CHIEVELEY with LECKHAMPSTEAD and WINTERBOURNE
Cifanlea (x cent.); Cifelei (xi cent.); Civele,
Civelea, Chivelea (xii cent.); Chivele (xii-xiv cent.);
Chyveleye (xiv-xvi cent.).
The ancient parish of Chieveley lies on the
southern slope of the Berkshire Downs and is drained
by the Winterbourne Brook. The parish consists
of the townships of Chieveley, Snelsmore, Curridge
(formerly Courage) and the chapelry of Oare, which
together make up the present parish, and the townships
or chapelries of Winterbourne and Leckhampstead,
which are now distinct civil parishes. There seems
to have been formerly a township of Bradley, which
consisted of the western part of the chapelry of Oare
and perhaps also of the township of Snelsmore.
The village of Chieveley lies along a road which
runs parallel to the Newbury and Oxford highway.
Snelsmore and Curridge consist of scattered clusters of
houses. The school at Curridge, built between 1852
and 1859 by Mrs. Stackpool and Miss Wasey, is
licensed for divine service. Oare is a small hamlet at
the extreme east of the parish, while Bradley Court is
now the only house in what seems to have been the
township of Bradley. The village of Oare is small
and the houses are mostly of brick and of no great age.
There are Baptist, Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan
chapels, and a small burial-ground here, long since
disused, belonging to the Society of Friends. Winterbourne is a compact village by the brook with a few
isolated houses, Winterbourne House, Copyhold, Pit
King Farm and Penclose Farm. Leckhampstead
consists of a village on high ground in what is known
as Leckhampstead Street, with large surrounding fields
of arable and pasture and two hamlets known as Hill
Green and the Thicket. Most of the cottages in
Leckhampstead are of brick, one or two being timber
framed with thatched roofs. The land rises from a
height of 280 ft. where the Winterbourne leaves the
parish to 549 ft. above the ordnance datum at Leckhampstead Thicket. There is a Wesleyan chapel here,
built in 1860, and a Primitive Methodist chapel at
the Thicket, erected about 1830 and rebuilt in 1874.
The parish contains 9,217 acres, of which 5,422
are arable, 2,008 permanent grass and 821 woods and
plantations. (fn. 1) The principal crops are wheat, barley
and oats. The soil is mostly loam overlying chalk;
there is, however, stiff clay in many of the higher parts
on the east, sand at Oare, gravel at Snelsmore and in
the bottoms of the valleys, and a little alluvium in the
Winterbourne valley.
The railway line from Didcot to Newbury, opened
12 April 1882, (fn. 2) crosses the boundary on the east, but
there is no station in the parish. The high road from
Newbury to Oxford runs the length of the parish,
passing close to but not through the village of
Chieveley; the road from Newbury to Wantage
crosses Snelsmore and passes through Leckhampstead
to the east of the village. The population is mainly
agricultural, but there are brick works at Oare.
The common lands in Chieveley and Oare were
inclosed under an award dated 15 October 1813, in
accordance with an Act of 1810. (fn. 3) Those of Curridge
were inclosed later and the award enrolled 19 September 1820. Copies of these awards are in the
custody of the parish council.
Arlington Manor is owned and occupied by
Mr. J. A. Fairhurst, Downend House by Mr. E. E.
Martin Atkins, Bussock House by Sir Montagu F.
Montagu-Pollock, bart., Chieveley Cottage by
Mr. A. H. Pigot, the Manor House by Mr. O. W.
Rayner, Bradley Court by Mr. E. J. S. Wasey,
Winterbourne Holt by Mr. R. Aldridge and Winterbourne House by Mrs. Robert Greene Hill. Prior's
Court, which stands in a park, is the property of
Mr. E. J. S. Wasey.
There is a very fine earthwork, known as Bussock
Camp, at the extreme south of the township of
Chieveley, (fn. 4) and various Roman coins have been
found from time to time in the parish, some of
which are in the Newbury Museum.
A number of large sarsen stones formerly stood in
rows at Hill Green, Leckhampstead, and have been
thought to be the remains of an alignment or avenue.
They were removed from their position some years
ago, though many may still be seen lying close by. (fn. 5)
Manors
In 951 King Edred granted to his
servant Wulfric 25 'mansae' in the
township of CHIEVELEY, (fn. 6) which were
seized but were restored in 960, (fn. 7) and he subsequently
gave them to the abbey of Abingdon. The boundaries of Catmore, set forth in the charter of 951,
seem to indicate that the township of Chieveley at
that time included Peasemore (q.v.).
The abbey continued to hold the manor after the
Norman Conquest and at the time of the Domesday
Survey part of it was let to William and Godfrey, (fn. 8) to
whom Henry I gave permission to cultivate the waste
here. (fn. 9) The profits from this manor were allotted to
the chamberlain of the abbey, except 32s. which
was reserved for the cook. (fn. 10) Its possessions here
were confirmed to the abbey in 1146 by Pope
Eugenius III. (fn. 11) In 1166–7 the abbot rendered
account for 10s. for his land here, (fn. 12) and further
particulars as to the profits due from this manor in
1190 are recorded in the Abbey Chronicle. (fn. 13) It is
stated to have had warren here in 1275–6. (fn. 14) In
1392 Thomas Crook, parson of Milton, and William
Dru gave certain lands here to the abbot, to enable
him to restore the abbey church, (fn. 15) and the abbey is
returned as holding the manor by barony in 1401–2. (fn. 16)
The returns from the manor are given in considerable
detail in 1417–18 (fn. 17) and 1428–9, (fn. 18) and in 1517 it is
recorded that John Harbard, one of the tenants of
the abbey, had destroyed his house and inclosed land
for sheep. (fn. 19)
The abbey continued to hold the manor till its
surrender in 1538, when the manor came to the king,
who caused the woods here to be surveyed, (fn. 20) and the
profits of the manor in 1541 were returned as worth
£18 13s. 3d. (fn. 21) The same year some of the lands
and woods here were granted to John Carleton of
Walton-upon-Thames, Surrey, and Joyce his wife, (fn. 22)
and in 1559 the manor was granted to William
Button and Thomas Estcourt and the heirs of the
former, to be held of the manor of East Greenwich
in socage, (fn. 23) and they sold their interest in it the
same year to Sir Thomas Parry. (fn. 24)
Sir Thomas Parry in 1589 conveyed the manor to
John Fortescue and others in trust, (fn. 25) and had a grant
of the manor in fee on the expiration of the lease in
1600, (fn. 26) but the next year, with Dorothy his wife
and his trustees, he sold the manor to Giles Pocock,
Giles Head and Edmund Cooke on behalf of Pocock. (fn. 27)
Giles Pocock (fn. 28) was a younger son of Richard Pocock
of Bradley Court in this parish (q.v.), who settled
certain lands in Wiltshire upon him in 1582 on his
marriage with Christian daughter of John Smythe. (fn. 29)
In 1611 he settled the manor and advowson on his
eldest son Richard on his marriage with Anne
daughter of Giles Head. (fn. 30) He died at Chieveley in
1624, when his heir was his son Richard, then aged
thirty-one. (fn. 31) By his will dated 28 October 1624
he left the farm of Chieveley and the advowson to
his son Richard, the farm of Ilsley to his second son
Giles and the parsonage of Chieveley and certain
lands near Hambridge to his third son John. (fn. 32)
His son Richard had livery of the site of the manor
and the advowson 31 May 1627, (fn. 33) and by his will
dated 20 January 1652–3 he constituted his eldest
son Richard executor and residuary legatee. (fn. 34) This
Richard Pocock married Letitia daughter of John
Loder of Harwell, Berks. (fn. 35) His wife was buried
here in 1655, (fn. 36) but no record has been found of his
own death.
The manor passed to his eldest son Richard, who
with Sarah his wife is described as of the Farm.
Richard died in 1694, (fn. 37) and by his will he left his
house to his wife for life, and the reversion of it and
the manor and advowson of Chieveley to his eldest
son Robert, with remainder firstly to his younger son
Richard and afterwards jointly to his two daughters,
Sarah the wife of Christopher Capel and Anne the
wife of John Head. (fn. 38) His widow died in 1702.
Robert seems to have died without issue and was
succeeded by his brother Richard, who married
Catherine. He died in 1718 (fn. 39) without issue, and by
his will his lands passed to his right heir. His widow
was appointed his executor and residuary legatee,
unless she married John Nalder, 'my now menial
servant. (fn. 40)
His right heirs were his sisters Sarah Capel and
Anne Head, and the manor is found early in the next
century in the hands of their descendants. (fn. 41) The
descent of the Head portion follows that of the
manors of Langley and Bradley Court (q.v.). The
other share was held in 1728 by Christopher Capel
and Sarah his wife. (fn. 42) Christopher Capel was a son
of the Rev. Richard Capel of Pitchcombe and rector
of Easington, Gloucestershire, by his second wife
Dorothy daughter of William Plumstead. He was
born in 1669 and by his wife Sarah he had two
children. His wife Sarah died 6 May 1733 and he
died 15 May 1740, (fn. 43) when the manor passed to his
sister Margaret, (fn. 44) as both his children had already
died without issue. Margaret was living unmarried
in 1753, when jointly with
Sir Thomas Head she presented to the living. (fn. 45) She
seems to have died soon afterwards, for on 1 October that
year Sir Thomas Head and
William Capel signed an
agreement to have the alternate presentations. (fn. 46) It seems
uncertain who this William
was, but he was probably the
great-grandson of Daniel Capel
of Stroud in Gloucestershire,
a brother of Christopher and
Margaret and son of the John
Capel of Prestbury who was killed at Fontenoy in
1745. (fn. 47) This William died, it is supposed, in 1779,
when William Capel, second son of William Capel
of the Grove, Painswick, an elder brother of John,
inherited Prestbury and the share of Chieveley Manor
from his cousin. (fn. 48)
Capel of Stroud. Checky or and azure a fesse or with three lozenges azure thereon.
William Capel married Ann daughter of Jasper
Clutterbuck of King's Stanley and, after her death in
1778 without issue, Susannah daughter of Thomas
White of the same place, by whom he had six sons. (fn. 49)
He was holding half the manor and advowson in
1806, (fn. 50) and in 1813, (fn. 51) when owing to the inclosure
of the common fields his manorial rights here became
of little or no value. He died in 1818, when his
heir was his eldest son the Rev. Christopher Capel,
who, before the year 1822, sold the manorial rights (fn. 52)
possessed by this family in the manor of Chieveley.
BRADLEY is not mentioned in the Domesday
Survey, but two unnamed manors, held by Gilbert de
Gand, have been identified as the manors afterwards
known as the manors of Langley and Bradley, which
seem now to be represented by the tithing of Langley
in the parish of Hampstead Norris (q.v.). The remaining portion of Bradley, lying in Chieveley parish,
appears now to be represented by the tithing of
Snelsmore and the Bradley Court estate, and to have
been included at the time of the Domesday Survey in
the Abbot of Abingdon's manor of Chieveley, when
it was held by a military tenant for half a knight's
fee. (fn. 53)
During the early part of the reign of Henry I
Abbot Rainald is said to have unjustly given 5 hides
of land here to Sir William de Jumiege, who restored
them to the abbey in the time of the Abbot Faritius. (fn. 54)
No connexion has been made out between the
later tenants of the abbey in this manor. In 1166–7
Walter de Hottot rendered account for half a mark
from this manor, (fn. 55) and in 1190 Gilbert Gifford was
holding 3 hides here of the abbey by military service. (fn. 56)
In 1202–3 John son of Turold sold to Ives son of
Richard land in Harlingeden, (fn. 57) which seems to have
been within the manor, and later in the same century
Thomas de Jumiege held half a fee in Bradley. (fn. 58)
Thomas de Abberbury of Donnington seems to
have succeeded Thomas de Jumiege, and had free
warren here in 1292, (fn. 59) and in 1309 Walter, his
brother and successor, granted to the abbey a messuage,
lands and rents here, which were probably known
later as Bradley Court. (fn. 60) In 1315–16 the abbey was
said to be holding Bradley Gynming. (fn. 61) In 1401–2
the abbey was holding from the king half a fee in
Bradley, (fn. 62) which they were holding also in 1428,
when it was stated that it had formerly been held by
Thomas Abberbury. (fn. 63) We learn at the same time
that the abbey paid 14s. for this fee to the ward at
Windsor. (fn. 64)
At the dissolution of the abbey in 1538 the manor
came into the hands of the king, and the manor of
West Bradley and Langley, described as lately a priory,
was surveyed for the king in 1547; courts were held
here, apparently on behalf of the queen, in 1563 and
1568. (fn. 65)
In 1626 there was a law-suit between John Grover
and John Jordan respecting West Bradley Manor, with
appurtenances in Harlington and Chieveley, (fn. 66) and it
appears to have been the same manor which, under
the name of Harlingdon or Harlington, Richard
Smith conveyed in 1654 to Thomas Morrall, clerk,
and John Davy. (fn. 67) No further reference to this
manor has been found until 12 June 1797, when a
court of survey of the manor of Harlingdon, Harlington or Bradley was held by Robert Griffiths,
steward, and Benjamin Hancock, lord of the manor. (fn. 68)
Benjamin seems to have died before 22 December
1802, when Robert Griffiths held a court of survey on
behalf of Thomas Merriman Hancock. (fn. 69) In 1823
another court was held by Thomas Rawdon Ward,
lord of the manor, when it was stated that the bounds
of the manor were co-extensive with those of the
tithing of Snelsmore. Thomas Ward held another
court in 1825, but the subsequent history of the
manor is not clear. (fn. 70)
The manor was held in the middle of the 19th
century by Edgar Corrie, and passed from him in
1879 to Sir Francis Jeune, who was raised to the
peerage on 23 February 1905 with the title of Lord
St. Helier. After his death on 9 April 1905 it was sold
by his executors to the present proprietor, Mr. J. A.
Fairhurst.
The tithing of SNELSMORE, which formed part
of the manor of Bradley, was held in the 13th century
by the abbey of Abingdon, (fn. 71) which in 1392 acquired 10 acres here from William Somerford, parson
of Speen. (fn. 72) The abbey was holding the tithing from
the king in 1401–2 as part of the manor of
Chieveley. (fn. 73)
At the dissolution of the abbey in 1538 these
lands came into the hands of the king, and certain
lands here were granted in 1545 to Robert Browne,
goldsmith of London, Charles Edmonds and William
Wenlowe. (fn. 74) In 1565–6 the queen granted the
manor of Snelsmore, late the property of the abbey
of Abingdon, to Robert Earl of Leicester and his
heirs, (fn. 75) but in 1580 it was the subject of a law-suit
between William Dodington and Sir Walter Mildmay and others. (fn. 76) William appears to have been
successful, for in 1606 he and Mary his wife conveyed
the manor to John Parsons, George Smyth and
Richard Marshall. (fn. 77)
The farm known as BRADLEY COURT was let in
1417 by the abbey of Abingdon to John Smith. (fn. 78)
After the dissolution of the monastery it was granted
in 1540 to John Carleton of Walton-upon-Thames,
Surrey, and Joyce his wife, when it was called Bralley
Court alias West Bradley. (fn. 79) In 1566 Anthony
Carleton and Joyce his wife sold it for £220 to
Richard Pocock, (fn. 80) who had apparently amassed a
fortune as a clothier. (fn. 81) He died on 15 February
1595–6, and was buried at Chieveley the same day,
when the estate passed under a deed of settlement (fn. 82)
made in 1588 to his son John, though his widow
Elizabeth continued to live here until her death in
July 1602. (fn. 83)
John Pocock obtained livery of the property on 17
September 1596. (fn. 84) He had married on 31 August 1584
Margaret Hylbert, by whom he had four sons and six
daughters, all baptized at Chieveley. (fn. 85) On his death (fn. 86)
in 1627 the estate passed to his eldest son John, born
in 1591. Margaret, who held dower, died in 1635.
John her son and his brother William must have died
without issue, for the estate passed to the next brother
Edward, born in 1607 (fn. 87) and married in 1638 to
Dorothy Broughton, (fn. 88) and by his will dated 1691
Edward Pocock left legacies to his daughters Elizabeth, Dorothy, Grace and Mary, and Bradley Court
to his son Richard in tail, with remainder to his
younger son Edward. (fn. 89)
Dorothy died in 1696, having survived her son
Richard, who died in 1692. The property passed
to Edward, who died in 1702 apparently childless.
Bradley Court passed to his sisters, and eventually to
Dorothy, who died in 1734. (fn. 90)
By her will dated 1732 she left all her manors,
farms and lands in Chieveley to Richard Pocock of
North Heath, the eldest son of her second cousin
Richard, with reversion to Richard his eldest son, then
an infant, in tail-male, with contingent remainder to
Christopher Capel and Richard Head, (fn. 91) who had
married Sarah and Anne, granddaughters of her
second cousin Richard, who had held the manor.
By his wife Margaret Richard Pocock of North
Heath seems to have had only one son Richard, born
in 1730, who died in 1741. Margaret died in
1742 and Richard shortly afterwards, when, as
Christopher Capel had died without male issue, the
property passed to the heir of Richard Head, who
died in 1740, when by his will dated 1739 it passed
to his eldest son Thomas, (fn. 92) afterwards Sir Thomas
Head of Langley, in the parish of Hampstead Norris
(q.v.). His son Sir Walter James Head, who in
1779–80 took the additional surname of James, was
holding it in 1806. (fn. 93) He is said to have been a
gambler, and sold this and other estates about the
year 1824 to John Thomas Wasey, of Prior's Court,
a solicitor in Newbury, who was holding it in 1839. (fn. 94)
John Thomas Wasey was a bachelor with two
sisters, and he seems to have been anxious to leave
the large estates that he had acquired to someone
who would perpetuate his name; he could find,
however, no male relation. While on a visit to
Southsea he noticed two small boys building castles
in the sand, and being attracted by their appearance
he asked their name. To his surprise he learnt that
it was Wasey. For long he sought unsuccessfully to
prove them relations, and it was believed that he had
intended making them his heirs, when he died intestate on 8 October 1852. (fn. 95) His sisters Jane wife of
Col. Stackpool and Mary inherited their brother's
estates. Mrs. Stackpool died in 1859 without surviving issue, as her only son
was killed while hunting. Her
sister Miss Mary Wasey died
in 1880 and left this estate to
the Rev. William George Lee
Wasey, and in default of male
heirs to his younger brother
the Rev. John Spearman
Wasey, the two boys whom
her brother had met at
Southsea, and who were now
middle-aged clergymen. The
elder of these brothers had
died at Quatford, Salop, in
1877, leaving two daughters,
and so at the death of Miss
Wasey the estates passed to the younger, the Rev.
John Spearman Wasey, vicar of Compton, at whose
death in 1899 this property passed to his eldest son
Mr. Edward John Spearman Wasey, the present
owner. (fn. 96)
Wasey of Prior's Court. Or a cross sable between four ermine tails with five bezants on the cross.
In 968 King Edgar granted to the abbey of
Abingdon certain lands at OARE, (fn. 97) which seem to
have been included by successive abbots in their
manor of Chieveley until the Dissolution in 1538.
In 1545 the manor was granted to Edward Basshe
of London and Thomasia (fn. 98) his wife, who sold it to
the king in the following year. (fn. 99) It was leased
by Edward VI in 1551 to Sir Thomas Parry, (fn. 100)
whose son Sir Thomas (fn. 101) received a grant in tail in
1561 and, with Dorothy his wife, conveyed it in
1601 to William Homes and Edmund Cooke. (fn. 102)
The history of the manor becomes obscure for
more than a century. In 1721 Charles Dibley and
Joan his wife, with William
Boote, junior, and William
Boycott, conveyed the manor
to Thomas Parsons and
Charles Mallett, (fn. 103) and in 1725
John Smith devised it to
Richard Smith, (fn. 104) who on 17
August 1733 sold it to Felix
Calvert (fn. 105) of Albury Hall,
Herts. At his death in 1737
it passed to his son Felix Calvert, M.P. for Windsor, who
possessed it in 1740. (fn. 106) He
married in 1723 Mary daughter of Felix Calvert of Nine
Elms, and died in 1755, when the manor passed to
his son John Calvert, M.P. for Wendover in 1754,
who conveyed the manor to trustees in 1757 on his
marriage with Elizabeth daughter of Sir Edward
Hulse, bart. (fn. 107)
Calvert of Albury. Paly or and sable a bend counter coloured.
In 1771 John Calvert sold this estate to Fysh
Coppinger, who under the name of Fysh Burgh sold
it on 16 November 1787 to William Brummell. At
William Brummell's death his will seems to have been
disputed, but it was settled on 14 July 1796 in favour
of Sir John Macpherson and others, his executors, (fn. 108)
who had on 11 November 1795 sold the estate to
William Mount of Wasing (q.v.). From him it has
descended to Mr. William Arthur Mount, M.P., its
present possessor. (fn. 109)
The greater part of the vill of CURRIDGE was
held of Edward the Confessor by two freemen, but
was granted after the Norman Conquest to Ralph de
Mortimer, who was holding it at the time of the
Domesday Survey. (fn. 110) As in the case of the manor of
Brimpton (q.v.) the overlordship descended in this
family, as part of the honour of Wigmore, and came
by inheritance into the hands of King Edward IV.
Baldwin held this manor of Ralph at the time of
the Domesday Survey, (fn. 111) and another Baldwin was
holding it in 1189–90. (fn. 112) Roger de Curridge was
holding it in 1225, when he had a dispute with the
abbey of Abingdon respecting rights of common
pasture between his manor and that of Oare, (fn. 113) and a
few years later his son Roger granted the manor to
the priory of Poughley, to whom it was confirmed
by the king in 1248. (fn. 114) Roger also granted three
tenements here to the Knights Hospitallers. (fn. 115)
The priory was holding this manor later in the
13th century, (fn. 116) and is referred to as holding it in
1315–16, (fn. 117) 1360, (fn. 118) 1398, (fn. 119) 1424 (fn. 120) and 1428. (fn. 121)
The priors attached several of their neighbouring
manors to this and held their courts at the principal
messuage here, which thus received the name of
Prior's Court. The priory was dissolved in 1524,
when it was found to be holding this manor, (fn. 122) which
was granted in 1525 to Cardinal Wolsey. (fn. 123) The
following year the cardinal granted it to his new
college at Oxford, (fn. 124) but on his attainder it reverted
to the king, and was granted in 1531 to the Abbot
and convent of St. Peter's, Westminster, (fn. 125) and transferred in 1542 to the dean and chapter, (fn. 126) who
received a grant of further privileges here in 1560. (fn. 127)
The dean and chapter leased the site of the manor
in 1543 to Edward Fettiplace for fifty years, and in
1556 let it or the manor for
seventy years to William
Weston, who in 1564 granted
his right in it to Richard
Weston. (fn. 128) In 1649 the manor
was held of the dean and
chapter by Sir Edward Ernle,
whose lease had fourteen years
to run when he was deprived
of it by the Parliament, (fn. 129)
which sold it in the same
year to Alexander Constantine.
The house of Prior's Court,
which had been held by
Walter Groveley, was at the
same time sold to William
Godwin. (fn. 130) In 1654 Alexander
Constantine and Anne his wife
sold the manor to Richard
Fincher, (fn. 131) a major in the Parliamentary army, who
died at Prior's Court in 1684 and was buried at
Chieveley. (fn. 132) .
Dean And Chapter Of Westminster. Azure a cross paty between five martlets or a chief or with a pale of the royal arms of FRANCE and ENGLAND between two roses gules.
At the Restoration the dean and chapter regained
possession, though Major Fincher seems to have been
allowed to remain as their tenant. It was usually let
on lease by the dean and chapter, and in the 18th
century was held by the family of Barton. It seems
to have passed from Dr. Barton, warden of Merton
College, Oxford, to his sister Mrs. Batchelor, and to
her daughter the wife of Lewis Buckle, who was
holding it in 1806, (fn. 133) but by 1824 it had passed into
the hands of John Thomas Wasey, who was holding
it in 1839. (fn. 134) The estate has since passed with the
adjoining estate of Bradley Court (q.v.), the copyhold
being redeemed in 1871. The present proprietor is
Mr. E. J. S. Wasey.
Three other hides of land in Curridge were held of
Edward the Confessor by Edward, and one of these
he was holding in alod of King William at the time of
the Domesday Survey. (fn. 135) From Edward this passed
to Sewal, who granted it to the abbey of Waverley
before 1147, when it was confirmed to that abbey by
Pope Eugenius III. (fn. 136)
The other 2 hides passed after the Norman Conquest to the abbey of St. Peter-sur-Dive, who were
holding it at the time of the Domesday Survey (fn. 137) and in
1220–1. (fn. 138) In 1299–1300 the abbot was still holding
it, but the property of this as of other alien priories
was taken into the king's hands during the wars with
France. (fn. 139) The manor seems to have been held of the
abbey in the 13th century by Nicholas of Ely, Bishop
of Winchester, and after his death in 1280 his
executors, Ralph de Staunford, parson of Alton, and
Hugh Tripacy, parson of Martyr Worthy, had licence
in 1310 to grant the manor to the abbey of Waverley. (fn. 140)
The abbey seems to have attached both these estates,
which had now become one manor, to its manor in
the parish of Shaw (q.v.), known as the manor of Shaw
Grange, and the subsequent history of all three manors
is the same.
The township or tithing of LECKHAMPSTEAD
became a parish on the dedication of the church in or
about 1050, (fn. 141) but it was at a later date included as a
chapelry in the parish of Chieveley. In 1835 it
became a civil parish, and in 1884 it was again made
into an ecclesiastical parish.
The monks of Abingdon claimed that 10 manentes
here were granted to them in 811 by Kenwulf, King
of Mercia, but the charter including this gift is
usually considered a forgery. (fn. 142) In 943 King Edmund
granted 10 mansae here to his servant Edric, who gave
them to the abbey of Abingdon. (fn. 143) In the time of
King Cnut the abbey leased these lands for the term
of three lives to Brihtmund, at whose death they were
enjoyed for a while by his widow. At her death they
passed to their son Brihtnoth, and at his death they
were claimed by Brihtwine, another son of the first
lessee. Before 1043 Brihtwine persuaded Siward, then
Abbot of Abingdon, to extend the lease for the period
of his own life, but, not content with this, he claimed
the land as his inheritance. On hearing this claim
Siward, who had become Archbishop of Canterbury,
wrote to Earl Godwin, Bishop Herman and the nobles
of Berkshire pointing out the true state of affairs, but
the monks were unable at that time to establish their
possession of the land. About 1050, on the appointment of Ordric to the abbacy, the monastery made a
further attempt to recover possession; but Brihtwine
still argued that the lands were his by right of inheritance, in evidence of which he produced the charter.
Ordric seems for a while to have temporized, and
asked to see the charter, which he prudently retained
in his own hands, while he lost no time in appealing
to Harold, who was now Earl of Berkshire. The case
was fully tried by the earl's delegates, and the decision
given in favour of the monks. (fn. 144)
Brihtwine, or Bricstuin as he is called, was holding
the land of the abbey in the time of Edward the
Confessor, 'but could not go to another lord.' At the
time of the Domesday Survey he had been succeeded
by Reinbold. (fn. 145) The abbey continued to hold the
manor after the Norman Conquest, and attached it as
a member to their adjoining lordship of Welford (q.v.).
They are mentioned as holding it from the 13th to
the 15th century, (fn. 146) after which no further mention of
their overlordship occurs.
As we have seen, the tenant at the time of the
Domesday Survey was Reinbold or Raimbald, (fn. 147) who
was a son-in-law of Rainald the abbot. Soon after
the Survey was taken he had a dispute with the abbot,
and while the suit was being tried he fled secretly to
Dover and passed over to the court of the Count of
Flanders, under whose protection he placed himself,
leaving his sureties to pay the fines for his nonappearance. The abbot then took the lands into his
own hands, to which Ralph, the justiciar, took exception, whereupon the abbot excommunicated all
those who should deprive the abbey of their property
at Leckhampstead. (fn. 148) Shortly afterwards he leased
Leckhampstead to Hugh de Dun for £20, but in
1100 there seems to have been a dispute with the
king as to the tax from the abbey for this manor in
lieu of military service, and Hugh, while retaining
an interest in the manor for himself and his successors,
assigned it to the king. When the bailiff of the abbey,
Motbert, heard this he used his influence with Robert
the elder, Count of Meulan, paid the £20 required,
and then granted the manor to be held by knight's
service to Herbert, chamberlain and treasurer of the
king. (fn. 149)
Early in the reign of Henry I the abbey had considerable trouble with its military tenants, who desired
to shake off the monastic yoke, and none more so than
Herbert the Chamberlain. He restored several manors
that he held, but endeavoured to retain Leckhampstead
free of all service to the monastery, but failed in his
endeavour. (fn. 150)
Herbert the Chamberlain died about 1129, and was
succeeded by his son Herbert, who is said to have
married Sibil, Adela or Lucy, daughter and co-heir
of Robert Corbet of Alcester, and mother by King
Henry I of Reynold de Dunstanville Earl of Cornwall.
On his death, which occurred before 1155, he was
succeeded by his son Herbert, who rendered account
for half a mark in respect of this manor in 1166–7, (fn. 151)
and was holding it between 1175 and 1190. (fn. 152) In
1195 he leased 5 carucates of land here to Osbert
son of William, (fn. 153) which he sold to him in 1199, (fn. 154)
while the king granted 8 acres of assart to Richard,
Osbert's son, a few years later. (fn. 155) Herbert married
Lucy daughter and co-heir of Miles Earl of Hereford,
and died before June 1204, when the manor passed
to his widow in dower. In 1217 it seems to have
been seized by Richard son of Reynold Herbert's son,
but the king ordered him to restore it to the abbot. (fn. 156)
At the death of Lucy the manor passed to her son
Peter, who had a park here, and received for it from
the king 4 April 1228 six does from the royal forest
at Marlborough. (fn. 157) In 1232, like his predecessors, he
had a dispute with the abbot, who proceeded against
him for scutage which he had failed to pay. (fn. 158) He
married as his first wife in 1203 Alice daughter
of Robert Fitz Roger or Sibil daughter of John
Dynaunt, (fn. 159) and afterwards Isabel sister of Henry de
Ferrers and widow of Roger de Mortimer. (fn. 160) He
died in May 1235, and was buried at Reading
Abbey, being succeeded by his son Herbert.
The manor of Leckhampstead seems to have been
held in dower by his widow Isabel, who is described
as Isabel de Mortimer, (fn. 161) and was the inheritance
of Herbert the son of Peter. (fn. 162) Herbert died in
May 1248 and was buried at Reading, and as he left
no heir the manor passed to his brother Reynold, who
obtained possession of it on the death of his mother
about 1252. Reynold obtained a grant of free warren
here in 1257, (fn. 163) and was holding the manor in
1275–6. (fn. 164) He died seised of it in 1286, when it
passed to his son John, then aged thirty. (fn. 165) John,
who died in 1309–10 leaving a son Herbert, (fn. 166) had,
before his death, demised the manor to Piers
Gaveston, (fn. 167) who on 19 May 1308 granted it
to the king. It was, however, regranted to the
favourite on 9 June the same year, with free warren
added on 12 June. (fn. 168) On 31 March 1311 Gaveston
leased the manor for life to Robert de Sapy at the
rent of a sparrow-hawk, having, it was stated, unjustly disseised John's heir Herbert. (fn. 169) Robert de
Sapy was holding the manor in 1328 when Eleanor,
the widow of Herbert son of John son of Reynold,
endeavoured to obtain a third of the manor which had
been settled on her at her marriage. (fn. 170) It would seem
that in 1291 Herbert had married Eleanor daughter
of Roger le Rous, and that on that occasion John had
settled the manor upon them. Herbert had died on
25 June 1321, having omitted to establish his claim
against Piers Gaveston, and in 1328 his widow was
claiming her dower. The suit lingered on for some
time, and the king ordered that judgement should not
be given without his consent. (fn. 171) In 1332 Herbert's
son Matthew claimed the remaining two-thirds, also
the third for which his mother was pleading, but, as
the king claimed the reversion by the grant from
Piers Gaveston in 1308, judgement was postponed. (fn. 172)
The king had evidently determined not to relinquish
the reversion to a manor which he had acquired
however unjustly, and in 1336 he ordered the justices
not to decide the case in favour of Matthew, as he
had granted his right in the manor to Sir Nicholas de
la Beche. (fn. 173) Sir Nicholas did not, it would appear,
feel equally confident of the security of his title, for
the following year he came to terms with Matthew,
who signed the necessary conveyance at Newbury,
and acknowledged the same in the court of Chancery
on 12 March following. (fn. 174) In 1338–9 Michael de
Penynges and others, probably the trustees of Nicholas's
wife, conveyed all their rights in the manor to Nicholas
and his wife, who seem to have held the manor
jointly. (fn. 175)
The manor passed at the death of Nicholas in
1345, like the manor of Yattendon (q.v.), to his
widow Margery, (fn. 176) his brother Edmund, and, finally,
to the heirs of his nieces, Joan wife of Sir Andrew
de Sackville, Isabel wife of William Fitz Ellis,
and Alice wife of Robert Danvers. (fn. 177) In 1365 Sir
Andrew sold his share to Ralph de Restwold and
Thomas Hancepe. (fn. 178) Ralph at once quitclaimed to
Thomas, (fn. 179) who sold it in 1371 to Sir Thomas de
Coleshill, (fn. 180) after which we hear no more about it.
William Fitz Ellis's share passed in 1408–9 to William
Bruyly and his heirs, (fn. 181) while the share of Alice and
Robert Danvers passed to their son Edmund Danvers,
who died seised of it in 1381, when it was held of
him by John Shortecombe. (fn. 182) William Danvers son
of Edmund held in 1428. (fn. 183) His widow Joan afterwards held the manor with Thomas Hanne and
Isabella his wife (fn. 184) ; the latter was probably the
daughter of William Danvers. About 1446–7 they
conveyed the manor to trustees of Alice de la Pole,
Duchess of Suffolk, (fn. 185) to whom in 1466 the heir of
the de la Beche family quitclaimed all right. (fn. 186) The
duchess held the manor of Donnington (q.v.), with
which Leckhampstead then descended.
The later history of the manor is obscure. When
the manor was in the hands of the Crown the queen
granted the site of it to Giles Spicer and others in
1586, (fn. 187) but in 1599 William Stepto, son of Isabel
Stepto and brother of Thomas Stepto, sued Giles
Spicer for the manors of Leckhampstead and Donnington. Richard Hatt was then stated to be the farmer
of the manor under the Crown. (fn. 188) The manor passed
with that of Donnington to the Earl of Nottingham, (fn. 189)
and from him to John Mordaunt Earl of Peterborough and Elizabeth his wife, who sold the site in
1632 to Robert Awbrey and Charles Hamley. (fn. 190) It
is probable that the two latter were trustees of the
Spicer family, for in 1743 a number of members of
that family conveyed the site to John Line. (fn. 191) In 1798
it was the property of William Hopson Goodenough. (fn. 192)
The manorial rights seem to have been purchased by
the Nelson family, (fn. 193) and attached to their adjoining
manor of Chaddleworth. The Marquess of Downshire
was said to have been the owner in 1839, (fn. 194) but they
have now lapsed.
The vill of WINTERBOURNE has been a chapelry
of Chieveley since the 12th century, and still remains
so. Before the Norman Conquest there were three
manors, which appear to have been united before the
close of the 15th century.
The first manor belonged to Edith wife of the
Confessor, and, passing to the Conqueror, was held by
him at the time of the Domesday Survey. (fn. 195) It seems
probable that this manor was included among the
lands granted by Henry I to Henry de Newburgh
Earl of Warwick, a son of Roger de Beaumont, and
the overlordship remained with the successive Earls of
Warwick until the death in 1446 of Henry Beauchamp, created Duke of Warwick in 1444, when his
fee here passed with the title to his only daughter
Anne, then aged two years. (fn. 196) She died on 3 January
1448–9, when the title and estates, including the
overlordship of this manor of Winterbourne, lapsed
to the Crown.
Newburgh. Checky or and azure a cheveron ermine.
Beauchamp. Gules a fesse between six crosslets or.
This manor had been held of Queen Edith by
Lanc, and at the time of the Domesday Survey was
being farmed of the king by Theodoric, (fn. 197) who appears
to have been identical with Theodoric the goldsmith,
who succeeded to Lanc's estates at Hampstead Norris
(q.v.). Lane's wife held the manor of Aston Tirrold,
which, however, did not pass to Theodoric, (fn. 198) yet in
the 13th century the two estates of Winterbourne
and Aston Tirrold were held by the same tenants. (fn. 199)
The subsequent history of the property is obscure,
but there is evidence which seems to support a suggestion that the manor of Winterbourne and the manor
of Aston Tirrold were for some time after the Conquest
in the hands of one Turold of Aston, apparently the
son of Geoffrey, who perhaps married the heiress of
lands at Sulham and Bolney. He had three sons,
Miles, Nicholas and Richard, and as no descendants
of these are found in possession of these lands it is
possible that they died without issue. It seems likely
that after the death of Turold his widow married
William of Sulham. The latter, in the reign of
Henry I, granted to the abbey of Abingdon the tithes
on his land at Bolney, and confirmed a former gift of
tithes on his lands at Chilton, which belonged to his
step-daughter Leodseline, (fn. 200) who was probably Turold's
daughter. That he had two daughters, eventual heirs
of their brother Nicholas, seems almost certain.
Nicholas son of Turold of Aston was holding the
manor of Winterbourne in 1156, (fn. 201) and was living in
1189–90, but by 1207 the manor had probably
passed to the descendants of his sisters, one of whom
apparently married Ralph Danvers and the other
Maenfel of Bolney. In 1207 Roland Danvers, the
elder son of Ralph Danvers, was disputing with
Nicholas de Bolney about land at Wokefield. (fn. 202) In
1210 Ralph died, leaving the Winterbourne estate
to his younger son Robert, (fn. 203) who was one of the three
co-heirs in 1242.
Nicholas son of Maenfel de Bolney died before
1219, leaving two daughters, Alice and Margery, who
married Reginald de Whitchurch and Alan de Farnham. Nicholas's widow, Agnes, had taken as her
second husband William de Bowen or Boveney, and
in 1219 they were claiming a third part of certain
lands in Fawley held of Reginald de Whitchurch and
Alice his wife by Simon de Lewknor, which it is said
had been inherited by Nicholas from his uncle
Nicholas de Sedham, (fn. 204) in whom, perhaps, we may
recognize Nicholas of Winterbourne who quitclaimed
half a fee here to the Bishop of Salisbury. (fn. 205)
The estates inherited by the daughters of Nicholas
seem to have been considerable, for we find Alan and
Reginald sharing lands in Aston Tirrold, Winterbourne, (fn. 206) Colrugge, (fn. 207) Chilton, Winton, (fn. 208) Wokefield, (fn. 209)
Bolney and Fawley. (fn. 210) Lands were held of the Earl
of Warwick in 1242 by Simon de Lewknor, a tenant
of Reynold de Whitchurch, Alan de Farnham and
Robert Danvers. (fn. 211) We also find Robert de Anvers
or Danvers, or members of his family, holding land
in Aston Tirrold, Winterbourne, (fn. 212) Chilton (fn. 213) and
Wokefield. (fn. 214) It seems clear, then, that these three
were co-heirs to the same estates. About 1242
Reginald and his wife granted their share to Robert, (fn. 215)
and this probably became part of the estate which
was afterwards known as the manor of Winterbourne
Danvers (vide infra).
Alan de Farnham and his wife then held part of
a fee at Winterbourne, which, like most of their
estates, seems to have passed after the death of Margery, who was holding them in 1259–60, (fn. 216) to
their daughter Juliana, who married Gilbert de Ellesfield, and after his death John de St. Helens. (fn. 217) The
latter was holding other lands that had belonged to
Alan in 1275–6 (fn. 218) and 1280, (fn. 219) and he died before
1295. (fn. 220) These lands passed to Gilbert son of John
de Ellesfield, (fn. 221) who was holding lands at Bolney
in 1313 (fn. 222) and a knight's fee here in 1315. (fn. 223) After
his death they passed to his son Gilbert, (fn. 224) who died
before 1402, leaving no issue, when the fee was held
by the heirs of the elder Gilbert. (fn. 225) In 1446 it was
still held by the heirs of Gilbert, (fn. 226) but there is no
later mention of this mesne overlordship.
Margery de Bolney, the wife of Alan de Farnham,
or her successor appears to have enfeoffed Thomas de
Valognes of the manor, and he enfeoffed his daughter
Joan on her marriage with Sir Robert Grey of
Rotherfield. Joan died seised of this estate in 1312,
when her grandson John, son of her son John, was
found to be her heir, and was then aged eleven
years. (fn. 227) John Grey was holding the manor in 1315, (fn. 228)
though it was in the custody of Hugh le Despenser
the elder during John's minority. (fn. 229) In 1330 John
obtained a grant of free warren here, (fn. 230) and Ralph de
Grey afterwards held here. (fn. 231) The manor is subsequently called the manor of WINTERBOURNE
GREY. In 1423 the estate had passed into the
hands of William Danvers, (fn. 232) the lord of the manor
of Winterbourne Danvers (q.v.). Possibly it was the
manor of Winterbourne quitclaimed to William by
trustees in 1409–10. (fn. 233)
The second manor of Winterbourne was held in the
time of the Confessor by Herman Bishop of Salisbury,
and at the time of the Domesday Survey by Osmund,
his successor. (fn. 234) The bishop was holding the manor
in 1166, (fn. 235) and in 1202 received a quitclaim of half a
knight's fee here from Bernard de Pinefeld and
others, (fn. 236) and later in the same year a fee of the
same extent from Nicholas de Winterbourne, (fn. 237) in
whom may be recognized Nicholas the son of Turold
of Winterbourne who held land here in 1177–8, (fn. 238)
possibly a relation of Turold of Aston; it seems impossible that they can have been the same person.
No further reference has been found to the bishop's
connexion with this manor, except that he owed half
a mark in 1227 in respect of it, for which he received
pardon that year. (fn. 239)
We find that in 1379–80 Thomas de Oldington (fn. 240)
and Sir Hugh Segrave, apparently the third son of
John Lord Segrave, independently granted their
interest in lands at Winterbourne, Chilton and Colrugge to the Bishop of Winchester and others. (fn. 241) How
Thomas and Hugh acquired an interest in the lands
formerly belonging to Nicholas son of Turold does
not seem clear.
Ralph Flambard, the notorious chancellor, was
holding the manor of the Bishop of Salisbury at the
time of the Domesday Survey, (fn. 242) and presumably continued to do so until his arrest early in the reign of
Henry I. John de Exonia or Oxonia was tenant in
1166, (fn. 243) but there is no trace of later tenants.
Possibly it became part of the land held here by
the Danvers family, since their estate in Winterbourne
seems to have been a large one. Their manor is afterwards known by the name of WINTERBOURNE
DANVERS. Robert Danvers married in or before
1224 Muriel daughter of Alan de Dunstanville, was
coroner of Berkshire, and died in or before 1246, when
the sheriff was ordered to elect a coroner in his place. (fn. 244)
He seems to have been succeeded by his son Robert,
of whom little is known but that he married Amice,
who inherited land at Littlecote. (fn. 245) It was probably
his son or nephew Sir Thomas Danvers who was in
1285 made Sheriff of Berkshire and Oxfordshire, an
office which he held for four years; he held the office
also in 1307 and again a few years later. (fn. 246) This
Thomas Danvers was holding the manor in 1315–16, (fn. 247)
and died in 1323, leaving three grandsons, Edmund,
Richard and William, the sons of his son Thomas,
who had predeceased him. (fn. 248)
The youngest of these married Margaret daughter
and heiress of John Lovell of Benham, and thus came
into possession of the manor of Benham Lovell in the
parish of Speen (q.v.). The eldest, Edmund, seems
to have been in banishment or in prison at the time
of his grandfather's death, but was pardoned on the
accession of Edward III, when his estates were restored
to him. The name of his first wife was Alice, and
after her death he married Isabel widow of Sir John
de Swanland. By his first wife he had two sons,
Robert and Edmund, and he died in or soon after
1358. (fn. 249) He was succeeded by his elder son Robert,
who married Alice, one of the sisters and co-heirs of
John de la Beche of Aldworth. Robert died in 1361
seised of this manor, when his heir was his son Edmund,
then aged sixteen years and more. (fn. 250)
Edmund Danvers was born in 1345, and in March
1366 he left England, after enfeoffing his uncle
Edmund Danvers (who died shortly afterwards) of
his lands here. The younger Edmund married Alice
daughter of John Cleet, and died seised of lands
here in 1381, when his heir was his son William,
then aged fourteen. In the inquisition taken after
his death it is stated that the lands here were held
of him by military tenure by Roger de Colyndon,
Richard Mauduyt and John Elyn. (fn. 251)
William Danvers was born in 1367, and was
brought up at Donnington Castle by Sir Richard
Abberbury, who had married his mother. (fn. 252) She
seems to have held the manor of Winterbourne
Danvers in dower, for in 1390 Sir Richard obtained
for himself and his heirs a grant of free warren at his
manors here. (fn. 253)
William Danvers married Joan, who seems to have
been related to Maud daughter of Sir Ralph Ufford
and wife of Thomas Earl of Oxford. He is returned
as lord of this manor in 1428, (fn. 254) though his stepfather
was still living, and by this time he had acquired the
manor of Winterbourne Grey (q.v.), which with other
estates he settled on his son Robert on his marriage.
In 1423 he executed another deed instructing the
trustees on the death of Alice, Robert's wife, to hold
the manor for his wife Joan for her life, and afterwards to sell it for the good of their souls. (fn. 255)
In 1442–4 the manor of Winterbourne Danvers
was conveyed by Peter Fettiplace and John Hyde, (fn. 256)
possibly trustees for William Danvers, and by Thomas
Hannes and Isabella his wife, (fn. 257) who was probably
William's daughter, to William de la Pole Earl of
Suffolk and Alice his wife, who already held Donnington (q.v.), with which this manor then passed.
Danvers. Argent a bend gules with three martlets or thereon.
De La Pole. Azure a fesse between three leopards' heads or.
The third manor was held at the time of the
Confessor by Bristec, a free tenant, and in 1086 by
Hascoit Musard, (fn. 258) who was living as late as 1101–2.
He was succeeded in this overlordship by his son
Richard Musard, Baron of Staveley, who in turn was
followed by his son Hasculf, who died in 1167.
Ralph Musard inherited his estates, and married
Isabel de Mesnil, widow of John Nevill. Ralph was
living in 1200, (fn. 259) and certainly as late as 1230, but
later in the 13th century the overlordship had passed
to his son Robert, who had died, leaving an infant
son in the custody of the king. (fn. 260) Robert's son seems
to have died young, and the overlordship passed to
Ralph, the second son of the former Ralph. He was
holding it in 1260–1, (fn. 261) but died in 1264, when it is
stated that two and a half years before he had given
his lands here to his eldest son Ralph, to hold of the
king in chief. (fn. 262) No further mention of this family has
been found in connexion with
the overlordship of this manor,
the further history of which is
obscure, but by 1415 it had
passed into the hands of the
king, who had attached it to
his honour of Wallingford. (fn. 263)
Musard. Or two cheverons and a border azure.
Chemarhuec and Norman
held land of Hascoit Musard
at the time of the Domesday
Survey, (fn. 264) and Norman was
holding his share in the reign
of Henry I. (fn. 265)
Richard son of John was
holding the manor in 1234–5,
when he sold a messuage and land here to Margery
daughter of John Torald. (fn. 266) In the same year he
sold some land also to Stephen de Chausie. (fn. 267) He
was holding the manor later in the century, but by
1259 he had taken vows and become preceptor
of Dinsley. He obtained a grant of free warren
here for his son Maen, (fn. 268) who died in 1260–1 seised
of this manor, his heir being his daughter Beatrice,
then aged nine years. (fn. 269)
Beatrice married Richard of Clopton, who had
warren here in 1275–6, (fn. 270) but he died before 1303–4,
when Beatrice sold the manor to Henry Pentlow. (fn. 271)
Henry was holding it in 1315–16, (fn. 272) and was succeeded
by John Pentlow, who conveyed the manor, now known
as the manor of WINTERBOURNE MAYNE, in
1379–80 to Edmund Giffard and others. (fn. 273) In 1383
Thomas Loveden and Katherine his wife claimed the
manor from some of these others because it had been
given to Katherine by the king. (fn. 274) The case was
postponed, but ultimately decided in their favour,
as in 1393 they sold this manor to Richard Abberbury, (fn. 275) who had already acquired an interest in the
other manors here, after which it passed with the
lordship of Donnington in the parish of Shaw (q.v.).
Thus the three original manors of this tithing came
eventually into the hands of the king or of Sir Richard
Abberbury, excepting such rights as William Danvers
and Joan his wife had been able to dispose of for the
good of their souls. When the manors came with the
lordship of Donnington into the hands of the king
the Crown became possessed of the whole tithing.
The manors passed with the lordship of Donnington
(q.v.) until the 17th century, when John Earl of
Peterborough and Elizabeth his wife sold them in
1632, under the title of the sites of the manors of
Winterbourne Mayne and Winterbourne Danvers, to
Robert Awbry and Charles Hamley. (fn. 276) For a few
years their history is again obscure, but in 1644 Mr.
Lawrence Head was living here and is said to have
entertained King Charles, Prince Rupert and the
royal staff shortly after the second battle of Newbury.
That Lawrence Head held the manor of Winterbourne
Danvers is clear, for in 1682 he with Elizabeth his
wife, together with Giles Clagrove and Christian his
wife, conveyed that manor to three trustees. (fn. 277)
At the death of Lawrence Head the manors seem
to have passed to his grandson John Osgood, who
settled them in 1714. (fn. 278) He was succeeded by his
son Lawrence Head Osgood, who in 1757 settled
them on his wife Rebecca and his children. He died
soon afterwards intestate, when the manors passed to
his brother Berry Osgood. He also died intestate
and was succeeded by his sister Elizabeth and her
husband John Cousins and his nephew Thomas son
of another sister Sarah the wife of William Atkinson,
and they settled the manor in two moieties in 1774. (fn. 279)
In 1779 Thomas Atkinson sold his share to John
Cousins, late of Henwick, but then of Winterbourne,
yeoman, and he and his wife Elizabeth settled the
manors in 1780, but after his wife's death, which
occurred shortly afterwards, he sold the manor to
Thomas Atkinson in 1782. Thomas Atkinson died
in or before 1807, and in that year his representatives
sold the manor to Richard Basing of Boxford and
William Harbert of Bradley. In 1834 Richard
Basing of Snelsmore, nephew and heir of Richard of
Boxford, sold his share to William Harbert, who was
then described as of Winterbourne, and he in turn
sold it 17 December 1844 to William Fisher of
Copyhold. William Fisher died 4 September 1869,
aged sixty-seven, and his representatives sold the
manor in 1871 to Richard Fisher of Winterbourne,
who sold it 24 January 1903 to Mr. Roland Greene
Hill. Mrs. Robert Greene Hill is its present possessor. (fn. 280)
Leases of the sites of the manors of Winterbourne
Danvers and Winterbourne Mayne were made in the
16th century. (fn. 281) The site of the latter was known
as Bussock's Court. (fn. 282)
Churches
The church of ST. MART THE
VIRGIN consists of a chancel 35 ft.
by 21 ft. 2 in., nave 68 ft. 2 in. by
24 ft. 3 in., north aisle 12 ft. 2 in. wide extending
one bay eastwards beyond the nave and forming a
vestry and organ chamber, west tower 15 ft. by 14 ft.
3 in., and a south porch. These measurements are
all internal.
The earliest parts of the present building are the
chancel and the lower part of the tower, which belong
to the 13th century. The original nave, which was
pulled down and rebuilt in 1873, may have dated
from the 12th century, and the modern south doorway, which is designed in the style of that period, is
probably a copy of its predecessor. Beyond the upper
stage of the tower, which was added or rebuilt in the
14th century and a window of the same date inserted
in the chancel, no further evidence of the history of
the fabric remains.
In the east wall of the chancel is a much-restored
triplet of lancets with continuously moulded external
heads and jambs, labels on both faces and wide internal
splays with concentric rear arches carried by detached
shafts with foliated capitals and moulded bases. Externally the labels are returned horizontally at the
springing and joined between the lights, while they
are also continued for a short distance on either side
of the group. At the level of their sills is a moulded
string, dropped at either end of the wall, where it
passes round low buttresses, and continued at the
lower level as the sill string of the lancets in the side
walls, of which there are two on the north and three
on the south, all apparently restorations of 13thcentury work. At the south-west is a late 14thcentury square-headed window of two trefoiled ogee
lights with pierced and foliated spandrels, placed low
in the wall, and interrupting the external sill string,
which is again broken by a small late doorway
with a flat four-centred head between this and the
westernmost lancet. Near the east end of the south
wall, below the sills, is a small square recess with
chamfered edges, probably a piscina niche, and at the
north-west is a modern arch opening into the organ
chamber. The chancel arch is modern and the nave,
which is designed in the 13th-century manner, has a
north arcade of five bays and, like the aisle, is lighted
by single and coupled lancets. The south doorway
has a semicircular head with shafted jambs, and all
the stonework appears to be modern. The walls of
the chancel are plastered, while those of the nave and
aisles are of flint and stone.
The tower arch is of three continuous chamfered
orders and has some old stones in the jambs. In the
west wall of the ground stage is a 15th-century doorway, with a four-centred head under a square label,
and above it is a wide lancet of original 13th-century
date. Externally the tower is of two stages with low
buttresses at the western angles and an embattled
parapet, the 14th-century bell-chamber being divided
from the lower and earlier stage by a moulded string
with large grotesques at the angles, on which rest
shallow angle buttresses originally continued upwards
as pinnacles. The floors in the lower stage are lighted
by plain lancets and the bell-chamber by pointed
windows of two trefoiled lights with quatrefoil tracery
in their heads. Below the parapet is a shallow cornice
with gargoyles at the angles. The walls are coated
with pebble dash plaster.
The roof of the chancel is concealed by a curved
plastered ceiling which leaves exposed a central tiebeam of 15th-century date supported by moulded
uprights from which spring curved braces with
traceried spandrels. The elaboration with which
the feature is treated suggests that it may have been
used to support the Lenten veil.
The altar is of 18th-century date with turned legs.
The font is octagonal and of 15th-century date with
quatrefoil panels to the bowl and the stem has small
trefoiled panels. The base is moulded.
In the tower is an old iron-bound chest.
On the north wall of the chancel is a small brass
plate, set on a carved stone, to Mrs. Lucy Fincher,
who died in 1687/8 'in ye 3 yeare of her age.' On
the floor below is a slab to Richard Fincher, who died
16(? 8)4.
The churchyard contains several trees of large size,
elms, sycamores and others. There is a modern lychgate at the east side.
There is a peal of six bells, the first and third
bearing the name John Corr, bellfounder, 1740; the
second is inscribed 'Honar God 1633'; the fourth
has the inscription 'Praysed be the name of the
Lorde. Joseph Carter 1584'; the fifth was cast by
J. Corr, 1728, and the sixth is by W. Taylor, 1845.
Besides these there is a small undated bell in a cote
on the tower roof cast by James Wells, Aldbourne,
Wilts.
The plate includes two challces, two patens and a
flagon of silver, presented in 1873. There is also a
plated stand paten.
The registers previous to 1812 are contained in six
books, the first having all three entries from 1560, the
baptisms to 164–, marriages to 1644 and burials to
1643; the second book contains baptisms from 1646
to 1649, marriages 1651 to 1719 and burials 1647 to
1718; the third book includes some of the registers of
Leckhampstead and Oare and contains baptisms from
1700 to 1743, marriages 1720 to 1743 and burials
1718 to 1744; the fourth has baptisms and burials
from 1745 to 1813 and marriages for 1744 and 1745;
the fifth has marriages only from 1754 to 1779, and
the sixth the same from 1780 to 1812.
The Winterbourne registers are also kept with these
and are as follows: (i) baptisms from 1565 to 1696,
marriages from 1564 to 1727 and burials 1567 to
1726; (ii) contains all three entries from 1729 to
1748; (iii) contains baptisms from 1749 to 1779
and burials 1749 to 1800, and there are some
marriages 'from old book' 1749 and a note that
there were no marriages in 1750, 1751, and 1752;
the fourth book has marriages 1754 to 1812, and the
fifth baptisms and burials 1779 to 1812.
There is also the Leckhampstead marriage register
from 1754 to 1812.
The small church of ST. JAMES at Winterbourne
consists of a chancel with north vestries and organ
chamber and a nave of two bays with north and south
aisles, a west tower and a south porch.
The oldest part of the building is the much-restored
13th-century chancel. The tower is dated 1759 and
the organ chamber is of about the same date. All
the rest of the church was rebuilt in 1854.
The east window of the chancel is of the late
14th century and has three cinquefoiled ogee lights
with interlacing tracery and a two-centred arch with
a moulded label. The north wall is occupied by
two modern arches opening into the organ chamber.
In the south wall are two 13th-century windows,
the easternmost a single lancet partly blocked at the
bottom, and the other of two lancet lights much
restored with a small much worn head corbel above
it. Between these is a four-centred 15th-century
priest's doorway. The three-centred chancel arch is
modern. The nave arcades have circular columns
with moulded bases and capitals and arches of two
splayed orders. On the south side of the chancel
arch is a small shallow recess with rebated jambs
and an ogee trefoiled head. The aisle windows are
all modern. Near the east end of the south aisle are
the remains of the head and jambs of a trefoil-headed
15th-century piscina now blocked.
The brick tower is of three stages with semicircularheaded lights and a west doorway. The rest of the
walls are of flint with stone dressings except the organ
chamber, which is of brick. The eastern quoins to
the chancel are old. The roofs are of open timber
work, and portions appear to be old, but the interior
fittings are all modern.
At the back of the organ is the base of a large
marble monument to Philip Weston, 1729, with his
arms, Ermine a chief azure with five bezants therein.
In the churchyard is a slab to John Pocock, 1657,
and near the south wall of the chancel a 13th-century
coffin slab with a much worn cross upon it.
There are two bells, one a small bell cast by James
Wells, Aldbourne, Wilts., 1808; the other is a large
bell inscribed 'The gift of Philip Henshaw Esq.
1760,' above which is a band of Tudor flower cresting.
The church of ST. JAMES, Leckhampstead, was
erected in 1860 to replace the old church near
Chapel Farm which was pulled down in 1859. It
consists of a chancel, north vestry, south organ chamber,
nave, south aisle and south porch. Over the east
end of the nave is a gabled lantern with a small
bell-turret. The building is of flint with brick and
stone dressings and the roofs are tiled. The porch,
the sides of which have turned balusters, is composed
partly of woodwork from the screen of the old church,
which stood about a mile from the village. The
Jacobean pulpit and the font also belong to the old
church. The latter is a fine piece of early 13thcentury work; the bowl is hemispherical and ornamented with bands of foliage at the top and bottom.
The base is modern.
There is one bell.
The plate consists of an unstamped Elizabethan
silver cup with moulded stem and base, a stand paten
inscribed 'The gift of Mrs. Eliz Hatt to Lackhampstead chapple A.D. 1737' with the date letter of 1723,
and a silver flagon with the date letter of 1866
inscribed 'DD Joannes E Robinson Vicarius.'
The registers are with those of Chieveley.
The chapel at OARE is a small mainly modern
building of flint with stone dressings consisting of a
chancel and nave, but containing a partly restored
north doorway of the 15th century with moulded
jambs and a four-centred arch in a square head with
carved leaf spandrels; the moulded label has grotesque
head stops. The style of the 15th century is also
used in the modern work. Over the west gable is a
stone bellcote and set in the walling of the gable is a
stone cross which appears to be old, probably dating
from the 17th century. The furniture is all modern.
To the south of the church stand two fine yew trees.
There is one bell.
Advowson
The church at Chieveley was no
doubt built by the abbey of Abingdon, and all dues from it went to
that abbey and were confirmed to it in 1152 by Pope
Eugenius III. (fn. 283)
About 1291 the church here, with a chapel, probably that at Oare, was valued at £53 6s. 8d., while
the value set on the abbey's pension was £3 6s. 8d.
Under the same heading are given a pension arising
from the chapel at Beedon, afterwards a parish church,
valued at 6s. 8d., and a portion from the chapel at
Winterbourne valued at £1 6s. 8d. (fn. 284)
In 1340–1 the value was sworn at £40, and it was
said that the church was endowed with a carucate of
land with pasturage and rents and customary services.
The tithes were then said to be worth £20 a year,
although 7 carucates of land were uncultivated. The
chapel of Winterbourne was valued at 2 marks. (fn. 285)
The advowson of Chieveley remained with the
abbey of Abingdon and was surrendered by Thomas,
the last abbot, to the king in 1538. (fn. 286) It was granted
by Queen Elizabeth in 1559 with the manor to
William Button and Thomas Estcourte, (fn. 287) who sold it
on 22 December in that year to Sir Thomas Parry. (fn. 288)
His son Thomas Parry conveyed it to trustees in
1589, (fn. 289) and it was freshly granted to him in 1601, (fn. 290)
soon after which he and his trustees conveyed it to
Giles Pocock and his trustees, who received possession
of it in 1602. (fn. 291)
Giles Pocock conveyed it to trustees in 1611 (fn. 292) in
trust for his son Richard, and died seised of it in
1624, (fn. 293) when by his will it passed to his eldest son
Richard, (fn. 294) who presented in 1637, and from him to
his son Richard, who presented in 1666. (fn. 295) The
advowson continued to pass with the manor, though
the right of presentation was sold on one occasion to
Jacob Bulfar, who presented in 1724. (fn. 296) Like the
manor it came into the joint possession of Sir Thomas
Head and Margaret Capel, spinster, who presented in
1753, (fn. 297) and on 1 October that year Sir Thomas Head
and William Capel signed an agreement to have the
alternate right of presentation.
The share of Sir Thomas Head passed with his
share of the manor and the Bradley Court estate to the
Rev. John Spearman Wasey, who sold it on 22 January
1896 to James John Dand of Togston Hall, Morpeth,
who had previously acquired the other share. He
sold it subsequently to Mrs. Mary Jane Mills, from
whom it passed to Mr. H. Henry Attlee of Thorpele-Soken, Essex, and Robert Attlee is the present
patron. (fn. 298) The Rev. Christopher Capel, when he
sold the manor before 1822, retained the alternate
presentation; his son sold it some years later. (fn. 299)
The patronage of Leckhampstead belongs to the
vicar of Chieveley.
The abbey of Abingdon, as we have seen, held all
the land in Chieveley, Oare and Leckhampstead, and
doubtless paid their tithes to the church of Chieveley.
It was the revolt of the landowners at Peasemore
which caused that part to become a separate parish.
In the reign of Henry I the abbey secured also the
tithes of Winterbourne, some of which were granted
to them by Norman, whose son Eude wished to enter
the monastery (fn. 300) ; these tithes were confirmed to them
by Pope Eugenius III in 1152, (fn. 301) and were set aside
for the service of the altar. (fn. 302) How the tithes from
Curridge came to the abbey has not been ascertained.
On 8 May 1308 the abbot had licence to appropriate the church of Chieveley, together with the
chapels of Beedon, Leckhampstead, Winterbourne
and Oare, (fn. 303) and the pension arising from the church
in 1322–3 was returned as worth 26s. 8d. (fn. 304) The
same figure is mentioned in 1369–70, while other
references to the profits of the rectory are given for
1375–6, 1383–4 and 1428–9. (fn. 305) These profits included rents from the tenants of the manor of the
rectory and perquisites of the courts of that manor. (fn. 306)
At the time of its dissolution among the possessions
of the abbey were Chieveley rectory, £7 0s. 6d.;
Leckhampstead, portion of tithes £6; Winterbourne,
£6 13s. 4d. (fn. 307)
In 1538 the rectories of Chieveley and Winterbourne, including the portion of tithes from Leckhampstead, were transferred to the king, (fn. 308) who the
same year granted the tithes in Leckhampstead to
Thomas Cokkys, junior, (fn. 309) while the rectorial tithes of
Winterbourne were granted in 1545 to Edward
Fettiplace, the king's servant. (fn. 310)
The rectory of Chieveley was let to farm in 1567
to Charles Howard, (fn. 311) and in 1570 it was leased, with
the tithes of Leckhampstead and Winterbourne, to
Thomas Parry for twenty-one years from Michaelmas
1588. (fn. 312) At the expiration of this lease they were
granted on 14 March 1600 to Giles Pocock, who held
Chieveley Manor, and Richard Pocock of Chieveley, (fn. 313)
possibly his son, but more probably his elder brother
Richard, who is later described in Giles's will as of Shaw.
Giles died in 1624, and left the parsonage of Chieveley
and lands near Ham Bridge to his third son John and
legacies to John's children Giles and Elizabeth. (fn. 314) As
the tithes of Winterbourne and Leckhampstead are
not mentioned, it is reasonable to infer that they
were the share of his brother Richard of Shaw, who
was overseer to his will.
John Pocock inherited the rectory of Chieveley
from his father Giles. Giles his son seems to have
inherited the rectory and married in or before 1658
Rebecca, who is said to have been a daughter of Giles
Pocock and Joan widow of Silvester of North Heath.
He died in 1682, and left the parsonage of Chieveley,
with lands at Thatcham, to his eldest son Giles. (fn. 315)
In 1684 this Giles and his wife Mary, with Hugh
Pocock, probably his uncle, conveyed the rectory of
Chieveley to trustees. (fn. 316) He died in 1690, leaving
a son John, who married Mary Eustace about the
year 1711, when he and his wife conveyed the
rectory of Chieveley to John Pocock of Skynner and
Thomas Eustace, junior. (fn. 317) He died about 1762,
leaving the rectory between his son and four
daughters.
The son John died soon afterwards, leaving three
sons, Thomas, John and Richard, and in 1782 his
four sisters sold their share of the rectory to John
Garrard. (fn. 318) John, the second son, was holding the
rectory at the time of the common award in 1810
and died in 1836. His elder son John Pocock of
Downend, Chieveley, married Harriet Bartholomew.
He was succeeded at his death in 1866 by his younger
brother Joseph, who married Marianne daughter of
James Elgar Owen of Kintbury and died 27 October
1874. (fn. 319) He left the rectory between his only surviving son John Wernham Pocock of the Mount,
Chieveley, and two daughters, who now hold the
estate in common. (fn. 320)
The chapel at Winterbourne seems to have been
built soon after the Norman Conquest; the tithes
were certainly given to Chieveley in the reign of
Henry I, (fn. 321) and the chapel, with its cemetery, is
mentioned in 1156. (fn. 322)
It appears likely, as we have seen, that the tithes
of Winterbourne belonged to Richard Pocock of
Shaw, the second son of Richard Pocock of Bradley
Court, and elder brother of Giles, who purchased
the manor and advowson. It seems probable that
this Richard left two sons, Richard and John, between
whom he divided the rectory of Winterbourne;
Richard died insane about 1640 seised of half the
rectory of Winterbourne and certain tithes in Oare,
which passed to his niece Elizabeth. (fn. 323) His brother
John had died earlier, leaving a son John and this
daughter Elizabeth, who with her husband Hugh
Pocock conveyed her interest in the rectory of
Winterbourne in 1657 to William Nelson and John
Pocock. (fn. 324) It seems uncertain whether this John was
her brother, but he was certainly the John Pocock of
Ham Mills who left annuities from the rectory of
Winterbourne to his wife Elizabeth and to his mother
Elizabeth, (fn. 325) who had married 29 January 1641–2
Richard Money. (fn. 326)
No further reference to these tithes has been found
until 1701, when John Pocock, clerk, conveyed them
to Charles Hinde, clerk. (fn. 327) In 1715 Richard Coulston
and Margaret his wife conveyed them to Francis
Turner and Mary Turner, widow, (fn. 328) while in 1836
the greater part belonged to Rebecca H. Pottinger
and the remainder to James Wilkes Best. (fn. 329)
A church was built at Leckhampstead some years
before the Norman Conquest and dedicated by
Bishop Herman (fn. 330) ; it is referred to in the Domesday
Survey. (fn. 331) A century later it was endowed with half
a virgate of land by Herbert son of Herbert, and
this gift was confirmed by King John in 1204, when
the church is described as dedicated in honour of
St. Edmund. (fn. 332) It was apparently attached as a chapel
to the parish of Chieveley in 1308, when the abbey
had licence to appropriate the tithes. (fn. 333) The chapelry
of Leckhampstead was made into a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1884.
The history of the tithes here is obscure after the
purchase in 1600 by Giles and Richard Pocock. It
seems probable that they formed part of Richard's
share, but nothing further has been found respecting
them until in 1774 they were sold by John Noble
and Elizabeth to Richard Vaughan and Joseph Smith. (fn. 334)
In 1777 they were sold by Richard Adnam and Mary
his wife to Stephen Pearce, (fn. 335) and the daughters of
John Pocock, senior, of Langley, sold their share in
1782 to John Garrard. (fn. 336) In 1836 they were held
in unequal portions by Joseph Shuff, Edward Trill
and Noah Hughes. (fn. 337)
There seems to have been a chapel at Oare at an
early date, though no reference to it has been found
before 1291. The tithes of Oare were in 1627
granted by the king to Richard Longe and others, (fn. 338)
and passed soon afterwards into the hands of Edward
Pocock, vicar of Chieveley, who by his will dated
29 January 1635–6 left the parsonage of Oare to
the next vicar of Chieveley and his successors. (fn. 339)
These tithes still form part of the endowment of the
vicarage.
The tithes of Curridge and Snelsmore have always
belonged to the vicarage.
Charities
In 1732 Dorothy Pocock by will
devised 23 a. 1 r. 35 p., known as
'Anstell's Downs,' now let at £12
a year, the rents and profits to be divided among
poor men and women not receiving collection from
alms. The official trustees also hold £42 8s. 5d.
consols arising from sale of timber. The sum of
£4 16s. 8d. is due to the vicar as tithe rent-charge.
In 1907 the net income was distributed on St.
Thomas's Day in doles to sixty-eight families, including
eight from the tithing of Oare.
The Candlemas Charity.—Under this head are
included the charities of Elizabeth Wayte, founded
by will, trust fund, £272 0s. 10d. consols, transferred in 1886 to the official trustees, of which
£44 8s. 1d. consols belongs to the charities of John
Houghton, by will, —Coxhead, by will, and Thomas
Smith, by will. The dates of the respective wills are
unknown, but are referred to in the Parliamentary
returns of 1786.
Also the charity of Christian Smith, being a
moiety of a rent-charge of £4, charged by deed of
24 January 1643 by Bernard Lyford on a farm
called Peasemore (see under Reading). The annual
sum of £2 is now paid by the agent of Lord
St. Leonards.
The sum of 12s. a year is also paid out of two
cottages, formerly known as 'Gregory's,' in respect
of Richard Pocock's bread charity, founded by will
1652, and a sum of £2 a year is paid out of the
manor of West Fosbury in Shalbourne in respect of
the charity of Thomas Henshaw, for the poor, comprised in deed of 12 April 1759. The income
derived from these sources is applied in gifts of 6s. to
each of fourteen persons under the title of 'Great
Coat Money,' and in doles of money and bread on
Candlemas Day.
Waste Lands.—Under the Inclosure Act 17 a. 3 r.
28 p. of common land were allotted for the purchase
of apparel, fuel, &c., for the poor of the tithing of
Curridge. The official trustees hold a sum of
£143 7s. 10d. consols, representing the proceeds of
the sale of 2½ acres to the Great Western Railway.
The income of about £18 a year is distributed in
coal among poor householders.
The Church Lands, which are mentioned in a
decree of the Commissioners of Charitable Uses of
2 June 6 James I, now consist of farm buildings,
cottage and land, containing 10 a. 3 r. 10 p., and
four cottages and gardens acquired under an award
dated 19 October 1812, made under the Chieveley
Inclosure Act. The official trustees also hold
£270 16s. 3d. consols. In 1906 there was also a
balance on deposit in the bank of £175. The gross
income is about £50 a year. Large sums arising
from surplus income were in 1870 and the following
years applied towards the restoration of the parish
church.
Educational Charities, including the charities of
Richard Lucas, trust fund, £21 4s. 2d. consols;
Mrs. Catherine Mather, will, 1805, trust fund,
£411 12s. 2d. consols; Thomas Henshaw, deed,
1759, consisting of an annuity of £10 out of the
manor of West Fosbury in the parish of Shalbourne,
lately paid by Mr. A. H. Huth.
The sums of stock are held by the official trustees,
and the income of the charities, amounting together
to £20 16s., is paid to the local education authority
and applied in aid of the general funds of the
Chieveley school.
The old infants' school, comprised in deed of
15 May 1860, is now used partly for the church
Sunday school and partly as a parish room, and the
mistress's house is occupied by two parish nurses,
rent free.
Chapelry of Winterbourne.—Poor's Cottages.—It
appeared from an inscription on the gallery in the
chapel that a sum of £14, given by persons unknown,
together with a legacy of £50 left by Mrs. Dorothy
Sayer, by will, 1753, was laid out in erecting two
cottages on North Heath, the rents of which were
distributed amongst poor labourers or labourers'
widows. In 1899 the cottages were sold and the
proceeds invested in £36 5s. 1d. consols with the
official trustees, producing yearly 18s., which is
distributed at intervals of four years among the poor.
The sum of £1 is received annually from the
charity of Thomas Henshaw and distributed in bread.
(See under Chieveley.)
A sum of £34 3s. 3d. is deposited in the Newbury
bank for savings, representing legacies by will of
Sarah Lodge, proved in the P.C.C. 25 November
1826, the interest of which is applicable for the
benefit of the Sunday school or for girls going out to
service.
Chapelry of Leckhampstead.—In 1805 Catherine
Mather by will bequeathed a sum of money, now
represented by £425 5s. consols with the official
trustees, producing yearly £10 12s. 4d., which is
paid to the local education authority.
In 1866 Joseph Shuff, by his will proved at
Oxford on 10 November, left £400, the annual
income to be applied at Christmas among ten poor
men and ten poor women, the oldest and most
deserving. The estate was insufficient to pay the
legacy in full, which is represented by £380 14s. 7d.
consols with the official trustees, producing yearly
£9 10s. 4d.
In 1872 Hugh Barton Gledstanes, by will proved
at London on 27 April, left £1,000, the income to
be used for the relief of the poor brethren and for
the help of the Lord's servants who carried on the
work of the Gospel at Leckhampstead and neighbourhood. The estate was administered in court, and
by the direction of an order of 1 June 1883 a sum
of £693 19s. 8d. consols was transferred to the
official trustees, producing yearly £17 7s., which is
distributed among poor Plymouth Brethren.