WARMINGTON
Wermingtime, c. 980; Wirminton, Werminton,
Wormington.
Warmington extends eastward from the Nene;
on the northern boundary is Elton in Huntingdonshire,
the old part of its manor-house standing on the border
line, part in each county, and Elton Park extending
some way into this parish. The acreage is 4,013
(including 20 acres in water), of which a good deal
more than half are permanent grass. The soil is
clay, with gravel underlying. Wheat and barley
are grown. The land rises to about 212 ft. above sea
level in the middle of the parish, whence it falls
towards Billing Brook on the eastern boundary to
100 ft., and more quickly towards the Nene on the
north-west, where the level is as low as 55 ft. to 50 ft.
The straggling village is in this western part, with
the church to the south and the manor-house or
Berrystead to the north; there is a moat a little northeast of the latter. To the south of the church is a
late 16th or early 17th century two-storey house, now
unoccupied and in a dilapidated state, with two bay
windows on the ground floor, low mullioned windows
above, and a thatched roof. The mill is on the river
some distance to the north-west. The chief road
leads from Oundle north-east through the village,
going to Elton and Peterborough; another road goes
east towards Norman Cross. Eaglethorpe to the north
and Papley to the south-east were formerly hamlets,
but were depopulated even in Bridges' time (1711),
when he records only three shepherds' cottages in
the latter place. There is a moat at Papley. Eaglethorpe House has a door said to have been brought
from Fotheringhay.
Formerly the parish was considered partly in
Willibrook Hundred and partly in Polebrook, and
Bridges thus states the position: "Adjoining the
town and lying intermixed with it is Warmington
hamlet, all lying in (Willibrook) Hundred. In the
earliest records this township is comprised within
Willibrook Hundred, but Warmington town is now
reputed a member of the Hundred of Polebrook. (fn. 1) Maps
of a century ago show the north-west portion (the
Grange) in Willibrook Hundred. One part of the
town was called Southorp and the other Mill End.
Near the town are two springs formerly known as
Stockwell and Caldwell or Chadwell, the latter yielding
a mineral water.
In 1393 the lordship was divided into four fields—
the Ernefield, Bolwell Field, Blackthorn Field and
Westfield. (fn. 2) The common fields were enclosed by
an Act of 1774.
In 1921 the population numbered 550.
George Thicknesse, a former master of St. Paul's
School, at one time resided with an old schoolfellow
at Arlescote, and was buried in Warmington churchyard in 1790. (fn. 3)
Manors
From a very early time the whole
of WARMINGTON belonged to the
abbey of Peterborough, possibly from its
foundation. There is a charter attributed to Wulphere (fn. 4)
embodying such a claim, and Edgar's charter of 963
names Warmington among the estates confirmed or
restored to the monks. (fn. 5) Two of the inhabitants
about that time have their names recorded as sureties
for land here—Thurferth and Cytel Claccessune, (fn. 6)
and one Swerteling took land on the understanding
that it should revert to St. Peter at his death. (fn. 7)
In 1086 the abbey held, as it had held in 1066,
10 hides in Warmington. (fn. 8) (I) Of these 7½ were held
in demesne; the mill rendered 40s. and 325 eels
yearly. The value in 1066 was 5s., but in 1086 it
had risen to £11, pointing to ruthless devastation
just before the Conquest. (fn. 9) In this portion the
rubrication (fn. 10) is defective or erroneous. (II) Two
knights held one hide, which belonged to Willybrook
Hundred; the value had risen from 2s. to 20s. The
two knights were probably ancestors of the Gargates
and Peverels of later days. (III) Isembard [Artifex]
and Rozelin held 1½ hide; the land had increased in
value from 5s. to 40s. between 1066 and 1086. This
estate was Papley.
The Survey made c. 1125 gives no further information, but again affirms that one hide was in Willybrook Hundred; the assessment of Papley is given
as one hide only, and is recorded under Polebrook
Hundred. (fn. 11)
Later than Domesday the abbots appear to have
made further grants to free tenants. Thus one
portion, ¼ hide, was joined with the manor of Churchfield in Oundle (fn. 12) ; another with Stoke Doyley, (fn. 13) and
a third with Torpel in Ufford. Papley seems to have
been the only free tenement entirely within Warmington, for Gargate had land in Irthlingborough as part
of his fee, and the Peverel holding here was attached
to Paston.
The manor proper, that held in demesne by the
abbots, remained undisturbed till the Dissolution.
Warmington, with its churches and mills, was confirmed to the abbey by Eugenius III in 1146 (fn. 14) and
by Richard I in 1189, (fn. 15) as well as by later kings. Its
condition about 1125 is described in detail in the
Liber Niger, as follows: (fn. 16)
In Warmington there are 8 hides geldable; of
which 20 full villeins and 29 half-villeins hold 34½
virgates. The full villeins work 3 days weekly; the
others according to their tenures. In all they have
16 ploughs and plough 68½ acres, and also do 3 boon
works with their ploughs; they carry 34 cartloads
from the wood. They render £4 11s. 4d., and give
to the charity of St. Peter 10 rams, 400 loaves, 40
dishes (disci), 134 hens and 260 eggs. There are also
8 sockmen, who have 6 ploughs. In demesne are
4 ploughs for 32 oxen, 9 cows, 5 calves and one idle
beast, 129 sheep, 61 pigs, a draught mare (aura) and
a foal. Also a mill with one yard (virga) of land and
6 acres, rendering 60s. and 500 eels. Ascelin the
clerk holds the church with 2 yards of land of
the altar of St. Peter of Burgh. Robert, son of
Richard, has 2½ yards. In this town can be stocked
100 sheep.
In 1231 a composition was made between Abbot
Martin and John (Scot), earl of Huntingdon, as lord
of Fotheringhay, concerning the fishing in the Nene.
It was agreed that where the earl had one side of the
river and the abbot the other, the two should have
the fishing; but where the abbot had land on both
sides he should have the sole right of fishing between
them; from Turnbrook to Pirihou (in Southwick)
the earl should have sole right. (fn. 17)
There is a very full rental made in 1393 (fn. 18) under
Abbot Nicholas de Elnestowe.
After coming into the hands of Henry VIII the
manor was, with Oundle, etc., given to Katherine
Howard, his queen, in 1541, (fn. 19) and after reverting to
the Crown on her execution in the same year was
given to queen Katherine Parr in 1544, (fn. 20) and she
retained it till her death in 1548, when it again fell to
the Crown. A very full survey made in 1546 is
extant. (fn. 21)
From a survey of 1605 (fn. 22) it appears that Thomas
Elmes held by charter of 28 October, 1555, a messuage,
late of Edmund Elmes, his father, and previously of
Robert Kirkham, and various others; also the rectory.
The Warden of Stamford had land in Middlefield and
Westfield. The inhabitants claimed to hold by copy
a tenement near the parsonage called Scobhouse.
William Dickenson had the tithes of Eaglethorpe,
paying £3 a year. The jury found that the fines of all
the ancient copyholds were certain, being half a year's
rent; all freeholders and copyholders were accustomed to feed their cattle on the common; copyholders could use the timber on their copyholds for
repairs; land had been taken out of every farm to
make cow pastures, called Angerstonne Leyes (50 ac.);
leys at the over end of Golding Slade next the Wold
were their sheep and neats' pasture, and there was
other pasture on the Greens. There was no waste
in the woods. "Thomas Elmes, esq., had a fishing in
the manor butting on the east end of Thornbrook, and
so to the Fishhouse butting east, so to the Holme
butting east, so to Elton dam butting north; being
in the same water these kind of fishes—perch, roach,
cheviun, pickerell, eel," etc.; the extent was about
¾ mile. There were ashes and wiches in the woods.
These were the ancient bounds of the manor:
Portersherne on the north-west, to Warmington
Grove, to Tansor Cross, to the corner of William
Blofield's close, so up Barnwell slade, to Tansor Mere,
to Potter's Hill, to Butcher's Grave, to Lutton
brook, to Wasingley brook, to Odgarstone brook, to
Great Wolwell, to Foxhalls hill, to Eglethorp, to the
Watch close, so to Thornbrook east, over the high
stream to the weir of Fotheringhay Park to Fotheringhay bridge, from the bridge in the farther side of
the causey (the bridge lying east) to Portersherne.
Leases of portions had been made by the Crown
from time to time (fn. 23) until in 1614 the manor was sold
to Thomas Elmes of Green's Norton (fn. 24) ; court leet
and view of frank-pledge were added in 1617. (fn. 25)
Thomas Elmes, who had inherited the manors of
Lilford and Papley, with various other estates in the
neighbourhood, settled this manor of Warmington on
his younger son Thomas on his marriage (1621) with
Anne, daughter of Robert Clark of London, as
appears from the inquisition after the father's death
in 1633. (fn. 26) In 1651 Thomas, the son, was discharged
of an assessment for the service of the State, as possessing no considerable estate. (fn. 27) In 1653 he suffered a
recovery of the manor of Warmington, with four
water mills and a rent of £24 from the rectory; (fn. 28)
and then in 1657, in concert with his wife, transferred this manor to trustees. (fn. 29) He died in 1664,
aged 73, having had by his wife four sons and nine
daughters. Only one of the sons, William, reached
manhood, and he died before his father in 1653, aged
28 (fn. 30) ; so the inheritance became divisible ultimately
among the five surviving daughters, (fn. 31) the widow
retaining the manor till her death in 1686. The
daughters were Ann, wife of John Pain, of Colsden
Grange in Roxton (fn. 32) ; Margaret, wife of Robert Tatnall, of London, clerk (fn. 33) ; Martha, wife of Edmund
Spinkes, of Oundle, clerk (fn. 34) ; Elizabeth, wife of
Richard Holt, and Mary, wife of George Wroth of
South Farnham, mercer. (fn. 35) There were disputes in
1692 among the coheirs, and according to Nathaniel
Spinks, clerk, of St. Giles in the Fields, eldest son
and heir of Edmund and Martha, Richard Holt
obtained possession, and Nathaniel had to sue in
Chancery for his own right in the Elmes estate. He
had three brothers—Seth, William and Elmes Spinks—
and a sister Martha. (fn. 36) The youngest of these sons,
Elmes Spinks, appears to have obtained possession of
the whole manor, (fn. 37) and Bridges describes him as lord
of it in 1711. By his will of 1720 this Elmes left
all his real estate in Aldwinkle and Warmington to
his only son Elmes, with remainder to daughters
Debora and Ann. (fn. 38) He died soon afterwards.
Elmes Spinks the son, in 1738 suffered a recovery
of the manor, (fn. 39) and again in 1745 in conjunction
with his wife Jemima. (fn. 40) In the next year (10 January,
1745–46) he sold it to Thomas Powys of Lilford for
£4,362; the sale included the manor house (Berrystead), Millholme, Berrystead and Lammas closes,
land in Bolwell field, various pieces of meadow, and
a fee farm rent of £24 from the rectory. (fn. 41)
Thomas Powys, who bought up a number of
smaller estates in the parish, died in 1767, leaving a
son and successor of the same name, who was created
Baron Lilford in 1797. He also bought some minor
estates, and made a settlement in 1772, previous to
his marriage with Eleanor Mann of Bourne Place,
Kent. (fn. 42) A further settlement of the manors of
Warmington, Lilford and Wigsthorpe, with various
lands there, was made in 1794, to provide for younger
children, and in June, 1797, Powys sold the manor of
Warmington with quit rents and other perquisites, a
fishery in the Nene, and various messuages, closes,
etc., to John Joshua (Proby), 1st Earl of Carysfort, of
Elton Hall. The manor descended in this family
until the death of the last Earl of Carysfort in 1909, (fn. 43)
when it passed to a nephew. His sister Elizabeth
(d. 1900) had married Lord
Claud Hamilton, brother of
the 1st Duke of Abercorn, and
their son, Col. Douglas James
Hamilton, who took the name
of Proby in 1904, is now lord
of the manor.
Proby, Earl of Carysfort. Ermine a fesse gules with a lion passant or thereon.
The Gargate knight's fee
lay two-thirds in Warmington
and one-third in Irthlingborough. (fn. 44) Robert de Gargate, who was living about
1160, is said to have been the
first feoffee. (fn. 45) He had apparently two sons, Roger and
Robert. Roger and Agnes his wife had a son Hugh, who
held the fee in 1189. (fn. 46) In 1206 Robert de Gargate, probably his uncle, gave him 8½ virgates of land in Warmington, (fn. 47) and two years later he conveyed 2 virgates
to Walter, prior of St. Andrew's of Northampton, the
grant being confirmed by Robert and Maud his wife. (fn. 48)
Hugh is mentioned in 1216, but died before 1220. (fn. 49)
He left two daughters by his wife Sibyl, namely, Muriel,
the wife of William de Ros, who died before 1230, leaving a son Hugh, (fn. 50) and Isabel, wife of Gerard, son of
Roger de Munibery, who had a son Peter. (fn. 51) Apparently the Irthlingborough third of the Gargate fee
passed to Gunfrid de Gargate, whose son David
conveyed 7 virgates of the fee there to Walter, abbot
of Peterborough (1233–46). (fn. 52) Ernulf, prior of St.
Andrew's, Northampton, granted the 2 virgates in
Warmington given to his house by Hugh de Gargate,
to Simon de St. Liz, (fn. 53) and in 1253 and 1254 the twothirds of the Gargate fee in Warmington were held
by John de St. Liz. (fn. 54) William de St. Liz acquired
further lands in 1285, (fn. 55) and he, or another of the same
name, did homage in 1310, (fn. 56) and in 1315 held these
two parts of the Gargate fee. (fn. 57) About 1322 William
de St. Liz sold his interest to Ralph de Thorney,
who died in 1333. (fn. 58) His widow Margaret was
holding in 1346, and their son Thomas was in pos-
session shortly afterwards. (fn. 59) The almoner of Peterborough secured a virgate of this fee. (fn. 60)
Soon afterwards the Stokks or Stock family became
prominent. They may have originally been connected with the Stoke Doyly land in Warmington. (fn. 61)
In 1375 the right of Thomas del Stokkes to a tenement in Elton and Warmington was acknowledged by
Hugh Rauf and Agnes his wife; (fn. 62) and the same was
held by John Stokkes and Alice his wife in 1390. (fn. 63)
It was probably the same John who, in 1428, held the
fourth part of a knight's fee in Warmington which
had formerly (1346) been held by Margaret wife of
Ralph Thorney. (fn. 64) He or his son John seems also to
have had a grant of lands forfeited by John Moyne. (fn. 65)
A son of John and Agnes Stock was Sir William
Stock, knight, of Warmington, who, in 1464, was
attainted as an adherent of Henry VI, (fn. 66) but procured
pardon and restitution in 1472. (fn. 67) He died in 1485,
leaving as heir his brother Thomas Stokes, clerk. (fn. 68)
Agnes, widow of John Stok, died in August, 1465,
holding tenements in Warmington and Papley of the
abbot of Peterborough, and others in various places
in the district. The heir was her son the abovenamed Thomas Stok, clerk. (fn. 69) This son died 23 October 1495, having settled his estate on one Thomas
Stock the younger and his sister Agnes; these may
have been illegitimate, for his heirs were his two
sisters, Isabel, widow of — Fazakerley and Margaret
wife of William Brown of Stamford, whose daughter
and heir married John Elmes. (fn. 70) The Fazakerley
share, described as 8 messuages, 100 acres of land
and 40 acres of meadow in Warmington and Churchfield, was purchased by George Kirkham about
1504. (fn. 71) By his will (fn. 72) (3 March 1527–28) he bequeathed all his land to his son Robert, some being
in the hands of trustees for Robert's wife Sibyl;
should Robert have no children, then the lands in
Warmington, Papley, Churchfield, Elton, etc., were
to be given to his daughter Margaret Middleton, with
remainders to his other daughters Agnes Lynne and
Cecily Kirkham. (fn. 73) Dying soon afterwards, he was
succeeded by his son Sir Robert Kirkham, who at
the Dissolution acquired the priory of Fineshade and
made it his seat, selling his lands in Warmington,
which he styled a manor, (fn. 74) to Edmund Elmes in
1555. (fn. 75) The Stock estate was thus reunited and
afterwards descended with Papley (q.v.).
Walo de Paston held of the abbot (about 1100)
½ hide in Warmington for the third part of a knight's
fee, in conjunction with his land in Paston. (fn. 76) This
had descended to Robert Peverel by 1146, (fn. 77) and to
William Peverel by 1189, (fn. 78) and he was succeeded by
Robert Peverel. Robert's under-tenant a little later
(1211) was Gilbert Peverel, (fn. 79) who released to abbot
Martin the 4 virgates of land he held by the service
of the third part of a fee. Robert quitclaimed to the
abbot all his right in Gilbert's tenement, and at the
same time released its liability to knight's service.
Gilbert retained one virgate at a rent; the other
holders were Hugh Gargate, Hugh de Codestoke,
Reginald son of Walter Le Noreys. (fn. 80) The name
Peverel fee was retained for some time. It rendered
13s. 4d. to the scutage of Deganwy c. 1250, (fn. 81) and the
reeve of Warmington received from it 18d. yearly for
ward of Rockingham castle. (fn. 82) The tenants at this
time were Robert Peverel, the almoner of Peterborough (successor of Coterstock), Reginald Porthors
(Noreys), and John de St. Liz (Gargate). (fn. 83) Hugh
Aubrey and Athelina, widow of Robert Coif, had
succeeded Peverel and Porthors in 1346. (fn. 84)
The Churchfield (Angevin) part of Warmington
seems to have lain in Eaglethorp. In 1202 Christian,
widow of Adam Gargate, released to Ismena, widow of
William Angevin, dowry in Warmington. (fn. 85) The
same Christina was concerned in another sale to
Geoffrey, the clerk of Elton. (fn. 86) Baldric, son of
William Angevin, released to the almoner of Peterborough a virgate which his mother, Ismena, had once
held, (fn. 87) and he was holding in 1227. (fn. 88) The property
seems to have followed the descent of Churchfield in
Oundle and Lyveden in Aldwinckle St. Peter (q.v.),
and formed part of the lands in Warmington, and
Elton forfeited by Sir John Holt in 1387. (fn. 89)
Sapcote. Sable three dovecotes argent.
John, son of Sir John Knyvet, in 1395 made a
settlement of an estate in Warmington and Elton
sometime held by Joan, widow
of Richard Knyvet, and by
John Knyvet the father, by
feoffment of William Lyveden. (fn. 90) From abbot Elnestow's
rental of 1393 (fn. 91) it appears that
the Knyvet holding was largely
in Eaglethorp, and a later
corrector altered the name
Knyvet to Sapcote. How the
latter family succeeded is not
manifest, but Richard Sapcote
and Margaret his wife held the
manor of Elton and lands in Eaglethorpe in 1517. (fn. 92)
The estate descended to Henry Sapcote, who was in
possession in 1600, in right of his wife Joan, daughter
and coheir of Robert Sapcote. (fn. 93) Soon afterwards it was
acquired by the Proby family, descending through the
Earls of Carysfort to the present owner as shown
above. In an inquiry made in December 1605 it was
stated that Henry Sapcote had copyhold and freehold
lands in Warmington, rendering £3 9s. 10d. a year, but
how much was copyhold and how much freehold was
not known. He also had copyhold tenements in
Eaglethorp, which decayed about 1570. (fn. 94)
In 1291 the prior of Fineshade had 1s. rent from
Warmington, and the prior of St. Andrew's 19s.;
the almoner, sacrist and infirmarer of Peterborough
had respectively £3 13s. 4d., 6s. 8d., and 6s. (fn. 95) In
1535 the almoner received £28 3s. 4¼d. from this
manor and the cellarer had 60s. from Eaglethorp. (fn. 96)
Knights Templars. Argent a cross gules and a chief sable.
Knights Hospitallers. Gules a cross argent.
The nuns of Stamford had an estate here, (fn. 97) called
Blofield. In 1545 a rent of 20½d. and lands in Warmington were granted to Richard and Robert
Taverner. (fn. 98) Bridges gives the following description
of the house there: 'There are still [1711] remaining
arched windows and a chamber at the west end, now
a dove house, called the Chapel Chamber; 4 ac.
of meadow called Nuns' Acres belong to it.' (fn. 99) There
was a local family named Blofield, and Ishmael
Blofield, gent., died in 1636, holding a tenement called
Ederley Place, descending to him from his father
William and grandfather Thomas. He left sons,
William and Ishmael. (fn. 100) The Knights Templars
(afterwards the Hospitallers) had an estate here from
an early time, for Brother Aymery, Master of the
Temple, claimed from Hugh Gargate land in Warmington and Ogerstone in 1209; (fn. 101) in 1546 appurtenances of the manor of Sibston, late of Temple
Brewer preceptory, were sold by the Crown. (fn. 102) Rents
of 7d. and 4d. are recorded from Warmington and
Lutton in the Temple Brewer accounts. (fn. 103)
The various minor tenements of Gargate and others
seem to have varied considerably from time to time,
so that the tracing of them is uncertain, but the
manor of PAPLEY retained its individuality. Isembard Artifex, named in Domesday Book, is recorded to
have been the first enfeoffed by the abbots of a knight's
fee. (fn. 104) His successors took the local surname but the
descent cannot be traced in detail. Martin de
Pappele attested charters of the abbot in 1117 and 1120
and is mentioned in 1146. Probably a son or grandson
of the same name held the knight's fee in 1189, (fn. 105)
and was defendant in a claim for dower in 1202. (fn. 106)
Walter de Papley had succeeded by 1212. (fn. 107) Roger
de Peterborough gave land in Peterborough to
Martin son of Walter de Papley in free marriage
with his daughter Alice. (fn. 108) Martin de Papley was
tenant in 1227 (fn. 109) and acquired other land in 1240; (fn. 110)
he occurs in 1242 (fn. 111) and 1254, paying 4s. for ward of
Rockingham Castle. (fn. 112) The hamlet, which made
with Warmington one geldable vill, about this time
contributed 2s. for sheriff's aid, 2s. for view of frankpledge and 3s. for suit. (fn. 113) John de Papley did homage
in 1276 and Thomas son of John in 1300. (fn. 114) The
name of this latter occurs again in 1316, (fn. 115) and 1322,
when he was recorded to hold a knight's fee and the
fourth part of the serjeanty of being bailiff at Castor
Court. (fn. 116) He or another Thomas occurs in 1346, (fn. 117)
and the Bishop of Lincoln in 1398 gave licence for
divine service in the manor house of Papley for two
years to Thomas Papley and Isabel his wife. (fn. 118) The
same tenement was held in 1428 by John Papley
(½ fee), and John Beven and John Ward (½ fee). (fn. 119)
In 1456 Richard Papley, son and heir of John, and
Isabel his wife, joined in selling the manor to William
Brown of Stamford, merchant. (fn. 120)
As already stated, this William Brown married
Margaret Stock, so that his descendants inherited
Papley, Lilford (which he acquired in 1473) (fn. 121) and a
large estate in Warmington and the surrounding
country. He appears to have been an innkeeper in
Stamford, where he founded an almshouse called the
Bedehouse. He died 14 April, 1489, (fn. 122) having made
a will in which he desired to be buried in Our Lady's
chapel in All Hallows', Stamford. (fn. 123) The manor of
Papley was held of the abbot of Peterborough by
fealty only. Margaret, his widow and executrix,
survived but a short time, dying on 28 October, 1489.
The heir was their daughter Elizabeth, wife of John
Elmes, aged 48 and more. (fn. 124) Margaret's will (fn. 125) left
many gifts to churches, including a vestment of black
velvet for Warmington (cope, chasuble and two
tunicles); it mentions John Elmes the elder, my son,
and Elizabeth his wife, William, Katherine, John the
younger, Joan and Isabel Elmes, Thomas, Margaret
and Jane Fazakerley, and the executors were her
brother Thomas Stock, clerk, John Elmes and
William his son.
Elmes. Ermine two bars sable each sprinkled with elm leaves or.
John Elmes, son of John Elmes of Henley, died
4 May, 1491, and it appears by the inquisition that
he had married Elizabeth by 1457; their son and
heir William was 27 years
old. (fn. 126) Elizabeth and William
Elmes obtained the manor of
Papley and other estates from
Brown's trustee in 1495. (fn. 127)
Thomas Stock died 23 October,
1495, leaving as heirs his
sister Isabel Fazakerley and
his niece Elizabeth Elmes. (fn. 128)
Elizabeth survived till 1511, (fn. 129)
but her son William Elmes,
of Stamford and the Inner
Temple, died in 1504, having
by his will (fn. 130) made many
charitable gifts, including one to Warmington.
The will mentions his mother Elizabeth, his wife
Elizabeth and Joan Iwardby her mother, sons John
and Thomas, and daughters Elizabeth and Joan. He
desired to be buried in the Temple church in London.
His wife was one of the three daughters and coheirs
of John Iwardby of Great Missenden, Bucks, where
she was born 24 August, 1475. (fn. 131) She seems to have
died in 1526. (fn. 132)
The son, described as John Elmes of Lilford, esq.,
made his will, (fn. 133) a very long one, in November, 1540,
and it was proved 7 February, 1544–5. By it he left
£10 to his 'grandfather' William Brown's almshouses
at Stamford and small gifts (including 6s. 8d. to Warmington) to many churches, the gild of our Lady
at Oundle, etc. His son Edmond was under 22 years
of age, and other children and kinsfolk are mentioned;
also lands in Papley, Ogerston, Elton, Fotheringhay
and Stamford. The executors were desired to make
reparation for any wrongdoing by him, and to give
knowledge of this 'about Oundle and Stamford,
where I shall be most defamed.' His wife, who survived, was Edith, daughter of John, lord Mordaunt
of Turvey, Beds. In 1539 charges had been brought
against him in the Star Chamber, which may explain
the defamation mentioned in his will. The inhabitants of Warmington and Barnwell claimed common
of pasture in these places and in Lilford and alleged
that Elmes had closed up highways in Papley, etc.,
converted arable into pasture and impounded their
cattle. He was learned in the law and a man of
great lands and substance. The witnesses for complainants described Papley as a hamlet in Warmington, and the inhabitants of Warmington had
common there till Elmes stopped them. Once there
had been twelve ploughs going in the fields of Papley,
but now only three. There had been ten houses of
husbandmen and four cottages in Papley, but only
two houses were now inhabited. Elmes had surcharged
the fields with cattle and sheep. He had stopped the
highway from Huntingdon to Fotheringhay called
Bradgate, and other roads. (fn. 134)
The son Edmund succeeded, and made in 1579 a
settlement of his manors of Papley and Warmington
(this latter being the Stock estate) (fn. 135) ; and he died
12 March, 1601–2, holding these manors of the bishop
of Peterborough, having settled them on his second
son Thomas. The heir was a son John, then aged 40. (fn. 136)
No reason is given for thus giving them to a younger
son, but his widow Alice (sister of Oliver St. John
of Bletsoe) in her own will directed that her late
husband's will was to be carried out, and left household
stuff at Lilford to John on condition that he did not
disturb it; Thomas was to have the household stuff
at Papley. Thomas Elmes, who thus succeeded, had
already several children—William, John, Edmund,
Thomas and Anthony being named. (fn. 137)
A survey of Warmington and Papley in 1605 has
been cited above. Thomas Elmes complained as to
Papley, that the jury had done their work badly.
He said the cow pastures in Ogerstone Leyes were
in the waste of Papley manor between Goldingdale
gutter and Papley hedge. Ogerstone Leyes had been
common or several, according to the time of the year.
In 1573 Sir Walter Mildmay procured a commission
to have the bounds between Warmington and Papley
defined (fn. 138) and also obtained an exchange of lands,
acre for acre. After this exchange Warmington and
Papley did not intercommune. Ogerstone Leyes
(though in Papley) were then allotted to Warmington
for common of cattle, but the soil still belonged
to the lord of Papley, who felled the wood, etc. The
true and ancient bound of Papley and Warmington
was Goldingdale, not Lutton brook. (fn. 139) Thomas
Elmes made settlements of the manor of Papley in
1615 and 1621 (fn. 140) ; and died at Lilford, 10 July, 1632.
As already stated, he had divided his estates, leaving
the older manors of Lilford and Papley to his eldest
son William, then aged 40 or more, and the newlypurchased manor of Warmington to the younger son
Thomas. (fn. 141) William had in 1614 married Margaret,
sister of Sir Francis Goodwin. The manor of
Papley was held of the bishop of Peterborough in
socage. The rectory of Warmington descended
with it for a time. William Elmes suffered a recovery
of his manors of Papley, Lilford and Wigsthorpe
watermill, etc., in 1632, (fn. 142) and died 17 April, 1641,
leaving a son and heir Arthur, aged only ten years. (fn. 143)
Arthur Elmes and Jane his wife were in 1663 still
in possession of the manor of Papley and the rectory
of Warmington. (fn. 144) Arthur died in that year and Jane
married Sir Francis Compton, the estate being sold in
1668 to Edward (Watson), lord Rockingham. (fn. 145) Lilford
descended separately. In 1708 Lewis, lord Rockingham (son of Edward) was in possession, (fn. 146) and in
1735 his grandson Lewis, earl of Rockingham. (fn. 147)
On his death in 1745 his brother Thomas (d. 1746)
succeeded and left his estates to a kinsman, Lewis
Monson (afterwards Watson), created baron Sondes in
1760, who held Papley in 1751. (fn. 148) The same family (fn. 149)
were in possession in 1785 (fn. 150) and 1818. (fn. 151) Afterwards
Papley went to the FitzWilliam family, one of whom
had married Anne, sister and coheir of Charles, 2nd
marquis of Rockingham, heir male of the Edward,
lord Rockingham of 1668. It was owned in 1864
by the Hon. George Wentworth-Fitz William, younger
son of Charles, 5th earl FitzWilliam, whose son,
George Charles Wentworth-FitzWilliam, is the
present owner.
Watson, Earl of Rockingham. Argent a cheveron azure engrailed between three martlets sable with three crescents or on the cheveron.
Fitzwilliam. Lozengy argent and gules.
Church
The church of ST. MARY-THEVIRGIN consists of chancel, 42 ft. 6 in.
by 19 ft., clearstoried nave of five bays,
73 ft. 6 in. by 15 ft. 6 in., north and south aisles each
13 ft. 6 in. wide, north and south porches, and west
tower 13 ft. 6 in. square, surmounted by a broach
spire. The width across the nave and aisles is
47 ft. 9 in. All these measurements are internal.
An organ chamber was added in 1893 in the angle of
the chancel and south aisle.
The church is built of Barnack ragstone, plastered
internally, and has plain parapets throughout. The
chancel is covered with grey slates, the rest of the
roofs being leaded. With the exception of the nave
arcades and certain minor alterations named below,
the building is all of 13th century date, a very beautiful example of the work of that period, the plan of
which has remained practically unaltered. Shortly
before 1850 the interior was partially restored,
numerous coats of whitewash and a west gallery
being then removed (fn. 152) : a more extensive and careful
restoration of the whole building was carried out in
1876.
The nave arcades belong to an earlier building and
date from c. 1180–90, at which time aisles were probbably first added to a 12th century church. The tall
and slender columns are octagonal on the north side
and on the south cylindrical in section, with responds
to correspond. The bases rest on plinths, probably
fragments of the walls of the earlier church, and have
good water mouldings. The capitals, which on both
sides have octagonal abaci, differ considerably. The
eastern respond and the two eastern columns on the
north side, and the western respond and eastern column
on the south side have scallopped capitals. The
third column and west respond on the north and the
second and third columns on the south have waterleaf foliage, the northern column and respond having
volutes in addition. The western column on the
north side has well-developed crocketed foliage,
while the western column and eastern respond on the
south have plain early gothic mouldings, the respond
having also an extra band of moulding in the base.
The arches are high and pointed with small hoodmoulds and consist of two orders of square outline
with keeled edge-rolls and broad flat soffits.
About the middle of the 13th century the original
chancel was lengthened and rebuilt, the aisles were
rebuilt and widened, a clearstory was added to the
nave, and the tower, spire and porches were erected.
The south aisle seems to have been set out first,
but the whole of the work was planned with strict
regard to the spacing of the existing arcades of the
nave. The south doorway, covered by a magnificent
vaulted porch, is in the middle of the length of the
wall, with two three-light windows on each side, and
the north door is directly opposite in the middle bay
of the aisle, covered by a vaulted but less lofty porch.
In the 14th century new buttresses were added to
the aisle walls, and the east wall of the chancel seems
to have been rebuilt in the 15th century with a window
of poor design, and other windows were inserted in
the south wall. New buttresses were also added to
the chancel, a three-light window inserted in the
west wall of the south aisle, and a stair-turret, giving
access to the roof, made at the north-west angle of
the north aisle.
The chancel is of three bays and retains two
original windows on the north side, each of two-lights
divided by a slender mullion and with a cusped
quatrefoil in the head. Their hoods are continued
as a string along the upper part of the wall inside
and out, and the windows are extremely plain in
detail. Below the sills is another string, continued
round the whole chancel and raised to form a hood
to the round-headed doorway of a former sacristy
and to the pointed priest's doorway in the south
wall. Both these doorways are now blocked. The
east window is four-centered and of five cinquefoiled
lights without tracery. The windows on the south
side are of similar type, the first of two and the others
of three lights, and at the west end of the wall a
modern arch opens to the organ chamber, in which
the displaced window has been re-used. No traces
are visible in the chancel of either piscina or sedilia,
but at the east end of the north wall is a rectangular
aumbry, and on each side of the east window is a
13th century image bracket, that at the north end
elaborately carved but in a mutilated state, the other
moulded. A stone bench remains along the lower
part of the north and south walls, and against the
north wall is a large table tomb, with dowel holes
at the corners. (fn. 153) The chancel arch is of two moulded
orders, the inner one resting on slender detached
shafts with moulded bands half-way up and unrestored foliated capitals; the outer order dies into
the wall. The roof of the chancel dates from the
restoration of 1876, when it took the place of a plaster
ceiling and flat roof which had apparently been erected
in the 18th century. (fn. 154)
Plan of Warmington Church
The nave has a remarkable timber inner roof of
13th century date, in imitation of stone vaulting, with
ridge rib and two diagonals in each bay, the springers
of which are carried on stone shafts resting on corbel
heads in the spandrels of the arcades. The capitals
of these shafts have foliage which shows a strong
naturalistic tendency, (fn. 155) and the bosses of the wooden
diagonals are formed by grotesque heads and carved
foliage. The ribs are deep and massive with chamfered edges. At the east end of the nave are two
small sexfoiled circular openings lighting the space
between the outer and inner roofs (fn. 156) ; the pitch of the
outer roof, always low, has been preserved.
The windows of the aisles differ considerably in
detail. The east window of the north aisle is of
tracery formed by the curving and intersection of the
mullions, but all the others (fn. 157) on this side are of two
lights similar to those on the north side of the chancel,
and the clerestory windows on both sides are of
similar type, but smaller. In the south aisle the
windows on each side of the doorway consist of three
grouped lancets with moulded mullions and jambs
under a containing arch or label. Externally the
detail is fairly elaborate, especially in the windows
east of the porch, which are richly ornamented with
dog-tooth and have jamb-shafts with foliated capitals,
but internally the openings are simply splayed, with
chamfered rear-arches. There is also a small window
of two lights over the doorway. The east window of
the aisle, now opening to the organ chamber, is of
five lights, with 13th century jamb-shafts, but its
mullions at a later date were continued upward to
meet the arch. A string, like that of the chancel,
is continued at sill level round both aisles.
The south doorway is of three moulded orders on
jamb-shafts with moulded capitals and bases, and the
porch has an internal wall-arcade of three moulded
arches on each side set on a bench table. The oak
door is original and retains plain 13th century hinges.
The porch is covered by a single quadripartite vault
with chamfered ribs springing from the end shafts
and meeting in a carved boss. The outer opening
has an arch of three moulded orders on jamb-shafts
with moulded capitals, bases and mid-bands, the
outer order being enriched with dog-tooth. On the
inside there are two chamfered orders only. The
north doorway is of a single moulded order and hoodmould, on attached jamb-shafts with moulded capitals
and bases, and the porch opening is of two orders, the
outer on engaged and the inner on detached shafts, all
with moulded capitals and bases. (fn. 158) The porch walls are
plain and the ribs of the vault die out in the angles.
At the east end of the south aisle there was an
altar, with a ledge for an image in the south-east
corner, and the piscina niche in the south wall has a
rounded trefoil opening with a triangular head, in
the tympanum of which is an octofoiled circle. West
of this is a tomb recess in the wall, now half blocked
up, and there is another recess in the same wall west
of the doorway. In each of these recesses part of a
13th century grave slab is exposed. (fn. 159)
The tower is low and massive and of three stages
with moulded plinth and square angle buttresses.
The elaborate west doorway has an inner trefoiled
head set within an outer arch of three moulded orders
on jamb-shafts with moulded capitals and bases,
the whole profusely ornamented with dog-tooth.
In the lower stage, north and south, is a tall roundheaded window, and in the middle stage a quatrefoiled circle on each face. The bell-chamber windows
are of two lights deeply set, with a quatrefoil in the
spandrel, dog-tooth ornament, and jamb-shafts with
moulded capitals and bases. The spire is low, but
well proportioned to the tower. It rises from a corbel
table of masks and has three tiers of lights of somewhat
disproportionate height. The doorway to the vice,
in the south-west corner, has a rounded head and the
arch into the nave is of three chamfered orders,
the outer springing from small moulded corbels,
the others resting on half octagonal jambs round which
the mouldings of the corbels are continued; the
jambs have bases with water-moulding and stand on
very large plinths.
The stair to the rood loft is at the south-east corner
of the north aisle, and the doorway remains in the
wall of the nave above. The whole of the upper part
of the existing rood screen dates only from 1876,
before which time "a portion of the base" only
remained, in the panels of which were some vestiges
of colour. (fn. 160) The original work, which is of 15th
century date, has been restored and the whole is
richly coloured and gilded. The pulpit, similarly
restored, appears to be of about the same date; it
has six panelled sides, with painted figures of our
Lord and St. John the Baptist. A handsome Jacobean
screen, extensively restored, incloses the eastern
bay of the north aisle, which contains a late gothic
table tomb, said to have been erected by Sir Robert
Kirkham, (fn. 161) and an alabaster mural monument to
Thomas Elmes, of Warmington (died 1664), his wife
Ann (died 1686) and son William (died 1653).
The font has an octagonal bowl with trefoiled
panels, on a pedestal dated 1662, with the initials
S.S., W.B.; it has a plain flat cover.
The tower contains six bells, the treble being an
addition in 1912 (fn. 162) to a former ring of five, the second (fn. 163)
and tenor of which had been recast by Mears and
Stainbank in 1876. The present second (original
treble) is dated 1670, the fourth 1604, and the fifth
is by Henry Penn, of Peterborough, 1710. (fn. 164)
The plate consists of a silver cup and cover paten c.
1570, a silver flagon of 1736 given by Mrs. Anna Maria
Compton, and a silver plate of 1834. (fn. 165)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1558–1687; (ii) all entries 1688–1718; (iii)
baptisms and burials 1719–1812, marriages 1719–
1754; (iv) marriages 1754–1802; (v) marriages 1802–
1812.
Advowson
The advowson, like the manor, belonged to the monks of Peterborough,
and they presented the rectors. Giles
de Spoleto, one of the Legate Otho's clerks, was rector
in 1238, but not being resident, a "vicar," or deputy,
Thomas de Wudeston, chaplain, was appointed for
Giles's life; he was to have all the altarage. (fn. 166) Ellis
de Bedingham, a judge without a taint, was rector in
1281; he was buried at Bottisham (Cambs.) (fn. 167)
In 1291 the value of the rectory was estimated at
£38 a year, out of which a pension of 26s. 8d. was
paid to the abbot of Peterborough. (fn. 168) In 1316 the rectory was appropriated to the abbey, and a vicarage
was ordained. (fn. 169)
On the dissolution of the abbey the rectory came
to the Crown. A lease of it was granted in 1595 to
Thomas Elmes, (fn. 170) who in 1609 obtained it in fee, a
condition being that he paid £10 a year to the vicar
and £24 to the King. (fn. 171) The advowson of the vicarage
was reserved. The rectory descended with the manor
of Papley to Arthur Elmes, who in 1654 sold or mortgaged it to Sir John Trevor. (fn. 172) Sir Francis Compton
and Jane his wife (daughter of Sir John Trevor and
widow of A. Elmes) passed it to trustees in 1668, (fn. 173)
and in 1701 James Compton had the tithes in Warmington, Papley and Eaglethorp. (fn. 174) Mrs. Anne Compton, widow of James, son of Sir Francis Compton,
was the lay rector in 1711. (fn. 175) In 1656 an augmentation
of £20 a year for the minister was approved, (fn. 176) but this
would not continue after the Restoration. Soon afterwards the rectory was subdivided. The separate tithes
of Papley were acquired by Lord Rockingham, owner
of that manor, in 1704, (fn. 177) and those of Eaglethorp
were held by William Whitwell and his wife in 1739; (fn. 178)
the residue was probably the "moiety of the rectory"
which occurs in a fine of 1719 between Francis Cudworth Masham and Nathaniel Gower, clerk, and
Frances his wife. (fn. 179) In 1775 John Williamson acquired
the rectory from William Compton and Catherine his
wife. (fn. 180) The tithes had been commuted in 1774, when
the Inclosure was made, excepting those of Eaglethorp.
The rent of £24 reserved to the Crown when the
rectory was sold, was granted out in 1619, (fn. 181) and came
to the Elmes family, becoming divided, like the manor,
among the five daughters of Thomas Elmes, who died
in 1664. (fn. 182) A fifth part of it was acquired by William
Walcott in 1709. (fn. 183)
Sir Walter Mildmay of Apethorpe (fn. 184) acquired the
advowson of the vicarage, and it descended regularly
to the earls of Westmorland. It was sold with the
Apethorpe property in 1904 to Sir Leonard Brassey who
exchanged the advowsons of Warmington and King's
Cliff with the Bishop of Peterborough for those of
Apethorpe and Woodnewton. The Bishop is the
present patron. About 1880 the vicar had £25 a year
from the Tithe Rent Charge, and £106 rent from the
44 acres of glebe. The net income is now £185, with
a house. (fn. 185)
According to Bridges (1711) there 'was anciently St.
Andrew's chapel [near the manor-house], of which no
vestige hath been remaining within any person's
memory, nor any mention occurs in any record.' William Proby had paid £4 16s. a year out of Eaglethorpe,
which was supposed to be the purparty of this chapel;
the rent was then paid to Lord Rockingham, who
owned part of the impropriated rectory by purchase
from Mr. Whitwell of Oundle, who had purchased
from Mrs. Compton. (fn. 186)
The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel, which was
rebuilt in 1881.
Three almshouses for aged widows were built in
1860 by the Ladies Fanny and Charlotte Proby.
Charities
Poor's money. A sum of £100, formerly given for the poor by benefactors
whose names are unknown, was placed
out in 1754 on security of the tolls of the turnpike
road from Peterborough to Wellingborough. The
endowment is now represented by £113 19s. 2d. Consols producing £2 17s. 0d. annually. The income is
distributed in money to poor men who have attained
the age of 65. In 1924 there were 13 recipients.
The Mossop Fund was founded by Declaration of
Trust dated September 1879. The endowment consists
of £301 8s. 1d. Consols producing £7 10s. 8d. yearly.
By his Will proved 23 September 1908 the Rev.
Charles Henry Ward Capron gave £1,000 to the Vicar
and Churchwardens upon trust to apply the income in
the distribution of coal to the poor on or about St.
Thomas's Day. The money was invested in £1,157
14s. 10d. India 3 per cent. Stock, producing £34 14s. 8d.
yearly. In December 1924 4 cwts. of coal were
delivered to each of 98 recipients, by the Vicar and
Churchwardens in respect of this Charity and the
Mossop Fund.
By his Will proved 27 August 1888 Daniel John
Baxter gave £100 to the Oundle Wesleyan Methodist
Circuit Superintendent and Circuit Stewards and the
Chapel Stewards and Society Stewards of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at Warmington upon trust to
apply the income for the benefit of poor Widowers
and Widows without respect of creed, sect or otherwise. The endowment consists of £96 1s. 6d. India
3½ per cent. Stock with the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds producing £3 7s. 4d. annually in dividends.
The income is distributed in money to about 25 recipients.
By her Will proved at Peterborough 13 April 1891
Mrs. Elizabeth Mossop gave a sum of money to the
Vicar and Churchwardens now represented by £93
2s. 5d. India 3½ per cent. Stock producing £3 5s. 4d.
yearly, the income to be distributed to poor Widows
on St. Thomas's Day. There are about 18 recipients.
The several sums of Stock are with the Official
Trustees of Charitable Funds.