EDITH WESTON
Weston, Vestona (xii cent.); Weston, Weston
Edith, Edweston (xiii cent.); Weston, Editheweston,
Weston Edith, Edyweston, Edi Weston, Weston St.
Edith (xiv cent.); Edyweston (xv cent.); Edyweston,
Edith Weston (xvi, xvii, xviii cent.).
The parish of Edith Weston, which takes its name
from Edith, queen of Edward the Confessor, comprises a long narrow strip of land containing 1852
acres. The land is undulating and falls from about
400 ft. above the Ordnance datum in the south-west
to about 200 ft. along the River Gwash, which forms
the boundary between Edith Weston and Hambleton.
The river flows through Normanton Park, which
extends into Edith Weston parish, up to the village.
Witchley Warren and Witchley Warren Farm, at the
eastern end of the parish, mark the site of 'Wichele,'
which was in 1310 within the forest of Rutland. In
that year the abbot of Boscherville (or Baskerville)
paid 12 marks for licence to assart this waste ground
of 100 acres. (fn. 1) The warren belonging to the prior of
Edith Weston, is mentioned in 1376. (fn. 2) Richard Halford,
in 1621, had a grant of free warren in parcels of
land and pasture called Wicheley, le Cowe Close,
Kittam Close, New Kirke Golding, le Towne Close,
Over and Nether Spyney, and licence to inclose any
part with a wall. (fn. 3)
The village is picturesquely situated on the north
side of the main road from Manton to Ketton.
At the roadside, in the village street, is the base and
part of the shaft (21 in. high) of a cross. The church
is in the middle of the village, and close to it on the
north side stood the Old Hall which was pulled down
in 1830. The present hall was built at that date
further to the north by the Rev. Richard Lucas, from
designs of Lewis Vulliamy. The building, which is in
the Elizabethan style, was severely damaged by fire in
1920, but was restored in 1924. It is now the residence of Lady Cicely Hardy, widow of Lieut.-Colonel
Francis Henry Hardy, J.P. A portion of the Old
Hall, which was left standing in 1830, (fn. 4) abuts on to the
vestry, or north quire aisle of the church. It is a
17th-century structure of two stories, with stoneslated eaved roof and a mullioned bay window on the
east side: another window is blocked with brickwork.
To the north-west of the church is a plain twostory ashlar-faced house with stone-slated roof and
high end gables, which is sometimes spoken of as
the Old Rectory. It has low square-headed mul
lioned windows with labels and a long projecting
wing of rubble at the back. On one of the gables is
a panel inscribed '1626. W.A.F.' (fn. 5) It was exchanged
about 1860 for a farmhouse, now the Rectory.
Nothing positive is known as to the site of the
monastic cell of Edith Weston. Many have assumed
that it occupied the site of the Old Hall north of the
church. It is more probable that it stood to the
north-west of the modern Hall in the park, where
there are fishponds and some signs of former
buildings. (fn. 6)
Manor
EDITH WESTON was probably included at the time of the Domesday
Survey in Hambleton Church soke, as one
one of the seven 'berewes,' and was therefore demesne
of the Crown. (fn. 7) Henry I gave Weston manor to
William de Tankerville, his chamberlain, who with
the king's consent bestowed it upon the abbey of
St. George de Boscherville, (fn. 8) which he and his father,
Ralph, had founded in Normandy. Henry I confirmed
this gift in 1114 and granted to the abbey freedom
from shire and hundred courts, hidage and other
dues. (fn. 9) Henry II, Richard I, Henry III and Edward II
also confirmed privileges to the Abbey. (fn. 10)
From time to time during the wars with France this
manor, valued in 1244 at £30, (fn. 11) was taken into the
king's hands and the custody was committed to various keepers. (fn. 12) These were sometimes monks of the
priory of Edith Weston, which had been established
as a cell of the abbey of St. George de Boscherville.
Towards the end of the reign of Henry III the manor
was seized by the king's officers because the prior
was beyond the seas and had not done service for the
manor. Occasionally the rent due from the manor to
the king, while it was in his hands, was remitted to
the abbot and his proctor in England. (fn. 13)
In September 1390 the prior and convent of the
Carthusian house of St. Mary and St. Anne of
Coventry obtained licence to acquire the manor house
or priory of Edith Weston from the abbot of St. George
de Boscherville. (fn. 14) The manor was at that time in the
king's hands, and he remitted to the prior the rent
due from it. (fn. 15) In 1404 the prior and convent of
St. Anne of Coventry, for 577 marks, paid by William
Dalby of Oakham, founder of the hospital of St. John
the Evangelist and St. Anne of Oakham, granted in
mortmain to the warden of that hospital a yearly rent
of £20 with power of distraint on their lands at Edith
Weston, and a payment of 100s. each time the rent
was a month in arrear. (fn. 16) At the time of the Dissolution the farm of the manor was 13s. 4d., (fn. 17) and the
priors were receiving a rent of £27 6s. 8d. from the
farm of the rectory appropriated to them. (fn. 18)
The manor and the advowson of the vicarage were
granted in June 1550 to William, Marquess of Northampton, the Great Chamberlain, 'for his late services
against rebels and traitors.' A condition of the grant
was that he was to continue to pay the yearly rent,
then £26 13s. 4d., to the warden of the hospital of
St. Anne of Oakham for the use of the poor therein. (fn. 19)
The manor was bought from the Marquess in 1552
by Reginald Conyers of Wakerley (co. Northants) and
his wife (fn. 20) Elizabeth, daughter of Geoffrey Chambers,
who married (1) Sir Walter Stonor, (2) Reginald
Conyers (d. 1560), (3) Sir Edward Griffen, attorney
general, and (4) Lord St. John of Bletsoe, whom she
survived. (fn. 21) The manor was settled on her death on
her children by Reginald Conyers—namely, a son
Francis, who died before his mother in 1572, (fn. 22) and a
daughter Lucy, who married Edward Griffen of
Dingley (co. Northants), son of Sir Edward Griffen,
third husband of Lady St. John, by a former wife. (fn. 23)
Edward Griffen appears to have sold his wife's interest
in the manor before the death of her mother, Elizabeth,
Lady St. John, whose refusal to make a conveyance to
her daughter led to proceedings in Chancery. (fn. 24)
Edward and Lucy conveyed the manor in 1586 to
Walter Hastings, Sir James Harington and Sir John
Harington, (fn. 25) who seem to have been acting as trustees
for John Flower or Flore. (fn. 26) Soon after the purchase
by Flower, the warden of the hospital of St. Anne
of Oakham found it necessary to sue Flower in the
Court of Requests for the rent due to the hospital.
He maintained that the rent had been paid regularly
until about a year before, when Flower, 'perceiving
the hospital to grow weak and not able to contend in
law with him,' withheld it. (fn. 27) John Flower was
summoned before the Privy Council in 1582 to account
for his dealings with Edward Chambers, a relative of
Lady St. John (fn. 28) and 'a wandering papist and Jesuit.'
Rice or Richard Griffen, son of Lady St. John by
Sir Edward Griffen, was also involved in this matter,
and his mother in 1581 made suit to the Privy Council
for the custody of certain papers belonging to her
son, who was then abroad, the papers having been
found in a farmhouse at Edith Weston, when search
was made there for Chambers. (fn. 29)
In 1595 Flower and Sir John Harington conveyed
the manor to Elizabeth, Lady St. John, (fn. 30) possibly in
consequence of the proceedings in Chancery, which
may have led to a denial of Lucy's claim while her
mother lived. Lady St. John and her son, Richard
Griffen, who had a lease of the manor, (fn. 31) sold it in 1601
to Richard Halford, (fn. 32) son of Roger Halford of Welham
(co. Leic.). (fn. 33) In 1621 Halford obtained a grant of
free warren (fn. 34) and died in 1627, when the manor passed
to his son Richard. (fn. 35) Thomas, a younger son, was
rector of Edith Weston and died in 1648. (fn. 36) Richard,
who was sheriff of Rutland in 1619 and 1631, (fn. 37) conveyed the manor in 1654 to Thomas Bradgate and
Anthony Oldfield, probably as
trustees. (fn. 38) He presented to
the church in 1667, (fn. 39) and died
in 1675 at the age of 80. (fn. 40)
Charles Halford, his son and
successor, presented to the
church in 1683 and 1687. (fn. 41)
He was sheriff of Rutland in
1665. His eldest son, Richard
Halford, succeeded in 1696
and presented to the church
in 1735. (fn. 42) He died in 1742, (fn. 43)
and the manor passed to the
Lucas family, who were benefactors to the parish. (fn. 44) Mary
Lucas (by birth Halford) was patron in 1753, (fn. 45) and in
1758 Mary Lucas, widow, and Rev. Richard Lucas,
clerk, made a conveyance of both manor and advowson. (fn. 46) Richard Lucas was patron in 1786, (fn. 47) when he
presented his son Rev. Richard Lucas, who died in
1827 and was succeeded by his son Rev. Richard
Lucas, also rector, who rebuilt
the Hall and died in 1846. His
son and heir Richard Lucas
died in 1888 and was succeeded by his brother George
Vere Lucas, who assumed the
name of Braithwaite under
the will of Miss Braithwaite
of Stock Park, Ulverston. He
died in 1895, and his son
Major Ernest Lucas Braithwaite sold Edith Weston in
1904 to his nephew, Stafford
Vere Hotchkin (grandson of
George Vere Braithwaite). In
1913 Mr. Hotchkin sold the
estate (by auction), except the
Hall and Park, some of the farms being purchased by
the Earl of Ancaster, who in 1921 purchased the advowson. In 1922 Mr. Hotchkin sold the Hall and Park
with the lordship of the manor to Mr. F. T. Walker
of Norton Lees (co. Derby) and he in 1924 sold them
to Mr. T. J. Burrowes, retaining the lordship of the
manor. In 1927 Mr. Burrowes sold the Hall and
Park to Lieut. Col. F. H. Hardy.
Halford. Argent a greyhound passant sable and a chief azure with three fleurs de lis or therein.
Lucas. Argent a cheveron gules between three roundels sable and a chief azure with a moorcock argent between two crosslets fitchy or therein.
Church
The church of ST. MARY consists of
chancel 28 ft. 6 in. by 15 ft. 6 in., with
north and south aisles at its west end,
clearstoried nave of three bays 41 ft. 6 in. by 13 ft. 3 in.,
north and south aisles respectively 7 ft. 3 in. and 6 ft.
wide, south transept 15 ft. 9 in. by 12 ft., south porch,
and west tower 9 ft. 4 in. by 8 ft. 10 in., all these
measurements being internal. The tower is surmounted by a lofty spire. The width across nave and
aisles is 30 ft. 9 in. The north aisle of the chancel is
used as an organ-chamber and vestry.
Plan of Edith Weston Church
The chancel was rebuilt in the French style of the
14th century in 1865, (fn. 48) and its aisles erected in the
position of former quire aisles or chapels, which had
long disappeared, but the blocked arches of which
were still visible in the walls. (fn. 49) These arches were
pulled down with the rest of the old chancel, but they
are said to have been of 13th-century date, (fn. 50) and two
moulded corbels of the same period supported by
heads, together with two fluted piscina bowls, were
preserved and are now in the vestry. (fn. 51) The whole of
the north wall of the north aisle of the nave has also
been rebuilt. The interior of the church had been
repaired and reseated in 1848. The modern work is
faced with coursed dressed ironstone, and the transept
and tower are of ashlar, but elsewhere the walling is
of rubble, plastered internally. The chancel and its
aisles, the transept and porch have stone-slated roofs,
but those of the nave and aisles are leaded and of low
pitch. All the roofs overhang.
The earliest work in the building dates from c. 1170
and comprises the jambs or responds of the chancel
arch and the east respond of the north arcade. The
chancel arch itself is later and belongs to the period of
the rebuilding of the chancel in the 13th century.
The jambs have massive half-round responds with
moulded bases and capitals with angle volutes and
square hollow chamfered abaci, the space between the
volutes being carved with simple conventional designs
suggesting foliage. (fn. 52) On the west side the inner faces
of the jambs are enriched with late star ornament, and
towards the nave there are slender engaged shafts with
very early stiff-leaf capitals. The capital of the northeast respond resembles those of the chancel arch,
though differing slightly in detail, and one of its volutes
has been cut away. The arches, pillars and western
respond of the north arcade are somewhat later in
character, apparently c. 1190–95, though the difference
in style may not necessarily indicate that any long
period of time elapsed between the beginning of the
arcade at its east end and its completion. It is
unlikely that a north aisle and arcade of c. 1170
existed to be followed about twenty years later by
another, the probability being that the building of
the aisle was interrupted soon after it was begun and
not resumed till after an
interval.
The north arcade consists
of three rounded (fn. 53) arches
with roll moulding and
hood towards the nave and
chamfered on the side towards the aisle, the soffits
having a deep hollow
between two bold round
mouldings. (fn. 54) The arches
spring from cylindrical
pillars with well-defined
water-holding bases on
plinths which are octagonal
above and square below,
and the capitals have octagonal abaci and are carved
with early incurved stiffleaf foliage which becomes
more developed on the second pier and west respond.
Early in the 13th century,
c. 1200–10, a south aisle was
added, and the existing arcade is of this date. The
arches are shaped like those opposite, but are of two
chamfered orders with hood-moulds on the nave side,
springing from cylindrical pillars and half-round
responds with circular moulded capitals and bases, the
capitals of the eastern respond and adjoining pillar
being enriched with nail-head. The aisle wall retains
no 13th-century features, though the masonry is
probably original. The chancel may have been rebuilt
shortly after the completion of the aisle, but all that
has survived is its western or chancel arch, which is
of three chamfered orders with hood-mould on each
side, the middle order being very small. Before its
demolition the chancel was without buttresses, and
though it apparently retained no distinctly 13thcentury features, except perhaps the capitals of its
blocked lateral arches, may have been substantially of
that period. (fn. 55)
During the 14th century new windows appear to
have been inserted in the aisles, (fn. 56) and it is possible
that the transept was then added or an older one
rebuilt. On its west side the chamfered plinth stops
about 2 ft. from the angle, beyond which northward
there is a square rubble plinth, and the upper part of
the wall is also of rubble, the ashlar facing on this side
being confined to three or four courses. There is also
a portion of string-course below the eaves with roughly
wrought enrichments, which may be of 13th century
date. It is possible, therefore, that there was a transept
here in that period, or even earlier, and that it was
rebuilt in the 14th century. (fn. 57) The disturbance of the
masonry on each side of the existing south window
shows that it is a 15th-century insertion. Internally
the west wall of the transept is occupied by a wide
arched chamfered recess 8 in. deep, now almost hidden
by the Halford monument, (fn. 58) which springs at a height
of about 4 ft. 10 in. above the floor from chamfered
imposts, and has a hood-mould with notch-stops. The
claim that this is a 12th-century arch reused is doubtful. (fn. 59) The transept is divided from the aisle by a
pointed arch of two chamfered orders springing from
the first pillar of the arcade and from a moulded
corbel supported by a large notch-head on the south
side. (fn. 60)
Late in the 14th century, c. 1380–1400, the tower
was added, and the clearstory is little, if any, later
in date. The tower is built of Barnack rag and is
of four stages marked by strings, with moulded plinth
and clasping angle buttresses to the top of the third
stage. There is a vice or spiral staircase in the southwest angle. The pointed two-light window extends
upwards for the height of the lowest stage into the
stage above, the bottom stage being very short; the
third stage is blank. The pointed bell-chamber
windows have transoms and are of two trefoiled lights
with quatrefoil in the head, and the tower terminates
with a battlemented parapet, crocketed pinnacles
and grotesque gargoyles at the angles. The spire is of
Ketton stone, with plain angles and two tiers of
lights on the cardinal faces. The tower opens into
the nave by a lofty arch of two wave-moulded orders, (fn. 61)
with hood-mould, the outer order continuous, the
inner on half-round responds with moulded capitals
and bases. (fn. 62) The doorway to the vice has a fourcentred head. The clearstory has three square-headed
windows of two trefoiled lights on each side.
The present porch and south doorway apparently
date from the 18th century, and the aisle window west
of the porch was probably altered at the same time,
or earlier; it is a plain square-headed opening of two
lights, but the head-stops of the hood-mould of a former
window remain above it. The outer doorway of the
porch has an elliptical arch of two chamfered orders,
and is provided with wooden gates; the inner doorway is square-headed, with keystone and plain jambs.
The roof of the nave is largely old, but is of very plain
character with moulded purlins and ridge piece.
The rebuilding of the chancel in 1865 was at the
charges of the Rev. Charles Halford Lucas, rector,
and is of a somewhat elaborate character with vaulted
roof of Ketton stone. (fn. 63) The ridge of the roof is
considerably higher than that of the nave, (fn. 64) and the
quire aisles are under separate gabled roofs running
north and south. Internally the walls are lined with
ashlar, the eastern bay, or sanctuary, being arcaded
with a series of pointed arches on banded shafts;
three of the arches on the south side are recessed to
form sedilia. In the west bay are wide arches opening
to the aisle and vestry, the roofs of which are of wood.
The east window is of three lights with geometrical
tracery. (fn. 65) A gilded oak reredos (1896) designed by Mr.
A. H. Skipworth, with panels (fn. 66) by Sir George Frampton, is a memorial to Rev. Charles Halford Lucas,
rebuilder of the chancel.
The font is ancient, and consists of a plain rectangular bowl with slightly bevelled angles, on a solid
stepped base. (fn. 67) It has a modern wooden cover (1897).
The wooden pulpit is modern, but the reading desk
is made up of four old pew ends and other material;
two of the stalls have old bench ends with carved
poppy heads, and another has a human head.
The organ is by Samuel Green, 1787, and has a welldesigned case and gilded pipes. It was formerly at the
Hall, but was presented to the church in 1867 by
Richard Lucas. (fn. 68)
The Halford monument, formerly against the north
wall of the chancel, but now in the transept, comprises
tablets to Richard Halford, 1627, Richard Halford,
1675, (fn. 69) Charles Halford, 1696, Richard Halford, 1742,
and the Rev. Richard Lucas, D.D., 1789.
A large painting of St. Christopher was found in
1848 on the north wall of the nave, between the clearstory windows, opposite the south doorway, but could
not be preserved.
The royal arms of George III (1801–1820) are on
a painted board. In the north aisle is a memorial
to ten men of the parish who fell in the war of 1914–19.
There are three bells: the first by Tobie Norris (I)
of Stamford, 1621, the second dated 1597, and the
tenor by Henry Penn of Peterborough, 1723. (fn. 70) A
new clock was erected in 1920 in place of an old 'one
handed clock,' believed to date from the time of the
Commonwealth. (fn. 71)
The plate consists of a cup of 1608–9; a paten of
1637–8; a paten of 1736–7; an alms-dish of 1717–18,
given by Richard Halford in 1718; and a flagon of
1829–30, given by Richard Lucas. (fn. 72) There is also a
pewter flagon.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1585–1683; (ii) baptisms and burials 1683–1812,
marriages 1683–1753; (iii) marriages 1754–1812.
There are churchwardens' accounts from 1778 to 1847.
Advowson
The church is not mentioned in the
grants of the manor confirmed by
Henry I, Henry II and Richard I,
but Henry III confirmed to the abbey of St. George
de Boscherville 'the land of Weston and the church.' (fn. 73)
Presentations were made very frequently by the
king in the 14th century during the wars with France, (fn. 74)
for it was customary to retain the advowson in the
king's hands when appointing a custodian of the
manor. (fn. 75)
The advowson followed the descent of the manor
(q.v.) until 1913, when Mr. Hotchkin reserved the
advowson from the sale of the Edith Weston estate,
and in 1921 sold it to the Earl of Ancaster, who is
the present patron.
Edith Weston was in 1538 returned as a church
appropriated to the priory of Coventry, (fn. 76) and when the
manor and advowson were granted in 1550 to the
Marquess of Northampton the living is described as
a vicarage. (fn. 77) In 1551, when a similar grant was made
to the Marquess, it included the advowson of the
rectory, (fn. 78) and the living has since been a rectory.
Charities
Wing's Charity.—It appears from
an inscription on the table of benefactions in the church at Edith
Weston that the sum of £10 was given by Michael
Wing, the interest thereof to be laid out in bread
and distributed by the minister and churchwardens
yearly on Easter Eve. The endowment now consists
of a sum of £26 17s. 5d. 2½ per cent. Consols, producing in dividends 13s. 4d. per annum. The income,
together with that of the charities of Halford, William
Louth, and Humphrey Wells, is distributed by the
trustees in bread and meat among 40 families in the
parish.
Halford's Charity.—There is a sum of £30 which is
stated in an entry in the parish register dated 1742 to
have been received by the rector in full satisfaction
of a legacy left by Richard Halford for the poor of the
parish. The sum of £1 received as interest on the
money, which is on deposit, is distributed in the
manner stated under Wing's Charity.
Mary Dorothy Lucas, by her will proved in the
P.C.C. on 2 October 1868, gave a sum of money
to the rector and churchwardens, and directed the
income to be expended in the purchase of coals to be
distributed at their discretion during the winter
among the poor. The endowment now consists of
£161 1s. 6d. 2½ per cent. Consols, producing in dividends the sum of £4 0s. 4d. per annum. The income
is expended in coal amongst 40 families.
Mary Dorothy Lucas, by the same will, give the
sum of £100 to the rector and churchwardens, and
directed the income to be applied in maintaining
and repairing the memorial window erected by her
in the church at Edith Weston. The endowment,
increased by accumulations, now consists of a sum of
£215 5s. 5d. 2½ per cent. Consols, producing in dividends £5 7s. 8d. per annum.
Humphrey Wells, by his will proved in the P.C.C. on
8 June 1865, gave the sum of £50 to the incumbent
to be distributed among the poor. The endowment
now consists of a sum of £57 6s. 2d. 2½ per cent.
Consols, producing in dividends £1 8s. 4d. per annum.
The income is distributed in the manner stated under
Wing's Charity.
Richard Lucas, by his will proved in the P.C.C.
on 8 February 1889, gave to the rector and churchwardens of Edith Weston the sum of £250, the income
arising therefrom to be applied in repairing the parish
church and in defraying expenses of any services connected with the church. The endowment consists
of £252 8s. 10d. 2½ per cent. Consols, producing in
dividends £6 6s. per annum.
William Louth during his lifetime gave the sum of
£100 3 per cent. annuities, the income to be distributed among the poor. No deed or instrument
declaring the trust exists, but the charity was founded
more than 50 years ago. The endowment now consists
of £100 2½ per cent. Consols, producing in dividends
£2 10s. per annum. The income is distributed in the
manner stated under Wing's Charity.
The several sums of stock are with the Official
Trustees.