HATLEY ST. GEORGE
The ancient parish of Hatley St. George, which
consisted of 1,011 a. in 1957, (fn. 1) is 12 miles south-west
of Cambridge. Its boundary with East Hatley and
Tadlow on the east and south-east is also the
hundred boundary, and on the south-west the
parish borders upon Cockayne Hatley in Bedfordshire. The boundaries, apart from that with
Gamlingay on the west which in general follows
the Bar and Procession ways, do not follow marked
physical features. (fn. 2) In 1957 Hatley St. George was
united with East Hatley to form the civil parish of
Hatley. At the same time 55 a. were transferred
from Tadlow, and 122 a. from Gamlingay were
included in the following year. (fn. 3) The result of the
last two transfers has been to include the whole of
Hatley Park and North Lodge farm in the new
parish. (fn. 4) The account here printed is concerned
only with the ancient parish of Hatley St. George
as it existed up to 1957.
There are three neighbouring parishes called
Hatley, a name which occurs as early as 986. (fn. 5)
Three separate vills were distinguishable in 1086. (fn. 6)
By 1218 Hatley St. George was distinguished from
the others by the name Hungry Hatley. That was
its most common appellation in the Middle Ages
and may reflect the poverty of the parish. The
style Hatley St. George (de sancto Georgio) was used
in 1279 but does not seem to have become general
until the 17th century. It is presumably derived
from the St. George family (fn. 7) who were the principal
landowners in the parish from the 13th century
until 1658. (fn. 8) The parish is situated on relatively
high ground for Cambridgeshire. The land in
general slopes gently eastwards from over 250 ft.
above sea level in the north-east to 200 ft. in the
valley of the Millbridge brook. The soil is a heavy
clay. Drainage is principally effected by two streams
which merge to form Millbridge brook flowing
into Gamlingay. The parish includes several
ornamental lakes in Hatley Park. (fn. 9)
About one-third of the parish is comprised in
Hatley Park, which includes almost all the land
south of the Gamlingay-Croydon road. The park is
principally pasture land with abundant shade
provided by trees. The rest of the parish is largely
arable land with some patches of wood and some
rough pasture in the north. (fn. 10)
Although the Gamlingay-Croydon road is the
only modern road through the parish, there is
some evidence that in earlier times north-south
communications were of considerable importance.
It has been suggested that the original settlement
of the Hatleys developed close to the line of an
ancient route which ran from the fens north of St.
Ives through Eltisley to Baldock (Herts.). A stretch
of the route survives as Bar or Burr Lane to the
west of Hatley St. George. (fn. 11) It may be significant
that in 1279 the villeins of Hatley St. George were
said to owe an annual carrying-service to St. Ives. (fn. 12)
Park Farm, perhaps the original site of the manorhouse of the St. Georges, stands near Bar Lane. (fn. 13)
The ways to Cambridge and Royston were mentioned
in 1639. The Royston way may have followed the
course of the modern road, but the Cambridge way
perhaps ran north-eastwards across the parish to join
the Cambridge way in Longstowe and continue on to
the county town as Port Way. (fn. 14) A drift way running
north-eastwards went out of use after 1839, and the
principal drives to Hatley Park house were made
after 1841. (fn. 15)
With the exception of Hatley Park house (fn. 16) and
Park Farm, a building probably dating from the
16th century, (fn. 17) most of the buildings of Hatley
St. George are situated along the GamlingayCroydon road. Although no other village site has
been identified, there is evidence that settlement
was once more widely distributed over the parish.
It is probable that 'Heylegrange' which belonged
to Sawtry Abbey (Hunts.) stood in the north part
of the parish by the boundary with Little Gransden. (fn. 18)
In 1839 there were three farmsteads standing well
north of the road, Hill Farm, its subsidiary farmstead called Cottage Farm, and William Ingle's farmhouse, (fn. 19) probably known as Broad Leys in 1851. (fn. 20)
All three farmsteads had disappeared by 1918. (fn. 21)
The small and straggling village includes on the
south side the church and the park lodges, and on
the north side the former rectory, deserted and
derelict in 1967, Church Farm, the George beerhouse, and a number of dwellings. Many of the
dwellings are 19th-century estate cottages, but there
are some more modern. A village hall, given by
Major Astor of Hatley Park, was opened in 1960 to
replace the village institute (fn. 22) which stood derelict
in 1967. The village possessed an alehouse in 1638
which was frequented by the rector. (fn. 23) In 1839 the
George stood south of the road on the site later
occupied by one of the park lodges. (fn. 24) A new George
was built by Thomas St. Quintin in 1850 c. 350 yds.
east of the former house and on the opposite side
of the road. (fn. 25)
Seventeen peasants were recorded at Hatley St.
George in 1086. (fn. 26) Thirteen inhabitants were assessed
to the subsidy of 1327 (fn. 27) and only 69 paid poll tax
in 1377, the lowest number for any parish in the
hundred. (fn. 28) Similarly only 10 taxpayers lived there
in 1525, and there were only 4 families in 1563. (fn. 29)
Fifteen tenements, 9 of which had one or two
hearths only, paid the hearth tax of 1662. The
number of tenements, almost exactly the same in
1666 and 1674, (fn. 30) accords well with the statement in
1646 that there were no more than 15 families in
the parish. (fn. 31) There were said to be 12 families there
in 1728 (fn. 32) and 15 in 1755. (fn. 33) A considerable increase
in population appears to have occurred in the later
18th century and there were 25 families, making
100 inhabitants, c. 1793, exclusive of Thomas
Quintin's household of fifteen. (fn. 34) There were 101
inhabitants in 1801 and the population rose gradually
until 1861 when it stood at 164. The population
was returned as only 97 in 1871, but by 1881 had
recovered to 132. Thereafter it declined and stood
at only 49 in 1931. (fn. 35) Some increase had occurred
by 1951 when the population was 67. (fn. 36)
Sir Richard St. George (d. 1635), the second son
of Francis St. George, the lord of the manor, was
created Clarenceux king-of-arms in 1623 and conducted heraldic visitations of several counties. His
son Sir Henry became Garter king-of-arms in 1644
and died in the same year. (fn. 37)
Manor and Other Estates.
In 986
Athelstan Mannessune gave 2 hides in Hatley to
his sister and the remainder of his estate there to one
Leofsige. Between 986 and 989 Alfhelm and his
wife Affa gave land in Hatley to Ramsey Abbey
(Hunts.), and by the will of Alfhelm Polga in 989
Hatley, except for a donation to Osgar, was to be
divided between Alfmaer and Alfstan. (fn. 38) It is not
known which Hatley is meant, although it has often
been assumed from associations with Potton (Beds.)
that it is Cockayne Hatley. Ramsey Abbey owned no
land in any of the Hatleys in 1066. (fn. 39)
In 1066 Alward, a man of Robert FitzWymark,
held 2 hides in Hatley St. George and another hide
was held by two of Robert's sokemen. A further
hide was held by three of the king's sokemen and a
virgate was held by Almar the man of Eddeva. (fn. 40) The
virgate was held of Count Alan of Brittany in 1086
by the same Almar, who was possibly the Almar who
held an estate in East Hatley of the count. (fn. 41) Eudes
the sewer held the hide which had formerly belonged
to Robert's sokemen and the remaining 3 hides had
come into the possession of Picot the sheriff.
Picot claimed to hold one of the hides in exchange
for land in Rushden (Herts.). (fn. 42)
Eudes's land cannot be traced unless it formed
part of the estate in Gamlingay and Hatley held by
Remphrey son of Roger in 1206. Remphrey was
tenant of one of the estates which had developed from
Eudes's manor of Gamlingay. (fn. 43)
Although only one virgate in Hatley St. George
had been held of Count Alan of Brittany in 1086,
the greater part of the vill belonged to the honor of
Richmond in 1279. The honor's lands then comprised ⅓ knight's fee, already held of Richmond
c. 1235, one hide held in socage, and 130 a. held in
free alms. (fn. 44) As in Caldecote the overlordship
descended with the honor of Richmond. (fn. 45) In 1279
the lands were held of Sir Simon de Furneaux,
lord of Barham manor in Linton, as an intermediate
lord under the honor of Richmond. (fn. 46) The Furneaux
family had held Barham since 1086 but no connexion
with Hatley has been traced before 1279. (fn. 47) Thereafter this portion of the vill, and later the whole
manor, was held of the lords of Barham who in
turn held of the honor of Richmond. (fn. 48) In an
inquisition of 1617, referring to 1584, the manor was
said to be held of the heirs of Simon de Furneaux. (fn. 49)
In 1701 John Millicent, lord of Barham, released to
Sir Robert Cotton a rent of 13s. 4d. which may
represent the rent of 13s. 4d. paid in 1279 for the
hide held in socage. (fn. 50)
Robert de Sap held ⅓ knight's fee in Hatley St.
George of the honor of Richmond c. 1235. (fn. 51) Robert
de Sap, perhaps the same man, had initiated
litigation against the Abbot of Sawtry (Hunts.)
concerning land in Hatley in 1210. (fn. 52) Gilbert de Sap
had view of frankpledge there in Henry III's
reign. (fn. 53) In 1279 the ⅓ fee was held by Ellis of
Gledseye, probably in right of his wife Helen. (fn. 54)
Ellis still held it in 1302–3. (fn. 55) Simon of Bourn,
lessee of the Sawtry estate, may have been in
possession of the ⅓ fee in Hatley in 1324. (fn. 56) In 1346
John son of Robert of Grantchester held the estate. (fn. 57)
Thereafter nothing is known about its descent until
1428 when it was held by Joan, widow of Baldwin
St. George (d. 1425); (fn. 58) thereafter Hatley St. George
descended as a single manor.
It is probable that part at least of Picot's Domesday
estate in HATLEY ST. GEORGE descended like
the manor of Kingston St. George. (fn. 59) In 1212 Maud
de Dive (d. 1228) was said to hold 1 fee in Kingston,
Hatley St. George, and Trumpington of the honor
of Peverel of Dover (recte Peverel of Bourn). (fn. 60) In
1279 the Hatley portion of the fee was stated to be
held of the heirs of Richard de Mucegros of
Arrington, husband of Maud's granddaughter Alice,
and Richard and Alice to hold of the earl of Winchester who held of the earl of Gloucester. (fn. 61) The
references to the earldoms of Winchester and
Gloucester may have been made by association
with Arrington which was held of those fees. (fn. 62)
They do not recur in connexion with Hatley St.
George. Nor is there any further reference to the
overlordship of the heirs of Richard de Mucegros.
The St. George family, under-tenants of the fee,
held a hide in socage of the honor of Richmond, (fn. 63)
and it may be significant that in 1324 the wardship
of William St. George apparently lay in the gift of
John de Furneaux. (fn. 64) By the 15th century the single
manor of Hatley St. George was held of the honor
of Richmond. (fn. 65)
By 1086 Picot had enfeoffed one Roger with
2 hides in Hatley St. George. (fn. 66) About 1235 William
St. George held 1 fee in Kingston, Hatley St.
George, and Trumpington of the fee of Maud de
Dive. John St. George was also said to hold a
geldable hide in Hatley of the same fee. (fn. 67) It is not
known when the St. George family established
themselves there, but by 1182 William St. George
held land in Kingston, (fn. 68) and until 1644 a plaque
in Hatley St. George church commemorated his
gift of land in Haslingfield to Clerkenwell Priory
(Mdx.) in Henry II's reign. (fn. 69) In 1279 Baldwin St.
George held a capital messuage of the heirs of
Richard de Mucegros and 1 hide of Simon de
Furneaux. (fn. 70) He probably died c. 1284 (fn. 71) and was
succeeded by his son William, whose widow
Margaret was returned as lady of the vill in 1316. (fn. 72)
William's grandson William, still a minor in 1324, (fn. 73)
was in possession of the estate in 1346 (fn. 74) and was
succeeded by his son Baldwin (d. 1383). (fn. 75) Baldwin's
son, also Baldwin, died in 1425 (fn. 76) and the manor
passed to his grandson William (d. 1472), (fn. 77) whose
heir was his son Richard (d. 1485). (fn. 78) Richard's
son Thomas, a minor at his father's death, died
in 1540 (fn. 79) and was succeeded by his eldest surviving
son, Francis (d. 1584). (fn. 80) Francis's son and heir
John St. George the elder, a papist, (fn. 81) died before
1646 and was succeeded by his son John, the
younger. (fn. 82) The younger John, an active supporter
of Charles I, was taken prisoner by the parliamentary
forces at Grafton House (Northants.) in 1643 and
three years later compounded for his delinquency. (fn. 83)
In 1648 he was accused of attempting to raise rebellion in Cambridgeshire and was again fined. In
1652 his estate was ordered to be seized. (fn. 84) He died
the same year, (fn. 85) and by 1653 the manor was in the
possession of his second son, Richard. (fn. 86) In 1658
Richard St. George sold the manor to Sir Thomas
Cotton, Bt., of Conington (Hunts.). (fn. 87) On Sir
Thomas's death in 1662 it passed to his eldest son,
Sir John Cotton, Bt., who in the next year settled
it upon his half-brother, Sir Robert Cotton. (fn. 88) On
Sir Robert's death in 1717 (fn. 89) his heir was his daughter
Alice, wife of Samuel Trefusis of Trefusis (in
Mylor, Cornw.). (fn. 90) Alice predeceased her husband,
who died in 1724. (fn. 91) His second wife, Margaret, who
later married Sir John Hinde Cotton, Bt., of
Madingley, (fn. 92) appears to have held the estate until
her death in 1734. Robert Trefusis, son of Samuel
and Alice, (fn. 93) sold the manor in 1732 to Commissioner
Pearse. (fn. 94) Pearse's son, Best (d. 1796), (fn. 95) sold it to
Thomas Quintin, a wealthy glass manufacturer, in
1785. (fn. 96) Quintin died in 1806 and the manor descended in his family, which assumed the name
St. Quintin, to successive eldest sons: John Whitby
(d. 1833), Thomas (d. 1852), and Thomas (fn. 97) who,
in 1868, sold it to John Carbery Evans (d. 1893). (fn. 98)
The estate was offered for sale in 1895 (fn. 99) and in
the following year the company promoter Ernest
Hooley was said to be lord of the manor. He went
bankrupt in 1898. (fn. 100) By 1900, however, the owner
was Sir Charles Hamilton, Bt. (d. 1928). (fn. 101) Hamilton
sold the manor to Ernest Ridgill in 1919. (fn. 102) Between
1933 and 1937 it was obtained by Herman (later
Sir Herman) Lebus (d. 1957), (fn. 103) who sold it in 1946
to Major the Hon. J. J. Astor, (fn. 104) the owner in 1967.
Baldwin St. George had a capital messuage in
Hatley St. George in 1279. (fn. 105) It has been suggested
that the site of the manor-house in 1601 was that
later occupied by Park Farm. (fn. 106) John Layer (d. 1640)
wrote that the 'ancient seat is decayed, a fine site of
an old house, and a pretty gentlemanlike seat now
there built'. (fn. 107) The early-17th-century building
appears to have formed the nucleus of the present
manor-house called Hatley Park standing southeast of Park Farm. (fn. 108) The mansion was extensively
rebuilt by Sir Robert Cotton between 1662 and
1674. (fn. 109) Margaret Trefusis, later Cotton (d. 1734),
enlarged the house. (fn. 110) It was again extended in the
late 19th or early 20th century, but the additions
were demolished in the 1960s. (fn. 111)
Before 1164 Sawtry Abbey (Hunts.) had been
granted the 'grange' of Hatley. (fn. 112) In 1279 the abbot
of Sawtry held a messuage called Heylegrange with
130 a. in free alms in Hatley St. George by the gift
of an ancestor of Helen, wife of Ellis of Gledseye. (fn. 113)
In 1316 Heylegrange, together with land in several
neighbouring parishes, was leased to Simon of
Bourn for life by the abbot. (fn. 114) There is a Hayley
Wood in the south part of Little Gransden adjoining Hatley St. George (fn. 115) and it is possible that
two pieces of land in the north part of Hatley St.
George, called in 1839 the Grange and the ploughed
Grange, mark the site of Heylegrange. (fn. 116) The estate
in Hatley remained with Sawtry until the Dissolution when a messuage or grange with its lands had
been leased to John Marshall for 59 years from
1506. (fn. 117) In 1537 the reversion and rent were granted
to Richard Williams alias Cromwell who in the
next year was licensed to alienate it to John Burgoyne and his son Thomas. (fn. 118) This was presumably
the estate in Hatley leased in 1575 to Thomas
Marshall by John Burgoyne of Potton (Beds.) and
conveyed to the St. George family in 1653 by
William Romney in return for a rent-charge on the
manor. (fn. 119) Thereafter the estate appears to have
remained with the manor.
In 1806 Admiral Dacres was returned as proprietor of an estate in Hatley St. George; (fn. 120) he was
probably Vice-Admiral James Richard Dacres
(d. 1810). (fn. 121) In 1841 his son, James Richard Dacres,
who had been appointed Rear-Admiral in 1838,
was the owner of 306 a. in Hatley St. George. (fn. 122)
The origin of the estate is unknown although it may
be significant that Rear-Admiral Dacres's mother
was said to be the daughter of a Mr. Pearce of
Cambridge, (fn. 123) suggesting a possible connexion with
the Pearse family which had held Hatley St. George
manor. (fn. 124) The Dacres estate was occupied as one
farm by John Ingle in 1841 (fn. 125) and was known as
Hill farm in 1851. (fn. 126) In 1868 the owner of the
estate was James Wagstaffe (d. 1904) of Potton
Manor (Beds.). (fn. 127) Wagstaffe still owned it in 1895 (fn. 128)
but by 1918 it had been incorporated into the
Hatley Park estate. The farm buildings were
removed and most of the land was included in
Church farm. (fn. 129)
Economic History.
In 1086 Hatley St.
George was assessed as 4 hides and 1 virgate, a
figure which exactly represented the estimate that
there was land for 4¼ ploughs, but only two ploughs
were employed in 1086. A high proportion of the
land was held in demesne. Only 20 a. of Eudes
the sewer's hide was held by 3 bordars, and the
plough which the land could have supported was
not in use. The value of that hide had fallen from
20s. to 5s. since 1066. On Picot's estate only 2 of the
3 possible ploughs were in use and the value had
fallen from £7 in 1066 to £1 10s. in 1086. It included 4 villani, 4 bordars, and 6 cottars. No servi
were recorded in the vill. Wood was available for
the fences and houses. (fn. 130)
That the vill was distinguished by 1218 as Hungry
Hatley suggests that it was not a prosperous place. (fn. 131)
In 1279 the parish was divided between the estates
of Baldwin St. George and Ellis of Gledseye. In
demesne Baldwin had a capital messuage with
120 a. of arable, 6 a. of several pasture, and 15 a.
of wood, already emparked and called Heldepark, (fn. 132)
which has been interpreted as 'old park'. (fn. 133) He
also held a hide and 20 a. of wood of Simon de
Furneaux in socage, 5 a. of wood and 6 a. of several
pasture in exchange for land in Kingston, and some
25 a. as a free tenant of Ellis of Gledseye. Baldwin
had 17 customary tenants each holding a messuage
and 12 a. From Michaelmas until Lammas each
performed 2 week-works and ploughed ½ rood of
land each Friday. Each week during harvest each
villein had to reap 2 a. of corn and perform one
boon-work with two men. After harvest he had to do
4 week-works until Michaelmas. He owed 2 carrying
services yearly, once to St. Ives and once to Cambridge. He rendered 4 hens, a cock, and 40 eggs at
Christmas, 40 eggs at Easter, and 5 geese at Lammas.
At Christmas he also had to thresh 2 qr. of barley
in his lord's barn and have it milled and malted
for the lord's bakery. His sheep lay in the lord's
fold from Hockday to Martinmas. Baldwin also had
4 cottars who paid rent and owed some labour
services. Only 9½ a. were held by free tenants,
one of whom was the abbot of Sawtry. Ellis's
demesne comprised a messuage with 120 a. of
arable, 2 a. of meadow, and 6 a. of several pasture.
He had 5 free tenants holding about 180 a. The
largest tenant was the abbot of Sawtry who held
c. 140 a. in free alms. There were no villeins, but
5 cottars paid rent for their cottages. (fn. 134)
The later Middle Ages saw the consolidation and
engrossing of the St. George estate. Of a total tax
paid of 32s. 7¼d. in 1327, the second lowest in the
hundred, 20s. ¼d. came from William St. George
and Simon of Bourn. (fn. 135) Twenty-seven people contributed to the wool subsidy of 1342, William St.
George being by far the largest producer. (fn. 136) After
the St. Georges had acquired the estate formerly
held by Ellis of Gledseye, the only other known
estate of any size in the parish was that owned by
Sawtry Abbey. (fn. 137) The expansion of the manorial
estate may underlie the complaint by William
Howlet of Hatley St. George that in 1460 William
St. George seized him and took 20 qr. of wheat,
40 qr. of malt, 20 qr. of barley, and 20 qr. of oats.
St. George claimed that Howlet was his villein but
juries twice found that he was a free man. (fn. 138)
The glebe terrier of Hatley St. George of 1639
named only two landowners in the parish besides
the rector: John St. George and a Mr. Turpin. (fn. 139)
In 1641 John St. George's lands were taxed at £8. (fn. 140)
In 1653 the manor took in what appears to have
been the Sawtry Abbey estate, (fn. 141) and in the same
year the St. Georges were said to own 1,300 a.
of pasture and 100 a. of arable in Hatley and
Gamlingay. (fn. 142) In 1657 there were about 15 farms
rented at between £20 and £64 a year. Some may
have been very small: a single close was valued at
£20 a year. The estate was heavily encumbered as a
result of the St. Georges' royalist activities. Several
rents had recently been raised, some beyond the
real value of the land. Most of the farm-houses
were without either barns or stables and were out
of repair. (fn. 143)
In 1816 the Quintins' estate consisted of 1,400 a.
of which 500 a. was totally abandoned, 300 a. let
at a reduced rent, and the remaining 600 a. in
hand. (fn. 144) The poor rates were rising, (fn. 145) and in 1834
7 able-bodied men out of 15 labourers in the parish
were employed in road-work because the farmers
preferred, through lack of ready money, the
relatively infrequent demands of the poor-rate to
the payment of regular weekly wages. (fn. 146) In 1841
the parish, excluding the 50 a. of the park, was
largely divided between four farms, of which three
were held by Thomas St. Quintin's tenants. (fn. 147) In
1851 the four farms employed 19 adult labourers
and 8 boys. (fn. 148) Later the number of labourers on the
farms decreased, and the Hatley Park estate became
a major source of employment. Broad Leys farm
was taken into another farm, and Hill farm was
merged with the Hatley Park estate before 1918.
By then almost all the land outside the park estate
formed part of Church farm, (fn. 149) which by 1950 was
worked as a single unit with North Lodge farm in
Gamlingay. (fn. 150) Hatley Park, which comprised 115 a.
in 1868, had been enlarged by 1895 to 256 a.
including pleasure grounds and plantations, and
seems to have been intended as a sporting estate
on a small scale. (fn. 151) In 1905 work on the estate was
provided to avoid unemployment. (fn. 152) In 1961 it was
said that most of the inhabitants were employed
on the estate, which included Major Astor's stud
farm. (fn. 153)
Arable farming appears to have predominated up
to the 17th century. In 1639 there were three open
fields, East field, Middle field, and the field next to
Little Gransden. Not much consolidation had taken
place, and few of the ridges of the glebe arable were
larger than ½ a. (fn. 154) In 1657 there was grazing in the
parish for 200 sheep. (fn. 155) Some inclosure of the
demesne may have been effected by 1601, when land
in Gamlingay belonging to Hatley St. George
manor was said to have been inclosed. (fn. 156)
About 1793 farming was mixed, and wheat, black
oats, peas, and clover were grown together with
barley and turnips on the better land. The whole
parish was inclosed by then; it is not known when
the process was completed. In the north-east of the
parish there were about 100 a. of 'very rich and
luxuriant herbage' and in all about half of the land
appears to have been permanent grass. A rotation
of two crops and a fallow was followed, as specified
in the tenants' leases. The leases were short, running
for between 3 and 12 years, and giving no encouragement to the farmers to improve drainage. An acre
was said to produce either 17 bu. of wheat or peas
and beans or 22 bu. of barley or oats. One-third of
the flock of 900 sheep had perished of disease in
1792. (fn. 157) In 1841 the parish contained almost equal
quantities of arable and pasture, and former pasture
had been brought under the plough. (fn. 158)
Baldwin St. George had a windmill at Hatley
in 1279, (fn. 159) which was evidently the mill that was
burnt down in 1280. (fn. 160) No more about it has been
discovered.
Local Government.
In 1279 Baldwin St.
George had view of frankpledge in Hatley and the
assize of bread and ale of his tenants twice a year. (fn. 161)
John St. George had a court leet there in the early
17th century, (fn. 162) and view of frankpledge was
mentioned among the manorial appurtenances as
late as 1785. (fn. 163) No court rolls have been traced.
A constable was mentioned in 1644. (fn. 164) In 1638
there was a churchwarden and an assistant chosen
by the rector and parishioners. (fn. 165) In general there
seems to have been only one full churchwarden. (fn. 166)
Only one overseer of the poor was recorded in
1834. (fn. 167) In the early 19th century the poor-rates
were rising and reached a peak of £141 in 1819. (fn. 168)
Between 1832 and 1834 expenditure on poor-relief
averaged £108 a year. (fn. 169) In 1835 Hatley St. George
was included in the Caxton and Arrington poor
law union, (fn. 170) and in 1934 was transferred from the
Caxton and Arrington R.D. to the South Cambridgeshire R.D. (fn. 171)
Church.
The church of Hatley St. George is not
mentioned until a survey probably dating from
1217, (fn. 172) although Picot the sheriff probably gave the
canons of St. Giles (later Barnwell Priory), Cambridge, a portion of the tithes of his knights there
in 1092. (fn. 173) The advowson of the church, which has
remained a rectory, was held by Ellis of Gledseye
in 1279. (fn. 174) In 1298 Gledseye and his wife Helen
conveyed it to Guy le Especer of Cambridge. (fn. 175) In
1324 Adam FitzSimons unsuccessfully claimed the
right to present, as guardian of William St. John
(recte St. George), against Simon of Bourn. (fn. 176) Sir
Thomas de Scalers, Robert Musters, and John
Riggesby were the patrons in 1349, acting perhaps
as trustees or feoffees. (fn. 177) By 1398 the advowson had
passed to Baldwin St. George (fn. 178) and thereafter
descended with the manor until the early 20th
century, although the queen presented in 1589 and
Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1795. (fn. 179) Sir Charles
Hamilton, Bt. (d. 1928), remained patron after
selling the manor in 1919. (fn. 180) The advowson later
passed to H. T. Lloyd-Johnes who had been rector
of Hatley St. George 1920–7. (fn. 181) In 1940 his eldest
son, H. J. Lloyd-Johnes, was patron. (fn. 182) The bishop
of Ely had the advowson in 1951, (fn. 183) but in the same
year it passed to Downing College, Cambridge,
which was already patron of Tadlow with East
Hatley, with which Hatley St. George was held in
plurality. The college remained the patron in 1967
although the bishop had suspended the right of
presentation to the benefice for a period of at least
three years. (fn. 184)
The rectory was assessed at only 3 marks in a
valuation made probably in 1217, at 4 marks in
1254, and at 8 marks in 1291, being the poorest
benefice in Bourn deanery. (fn. 185) It was valued at £8 in
1535. (fn. 186) In 1646 it was said to be worth £60, (fn. 187) and
the rector claimed c. 1730 that its value was no
greater. (fn. 188) In 1881 the incumbent's gross income
was said to be £200. (fn. 189)
Picot's gift in 1092 of 2/3 of the tithes of his knights
in Hatley and elsewhere to the canons of St. Giles
failed to specify which Hatley was meant, (fn. 190) Picot
having land in both East Hatley and Hatley St.
George. (fn. 191) In 1291, however, the prior of Barnwell
owned a portion of the Hatley St. George tithes
worth 5s. (fn. 192) It appears to have been lost before the
Dissolution. (fn. 193) In 1657 the lord of the manor paid
£50 annually to the incumbent in composition for
tithes. (fn. 194) By an agreement of 1838 the tithes were
commuted for a rent-charge of £165. (fn. 195) It is possible
that ½ a. in Hatley St. George conveyed with the
advowson in 1298 represented glebe land. (fn. 196) In
1639 the rector had c. 30 a. of glebe with a house and
a barn of 3 bays. (fn. 197) By 1791 the glebe had been
reduced to 12 a. of pasture. (fn. 198) The building called
the Old Rectory stands on the site occupied by the
rectory in 1839. (fn. 199) It is a two-storeyed 19th-century
brick building. It was said to be in need of repair
when offered for sale in 1961 (fn. 200) and was still unsold
in 1967 (fn. 201) when it was much dilapidated.
Incumbencies in the Middle Ages tended to be
short. Between 1401 and 1406 the benefice was
exchanged at least seven times. (fn. 202) Few rectors before
the 16th century are known to have been graduates.
An exception was John of Potton alias King,
rector 1370–98, a notary public and official of the
archdeacon of Ely. He twice sought an additional
benefice and was from 1394 rector of Barley
(Herts.). (fn. 203) In the later 16th century the rectors were
commonly resident. In 1590 the rector was presented for not wearing a surplice. (fn. 204) John Skelton,
who held the benefice until his death in 1665, (fn. 205) also
served the cure at Cockayne Hatley (Beds.) in
1638 but resided at Hatley St. George. Although he
laboured to reform them, six people were presented
as papists, three being members of the St. George
family. (fn. 206) In 1641 five people, including four named
St. George, were taxed as recusants. (fn. 207)
William Dowsing's men visited Hatley in 1644
and broke 10 'superstitious pictures', a picture of
Christ, and the inscription recalling William St.
George's gift of land in Haslingfield to Clerkenwell
Priory. The rector was told to level the steps to the
altar. (fn. 208) In 1646 an order was made by the Committee
for Plundered Ministers to unite Hatley St. George
with East Hatley. The reasons given were the small
populations of the two parishes, the recent ejection
of the rector of East Hatley, and the possession of
the advowson of Hatley St. George by John St.
George, a papist and delinquent. (fn. 209) The union,
however, was not effected.
Thomas Thory, rector 1677–1709, combined
Hatley St. George with the vicarage of Caxton
after 1693 and was succeeded in both benefices by
his son John (d. 1728). (fn. 210) Both were buried at
Hatley. (fn. 211) John Whalley, rector 1728–9 and 1731–2,
was a fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge,
where he resided. (fn. 212) William Say, rector 1746–51,
combined the benefice with Tadlow and East
Hatley which he had held since 1722. He was
followed in both livings by Francis Say (d. 1796),
perhaps his nephew. (fn. 213) Shortly before his death
Francis Say resigned Hatley St. George on behalf
of his son, Francis Edward Say, (fn. 214) who held it until
his death in 1846 together with the vicarage of
Braughing (Herts.), where he resided. (fn. 215) He employed
a curate for Hatley St. George. (fn. 216)
In 1638 two Sunday services were held and
communion was administered three times a year. (fn. 217)
In 1807 there were no dissenters but some parishioners were said to be very negligent in their
attendance at church. (fn. 218) In 1825 there was one
service each Sunday, alternately morning and
afternoon. Communion was administered four
times a year to 6 or 7 communicants. (fn. 219) In 1881,
when the rector was resident, three services were
held each Sunday and on saints' days. There were
eight communicants on average. (fn. 220) Since 1920
Hatley St. George has been held in plurality with
one or more neighbouring parishes. (fn. 221) From 1951 to
1966 it was held with the rectory of Croydon with
Clopton and the vicarage of Tadlow with East
Hatley, the rector residing at Croydon. (fn. 222) In 1966
it was held with the vicarage of Gamlingay. (fn. 223)
The church of ST. GEORGE, standing on the
edge of Hatley Park, has a chancel with adjuncts
to north and south, nave, and west tower with a
north vestry. A church was consecrated at Hatley
St. George in 1352, (fn. 224) and the plan of the nave and
chancel are of that date or earlier. The tower was
added in the 15th century and about the same time
the nave was refenestrated. A late medieval piscina
in the south wall of the nave indicates that there was
a secondary altar there. The top stage of the tower
was rebuilt in brick in 1625, (fn. 225) and later in the
century the earliest group of the wooden shields,
which bear the arms of the St. Georges with
alliances, was put in to surround a portrait of
Charles I. (fn. 226) Margaret Trefusis (d. 1734) 'repaired
the church the most elegant in the county', (fn. 227)
presumably providing the new font and pulpit.
In 1779 the church was described as very pretty
and in very good repair, (fn. 228) but in 1875 the nave
had to be restored and reroofed (fn. 229) and in 1892
the chancel was rebuilt from the ground. (fn. 230) Shortly
before 1967 the chancel was partitioned from the
nave by a wall, and in 1970 was no longer in use.
In 1552 the church possessed a silver chalice
with a gilt paten. (fn. 231) In 1638 there was a cup with a
cover and a flagon of pewter. (fn. 232) In 1748 the church
was said to have the 'finest furniture for the altar
and pulpit I ever saw, being crimson richly fringed
and laced with gold', with plate 'correspondent
thereunto'. (fn. 233) The plate includes a cup, paten,
flagon, and two dishes, all made in London in 1722
and given to the church by Margaret Trefusis in
1723. (fn. 234) In 1552 there were three bells and a sanctus
bell. (fn. 235) They were out of repair in 1638. (fn. 236) There
were three bells in 1851 (fn. 237) but only two in 1900. (fn. 238)
Both are by Toby Norris of Stamford (Lincs.),
one given by Sir Robert Cotton dated 1682, the
other by Sir Thomas Cotton, Bt., dated 1662. (fn. 239) The
registers begin in 1580 and are virtually complete.
Nonconformity.
Apart from references to
Roman Catholicism in the earlier 17th century,
mentioned above, no evidence of religious nonconformity has been found.
Education.
In 1638 Thomas Engledew, the
parish clerk, kept a school at his house and catechized the children in church. (fn. 240) There was no school
in 1787 (fn. 241) but in 1819 there was a school where 6 or 7
children were taught reading and writing. (fn. 242) In 1835
there was no school of any kind in Hatley St.
George. (fn. 243) By 1851 about 8 children attended a
Sunday school in the parish. (fn. 244) In 1871 the children
had to go to schools in Gamlingay and Croydon. (fn. 245)
A Church of England school with accommodation
for 105 children was built in 1873 for the parishes
of East Hatley and Hatley St. George. It was
situated just within the boundaries of East Hatley (fn. 246)
to which parish its history belongs.
Charities for the Poor.
None known.