminghall Manor had
passed to William Durant, (fn. 37) and in 1367 Ralph
Stodeye and his wife Edith surrendered her dower
interests in it to Sir John Tracy. (fn. 38) William Tracy,
his descendant in the direct line, (fn. 39) was holding this
manor in 1455, apparently in right of his wife
Margery, (fn. 40) daughter of Sir John Pauncefote. (fn. 41) They
conveyed it in this year to William Browne, (fn. 42) who
died in 1461, in the minority of his son and heir
Robert. (fn. 43) He succeeded to his father's property in
1480, on the death of his mother Agnes, (fn. 44) who had
survived her second husband Sir Geoffrey Gate nearly
four years. (fn. 45) Christopher son and heir of Robert
Browne proved his age in 1498, (fn. 46) and died seised of
the Worminghall estate in 1509, (fn. 47) when an assignment in dower there was made to his widow Sybil. (fn. 48)
The custody of the son and heir John was granted in
1510 to Edward Grevill. (fn. 49) In 1550 John Browne
sold Worminghall Manor to William Birt, (fn. 50) Sir John
Browne and his wife Margaret and Christopher
Browne and his wife Eleanor surrendering their
interests. (fn. 51) A settlement of this manor was made in
1552 by which Leonard Chamberlain was seised to
the use of William Birt and his heirs and assigns. (fn. 52)
In 1556 William Dunche was enfeoffed to William
Birt's use for life, with reversion in a year after Birt's
death to Thomas Tripping, (fn. 53) who had succeeded before
1562. (fn. 54) In this year he also acquired the other
manor of Worminghall (q.v.), and the whole estate
descended as one manor in his family with Ickford
Manor (q.v.) to Sir Thomas Tripping, bart., (fn. 55) who
died in 1718. (fn. 56) His widow Anne, with their
daughters and co-heirs Letitia wife of Samuel
Sandys and Katherine wife of Thomas Archer, (fn. 57)
conveyed Worminghall Manor in 1727 to John
Rudge. (fn. 58) He seems to have been succeeded soon
afterwards by Edward Rudge of Wheatfield, Oxfordshire, (fn. 59) probably his son, and he or his successor sold
this manor about 1772 to Samuel Horne (fn. 60) of Clapham, who died in 1777. (fn. 61) The next owner was his
son Edward Horne (fn. 62) of the Leasowes, Halesowen,
who was living in the early
19th century. (fn. 63) His son and
heir Edward died in 1824, (fn. 64)
and on the death of his widow
in 1827 (fn. 65) the trustees appointed under his father's will
conveyed the Worminghall
estate, covering the whole
parish except about 50 acres
and including the hamlet of
Thomley, to Henry second
Viscount Clifden. (fn. 66) It descended with the title to
Leopold fifth viscount, (fn. 67) who
died in 1899, (fn. 68) and is at present in the hands of his surviving trustee, Luke Lord
Annaly.
Agar-Robartes, Viscount Clifden. Azure three stars and a chief wavy or.
Thomas de Doynton was accustomed to hold view
of frankpledge in his manor of Worminghall in
1254, (fn. 69) and the right was included in the transfer
of 1727. (fn. 70) In the 14th century there is mention of
a fishery and a windmill. (fn. 71) A grant of free warren (fn. 72)
and two grants of a weekly market and a yearly fair
in Worminghall were made to John de la Rivere in
1304. In the first grant the market was to be held
on Fridays and the fair on the eve and day of the
Invention of the Holy Cross (fn. 73) (2 and 3 May), and in
the second the market was to be on Thursdays and
the fair on the eve, day and morrow of St. Peter (fn. 74)
(28, 29, 30 June). No other documentary reference
has been found, but Sheahan says in 1862 that the
market and fair had long been discontinued. (fn. 75) A
village 'feast' is still held annually.
The lords of Worminghall appear to have subinfeudated half a fee, afterwards called WORMINGHALL MANOR, before the mid-12th century (see
advowson). The overlordship descended with the
principal manor (fn. 76) (q.v.).
Luvet de Brai, lord of Oakley, was presumably
tenant in the middle of the 12th century, and this
manor descended with that of Oakley (q.v.), through
the Fitz Ellis and Ingleton families, to Sir George
Tyrrell. (fn. 77) He sold the latter in 1562 to Thomas
Tipping, (fn. 78) owner of the principal manor (q.v.), into
which it was afterwards absorbed.
William Fitz Ellis held view of frankpledge for his
tenants in Worminghall in 1254, (fn. 79) and a grant of
free warren there was made to Robert Fitz Ellis in
1341. (fn. 80)
A small property in Worminghall held by St. Frideswide's Priory, Oxfordshire, (fn. 81) was gradually absorbed
into the rectory (q.v.).
The hamlet of THOMLEY was assessed in 1086
at 4½ hides and formed part of the lands of the
Bishop of Bayeux. (fn. 82) It afterwards appertained to the
honour of Pontefract, (fn. 83) which passed in succession to
the earldom of Lincoln (fn. 84) and the earldom (fn. 85) and
duchy of Lancaster. (fn. 86) This overlordship is last
mentioned in connexion with Thomley in 1375. (fn. 87)
Hervey was tenant of Thomley under the Bishop
of Bayeux in 1086. (fn. 88) In 1206 a mesne lordship
there was held by William de Brug in right of his
wife Olive, (fn. 89) in 1254 by William Foliot, (fn. 90) and in
1279 (fn. 91) and 1311 by William de Scalebroc. (fn. 92) The
latest reference to this lordship that has been found
occurs in 1361, when Sir Roger Gateford was mesne
lord. (fn. 93)
A second mesne lordship in Thomley appertained in 1279 to Henry de Bruly, lord of Waterstock, Oxfordshire, (fn. 94) but in 1284 he released all
rights in it to William de Scalebroc and his heirs. (fn. 95)
The representatives of a family afterwards taking
its name from Thomley appear to have been lords of thi
hamlet from at least the middle of the 12th century.
Ruald and his brother Jordan were succeeded by
Jordan's son Henry, who about 1185 confirmed a
grant made by his uncle and father of a hide of land
in Thomley to Stratford Langthorne Abbey in
Essex, (fn. 96) making a final transfer in 1192. (fn. 97) The
connexion between Henry de Thomley and William
Fitz Ellis of Worminghall is not forthcoming, but
the latter had rights in Thomley in 1199. (fn. 98) Robert
de Thomley, probably one of his sons, (fn. 99) made grants
of land in Thomley about 1235. (fn. 100) His son Ellis (fn. 101) had
succeeded before 1254, (fn. 102) and Robert son of Thomas
son of Ellis, (fn. 103) lord of Thomley in 1279, (fn. 104) corresponds to
Robert heir of Thomas Fitz Ellis, whose son Robert
afterwards held Oakley Manor (q.v.). Thomley Manor
was included in the settlement made by Robert Fitz
Ellis in 1339. (fn. 105) His widow Margaret seems to have
made some arrangement with his brother John, who
attained his majority as lord of Thomley in 1344. (fn. 106)
He apparently died about 1347, when the Fitz Ellis
property in Thomley, reduced by the numerous
grants to religious houses, (fn. 107) was entrusted by the
Crown to Thomas North. (fn. 108) He was still in charge at
the death of Margaret Fitz Ellis in 1375, (fn. 109) and in
1381 his heir, William North, was his executor. (fn. 110) It
has not been found possible to trace the later descent
of this property.
In the latter part of the 13th century Oseney Abbey,
Oxfordshire, held an estate in Thomley called in the
16th century THOMLEY MANOR. It consisted of
half a hide of land held in fee for 10s. yearly of Goring
Priory, Oxfordshire. It was confirmed by Ellis de
Thomley, together with other small plots of land acquired by the abbey from Robert and Ellis de Thomley. (fn. 111)
This estate was retained by Oseney Abbey (fn. 112) until the
Dissolution, the lessee in 1535 being Sir John Browne. (fn. 113)
It was granted in fee in 1542 to Richard Andrews, (fn. 114)
but was acquired before 1550 by Sir John Browne, (fn. 115)
who conveyed it in that year to William Birt, (fn. 116) a
transfer confirmed by royal grant in 1551. (fn. 117) In
1553 William Birt sold Thomley Manor (with the
glebe land in Thomley of Worminghall Rectory and
the tithes appertaining to it), chargeable with the
customary services and a yearly rent of 5s. to Magdalen
College, Oxford, (fn. 118) to William Gardiner of Grove Place,
Chalfont St. Giles. (fn. 119) It was inherited by his son John,
who with his wife Rhoda (fn. 120) conveyed it in 1570 to
Thomas Tipping and his wife Margaret. (fn. 121) Thomley
has since descended with Worminghall Manor (fn. 122) (q.v.),
excepting that Anne Lady Tipping sold it to John
Rudge in 1726, (fn. 123) a year before Worminghall. It is
at present held in trust by Lord Annaly.
A small estate called THOMLEY MANOR in the
latter half of the 14th century (fn. 124) was held by Edmund
Handlo at his death in 1355, (fn. 125) and descended with
Boarstall Manor (q.v.) to Edmund Rede (with that
part of the manor which reverted to him in 1437). (fn. 126)
It does not appear, however, among his possessions
at his death in 1489, (fn. 127) and is not at present otherwise
traceable.
Stratford Langthorne Abbey, which acquired an
estate of 1 hide of land in Thomley about the
middle of the 12th century, retained rights in
it into the 13th century. (fn. 128) The latest reference found
to this abbey in connexion with Thomley occurs in
1229, (fn. 129) but its rights there appear to have been acquired
by Oseney Abbey some time previous to 1279. (fn. 130)
The estate itself was granted about 1185 by Stratford Abbey to St. Frideswide's Priory for a yearly
rent of 18s. (fn. 131) The priory continued to hold this
land, (fn. 132) which was still traceable as a separate entity in
the first half of the 14th century. (fn. 133) During the first
half of the 13th century St. Frideswide's Priory
retained a virgate of this estate in Thomley and
distributed the remainder in equal portions to three
tenants, whose names are enumerated in 1229. (fn. 134)
Later William Oliver, one of these tenants, was
holding half of it, (fn. 135) and had been succeeded by
Nicholas Oliver before 1279. (fn. 136) At this date the
remainder was held by John Gamel, (fn. 137) who about
1325 quitclaimed two parts of the whole estate with
other land in Thomley to the priory. (fn. 138) It presumably
corresponds to the messuage and land in Thomley
leased by the priory in 1532 to Sir John Browne, and
of which he was Crown lessee in 1535. (fn. 139) It was
apparently afterwards acquired by him with Thomley
Manor, formerly belonging to Oseney Abbey (q.v.),
and absorbed into it.
St. Frideswide's Priory held 1½ hides of land in
Thomley granted with Worminghall Church in 1199
(see advowson). This property descended as part of
the rectory (q.v.), except between 1552 and 1570,
when it passed with Thomley Manor formerly appertaining to Oseney Abbey (q.v.).
An estate of over 1 hide of land in Thomley was
held by Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire, of Robert de
Thomley in 1279 by the service of rendering a rose
at Midsummer. (fn. 140) After the Dissolution the reversion
of this abbey's farm in Thomley was granted in fee
in 1537, on the expiration of a lease held by Sir John
Browne, to Sir Thomas Pope. (fn. 141) A further grant of
the rent then reserved was made to him in 1545. (fn. 142)
This property must have been afterwards absorbed
into Thomley Manor, since it does not reappear.
Studley Priory, Oxfordshire, was holding half a
virgate of land in Thomley in 1279 for a small yearly
rent of Robert de Thomley. (fn. 143) Its possessions in
Thomley and Worminghall were granted in fee in
1540 to John Croke. (fn. 144) He sold them to Sir John
Browne, who was pardoned in 1544 for acquiring them
without royal licence. (fn. 145)
Church
The church of ST. PETER AND
ST. PAUL consists of a chancel measuring
internally 22 ft. by 11 ft. 6 in., north
vestry, nave 38 ft. 6 in. by 18 ft., south porch, and
west tower 10 ft. 6 in. square.
The nave is probably of the latter half of the 12th
century, but the chancel appears to have been rebuilt
in the 14th century, while the tower is an addition of
the 15th century. In 1847 an extensive restoration
was undertaken; the north wall and part of the south
wall of the nave were taken down and rebuilt, the
north vestry was added, and the old timber south porch
removed and replaced by the present one. The walling generally is of rubble.
In the east wall of the chancel is a 15th
century window of three cinquefoiled lights with
vertical tracery in a four-centred head. The twolight window and vestry doorway on the north are
modern, but the two south windows, each of two
trefoiled lights with flowing tracery in a pointed head,
retain a few old stones, though the tracery has been
renewed. At the south-east of the chancel is
a 14th-century piscina with a trefoiled head, a
credence shelf, and a circular basin. The chancel
arch, which is of a single round-arched order,
unmoulded, with angle shafts having carved capitals
and moulded bases towards the nave and plain square
jambs towards the chancel, is of the original date of
the nave, but has been very much restored. A modern
opening, communicating with the pulpit, has been
pierced in the north respond.
The two north windows of the nave, each of
two trefoiled lights with vertical tracery under a
square head, are modern copies of their predecessors
in the wall which was taken down in 1847. Close
to one of these windows, previous to the restoration, traces of a plain opening, said to have
been 'Norman,' could be seen. (fn. 146) The north doorway has a round-arched external order, filled by a
tympanum forming a square head to the opening
itself. Though substantially of the 12th century, it
has been very considerably renewed. The south-east
window is modern and of two lights in a traceried
head; at the west end of the south wall is a wide
lancet window, originally an insertion of the 13th
century, but almost completely renewed at the restoration. The same fate has also overtaken the 12th
century south doorway between the two windows,
which has a round head of two orders, the outer
moulded with the billet, and nook shafts in the jambs.
In this wall is also a piscina with a pointed head and
circular basin, probably of the 13th century, on either
side of which are set upright in the wall short pieces
of roll-moulding; three painted crosses are also visible
on the face of the piscina. At the west end of the
nave there was formerly a gallery, which was taken
down in 1847.
The tower rises in two stages, and is crowned
by an embattled parapet. There is a vice-turret
at the south-east angle, entered from the ground
stage by a doorway with an elliptical head. The
tower arch has square jambs, from which spring two
pointed and chamfered orders. In the west wall
of the ground stage is a window of three cinquefoiled lights with a traceried head. The ringing chamber, which is contained in the upper part of the lower
stage, is lighted from all sides except the east by small
cinquefoiled lights; the bell-chamber has restored
square-headed windows of two lights, that in the
east wall being probably a 16th-century insertion.
The cylindrical font is possibly of the 13th century.
Some early 16th-century plain benches remain in the
western portion of the nave, and these have been
copied in deal for the remainder of the seating. In
the vestry is an iron-bound oaken chest, probably of
the 17th century.
At the south-east of the chancel is a brass to Philip
King, who died in 1592. He is represented with
his wife Elizabeth kneeling in prayer, with the figures
of his five sons and six daughters and a chrisom child.
Below the figures is an inscription in English verse,
and below this again a Latin inscription stating that
he was educated by his uncles, Robert King, Bishop
of Oxford, and John Lord Williams of Thame, and
that he died after forty years of married life with his
wife Elizabeth, who survived him and caused the
brass to be set up. On the north wall of the chancel
are the arms of the see of London impaling King,
evidently for John King, son of the above Philip
King, who was consecrated Bishop of London in
1611. In the chancel are also floor slabs to Edmund
King, who died in 1577; to Winifred Littlepace,
who died in 1686, and her daughter Elizabeth Price,
1685; to Francis Price, a former vicar, who died in
1701, and his first wife Jane, 1662; and to Thomas
Stevens, who died in 1687, Elizabeth his daughter,
1685, and Thomas Philips, 1686; there is also a
floor slab, partly covered by the organ, which hides
the date, to a second Thomas Philips.
There is a ring of three bells and a sanctus bell,
all cast by Taylor at Oxford in 1847, partly from the
old bells.
The plate includes a cup and cover paten of 1629.
The registers begin in 1538.
Advowson
Worminghall Church is mentioned
about 1158 in a general confirmatory
charter of Pope Adrian IV to St.
Frideswide's Priory, (fn. 147) and in a bull issued later in
the century by Pope Alexander III in favour of this
priory. (fn. 148) It was granted in free alms at the end of
the century by William Fitz Ellis with the consent
of his wife Emma. (fn. 149) This gift was confirmed in
1199 by King John; (fn. 150) early in the 13th century by
William Bishop of Lincoln, (fn. 151) by the original grantors
William and Emma Fitz Ellis (fn. 152) and other members
of his family; (fn. 153) in 1218 by Pope Honorius; (fn. 154) and
in the 14th century by Edward II and Edward III. (fn. 155)
A vicarage was ordained in 1229, (fn. 156) and the advowson,
valued at £4 13s. 4d. in 1291 (fn. 157) and in 1480 (fn. 158) and at
£7 1s. 10d. in 1535, (fn. 159) with the rectory, followed the
same descent as that of Oakley (q.v.) from 1339
(when the latter was finally secured to St. Frideswide's
Priory) to 1546. In that year John Pollard and
George Rythe obtained a licence to alienate them to
William Birt. (fn. 160) In 1552 he sold them, with the
exception of the glebe land in Thomley to which
reference has already been made, to Thomas Tipping. (fn. 161)
Both descended with Worminghall and Oakley
Manors (q.v.) until 1627, when, on the death of
Sir George Tipping, they passed by a settlement made
in 1618 to his younger son Samuel. (fn. 162) He appears
to have sold them in 1652 to William Codrington. (fn. 163)
The owners in 1682 were Dorothy and Katherine
Stoughton. (fn. 164) Settlements were made later in this
year after Dorothy's marriage to Simon Brittiff. (fn. 165)
Her moiety had presumably reverted before 1700 to
her sister Katherine, then wife of John Burton, (fn. 166) who
presented in 1703. (fn. 167) Sir Isaac Shard, who was
owner before 1726, (fn. 168) died in 1739. (fn. 169) His son Isaac
Peccatus Shard, who presented in 1754, (fn. 170) died in
1766. (fn. 171) His property in Worminghall had been
purchased before 1783 by Edward Horne, (fn. 172) who
thus re-united the advowson and rectory to the
manorial estate (q.v.), with which they descended (fn. 173)
to Lord Annaly, in trust for Leopold fifth Viscount
Clifden. Subscribers from the rural deanery of
Waddesdon purchased the advowson of Lord Annaly
in 1912 and presented it to the Bishop of Oxford,
who is thereby patron of the living.
The tithes in Worminghall had been commuted
before 1862. (fn. 174)
Charities
The following charities are administered by a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners of 13 August 1912
under the title of 'The United Charities,' namely:
The Almshouse charity, founded by will of John
King, dated 24 May 1670, for the benefit of six old
men and four old women. The trust estate consists
of ten almshouses in hand, house and land known as
Pepper's Hill at Shabbington containing 67a. 3 r. 8 p.
let at £84 a year, and 11 a. at Oakley let at £8 10s.
a year. Eight of the almshouses only are at present
occupied; each of the inmates receives 3s. 3d. a week
with an allowance for coal and clothing.
The Bread charities, founded by Henry King,
Bishop of Chichester, by his will, dated 14 July
1653 and proved 16 November 1669, (fn. 175) and by
others. The following properties are included
under this head, namely—12 a. 1 r. 32 p. at
Oakley purchased with £100 given by Bishop
King, let at £7 a year; 7 a. 1 r. 27 p., part of
'Gentlemen's Ground' at Worminghall, let in allotments, producing about £14 a year; two cottages
and gardens at Worminghall let at £4 18s. a year,
and an allotment of 15 p. at Oakley let at 8s. a year.
In 1912 twenty-five persons received weekly half
a quartern loaf, with an additional quartern and a
sum of 1s. each at Easter.