BURTON LATIMER
Burtun (xiii cent.); Burton Latymer (xv cent.);
Burton Lattimer (xvii cent.).
The parish of Burton Latimer, which was constituted an urban district in 1923, comprises 2,756
acres. (fn. 1) The soil is clay and limestone lying on Upper
Lias, Great Oolite and Cornbrash beds. The land
rises northward and eastward from the river Ise
which forms a part of the western boundary and from
a stream flowing into the Ise on the south, the height
at the rivers being a little below 200 ft. and in the
north-east of the parish about 300 ft. above the
ordnance datum.
Burton Latimer Hall
The village, which is fairly large, lies on the road
from Higham Ferrers to Kettering, about 4 miles from
the latter place. The church stands in the middle of
the village. The rectory house is a 17th-century
building with vaulted cellars of that period but was
newly fronted in the style of the time in the 18th
century and added to in more recent years. A house
known as the Manor House, which lies immediately
to the west of the church, probably stands on the site
of the Plessey manor house. It is a two-story building with thatched roof, in a gable of which is a panel
dated 1704 and with the initials, Iw M. The house
has been modernised and none of the original windows
remain. The school house is situated to the northwest of the church and is a rectangular 17th-century
building of Weldon ragstone measuring internally
44 ft. 4 in. by 16 ft., with a fine oak roof of five bays,
now covered with modern tiles. The front to the
road has four mullioned windows and a good central
doorway, above which is a curved gable breaking the
roof-line and containing a panel inscribed:—this house
was built 1622 the freschoole was founded
by thomas burbanke and margaret his wife 1587
memoria. ivsti. benedicta. pro. 10. Over each of
the windows is an inscription, as follows:—(i) 'Ex
dono Johannis Michel' (ii) '16 Donum Johannis
Barriffe 22' (iii) '16 Georgius Plowright me
dedit 22' (iv) 'W. Carpes citius quam imitaberis.
N.' (fn. 2) The larger three-light end windows have the
middle light heightened. The school-house was
renovated and additions made at the back about 1904.
To the north of the village is Burton Latimer Hall,
which was the manor house of the Latimer manor. It
is a picturesque, two-story gabled stone building of
simple but attractive design, erected in
the first half of the 17th century. It
contains a fine oak staircase and some
original oak doorways of unusual character. Alterations were made in the 18th
century, including one or two new
windows and a wing facing the main
road, and the house was restored and
additions made in 1872. The garden
retains the spacious outline given to it
in the 18th century, and near the house
are stables of the same period and a
rectangular dovecote with end gables and
lantern, all this work being of a plain
character. In the grounds are some
ancient fishponds. A boot and shoe
factory, large flour mills, and quarries
give employment to the inhabitants.
The parish was inclosed by Act of Parliament. (fn. 3)
Several of the rectors of the parish
attained a certain degree of eminence or notoriety
beyond its limits. Hugh Ashton, who owed his preferment to Lady Margaret Beaufort, was, like her, a
generous benefactor of St. John's College, Cambridge. (fn. 4)
Dr. Robert Sibthorpe was a royalist, who made his
reputation by his advocacy of extreme obedience to the
king in an assize sermon preached in 1627. (fn. 5) John
Owen, who succeeded his father in 1608 in the rectory
of Burton Latimer, became Bishop of St. Asaph, and
was chiefly famous for his work as a Welsh bishop. (fn. 6)
Thomas Grimthorpe is best known for his Life and
Works of William Cowper, published in 1835, and
Thomas Barlett for the Memoir of the Life, Character
and Writings of Bishop Butler, published in 1839. (fn. 7)
Manors
In the reign of Edward the Confessor,
Earl Ralph, probably the earl of Hereford, held 8½ hides of land, (fn. 8) which
constituted, until the first half of the 13th century, the
manor of Burton, and paid the service due from 1½
knights' fees. (fn. 9) In 1086, it was held of the king in
chief by Guy de Reinbuedcurt, (fn. 10) whose son Richard
was the tenant under Henry I. (fn. 11) Richard is said to
have pledged the manor in payment of a gambling debt,
to the King, (fn. 12) who granted it, to hold at pleasure,
to Alan de Dinant, a Breton who defeated the champion of the King of France near Gisors. (fn. 13) This grant,
which was continued to Alan's successors, evidently
caused confusion as to the payment of scutage, and
in 1173–74 an inquiry was ordered as to the fee which
Roland de Dinant held of the King. (fn. 14) Margery, the
daughter and heir of Richard de Reinbuedcurt,
married Robert Foliot and their descendants continued to return Burton amongst their fees. (fn. 15) Margery,
the granddaughter of Robert Foliot, brought their
rights in the manor to her husband Wischard Ledet,
who answered for the Foliot barony in 1210–12. (fn. 16)
In 1215, his lands were seized by King John, and his
Northamptonshire holdings were granted to Hugh
Neville. (fn. 17) Ledet, however, recovered Burton, which
escheated to the Crown at his death, about 1221. (fn. 18)
It seems clear, however, that at this time, or a few
years later, a division of the manor was made between
the heir of Wischard Ledet and the successors of
Alan de Dinant. The former relinquished the overlordship of the whole manor and obtained a third
of the township of Burton, which formed a separate
manor, held in chief of the King in demesne as half
a knight's fee. (fn. 19) It was known as AYLESFORD'S
MANOR (fn. 20) or BURTON LATIMER. (fn. 21) Wischard
Ledet's heir was his daughter Christina, the wife first
of Henry de Braybroc (fn. 22) and then of Gerard de
Furnival. (fn. 23) She outlived both her eldest son Wischard,
who took the name of Ledet, and his son Walter, so
that on her death between 1266 and 1270, (fn. 24) her heirs
were Walter's daughters Alice and Christina, the wives
of the brothers William and John Latimer, and Burton
was apparently assigned to Alice. (fn. 25) In the meantime,
the manor had been subinfeudated. In 1242 it was
held by Henry de Aldwinkle, probably only for life, (fn. 26)
since it was given, possibly in the lifetime of Christina, (fn. 27)
to her younger son Gerard de Furnival. (fn. 28) He gave
it to his elder daughter Christina, the wife of William
de Aylesford or Eylesford, (fn. 29) and it was held of the
Latimers for the rent of 1 oz. of silk or 12d. a year. (fn. 30)
The younger Christina, as a widow, apparently granted
it both to Gerard de Furnival and to John Devereux
and, though an ensuing lawsuit in 1283 was decided in
favour of Furnival, (fn. 31) Devereux evidently obtained a
further grant of it for life as he died seised in 1316. (fn. 32) It
reverted to Christina's son, Gerard de Aylesford (fn. 33) and
passed in direct succession to
Edmund, (fn. 34) John (fn. 35) and John de
Aylesford. The last granted
all his right in the manor in
1369 to his overlord William,
Lord Latimer, the greatgrandson of Alice Ledet. (fn. 36) On
the death of Lord Latimer's
widow in 1389 it passed to
their daughter Elizabeth and
by her marriage to the
Nevilles, (fn. 37) who held it till
the death of John Neville,
Lord Latimer, in 1577. (fn. 38) It was inherited by
Catherine, the eldest of his four daughters and heirs,
and wife of Henry, Earl of Northumberland. (fn. 39) Her
son sold it in 1605 to Francis and George Mulsho, (fn. 40)
from whom it passed to Edward Bacon. (fn. 41) He died
seised of the manor of Burton Latimer in 1627 (fn. 42) and
was succeeded by his son Thomas, a vigorous opponent
of the levy of ship-money. (fn. 43) Thomas's son Edmund
inherited it in 1642 (fn. 44) and was living in 1670. Early
in the 18th century, Dr. Perkins, who had married
the widow of Edmund or his successor, was lord of the
manor. (fn. 45)
Latimer. Gules a cross paty or.
About 1760 the manor was purchased by John
Harpur, on whose death it passed to his cousin
Joseph Harpur, of Chilvers Coton (co. Warwick). His
son, Henry Richard Harpur, was succeeded in 1870 by
his brother, the Rev. Latimer Harpur, who died in
1872. His son and heir, the Rev. Henry Harpur,
died in 1904, and was succeeded by his son, Thomas
Wilfred Harpur, the present owner. (fn. 46)
The two-thirds of the township of Burton which
in the 13th century were assigned to the successors
of Alan de Dinant became known as the manor of
BURTON by THINGDEN (fn. 47) or BURTON PLESSY
or PLACY (fn. 48) . Alan, the grantee of Henry I, was
succeeded as tenant at will in the whole of Burton by
Roland de Dinant, who was holding it in 1166 and
1173. (fn. 49) Before 1190, it had passed to his nephew
and heir Alan, the son of his sister Emma and Robert
de Vitry. (fn. 50) He seems to have died shortly and Burton
passed to his mother and Robert de Vitry, but before
1196 it escheated to the King. (fn. 51) Burton passed
to Thomas Malemains, the husband of Joan, a granddaughter of Emma de Vitry, and one of the daughters
of Eleanor de Vitry by her second husband, Gilbert
de Tellieres. (fn. 52) Malemains went to Germany in
1209, (fn. 53) and apparently during his absence, King
John gave Burton to Fulk de Cantilupe to hold at
will. (fn. 54) Malemains on his return joined the king's
party, and recovered the manor of Burton in 1216,
as part of his wife's inheritance. (fn. 55) In 1217, it was
again granted to Cantilupe, (fn. 56) but presumably he
obtained other compensation, since on the death of
Thomas Malemains, it was granted during pleasure
in 1219 to his widow Joan. (fn. 57) She died in 1221, and
the custody of her lands and heir was granted to
William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury and his wife
Ela, her half-sister. (fn. 58) Nicholas Malemains obtained
livery of the manor before 1225 (fn. 59) and it was probably
during his life time that the division of the manor of
Burton already mentioned was made. In 1236,
Nicholas apparently held the whole of the 1½ knight's
fees. (fn. 60) Before 1225, he leased the manor (fn. 61) and then
forfeited it. In 1228 it was granted to William
Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, on behalf of his brother
Richard Marshall, (fn. 62) on whose death in 1233, it was
granted, during the king's pleasure, to Gilbert de
Segrave. (fn. 63) In 1234, however, Nicholas Malemains
obtained restitution of the manor. (fn. 64) He died before
1240 (fn. 65) and his widow apparently only held the
smaller manor for her life. (fn. 66) His heir, presumably
his daughter, was Ela, the granddaughter of Thomas
Malemains and wife of Robert de Plessy. (fn. 67) On the
death of Nicholas's widow, Beatrice, after 1284, (fn. 68) the
manor was held in direct descent by John, son of
Robert and Ela (d. 1313), Edmund (d. 1327), Nicholas
(d. 1356), and John who was succeeded by his brother
Nicholas Plessy, a minor, who died in 1362. (fn. 69) It
passed to his sister Joan, the wife of John Hamely. (fn. 70)
Their son John died without issue, and after the
death of John Hamely in 1399, the reversion of the
manor belonged to Joan's uncle, Peter Plessy, (fn. 71) who
had granted it to John Plessy of Shapwick (co. Dorset),
whose son John came into possession. (fn. 72) In 1406, (fn. 73)
another John succeeded, and on his death in 1417, it
passed to John Cammell, son of Joan, the sister of
the first John Plessy of Shapwick. (fn. 74) His son Robert and
grandson William succeeded
him, (fn. 75) but William sold Burton
Plessy in 1496 to feoffees apparently to the use of Nicholas
Boughton, who died seised in
1519. (fn. 76) His son Edward presumably sold it to Sir Nicholas
Vaux, who died seised in
1523. (fn. 77) The Vaux family
held it till the death of
Edward, Lord Vaux of Harrowden, (fn. 78) when it passed under a settlement of 1646
to Nicholas Knollys, Earl of Banbury. (fn. 79) His son
Charles sold it to Christopher Cratford and John
Kenricke in 1687. (fn. 80) It changed hands frequently
at this time. Early in the 18th century, John Whiting
was lord of the manor, (fn. 81) but in 1738 Mrs. Anne
Dickinson, a widow, sold it to Arthur Brooke. (fn. 82) In
1764, William Steer and his wife Anne sold it to George
Udny, (fn. 83) who, in turn, sold it in the same year to John
Harpur, (fn. 84) who already had the manor of Burton
Latimer (q.v.)
Plessy. Argent six rings gules.
The Priory of Bradstoke held the NETHER manor
or PRIOR'S manor in BURTON in frankalmoin of
the lords of the manor of Burton Plessy. (fn. 85) In 1221
Henry de Braibroc and his wife Christina Ledet
granted one virgate of land to the Prior, (fn. 86) but the
greater part of the manor must have been formed
from the land which Nicholas Malemains granted
to his sister Hillary in marriage. After the death
of her husband, Walter de Godarville, she granted
it in frankalmoin to the Priory, and further charters
were obtained from her daughter Joan, the wife
of Geoffrey Gacelyn. (fn. 87) The Priory held the manor
till the early 16th century, (fn. 88) but it had been granted
to under-tenants at fee-farm. (fn. 89) In 1502, it was held
by John Ashby (fn. 90) in right of his wife Letitia, and they
sold it to Sir Richard Empson. (fn. 91) It was forfeited
on Empson's attainder in 1509, (fn. 92) and in 1512 Henry
VIII granted it to Sir William Compton. (fn. 93) In
some way, however, Thomas Empson regained pos-
session of the manor. (fn. 94) He seems to have sold it
to Richard Fermor, a merchant of the Staple of Calais
who was attainted under Henry VIII, but when pardoned in 1550, only tenements in Burton Latimer
are mentioned among the lands restored to him. (fn. 95)
The Prior's manor was apparently included amongst
them, since his son, Sir John Fermor, together with
his wife, sold it in 1555 to Richard Humphrey. (fn. 96) The
latter died seised of it in 1557, (fn. 97) but its later history
does not appear. In 1803 William King claimed to
have a manor in Burton Latimer, which may have been
the Nether manor. (fn. 98)
The Abbey of Croxton held a manor, called
THINGDEN and BURTON LATIMER, with lands
in both townships. Its history
appears under Fineden. (fn. 99)
Croxton Abbey. Or a bend between six martlets sable.
The lords of the manor of
Burton Plessy held a view of
frankpledge, to which, in
1285, the tenants of the Prior
of Bradstock did suit. (fn. 100) The
Earls of Gloucester also held
a view of frankpledge for the
township of Burton, withdrawing suitors from the
Abbot of Peterborough's court
for the Hundred of Huxloe. (fn. 101)
It passed by inheritance to
the Earls of Stafford, (fn. 102) and came into the hands of the
king. (fn. 103)
In 1803, Henry, Duke of Buccleuch and his wife
Elizabeth owned the Honour of Gloucester Fee in
Northants, to which the view probably belonged.
They also claimed to own a manor in Burton Latimer. (fn. 104)
Two mills were attached to the manor in 1086,
paying 16s. a year. (fn. 105) One mill is mentioned in 1220
as part of the inheritance of Margery Foliot, (fn. 106) and
presumably passed with the manor of Burton Latimer.
The second mill seems to have been assigned to the
Malemains, whose sister Hillary granted it to the
Priory of Bradstock. (fn. 107) The Priory of Bushmede
also had a mill in Burton Latimer at the time of its
dissolution. (fn. 108)
Church
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of chancel 41 ft. 6 in.
by 18 ft., with modern south vestry,
clearstoried nave 71 ft. by 17 ft. 6 in., north and south
aisles 11 ft. wide, north porch, and west tower and
spire. The width across nave and aisles is 44 ft. 6 in.,
and the tower is 13 ft. square, all these measurements being internal.
The church throughout is built of rubble, with
leaded roofs to nave and aisles, and high-pitched
modern tiled roof to the chancel. The aisle parapets
are plain, and those of the clearstory battlemented.
The church was extensively restored in 1866–68, when
the tower and spire were taken down and rebuilt with
the old materials, and the flat roof of the chancel
removed. In 1882, the porch was restored, the vestry (fn. 109)
rebuilt, an organ recess constructed on the north
side of the chancel, and the nave reseated. All
the walls are plastered internally.
A pre-Conquest stone with plait-work upon it
was re-used in the rebuilding of the tower, but no
part of the present building is older than the 12th
century, in the early part of which there was an
aisleless church, the nave occupying at least the
existing three west bays and probably a fourth farther
west, of which only half now remains. (fn. 110) The south
wall of this building was pierced c. 1130 by an arcade
of four round arches, three of which, with a half
arch at the west end, and three piers still remain.
The eastern arch has a chevron moulding on the
nave side, the second a roll, while the others are
unmoulded, and all are plain facing the aisle. The
cylindrical piers have moulded bases and scalloped
capitals, the square abaci of which, in two of the
piers, have incised carving on the north face. No
north aisle was made at this time, but a transeptal
chapel was added on the north side at its east end,
entered through a round arch, one of the jambshafts
of which remains in the compound pier of the
north arcade. This arch, which is equal in height
to the opposite arch in the south arcade, was originally
lower, and is now stilted on the west side: it has an
edge-roll towards the nave, and its impost blocks
remain on both sides.
A north aisle was added c. 1200, an arcade of three
bays with pointed arches of two chamfered orders
being cut through the wall west of the transept, two
and a half bays of which remain. The eastern pier
is a small square with large attached shafts, and the
western pier is cylindrical, both having moulded
bases and capitals with good stiff leaf foliage. The
half-round east respond, which forms part of the
compound pier of the transept, has also a stiff-leaf
capital and square abacus, and the pier has also shafts
at the angles with foliated capitals and moulded
bases above a chamfered plinth. From the north
aisle an arch (now destroyed) was made into the
transept, springing from short angle-shafts in the
wall and from the back of the compound pier, some
2 ft. below the arches of the nave. (fn. 111)
The great west tower was built in the second quarter
of the 13th century, and intruded on the west end
of the 12th-century nave, cutting it short by half a
bay, and shortly after, about 1250, the nave was
lengthened to the east by three bays, the old arches
immediately adjoining the new work being adapted
to it—on the south side by leaving a portion of the
12th-century respond capital above the capital of
the new pier, and on the north by the retention
of the impost block, new piers taking the place of the
original east responds. The aisle walls appear to
have been rebuilt at the same time, except, perhaps,
in the western bay, and the chancel was completed
in its present form c. 1270–80. A keel-shaped stringcourse runs round the whole of the chancel below
the windows, and along the aisles to within about
20 ft. from the west end.
About the middle of the 15th century, the clearstory was added, the porch built, and new windows
inserted in the aisles, the walls of which were
heightened. The spire is approximately of the same
date, perhaps immediately following the clearstory,
and the church then assumed its present aspect.
Plan of Burton Latimer Church
The chancel has been much restored. (fn. 112) It has
two-stage buttresses of small projection, and a
modern five-light east window with geometrical
tracery, but the other windows, three on each side,
are c. 1280 of two trefoiled lights, with pointed trefoils
and cusped circles differing in detail in the heads.
There is a scroll string at sill level inside, but no
ancient ritual arrangements remain. The 13th
century chancel arch is of two chamfered orders,
the inner springing from half-octagonal responds
with moulded capitals and bases, the capitals being
cut back for a much restored and painted 15th-century
screen. (fn. 113)
The arches of the three 13th-century eastern bays
of the nave are of two chamfered orders springing from
piers of four clustered shafts and from half-octagonal
responds, all with moulded capitals and bases. The
13th-century north doorway is of a single continuous
chamfered order with hood, and retains a 15thcentury oak door on which are inscribed the names
of 'Ihon Campyon and Ihoan hys wyf.' The lofty
porch is open to the roof and has a moulded outer
arch with canopied niche above breaking the parapet
of the gable. The south doorway is of late 12thcentury date with round head of two moulded orders,
the outer on nook shafts with carved capitals and
with smaller attached shafts at the angles. The
west windows of the aisles are modern copies of
late 13th-century two-light openings, but all the
other windows north and south are four-centred
15th-century insertions of three cinquefoiled lights.
The clearstory windows, six on each side, are threecentred, and of two trefoiled lights.
The tower is of three stages, with good coupled buttresses and moulded plinth. The old stones having
been used in the rebuilding, it has lost little or nothing
of its original appearance. The doorway on the north
side reproduces a 14th-century opening in the same
position; the entrance to the vice-turret in the southwest angle, with its beautiful trefoiled head, has been
blocked and an external doorway made. The west
window is a widely splayed single lancet with rear
arch, and the lower stage is open to the nave by an
arch of three chamfered orders springing from clustered shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The
middle stage has plain arcading of three pointed arches
on the north, south and west sides, the middle arch
on the west being pierced by a lancet. The double twolight bell-chamber windows were originally without
tracery, but the lights were afterwards trefoiled and
a quatrefoil inserted in the head. The battlemented
parapet is the same date as the spire, which has two
sets of crocketed gabled lights.
The roofs of the nave and aisles are in the main
ancient, with moulded principals and carved bosses,
but all the rafters are new.
The font is ancient and consists of a plain octagonal
bowl and stem on a chamfered base: on the west the
stem has a solid projection bringing it in line with the
bowl.
The north aisle wall had formerly a painting, perhaps of the 14th century, representing the story of St.
Katharine, within a border, but only a fragment now
remains. A series of late Elizabethan paintings of the
twelve patriarchs in strapwork frames occupy the
spandrels of the nave arcades and are in a fair state of
preservation, though two have perished. (fn. 114)
There is a good Jacobean oak poor box: a large ironbound chest is dated 1629.
Below the tower is a marble wall monument with
brass figure, shields and inscription to Margaret Bacon
a 'chrisom' child (d. Jan. 1626–7), and at the east end
of the nave and in the chancel are two grave slabs
with indents of brasses, one of which retains a group
of nine daughters and a shield, and the other a shield
only.
There is a ring of eight bells. The treble and second
are by Taylor & Co. of Loughborough 1920, the third
by the same founders 1903, the fourth dated 1620,
the fifth by T. and J. Eayre of Kettering 1718, the
sixth and seventh dated 1619, and the tenor by Thomas
Eayre of Kettering 1749. (fn. 115)
The plate consists of a silver cup and cover patent
of 1569, the paten inscribed '1571' on the foot; a
paten of c 1682, and a flagon and almsdish of 1774. (fn. 116)
The registers begin in 1538, but the earlier entries
are on two parchment rolls. The first roll contains
baptisms to 1559, marriages to 1561 and burials to
1560, and the second, baptisms and burials to 1569
and marriages to 1567. The contents of the books
before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1558–1700,
marriages 1558–1718, burials 1558–1678, (fn. 117) (ii) burials
1678–1735, (iii) baptisms 1700–1812, (iv) marriages
1719–1757, (v) marriages 1754–1812, (vi) burials 1736–
1812. The first book contains lists of churchwardens
and overseers from 1668 to 1757 and of constables
from 1679 to 1757. There are churchwardens' accounts beginning in 1559 but not continuous, and a
book of briefs 1670–1753.
Advowson
The Foliots held the advowson
of the church of Burton Latimer in
the 12th century, but Richard Foliot
seems to have made some kind of grant of it to the
abbot of Beaulieu in Brittany, since, in 1220, the
abbot quitclaimed it to Richard's daughter and heir
Margery and Wischard Ledet. (fn. 118) Thomas Malemains presented to the church between 1216 and 1219 (fn. 119)
and in 1263 his granddaughter Ela and her husband
claimed the advowson against Christina Ledet, but
they lost their case (fn. 120) and Christina gave it to her son
Gerard de Furnival. (fn. 121) When he went to the Holy
Land he entrusted the advowson and an acre of land
to the rector, Master John Fleming, on condition that
if Gerard did not return they should be granted to
Christina de Aylesford, with remainder to her son
Gerard de Aylesford. (fn. 122) Fleming presented in 1290, (fn. 123)
but in a lawsuit of 1368 it appears he did not carry out
Furnival's stipulations. (fn. 124)
Prior to 1316, Sir Walter de Neville recovered the
advowson from Robert Fleming and Gerard de Aylesford (fn. 125) and granted it to Philip de la Beche. (fn. 126) Philip's
heir was his brother John who died before he obtained
seisin (fn. 127) and his two sons died childless, so that the
advowson was inherited in 1348 by his three daughters. (fn. 128)
In the meantime, however, Thomas Fytling, who
presented in 1348, (fn. 129) and his wife Alice seem to have
obtained the advowson, but it was recovered in 1349
by Andrew de Sackville and his wife Joan, the eldest
of the de la Beche heiresses. (fn. 130) The heiresses and their
husbands granted it to Edmund de la Beche, Archdeacon of Berkshire, (fn. 131) who died seised of it before
1364. (fn. 132) He was said in 1369 to have granted it to
Roger de Elmerugge, who successfully defended his
right in it against Sir William Latimer. (fn. 133) In 1369
Latimer obtained a grant of the advowson, which was
held by John de Aylesford and in some way ousted
John de Elmerugge, and from this time the advowson
was held by the lords of Burton Latimer manor (fn. 134) (q.v.)
until after 1676, when Edmund Bacon presented. (fn. 135) It
was sold by him or his successor to Sir Gilbert Dolben
bart., (fn. 136) whose family retained it till 1805. (fn. 137) In 1809
John Grimshaw presented (fn. 138) and in 1874 it belonged
to the Rev. Francis Brown Newman. (fn. 139) At the present day Mrs. Jaques is the owner of the advowson.
A considerable amount of land was attached to the
rectory and in 1330 the rector was said to hold two
carucates. He and his predecessors held a view of
frank-pledge, waifs and strays, the assize of bread and
beer, and certain amercements. The right to hold the
view was disputed by the crown officials, but the rector
recovered it on payment of a fine. (fn. 140)
About 1239, the rector of Burton Latimer presented
Walter, a chaplain, to the vicarage of Burton, but apparently no vicarage was permanently ordained. (fn. 141) A
Baptist Chapel here dates from 1744; there is also a
Wesleyan Chapel in the village.
Charities
An allotment of 10 acres was set
out on an inclosure of the lands in
this parish in 1804 in lieu of land
formerly appropriated to the repairs of the church.
This land was sold in 1919 and the proceeds invested
in £517 10s. 7d. 5 per cent. War Stock, producing
£25 17s. 6d. yearly in dividends. The income is applied by the churchwardens towards church repairs.
Another allotment containing about 2¾ acres was
set out in lieu of land formerly called the Bell
Land or Bell Close. This land was also sold in 1919
and the proceeds invested in £171 16s. 1d. 5 per cent.
War Stock, producing £8 11s. 10d. yearly in dividends.
This is also applied by the churchwardens towards
church repairs.
The charities of William and Agnes Scott are regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated
28 January 1881. In 1514 William and Agnes Scott
gave £10 for the relief of the poor, and this with a
further sum of £40 arising from rents of some of the
Charity Estates was laid out in land for which, on the
inclosure of the parish, an allotment known as the
40 acre allotments was awarded. This property was
sold in 1919 and the proceeds invested in £2,500
4 per cent. Funding Stock, producing £100 yearly,
which is distributed in coal by the rector and 15
other trustees.
By his will, date unknown, Richard Hopkins gave
a piece of land in Burton Latimer containing about
1 a. 3 r. to the churchwardens for the poor. The land
has been sold and the endowment now consists of
£246 7s. 8d. Consols producing £6 3s. yearly, which is
applied in the distribution of six 2 lb. loaves weekly
to the poor.
An allotment of 70 acres was awarded for the benefit
of the poor upon the inclosure of the parish. The
charity is administered by the lord of the manors of
Burton Latimer, the rector of St. Mary and 4 other
trustees in compliance with a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners dated 23 May 1919. The land was
sold for £2,500 in 1919. Owing to the insolvency of
the solicitor acting for the trustees the deposit money
of £250 was lost. The residue of £2,250 was invested
in £2,812 10s. 4 per cent. Funding Stock. Of this £500
has been placed to an Investment Account in the
books of the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds
to replace the sum of £250. The income from the
residue, amounting to £92 10s., is distributed in coal
and clothing.
By his will dated 3 July 1546 William Luck gave
6s. yearly for the poor. This charge which issued out
of a house and premises in Burton Latimer was redeemed in 1924 by the transfer of £12 Consols to the
Official Trustees of Charitable Funds. The income
is applied by the trustees of the charities of William
and Agnes Scott in the distribution of coal.
The same trustees administer the charity of
George Plowright who by deed in 1633 gave a similar
sum for the poor. This charge, which issued out of
the same premises as William Luck's rentcharge, was
also redeemed by the transfer of £12 Consols to the
Official Trustees of Charitable Funds in 1924 and
the income is applied in the distribution of coal.
By his will dated in 1727 William Dickenson gave
£60 for the poor not receiving parochial relief. This
fund was placed out on mortgage, but was afterwards applied in defraying inclosure expenses concerning allotments set out in lieu of some of the Charity
estates.
By his will proved in P.R. 22 August 1921 Thomas
Ambler gave £1 yearly for the Old People's Treat. The
charge has been redeemed by the transfer of £40
Consols to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds.
The charity is managed by a committee.
By her will proved 19 Sept. 1856 Elizabeth Dopping Arnold gave £100 Consols to the rector and
churchwardens for the poor. The dividends amounting to £2 10s. yearly are applied in April for the relief
of the poor.
The several sums of stock are with the Official
Trustees of Charitable Funds.