ORWELL
Orwell, (fn. 1) alleged to be named after the 'golden
spring or well' which has its source in the village,
lies equidistant between Cambridge and Royston,
south of the road from Cambridge to Arrington
Bridge. The parish includes Malton Farm, all that is
left of the former village of Malton. Malton may
have developed from an independent settlement,
Mealca's farm, in the south-east part of Orwell
parish. (fn. 2) It was not recorded in the Domesday survey,
but by 1216 (fn. 3) it was a separate parish with a church,
and was paying taxes independently by 1250. (fn. 4)
Although Malton has remained separate from Orwell,
Orwell constables had responsibility for Malton's
dikes in the 17th century, (fn. 5) and from time to time
Malton was considered to be a part of Orwell. In
1677 the Malton poor-rate was assessed with
Orwell's (fn. 6) but in 1765 it was assessed separately. (fn. 7)
Generally Malton was considered to be part of
Orwell by the late 18th century.
Orwell parish is elongated and irregular in shape,
broader at the south end and tapering gradually
towards the north. The north-east boundary follows
a chalk ridge along which a ridgeway, the Mare Way,
runs from the main road across the tops of Fox Hill,
Thorn Hill, and Sharp Hill. Beyond Sharp Hill the
boundary turns south-south-east to the main road,
which it follows west for c. ¾ mile, before continuing
south to the river Cam or Rhee. The south boundary
follows the river to below Malton bridge, and turns
north to follow the Orwell-Malton road and an old
bridle way running across a spur to join the main
road. Throughout its history the parish has been
agricultural, and there was a brief period at the end
of the 19th century when coprolites were dug and a
brewery was in operation.
The parish contains 2,083 a., lying over gault in
the south, through which the river flows, and on the
chalk ridge in the north. A spur of the chalk ridge
projects south-west into the parish from Fox Hill,
the highest point in the parish at 224 ft. The spur
ends in Toot Hill, 110 ft. high, beneath which the
village is situated. Several streams cross the parish,
the largest being that called the Brook which runs
south-east from Wimpole across the parish and into
the river. The spring which gave the village its name
rises just below the church and runs south-east for
c. ¾ mile to join the Brook. In 1836 there were three
public watering-places in Orwell village, Norma's
pond on High Street, Stocks Lane well near the
school, and Orwell well near the junction of Fisher's
Lane and Town Green Road. (fn. 8)
The heavy gault in the south part of the parish
and along the Brook made the land water-logged.
Marsh close was recorded in 1590, (fn. 9) Malton Ponds
and Brew in 1593, (fn. 10) and Meere furlong in 1600. (fn. 11)
Parish officers were appointed to supervise the
cleaning and repair of dikes in the 15th century, (fn. 12)
and Nubbler's ditch had been made at least by
1600. (fn. 13) Baldock ditch had been excavated by 1631, (fn. 14)
Hurdle, North, and Springwell ditches by 1756, (fn. 15)
and by 1837 the Brook in Orwell had been straightened as a public drain. A second public drain made
in 1837 followed the south-east boundary. (fn. 16) The
Malton section of the Brook was straightened in
1848, and a little earlier two-thirds of the Malton
land had been drained. (fn. 17) Two rectangular, contiguous moats exist at Malton south-east of the farm,
on a watercourse running parallel to the river, and
may once have drained the site of the settlement.
There was said to be an earthwork on the hillside
below Orwell church to the south of Fisher's Lane, (fn. 18)
where a mound named the Lordship stood in 1686. (fn. 19)
The site was taken for the infants' school c. 1883. (fn. 20)
Orwell probably grew up around the junction of an
old way from Whaddon to Harlton with another
from Wimpole to Barrington. In 1686 the parish was
crossed by several roads which were closed at
inclosure in 1837. Fisher's Lane continued northwest across the Cambridge road, the old Roman
road, towards Wimpole, and east along High Street
to Barrington. The Lunway, or Malton road,
crossed the Barrington-Orwell road, and continued
north over the hill to Harlton. Hurdleditch way
continued south into Farthing way which skirted
Malton and joined the Great Potter's way. The
Great and Little Potter's ways ran as a continuous
track in 1686 from the west boundary of the parish
almost parallel to the river, across the south part of
the parish to the hedge which inclosed Malton. It
passed through the Potter's Gate set in the hedge.
Holback, or Hoeback, way followed the west
boundary of the parish to join the Little Potter's
way. A second north-south road, the Great Toft
way, probably a part of the old Whaddon road, ran
from the Cambridge road through Oatland Field to
the Great Potter's way. The Mill way ran north
from the church and up the quarry hill, where at the
top it turned right and continued to Harlton. The
parish green lay around what survived in 1970 of
Town Green road, which in 1686 continued across
Hurdleditch to join the Great Toft way. The green
had been partly inclosed by 1686 and probably once
extended from Fisher's Lane to Hurdleditch. The
green was circumvented on the east by Stocks Lane,
and was crossed by Back Street; by 1836 the process
of inclosure had hidden the green. (fn. 21)
The oldest houses in Orwell village are grouped
around the former green, along Back Street, Stocks
Lane, and Town Green Road, and are predominantly 16th- and 17th-century framed and plastered
houses with thatched and tiled roofs. They include
Meadowcroft Farm and barn, formerly Town Farm,
which stands on Back Street, otherwise called
Meadowcroft way; a farm-house and barn formerly
occupied by Farrow Miller on the east side of Town
Green Road; and a barn at Grove Farm which stands
at the junction of Hurdleditch way with Town
Green Road. By 1686 several smallholdings were
established along High Street (fn. 22) and by 1836 the
ribbon development was almost continuous. (fn. 23)
Opposite Stocks Lane stands a framed and plastered
house, originally medieval or of the 16th century,
which may have been the Town House. Near it to
the east stands Quarry Farm, a 17th-century framed
and plastered house once occupied by the Palmer
family. An 18th-century pigeon-house stands
opposite the farm, in a garden enclosed by a long,
thatched, clunch wall. West Farm at the east end of
High Street is a red-brick, two-storeyed house,
built in the mid 18th century, probably by the
Bendyshe family.
At inclosure in 1837 the Potter's ways, Mill way,
Great Toft way, and Farthing way were all closed.
Town Green Road was altered and Hurdleditch
way made up. (fn. 24) The Cambridge road had been
turnpiked in 1797. (fn. 25) There was a bridge, known as
King's Bridge, at the end of Farthing way in the 16th
century (fn. 26) which was retained as a foot-bridge in
1837. There was a new bridge built on Town Green
Road in 1837, across the Brook where previously
Green ford had been. (fn. 27) There was probably a ford
at Malton which has been replaced since inclosure
by a bridge. There were said to be gates across the
road at Malton in the 19th century. (fn. 28)
After inclosure settlement spread outside the
village, and apart from Rectory Farm, which was
established in 1854 north of the main road, (fn. 29) was
confined to those roads not closed in 1837. Three
new cottages were built at Malton Farm in 1884–5
and were later replaced by new houses. (fn. 30) The settlement known as Orwell (Cambridge Road) and New
Wimpole was established in the 19th century. Both
names are used because the parish boundary divides
the settlement in two, along the main road. The
brewery there and Oatlands House were built in
1873 (fn. 31) and by 1921 a row of cottages had been built
for workers at the brewery site. (fn. 32) In 1923 four villas
were being built next to the Grange, formerly
Oatlands House. (fn. 33) Council houses were built north
and west of Orwell village; those on Hurdleditch
way were completed in 1931 and those on the main
road in 1934. Others were built in the village; those
on Fisher's Lane in 1937–8, those on Town Green
Road in 1941, and the Meadowcroft estate was built
between 1949 and 1968. (fn. 34) A row of private houses
was put up west of the village in Petersfield in 1969
when main sewers were installed. (fn. 35) In 1970 framed
and plastered houses alternated with later building,
some of which replaced former houses.
In 1086 c. 20 people were enumerated in Orwell, (fn. 36)
and in 1327 in Malton and Orwell 56 people were
assessed for tax. (fn. 37) Malton was said to have only 3
residents in 1428 (fn. 38) and in 1524 in Malton and Orwell
together c. 50 people were assessed for tax. (fn. 39) In
1563 there were 46 families there. (fn. 40) The two settlements were being assessed as one by 1801 when
there were 375 inhabitants. The population rose
from 463 in 1831 to 800 in 1871 because of the
increased demand for labour engendered by the
coprolite diggings. It had dropped again to 505 in
1911, but rose steadily throughout the early 20th
century to 619 in 1961. (fn. 41)
In 1756 there were two public houses in Orwell (fn. 42)
and by 1852 there were five. By 1882 there were
seven, and six in 1936, (fn. 43) but in 1970 only the
Chequers remained, a two-storeyed framed and
plastered building, standing on Town Green Road.
Orwell maypole once stood to the west of Maypole
Farm on Fox Hill in Harlton parish. It was pulled
down in the 1870s (fn. 44) and the site ploughed up in
1943. (fn. 45) There was a reading room in Orwell in 1888
which was supported by public subscription. (fn. 46)
The village hall was built soon after 1930. (fn. 47) The
former infants' school was being used as a youth
centre in 1970. (fn. 48)
Manors and Other Estatates.
Six sokemen
of King Edward held 1 hide and 1⅓ virgate in 1066,
which Roger, earl of Shrewsbury, held as the largest
fee in Orwell in 1086. (fn. 49) ORWELL manor became
part of the honor of Gloucester with Roger's other
land, and the overlordship descended with the
honor. (fn. 50)
The Quincys, earls of Winchester, and later their
heirs were mesne lords of Orwell, and the mesne
lordship, first recorded in 1261, descended as it did
at Arrington. (fn. 51) The manor was said to be held in
1302 of Sir Alan la Zouche and in 1322 of his son-inlaw Sir Robert Holland. (fn. 52)
By 1161 the manor was held by Asceline, daughter
or niece of Pain Peverel of Bourn, wife first of
Geoffrey de Waterville (d. 1162), and then of Saher
de Quincy (d. 1190). (fn. 53) It descended to her daughter
Asceline de Waterville, wife of Roger Torpel
(d. 1176), (fn. 54) and to their son Roger (d. 1225). (fn. 55)
Mabel, widow of Roger or his son Roger (d. by
1229), (fn. 56) was granted dower in the estate in 1232.
The chancellor had custody of the land, and wardship
and marriage of the heir, during the minority of her
son, (fn. 57) William, who died childless in 1242, whereupon his sister Asceline, wife of Ralph Camoys
(d. 1259), inherited. (fn. 58) The manor descended to
Ralph's son, Ralph Camoys (d. 1277), (fn. 59) and to his
son John (d. 1298), (fn. 60) who held it in 1279, but had
granted it by 1284 to John Kirkby, bishop of Ely,
and John Lovetot. (fn. 61) The bishop died in 1290, and
was succeeded by his brother William, (fn. 62) who
granted Orwell for life to John Cobham (d. 1300)
and his wife Matania, (fn. 63) who still held it in 1316. (fn. 64)
William Kirkby died in 1302, whereupon his lands
were divided between his four sisters and coheirs.
The reversion of Orwell was assigned to one of them,
Alice wife of Peter Prilly, (fn. 65) who held the manor by
1322. Peter and his son Hugh both died in that year.
Hugh's heir was his son Peter, a minor. (fn. 66) In 1345
Peter and his mother Margaret conveyed the manor
to Sir Thomas Scalers, reserving a life-interest to
themselves. (fn. 67) Both died in 1349, (fn. 68) and Scalers held
the manor by 1351. (fn. 69) In 1362 he granted its reversion after his death to Sir Richard Pembridge, (fn. 70)
who succeeded when Scalers died in 1364. (fn. 71)
Pembridge died in 1375, as did his young son and
heir Henry. (fn. 72) The heirs were the sons of Sir
Richard's sisters. Orwell was assigned to Henry's
cousin Sir Richard Burley, son of the elder sister
Amy. (fn. 73) Burley died in 1387. His brother and heir
William, (fn. 74) together with his widow Beatrice (d.
1415), (fn. 75) agreed to grant their interests to Richard's
uncle Sir Simon Burley, whose estates were forfeited
on his execution in 1388. Beatrice claimed, however,
that no conveyance of Orwell had been executed,
and although its confiscation was ordered in 1388 (fn. 76)
it may not have been enforced, for after William's
death c. 1389 his brother and heir, Sir Roger
Burley, (fn. 77) released the manor to John, duke of
Lancaster (d. 1399). (fn. 78) Lancaster probably settled it
upon his illegitimate son John Beaufort, earl of
Somerset, who held it by 1401. (fn. 79) Upon his death in
1410 it passed to his son Henry, a minor. (fn. 80) A third
was assigned as dower to Margaret, duchess of
Clarence and former wife of John Beaufort. Henry
died without issue in 1418 (fn. 81) leaving as heir his
brother John, a minor, later duke of Somerset, who
died in 1444. (fn. 82) Apparently the whole manor passed
to the duke's daughter and heir Margaret, who
married Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond (d.
1456). (fn. 83) As countess of Richmond and Derby she
died in 1509 and Orwell descended to her grandson
Henry VIII. (fn. 84) Thereafter a succession of bailiffs
and stewards were appointed (fn. 85) and by the late 16th
century parts of the manor were being leased by the
Crown. (fn. 86) In 1619 Charles, prince of Wales, held the
manor, (fn. 87) and in 1623 it was leased to the city of
London for 99 years. (fn. 88) The city in turn leased
the manor at fee farm (fn. 89) and in 1648 Thomas
Chicheley was the lessee for a time. (fn. 90) He purchased
the fee farm in 1671 (fn. 91) and sold the manor to Sir
John Cutler in 1686. (fn. 92) Cutler devised his Cambridgeshire estate to his daughter Elizabeth who
died without issue in 1697, (fn. 93) and her husband
Charles Bodville Robartes, earl of Radnor, (fn. 94) sold the
manor in 1708 to Thomas Bendyshe of Barrington. (fn. 95)
The manor remained with the Bendyshe family until
the early 20th century, descending to Thomas's son
Thomas by 1714, (fn. 96) to General Richard Bendyshe by
1776, to his nephew Richard's son John by 1826, (fn. 97) and
to John's son John, who died childless in 1865.
He was succeeded by his brother, the Revd.
Richard Bendyshe, (fn. 98) who died in 1914. Col. R. N.
Bendyshe was in possession in 1915, and Mrs. E. M.
Bendyshe, a widow, in 1918. John Nelson Bendyshe
of Devon was lord of the manor in 1926 and
1938. (fn. 99)
In 1066 two sokemen, one the man of King
Edward, had 3⅓ virgates which Durand held in 1086
of Hardwin de Scalers. (fn. 100) Alan of Orwell was holding
an estate in Orwell in 1202 (fn. 101) which was probably the
80 a. which Robert of Orwell was holding c. 1235 of
Henry of Boxworth. (fn. 102) In 1279 Eborard of Orwell
was holding a hide of Henry of Boxworth, who held
in turn of Richard de Freville, the heir of half of the
Scalers estate. (fn. 103) Hugh son of Peter Prilly, who held it
by 1316 of John of Boxworth's heirs, died in 1322,
and his son and heir Peter (fn. 104) in 1349, when his son and
heir Hugh succeeded only to that estate. In 1349 the
king had granted the wardship of Hugh (d. 1350)
and any succeeding minor heir to Walter White,
who in 1359 transferred it to Henry Mulshoe, who
in turn conveyed it to Sir Thomas Scalers, lord of the
chief manor. (fn. 105) Hugh's brother and heir William
probably granted Scalers's successor Pembridge his
remaining interests in Orwell, for he held no land
there at his death in 1375. (fn. 106)
In 1066 one sokeman of King Edward had 1
virgate in Orwell which Robert Gernon held in 1086.
Turbert held 3¼ virgates of Eddeva the fair in 1066,
and in 1086 Picot held the same land of Count Alan.
Chatteris Abbey held ¼ virgate in 1066 and 1086, (fn. 107)
and the three fees together in Orwell later comprised
the manor of MALTON. The overlordships of
Chatteris and of the honors of Richmond and
Munfitchet were recorded in 1279. (fn. 108) After Margaret,
countess of Richmond had acquired the manor in
the early 16th century, the overlordship descended
with the honor of Richmond. (fn. 109)
About 1235 Nicholas le Vavassour was holding a
fee in Malton (fn. 110) and in 1265 he divided his manor
between his two daughters and their husbands,
Agnes and Roger Thornton, and Amphelise and
Philip St. Clowe. (fn. 111) Roger Thornton was alive in
1292 (fn. 112) but by 1299 Eleanor, daughter of Bartholomew Thornton, was his heir. (fn. 113) She had married
Ralph, son of William FitzRalph of Shepreth, by
1312 (fn. 114) and the Thornton estate descended to their
son Richard. When Richard died, his son John
(d. after 1348) was a minor, and Richard left the
estate to his brother Thomas for life. (fn. 115) Thomas was
in possession in 1346. (fn. 116) The FitzRalph estate had
passed by 1349 to Elizabeth wife of Edmund
Flambard, although Audrey, probably Richard's
widow, retained a life-interest in a third. (fn. 117) Elizabeth
held the estate as a widow in 1383 (fn. 118) and died in
1394. (fn. 119) Her daughter Eleanor's husband Walter
Tyrell succeeded her. (fn. 120) By 1428 his son Edward
Tyrell held the estate. (fn. 121) Edward's nephew Thomas
succeeded him after 1442. (fn. 122) Thomas died in 1477,
when his grandson Thomas inherited, (fn. 123) and in 1504
Thomas and his wife Beatrice sold the estate to
Margaret, countess of Richmond, who also acquired
the other half of Malton manor. (fn. 124)
The St. Clowe (fn. 125) half of the Vavassour manor was
held by Philip's son Nicholas in 1302, (fn. 126) by John St.
Clowe in 1346, (fn. 127) by George St. Clowe in 1378, (fn. 128) and
by Edmund St. Clowe in 1410. (fn. 129) In 1443 Edmund,
probably son of Edmund, granted the estate to
William Horn, a London draper, (fn. 130) and husband of
his daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 131) Horn died in 1469 (fn. 132) and
his son Nicholas succeeded him, but by 1473
another son, Thomas Horn alias Littlebury, had
inherited the estate. (fn. 133) In 1485 the manor was
delivered to Thomas Oxenbridge in satisfaction of a
bond on which Thomas Horn had defaulted. (fn. 134)
Oxenbridge sold the estate in 1492 to William Cheyne
and James Docwra, who in the same year granted it
to William Felton. (fn. 135) William's son William granted
the estate to Elizabeth, widow of William Cheyne,
in 1501 (fn. 136) and she later married Ralph Chamberlain. (fn. 137)
They conveyed the estate in 1503 to William Smith,
bishop of Lincoln, who was acting for Margaret,
countess of Richmond, (fn. 138) and she received the estate
in 1506, thus acquiring the whole of Malton manor. (fn. 139)
In the same year she granted the manor to Christ's
College, Cambridge, (fn. 140) and the college still owned
the manor as Malton farm in 1970.
A small estate containing 78 a. and called Elys
was added to the St. Clowe estate in 1457 by grant
of Nicholas and Edmund Elys, sons of Elizabeth
Elys, daughter of Nicholas Ankeleyne of Malton. (fn. 141)
The estate remained with the St. Clowe land and
was absorbed into Malton manor.
An estate in Malton called Rosamund's Manor was
probably granted by Henry Chicheley, archbishop of
Canterbury, to his great-nephew Henry Chicheley,
who held it in 1474. (fn. 142) Henry's son Henry settled it in
1491 on his brother William. (fn. 143) In 1508 the brothers
granted it to Margaret, countess of Richmond. She
evidently gave it to Christ's College, against which
William's son Thomas later claimed it. (fn. 144)
In 1279 Anketin Bonhomme was holding ¼ fee in
Malton of Isabel Paunton, and she in turn of
William de Huntingfield of Harlton. (fn. 145) Sir William
Heron held c. 40 a. in Malton of the manor of
Harlton at his death in 1380. (fn. 146)
Malton Farm, partly two-storeyed with attics and
partly three-storeyed, is mainly a timber-framed
and plaster house. It was probably a 15th-century,
L-shaped, single-storey house, with an open hall
and may have been built by William Horn or his
son Thomas. About 1510 the house was extensively
altered under the will of Margaret, countess of
Richmond. (fn. 147) The hall range was heightened and
reroofed, some of the smoke-blackened 15th-century
timber being re-used in the roof. A ceiling of
moulded beams was inserted in the hall. An
extension in the angle of the L may have been built
partly at the same time and partly in the late 16th
century. The south-west cross-wing was altered in
1906–7. (fn. 148) Margaret, countess of Richmond, intended
that the enlarged Malton house should serve as a
retreat for Christ's College, but it built a larger
house near by, which was demolished in the period
1609–22. (fn. 149) The house and farm were occupied by a
succession of tenants.
Peterhouse, Cambridge, owned c. 26 a. of land in
Orwell in 1669 and 1837. (fn. 150)
Economic History.
Orwell, with Malton,
has been a predominantly agricultural parish since
the 11th century, although several inhabitants in
1279 bore names such as faber, mercator, and
textor. (fn. 151) Some stock has been kept, but the land has
been generally under cultivation. There is little
woodland, and until the Victoria Plantation was
established some time after 1837 there was nothing
more than small planted groves. (fn. 152) The low-lying
land in the south part of the parish, along the banks
of the river and the Brook, provided rough pasture
after it had been drained.
In 1086 the 4 hides which comprised Orwell were
said to be worth 101s. 8d., a decline of 61s. since
1066 when 13 tenants held the land. Only one estate
was over 1 hide in 1086 and had been created out of
7 small estates. The other estates contained 1 or 3
virgates, and altogether supported 8 freemen,
3 villani, 4 bordars, and 4 cottars. One virgate
valued at 2s. belonged to Harlton, and 1½ hide was
demesne land, on which there was 1 servus. There
was arable land for at least 6½ ploughs, including
1½ possessed by the villani, and meadow for at least
3 plough-teams. Three watch and carrying services
had been owed in 1086. (fn. 153)
By 1279 Malton had emerged as a separate parish
and had probably been created out of land formerly
belonging to Orwell. Orwell was divided into two
manors by 1279; that of John Camoys, whose
tenants held c. 450 a., and that of Eborard of Orwell,
including c. 120 a. in demesne, whose tenants held
c. 215 a. Of c. 415 a. held by free tenants, Camoys
held another 100 a. of Eborard, and two others held
80 a. each of Camoys. The 38 villeins had 378 a.,
mostly in holdings of 10 a., and 17 cottagers held c.
11 a. The 29 villeins of Camoys each owed 152 works
and 3 boon-works a year, besides rents in kind;
Eborard's 6 villeins had their works permanently
farmed. The free tenants and cottagers paid rent
and scutage.
At Malton, of c. 170 a. enumerated in 1279 Roger
Thornton and Philip St. Clowe together held over
56 a. excluding their main demesne. Between them
they had 7 villeins with 53 a., mostly in 10-a. holdings, and 10 cottagers with c. 9 a., besides 3 free
tenants occupying 7½ a. Minor estates, mostly held
freely, amounted to over 45 a. (fn. 154)
As a royal manor until the late 17th century
Orwell was leased to a succession of tenants. The
demesne known as Gourdlands (fn. 155) or Burylands
contained 240 a. (fn. 156) and was leased separately, being
worth £40 a year in 1628. (fn. 157) Copyhold tenures long
predominated: in 1413 32 villeins paid rents
totalling £20, (fn. 158) and in 1607 there were 38 copyhold
tenants who were heriotable. (fn. 159) During the late 17th
century Sir Thomas Chicheley effected a series of
exchanges so that most of the land in Wimpole held
of Orwell manor was exchanged for land in Orwell
held of Wimpole manor. (fn. 160) Probably as a result of
that consolidation larger copyhold tenements
emerged, although in 1696 there were still 45 copyholders. (fn. 161) By 1707 four large copyhold farms
existed; that of James Swan contained 185 a., that of
William Ronall 166 a., that called Burylands 280 a., (fn. 162)
and that of William Fairchild at least 54 a. Fairchild's farm passed to the Woodham family and
thence to Edward Prime of Barrington, and contained 96 a. (fn. 163) After the manor had ceased to be a
royal estate, its lords continued to be absentees.
Consequently no manor-house was built, and the
economic life of the parish evolved around the large
copyhold farms.
It seems likely that Malton was being farmed as a
single estate by the late 14th century because the
parish was said to be depopulated by 1428 (fn. 164) and by
1493 inclosure was under way. (fn. 165) Most of the estate
was surrounded by a hedge by 1594, leaving a further
192 a. outside in the fields of Orwell. (fn. 166) Early-16thcentury rents from Malton's own open fields
totalled £6 8s., (fn. 167) and by 1770 265 a. were inclosed in
Malton and 126 a. lay in the Orwell fields. Malton
had the right of sheepwalk in Orwell's fields for
every ewe the manor could keep, and it seems
probable that intercommoning took place in the
fields close to Malton's boundary. (fn. 168) By 1820 the
estate contained 451 a. (fn. 169)
The open fields of Orwell were farmed in three
shifts in 1785, (fn. 170) and in 1836 were apparently supposed by tradition to have numbered three. (fn. 171) The
fields may have been confused with the shifts, for in
1836 there were actually five open fields of unequal
size which may have been differently divided for crop
rotation. (fn. 172) Highfield lay north of the Cambridge road
and contained c. 560 a.; Oatland field lay west of the
Brook and mostly south of the main road and
contained c. 320 a.; River field lay south-west of the
village, between the Brook and the river, and
contained c.560 a.; Aycroft field lay along the eastern
boundary of the parish, between the Malton road
and the Brook, and contained c. 150 a.; and Millfield
lay in the north-east corner of the parish between
the main road and the Malton road and contained
c. 118 a. (fn. 173)
Some closes existed in Orwell by 1591 (fn. 174) and by
the time of inclosure in 1837 over 389 a. of land in
the parish consisted of old inclosures, including c.
85 a. at its centre and c. 305 a. of Malton farm.
The open fields and waste totalled 1,634 a. of
which 358 a. were allotted to the rector in lieu
of tithes, and 468 a. were allotted to Orwell manor,
and let as Manor farm and West farm. Of the
other holdings over 50 a. only two were freehold and
six were still copyhold, including one of 101 a. of
the earl of Hardwicke's estate. (fn. 175) The tenant-farmers
gradually acquired the freehold of their farms.
Farrow Miller occupied a farm-house in 1788, (fn. 176)
probably that later known as Town Farm, and 56 a.
copyhold. (fn. 177) He died in 1838 and his son Joseph
inherited. Joseph died in 1871 and his sister Jane,
wife of Humphrey Course of Meldreth, inherited. (fn. 178)
William Prime, originally from Barrington, held
land in Orwell in 1736, (fn. 179) and it was from that and a
holding of William Fairchild (fn. 180) that Prime's farm,
containing c. 176 a., was created. (fn. 181) By 1837 his
great-grandson Edward was holding only 55 a. and
he was still holding it in 1875. (fn. 182) Aleph and George
Palmer held 93 a. in 1837 (fn. 183) and Aleph's holding
became known as Quarry farm in 1858 because it
lay near the clunch pit on Toot Hill. By 1872
William Palmer had inherited and was still in
possession in 1881. (fn. 184) The Merry family have lived in
Orwell since the early 18th century and in 1837 held
a total of c. 210 a. (fn. 185) Although they sold one holding
including a farm-house to Edward Prime in 1857, (fn. 186)
they continued to be prominent farmers until the
end of the century. Of the freehold farms, Prior
Johnson held 48 a. in 1837, (fn. 187) and in 1889 the farm
belonged to J. Pearce and was known as Grove farm. (fn. 188)
Manor farm was the home farm of the manor estate,
which in 1837 contained 468 a. The farm descended
with the manor until c. 1920 when the Peters family
bought it. (fn. 189) From the large rectorial allotment of
1837, north of the Cambridge road, Rectory farm
was created, and it was leased until bought c. 1936
by the Wimpole estate. (fn. 190)
By the time of inclosure Malton was being run as a
single farm, and was allotted 151 a. in Orwell in
addition to the 304 a. already inclosed. (fn. 191) Increased
drainage improved the land and Christ's College
continued to improve the farm. There were five
farms in Orwell in 1970 including Rectory farm.
Manor farm and Grove farm were owned by the
Miller family. Town farm had been renamed
Meadowcroft farm and was owned by a Mr. Parcel,
a member of the Miller family. West farm, the
second holding of the Bendyshe family, was owned
by the Rugby Portland Cement Co. (fn. 192)
It was said in 1854 with reference to agriculture
in Orwell that the aspect was very gloomy, rents
were reduced, and the area had suffered continuously from 'withering blights' for five or six years. (fn. 193)
The damp condition of the land probably made
unfavourable conditions worse, particularly as the
farmers concentrated on arable farming. In 1677
only 338 a. were used for pasture, compared with
1,392 a. under cultivation, (fn. 194) and the proportion
was much the same at inclosure. Wheat, oats,
beans, and barley for malt were grown, (fn. 195) and some
saffron into the late 17th century. (fn. 196) Sheep were the
most common stock kept and strict regulations for
their grazing were made and from time to time
abused. Richard Bendyshe of Barrington had
acquired a bad reputation by 1788 for assuming
pasture rights which were not his. (fn. 197) In 1756 it was
made clear that only farmers with over 10 a. of land
could pasture their horses on the strays, and the
numbers that they could pasture increased to a
maximum of four as the size of the holdings
increased. (fn. 198) Pasture rights generally were carefully
guarded, and, in addition to common shared with
Malton, Orwell intercommoned with the men of
Wimpole in 1515 in Wrotford Green, (fn. 199) which
probably lay near the Old Leys Common in the
north-west corner of the parish. (fn. 200) In the 17th century
Orwell had c. 200 a. of meadow, commonable to all
tenants. (fn. 201) Some of the inclosures around the town
green were described as orchards in 1686. (fn. 202) Several
survived in 1970. A new commercial orchard was
made in 1933 on the Cambridge road at its junction
with the Brook. (fn. 203)
In 1086 there was a mill worth 8s. in the Scalers
fee in Orwell. (fn. 204) A mill owned by John Camoys
(d. 1298) (fn. 205) was presumably the windmill that had its
sailyards repaired in 1413. (fn. 206) Millfield apparently
took its name from the presence of a windmill
which stood above the clunch pit on Toot Hill. It
belonged to James Tuck in 1837, (fn. 207) and in 1847,
when it was sold, it was described as a post windmill
with grinding stones and going gears. (fn. 208) The Gernon
fee, which became part of Malton, had a mill worth
12s. in 1086. (fn. 209) The mill has not been found in any
later records but may have stood near Malton Farm,
on the river Cam or Rhee, at a place where the
banks have been artificially widened, next to the
bridge on the Orwell-Meldreth road. (fn. 210)
Between 1863 and 1879 coprolites were dug in
Malton (fn. 211) and in 1865 licences to dig were granted in
Orwell. (fn. 212) The quarry in Toot Hill supplied clunch
and in 1970 was producing chalk, quarried by the
Rugby Portland Cement Co. An old malt-house
was recorded in Malton in 1770 and it was repaired
in 1848. (fn. 213) In 1873 a brewery was built in Orwell
(Cambridge Road), in the north corner of Oatland
field. (fn. 214) It was disused by 1902; (fn. 215) by 1912 it had
become an engineering works; (fn. 216) and by 1921 it was
no longer used. (fn. 217) Hannah Merry occupied a blacksmith's shop in 1755, (fn. 218) and in 1848 a blacksmith's
shop was pulled down in Malton; (fn. 219) another was
recorded in Orwell in 1887, standing opposite the
junction of Stocks Lane and the High Street. (fn. 220)
Another smithy had been built in Orwell (Cambridge
Road), next to the brewery. It was closed and pulled
down in 1953 and a café built on its site in 1967. (fn. 221)
There was a wheelwright's shop in Orwell in 1882. (fn. 222)
Some time before 1876 a brick kiln was built in the
south-west corner of the field behind Grove Farm,
and in that year it was in full working order and had
a plentiful supply of clay. (fn. 223) It was still standing in
1901. (fn. 224) In 1254 Ralph Camoys the younger was
granted a weekly Thursday market in Orwell, and a
yearly fair on the eve, day, and morrow of Trinity. (fn. 225)
The market was still held in 1522 (fn. 226) but neither
market nor fair have been found later.
Local Government.
There are court rolls
for Orwell for 1459, 1512–15, (fn. 227) 1531–7, 1581,
1588–92, 1618, 1626–49, 1657–65, 1680, 1685–8,
1696, (fn. 228) and 1714–1936; (fn. 229) and there is one 14thcentury roll for Malton. (fn. 230) In the 11th century
Picot the sheriff lent Earl Roger 3 sokemen to hold
his pleas, but the earl usurped and kept them. (fn. 231)
Courts leet and baron were held in Orwell up to
1936. The assize of bread and ale belonged to the
lord of the manor, who claimed infangthief in
1299 (fn. 232) and had gallows recognized in Orwell. (fn. 233) At
the end of the 16th century 2 constables, 2 fieldreeves (for supervising ditching), and 2 haywards
were elected, and although the numbers varied,
there were never more than 2 of each officer until
the mid 18th century, when 4 field-reeves were
elected.
The town's land was recorded in 1736 (fn. 234) and
1788. (fn. 235) At inclosure in 1837 the churchwardens and
overseers claimed the town mead (fn. 236) but it was
included in the allotment to the church lands
trustees, which totalled 29 a. 1 r. 22 p. The churchwardens and overseers were given 1 r. 16 p. including the poorhouse. Other poorhouses and gardens
occupying 1 r. 27 p. were included with the church
lands. (fn. 237) There was a town house or poorhouse
standing on the east side of the church in 1686, (fn. 238)
and in 1837 it occupied 36 p. (fn. 239) An alms-house was
recorded in 1807 (fn. 240) and 1830. (fn. 241) In 1776 the total
poor-rate of £110 13s. in Orwell was the highest
in the hundred, but by 1803, when 50 people,
including 4 non-parishioners, received relief, Orwell's expense on the poor was fourth highest. (fn. 242) By
1830 the poor-rate had risen to £341 and coals were
being given as additional relief to the poor. (fn. 243) No
separate poor-returns exist for Malton. Orwell
became part of the Caxton and Arrington poor law
union in 1835, (fn. 244) and in 1934 was transferred from
the Caxton and Arrington R.D. to the South
Cambridgeshire R.D. (fn. 245)
Churches.
Orwell probably had an incumbent
rector until the early 14th century (fn. 246) when the
church became a sinecure rectory. A vicar, sometimes called a stipendiary curate, was appointed in
1341 and later, upon the presentation of the rector, (fn. 247)
until 1835 when the vicarage and rectory were
united. (fn. 248) The church may have belonged in the late
11th century to Earl Roger, who granted tithes in
Orwell to St. Martin's Abbey, Sées (Orne). (fn. 249)
In 1201 Asceline de Waterville, then holding the
earl's manor, and William of Orwell were disputing
the advowson of the rectory, (fn. 250) and in 1202 William
released his claim to Asceline. (fn. 251) The advowson
descended with Orwell manor, although in 1302
Matania, widow of John Cobham, was holding a
life-interest by grant of the lord of the manor. (fn. 252)
In 1344 Margaret, widow of Hugh Prilly, and their
son Peter, granted the advowson to Margaret (d.
1347), widow of Robert Kendal, and her son
Edward (d. 1373). (fn. 253) Edward's son Thomas Kendal,
clerk, died seised of the advowson in 1374 and was
succeeded by his sister Beatrice, wife of Sir Robert
Turk. (fn. 254) They were both dead by 1400, (fn. 255) and their
daughter Joan and her husband John Waleys
conveyed the advowson in 1402 to Richard Hargar
and his heirs and John de la Vale. (fn. 256) In 1404 Hargar
and de la Vale proposed to grant the advowson to
Michaelhouse, Cambridge, and in 1417 the transactions were completed. (fn. 257) After Michaelhouse was
incorporated into Trinity College, that college
retained the advowson (fn. 258) and continued as patron
until 1933 when the advowson was transferred to
the Ely Diocesan Patronage Board. (fn. 259)
The church was taxed at 15 marks in 1217, and
at 12 marks in 1256, when St. Martin's Abbey, Sées,
owned a portion of 20s., probably through Earl
Roger's gift. (fn. 260) In 1291 the rectory was valued at
£16 13s. 4d. (fn. 261) In the 1340s the patrons planned an
appropriation of the great tithes, but without effect. (fn. 262)
In 1539 the rectory was said to be worth £19 17s. 7d., (fn. 263)
and £150 c. 1728. (fn. 264) At inclosure in 1837 the rectory
combined with the vicarage was allotted c. 340 a. in
lieu of tithes and 15 a. in lieu of glebe and right of
common. (fn. 265) In 1866 the proceeds from coprolite
diggings on the glebe were invested to endow the
rectory and the rector was paid from the investment trust. (fn. 266) By 1873 the rectorial gross income had
risen to over £400 (fn. 267) but by 1896 had fallen to £223. (fn. 268)
In 1539 the vicarage was valued at £7 10s. (fn. 269) and in
1615 the vicarial glebe contained c. 10 a. (fn. 270) By 1662
the vicarage was said to be worth £20. (fn. 271) The
vicarial glebe was let for £14 c. 1724 and the small
tithes for £13, and c. 1728 the vicar received a
stipend of £25. (fn. 272) In 1830 the gross vicarial income
was £78. (fn. 273)
There was a vicarage in 1561 in great disrepair (fn. 274)
and by 1662 the house and out-buildings were
dilapidated. (fn. 275) In 1783 it was recorded that there was
no longer a vicarage house, and the vicar may have
used the rectory house until 1835. (fn. 276) The rectory
was in need of repair in 1651 (fn. 277) but thereafter was
maintained in reasonable condition. (fn. 278) In 1859 the
rector was granted £600 by Trinity College to
build a rectory house. (fn. 279)
The earliest recorded rector, William Elmham,
was presented to Orwell in June 1329 and was
replaced in October the same year. (fn. 280) The rectory
changed hands frequently thereafter and it was not
until the 16th century that a rectorial tenure of over
10 years was recorded. (fn. 281) The vicarage was similarly
subject to frequent change and occasionally a
curate was appointed instead. (fn. 282) Only two instances
of the appointment of both a vicar and a curate
were recorded; one in 1579 when a curate was
appointed to assist an old vicar, (fn. 283) and one in 1807
when the vicar had another benefice. (fn. 284) Between 1747
and 1786 sequestrators were appointed to serve the
cure on seven occasions, apparently in succession. (fn. 285)
After Trinity College acquired the patronage the
rector was usually one of the fellows and by 1664,
according to statute, was the senior fellow. (fn. 286) The
rector was usually an absentee and lived in college,
and the rectory was sequestrated in 1619 (fn. 287) and
again in 1645, when Dr. Rowe, vice-master of
Trinity, was charged with negligence and absenteeism and was ejected. He was reinstated c. 1660. (fn. 288)
Several eminent scholars held the rectory: Henry
Hornby, master of Peterhouse, was rector 1508–
18; (fn. 289) Jeremiah Radcliffe, vice-master of Trinity
College and one of the translators of the Bible, was
rector 1590–1612; (fn. 290) Wolfran Stubbs, vice-master of
Trinity College, was rector 1703–19; (fn. 291) and Dr.
John Colbatch, who founded and endowed a school
in Orwell, was rector 1720–48. (fn. 292) In 1970 the
rectories of Orwell and Wimpole and the vicarage of
Arrington were held in plurality. (fn. 293) About 1728
there were 20 communicants in Orwell and a
communion service was held three times a year.
There were two Sunday services (fn. 294) which continued
until 1807 when a single Sunday service was held,
either in the morning or evening, alternating with
Arrington which was served by the same curate.
In 1807 there were five communicants. (fn. 295) Churchgoers were increasing in 1873 when three Sunday
services were held and there were 29 communicants
for a monthly communion service. (fn. 296) In 1897 the
congregation was between 40 and 110 people, of
whom 20 formed the choir. Communion was held
twice monthly in winter and four times a month in
the summer, for 17 communicants. (fn. 297) In 1970 joint
services were being held with the Methodist chapel
several times a year. (fn. 298)
The church of ST. ANDREW, mostly built of
clunch and field stones, has a chancel with sacristy,
aisled and clerestoried nave with south porch, and
west tower. By 1200 there were a nave and chancel,
and the tower had been started. It was finished in the
13th century, when the upper stages, buttresses,
and tower arch were built. The nave aisles and porch
were added c. 1300. The chancel and sacristy were
probably built after 1398 under a bequest from
Richard Anlaby, rector 1388–97, and the roof
bosses and window glass formerly had elaborate
heraldic and iconographic illustrations in memory of
Anlaby and Sir Simon Burley (d. 1388) and others
associated with the young Richard II. (fn. 299) The clerestory windows, the side wall of the south aisle, and
perhaps also the north aisle were renewed in the
15th century, and the screen and rood-loft were
probably of the same period. Part of the rood
probably remained in 1561. (fn. 300) In 1554 the roofs were
of thatch but greatly decayed, (fn. 301) and it was soon
afterwards that the nave roof was rebuilt at its low
pitch.
The church suffered during the Commonwealth
and lost a cross from the steeple and at least 16
pictures. (fn. 302) The nave roof was not waterproof in
1685 (fn. 303) and was renewed to an altered form by John
Colbatch. (fn. 304) The screen still existed in 1743. (fn. 305) In 1783
a large town plough was kept in the church. (fn. 306) The
north aisle was rebuilt in brick in the early 19th
century. There was a restoration in 1860 and
another in 1883 when the south aisle, porch, and
chancel were extensively rebuilt and the heraldry of
the chancel roof was rearranged and some new coats
introduced. (fn. 307) In 1552 there was a silver chalice, and
four bells and a hand-bell. (fn. 308) In 1678 the fourth bell
was cracked and had to be recast. (fn. 309) In 1970 there
were five bells: (i) 1694, Charles Newman, recast
1931; (ii) 1616, W. Haulsey of St. Ives; (iii) 1665,
Miles Graye III; (iv) 1615, Miles Graye II;
(v) 1679, Toby Norris of Stamford. The plate
includes a cup of 1860 and an alms dish of 1741. A
paten of 1741 has disappeared in the 20th century.
There is a clock in the south wall of the tower
which is a remodelling of an early-17th-century
clock given by Trinity College in 1726. (fn. 310)
The font is a 12th-century bowl with a later
medieval stem. There is a late-14th-century halffigure of a cleric with attached inscription plate and
invocation scroll in brass on the north side of the
chancel, and a rectangular inscription plate, probably
medieval, on the south side. Fragments of yellowstain late medieval glass have survived in the second
window in the north side of the chancel. There are
traces of an early-14th-century clunch reredos at the
east end of the south aisle and of a 16th-century
carved surround immediately east of the south
doorway. In the chancel stalls are eleven simply
carved late medieval misericords and in the south
aisle are the arms of James II dated 1686, on canvas.
On the south wall is a painted clunch monument to
Jeremiah Radcliffe, including an effigy. The parish
registers begin in 1599.
In 1911 Philip Meyer left £1,000 to Orwell
church for the repair of the fabric. It was in use in
1958. (fn. 311) In 1721 26 a. were given to the church, for
which an allotment was made at inclosure in 1837;
the land was sold in 1944 and the proceeds of the
sale were invested. (fn. 312)
Malton church had the right of sanctuary in 1216. (fn. 313)
In 1265 Agnes Thornton inherited the advowson of
the rectory from her father Nicholas le Vavassour,
and it descended with her manor. (fn. 314) William Muchet,
a trustee of the FitzRalph estate, presented in 1344
and 1350. (fn. 315) The advowson was granted to Margaret,
countess of Richmond, in 1504, and the rectory
appropriated to Christ's College in 1505. The
college was licensed to serve the cure by a fellow
instead of endowing a vicarage. (fn. 316)
Malton church was valued separately in 1256 at
4 marks, (fn. 317) and in 1291 at £8. (fn. 318) In 1779 an annual
pension of 2s. was payable to the bishop of Ely by
the impropriator, and had been owed at least since
the 15th century. (fn. 319) The rectory house was probably
the 15th-century building from which Malton Farm
developed.
Ralph Oliver of Sandon was recorded as rector in
1316. (fn. 320) His successor was replaced in 1337 by John
Gleyne, who was licensed to be absent for three
years, and leased the church for the last three years
of his six-year tenure. (fn. 321) Generally the rectors had
short tenures, an exception being Thomas Percy,
rector 1449–73. (fn. 322) The last recorded rector was
Thomas Todd who was presented in 1486 by
Thomas Tyrell. (fn. 323) The church had fallen into disuse
by c. 1600, but c. 1620 the curate from Shepreth
served the church for a stipend of £10 a year paid
by the tenant of Malton, Thomas Sterne. (fn. 324) No
later minister was recorded. By the mid 18th century
Malton was included in Orwell parish. (fn. 325)
The church of ST. NICHOLAS stood on high
ground to the west of Malton Farm. It was a small
church, which was all pulled down in 1509–10,
except for the chancel, (fn. 326) which by c. 1600 was itself
in decay and being used as a cow shed, although it
had probably been reconsecrated by c. 1620 and was
described as a chapel in 1638. (fn. 327) It was being used
as a barn in 1747, but retained a thatched roof, three
small windows, and 'elegant pillars'. (fn. 328) By 1792 the
church was a ruin. (fn. 329)
Nonconformity.
Orwell was one of the most
important Congregational meeting-places in the
county during the later 17th century. (fn. 330) In 1669 a
conventicle meeting at the houses of three men, all
excommunicated, was attended by 30 or 40 parishioners besides strangers. The teachers were Samuel
Corbin, Joseph Oddy, Thomas Lock, and George
Smith, (fn. 331) of whom the first three were assistants of
Francis Holcroft. (fn. 332) The teachers have been described as Presbyterians, (fn. 333) and a house was licensed
as a Presbyterian meeting-place in 1672, (fn. 334) but it
seems more likely that both were Congregational. (fn. 335)
In 1675 the combined membership of the Congregational communities of Barrington, Thriplow,
Croydon, and Orwell was said to number 124, (fn. 336) and
in 1676 58 dissenters were recorded in Orwell
itself, (fn. 337) the largest number for any parish in the
county. (fn. 338) Eight parishioners were presented in 1679
for absence from church and for attending conventicles, (fn. 339) and c. 34 in 1682. (fn. 340) In 1685, although it
was reported that there was no conventicle, there
were many dissenters and about 30 disciples, most
of them excommunicated, of Holcroft and Oddy. (fn. 341)
Five years later Ickleton, Thriplow, Toft, Orwell,
and Little Gransden agreed that one of two preachers
would preach to each of them once every third Sunday. (fn. 342) By 1716, however, it seems that Great Eversden
had replaced Orwell as a Congregational centre. (fn. 343)
There were ten families of dissenters in the parish
in 1728, (fn. 344) and in 1759 William Hicks, vicar of
Wrestlingworth (Beds.), preached there, (fn. 345) an event
later regarded as the start of Methodism in Orwell. (fn. 346)
A Methodist meeting-place was registered in 1761, (fn. 347)
but in 1783 there was no meeting-house, although
there were many dissenters and Methodists. (fn. 348)
Eight or ten families of dissenters were recorded in
1807, (fn. 349) a barn was registered apparently for
Methodist worship in 1822, (fn. 350) and a Wesleyan
Methodist chapel was built (fn. 351) on Town Green Road
and registered for worship in 1823. (fn. 352) The chapel
was on the Cambridge circuit in 1836, (fn. 353) and it had a
congregation of 160 for afternoon services in 1851,
when it could seat 200. (fn. 354)
In 1873 the rector said that most of the dissenters
went to church sometimes and that many church
people felt free to go to chapel. Three or four
Sunday services were held in the chapel, (fn. 355) which
had an estimated congregation of about 100 in 1897. (fn. 356)
Cornish Methodists working on the Wimpole
Park estate, the movement of Yorkshire farming
families into the district, and the disbanding of the
local Salvation Army helped to increase the number
of Methodists in the later 19th century. A new
brick chapel was built on the existing site, and was
opened in 1906 together with a schoolroom. (fn. 357) The
chapel was registered for worship in the same year, (fn. 358)
and for marriage in 1910, (fn. 359) and it had an average
attendance of 16 in 1969. (fn. 360)
A house was registered for protestant dissenting
worship in 1824, (fn. 361) there were a few Independents
of 'the lowest order' in 1825, (fn. 362) and a room was registered for protestant dissenting worship in 1852. (fn. 363) In
1886 a barn was registered for the Salvation Army, (fn. 364)
and some Baptists were recorded in 1897. (fn. 365)
Education.
There was an unlicensed schoolmaster in 1579; (fn. 366) in 1587 Robert Clark, apparently
B.A. (Cantab.), was licensed to teach grammar, (fn. 367)
and a schoolmaster was recorded at intervals between 1590 and 1618. (fn. 368) There was a public school
in 1661, (fn. 369) and a schoolmaster in 1692. (fn. 370) In 1728 £10
was given to teach poor children. (fn. 371)
John Colbatch, rector of Orwell, founded a
charity school c. 1743 when he gave a farm-house
and 82 a. in Eaton Socon (Beds.) on trust to pay £15
a year to a master to teach boys to read, write, and
cast accounts, and £10 a year to a mistress to teach
girls to read, spin, knit, and sew. Detailed provisions
were made for religious instruction and worship. (fn. 372)
In 1749 Elizabeth Colbatch, John's niece, and the
Revd. Francis Hooper gave 68 a. in Blunham and
Moggerhanger (Beds.), and c. 3 a. in Orwell, to the
trustees of the Orwell school, to provide books for
poor children at the school, and to use the surplus to
apprentice poor children. (fn. 373) By 1808 the school site
had apparently been added to the gift of 1749, (fn. 374) and
the trustees of the school were allotted c. 5 a. in
Orwell at inclosure in 1837. (fn. 375) The school site
remained copyhold of Orwell manor until the 20th
century. (fn. 376)
Until 1883 John Colbatch's gift and Colbatch
and Hooper's gift were administered together, the
rent from the latter apparently being applied to the
general maintenance of the school before apprenticeships were provided. (fn. 377) In 1783 the master received
£17 and the mistress £13, and after £5 had been paid
to the poor the remaining income was used for
apprenticing. (fn. 378) There were said to have been only
two apprenticeships between c. 1786 and 1798, (fn. 379)
and between c. 1831 and 1837 £60 was spent on
apprenticeships, which were made outside the
parish in order to give settlements elsewhere. The
teachers' salaries were £40 and £25 respectively by
1837 when the combined income of both charities
was £113 13s. (fn. 380) In 1863–4 £161 was spent on
education and £15 on apprenticeships, (fn. 381) although it
was complained that there were no apprenticeships. (fn. 382) Five pupils were apprenticed or rewarded
on leaving school in 1866, (fn. 383) but in 1882 the rector
said that there had been no apprenticeships since
1870. (fn. 384) The combined income of both charities was
£261 in 1879. (fn. 385)
The boys' and the girls' schools each had 30
pupils in 1818, (fn. 386) and in 1833 both were free to
children aged 5 to 14. (fn. 387) There were two school-
rooms and a teacher's house in 1837, when dissenters'
children were admitted as a matter of indulgence.
The pupils were mainly poor children, but farmers'
sons also attended, and children of those not
legally settled were admitted as paying pupils. (fn. 388) New
school buildings were erected in 1839. (fn. 389) In 1871
there were 43 boys and 50 girls, (fn. 390) and there was a
certificated teacher in 1874, (fn. 391) but an annual grant
was not received until 1881, (fn. 392) when the children
of Orwell (Cambridge Road) went to school at
Wimpole. (fn. 393)
In 1884 the trustees reluctantly agreed, under the
Charity Commissioners' threat of legal proceedings,
to stop using the income from Colbatch and
Hooper's gift for the general maintenance of the
school, (fn. 394) which thenceforth received money from
that charity only for books. (fn. 395) The trustees charged
school pence in 1885 in order to maintain the school,
and 34 people were fined for failing to send their
children to school, having refused to pay school
pence. (fn. 396) Average attendance was 69 in 1893, when
c. £47 was received from the endowment, (fn. 397) and an
evening school was recorded in 1873, (fn. 398) 1879, (fn. 399) and
from 1895 to 1901. (fn. 400)
There was still a considerable demand for apprenticeships in 1904 (fn. 401) when, by order of the Charity
Commissioners, Colbatch and Hooper's Educational Foundation was established with the endowment of Colbatch and Hooper's charity less £5 a
year. (fn. 402) The Orwell land, excluding the school site,
was sold c. 1943, and the Blunham and Moggerhanger farm in 1945, the proceeds of sale being
invested in stock. The Revd. John Colbatch
Foundation was regulated by a Board of Education
Scheme in 1905, by which the master and mistress
were to receive £15 and £10 a year respectively,
regulations were made for spending the residue, and
the school was continued as a Church of England
school. The Eaton Socon farm was sold c. 1941,
and the proceeds of sale invested in stock. (fn. 403) The
school became an Aided school in 1951 (fn. 404) and in 1956
the two foundations were amalgamated as Colbatch
and Hooper's Educational Foundation by a Ministry
of Education Scheme, under which the school was to
continue as a Voluntary Church of England school. (fn. 405)
The school was closed in 1961, (fn. 406) and the buildings
and site, on the east corner of Town Green Road
and the High Street, were sold in 1969. (fn. 407)
From 1869 the trustees wished to enlarge the
school apparently to take more infants. (fn. 408) The school
building was too small in 1873; (fn. 409) children under five
were not accepted in 1879, (fn. 410) and a school board was
formed compulsorily in 1883, (fn. 411) because the trustees
were unwilling to accept a Scheme to enable them to
provide more accommodation. (fn. 412) An infants' board
school was opened in 1885 (fn. 413) on the west side of
Town Green Road opposite the Church of England
school. (fn. 414) School pence were 1d., and there was a
certificated teacher. (fn. 415) Average attendance was 67 in
1887, (fn. 416) 34 in 1909, (fn. 417) and 15 in 1938. (fn. 418) The school
was closed in 1963.
Orwell Petersfield Church of England Aided
school was opened in 1962. In 1970 there were 133
children from Orwell, Arrington, Croydon, Whaddon, and Wimpole, and children over 11 went to
Bassingbourn village college. (fn. 419)
Charities for the Poor.
In 1660 widow
Benning gave £5 on trust that the interest should be
distributed among five poor widows. (fn. 420) In 1807 5s. a
year was distributed among poor women (fn. 421) but by
1838 the distribution had ceased. (fn. 422)
Thomas Whaley, rector of Orwell, (fn. 423) by will dated
1637 gave £50 as a stock for the poor. His brother
and executor, John Whaley, by will dated 1638
added £30 to the £50, which had remained unused,
and left £80 to produce £4 a year for the poor.
By 1652 John Whaley's gift had not been effected,
and a decree directed that it should be. It was
thought in 1838 that the church lands (fn. 424) might have
been bought with the money.
In 1783 £5 a year from Colbatch and Hooper's
gift (fn. 425) was distributed to the poor at Christmas, (fn. 426)
and between c. 1831 and 1837 £5 10s. was spent on
blankets for the poor and £25 was distributed to the
poor at Christmas; £5 was distributed in 1863–4. (fn. 427)
In 1904 the gift of £5 was established as Colbatch
and Hooper's Charity for the Poor, and in 1955 £5
was distributed to 15 people.