EMPINGHAM
Epingham (xi cent.); Empingeham (xii cent.);
Empingham, Hempingham, Amplingeham (xiii cent.).
Empingham is a large parish comprising 4,875 acres
of a loamy soil. The greater part of the area is
arable land, with about 400 acres of woodland. It was
inclosed by Act of Parliament in 1794. (fn. 1) Early in the
19th century about 60 acres had been planted with
young forest trees. There are numerous spinneys,
and a considerable part of Normanton Park is in the
parish.
The village lies at the intersection of the road
from Exton to Ketton and the road from Oakham to
Stamford, but a great part is built along both sides of
the road from Empingham to the Great North Road.
The River Gwash runs from west to east through the
middle of the parish and passes to the south of the
village, Empingham Mill, now disused, being about
half a mile to the east. The North Brook marks the
end of the village to the east. It is traditionally
supposed that the village extended southward as
far as the river and eastward as far as Chapel Hill,
where in Chapel Spinney, on the north side, Blore states
that by tradition there was a chapel of St. Botolph
or Botleys. The ruins are marked on some old maps,
and there are here many suggestive irregularities
in the ground, which is much overgrown. It is
conjectured that this may have been the site of the
fairs held for three days at the feast of St. Botolph,
under grant dated 1318. There was also a weekly
market held under the same grant, (fn. 2) indicating that
Empingham was a place of more importance than
it subsequently became. In 1445 the hamlet of
Hardwick was said to be devastated and uninhabitable; possibly Empingham was also then declining in
importance. (fn. 3)
The church stands in the south part of the village,
with the Rectory to the south-west of it. West of
the Rectory are some old thatched cottages, while
other groups of old cottages stand a little to the east
of the fine Tithe Barn and in the neighbourhood of
the North Brook. In the middle of the village are
some well-built modern cottages bearing the arms of
the Earl of Gainsborough. The moat in Hall Close,
to the south-west of the village, marks the site of the
ancient manor house, no doubt the hall (aula) which
Ralph de Normanville was building in 1221 and where
in 1272 Sir Thomas de Normanville had licence to
found a chapel. (fn. 4)
Hardwick, which comprises the part of the parish
lying north of Ermine Street, was at one time a hamlet
of importance, but now survives only in the names of
Hardwick Wood, Hardwick Farm and cottages.
Here, where the Great North Road crosses the parish,
was fought the battle of Loosecoat Field on 12 March
1470, when the Lancastrian forces, led by Sir Robert
Welles, were routed by Edward IV; Lord Willoughby,
the father of Sir Robert, who had been brought by
the king as a hostage for the doings of his son, was
beheaded in front of his son's army before the battle. (fn. 5)
The battle was fought in 'Hornefeld' in Empingham, (fn. 6)
and the name of a small wood beside the road at this
point, Bloody Oaks, probably has reference to this
occurrence.
The five mills in 1086 on the Gand fee, and the mill
and a half in the Peverel fee, which must have been
on the River Gwash and its tributary the North
Brook, were reduced to two mills in 1557, (fn. 7) and
Empingham Mill, the sole survivor, is now disused.
A tenement in Empingham held by Francis Mackworth was given for finding a torch at the second mass
on Christmas Day. (fn. 8) This was converted into a yearly
rent of 6s. 8d. This rent and 2 acres of meadow called
Coblers Croft in 'le Southfeld' or 'le Capell Fielde'
given for finding a lamp in the church, were granted
in 1550 to Thomas Reve, John Johnson and Henry
Herdson. (fn. 9)
Manors
At the time of the Domesday Survey,
Empingham was held as two manors by
Gilbert de Gand. One contained 4
hides, with 5 mills rendering 42s. 8d., and the other
7½ hides and I bovate of the king's sokeland of
Rutland, and 'he says that the king is his patron.' On
the latter estate there were also 5 mills. (fn. 10)
Mowbray. Gules a lion argent.
By the time of Henry II or earlier (fn. 11) Roger Mowbray
had acquired the overlordship, possibly by marriage
with Alice or Adeliza de Gand,
who was probably related to
Gilbert de Gand, Earl of
Lincoln, grandson of Gilbert
de Gand the Domesday holder
of Empingham. (fn. 12) Sir Roger
de Mowbray, great-grandson
of the above Roger, was holding in 1259, (fn. 13) and the overlordship descended with the
title of Lord Mowbray.
Thomas Mowbray, Duke of
Norfolk (d. 1400), held two
fees in Empingham, (fn. 14) which in 1432 were said to
be held of the manor of Melton Mowbray (co. Leics.), (fn. 15)
and in 1445 of the manor of Hameldon. (fn. 16) John
Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, the last of the line, died
without male issue in 1476. His widow Elizabeth
held Empingham in 1487 (fn. 17) and died in 1507. After
her death the overlordship
passed to the Lords Berkeley,
to whom half the estates of
the Duke of Norfolk had
passed. (fn. 18)
Normanville. Gules a fesse cotised argent.
The manor of Empingham
was given by Roger de Mowbray to Ralph de Normanville (fn. 19)
for his services. Ralph seems
to have forfeited it, for Roger
later restored it to Gerold de
Normanville, possibly Ralph's
son, to whom it was confirmed
by King Henry II. (fn. 20) Gerold
was living in 1164–5. By an undated charter, he
granted to Geoffrey de la Mare in frank marriage
with Mary, his daughter, at the door of the church of
St. Peter in Stamford, lands and rent in Empingham. (fn. 21)
Ralph, said to be son of Gerold de Normanville, paid
40s. for a writ of right in 1170 (fn. 22) and was in possession
of Empingham in 1205, when he obtained a grant of
free warren there. (fn. 23) King John by the same charter
granted him the county of Rutland at farm, for which
grants Ralph agreed to pay 60 marks, a destrier or war
horse, and a palfrey. (fn. 24) At about the same time Ralph
inherited from his uncle, Reginald de Normanville,
land in Rouceby and Rokesham (co. Linc.). (fn. 25)
In the early years of the reign of King John, Ralph
de Normanville was apparently in the king's favour,
and in 1213 served with Ralph de Bray as Marshal of
the king's army in England. (fn. 26) In the same year he
was appointed to make inquiry as to damage done to
churches in the diocese of Lincoln, during the late
disturbances in the kingdom. (fn. 27) Later he joined the
rebellion against King John, and though he was
pardoned, (fn. 28) severe conditions were imposed upon him.
Gerold his son, and one of his knights, William de
Badlesmere, had been taken prisoner, and for their
release and his own pardon, Ralph was required to pay
500 marks and 5 palfreys of 25 marks. Of this, 250
marks and 25 marks for the palfreys was to be paid
before the release of Gerold and William de Badlesmere, and two other of Ralph's sons, Geoffrey and
Thomas, were to be delivered to the king to be held
as hostages until Ralph made two further payments
of £100 at Easter and 100 marks at Whitsun. After
payment of these sums, Ralph was further required to
give the king his charter of faithful service, when one
of his two sons should be released, the other being
retained as a hostage for the faithful service of Ralph
and his son Gerold. (fn. 29)
After the death of King John, Ralph made an
agreement with King Henry III whereby his two sons,
Sir Gerold and Sir Ralph, should be pledged to the
king's service while the war lasted, and the king
should remit 200 marks of Ralph's fine. Thomas,
younger son of Ralph, then a valet, who was still held
as a hostage, was to be released and to serve the king
with his two brothers. Geoffrey (fn. 30) apparently had
been already released, as his name is not mentioned
in the agreement. Ralph himself was going on a
pilgrimage to Santiago, but was pledged to go direct,
and return that he might enter the king's service with
his sons. (fn. 31) By February 1217 he had paid his fine and
his son Thomas had been released and his lands
restored. (fn. 32) In 1221 the king gave him six oaks from
the Forest of Clive for beams to be used in building
his hall at Empingham. (fn. 33) He was constable of
Stamford in 1221, (fn. 34) and it was he, probably, who served
in 1225 as a justice of the forest for the perambulation
of the Forest of Rutland. (fn. 35) The date of his death is
not known, but an incomplete entry on the Pipe Roll
of 1230 suggests that his son Ralph had then succeeded
him. (fn. 36)
The younger Ralph and Thomas his brother were
pledges in 1222 for the payment of William Mauduit's
relief. (fn. 37) Both of them forfeited their lands in Kent
in 1223. (fn. 38) Ralph's offence, and probably that of
Thomas, was that he took part in a tournament at
Blythe notwithstanding the king's prohibition. (fn. 39)
The tournament was the cause of a quarrel between
nobles and led to great disorders. (fn. 40)
It was probably the younger Ralph who, with
A[gatha] his wife, founded a chapel at Catesby (co.
Northant.) in 1228, (fn. 41) had a gift of 2 does from the
forest of Clive for the use of his wife in 1230, (fn. 42) and
who served on an assize of arms in Rutland in the
same year. (fn. 43) He was keeper of escheats in Rutland
in 1232 and collector of an aid 3 years later. (fn. 44) It was
probably this same Ralph who, with Agatha his wife,
was involved in a suit in 1240 as to land in Lubbethorp
(co. Leic.). (fn. 45) In 1241 he was one of the surveyors of
the king's castles in Northamptonshire. (fn. 46) Ralph de
Normanville seems to have died shortly after this date
and to have been succeeded by his brother Thomas,
or possibly a son of that name. Thomas de Normanville died seised of the family estate at Kenardington
(co. Kent) in 1245 and was succeeded by his heir,
Ralph, probably his son. (fn. 47) Ralph de Normanville set
out on a pilgrimage to Santiago in April 1259 (fn. 48) and
died before May following, probably on the journey.
He died seised of the manor of Empingham, (fn. 49) and his
widow Galiena had dower there. (fn. 50) Galiena paid
300 marks for the wardship of Ralph's lands and heir
and for her own marriage, (fn. 51) and in 1261, at the
instance of her kinsman Geoffrey Rawe, a Knight
Templar, she was exempted from suits of county,
hundred and other courts for three years. (fn. 52) Thomas,
her eldest son, was only two and a half years old at his
father's death. (fn. 53) He inherited the manor of Empingham, but Kenardington (co. Kent) was divided
between him and his brother Ralph, according to the
law of gavelkind. (fn. 54) Thomas died in 1282, leaving
Ralph, his brother, heir to his Kent property, (fn. 55) but
Margaret, his daughter, a minor, seems to have been
heir to his Rutland estates. His widow, Denise or
Dionisia, was assigned dower from the Kent estates,
and the wardship of his lands was granted to John de
Lovetot, (fn. 56) who sold it and the marriage of Margaret
in 1294 to Robert de Basing, citizen of London. (fn. 57)
Margaret was destined to marry Robert's son Reginald
when she came of age, if she would consent, but in
1297 Reginald was taken prisoner in Gascony while
in the king's service. His father therefore obtained
leave to marry Margaret to another son, William, if she
consented on coming of age. (fn. 58)
Much of the Rutland property had been subinfeudated to a Thomas de Normanville, possibly a brother
of Ralph who married Galiena and died in 1259.
Thomas held a knight's fee in Empingham of Ralph
by the rent of a sparrow-hawk at the time of Ralph's
death. (fn. 59) He, or perhaps a son of the same name, was
a minister of considerable importance under Edward I,
being constable of Bamburgh Castle, steward of the
king's castles beyond the Trent, justice of assize,
justice of the forest and escheator north of the Trent. (fn. 60)
Like other successful ministers of the Crown at this
date, he probably amassed a fortune and invested it in
property in the counties of Nottingham and Rutland.
He died in 1295, seised of a capital messuage and 4
bovates of land in Empingham held of Margery or
Margaret de Normanville by the rent of a sparrowhawk, another capital messuage and 10 bovates of land
in Empingham and Hardwick held of William le
Waleys, together with other lands in Empingham held
of Margaret de Normanville and others, and lands in
Horn (q.v.) and Normanton (q.v.). His son and heir
Edmund was aged four years. Edmund died before
1316, and Margaret and her
husband William de Basing
succeeded to his property. (fn. 61)
Basing. Azure a millrind cross or with a baston gules over all.
Margaret de Normanville
married William de Basing
shortly after 1297. In 1313
her mother Denise claimed
the whole manor of Empingham as a gift from Thomas
her husband before their marriage, but Margaret and
William contended that she
was only entitled to a third as
dower. (fn. 62) A verdict was given in
Denise's favour, but it was later reversed, (fn. 63) and in 1317
Margaret settled two-thirds of the manor on herself
and her children, (fn. 64) and in 1321 she and her second
husband confirmed one-third to Denise for life. (fn. 65)
William de Basing died in 1316, leaving a son Thomas
aged 15 years. (fn. 66) Margaret afterwards married Edmund de Passelew, and in 1318 they received a grant
of a weekly market on Thursdays at Empingham
and a yearly fair on the vigil, day and morrow of
St. Botolph. (fn. 67) Margaret died about 1341 (fn. 68) and her son
Sir Thomas de Basing in 1349. (fn. 69) His son and heir
John, aged eight at the death of his father, died in
1384, leaving a widow Elizabeth and a son Thomas. (fn. 70)
In 1400 Thomas died without issue and was succeeded
by Sir John, his brother. (fn. 71) Sir John had no legitimate
children, and in 1439 granted the manors of Empingham and Normanton and the advowson of Normanton
to trustees. In the same year these trustees conveyed
the property to Agnes Brounfield, servant of Sir John
de Basing, for life and in 1445 granted the reversion
after Agnes's death to John de Basing, Sir John's
illegitimate son. Sir John died in 1445, his lawful heir
being his sister Alice, widow of Thomas Mackworth
of Mackworth (co. Derby), then aged 50 years and
more. (fn. 72) Agnes Brounfield probably died shortly after
Sir John, for John, his illegitimate son, presented to
the church of Normanton in 1447. John appears to
have died in the following year, as Alice Mackworth
then presented to Normanton and again in 1452 and
1457. (fn. 73) Alice apparently died before 1484 and was
succeeded by her son Henry, who died in 1487 and
was followed by his grandson George, his son John
having predeceased him. (fn. 74) George in 1501 obtained
confirmation of the grant by Henry II to Gerold de
Normanville. (fn. 75) George Mackworth died in 1535,
leaving a son Francis, (fn. 76) who died in 1557. (fn. 77) His son
George died in 1594, leaving a son Thomas by his
first wife, Grace Rokeby, (fn. 78) and a widow Anne. Thomas
was sheriff of Rutland in 1599
and 1609 (fn. 79) and created a baronet in 1619. (fn. 80) He settled the
estates in 1622, (fn. 81) probably on
the marriage of his son Henry
to Mary, widow of Sir Thomas
Hartopp, sister and co-heir of
Ralph, Lord Hopton of
Stratton. (fn. 82) Sir Henry Mackworth, who succeeded to the
title in 1626, rebuilt the manor
house at Normanton, where
he resided, and died there in
1640. (fn. 83) His son Sir Thomas,
also of Normanton, took the oath of allegiance in 1641,
probably on coming of age. (fn. 84) He espoused the
Royalist cause before he was of age and lived in the
Low Countries until 1646, when he and his uncle,
Neale Mackworth, were fined for delinquency. (fn. 85)
Neale compounded on the Truro Articles, being present with his relation Lord Hopton on the surrender
of Truro to Sir Thomas Fairfax. (fn. 86) Sir Thomas
Mackworth was sheriff for
Rutland in 1666 and member
for the county in several parliaments. He was succeeded in
1694 by Sir Thomas Mackworth his son, who (fn. 87) contested
the election for the county in
1722 with Lord Finch and Mr.
Sherard, and, though he was
returned, the expenses of the
election are said by Blore to
have ruined the family. (fn. 88) Sir
Thomas Mackworth sold
Empingham manor in 1723 to
Charles Tryon, who conveyed it in 1729 to Gilbert
Heathcote, (fn. 89) merchant, eldest of the eight sons of
Gilbert Heathcote of Chesterfield (co. Derby). All Gilbert's brothers were Merchant Adventurers, he himself
being a member of the Vintners' Company of London,
trading in Spanish wine to Jamaica and the East Indies.
In 1693 he disputed the monopoly claimed by the East
India Company to trade with India, at the bar of the
House of Commons, and the House upheld his claim
to trade where he pleased. Heathcote served as a
Director of the new East India Company and was
one of the founders of the Bank of England, of which
he was Governor in 1708. He was President of
St. Thomas's Hospital, and a portrait of him is still
preserved in the court room there. He was Lord
Mayor of London in 1710–11, being the last who rode
on horseback on Lord Mayor's day. (fn. 90) He rebuilt the
manor house at Normanton, and was buried at Normanton in January 1733, only eight days after he had
been created a baronet. He was reputed to be the
richest commoner in England, being worth at his death
£700,000, besides having large estates in Lincolnshire
and elsewhere in Rutland. (fn. 91)
Mackworth. Party indented sable and ermine a cheveron gules fretty or.
Heathcote. Ermine three roundels vert each charged with a cross or.
His son, Sir John Heathcote, was also a director of
the East India Company and President in 1722 of
St. Thomas's Hospital, a trustee of the British
Museum and Vice-President of the Foundling
Hospital. He was succeeded in 1759 by his son, Sir
Gilbert Heathcote, who was sheriff of Rutland 1771–2,
and M.P. for Shaftesbury 1761–68. He in turn was
succeeded in 1785 by his son Gilbert, M.P. for
Rutland in nine Parliaments, 1812–41, who died in
1851. His eldest son, Gilbert John, married the Hon.
Clementina Elizabeth Burrell-Drummond, who became in 1871 Baroness Willoughby de Eresby in her
own right. Gilbert, a distinguished Whig politician,
who was created Baron Aveland of Aveland (co. Linc.)
in 1856, was buried at Normanton 13 Sept. 1867.
His widow died in 1888 and was buried with him.
She took for herself and her issue the surname Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby and her son Gilbert
Henry, who had succeeded his father at Normanton
in 1867, became Lord Willoughby de Eresby, and
joint Hereditary Great Chamberlain on her death.
He was created Earl of Ancaster in 1892 (fn. 92) and was
succeeded in 1910 by his son Gilbert, who had been
baptised at Normanton in 1867, and who is the
present owner.
The hamlet of HARDWICK and part of
Empingham were held in the time of Edward the
Confessor by Edward and Fredgis, but they were
given by William the Conqueror to William Peverel
of Nottingham, (fn. 93) said, with little authority, to have
been his illegitimate son.
William Peverel was holding the overlordship in
1086 and died in 1114. He was succeeded by his
son William, a strong supporter of King Stephen. He
was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141,
when his lands were seized, but returned in 1143.
Henry Fitz Empress in 1153 promised Ranulf, Earl of
Chester, Peverel's lands, on condition of his support,
whereupon Peverel, it is said, poisoned the Earl of
Chester a few months later. William became a monk
and his lands were seized by Henry II in 1155. The
manor continued to be held of the Peverel fee. (fn. 94)
The subtenant of the manor in 1086 was Sasfrid,
who held 2½ hides with a mill and a half rendering
12s. (fn. 95) He endowed Lenton Priory, founded by William
Peverel, with two-thirds of the tithes of his demesne
in Empingham, about 1103–8. (fn. 96) Sasfrid is said to have
had a son Philip whose son, Richard son of Philip,
joined with Richard L'Abbe (Abbas) in giving a
carucate of land in Empingham to the Abbey of
St. Mary de Pré (co. Leic.) by a grant confirmed by
Henry II in 1156. (fn. 97) Geoffrey L'Abbé was pardoned
10s. 10d. of the common assize of Rutland in 1158
and died in 1164 or 1165. Richard son of Geoffrey
paid relief in Nottinghamshire in 1166, and in the
following year Richard L'Abbe, we find, was tenant of
land in Empingham. (fn. 98) He seems to have died in 1167
or 1168, as Empingham was in the king's hands in
the latter year, probably on account of the heir being
a minor. It was still in the king's hands in 1174.
A Geoffrey L'Abbe occurs in 1177 and 1183, but in
1187 Empingham was again in the king's hands.
Richard L'Abbé, however, paid scutage on a fee in Rutland in 1196. (fn. 99) He was dead in 1205, when the custody
of his lands and marriage of his son were granted to
Ralph de Normanville. (fn. 100) The heir of Richard L'Abbe
was holding in 1211–12. (fn. 101) Nicholas L'Abbe, holding
one fee in Empingham in 1235, was probably son of
Richard, and in 1248 Peter son of Roger obtained
the wardship of the land of the heir of Agnes, daughter
of Nicholas L'Abbé, in Empingham, held of the
honour of Peverel. (fn. 102) This holding seems to have got
into the hands of Ralph de Normanville (d. 1259), who,
as stated above, subinfeudated Thomas de Normanville.
In 1275 it is stated that Thomas held a tenement in
Empingham of the fee of Peverel which used to do
suit at Nottingham Castle 40 years before, but then
did suit at the county court. Thomas at the same
time claimed view of frankpledge, gallows, assize of
bread and ale, pillory and tumbril, (fn. 103) in Empingham,
no doubt in respect of the manor of Empingham,
which he held of the elder branch of the Normanville
family.
He died about June 1295, holding at Hardwick a
capital messuage with pond and dovecot, worth only
half a mark because of great deductions for the houses,
ten bovates of land in villeinage and a wood, held of
William le Waleys in exchange for lands in Thorpe,
by the service of a pair of gilt spurs. (fn. 104) On the death
of his son Edmund the estate passed to Margaret
de Basing, and is described in 1316 as a 'manerettum' of Thomas de Normanville. (fn. 105) It subsequently
passed with Empingham manor to the Heathcotes.
In Blore's time the manor of Hardwick contained
358 acres. (fn. 106)
William le Daneys was holding land of the manor
of Empingham in 1259. (fn. 107) The land afterwards passed
to Brice Daneys, and in 1344 it was conveyed with
the manor of Tickencote by Oger Daneys to his
brother Roland. (fn. 108) Roland and his wife Elizabeth
obtained a further grant of land in Empingham in
1361 from Thomas son and heir of Roger de Denford. (fn. 109)
This land passed with Tickencote to the families of
Dale, Lynne, Campinet, Gresham and Wingfield,
and was in 1811 the property of John Wingfield of
Tickencote. (fn. 110)
Another estate in Empingham was held by a
family taking the name of Empingham. Philip son of
Richard de Empingham granted to Hugh de Bokeland,
by deed said to be of the time of Henry III, five
bovates of land in Empingham, and in 1288 Ralph son
of John de Empingham confirmed a charter by which
John, son of Ralph de Empingham, his father, had
granted to Thomas, son of Hugh de Bokeland, a bovate
of land in Empingham. (fn. 111) Philip de Empingham was
a witness to the charter, and in 1291 Richard son of
Philip de Empingham had a suit regarding his pasture
in Empingham. (fn. 112) In 1312 Geoffrey son of Henry de
Empingham recovered his seisin of land in Empingham against William de Basing and Margaret his
wife. (fn. 113) This land afterwards passed to the Whittlebury family. Seven messuages and 10 bovates of
land in Empingham, including the reversion of land
which Henry Stacy and Cecily his wife held for life,
were granted in 1346 by William de Thorp and
Beatrice his wife to Aubrey (Albredus) de Whittlebury
(Wytlesbury) and Joan his wife in fee tail. (fn. 114) Joan
outlived Aubrey and died in 1368 holding 5 messuages
and 10 bovates of land in Empingham. Her eldest
son Thomas had predeceased her, and she was succeeded by John, her second son. (fn. 115) John Whittlebury,
in 1369, leased the property to Richard Dawe of
Empingham and Sarah his wife for their lives (fn. 116) and
died in 1400, when his son Aubrey Whittlebury succeeded. (fn. 117) Aubrey died seven years later (fn. 118) holding this
land jointly with Margery his wife. His infant
daughter and heiress, Isabella, afterwards became the
second wife of Sir Henry Plessington, whose first wife
was Agnes, daughter of Roger Flore or Flower of
Oakham. In 1457 Isabella conveyed to Richard
Galway her servant all the lands which had belonged
to her father in Empingham, including 7 messuages
and 140 acres of land. (fn. 119)
The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem at an early
date held land in Empingham, forming part of the
Preceptory of Dingley. Twelve bovates there had been
granted to them before 1185 by Alice de Condi, and
of these Wlwiet held two bovates and Odo the Deacon
held one. (fn. 120) In 1382 Sir Thomas de Burton, lord
of Whitwell, held this land of the prior, jointly with
Margery his wife, who obtained livery of it in November of that year. (fn. 121) From this date the property
followed the descent of the adjoining manor of
Whitwell until 1572, when it passed by exchange from
Sir John Harington of Exton to George Mackworth. (fn. 122)
From that date it became part of the manor of Empingham.
Sir John Harington's tenants in Empingham were
sued by Francis Mackworth, lord of Empingham manor,
for taking wood and fuel on Empingham Common.
They stated that the tenants of Whitwell manor in Empingham had always had common of estovers in the
waste and common of Empingham with the other
freeholders of Empingham. Mackworth denied that
any part of Whitwell (fn. 123) manor lay in Empingham.
Apparently he claimed under a lease from Dingley Preceptory, for in a further action in 1545 it is stated that
he had caused a mere or division to be made between
his land and that of Sir John, but the latter caused
the quicksetts to be pulled down, as they encroached
on his land. Mackworth further complained that a
great bank, which carried the water to the mills from
time immemorial, was broken down at the command
of Sir John, so that the mills could no longer grind.
Sir John pleaded that long before the mills were
built there was a water-course on the west part above
the mills, which ran through Sir John's ground, and
an ancestor of Mackworth built the bank on Sir
John's land, causing the stream to be turned from its
old course and conveyed another way to the mills.
Mackworth had recently had the bank remade much
higher, and for this purpose he had taken turves and
wood on Sir John's ground, and therefore Sir John
gave orders for it to be pulled down. (fn. 124)
An estate in Empingham comprising a capital
messuage and land was held of the lords of Empingham by the Edmunds family. Guy Edmunds was
succeeded in 1521 by a son Bartholomew. (fn. 125) James
Edmunds died seised of the estate in 1626, when his
son Bartholomew succeeded. (fn. 126) Bartholomew settled
this estate in May 1628 on his marriage with Alice
Austin, but he died childless in August of that year,
leaving as his heir his nephew Robert, son of Geoffrey
Edmunds. (fn. 127)
The church of Empingham and three bovates of land,
later known as the PREBENDAL MANOR, were
given to the Bishop of Lincoln by Gilbert de Gand
and confirmed by Henry I, who also gave to the church
of Lincoln 6 bovates in Willingham (co. Linc.)
which became annexed to the Prebendal manor
of Empingham. (fn. 128) The king in his confirmation
commanded that if the Count of Eu had disseised
the bishop, Aubrey the Chamberlain should forthwith
reseise him. (fn. 129)
This manor was leased from time to time by the
prebendaries. Nicholas Bullingham, the prebendary, in 1552 stipulated with his lessee that he should
have house-room whenever he came to visit his
prebend. (fn. 130) In 1554 the bishop annexed the prebend of Empingham to the precentorship of the
cathedral. (fn. 131)
In 1649 the trustees for the sale of Dean and
Chapter lands sold to Charles Skipwith, of Staple
Inn, the manor, the capital messuage and a close of
pasture on the south side of the messuage abutting
on Sir Thomas Mackworth's land on the east and
the river on the south, with the fishing in Cherry
Willingham. (fn. 132) Later the Mackworths of Empingham obtained leases of the Prebendal manor. (fn. 133) In
1723 Sir Thomas Mackworth transferred his lease to
Charles Tryon, and the lords of the manor afterwards
leased the Prebendal manor on terms of three lives
from the prebendary. The ancient prebendal house
was on the south-east side of the church, but at the
time of the inclosure in 1794 the house was exchanged
with Sir Gilbert Heathcote for the present prebendal
house, which is in the village. (fn. 134)
Church
The church of ST. PETER consists of
chancel 35 ft. by 19 ft. 6 in., north and
south transeptal chapels each 23 ft. 6 in.
by 14 ft. 6 in., clearstoried nave 54 ft. by 23 ft., north
and south aisles 10 ft. 6 in. wide, south porch 13 ft.
by 10 ft. 6 in., and west tower 12 ft. square, all these
measurements being internal. The toweris surmounted
by a short spire. The width across nave and aisles is
49 ft. and across nave and transepts 75 ft. 6 in.,
the total internal length of the church being 109 ft.
6 in. There is a modern vestry on the north side of
the chancel.
The tower is faced with ashlar, but elsewhere the
walling is of rubble, plastered internally. The
chancel has a stone-slated eaved roof, the other roofs
being of low pitch and leaded, behind battlemented
parapets. There was a general restoration of the
fabric in 1894–5, when the roofs were renewed on the
old lines and the floors relaid. (fn. 135)
The church is mainly of 13th-century date, with
additions and alterations in the 14th and 15th
centuries, but has developed from an aisleless 12thcentury building the nave of which covered the same
area as the present nave and of which the angles remain.
To this building a south aisle was added c. 1200–10, the
existing south arcade being of that period, and shortly
after (c. 1225) a north aisle was built. The transepts,
which cover the eastern bays, were perhaps contemporary
with the aisles, or were added shortly after, but the rebuilding of the chancel on its present plan does not
appear to have been finished till late in the century.
The tower and porch are 14th-century additions,
and in the 15th century the north transept was
remodelled and its walls heightened, new windows
were inserted in the aisles, the present clearstory
(replacing an older one) erected, the nave, aisles and
transepts newly roofed, and the battlemented parapets added.
Remains of medieval arrangements are plentiful.
In the chancel are a triple sedile and a double piscina,
and the piscinae of two altars in each transept
remain; there is also a piscina belonging to a
former chapel at the west end of the south aisle.
Traces of a rood-loft are to be seen, but not of a
staircase to the loft.
The chancel is divided externally into three
unequal bays by buttresses, with pairs of buttresses
at its eastern angles, the north wall, however, being
covered at its east end by the vestry. The pointed
east window is of three uncusped lights with intersecting mullions and hood-mould with head-stops. (fn. 136)
In the north wall is a single blocked lancet, but the
other windows are grouped lancets of three and two
lights. On the south side the easternmost window
is of three lights placed high in the wall, and in the
middle and west bays are tall two-light windows
the sills of which are about 4 ft. above the ground.
In the west bay of the north wall is a three-light
window similar to that on the south side. In all
these windows the hood-moulds follow the individual
openings, but the character of the stops varies: all
the chancel windows have rear arches with hoodmoulds. Externally a string, chamfered on the
underside, follows the sill levels; the internal string
is rounded on the upper edge, and on the north wall
it occurs only at the west end. There is a continuous
moulded doorway in the middle bay on the south
side. In the east wall south of the altar is a moulded
ogee-headed niche for the image of the patron saint.
The beautiful 13th-century piscina and sedilia,
though distinct in design, form approximately a single
architectural composition. The two fluted bowls of
the piscina are under trefoiled arches on jambshafts
with moulded capitals and bases, the hood-mould
stop over the dividing shaft consisting of a boldly
carved eight-leaf flower. The triple sedilia have
trefoiled rounded arches on detached shafts and
shafted jambs, with moulded capitals and bases;
the seats are on the same level and the hoods have
foliated stops, the arches ranging with those of the
piscina. The chancel arch is of two chamfered
orders (fn. 137) springing from clustered responds with
moulded capitals and water-holding bases on high
plinths. Both bases and plinths have been mutilated
for the rood-screen, of which there remains only a
piece of wood (fn. 138) on the north side of the arch, at the
east end of the nave arcade.
Plan of Empingham Church
The nave arcades are of four bays, that on the
south side having semicircular arches of two cham
fered orders, on cylindrical pillars and half-round
responds, with plain octagonal capitals and circular
water-holding bases on tall octagonal plinths. The
later north arcade has pointed arches of two chamfered orders, on more slender (fn. 139) cylindrical pillars and
half-round responds, with circular moulded capitals
and bases on high square plinths. In both arcades the
arches have hood-moulds on each side, with large
head-stops over the pillars on the south, and two very
small stops only on the north. The easternmost
arches open into the transepts, and the two eastern
pillars receive the spring of transverse arches which
divide the transepts from the aisles. These arches
are of two chamfered orders, and spring on the wall
side from corbels, that on the north carved, the
other plain.
The transepts project 13 ft. beyond the aisles
and are of two bays, each of which contained an altar,
with pairs of buttresses at the angles, and are lighted
by two windows in the east wall and one in the west
and end walls. The south transept is without plinth
or string, and retains most of its original architectural
features; the windows are all grouped lancets like
those in the chancel, that in the end wall being of
three graded lights, the others of two lights. Internally the splayed jambs of the east windows are cut
away at the bottom in order to admit the altar
reredoses, and the two piscinae, one in the east and
the other in the south wall, are trefoil-headed, but
only one of the bowls remains. (fn. 140) Below the end
window is an empty square-headed chamfered tomb
recess. (fn. 141) The transept now contains the organ, its
south end being used as a choir vestry.
All the windows of the north transept are of the
15th century, and the gable has a large curved
crocketed finial similar to those at Langham and
Oakham, flanked by large pinnacles. The end
window is of five cinquefoiled lights with Perpendicular
tracery and hood with flower-stops, the two east
windows of four lights and that on the west of three,
all different in design. The northern of the two east
windows has a rounded head and vertical tracery;
the others are pointed. The two piscinae are in the
east wall, one with a low ogee-headed recess, and the
other, at the south end, much larger, with cinquefoiled head; in each the bowl is fluted. There is a
plain chamfered tomb recess in the end wall beneath
the window, with low two-centred arch, containing
a 13th-century coffin lid. (fn. 142)
The north and south doorways are in the middle
bay of the aisles; they are of the 13th century and
of two chamfered orders, the north doorway nearly
round-headed with quirked imposts and hood-mould
chamfered on each edge. The south door has a
pointed arch on moulded imposts. The 15th-century
windows of the aisles are of three trefoiled lights
with four-centred heads, without tracery, and there
is an internal string, rounded on the upper edge,
below sill level along the whole of the north and part
of the south aisle. The aisle piscina, already alluded
to, is about 4 ft. west of the south doorway; it has a
pointed moulded recess with orifice at the back.
The 14th-century porch is without buttresses,
and the later battlemented parapet takes the place
of the original gable. The pointed doorway is of
two chamfered orders, the inner on half-round
filleted responds with moulded capitals and bases,
the outer continuous. (fn. 143)
The 15th-century clearstory windows are similar
to those of the aisles, but have cinquefoiled cusping.
There are four windows on the south side (fn. 144) and three
on the north, the easternmost bay on that side
retaining a circular window (fn. 145) belonging to the
13th-century clearstory, which was covered by the
heightened roof of the reconstructed transept, into
which it now opens.
The tower is of four stages marked by strings,
with moulded plinth and pairs of buttresses at the
angles to the top of the third stage. There is a vice
in the south-west angle. Between the buttresses
the face of each side of the tower is slightly recessed,
and above the buttresses the angles of the bellchamber stage thus form broad pilasters. The two
lower stages are blank on the north and south, except
for a trefoiled loop in the upper part. The pointed
west doorway is of two moulded orders enriched with
ball-flower, on banded jambshafts with moulded
capitals and bases, set within a tall moulded arch of
three orders on twice-banded shafts, the whole
forming a somewhat elaborate composition, both
arches having deeply moulded hoods with finials
and head-stops. (fn. 146) The space between the two arches
was restored some years before 1895, and is filled
with plain masonry, but originally it appears to have
been of carved stones set in a sort of diagonal pattern. (fn. 147)
Above the doorway, in the second stage, are three
niches with ogee canopies and engaged jambshafts,
and the third stage on three sides is occupied by
blind arcading in three bays, with small crocketed
ogee arches, two to each bay; on the east side is the
line of the old high-pitched roof. The pointed bellchamber windows are of two trefoiled lights with
curvilinear tracery and hood-moulds, and the tower
finishes with an enriched cornice and high battlemented parapet the angles of which have massive
octagonal pinnacles with crocketed terminations.
The spire is very short in proportion to the height
of the tower and has crocketed angles, and two
tiers of gabled lights on its cardinal faces. Internally the tower opens into the nave by a pointed
arch of two moulded orders, the inner order springing from clustered and filleted responds, the outer
dying into the walls: the hood-mould has large headstops.
The font dates from 1895, and is in the style of
the 14th century. (fn. 148) The late 17th-century hexagonal
oak pulpit has plain panelled sides and fluted angle
pilasters: it was refixed on a stone base at the
restoration, to which period also the fittings of the
quire belong. The nave and aisles are seated with
chairs.
There are considerable remains of coloured decoration on the end wall of the south transept in the form
of masonry lines and red five-lobed flowers. Traces
of similar decoration occur also over the south doorway
and on the east wall of the north transept.
In the north transept, in addition to the slab
within the recess, are two coped coffin lids (fn. 149) with
foliated crosses, another mutilated, and fragments of a
fourth of plain character. There is also a slab with
incised cross, probably of early 13th-century date,
built into the north wall of the tower.
In the tracery of the two east windows of the north
transept are some fragments of 15th-century glass
and ten shields of arms, eight shields and two heads
in the northernmost window and two shields and two
imperfect figures in the other. (fn. 150) In the same transept
is an 18th-century communion table with curved
legs, and in the floor a number of 17th and 18th
century slabs, and two brass plates to members of the
Mackworth family and others. (fn. 151) The royal arms of
the Hanoverian sovereigns (before 1801) are under the
tower. (fn. 152)
There is a ring of six bells cast by Taylor and Co.
of Loughborough in 1895. (fn. 153)
The plate consists of a paten of 1714–15, a cup of
1722–3, a flagon of 1721–2, and two plates of
1722–3. (fn. 154)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i)
baptisms and burials 1563–1784, marriages 1563–
1754; (ii) baptisms and burials 1785–1812; (iii)
marriages 1755–94; (iv) marriages 1792–1812.
South of the porch is the lower portion of the shaft
of a churchyard cross, set in an octagonal socket
stone. (fn. 155)
Advowson
A vicarage was first ordained in
Empingham in 1263 by Richard
Gravesend, (fn. 156) and the advowson
was attached to the prebend. (fn. 157) Empingham was
declared a rectory in 1867 and was endowed out of the
Common Fund with £100 a year in lieu of £5 charge
on the prebend. The interest of Sir Gilbert Heath cote
in the prebend and chancel of the church was transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in exchange
for certain lands in the parish in 1845, (fn. 158) and the
patronage was transferred before 1892 to the Bishop
of Peterborough, the present holder.
In 1272 a chapel in Sir Thomas de Normanville's
manor of Empingham was licensed for divine service. (fn. 159)
Sir Thomas's capital messuage appears to have been
on the east side of the village on a hill, but no ruins
of the chapel remain.
Charities
The Poor's money consisted of a
sum of £60 given for the poor and
payable on St. Thomas's Day.
The charity by tradition was formerly called Sir
Thomas Mackworth's dole. The fund remained at
interest in the hands of Sir John Heathcote and his
successors from 1745 till October 1794, at which
time, as appears from an entry in the overseers'
book and a receipt for the money, it was paid to
the minister, churchwardens and overseers, and was
applied in supplying the workhouse with bedsteads and
other furniture. No interest has been paid since 1794.
Henry Foster's Charity is shared by this parish.
John Warrington's Charity is shared by this parish.
Jane Forsyth, by her will proved at Canterbury
18 December 1835, bequeathed a sum of £105 to
the minister and churchwardens upon trust to apply
the income in the purchase of bread for the industrious
poor. The endowment consists of a sum of £102 11s. 7d.
2½ per cent. Consols held by the Official Trustees and
producing in dividends £2 11s. per annum. The income
is distributed in bread by the rector and two trustees
appointed by the parish council.