COTTESMORE
Cotesmore, Codesmore, Godesmore, Katemore
(xiii cent.).
The parish of Cottesmore includes the chapelry
of Barrow and field-names commemorate the hamlet
of Wenton.
Cottesmore: The Village
The land is undulating, being about 300 ft. above
Ordnance datum along the line of the old disused
Oakham Canal on the west, and rising to 480 ft. at
Barrow on the north and to the south of the village.
A small tributary of the Gwash has its source on the
east side of the parish. The total acreage is 3,535
(Cottesmore 2,504 acres, and Barrow 1,031 acres) of
which about half is arable and half permanent grass.
The subsoil is Inferior Oolite, with Upper Lias at
Barrow; the surface soil varies and produces wheat,
barley, hay, oats and roots. There has been extensive
quarrying for hardstone, (fn. 1) and the Northampton
Sand here has yielded a considerable quantity of iron
ore. (fn. 2)
The population is mainly agricultural, and has been
declining. In 1921 it was 489. (fn. 3)
A windmill stood at Barrow in 1316, (fn. 4) that mentioned at Cottesmore in 1620 (fn. 5) was probably on the
site of the old windmill still standing on the high
land near the tramway, south-west of the village.
The nearest railway station is at Ashwell, on the
London Midland and Scottish Railway, 2½ miles
from Cottesmore.
The Cottesmore hounds were established at Exton
in 1732 by Thomas Noel, a grandson of the 3rd
Viscount Campden, and his cousin Baptist, Earl of
Gainsborough. They were moved to Cottesmore
in 1740, when they were purchased by Sir William
Lowther (created Earl of Lonsdale in 1807). For a
brief period they were kennelled at Stocken Hall, (fn. 6)
Stretton (q.v.). Sir Richard Sutton (second bart.)
removed his hunting establishment to Cottesmore
Park in 1844, on Lord Lonsdale's death. (fn. 7)
The village of Cottesmore is situated on high land
4 miles from Oakham, along both sides of the road
from Oakham to Stretton, where it joins the Ermine
Street. The abundance of trees gives a picturesque
setting to the stone cottages with thatched roofs.
The church is on the north side of the road in about
the middle of the village.
Cottesmore Hall, which stood at the east end on
the north side of the road, was sold by the late Earl
of Gainsborough to his cousin Lady Bute in 1927. It
was burnt down in 1928. (fn. 8) Cottesmore Grange is on
the south side. There is a reference to the hospital
of St. Giles here in 1266, (fn. 9) but no remains of it now
exist.
The hamlet of Barrow, consisting of one or two
farms and some cottages, is on high land about a mile
and a half north-west of Cottesmore village. At the
north end of the hamlet is the chapel, and in the
middle is the mutilated shaft of a cross 9 in. square
and 2 ft. 6 in. high, standing on a base consisting of a
square socket stone upon a plinth 6 ft. by 4 ft. The
barrow from which the hamlet took its name is on the
hill beside the chapel, and is clearly visible from the
valley.
There was an Inclosure award for Exton (q.v.) and
Cottesmore in 1800.
Manors
In the time of Edward the Confessor
COTTESMORE was held with Greetham by Goda, whose identity is not
known. (fn. 10) It was seized by William I, and was held by
the Crown, probably until half the manor was granted
with Greetham by William II about 1090 to Roger
Newburgh when he was created Earl of Warwick.
The overlordship of the half-manor continued in the
earldom of Warwick, and followed the descent of
Greetham (q.v.) till the 16th century. The manor is
usually said to be held of the earl's manor of Greetham, (fn. 11) but occasionally Preston is given as the
superior lordship. (fn. 12)
The Earls of Warwick seem to have subinfeudated
some of their Rutland manors to the Montforts at
an early date, and Cottesmore followed the descent of
Uppingham (q.v.) until the forfeiture of Peter de
Montfort after the Battle of Evesham in 1265. Peter's
eldest son Peter held Preston and Uppingham, while
Cottesmore was held by a younger son Robert, also
a rebel. (fn. 13)
Sifrewast. Argent three gimel bars azure.
The descent of the half-manor of Cottesmore,
which became a separate manor, is not clear at this
date. Peter de Montfort, who
was killed at Evesham, and
his son Robert, forfeited
Cottesmore with other lands
which were granted to Thomas
de Clare. (fn. 14) In 1269 Thomas
made a grant of the manor to
Nicholas de Sifrewast for life
to which Peter de Montfort
and his brother Robert were
witnesses. (fn. 15) It is evident the
Montforts expected to redeem
Cottesmore under the Dictum
of Kenilworth, but Thomas de Clare granted it in
fee to Nicholas de Sifrewast in 1281. (fn. 16) It was later
claimed that William de Sifrewast, possibly son of
Nicholas, in the time of Edward I gave the manor
to Peter de Montfort. (fn. 17) In the meantime the
Earls of Warwick, as overlords, claimed the manor
as an escheat, and in 1270 leased it for three
years to Humphrey or Osbert de Bereford. (fn. 18) In
1285 Edmund Duke of York surrendered to the
Earl of Warwick his right in the manor under a
grant of Henry III, which he did at the instance of
Peter de Montfort, who was to do homage to the
earl for the manor. (fn. 19) Warwick complained that by the
grant to Thomas de Clare he had lost the services due
to him, (fn. 20) and the matter was apparently compromised
by Warwick taking all that was due to him as overlord
from the Sifrewasts.
Dabridgecourt. Ermine three bars gules cut off at the ends.
The manor passed from William de Sifrewast to
Walter de Windsor, who in 1290 conveyed it to his
son Adam, son of Walter de Lincoln of Great Yarmouth. (fn. 21) Adam's son Walter, son of Adam de Yarmouth or de Lincoln, with Isabel his wife, in 1316
obtained messuages and lands in Cottesmore from
John de Bures and Hawise his wife, and were dealing
with lands here in 1321. (fn. 22) In 1348 Peter son of John
de Montfort sued this Walter de Yarmouth for the
manor of Cottesmore, alleging that William de
Sifrewast had given it to Peter's great-grandfather
Peter de Montfort. (fn. 23) The last Lord Montfort died
in 1367 without surviving legitimate issue; but left a
son by Lora, daughter of Richard Astley, who may
perhaps be Lora the wife of William Morewood of
Stoke Dry, and related to John de Havering, who seems
to have held Cottesmore in her own right. (fn. 24) William
Morewood died seised of the manor in 1386, and left
a son and heir William aged 18 years. (fn. 25) His widow
Lora, however, seems to have married Richard Salyng,
and they (with warranty by the heirs of Lora)
granted the manor to Sir John Bozon and others in
1391. (fn. 26) Possibly Bozon is a scribal mistake for Busshy,
for we find that the manor was forfeited by Sir
John Busshy, the Speaker of the House of Commons,
who was executed in 1399. In the same year it was
granted by Henry IV to Sir
John Dabridgecourt, (fn. 27) who
was holding it in 1402 and
1407, (fn. 28) and died in 1415. (fn. 29)
By 1427 he had been succeeded by his son Robert
Dabridgecourt, (fn. 30) who, with
Elizabeth his wife in 1432,
conveyed the manor to
Thomas Langley, Bishop of
Durham, and others apparently for John Clipsham. (fn. 31)
This conveyance was confirmed in the following year by John son of John
Wakefield and Elizabeth his wife, Elizabeth being
probably formerly the wife of Robert Dabridgecourt. (fn. 32)
In 1436 John Brauncepeth and Juliana his wife
granted to John Clipsham and Richard Aldenham,
vicar of Oakham, a messuage and 160½ acres of land
and 123 acres of meadow in Cottesmore and Greetham, (fn. 33) and in 1438 John Clipsham and Agnes his
wife conveyed the manor and these lands to William
Stanlowe, John Stanlowe, Hugh Stanlowe and others,
and the heirs of William Stanlowe. (fn. 34) The grantee was
probably Sir William Stanlowe of Silk Willoughby (co.
Linc.) who died in 1476 leaving a son and heir John. (fn. 35)
In 1477, however, John Markham was holding the
manor and died seised of it in 1479 leaving a son
Thomas aged 32 years. (fn. 36) Richard son and heir of
John Markham was holding in 1515–18, (fn. 37) but by
1533 the manor had come into the possession of the
Durants of Cottesmore, living here in the 14th
century. (fn. 38) Thomas son of John Durant (fn. 39) died seised
in 1533, leaving a son and heir John (fn. 40) who was
escheator for Rutland and Northants. (fn. 41) His son
William succeeded to two parts of the manor in
1558, (fn. 42) and died the next year leaving a child John, (fn. 43)
who in 1573 conveyed the manor to Sir James Harington, kt. (fn. 44) The manors of Cottesmore and Barrow,
Wenton Grange and the advowson of Cottesmore
church were assigned to his sister and co-heir Lucy
Countess of Bedford, (fn. 45) who with her husband and
others conveyed them in 1620 to Paul Ambrose
Croke, (fn. 46) who died seised in 1631, leaving a daughter
and heir Lucy, wife of Edward Heath, (fn. 47) son of Sir
Robert Heath the Lord Chief Justice. In 1657 and
1669 Sir Thomas Fanshawe and Margaret his wife, only
daughter of Sir Edward Heath, (fn. 48) made a conveyance,
of all the above estates, (fn. 49) and were living at Cottesmore in 1682–5, when Bridget Noel wrote to her
sister the Countess of Rutland: 'I bleve we shall
have a great weden at Cotchmore for Sir Tomes
Fansher is laying in a grat dell of wine and bruing
a bundane of strong drink.' (fn. 50) Susanna, only daughter
and heir, married the Hon. Baptist Noel, son of
Viscount Campden, at this time, (fn. 51) and apparently
received this property as a marriage settlement. (fn. 52)
Fanshawe. Or a cheveron between three fleurs de lis sable.
Noel. Or fretty gules and a quarter ermine.
It has since descended with the manor of Exton (fn. 53)
(q.v.).
One Gerard Croft was summoned in 1555 to state
his claim to a court baron, sheriff's tourn and view
of frankpledge here. (fn. 54)
In 1086 one Geoffrey held half a carucate of land
in Cottesmore; (fn. 55) this was possibly the half of the
manor held as half a knight's fee by Guérin de Glapion,
seneschal of Normandy, in 1200. (fn. 56) He was deprived
of his English and Norman lands (fn. 57) for taking part with
the King of France against John in 1203, and in 1206
King John took tallage from Cottesmore. (fn. 58) Guérin
went to the Holy Land in 1208 and died there without
issue. (fn. 59) In 1210–12 William de Gamages held Guérin's
half-manor of Cottesmore. (fn. 60) In 1222 Robert de
Coudray (or del Coudrey) made a fine with the king
for seisin of Guérin's lands here, which 'belonged to
him by hereditary right,' (fn. 61) but he died in the same
year, when the king granted the custody until the
majority of Robert's heir to Henry de Aldithel
(Aldilegha or Audley). (fn. 62) Three years later William
de Gamages sued Henry de Audley for the halfmanor, which was thereupon restored to him. (fn. 63)
Henry de Coudray claimed it from William de
Gamages in 1228–9, (fn. 64) but in 1244 Godfrey son of
William de Gamages was in possession. (fn. 65) Godfrey,
who held lands in Gloucestershire, died in 1252, but was
not seised of Cottesmore, (fn. 66)
and left three daughters, (fn. 67) of
whom we find no trace here.
We lose sight of this half of
the manor, but it would seem
probable that it was represented by the holding in
Cottesmore of the Blounts of
Belton, which was held of the
castle of Oakham. In 1305
Isabel Blount held half a fee
in Cottesmore with Adam de Yarmouth and Agnes
de Mucegros. (fn. 68) This holding followed the descent of
Belton (q.v.). John Blount held it in 1428, (fn. 69) and in
1480 Sir John Blount, Lord Mountjoy, and Lora his
wife settled it on the heirs male of their bodies. Sir
John died in 1485, leaving William Blount his son and
heir. (fn. 70) This half of the manor loses its identity at
this time and was probably acquired by the owners
of the Warwick half.
Blount. Barry wavy or and sable.
A freehold in Cottesmore and Greetham called
BRUS' LAND was granted by William Mauduit, Earl
of Warwick (1263–7), to Bernard de Brus of Exton and
Alice de Beauchamp, his wife, and the heirs of their
bodies. (fn. 71) These lands followed the descent of
Exton (q.v.). In 1321, Bernard, son of John de Brus
of Thrapston, conveyed lands here to Bernard, son
of Bernard de Brus of Exton, (fn. 72) and in the same year
Bernard de Brus conveyed lands to Walter de Yarmouth and Isabel his wife. (fn. 73) In 1427, the heirs of
Bernard de Brus of Exton sued Robert Dabridgecourt
of Cottesmore and Elizabeth his wife for these lands. (fn. 74)
The result of the suit is not shown, but this land
seems eventually to have been included in the Warwick
manor and William Morewood died seised of it in
1386. (fn. 75)
Another freehold in the Warwick half-manor was
called MUCEGROS'S LAND. It seems that the
ransom of Peter, son of the Peter de Montfort who
was killed at the Battle of Evesham (1265), was
granted to Sir Thomas de Clare, and Peter gave
towards it 8⅓ virgates of land in Cottesmore. (fn. 76) This
land was apparently represented by £15 7s. 6d. worth
of rents which Sir Thomas de Clare in 1276 surrendered to King Edward I. (fn. 77) The property was
immediately granted with certain manors to Robert
de Mucegros in exchange for lands in Wales. (fn. 78)
Robert died in 1280 seised of 8⅓ virgates in Cottesmore, leaving a daughter Hawise aged 4 years, (fn. 79) and
a widow Agnes, (fn. 80) who was holding in 1305. (fn. 81) In
1316, Walter de Yarmouth was acquiring properties
from John de Bures and Hawise his wife, daughter
of Robert and Agnes Mucegros, which probably
included these rents. (fn. 82) Robert de Stoke and Margaret his wife, who was granddaughter and heir of
Arnulph Gernoun, sued John de Bures and Hawise
in 1337 for these rents, pleading that John and
Hawise had no right to them except under a lease
from Arnulph then expired. John and Hawise
pleaded their title as above. (fn. 83) The result is not
given, but Mucegros lands had become incorporated
in the Warwick half-manor by 1386, when William
Morewood died seised of them. (fn. 84)
Wake. Or two bars gules with three roundels gules in the chief.
Two carucates of land in BARROW (Berc, Berk,
xiii cent.; Berk, Bergh, Berugh, Berew, Berow,
Burgh, xiv cent.) were held of Baldwin, Lord
Wake, by the service of half a
knight's fee in 1277. (fn. 85) Baldwin died in 1282, his son John
in 1300, (fn. 86) when John's son
Thomas, Lord Wake, succeeded to this fee. (fn. 87) Probably
on account of his adherence to
Henry, Earl of Lancaster,
Barrow was in the hands of
the Crown in 1322. (fn. 88) Thomas
was overlord at his death in
1349, (fn. 89) and the overlordship
descended with the Wake
manor of Whissendine (q.v.). (fn. 90)
In the 12th century the family of Barrow or Berc is
found in Rutland. We have mention of Hugh de
Berc in 1176 and 1180. (fn. 91) In 1197 Hugh de Berc
acknowledged that he had given to Roger de Colville
all his lands in Barrow (Berc) which he held of William
Colville, which lands were to be held of Hugh by the
service of a sixth part of a knight's fee. The grant
was confirmed by Thomas, son of Hugh de Berc. (fn. 92)
The family made various grants in Cottesmore and
Wenton to St. Michael's Priory, Stamford. (fn. 93) Hawise
as widow of Hugh de Berc in 1206, and as Hawise de
St. Germain in 1207–8, conveyed 4 virgates here, her
dower third, to Roger de Colville. (fn. 94) Peter Danesy
held half a knight's fee in Rutland of the barony of
Hugh Wake in 1235–6. (fn. 95) Walter de Colville of
Weston Colville (co. Camb.), and Ralph Basset of
Sapcote (co. Leic.) were lords in 1253, (fn. 96) and in 1276
the above 4 virgates were held of Walter de Colville. (fn. 97)
He died seised of 2 carucates in 1277, leaving a son
and heir Roger, (fn. 98) who died 1287–8 leaving an infant
son Edmund, (fn. 99) who was succeeded in 1316 by his son
Robert, aged 10. (fn. 100) Robert Lord Colville made a
settlement in 1358 (fn. 101) and died
1368, when Robert, son of his
son Walter, succeeded, but
died in the following year. In
1369–70 his two cousins,
Ralph Basset of Sapcote (son
of Simon, son of Ralph by
Elizabeth, daughter of Roger
de Colville) and Sir John Gernoun (son of John Gernoun by
Alice, widow of Guy Gobaud,
daughter of Roger de Colville) were his heirs. The
latter died without male issue in 1384. (fn. 102) In 1376 the
manor seems to have been conveyed by Guy de
Rouclif, clerk, to Lawrence, son of Robert Hauberk. (fn. 103)
It passed with Wenton to Robert's daughter Agnes, (fn. 104)
who with her husband Robert Sherard was holding it
in 1402 (fn. 105) and 1407. (fn. 106) Their son Lawrence Sherard
was tenant in 1442, (fn. 107) and his grandson Thomas married
Margaret, daughter of John Helliwell. (fn. 108) From this
date until at least 1538 (fn. 109) this manor descended with
the Sherards' manor of Whissendine (q.v.). In
1571–2 Edward Watson granted the advowson of
Whissendine to the Sherards, possibly in exchange, as
in 1584 Edward Watson died seised of the manor of
Barrow, (fn. 110) and his son and heir Edward four years
later conveyed it to Sir James Harington. (fn. 111) From
this time it descended with the chief manor of
Cottesmore.
Colville. Or a fesse gules.
In 1276 the Abbey of Vaudey held 4 virgates here
by gift of Richard son of William de Berc, of Walter
de Colville. (fn. 112) After the Dissolution the grange of
Barrow and other possessions of Vaudey in the parish
were sold to John Wiseman, auditor of the Court of
Augmentations. (fn. 113) These seem to have come to
Edward Watson, and in 1592 were descending with
the manor.
WENTON vill was, with Cottesmore and Barrow,
Warwick and Colville property in 1316, and descended
with Barrow. The land granted to St. Michael's,
Stamford, was here, and the Priory held Wenton
jointly with the Sherards in 1402 and 1407, and until
the Dissolution. (fn. 114) In 1537–8 the grange was leased
to Roger Radclyff. (fn. 115) Subsequently it descended with
the manor of Barrow.
Church
The church of ST. NICHOLAS
consists of chancel 36 ft. 8 in. by 18 ft.,
clearstoried nave 59 ft. by 19 ft., north
and south aisles about 11 ft. wide, south porch, and
west tower 9 ft. 8 in. square, all these measurements
being internal. The tower is surmounted by a broach
spire. The porch was rebuilt in 1851, and a vestry
was added on the north side of the chancel in 1855.
There was a general restoration of the interior in
1866. (fn. 116)
The roofs are all of flat pitch and leaded, and there
are plain moulded parapets to the chancel: elsewhere
the lead overhangs. Internally the plaster has been
stripped from the walls.
Plan of Cottesmore Church
The earliest part of the building is the south doorway, which is of 12th-century date, with semicircular
arch of two cheveron-moulded orders on plain
chamfered imposts, and octagonal angle shafts with
cushion capitals and moulded bases to the outer
order. On the inner order the cheveron, which is
enriched with pellets, is on the face of the arch only
and is continued below the imposts to the ground, but
on the outer order, where it is without enrichment, the
cheveron covers both the soffit and wall planes. The
doorway is not in its original position, but belonged to
an earlier structure from which the present building
has developed.
The architectural history of the church is not very
clear, but the pilaster buttress north of the tower,
which seems originally to have been a clasping buttress,
probably marked the north-west angle of the 12thcentury nave, originally aiseless, but to which a north
aisle of three bays may have been added before the
close of the century. The extent of the nave eastward
is indicated by the piece of wall, about 5 ft. in length,
left standing in the present north arcade, which
marks the position of the chancel arch, the original
chancel being within the east bay of the present nave.
In the 13th century, a new chancel was built further
east, with a north chapel at its west end, the existence
of which is shown by a moulded corbel, enriched with
nail-head, now exposed in the wall at the internal
north-west angle, just east of the existing chancel
arch. The east wall of the chancel, which is of rubble,
is still substantially of 13th-century date, with chamfered plinth, short buttress below the window and
clasping buttress at the south-east angle. The
north-east buttress, originally of the same character,
was altered at a later period. (fn. 117) Assuming that a north
aisle already existed, it seems likely that the intention
was now to extend it eastward so as to join it up to the
chancel chapel, the old north chancel wall having no
doubt been set back in line with the arcade, but this
may not have been done until later. About 1280–90
an entire rebuilding of the nave seems to have been
contemplated, including a west tower: the old chancel
arch had probably been taken down earlier and the
south wall of the former chancel set back on the line
of the unpierced south wall of the 12th-century nave,
and from the south-east angle of the thus extended
nave a new south aisle was set out in four regular
bays. The aisle determined the position of the
tower, which thus encroached on the west end of the
original nave, (fn. 118) but the whole design, for some reason
or other, was modified, and though the north arcade
and aisle were reconstructed somewhat later, c. 1300–
10, the spacing of the old arcade was not interfered
with, the north wall of the tower being allowed to
stand clear of the west bay. The extension eastward
of the north aisle may have been carried out at this
time, forming a connecting bay between the original
aisle and the chancel chapel; the springing of an
arch opening to the chapel still remains visible
externally in the east wall of the present aisle. The
chancel arch was also rebuilt at this time and the clearstory added. The porch seems to have been erected
towards the end of the 14th or early in the 15th century
and had an upper chamber, but when rebuilt the floor
was omitted. In the 15th century the chancel was
remodelled, the lateral walls apparently being rebuilt
in their present form with large windows, and new
windows were inserted in the north aisle and at the
east end of the south aisle.
The chancel has a large five-light transomed window
with depressed four-centred head, and hood-mould
with head-stops. The upper lights are cinquefoiled,
but below the transom the cusping has been removed.
The outer part of the moulded jambs and the lower
part of the sill apparently belong to a late 13th-century
window which was altered to its present form in the
15th century, and the three traceried windows in the
south wall and that at the west end of the north wall
are of the same period. The windows are much
restored and differ in design, but range in height
and are of three lights, the middle one on the south
side having a transom and four-centred head. (fn. 119)
The others have two-centred heads with vertical
tracery. Except in the easternmost window, which
is wholly restored, (fn. 120) the cusps of the main lights have
been removed. The whole of the south wall and the
upper part of the north wall are faced with ashlar in
wide courses, but there are no lateral buttresses. At
either end of the east wall internally is a fragment (fn. 121) of
early 13th-century chamfered string-course, about
5 ft. above the sanctuary floor, and inserted in the wall
above are two small carved heads. (fn. 122) The roof is old
and of three bays, with moulded beams, but otherwise
plain. The walls of the sanctuary are wainscotted
and no ancient ritual arrangements are visible. The
wide 14th-century arch to the nave is of two chamfered
orders, with hood-mould on each side, springing from
half-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
bases. There is no screen.
The nave arcades have much in common, but the
south arcade, as already stated, is slightly the earlier.
The arches are of two chamfered orders springing
from octagonal piers with moulded capitals and bases,
and from responds of like character; the hood-moulds
have head-stops and the bases stand on square plinths.
The north arcade partly engages the tower at its west
end, and the easternmost arch, which is of less height
than the others, springs from responds, the western
one attached to the east face of the straight piece
of wall already referred to; the capital of the east
respond ranges with those of the chancel arch and of
the south arcade, but on the west side the springing is
slightly higher. The next arch westward springs
from a moulded corbel attached to the piece of wall,
between which, and the west respond, the arches are
equally spaced. The clearstory has three pointed
windows on each side, those on the north and the
westernmost on the south side, of two trefoiled lights
with quatrefoil in the head, the others with traceried
heads. (fn. 123)
The south aisle has a much-restored 15th-century
east window of three cinquefoiled lights, with fourcentred head, transom and vertical tracery, and the
two windows in the south wall east of the porch are
also much restored. (fn. 124) Of these the easternmost has
vertical tracery, but the other is of 14th-century date,
as is also the well-preserved square-headed three-light
window west of the porch, the hollow chamfered jambs
of which are enriched with ball-flower. The west wall
is blank. The 14th-century piscina of the south aisle
altar, with trefoil-headed recess and circular bowl,
remains, but in the north aisle no ancient ritual
arrangements have survived. (fn. 125)
Externally the north aisle is divided by buttresses
into three wide bays in each of which is a four-centred
traceried (fn. 126) window of three cinquefoiled lights, and
at the east end a window of similar character but
larger and with two-centred head; the two-light west
window is modern, or wholly restored. The 14thcentury north doorway has a plain single chamfered
arch on moulded imposts, and hood with notch stops.
Along the upper part of the walls of aisles and clearstory is a hollow string or tabling enriched with heads,
four-leaved flowers (fn. 127) and ball-flower (fn. 128) ornaments.
In rebuilding the porch the old stones were used
externally, but the walls are faced inside with new
ashlar. The porch has a flat pitched gable, moulded
plinth, diagonal buttresses, and continuous moulded
doorway. The upper chamber was lighted at its
south end by a pointed window of two trefoil lights
with quatrefoil in the head, and on the west and east
by square-headed two-light windows, all of which
remain in the upper part of the walls, and there are
small rectangular lateral windows in the porch. The
entrance to the chamber was from the south aisle by
a still-existing newel stair, the upper doorway being
now blocked.
The tower is of three stages, faced with ashlar, with
moulded plinth and pairs of buttresses at the angles.
There is no vice. The pointed west window is of
two lights with a cusped circle in the head, and in the
middle stage is a single-light trefoiled window on the
south, and on the north a small square-headed opening. The deeply recessed bell-chamber windows are
of two trefoiled lights with quatrefoil in the head, and
midshaft with moulded capital and base; the hollow
tabling, or cornice above, is enriched with ball-flowers
and masks. The spire has very high broaches, plain
angles, and two tiers of gabled two-light openings on
its cardinal faces. The lofty tower arch is of three
chamfered orders, the innermost on half-octagonal
responds with moulded capitals and bases, the outer
continued to the ground. (fn. 129) Above the arch is a plain
square-headed opening, now blocked, and part of the
tabling of the former nave roof.
The present roof is of six bays with long wall pieces
and struts to the principals. It is of oak and is substantially of 14th-century date, but was remodelled
in the 17th century. The north aisle roof is also old,
with long wall pieces and curved struts, but that of the
south aisle was wholly renewed in 1930.
The font has a late 14th-century octagonal panelled (fn. 130)
bowl mounted on a base apparently of early 13thcentury date, which is said to have been long used as a
mounting block at Cottesmore Hall before its restoration to the church. It is a heavy square block, with
the upper part of each angle chamfered and carved
with a human head, and on the sides rudely executed
carvings within trefoil-arched panels; a bishop or
abbot in the act of benediction on the north, a
crucifixion on the east, and on the south and west
a double rose, or eight-leaved flower with four-lobed
centre.
The 17th-century carved oak pulpit has oval strapwork panels, but one of its six sides is open; it stands
on a modern stone base. The other furniture of the
church is modern. (fn. 131)
At the east end of the south aisle is a floor slab dated
1597 inscribed 'Roberte Chamberline bowght this
stone and caused it to be layde, I.C., I.W., W.C.,
March 6, done by the charges of W.C.' (fn. 132)
There is no ancient glass, and no monument older
than the 19th century. (fn. 133)
There are five bells, the first and third by Thomas
Norris of Stamford, 1660; the second by Henry Oldfield of Nottingham, 1598, and the tenor by Tobie
Norris (II) of Stamford, 1699. (fn. 134)
The plate consists of a silver-gilt cup, paten, flagon
and alms-dish of 1711–12, all inscribed 'For Cottesmore Church from Dr. Ontey, 1712.' (fn. 135)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1655–1704; (ii) 1705–52; (iii) baptisms and
burials 1753–1812; (iv) marriages 1754–1812. (fn. 136) In
the first volume is a list of briefs 1665–97.
In the churchyard is a memorial cross to the men
of the parish who fell in the War 1914–19.
BARROW CHAPEL stands on an unenclosed site
and is a rectangular building of three bays, measuring
internally 50 ft. by 20 ft. It was consecrated on
13 July 1831, (fn. 137) and is in the early Gothic style of the
day, with slated eaved roof and coped east gable. At
the west end the wall is thickened in the middle to
support a double-gabled bell-cote, (fn. 138) and contains two
blind lancets, one above the other, the upper one
richly ornamented with dog-tooth. The walling is
of rubble, plastered internally, with moulded plinth
and ashlar dressings. The east window consists of
three grouped lancets, and the building is lighted on
the north and south by tall pointed windows of two
lights with a cusped circle in the head. The roof is
ceiled and the floor flagged. The buttresses have
triangular heads. At the west end a wood and plaster
screen has been erected to form a vestry on the north
side, and inner porch on the south, the entrance being
at the west end of the south wall.
There is a small circular baluster font, and handsome panelled oak pulpit, both apparently of 18thcentury date. The pulpit is said to have come from
Cottesmore Church at the time of the restoration
(1866). (fn. 139)
The plate consists of a paten of 1817–18, a cup of
1831–32, and an almsdish of 1835–6, all inscribed
'Barrow Chapel 1835.'
There were considerable irregularities during the
time of John Barry, rector from 1616 to 1660. He
would not wear a surplice; he allowed unlicensed
preachers; there were only two communions in the
year; some of the congregation would not stand while
reciting the Creed and Gospel and wore their hats in
church. (fn. 140)
Advowson
In spite of a claim by the Priory
of St. Sepulchre, Warwick, (fn. 141) to whom
the Earls of Warwick had granted
Greetham advowson, the advowson of Cottesmore
descended from at least 1228–9 with the Warwick
manor of Greetham (q.v.) until 1545, when it was
granted by Henry VIII to John Bellow and Edward
Bales. (fn. 142) They sold it before 1558 to Andrew Noel of
Brooke, who died seised in 1563, leaving a son and heir
John. (fn. 143) Sir James Harington of Exton died seised
in 1591–2, (fn. 144) and it subsequently descended with the
manor. The living is a rectory. A vicar is mentioned
in the 13th century. (fn. 145)
Barrow Chapel, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, (fn. 146)
is mentioned in 1553, (fn. 147) but it was destroyed by 1660. (fn. 148)
It was attached to Cottesmore rectory. (fn. 149)
Charities
Stamford House Charity is comprised in indentures of lease and release, the release dated 29 September
1743, and is now regulated by a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners dated 19 December 1893. The endowment consists of a sum of £1,376 2s. 11d. 2½ per
cent. Consols and the annual income, amounting to
£34 8s., is applied by the trustees for the general benefit
of the poor of Cottesmore by way of grants to Rutland
Nursing Association, Stamford Infirmary, Oakham
Cottage Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, and in
gifts of coal and cash.
Thomas Birch's or Byrch's Charity derives its origin
from a devise or bequest c. 1580 for the poor of Cottesmore, Barrow, Market Overton and Greetham. The
endowment now consists of a piece of arable land containing five acres let on an annual rent of £7 and a
sum of £351 8s. 5 per cent. War Stock held by the
Official Trustees, producing £17 11s. annually in
dividends. The income is apportioned equally
amongst the several parishes and distributed in money
payments.
Lady Ann Harington's Charity.—A sum of £16
per annum received for poor people of Cottesmore
and Barrow is applied in clothing to 65 beneficiaries
of Cottesmore and 25 beneficiaries of Barrow.