CHILDREY
Celrea (xi cent.); Chilree (xiii cent.); Chelrey
(xiii–xv cent.).
The parish of Childrey, which covers just over
2,700 acres, extends from a point on the downs a
mile south of the Ridgeway to the bottom of the
Vale of the White Horse. Like most of the parishes
in this hundred, it is long and narrow, and is crossed
from east to west by the Ridgeway and the Portway,
and in the north by the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal
and the Great Western railway. Challow station is
on the northern boundary. The soil is Clay, on a
subsoil of Chalk on the downs, Greensand near the
village, and Blue Gault in the valley. There are two
disused sand-pits in the 'Hollow way' leading up from
the village, and chalk quarries on the downs. Near
the railway station is the Childrey brick-kiln. The
principal industry, however, is agriculture, and rather
more than half the total area is arable land. (fn. 1) Wheat,
barley, oats, peas and beans are grown. Both fruit
and water-cress are sent to market.
The Fettiplace School, Childrey
The village of Childrey lies a little to the north of
the Portway, at the opening of a cleft in the downs
known as Childrey Hollow. Its buildings cluster
round a wide 'High Street'
with a duck-pond and a narrow green. The cottages are
mainly of red brick, but a few
of timber framing and thatched
roofs remain. The church of
St. Mary is at the north end,
with the chantry-house to the
east of it. The combined
almshouse and school built
here by William Fettiplace
about 1526 (fn. 2) was still standing in 1824. (fn. 3) The present
building is modern Gothic
except for the schoolmaster's
house, which is apparently
partly of the late 16th century.
The schoolhouse built by Sir
George Fettiplace is a small red
brick building, which bears the
Fettiplace arms at the east
end, and has a tablet recording
its erection in 1732. To
the south of the church is the
manor-house of Rampayns
Manor, which incorporates
the ancient residence of
the Fettiplace family. When
they went to live at Swinbrook in the 17th century (fn. 4)
this house fell into disuse, and in 1824 it was
dismantled and almost ruined. (fn. 5) It was enlarged and
restored by the late Mr. W. S. Burton. The present
small east wing occupies part of the site of the
original great hall with the screens at the west end
entered by the original porch. The east and north
walls of the original kitchen wing adjoining also
remain. The porch has a four-centred outer archway with attached shafts to the jambs, having moulded
capitals; the inner arch is moulded and depressed.
Above the porch are an old room and a half-timbered
gable. In the west wall of the former screens
are two four-centred doorways leading to the old
kitchen wing. The east wing has square-headed
windows of three lights with moulded labels to the
ground and first floors and a similar two-light window
in the east end with carved spandrels; but these
walls have been re-erected and the windows are not
in situ. At the south end of the screens is a fourcentred doorway giving the original width of the
great hall. The original kitchen wing has squareheaded windows of two and three lights on the east
side with moulded labels.
A second manor-house in Childrey, attached to
Frethornes Manor, is mentioned in 1353 (fn. 6) and was
still in existence in 1771. (fn. 7) It had disappeared in
1824, but the site is said to have been in a field to
the north of the church, (fn. 8) where foundation mounds
exist. A 16th-century lawsuit mentions the watercourse 'descending from the pooles of the scite of the
manor' of Frethornes. (fn. 9) This must mean the small
stream now used for water-cress, which flows out of
the village towards the north-east.
The lords of the third manor of Mautravers had
no residence here, but a dovecote attached to the
manor is mentioned in 1331 (fn. 10) and again in 1612. (fn. 11)
In 1086 all three manors had mills, (fn. 12) but there is now
no trace of them. In the
manor of Mautravers was a
windmill attached to the de
la Beche holding, (fn. 13) which
may be the windmill mentioned in 1368. (fn. 14) Another
mill was granted in 1306 by
Nicholas le Muleward to
Thomas le Muleward. (fn. 15)
The Old Manor House in
the south part of the village
is an L-shaped building
mainly timber-framed and
partly thatched. It has been
almost entirely modernized
and does not seem to have
been attached to any of the
manors in the parish. The
name of Petewykelese in the
manor of Rampayns in the
15th century (fn. 16) still lingers in
Petwick Cottages and a plantation in the north of the
parish. The 'wyke in Heylescumbe' granted by William
Rampayn to Beaulieu Abbey (fn. 17)
may possibly be the same.
Childrey was the 'lodging' of the Earl of Forth,
lord general of the king's army, in 1644, (fn. 18) and Charles I
himself is said to have spent a night in April of that
year in the manor-house of the Fettiplaces. (fn. 19)
There are Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist
chapels in the village.
An Inclosure Act for Childrey was passed in 1772. (fn. 20)
The manor of FRETHORNES was
held before the Conquest by a freeman
Brictric. In 1086, when it was assessed
at 8 hides, it was in the fee of Turstin Fitz Rou. (fn. 21)
Turstin's lands passed to the family of Newmarch, (fn. 22)
whose lordship in Childrey
was brought in marriage by
Hawise, younger daughter of
James de Newmarch, to
Nicholas de Moels. (fn. 23) Isabel,
one of the heirs of John de
Moels, great-grandson of
Nicholas, (fn. 24) married William
Botreaux, (fn. 25) whose descendants (fn. 26) held an overlordship
in Childrey during the 14th
and 15th centuries. (fn. 27) In
1514, however, and subsequently his manor was said
to be held of Lord Fitz Warin and his heirs as of his
manor of Wantage. (fn. 28) It was still subject in 1771 to
a yearly payment of 4 bushels and 2 pecks of wheat
to the lord of the manor of Wantage. (fn. 29)
Botreaux. Argent a griffon azure.
The tenants of Turstin Fitz Rou in 1086 were
two Rogers, of whom one seems to have held the
whole manor under Turstin and the second a holding
under the first Roger amounting to 6 hides 1 virgate. (fn. 30)
There is nothing to show whether either of these
Rogers was the ancestor of the family of Frethorne,
who subsequently held both this manor and the manor
of Fretherne in Gloucestershire.
The Old Manor House, Childrey
In 1166 William de Frethorne held two knights'
fees of Henry de Newmarch, (fn. 31) of which one was
probably in Fretherne and the other in Childrey.
He or his heir of the same name was mentioned in
1199, (fn. 32) and was alive in 1207, when his son John
was parson of Childrey. (fn. 33) About 1240 one knight's
fee in Childrey was held by John de Frethorne. (fn. 34)
He was still living in 1245, (fn. 35) and should perhaps be
identified with the John de Frethorne who was the
king's falconer about this date. (fn. 36) He was succeeded
by Geoffrey de Frethorne, who held the family lands
in 1315. (fn. 37) He died in 1320, leaving a son and
heir Geoffrey, (fn. 38) on whom with his wife Maud a
messuage and 2 carucates here and the advowson of
the church were settled in 1331. (fn. 39) Geoffrey was
succeeded by John, evidently
his son, (fn. 40) on whom a further
settlement was made in 1350. (fn. 41)
On the death of John in 1353
the manor passed to his brother
Walter, (fn. 42) who conveyed it in
1357 to Edmund de Childrey, (fn. 43) a member of a family
which had for some time held
land here. (fn. 44) It afterwards
followed the descent of the
manor of South Fawley (q.v.)
till 1549, (fn. 45) when it was settled
on George son of Sir John and
Margery Cope, (fn. 46) who in 1558 sold his interest to
Thomas Dolman and Elizabeth his wife. (fn. 47) Frethornes was settled on the marriage of Thomas
Dolman's son and heir John, who succeeded him in
1575. (fn. 48) In 1646 Thomas Dolman, the heir of John,
conveyed the manor to John Knight. (fn. 49)
Childrey. Argent a gurge gules.
The family of Knight was in possession for some
time, but very little is known about them. Roger
Knight and his wife Mary were holding the manor
between 1658 and 1661. (fn. 50) In 1702 it was in the
hands of Robert Knight. (fn. 51) From him it passed before
1757 to John Lee of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, (fn. 52) whose
son Thomas was in possession in 1764. (fn. 53) He sold
Frethornes seven years later to Samuel Roycroft of
East Greenwich. (fn. 54) The latter died in 1785, (fn. 55) and
was succeeded by Kenrick Roycroft, who bequeathed
the manor to his widow for life with remainder to
Sir John Gibbons of Stanwell Place, fourth baronet. (fn. 56)
Sir John's grandson Sir Charles Gibbons was in
possession in 1907, and gave it to his son Captain
Gibbons on his marriage. It has recently been
purchased by the Rev. R. J. Walker.
MAUTRAVERS belonged before the Conquest to
Edmund, a freeman, and in 1086 to Roger de Lacy.
The manor contained 13
hides. (fn. 57) The family of Lacy
were lords of Ludlow, and the
manor was still held of that
honour in the 13th century. (fn. 58)
The family of Say had a
mesne lordship, (fn. 59) which subsequently passed, as did their
manor of Stokesay, Shropshire,
to the family of Ludlow. (fn. 60)
Gibbons of Stanwell, baronet. Gules a lion or with a bend argent over all charged with a roundel gules between two crosses formy fitchy sable.
John Mautravers, or Maltravers, appears as tenant of
one knight's fee in Berkshire,
evidently to be identified with
this manor, in 1194. (fn. 61) He
was dead in 1201, (fn. 62) and was
succeeded by a son John, (fn. 63)
who lived till 1221. (fn. 64) John,
his successor, held this knight's fee in Childrey about
1240. (fn. 65) He or his heir of the same name died in
1296, leaving a son and heir another John. (fn. 66) It may
have been the latter who was in possession in 1316 (fn. 67)
and had a grant of free warren two vears later, (fn. 68) but
it was quite possibly his son John, to whom he must
have granted this and other manors some time before
his death. (fn. 69) The younger John was an associate of
Roger Mortimer, and was in arms against the king
in 1321–2, when his lands
were seized. (fn. 70) Childrey was
granted for life to Walter de
Beauchamp in 1326. (fn. 71) John
Mautravers's lands were restored to him in the next
year, and he was summoned
to Parliament as a baron in
1330. (fn. 72) He again suffered
forfeiture, however, in the
latter year, when he was condemned to death for his share
in the death of Edmund Earl
of Kent. (fn. 73) He escaped, and remained on the Continent for
some years. Meanwhile the manor of Childrey was
granted in fee to John de Nevill of Hornby in 1331. (fn. 74)
He died without issue, and the manor reverted to the
Crown. (fn. 75) It was granted in 1336 to Ralph de Ufford (fn. 76)
in tail-male. He died without issue and the manor
once more came to the Crown. (fn. 77) In 1348 it was
granted to Agnes, the wife of John Mautravers, for
her life, with reversion to trustees till the death of
John and further remainder to the Crown. (fn. 78) In 1352,
however, John Mautravers was restored to all his
estates, (fn. 79) and he settled his manor of Childrey on
himself and Agnes in fee-tail in 1356. (fn. 80) After his
death it was devoted by Agnes to the foundation of a
chantry of three chaplains in the parish church of
Lytchett Matravers, Dorset. Robert de Sambourn
and John de Coston, chaplains, had licence to convey
it to the parson of that church in 1371. (fn. 81) The rectors
of Lytchett Matravers were lords of the manor till the
dissolution of chantries. (fn. 82) It was granted by Edward VI
in 1552 to John Fowler and John Philpott, (fn. 83) who sold
it immediately to Sir John Cope, owner of the manor
of Frethornes. (fn. 84) It appears in 1561 in the possession
of his son George Cope, (fn. 85) who conveyed it in that
year to James Yate and John Smith. (fn. 86) Shortly
afterwards it was in the hands of Henry Brouncker, (fn. 87)
brother-in-law of James Yate, (fn. 88) who left it to his
youngerson Henry. (fn. 89)
William Brouncker,
brother of Henry,
sold it in 1577 to
John Ashcombe. (fn. 90)
The Ashcombe
family, who had a
seat at Lyford (q.v.),
retained the manor
till the middle of
the 18th century. (fn. 91)
With Lyford it was
conveyed in 1757
to John Roberts by
Henry Faithwaite
and his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 92) In 1766
John Roberts, who
was apparently a trustee for the Greenway family, with
John Blagden and
John Greenway, devisces named in the
will of Mrs. Mary Herbert, sold the manor to
Edward Shippery. (fn. 93) He was succeeded by William
Shippery, the owner in 1772. (fn. 94) The latter had a
son William, (fn. 95) still living in 1837. (fn. 96) In 1851
William Shippery 'of Worthing' made a bequest to
the poor of the parish. (fn. 97) The manor probably
remained in the hands of this family till 1869, when
Mr. W. Schoolcroft Burton purchased it with Rampayns Manor. The trustees of the will of his son
Joshua Burton (fn. 98) are the present owners.
Mautravers. Sable a fret or with the difference of a label argent.
A freehold within this manor was granted in 1318
by Margaret widow of Richard de Polhampton to
Walter de Hamme and his wife Eugenia for their
lives. (fn. 99) Three years later Thomas de Luda and Margaret his wife, who was presumably the same Margaret, granted the reversion of the premises to
Thomas de Berkely. (fn. 100) In 1329 Walter de Hamme
and Eugenia quitclaimed their interest to John
Mautravers, (fn. 101) on whose forfeiture the land was granted
to Nicholas de la Beche. (fn. 102) It was settled in 1338 (fn. 103) on
Nicholas and his wife Margery, to whom Thomas de
Berkely released his claim in the same year. (fn. 104) The
lands of Nicholas came by inheritance to Robert
Danvers, (fn. 105) whose son Edmund (fn. 106) must have sold the
premises to Agnes Mautravers for the purposes of her
chantry. In 1374 William de Shiltwood, parson of
Childrey, had licence to grant this holding in part
maintenance of the chantry to the parson of Lytchett
Matravers. (fn. 107) The chaplains were to celebrate for the
soul of Edmund Danvers as well as for Agnes and John
Mautravers. (fn. 108) This land was thus absorbed again
into the manor of Mautravers and followed the same
descent.
The Village, Childrey
The manor of RAMPAYNS in 1086 was part
of the fee of William Leuric son of Richard. (fn. 109) It
consisted of 12 hides, 2 of which William held in
demesne, the remainder being held of him by
Godfrey. (fn. 110) William's lands subsequently passed to
the family of Scroop (Crupes), (fn. 111) of whose barony the
Rampayns held their manor in the 13th century. (fn. 112)
In 1484 the overlordship belonged to Sir Thomas
Frowick. (fn. 113) From 1530 onwards the manor was said
to be held, like Frethornes, of the manor of Wantage. (fn. 114)
The date at which the family of Rampayn was
first enfeoffed of land here is uncertain. (fn. 115) Henry de
Rampayn, with Hugh son of Hugh of Ordeston (q.v.),
had two knights' fees in Berkshire between 1201 and
1212 and till 1221. (fn. 116) Henry was holding land in
Childrey and in Cassington (Oxon.) about 1230, when
his son William was mentioned. (fn. 117) Shortly afterwards
William de Rampayn was holding one fee in Childrey
of the barony of Scropes. (fn. 118) He was probably the
William who before 1268 granted land here to Beaulieu
Abbey, mentioning his son John and his wife Juliana. (fn. 119)
John confirmed land in Cassington to Godstow about
1265. (fn. 120)
In the late 13th or early 14th century William de
Rampayn was lord of the manor. (fn. 121) His wife Sarah
survived him and had a messuage and 60 acres of
land with rent in Childrey as her dower. (fn. 122) William's
heir was his eldest son John, (fn. 123) whose lands in Childrey
were seized into the king's hands in 1313 on the
ground that he had been convicted of felony, (fn. 124) but
were subsequently restored in the absence of proof of
his conviction. (fn. 125) He was succeeded by his brother
Geoffrey, who granted the reversion of his mother's
dower to John de Dagenhale, chaplain, perhaps the
parson of Childrey. (fn. 126) It was claimed against him by
Alice widow of Henry de Childrey, who had had a
grant of it from 'John Rampayn the elder,' perhaps
uncle of John and Geoffrey, who held it by demise
of the above-mentioned John. (fn. 127) The issue of the suit
is not clear. In 1329 Geoffrey granted to Robert
Achard the reversion of this land and what seems to
be the whole of the rest of the manor, (fn. 128) and four
years later Alice de Childrey, Robert Achard and
John de Dagenhale paid subsidy. (fn. 129)
In 1355 the manor was conveyed by the parson
of Childrey to William de Lynt and Isabel his wife.
Agnes widow of Robert Achard had a life interest
in one-third. (fn. 130) The property appears to have descended with Lynt in Coleshill to William Walrond,
the tenant in 1428, (fn. 131) who with Elizabeth his wife
was buried in the church of Childrey. Thomas
Walrond of Childrey is mentioned in 1439. (fn. 132) This
was probably the Thomas Walrond who in 1478
claimed that his great-grandmother Isabel was the
sister and heir of Walter de Frethorne. (fn. 133) He died
in 1480 (fn. 134) and was buried at Childrey. (fn. 135) His heir
was his granddaughter Elizabeth wife of John Kentwood and daughter of his daughter Joan, (fn. 136) who is
also commemorated in the church. Joan seems to
have married first Thomas Waryng and afterwards
Robert Strangbou, Elizabeth being the daughter of
Thomas. (fn. 137) The manor was settled on Elizabeth and
her second husband William Fettiplace and their heirs
with remainder to Antony Fettiplace, brother of
William, and his heirs male, and contingent remainders
to Richard and Thomas, also brothers of William. (fn. 138)
Elizabeth and William died without issue, and
Alexander son of Antony Fettiplace succeeded. (fn. 139) His
son William was succeeded by a son Edmund, on
whose marriage with Anne Alford the manor was
settled in 1581. (fn. 140) Edmund died in 1613, leaving a
son John, (fn. 141) who died without issue. He was succeeded in 1657 by John son of his brother Edward, (fn. 142)
who was created a baronet in 1661 and died in
1672. (fn. 143) His sons Edmund, Charles, Lorenzo and
George succeeded in turn to the baronetcy and manor,
but died without issue. (fn. 144) Their sister Diana had
married Robert Bushel of Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire, (fn. 145) and her son Thomas was his uncle's heir. (fn. 146)
He took the name of Fettiplace and died in 1767, (fn. 147)
when he was succeeded by his son Robert. (fn. 148) The
trustees of the estate of Robert Fettiplace were in
possession of this manor in 1772. (fn. 149) He died in
1799 (fn. 150) and his brother Charles, who was his heir,
in 1805. (fn. 151) The heir of Charles was his nephew
Richard Gorges, who took the name of Fettiplace
and died in possession in 1806. (fn. 152) His sister, the
wife of Captain Dacre, inherited the manor. (fn. 153) It
was subsequently in the hands of Captain Dacre's
trustees, (fn. 154) but before 1869 had passed to Miss E.
Farmer, from whom it was purchased by Mr. W.
Schoolcroft Burton. On his death in 1897 it was sold
by auction. The purchaser, Mr. E. T. W. Dunn, is
the present owner.
Church
The church of ST MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of a chancel 32 ft. 6 in.
by 21 ft. with north vestry, nave 53 ft. 6 in.
by 21 ft., north transept 13 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft., south transept 19 ft. by 27 ft., south porch and west tower 13 ft.
square. These measurements are internal.
The nave is apparently of late 12th-century date,
though the south door is the only remaining detail
of that period. The chancel was rebuilt about the
middle of the 13th century. In the 14th century
the north and south transepts were added and in the
15th century the west tower was built. The south
porch is of the early 16th century, and about the
same time the nave clearstory was added. The
church has been restored in modern times.
The chancel has square flat buttresses to the eastern
angles and an external string-course below the
windows. The good early 15th-century east window
is of five lights with tracery under a pointed head.
At the west end of the north wall is a 13th-century
window of two lights with a circle in the head, and
further east is an old pointed doorway to the modern
vestry. On the south side there are two 13th-century
windows, each of two lights, and between them is a
pointed doorway of the same date. The trefoilheaded piscina on this side has two drains, and further
west are three sedilia with trefoiled moulded heads
and attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases
and a moulded string carried square over the three
heads. The roof is modern. The nave is structurally
undivided from the chancel, except by a modern oak
arch, and has in the north wall a pointed 14thcentury arch to the north transept and further west
two early 15th-century windows of three lights with
pointed and traceried heads. Between them is a
blocked doorway of the 13th century with moulded
jambs and pointed head. At the clearstory level
are four early 16th-century windows, each of three
rounded lights under a square head. On the south
side is an acutely pointed and continuously moulded
14th-century arch opening into the south transept or
Fettiplace chapel, and at the south end of the rood
screen is a large but shallow niche with a cinquefoiled
head. West of the arch is a blocked door-head,
formerly communicating with a doorway across the
north-west angle of the adjoining transept; its use is
doubtful, but it may have been connected with a
former parvise over the porch. The late 12th-century
south doorway is of one semicircular order with
moulded imposts and hood with 'dog-tooth' ornament.
Further west is a 15th-century window of three lights
with a four-centred head. The south clearstory has
a small three-light window east of the transept arch
and two windows to the west of it similar to those
on the north side. The roof is modern except for a
panelled bay at the east end, with foliage ornaments
at the intersections, and the curved brackets and
corbels under the tie-beams.
Plan Of Childrey Church
The 14th-century north transept has a two-light
east window of that date with a pointed head. In
the north wall is a late 15th-century window of six
lights with traceried three-centred head and a transom,
the lights being cusped below it. At the north end
of the west wall is a small 15th-century door with a
four-centred head. In the east wall is a piscina with
a shouldered head and above it a cinquefoil-headed
niche. In the south-east angle is a door to the roodloft and in the east respond of the arch a squint to
the chancel. The Fettiplace chapel has a three-light
east window with a square head and in the south
wall a four-light window with a three-centred head,
both being of early 16th-century date. In the northeast angle is a squint to the chancel, and in the west
wall is a 15th-century window of three lights with a
four-centred head. The 14th-century piscina on the
east has a trefoiled head, moulded label and a shelf.
The early 16th-century roof is of the tie-beam type
resting on angel corbels bearing shields; those on the
east have Fettiplace, Fettiplace impaling Englefield,
and a quartered coat; those on the west have a cock's
head razed, the crest of Fettiplace, and the initials
EF, [E]W and W (?); the intermediate corbels also bear
angels.
The 15th-century west tower is of three stages, the
lowest faced with ashlar on the west face and the
top stage also ashlar faced. It has a deep moulded
plinth, diagonal buttresses and an embattled parapet
with grotesque gargoyles. The top stage is perhaps
of the early 16th century. The tower arch is pointed,
with continuous mouldings, and the four-centred west
doorway has a square label with ends returned on
themselves and quatrefoil panelled spandrels; it retains
the original oak draw-bar and wedge. The 15th-
century three-light west window with a four-centred
head bears the Fettiplace arms with a crescent for
difference at the apex. The second stage has a single
rectangular light in the south wall and the bellchamber is lighted by a two-light square-headed window
in each face. The south porch has a four-centred
outer archway with a moulded label returned on
itself at the spring, and in the west wall a squareheaded two-light window.
In the north wall of the chancel is a 14th-century
tomb recess or Easter sepulchre; the tomb has a
panelled front and is surmounted by a richly cusped
arch with oak-leaf spandrels and an ogee crocketed
super arch with a cusped quatrefoil in the tympanum.
The spandrels at the sides have on the west carved
oak leaves and on the east foliage with dogs and a
hedgehog. Above the upper arch is a further composition of pinnacles and cusped panelling finished
with an embattled cornice. At the north end of the
north transept is a 14th-century tomb recess with an
ogee moulded arch enriched with ball flower and
crockets and having a richly cusped soffit; below it is
a freestone effigy in mixed mail and plate of about
1300, with surcoat, crossed legs, feet on a lion and
a blank shield on the left arm. The church contains
numerous brasses; on the north side of the chancel
is one with a figure in armour and a lady commemorating John Kingston, who died in 1514, and Susan
his wife, with a representation of the Trinity above
and two shields of Kingston and the same impaling
Fettiplace; two other shields are lost. On the same
side is a small headless figure of a priest of about
1450, holding a chalice, and on the south side is the
well-known brass to William Fynderne, who died in
1444, and Elizabeth his wife, late wife of John
Kingston, kt., with a figure in armour and tabard and
a lady in horned head-dress and heraldic mantle
under a double-arched canopy; mantle and tabard are
inlaid with lead, and there is a marginal inscription
and a shield of Fynderne, which arms appear also on
the dresses. Outside the rails is a figure of a priest
in academicals commemorating Brian Roos, Doctor of
Laws and parson of the church, who died in 1529,
with two evangelistic symbols. Another brass commemorates William Walrond, 14—, and Elizabeth his
wife in a horned head-dress of about 1460 with two
shields of Walrond and three fishes. To the south is
a good figure of a priest in mass vestments with fragments of a marginal inscription of about 1450; at
the base is an inscription to Agnes wife of John
Fynderne, who died in 1441.
In the Fettiplace chapel are the following brasses:
(1) On the south wall a slab with kneeling figures, a
Trinity, scrolls and inscription recording, 'Here
under that marble stone next before the ymage of
Sent Mighell resteth the body of Thomas Walrond,
who died in 1480, and Alice (Englefield) his wife';
there are shields of Walrond, Englefield and the same
coats impaled. (2) On the floor is an inscription to
Elizabeth and Katherine, daughters of Alexander
Fettiplace, who died in 1603. (3) A figure in a
shroud, with a good representation of the Trinity,
commemorating Joan (Walrond) wife of Robert
Strangbou, who died in 1507(?), with five shields—Walrond impaling Englefield; a bend engrailed between
two lions impaling Quartermain; the same impaling
a lion passant; the same impaling a lost coat and the
same impaling three lions; one shield is lost. (4) To
William Fettiplace and Elizabeth his wife (d. 1516),
'founders of this chantry in honor of the blessed
Trinite our Lady and Seint Katherine.' The evangelistic symbols are missing, but there are three shields:
Fettiplace with a ring for difference; a fesse between
three cranes' heads razed with a crescent for difference
quartering Walrond, Englefield and two bars between
three rings; the two coats impaled. (5) A small
panelled altar-tomb of Purbeck marble with a slab
and embattled canopy; on the back are two brass
female figures in shrouds, rising from tombs, and two
shields of the same coats as the first and last of the
preceding brass. The rood screen is a plain 15thcentury work of oak with seven bays on either side of
the doorway, each with a cinquefoiled head; the
beam is simply moulded and the base has been
repaired. On either side of the chancel is an old oak
stall with desks; the backs are plain with a cornice at
the top and the seat has a poppy-head bench end. A
few oak panelled bench ends remain in the south
transept, one bearing the Fettiplace cheverons.
The font is a plain circular bowl of lead having
twelve embossed figures of bishops, each with crozier,
book and mitre; it is probably of the 12th century
and is unique.
In the north window of the north transept is some
excellent white and yellow glass of great delicacy; in
the tracery are angels, archangels and the initials W.N.,
and below are figures of apparently the Virgin with a
male head inserted, fragments of a Crucifixion, a
mutilated Ascension, a fine Annunciation (St. Gabriel
being represented with peacock-feather wings) and
fragments of an Adoration of the Magi. Inserted in
this window are the Fettiplace arms with a wreath
and the date 1547; below the figures the glass is
diapered. In the east window of the south transept
are figures of St. Edward, St. Michael and St. Catherine, mainly modern, but including old fragments,
especially in the canopies; below are three old shields
of Bessels quartered with Leigh impaling Harcourt,
Fettiplace with a ring for difference impaling a
disarranged quartered coat, and Fettiplace impaling
Argent three fleurs de lis and a border gules. In the
north transept are numerous much-worn slip tiles,
several bearing the letter A. On the south-east
buttress of the south transept is a sundial dated
1707.
There are six bells: the treble by G. Mears & Co.,
1865; the second by Pack & Chapman, 1770; the
third recast by Mears & Stainbank, 1807; the fourth
inscribed 'R.A, I.H. churchwardens 1639'; the
fifth 'Sancta Anna ora pro nobis' in Roman capitals,
and the tenor inscribed 'W.B, I.V. churchwardens
1632.' There is also a ting-tang by James Wells of
Aldbourne, 1806.
The plate includes a small pre-Reformation paten
(London, 1496), with a circle in the centre inclosing
a head of our Lord in a sexfoil with leaves in the
outer spandrels; a 17th-century cup without marks;
a modern paten and a plated almsdish.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) mixed entries 1558 to 1653; (ii) baptisms 1654
to 1696, marriages 1655 to 1695, burials 1654 to
1692; (iii) burials 1678 to 1789; (iv) mixed
entries 1697 to 1770; (v) baptisms 1770 to 1812,
burials 1789 to 1812; (vi) marriages 1755 to
1812. The churchwardens' accounts date back to
1568.
Advowson
The church of Childrey was
attached in 1086 to the manor
subsequently known as Frethornes, (fn. 155)
which it followed in descent till the death of Thomas
Childrey in 1407. (fn. 156) It was then inherited by
Elizabeth Calston, daughter of his daughter Joan,
and by his surviving daughters Elizabeth Kingston
and Sibyl, who married Thomas Beckingham. (fn. 157)
James Beckingham, heir of Sibyl, quitclaimed his
share to Elizabeth Kingston in 1446. (fn. 158) The third
share was inherited by George Darell, son of Elizabeth
Calston and William Darell, in 1464, (fn. 159) and his grandson Sir Edward Darell (fn. 160) presented in 1496. (fn. 161) It
seems clear that this share also was purchased by the
owners of Frethornes. (fn. 162) The advowson appears
among the possessions of John Cope and Margery
in 1542, (fn. 163) and had the same descent as the manor
till Thomas Dolman sold his estates. (fn. 164) The advowson
was purchased in 1607 by the President and scholars
of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. (fn. 165) They continued
to present till the beginning of this century, (fn. 166) when
the advowson became the property of the Rev.
R. J. Walker.
In 1368 Edmund de Childrey had licence to
found a chantry here in honour of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. (fn. 167) It maintained one chaplain for a daily service in the church of St. Mary. The advowson of
this chantry followed the same descent as that of the
church. (fn. 168) The lands belonging to it were granted in
1590 to William Tipper. (fn. 169)
A second chantry dedicated to the Trinity and
St. Katherine was established in 1526 by William
Fettiplace. (fn. 170) The lands for its support, which were
situated in Letcombe Bassett and neighbouring parishes,
were granted by him to the Provost and fellows of
Queen's College. (fn. 171) The statutes provided for the
maintenance of one priest and an almshouse for three
poor men. The chaplain was to live in the chantryhouse and keep a school there for the children of the
parish. (fn. 172) When the dissolution of chantries took place
this endowment was allowed to remain as the salary
of a schoolmaster.
Charities
The eleemosynary charities consist
of £62 0s. 4d. consols, representing
the gift in 1796 of John Lawrence,
as recorded on the front of the gallery in the church;
£70 9s. 4d. consols, including a legacy of £20 from
Mrs. Berry Barnes, and other gifts mentioned in the
Parliamentary Returns of 1786, known as the poor's
money or the widows' groats; land in Letcombe
mentioned in the same returns and on the church
gallery, let at £1 a year; 8 acres of land lying near
the Ridgeway acquired in 1777 on the inclosure of
the parish, known as the poor's allotment, let at £8 a
year.
The poor are also entitled to receive 20d. a year
under an order of Lincoln College dated about 1520
in connexion with the obit day of Sir William
Fynderne. The practice appears to be to claim
payment at long intervals; the last payment was in
1884, when £1 3s. 4d., being fourteen years' payment, was received from Lincoln College.
These charities also include £1,176 17s. 5d. consols obtained under the will of William Shippery,
dated 1851 and proved in the P.C.C. 23 May 1853,
and £109 5s. 9d. consols, given in 1854 by Miss Ann
Godfrey and her brother George.
The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees, producing in annual dividends £35 8s. 10d.
The sum of 1s. 2d. monthly is paid to the two
oldest poor widows in respect of the poor's money
charity, and the balance of the dividends and the
net rents are applied in the distribution of bread,
coal and clothing.
Educational Charities.—The school built in 1732
by Sir George Fettiplace now consists of the school,
master's house and garden, which are kept in repair
by Queen's College, Oxford, who also pay a yearly
sum of £8 to the schoolmaster.
The said Sir George Fettiplace also, by his will
proved in 1743 (among other charitable bequests),
bequeathed £6 10s. yearly for teaching the girls of
Childrey. A sum of £273 3s. 6d. consols is held by
the official trustees in respect of this gift, which is being
accumulated pending the establishment of a scheme by
the Board of Education. (fn. 173)
The official trustees also hold a sum of £400
consols set aside for providing £10 a year, bequeathed
by the will of William Shippery above referred to,
for the master or mistress of the Wesleyan schools.
A sum of £109 5s. 9d. consols is likewise held by
the official trustees, the gift of Miss Ann Godfrey and
her brother George above referred to, for the benefit
of the girls' school, the annual dividends of which,
amounting to £2 9s. 6d., are paid to the mistress of
the rectory school, founded in 1844 by the rector of
Childrey.
The school premises were by indenture of
17 February 1862 conveyed to the President and
scholars of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
The almshouses founded by William Fettiplace in
or about 1526 were rebuilt in 1867, and are occupied by three men, who are allowed to have their
wives with them. Each almsman receives from
Queen's College, Oxford, 7s. weekly, 6s. for a gown
or livery on the Friday before St. Thomas's Day,
and 2s. 8d. for fuel, and a sum of 7s. 8d. is divided
among the almsmen at Easter. A sum of 6s. 8d. is
likewise paid to the rector for a sermon on the
anniversary day and 13s. 4d. to the parish clerk.
An annuity of £2 issuing out of an estate known
as Warren Farm West in Childrey, given by an
unknown donor, is likewise distributed among the
almsmen monthly.