ECTON
Echentone, Ekenton, Eketon (xi–xv cent.); Ekton,
Ecton (xv–xx cent.).
The parish of Ecton covers about 2,300 acres. It
lies on the side of a hill which rises gradually from
the River Nene, the southern boundary, to a height of
360 ft. towards the parishes of Sywell and Overstone
on the north. The soil is light loam and gravel with a
clay subsoil; the chief crops are wheat, beans, and roots.
The south part of the parish is covered by a part of the
irrigation farm of the Northampton Corporation, and
the land near the river is liable to floods.
The village of Ecton is built along both sides of a road
which leads from the river up the hill to the main road
from Northampton to Wellingborough, on which lies the
World's End Inn, mentioned in 1678 (fn. 1) but rebuilt about
1765. The approach to Ecton village from Northampton is shaded by two rows of ancient elms. A two-story
house of ironstone, with mullioned windows, at the
south-east end of the village bears the date 1695, another
1697, and a tablet on a shop shows that it was formerly
the free school, built by John Palmer in 1752. The
rectory house was originally erected by John Palmer,
(rector 1641–79) but rebuilt in its present form by his
grandson Eyre Whalley in 1693. It is of two stories with
a well-designed front elevation of dressed ironstone and a
slated hipped roof. The interior has been much modernized, but retains a fine 17th-century oak staircase with
turned balusters. In the landing window are the arms of
John Palmer (1641), Thomas Palmer (1691), and Eyre
Whalley (1735), rectors, and one of the upper rooms
contains excellent 18th-century panelling. (fn. 2) Ecton Hall,
the seat of Lt.-Col. Sotheby, stands high, commanding
extensive views. It has a good front, of ironstone, built
in 1756, but incorporates work of an earlier date. (fn. 3)
John Cole in his account of the parish, written in
1825, says: 'There is a tradition that Ecton was formerly
a market town, and that the market was held in a field
now well known by the name of Dove-house Close,
but there is no confirmation of this report to be found
in the fragment of the usual market-cross in the village.'
Ecton was the birthplace of Benjamin Franklin's
father, whose family had lived in the parish upwards of
three hundred years. (fn. 4) From about 1687 to 1703 Henry
Bagley, who is buried in the church, carried on a bellfoundry in Ecton. (fn. 5) The Board school was built in
1876. There are Baptist and Methodist chapels. The
population, which numbered 447 in 1931, is chiefly
employed in agriculture. Ecton parish was inclosed in
1759. (fn. 6) .
British coins of the late Celtic Age have been found
in the parish, (fn. 7) and Anglo-Saxon remains in the garden
at Ecton House. (fn. 8)
Ferrers. Vairy or and gules.
Lancaster. England with a label of France.
Manors
In 1086 Henry de Ferrers held of the
king 4 hides, valued at 100s., in Ecton;
Bundi had held them in the Confessor's
time, when they had been worth £3. (fn. 9) This land formed
part of the honor of Tutbury. After the death of
Henry de Ferrers the overlordship passed to his son
Robert, rst Earl of Derby, and with the other possessions of the Earls of Derby and Ferrers became
merged in the Duchy of Lancaster. The last mention
of the overlordship occurs in 1575, when it was held as
parcel of the Duchy by suit of court and 5s. 9d. rent. (fn. 10)
About 1428 Ecton passed to a younger branch of the
Montgomery family, who held this manor, together with
that of Cubley in Derbyshire, of the Tutbury honor.
Between 1482 and 1529 Ecton is found held of the
senior branch of the family as of their manor of Cubley. (fn. 11)
Montgomery. Or an eagle azure.
Isted. Gules a cheveron vair between three talbots' heads razed or.
Sotheby. Argent a fesse vert between three crosslets sable with three talbots argent on the fesse.
The first tenant in ECTON or MONTGOMERIES
MANOR was Ralf, who held 4 hides of Henry de
Ferrers in 1086. (fn. 12) These hides were held at the time of
the Northamptonshire Survey by William de Montgomery. (fn. 13) Probably this land was
part of the 4 knights' fees held in
1166 by Walter de Montgomery,
from whom the land passed to
William de Montgomery by
1177. (fn. 14) This William was succeeded by Sir William, who held
two fees in 1242. (fn. 15) In 1284
William held 1 fee in Ecton and
his son Ralph had 2/3 of a fee (fn. 16) in
the same place, which he held
from Isabel de Forz, Countess of
Devon. (fn. 17) In 1297 William de
Montgomery held the manor of Ecton and manors in
Derbyshire as 7 fees. (fn. 18) By the year 1316 Walter de Montgomery, probably his son,held Ecton; (fn. 19) he died in 1324
and was succeeded by his grandson Walter, (fn. 20) who was
holding in 1346. This Walter's younger son Walter (fn. 21)
had 1½ fees in 1428; (fn. 22) his brother Nicholas succeeded
to the manor of Cubley in Derby, and from him and his
heirs the younger branch held Ecton. (fn. 23) In 1482 a John
Montgomery died seised of a part of Ecton Manor
which had been settled on him and Margaret, daughter
of William Holdenby, on their marriage in 1449. The
residue had been granted in 1475 to John's son William
and his wife Elizabeth; William, therefore, succeeded
to the whole of the manor. (fn. 24) Michael Montgomery died
holding the manor in 1507, and Thomas Montgomery,
his kinsman, succeeded to the estate, (fn. 25) which on his
death in 1529 descended to his son Michael, then aged
14. (fn. 26) Thomas left an annuity of 10 marks out of the
manor to his younger brothers, (fn. 27) which was the subject
of litigation after his death. (fn. 28) In 1567 Lewis Montgomery, son of Michael, (fn. 29) settled the manor on his wife
Jane, daughter of Sir Robert Lane. He appears to
have left two parts of Ecton Manor to her for her life,
the remaining part to Jane, probably a daughter, the
wife of Thomas Eaton. (fn. 30) The manor was ultimately to
revert to his brother William Montgomery, who in
1574, together with his brother Theophilus, alienated
their reversionary interest in Ecton to Thomas Catesby. (fn. 31)
Thomas Catesby died in 1592 and was succeeded by his
son George, then about 15 years old. (fn. 32) George still held
the manor in 1650. (fn. 33) From Thomas Catesby, who
died seised of the manor in 1699, it descended to his
daughter (fn. 34) Elizabeth, (fn. 35) who married Ralph Freeman. In
1712 Ecton Manor was alienated by Ralph Freeman to
Thomas Isted, (fn. 36) who was succeeded in 1731 by his son
Ambrose. In 1745 Ambrose Isted received licence to
inclose certain highways in Ecton provided he made
another common highway in his own lands. (fn. 37) He died
in 1781 and his estates devolved on his son Samuel; his
daughter Mary married William Sotheby. (fn. 38) Samuel
Isted died in 1827 and his son Ambrose died without
issue in 1881, when Ecton passed to his first cousin once
removed, C. W. H. Sotheby, (fn. 39) and is at present the
property of Lt.-Col. Herbert George Sotheby, D.S.O.
Ecton: The Village
In the 15th century Sir Thomas Tresham of Sywell
held a considerable estate in Ecton described as ECTON
MANOR. In 1462 Edward IV granted to John Donne,
one of the ushers of his chamber, the manor of Ecton
recently forfeited by Sir Thomas Tresham. (fn. 40) In 1480
Edward IV granted these same lands to his servant Wm.
Sayer and his wife for life, (fn. 41) and four years later they
were bestowed upon Edward Brampton and his heirs
male. (fn. 42) After this date there is no further mention of the
Tresham estate, but it is possibly identical with the
manor held by Francis Catesby in 1527, when he willed
that Francis, second son of his nephew Anthony
Catesby, should succeed to his manor of Ecton. He
died the following year and Anthony, son of his brother
Humphrey and father of Francis mentioned above, then
held the estate, probably in trust for his son. (fn. 43) Francis
Catesby the younger died in 1537, his heir being his
elder son Thomas, then aged 3. (fn. 44) In 1575 Thomas,
then of full age, claimed ⅓ of his father's lands, (fn. 45) and in
1581 he compounded for the estate with his mother
Mary and her husband Nicholas Thorne, who surrendered it to him in 1598. (fn. 46) To this Thomas the
Montgomerys alienated their more important manor of
Ecton (q.v.) in 1574, (fn. 47) in which this property becomes
henceforward merged.
A third manor was formerly held by the abbey of
Warden. In 1291 the abbot held lands in Ecton valued
yearly at £3 13s. 7d.; (fn. 48) in 1535 these, including the
grange of Ecton, were valued at 61s. 6d. (fn. 49) After the
Dissolution, the estate, called ECTON MANOR, was
granted in 1540 at a yearly rent of 6s. to John Gostwyk
and Joan his wife; (fn. 50) they in the same year received
licence to alienate it to William Nicholls. (fn. 51) In 1585
Augustine, second son of Thomas Nicholls and grandson of the original grantee, alienated his manor to
Edward Stonynge and Julia his wife, (fn. 52) who in 1586
conveyed it to John Freeman. (fn. 53) In May 1606 John
Freeman settled part of his estate on his son Francis on
his marriage with Thomasine Andrews, with remainder
to his daughter Margaret, wife of Sir Robert Osborne.
At the death of John Freeman in 1615 his heir was his
grand-daughter Catherine, wife of Sir Edward Gorges
and daughter of Margaret Osborne deceased, (fn. 54) and in
1627 they transferred the manor to Sir Anthony
Haselwood. (fn. 55) From this date
until 1678 there is no mention
of the manor; but in 1678
Thomas Hackoll bought the
manor of Ecton, situated in the
Abbot's or Prior's Hyde, from
William Bernard for the sum of
£650. (fn. 56) In 1689 Nicholas, son
of Thomas Hackoll leased this
property for a term of 900 years
to Henry Bagley, bell-founder
in Ecton, (fn. 57) and in the same year
he sold him the mansion house
of Ecton. (fn. 58) After this date no
further trace of the Warden
manor has been found.
In 1086 there were two mills
in Ecton worth 14s. (fn. 59) Of these
mills one remained attached to
the main manor (q.v.), the other
appears to have passed to the
abbey of Warden which possessed a mill in Ecton as early
as 1291. (fn. 60)
In 1629 Charles I granted a
court leet and view of frankpledge in Ecton to Robert Owen
and his heirs. (fn. 61)
Cole (c. 1825) states that there is said to have been a
nunnery or cell subordinate to Delapré Abbey, and
describing Ecton House he writes: 'At the back of the
house is a yard bounded by high walls, which still
retains the name of Nuns' Court.' (fn. 62) There is no record
of any land in the parish having belonged to the nuns,
but in 1538 'all liberties belonging to the Priory of St.
Mary' in Ecton were granted to Anthony Denny and
Joan Champernowne, whom he was going to marry. (fn. 63)
Church
The parish church of ST. MARY
MAGDALEN consists of chancel, 41 ft.
by 14 ft. 10 in., with north and south
chapels; (fn. 64) clerestoried nave, 59 ft. by 20 ft.; north aisle,
12 ft. wide; south aisle, 9 ft. 6 in. wide; north and
south porches, and west tower, 12 ft. 6 in. square, all
these measurements being internal. The chapels are
continuations eastward of the aisles and cover the
chancel for about half its length.
The church is built throughout of ironstone rubble
except the later upper stage of the tower which is of
wrought freestone, and has plain parapets and lowpitched roofs. The nave was slated in 1814, (fn. 65) but elsewhere the roofs are leaded.
Plan of Ecton Church
The building in the main is of 13th-century date,
with alterations and additions in the 14th and 15th
centuries, but it may have developed from a 12thcentury aisleless church with central tower, north and
south transepts and short chancel. The nave of this
early building covered the area of the three western
bays of the present nave, and the eastern bay of which
represents either the crossing of the transept or an extension eastward of the nave. In the 13th century
aisles were added, the chancel rebuilt on a larger scale,
and a new tower erected at the west end, the arch of
which still stands. In the 14th century the tower was
rebuilt in its present form, the north aisle widened and
the chapels north and south of the chancel added. The
nave arcades seem to have been refashioned at this time,
retaining, however, many 13th-century features. The
north porch is an addition of the 15th century and
during the same period the tower was heightened and
the clerestory added. The chancel is said to have been
lengthened about 12 ft. in the 17th century, when a
doorway was cut through the north wall, and then or at
some later time in the long Palmer-Whalley régime (fn. 66) the
chancel arch was filled in, (fn. 67) and the north and south
arches to the chapels obstructed by large memorial
tablets, (fn. 68) the chancel thus being cut off from the rest
of the church and used as the burial-place and private
chapel of the rectors. About 1825 the church was
ceiled and newly pewed, and a west gallery was afterwards erected and the tower arch blocked. The work
then done still remains, but the chancel was opened
out again about eighty years ago and has since been
restored. (fn. 69) The north chapel, or vestry, was rebuilt in
1890, and in 1908 the south chapel was rebuilt and
extended about 6 ft. eastwards. (fn. 70)
The chancel has a moulded string externally at sill
level and an east window of four lights with modern
Decorated tracery and moulded rear-arch, the internal
shafted jambs of which are of 13th-century date: there
is also a three-light window with modern tracery in both
the north and south walls. The 17th-century north
doorway was cut through the east end of a 13th-century
arched tomb recess and part of an aumbry but is now
blocked and the recess restored, the doorway showing
only on the outside. In the south wall is a small roundheaded low-side window, now blocked and covered by
the chapel. The arches between the chancel and chapels
are of two hollow-chamfered orders, the inner springing
from moulded corbels. The chancel arch is of three
chamfered orders, the two outer continuous and the
innermost springing from half-octagonal responds with
moulded capitals and bases. At the east end of both
nave walls is a rood-loft doorway, that on the north side
being blocked: on the south, part of the stairway remains.
The nave consists of four irregularly spaced bays.
The eastern arch on either side springs from halfoctagonal responds with moulded capitals and bases,
and all the arches are of two chamfered orders. On the
north side the westernmost pier is octagonal and the
other circular, but on the south both are octagonal, all
with moulded capitals and bases. The responds are
octagonal, but the third arch (from the west) on the
south side rests on a moulded corbel attached to the
masonry pier. At the east end the aisles are separated
from the chapels by pointed arches of two chamfered
orders. The aumbry in connexion with the former aisle
altar remains in the north wall, and at the east end of the
naves, south of the chancel arch, is a trefoiled recess
high in the wall.
The south doorway is of two hollow-chamfered
orders stopped above the impost and hood-mould with
heads: the jambs are only slightly chamfered. The
early-14th-century north doorway is of three moulded
orders, the middle one on shafts with moulded capitals
and bases, the others wave-moulded; the hood-mould
terminates in heads. The floor of the south porch is
level with that of the nave, but on the north there is a
descent of three steps. In the south-west angle of the
north porch is a stoup with ogee-headed canopy trefoiled within, and in the east wall a rectangular recess.
Above the outer arch is a trefoiled niche. An inscription on the north-east buttress reads: 'Ao dnī. mo. cccc.
lvj edificatur'.
At the west end of the north aisle is an original lancet
window, the jamb only restored, but the other windows
of the aisle are modern. The windows of the south
aisle are square-headed, and in two of them the mullions have been renewed in wood. The clerestory
windows are also square-headed.
The tower is of four stages, with moulded plinth,
west doorway, coupled buttresses, and vice in the northwest angle. Above the doorway is a vesica-shaped
quatrefoil, and in the second stage facing south an ogeeheaded opening: otherwise the two lower stages are
blank. The third stage was the 14th-century bellchamber story and has a pointed window of two cinquefoiled lights with moulded head and jambs on each face.
The later upper story sets back and has double bellchamber windows of two cinquefoiled lights with
transom at mid-height, and a band of quatrefoils and
blank shields above. The pierced quatrefoil parapet has
octagonal angle pinnacles, but a wooden lantern with
'leaded dome and cross at the top', which formerly surmounted the tower, (fn. 71) has disappeared. The 13th-century
tower arch is blocked and partly hidden by the gallery,
but it consists of four chamfered orders, the innermost
springing from half-round responds with moulded
capitals and bases.
The font, which has a circular bowl, was in use in
1825 as a horse-trough at a neighbouring farm, (fn. 72) and its
carved ornamentation has suffered but it is apparently
not earlier than the 14th century. The hexagonal
wooden pulpit is part of an old three-decker.
In the chancel is a mural monument, erected in
1732, to John Palmer, archdeacon of Northampton and
rector of Ecton 1641–79, with bust by Rysbrack;
one to his son-in-law Samuel Freeman, dean of Peterborough, who died on a visit to Ecton in 1707 and was
buried there, and a third to John Palmer, esquire,
patron (d. 1763). The south chapel contains a monument to Ann Isted (d. 1763) and other members of the
family. In the north aisle is a modern bronze tablet to
Benjamin Franklin, the American statesman (1706–
90). (fn. 73)
The royal arms of George III (before 1801), formerly over the chancel arch, are now at the west end of
the south aisle.
A circular floor-drain stone is built into the south
aisle wall outside, and on the east jamb of the south
porch is a scratch dial of wheel type, with two concentric circles and lines radiating in all directions. (fn. 74)
There are six bells, the treble dated 1749, the second
(old treble) by James Keene of Woodstock 1612,and the
others by Hugh Watts of Leicester, the third and fifth
being dated 1612, the fourth 1634, and the tenor 1622. (fn. 75)
A clock was erected in 1630 and a set of chimes in 1690. (fn. 76)
The plate consists of a silver cover paten of 1569, a
cup of 1591, an alms dish of 1673 with the arms of
John Palmer, rector, two cups and patens, and a flagon
of 1728, and a large spoon of 1908. (fn. 77)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms,
marriages, and burials 1559–84, (fn. 78) 1591–1637; (ii) baptisms 1637–53, 1656–1754, marriages 1638–53, 1662–
1753, burials 1638–53, 1659–1754; (iii) a small parchment book kept by the 'Register' under the Protectorate,
containing births 1653–6, marriages 1654–5, burials
1653–7; (iv) baptisms 1754–April 1810, burials 1754–
1812; (v) baptisms May 1810–1812; (vi) marriages
1754–80; (vii) marriages 1780–1812.
Advowson
The advowson was attached to the
main manor, presentation being made
in 1220 by the Earl of Derby as
guardian of the heir of William de Montgomery, (fn. 79) and
in 1244 by Sir William de Montgomery. (fn. 80) In 1275
Nicholas de Cogenhoe and Amice his wife, who had it
of the gift of John de Montgomery, restored it to
William de Montgomery. (fn. 81) It remained appurtenant to
the manor (q.v.) until 1712 when Ralph Freeman
transferred it to Thomas Palmer whose son, then rector,
held it in 1720. (fn. 82) John Palmer was patron from 1732 (fn. 83)
to 1758. (fn. 84) In 1762 Barbara Whalley presented Peter
Whalley, the editor of Bridges's Northamptonshire. (fn. 85)
The Rev. John Christopher Whalley held it in 1853 but
subsequently sold it. Since 1874 the right of presentation has been exercised by the Crown. In 1291 the
value of the church of Ecton was £20 (fn. 86) and in 1535
£21 18s. 7d. (fn. 87)
Charities
John Barker, who died in or about
1729, devised 1 acre of land in West
Holme, the rents to be applied by the
rector and churchwardens in providing coats for two
poor men. This charity and the charity of the Rev.
Palmer Whalley following are regulated by a Scheme
of the Charity Commissioners dated 3 January 1893.
The land is let for £1 10s. yearly, and the income is
applied in the distribution of coats when sufficient funds
are available.
The Rev. Palmer Whalley by codicil to his will dated
10 September 1801 gave a sum of 3 per cent. Consols,
the interest to be distributed in bread. The endowment now consists of £166 13s. 4d. Consols producing
£4 3s. 4d. yearly in dividends which is applied by the
rector and churchwardens in the distribution of bread.
The charity of Thomas Catesby founded by will
about 1698 is regulated by a Scheme of the Charity
Commissioners dated 3 January 1893. The property
consists of 12 a. 2 r. 5 p. of land let in allotments and
£93 14s. 7d. Consols, the whole producing £30 9s. 4d.
in 1924. £1 per annum is distributed in bread to the
poor and is called the Dole Charity of Thomas Catesby,
and the remainder of the income is applied in apprenticeship premiums.