HOLME
Hulme, Holm (xiii cent.).
Holme, until the early 19th century, was a hamlet
or chapelry of Glatton. It was then made a parish,
with an area of about 4,435 acres—more than twice
that of Glatton. It includes the greater part of what
was formerly Whittlesea Mere, which occupies the
northern end of the parish.
Holme is about a mile east of the Ermine Street,
or Great North Road, and is separated from Ramsey,
on the east and south-east, by the Nene (old course)
and Burbeach stream; and from Conington, on the
south, by the Holme Brook; drains and dykes intersect
the parish from south-west to north-east. 'A place
by the stream at Holme for washing herrings' is
mentioned in 1300. (fn. 1) Holme Fen (parts of which are
still unreclaimed) lies south of Whittlesea Mere, and
the whole parish is so low-lying that little of the land
is more than 10 ft. above Ordnance datum. The soil
is chiefly fen, peat and clay, producing potatoes, wheat,
oats and mustard.
The small village is situated about half a mile from
the western boundary of the parish, with the church
in the north-west corner, and the school and vicarage
to the east of it. A 17th-century cottage finished with
Dutch gables is close by. There is a station on the
main line of the London and North Eastern Railway
with a branch line to Ramsey.
Holme Wood House, built in Holme Park by William
Wells about 1874, replaced an earlier house known as
Holme House, occupied by Captain William Wells,
R.N. (d. 1826). It followed the descent of the manor
of Glatton with Holme, until 1918, and is still the
residence of Mr. John Ashton Fielden. Holme was
not included in the sale of Glatton in 1918.
Manor
The Domesday Survey does not mention HOLME, but it was evidently
included in the 8 hides in Glatton held
by Ulf, which were granted by William the Conqueror to Eustace, Count of Boulogne. (fn. 2) Glatton
and Holme thus were attached to the Honour of
Boulogne, which after the death of Reginald, Count
of Boulogne, who was taken prisoner in France in
1214, escheated to the Crown. Holme has always
been a member of Glatton (q.v.). (fn. 3)
In 1218 Baldwin de Rivers paid three good palfreys
for licence to inclose 15 acres of his wood for a park at
Holme. (fn. 4) In 1314 the king ordered that a fair should
be held at his manor of Holme, on the eve, day and
morrow of the feast of St. Gregory the Pope, and
another on the eve, day and morrow of St. Giles the
Abbot. (fn. 5) A market was already in existence, but it
appears to have had no profits in 1368. There were
three burgesses holding burgages in the town which
they could alienate at will, but the silting up of the
river at Welle near Wisbech, stopping the passage of
ships from Lynn, adversely affected the prosperity of
the town, in common with other places in the neighbourhood. (fn. 6)
Disturbances occurred in Holme Fen in 1632, when
the cattle were driven away during the operations
connected with the Bedford Level drainage. 'A
crowd of men and women armed with scythes and
pitchforks uttered threatening words against anyone
that should drive their fens.' Mr. Castel of Glatton
took part, and with his men prevented the overseers
of the dykes from driving off his cattle. (fn. 7)
A family of de Holme was living during the 13th
and 14th centuries. In 1210–12 Robert de Holme
is included in a list of knights holding lands in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, and was possibly
one of those whose services were owed by Baldwin de
Dudeauville (de Rivers) for Glatton and Holme. (fn. 8) In
1308 Thomas, son of Agnes de Holme, complained
that the men of Denton had cut his turves at Holme,
and he was apparently open to the same accusation as
regards Denton, though these marshes were separated
by a dyke called Frithdyke, and did not intercommon. (fn. 9)
A messuage and croft was held by 'Mariota of the
Hall,' in 1279, of the Earl of Cornwall, for a rent of
14d. and the finding of a lamp before the high altar
of the church. (fn. 10) In 1589 a 'cottage' called Hall Place,
with land in Holme, was held of the queen by William
Somersam, for 1½d. yearly, his heirs being his daughters
Avice and Sencia. (fn. 11)
WHITTLESEA MERE (Witlesmere, x–xii cent.;
Witelesmere, xi-xii cent.; Witelesmare, 1086; Wittlesmere, xvi cent.; Whittlesea, xviii cent.) was the
largest fresh-water lake in the southern parts of England. It lay chiefly in the eastern part of the parish
of Glatton cum Holme (now Holme), but a small part
towards the north was in the parish of Farcet. It
was traversed from the north-west to the south-east
by the River Nene (old course), and was fed, in addition,
by many water-courses running down from the surrounding high lands. Camden (fn. 12) describes it as six
miles long and three miles broad. He says that the
sons and servants of Cnut, when crossing it on their
way from Peterborough to Ramsey, were caught in a
violent storm and whirlwind, and some of them were
drowned. The king thereupon ordered a dyke to be
made by his soldiers with their swords (hence called
Swerdesdelf or Cnut's-dyke), in the adjoining marshes
between Ramsey and Whittlesea. Presumably Cnut's
intention was to put a limit to the waters on the northeast side. To arrive at Camden's dimensions we must
include the whole of Farcet Fen up to Horsey Hill
(thus bringing the Mere much nearer to the town of
Whittlesea), and we must bring it south to Hook's
Lode; it seems very doubtful if the Mere really was
as large as this. The width of three miles would not
necessarily apply to the whole Mere, and possibly the
part south of Swere Point was much less, and known
as Chelfremere. The area given in 1786 (fn. 13) is 1,570
acres, and it is shown as about 2 miles from east to
west and 1½ miles from north to south. Its depth
is stated to vary from 2 to 7 feet. The original 1 in.
Ordnance Map (1824) shows it the same size, but
Heathcote says that its size decreased after 1786, and
was continuing to decrease, and that it went temporarily quite dry in 1826. (fn. 14) That it must have decreased
in size when Morton's Leam was cut (c. 1485), and
when each step in the drainage of the Fens became
effective, seems inevitable, and, therefore, without
necessarily accepting Camden's dimensions, we may
reasonably assume that it was once much larger than
it was in Bodger's day.
The waters of the Mere were free from weeds, but
were surrounded by a wide belt of reeds called shoals.
The Mere was subject to violent storms, high winds
and great waves; it was full of a great variety of fish
and fowl, and during the 18th and 19th centuries
seems to have been a favourite yachting resort, and
there were yacht houses at Meremouth and at
Port Sandwich.
The drainage of the Mere was commenced in 1849
and was completed in 1853. (fn. 15) A silver censer and
incense boat were found a little west of the eastern
boundary dyke, in the former year, (fn. 16) and an ancient
spear head in 1866. (fn. 17)
Whittlesea Mere is said to have been given by
Wulphere, King of Mercia, to the Abbey of Peterborough, on its foundation in 657; (fn. 18) the abbey, however, was destroyed by the Danes in 870, and its
property lapsed to the king.
When Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester (963–984),
refounded the Abbey of Peterborough, he gave it onefourth part of the Mere, (fn. 19) and King Edgar, in his
foundation charter, in 963, confirmed this to the
abbey. (fn. 20) The same king, in his foundation charter
to the Abbey of Thorney, in 973, says that Bishop
Aethelwold bought two parts of Whittlesea Mere from
Ufan and his uterine brothers; and it goes on to say
that the fourth part of the Mere, and two fisheries and
ten acres, were exchanged between the Abbeys of
Thorney and Burgh [Peterborough] for 120 pigs,
and for the repair of houses, hedges and stables. (fn. 21)
The Liber Niger of the Abbey of Peterborough tells
us that Abbot Aelsius (1006–1055) bought a fourth part
of Whittlesea Mere from a nobleman named Thored,
giving him in exchange land at Overton and a sum of
money. This he added to another fourth part which
he held before, which had been given to the monastery
by Aethelwold, Bishop of Winchester—and thus the
Abbey of Peterborough possessed half the Mere.
This purchase, together with the right to the entire
moiety, with all the adjacent waters and marshes, was
confirmed to the abbey by King Cnut. (fn. 22) It is not
clear how the Abbey of Peterborough's property in
the Mere passed to the Abbey of Thorney, if it did,
but possibly the Peterborough property consisted
only of fishing rights, whereas Thorney held manorial
rights as well.
In 1086 the fishing and mere of the Abbot of Ramsey
were valued at £10, those of the Abbot of Thorney at
60s., and those of the Abbot of Peterborough at £4.
The Abbot of Ramsey had one boat, the Abbot of
Peterborough one, and the Abbot of Thorney two,
but of these two the Abbot of Peterborough held
one with two fisheries and two fishermen and one
virgate of land. (fn. 23)
In 1125–1128, the fisheries are set forth in connection with the boundaries of the Mere, with its
fisheries, marshes (paludibus) and waters, thus: 'In
the northern part of the pool is a water by name
Merelade, going out of the river Nene where is the
northern boundary of the pool itself. This with its
marshes (paludibus) adjoins it [the Mere] having at the
end one fishery called Aethemuthe. In the east part
are two pools called Wellepol and Trendmaere. (fn. 24)
Between these pools is a narrow water two furlongs
long, called Trendmaere Bece [i.e. beach], (fn. 25) having in it
two fisheries. There is also a narrow water one mile
long, called Falet, having in it one fishery. In that
part between Witlesmere and Kyngesdelf, where is
the eastern boundary, is a marshy place three miles
broad, having in it a narrow water called Thescuf, and
a wood called Ragreholt. In the south part is a
narrow water three furlongs long called Scaelfremaere
Bece [i.e. beach] having in it two fisheries. At the end
of this is a pool called Scaelfremaere having in its
southern part a narrow water called Ubbemaere-lade,
half a mile long. Also at the head of this, that is at
the end of the pool, is one fishery. Halfway along
this water [Ubbemaere-lade] is a place on the opposite
side in the marsh (palude) called Aldwines Barwe,
where is the southern boundary. In the western part
is a narrow water two furlongs long called Trendmaere bece [i.e. beach] having in it one fishery. At
the end of this is a pool called West Trendmaere.
There are also in that part waters whose names
are Dreigmaere, Wellepol, Withibuscemaere, Langemaere, Keninges and Musclemaere. And also there
is a water one mile long, even up to the land, called
Deop Bece, having in it one fishery. At the end
of this water is the western boundary of the marshes
(paludum) and waters belonging to Witlesmaere.' (fn. 26)
In 1306 it was found by inquisition that the Abbot
of Thorney had five cotes abutting on the mere,
and that the greater part of the fishery belonged
to him; he had five boatsgates to fish in the mere at
all times, except during Shelrode, which began a fortnight before St. George's Day and lasted until a fortnight after. Each boatsgate had forty pollenets, forty
swerenets, twenty-five widenets, twenty-four bownets,
one drage, one tramaile, also setting-tawe and syrelepes
at the will of the owner. (fn. 27) In 1401 the Abbots and
Convents of Thorney and Sawtry were holding free
fisheries. (fn. 28)
In 1553 Edward VI granted the manor of Farcet to
Sir Walter Mildmay, (fn. 29) when the manor included the
north part of Whittlesea Mere from Arlmyndes Hills
to Falstubb; and this part passed with the manor
of Farcet (q.v.). (fn. 30) In 1629 Francis, Earl of Westmoreland, died seised of a free fishery in Chaldebeach,
Archbeach [Ashbeach], and Conquestloadend in the
parish of Glatton, late belonging to William Hansard. (fn. 31)
Notwithstanding these grants to the Abbeys of
Thorney and Peterborough, the greater part of the
Mere probably lay in the manor of Glatton cum
Holme, as it lies in the parish of Holme to this day.
Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to whom the manor of
Glatton cum Holme (q.v.) had been granted by the
king in 1243, gave all his right and claim in fisheries
in 'Ubbemere' and 'Birkemare' and in three cotes on
Whittlesea Mere to Ramsey Abbey, in 1261. (fn. 32) The inquisition taken on the death of Edmund Earl of Cornwall (1300) mentions fisheries in Ubmere [Uggmere],
Birshemere and Whittlesmere, for fishing wherein with
boats the Abbot of Ramsey and others pay rents, a
liberty of testing the nets with a certain billete by
which they ought to be knotted for taking small fish,
with power to the bailiff of the manor to burn all nets
found beyond the assize, or take a fine. (fn. 33) The overlordship of this part of the Mere passed with the manor of
Glatton (q.v.) and was included in the purchase by
Sir Robert Cotton in 1611; (fn. 34) and Sir Robert died in
1631 seised of a free fishery called a boatgate in a
water called Whittlesmere in Conington, Holme, and
Glatton. (fn. 35) It apparently passed with the manor of
Glatton cum Holme, in 1752, to Mr. Wells, whose
grandson, William Wells (d. 1889), drained the Mere
in 1849–53.
In 1318 the Abbot and Convent of Peterborough
were granted 3 acres of marsh by the perch of 20 feet
in the king's marsh of Glatton, next the water of
Wytlesmere where the abbot had free fishery. (fn. 36)
They could enclose the three acres with a ditch and
build there, and their fishermen could spread out their
nets to dry, and save themselves 'in time of tempests
which often happen there.' The fishing rights held
by the Abbey of Sawtry were granted with the rest of
that monastery's possessions to Richard Williams,
alias Cromwell, in 1537, (fn. 37) and those held by Peterborough Abbey went to the Dean and Chapter. In
1614, at an inquisition held at Holme, it appeared that
there were then 15 boatsgates belonging to the mere;
the Earl of Lincoln had one, the church of Peterborough two, Thomas Glapthorne one, Sir Anthony
Mildmay one, Sir William Fitzwilliam one, Robert
Apreece one, and the lord of the manor seven. In
1786, Mr. Wells, lord of the manor, had eleven; Lord
Brownlow, lord of the manor of Farcet, one and a
private fishery; the church of Peterborough two, and
Lord Carysfort one. (fn. 38)
Church
The church of ST. GILES consisted
of a chancel, nave with side aisles, south
porch and a bell-cot for two bells on the
west gable. Some of the piers were of the 12th
century and others of the 13th, while the bell-cot was
of the latter date. The windows were insertions of
the 15th century and later. The porch was modern
and there were modern dormers in the roof. The font
was a plain octagon. (fn. 39) The nave arcades were presumably of three bays each.
This church was pulled down and an entirely new
church built in 1862, consisting of a chancel (24 ft. by
16½ ft.), with organ chamber and vestry on the north
(16 ft. by 8½ ft.), nave (48¼ ft. by 16½ ft.), north and
south aisles (9 ft. wide), south porch (6 ft. by 8 ft.)
and a bell-cot for two bells on the west gable. The
walls are of hammer-dressed stone, and the roofs are
covered with tiles.
The chancel has a three-light east window with
tracery in a two-centred head; a segmental-pointed
arch and a plain doorway in the north wall; and two
single-light windows in the south wall. The chancel
arch is two-centred, of two chamfered orders resting on
moulded corbels.
The organ chamber and vestry has a two-light
window with tracery in a two-centred head in the east
wall; two single-light windows in the north wall;
and a pointed arch to the north aisle.
The nave has a north arcade of four bays, the
arches two-centred, of two chamfered orders, and
carried on three octagonal columns and two semioctagonal respond shafts. The two responds and the
capitals of the two eastern columns are of 13th-century
date reset, and the three eastern arches incorporate a
considerable number of old stones, but the western
arch and its column are entirely modern. The south
arcade, also of four bays, has two-centred arches of
one plain order resting on three circular columns and
two semicircular respond shafts; the capitals of the
eastern respond and the eastern column are cushion
capitals of 12th-century date, part of the capital of the
second column is of the 13th century, and small parts
of the three eastern arches are ancient, but the western
bay is entirely modern. On the north side of the
chancel arch is a trefoiled-headed opening giving access
from the vestry to the pulpit. The clearstory has
four circular traceried windows on each side. The
west window is a two-light with tracery in a twocentred head; above it is a stone bell-cot for two
bells.
The north aisle has four square-headed threelight windows with tracery in the north wall; and a
two-light window with tracery in a two-centred head
in the west wall.
The south aisle is generally similar to the north
aisle, but has a doorway in the south wall, and a twolight window similar to that at the west in the east
wall.
The south porch has a pointed outer arch with a
niche above it; and a circular window in each of the
side walls.
All the roofs are modern—and so is the octagonal
font. The Communion table, c. 1630, is of oak with
heavy turned legs.
There are two bells, inscribed: (1) Stanley Peterboro' 1885; (2) 1670. The second is by Norris.
There were two bells in 1709. (fn. 40)
Just outside the churchyard is the base of a 13thcentury cross; it is square, reduced to an octagon
above with large rounded stops.
There are the following monuments: in the chancel,
to Edmund Woodstock, d. 1728, Ann (Freeman) his
wife, d. 1720, and their children Ann, d. 1723, Dorothy,
d. 1720, and John, d. 1762; Thomas Wells, ViceAdmiral of the Red, d. 1811; Cecil Grenville Wells,
d. 1884; Grenville Hilton Wells, d. 1886; William
Wells, d. 1889; and William John Selby, d. 1916;
in the south aisle, window to William Wells, d.
1889.
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms, marriages
and burials, 2 Jan. 1683 to 6 Dec. 1761; (ii) the
same, 10 Jan. 1762 to 20 Dec. 1812, the marriages
end 3 Nov. 1777; (iii) marriages, 21 Sept. 1754 to
1 Dec. 1806; (iv) marriages, 16 Jan. 1807 to
24 Dec. 1812. Neither (iii) nor (iv) are the usual
printed books, and the marriages down to 1777 are
entered in the older books as well.
The church plate consists of a silver cup inscribed:
'Holme Com: Hunt 1710' and hall-marked for
1709–10; (fn. 41) a silver cup inscribed 'Holme Church
1862' and bearing the Sheffield hall-mark for 1861–2;
a silver paten and a silver flagon similarly inscribed
and hall-marked; a silver standing-paten inscribed
'This Service the Gift of Marianne Widow of
Colonel John N. Wells, R.E. to Holme Church,
Easter Day, 1862' and hall-marked as the rest.
Advowson
The chapel of Holme was united
to Glatton until 1857, when it was
separated and constituted a perpetual
curacy (fn. 42) and is now called a 'new vicarage.' Mr.
J. M. Wingfield presented in that year, but the
advowson was apparently acquired very soon after
by William Wells, who presented in 1858. (fn. 43) It
afterwards followed the descent of the manor of
Glatton, (fn. 44) but was retained by Mr. John Ashton
Fielden with the Holme Wood Estate, when he sold
Glatton in 1918, and he is the present patron.
Charities
Holme Poor's Land or Charity
Land.—It is stated that Sir John
Cotton gave to the parish of Holme
a close called Constable's Close, the rents to
be disposed of as the rector of Conington and the
churchwardens of Holme should think fit. (fn. 45) On
the inclosure of the open fields the Commissioners by
their award, dated 15 Feb. 1820, awarded a piece of
land containing 11 a. 1 r. 24 p. in Sweet Hall Field,
Glatton, in exchange for Constable's Close. The
land was sold in 1905 and the proceeds invested in
the purchase of £588 15s. 10d. Consols. The endowment of the charity now consists of £761 7s. 3d.
Consols with the Official Trustees, and the dividends
are distributed in money to deserving and necessitous
inhabitants of Holme, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme of the Charity Commissioners,
dated 14 May 1869, under which the charity is now
regulated.
The Charity of Sir John Cotton for the Poor.—
By an indenture of feoffment, dated 23 March 1707,
Sir John Cotton gave a sum of £120 for the use of
the poor of Holme. This sum was laid out in the
purchase of about 12 acres of land at Wistow the rent
of which, together with the dividends on £78 18s. 11d.
War Stock with the Official Trustees, is applied in
accordance with the provisions of the scheme of the
Charity Commissioners, dated 26 November 1901,
under which the charity is now regulated.