CHATTERIS
Chatteris is a small town on the western border of the
Isle, about 9 miles south of March and 12 miles northwest of Ely, and on the main road between them. The
Ely road is known as Ireton's Way, having been constructed by the Parliamentary general in the Civil War
to convey troops from Chatteris to Ely. (fn. 1) It was a private
road, with toll gates, until taken over by the County
Council in 1902. (fn. 2) Other roads connect the town with
St. Ives, Huntingdon (via Warboys) and Wisbech (via
Upwell). The Wisbech road runs east from Chatteris
for about a mile. It then runs north-east along the
Sixteen Foot Drain, which is the only important watercourse in Chatteris except the Forty Foot or Vermuyden's Drain crossing the north of the parish. There is
a station on the March and St. Ives branch, Eastern
Region British Railways, opened in 1848. (fn. 3) A Local
Board, now replaced by an Urban District. Council
of nine members, was formed in 1873. The market,
apparently held by prescription, had been discontinued
before 1808 owing to the bad state of the roads and the
frequent floods in the district. In 1834 it was revived,
on the petition of nearly 100 inhabitants, and was held
on Fridays. (fn. 4) By 1851 it was well attended and the
centre of a fair trade in corn. (fn. 5) It became obsolete early
in the present century, but fairs are still held on the last
Friday in April and the Friday before Michaelmas. (fn. 6)
From 1778 until 1846 Chatteris alternated with March
as one of the meeting-places of the Court of Requests
for the Isle of Ely for the recovery of small debts in the
Isle. (fn. 7)
In 1563 (fn. 8) there were 206 householders in Chatteris,
a figure comparable with the undivided parish of Doddington (201) and Haddenham (188), and much below
that for Whittlesey (355) and Ely with its hamlets
(400). Chatteris must then have contained about 1,000
inhabitants. The assessment for ship money in 1639-
40 shows little change, Chatteris being rated at
£50 2s. as compared with £75 15s. for Haddenham and
£699s. 11d. for Doddington with its hamlets. Chatteris,
however, ranks with the villages rather than the towns;
it is much below Wisbech, Whittlesey, and Ely, and
about in the middle of a group, assessed at between £40
and £60, which contains also Elm, Stretham with
Thetford, Littleport, Downham, and Sutton. (fn. 9) Bishop
Compton's 'census' of 1676 (fn. 10) is almost certainly inaccurate as regards Chatteris, where it shows only 271 persons of communicant age (including 43 Dissenters),
perhaps representing a total of about 400; the comparable figures for Doddington and Haddenham are 1,762
(949 in March) and 700 respectively. At the opening
of the 19th century Chatteris, with 2,393 population,
had far outpaced Haddenham (1,090), but was by a
slight margin the smallest town in the Isle, March
having 2,514 inhabitants. (fn. 11) The subsequent trend has
been the usual one in Fenland towns-a rapid increase
up to 1851, as the surrounding countryside was converted from pasture to tillage, followed by a decrease of
some 10 per cent. in the second half of the 19th century
and subsequent return to about the 1851 level. At this
date (1851) the town was said to be 'considerable', to
be 'lighted with gas', and to contain 'some handsome
houses and good shops'. (fn. 12) There were at that time 15
inns and 43 beerhouses to serve a population of about
5,000. (fn. 13) Chatteris suffered badly in the 1832 epidemic
of cholera; the General Baptist congregation lost 3 out
of about 50 members. (fn. 14) A serious fire which broke out
on Mr. Billips's farm on 14 September 1864 caused the
death of a 7-year-old girl and the destruction of upwards
of 100 houses. The total damage was over £10,000,
and a relief fund of £300 was subscribed for the sufferers.
The fire was said to be the work of an incendiary. (fn. 15) An
earlier fire (1706) caused £1,787 worth of damage. (fn. 16)
A halfpenny tradesman's token of 1670 is known. (fn. 17)
The first record of a post office in Chatteris is in 1782. (fn. 18)
In 1851 Mrs. Mahala Rowley, confectioner, of High
Street, was postmistress. (fn. 19) The post office was opened
in its present premises at No. 16 Park Street in 1924; (fn. 20)
the building is of the late 18th century, with a pedimented doorway with fanlight and bow window above,
and a Mansard roof. Telephone service was first provided by the National Telephone Company in 1910.
The present exchange dates from 1924. (fn. 21)
There are some small engineering works in Chatteris,
but agriculture is the chief industry and the town is of
importance mainly as a local shopping centre. It has not
the industrial interests of other Fenland towns like
Wisbech, Whittlesey, and March, and though the
population (5,153 in 1931, 5,528 in 1951) is large
compared with some neighbouring centres (e.g. Huntingdon and St. Ives) it is spread over some 22 square
miles at a density not much greater than that of some
of the rural parishes in the north of the county. In
1921 just over half (50.6 per cent.) of the male workers
were employed in agriculture, a proportion above that
for the Isle as a whole. At that date, however, all the
towns, including Wisbech, (fn. 22) returned more than 25 per
cent. of their male workers as engaged in agriculture.
In 1931 the Chatteris proportion had risen to 57.7
per cent., a figure unsurpassed among English urban
areas except by Holbeach (Lincs.) and Ramsey
(Hunts.). (fn. 23)
Inclosure was effected by Acts of Parliament in
1793 and 1809. (fn. 24) The employment of women and
children in agricultural gangs was said to have come into
existence in Chatteris soon after the latter Act. (fn. 25) The
award under this Act was not made until 1819. The
delay was no doubt due to the large amount of land
inclosed (5,669 acres), and to the fact that with six
separate manors in the parish, the 139 holders of
common rights could hold them in seven different
capacities, each of which might require a separate set of
allotments. (fn. 26) William Dunn Gardiner was much the
greatest beneficiary. He received 582 acres, 469 in his
own right or that of his wife, 104 as lord of the Ramsey
manor and 9 as lord of Bartles. Anne Waddington and
Mary Chafy, who received 259 acres jointly, were also
important proprietors. Charles Cholmondeley (the
impropriator of the great tithes) and the vicar each
received about 300 acres.
In 1851 there were two recently established libraries:
the Literary Institution with 70 members and 1,100
volumes and the Mechanics' and Working Men's Book
Society. Their subscriptions were 12s. 6d., and 1s. or
1s. 3d. respectively. (fn. 27)
Some pieces of domestic architecture are worth
noting. Chatteris House (No. 17 High Street) is a fine
early-19th-century building, with portico porch sheltering a good doorway and door, an iron balcony above,
and a central pediment. Inside, the staircase is of stone
with an iron balustrade, and there are some moulded
plaster ceilings. No. 84 High Street has a pedimented
doorway with a fanlight, and a bow window above.
The Red Lion Inn (No. 2 London Road) is plastered
and thatched; it has a carved wooden eaves cornice
and dates probably from the late 17th century. No. 1
Market Hill, 18th century, has a hooded doorway with
fanlight. Westwood (No. 9 Park Street) is a late-18thcentury building of some merit. No. 8 St. Martin's
Road, also 18th century but with a chimney brick
dated 1605, has stepped and Dutch gables, a roof partly
stone-slated, and another good doorway. Ivy House
(No. 19 Station Street) has similar features, except for
the gables. The manor house also has a pedimented
doorway; its stables and outbuildings are very extensive
and have a picturesque cupola, but are very dilapidated;
the date is late 18th century. There are several other
houses of less distinction but pleasing design, especially
in High Street. In Angood's, Skeels' and Cole's Yards
at the north end of High Street there are several onestoried labourers' cottages of a type once extremely
common in the Fenland but now passing away.
The nunnery (fn. 28) and the 17th-century mansion built
on its site by the Gascoyne family have vanished except
for a few walls. Some of the last remains were pulled
down to make way for the Empress Cinema in 1935. (fn. 29)
MANORS
Part of Chatteris was given to Ramsey
Abbey by Athelstan Mannessone, and confirmed by Edgar (974), Edward the Confessor and other kings. (fn. 30) In 1086 this portion was
assessed at 3 hides less 1 virgate, with land for 4 ploughs,
1½ hide (1 plough-land) being in demesne. There was
meadow for the 4 plough teams and wood for 100 pigs,
also 3,000 eels from the fisheries and 27d. fish tribute.
The recorded population was 10 villeins, 5 bordars,
and 2 serfs. It had been worth 20s. when received,
£4 T.R.E. and £6 in 1086. The Abbot of Ely, who
also had an estate in Chatteris (see below), had the soke. (fn. 31)
This manor remained with Ramsey Abbey to the
Dissolution. In 1254 it was valued at £20 and in
1291 at £68 14s. 2d. (fn. 32) In 1396-7 it had fallen to
£3418s. 4d. (fn. 33) In 1535 the value had risen to £46 5s. 2d.
and was £48 4s. 5d. five years later. (fn. 34)
During the abbacy of Robert of Reading (1202-7)
Chatteris produced £12 a year in rents; (fn. 35) there is
a full extent of the manor, undated but c. 1240. (fn. 36) The
cultivable land amounted to 374 acres, of which 48
were in demesne. There were about 23 acres of high
meadow in several scattered portions, and an unspecified amount of meadow in the fen. Some of the localities
and bounds of these meadows survive in present-day
place-names, as Wenny, Wyliethe (Willey Fen), Hollode (Holwoods Farm), and Hunneye (Honey Hill). (fn. 37)
The fishery of 'Wlweyewere', half the fisheries of
'Redestecheswere' and 'Hachenwere', produced 30s. a
year. There was a small wood of 2 acres, and an alder
grove at Honey Hill. The marsh was held in common.
No free tenants are recorded, but there was a customary
tenant with as much as 50 acres, another with 16 and
32 tenants with 8 acres each. There were also 31 croftmen without land who in general performed half the
services of the customaries. This manor seems to have
approached a money economy more nearly than many
monastic estates at this period. Customary tenants, who
were actually performing their services, rendered
6s. 3d., but if they were not working in person as much
as £7 3s. 5¼d. By 1396-7 the commutation process seems to have been complete. (fn. 38) In 1409, 2,306
works were commuted at 1d. and 64 at 3d.-a total
of £10 18s. 2d. The total revenue of the manor
(£58 7s. 2d.) also included £21 9s. 10d. from rents,
£13 13s. 4d. from Hollode and £5 1s. from Crowlode,
and £7 1s. 2d. from perquisites of court. There were
also heavy arrears amounting to over £90. (fn. 39) In 1471,
36 tenants paid £5 1s. 11d. for 98 holdings. (fn. 40)
The general history of this manor whilst in monastic
hands is uneventful. Up to the time of Bishop Geoffrey
(1177-89) the bishop or the prior of Ely had the right
to the services of Ramsey tenants in Chatteris for work
on Aldreth causeway; (fn. 41) by 1240 this had been commuted for 2s. yearly. (fn. 42) The suit of court owed at Ely
and at Witchford hundred was in 1294 fixed as threeweekly, to be performed by two tenants; in 1339 it was
reduced to an annual suit, with homage of 2s. payable
at the hundred court at Witchford. (fn. 43) In 1391, to settle
long-standing disputes, the Abbot of Ramsey 'granted'
his manor of Chatteris with all its appurtenances to the
Bishop of Ely. Presumably this means that he recognized the bishop as his overlord in this, the only Ramsey
manor wholly within the Isle. (fn. 44) The grant was
inspected and confirmed six years later. (fn. 45) In 1229 an
assize of novel disseisin was brought against the abbot
and others by Katherine de Chatteris regarding a tenement in the vill. (fn. 46)
The manor remained with the Crown for some time
after the Dissolution. When William Whiteakers was
appointed its bailiff and collector in 1546-7 it brought
in about £50 a year gross. (fn. 47) In 1558 it was sold, for
£300, to Thomas Wendy the queen's physician, to be
held in chief at 1/40 fee. The appurtenances included the
marsh or pasture of 'Holliwood farme' held by the
heirs of Sir Richard Cromwell, and 10s. rent from
'Honye pasture' which had been granted to William
and John Sewster. (fn. 48) Thomas Wendy died in 1560, his
heir being his brother John, aged 50; in his will he
desired his nephew Thomas to marry one of his own
daughters. (fn. 49) John survived until 1589. The manor
itself was then valued at £18 12s. 6d. Non-manorial
property included Holwood and rent from Honey Hill,
bringing the Wendy estates in Chatteris up to £34. (fn. 50)
The last of the male line in this family was Thomas
Wendy (d. 1673), who with his wife Lettice (Willoughby) and other members of the family was dealing
with the manor in 1655. (fn. 51) By this time Honey Hill
was reckoned independently, the manor of HONNEY
FEN or HONNEY PASTURES being recorded in the
Sewster family, its original grantees, in the early 17th
century. (fn. 52) The property of this family in Huntingdonshire passed by marriage to the Peytons of Doddington
in the later 17th century, (fn. 53) and it is probable that this
small 'manor', which was in the north-east of Chatteris
parish towards Doddington, followed the descent of
and became merged in the latter. In Cole's time the
lessee (at £300 a year) of Honey Fen was Porter
Thompson of Trumpington. (fn. 54)
The main Ramsey manor is next found in the Caryl
family. (fn. 55) In 1682 Malbone Caryl settled it on his
mother-in-law Sarah Hart (d. 1707), with remainder
to other members of the family. (fn. 56) In the early 18th
century the manor became divided between two coheiresses, Malbon Worsley being vouchee as to I moiety
in 1730. (fn. 57) This half was still in the Worsley family in
1808. (fn. 58) The other half was being dealt with by John
Lees and Deborah his wife in 1759. (fn. 59) Later it was
further divided, a third part of a moiety being passed by
John and Mary Grayson to Thomas Moore in 1802. (fn. 60)
Six years later the joint lords were stated to be Thomas
Caryl Worsley and William Dunn Gardiner, the latter
having purchased his interest from the Terry family,
descendants by marriage of the Caryls. (fn. 61) Subsequently
the manor became reunited in the Gardiner family,
John Dunn Gardiner being lord in 1851 and 1900. (fn. 62)
Major-General C. E. Lawrie, C.B., D.S.O., was lord
in 1933. (fn. 63)
In 1086 the church of Ely held 2 hides and half
a virgate in Chatteris, with land for 3 ploughs. Half
a virgate was in demesne. There were 6 villeins,
2 bordars, and 2 cottars, meadow for 3 plough teams,
woodland for 20 pigs, and fisheries providing 1,500 eels.
The estate had been worth 30s. when received, 50s.
T.R.E. and 40s. in 1086. (fn. 64) Neither the bishop nor the
convent of Ely are afterwards recorded as immediate
owners of a manor in Chatteris, and this is probably the
origin of the manor of CHATTERIS NUNNS, held
by the Benedictine nunnery in the town which was
given to Ely by Henry I. (fn. 65) The 15th-century cartulary
of this nunnery (fn. 66) shows a very large number of small
grants, usually amounting to not more than one or two
messuages or up to an acre of land. The lands granted
lay mostly in Chatteris, where the nuns' estates were
worth £16 4s. 5d. in 1291, about a quarter of the value
of those of Ramsey. (fn. 67) Licences to acquire in mortmain
were granted at intervals in the 14th century, (fn. 68) but most
of the property so obtained was of very little value; for
example, a grant in 1387 by John Dreng of 15 messuages, a toft, 21a. 1½. of land and 2s. 2d. rent in
Chatteris, Doddington, and Wimblington was in all
worth only 10s. yearly. At the Dissolution, however,
the value of the nuns' manor had risen to £28 11s. 8½d.
Of this sum £20 11s. 4½d. was derived from the
demesne, which included a windmill, and 4s. 10d. from
'autumn works'. (fn. 69)
The manor and rectory were granted in 1551 to
Edward Lord Clinton and Saye at yearly rents of 29s.
and 14s. 5d. respectively. (fn. 70) The site and demesnes of
the nunnery, and the rectory, were then held by Walter
Cromwell, and the windmill by John Townesend. All
these were almost immediately regranted by Lord
Clinton to Thomas Rowe, merchant tailor of London. (fn. 71)
Rowe in his turn soon had licence for another alienation,
which was made in 1554 to William Bettys. (fn. 72) His
family, who gave the manor an alternative title of
CHATTERIS BETTS, held it for about a century. (fn. 73)
During the Commonwealth Scipio Cokayne, John
Tripp, and Edward and John Hobart, with their wives,
probably sisters of Thomas Betts the last in the male
line, (fn. 74) were dealing with the manor. (fn. 75) George Gas
coyne, one of the parties to the above transactions, converted what remained of the nunnery buildings into
a country house, seen by Dugdale on his visit in 1657. (fn. 76)
From Gascoyne the manor descended to Michael
Holman, who with his wife Eleanor (Gascoyne)
executed a settlement in 1661. (fn. 77) After this the manor
changed hands frequently. (fn. 78) In the early 18th century
it was in the Hake family. (fn. 79) From about 1757 to 1772
it belonged to Robert Fawcett of London. Fawcett
bequeathed it to John Seymour, (fn. 80) from whom it
descended to the Revd. T. C. W. Seymour, his grandson, who received 51 acres as lord of Nunns manor
under the 1819 inclosure award. Some time before
1851 it was sold to John Ord Hall. (fn. 81) Thomas Jennings
of Newmarket was lord of this manor in 1900; it has
since remained in his family. (fn. 82)
In 1386 certain iniquitatis filii withheld 2s. 1d. rent,
due to the church of Ely, from three tenements. Payment was ordered within 15 days on pain of excommunication. (fn. 83)
As late as 1809-10 the Bishop of Ely claimed to be
lord paramount of the manors of Chatteris Ramsey,
Nunns, and Benet College, all of which did suit and
service at his palace and hundred courts. (fn. 84) Until the
middle of the 19th century the bishop held courts leet
on St. Matthew's Day at a house called the Guildhall. (fn. 85)
The manor of CHATTERIS LISLES is first mentioned in 1498, when it was worth £3 6s. 8d. and was
held by John, Lord Scrope of Bolton, of the Bishop of
Ely by fealty. (fn. 86) John's great-grandson, Ralph Scrope of
the Vine (Hants.), sold it in 1564 to Symeon Stywarde
and his son Robert. At Symeon's death in 1568 it was
held of the queen in free socage. (fn. 87) The descent for the
next three centuries is identical with that of Coveney
(q.v.). Manorial rights had lapsed by 1900, possibly
on the extinction of the Rokeby barony in 1883.
A manor of TYNDALLS is mentioned in 1498,
when Sir William Tyndale died seised thereof. It was
then worth 30s. and was held of the Bishop of Ely by
unknown service. (fn. 88) By 1571 it had come to the Styward family (fn. 89) and subsequently descended with the
manors of Coveney and of Chatteris Lisles (q.v.).
The manor of BARTLES or GARDINERS was
devised by Thomas Gardiner (d. 1566) to his son
Humphrey in tail male, with contingent remainders to
his brothers and sisters and their heirs male. (fn. 90) Humphrey
left a life interest to his wife Elizabeth and appointed
her brother Whitehill Audley as a trustee in the event
of her death, his son William having predeceased him
and his grandson Humphrey being a minor. Humphrey II had livery of this manor in 1639. (fn. 91) The
subsequent descent is obscure; William Needham and
his wife Katherine were vouchees in 1705. (fn. 92) A century
later this manor was inherited by John Gardiner
(d. 1804) through his marriage with the heiress of
a Marriott of Chatteris. (fn. 93) Its descent during the 19th
century was identical with that of the Ramsey manor
(q.v.). Mr. Alexander H. M. Wedderburn was lord
in 1933. (fn. 94)
Another manor of ANDREWS was held in the early
14th century by the St. George family. In 1369 it was
settled by Baldwin St. George on trustees, from one of
whom, John Andrew of Eltisley, the manor acquired
its name. It seems that the estate was intended by the
original donor to be applied to charitable purposes.
Further trustees were appointed in 1377. In 1395 the
manor was made over to John Necton, master, and
Thomas Kelsale and John Titleshale, fellows of Benet
(now Corpus Christi) College, (fn. 95) whose successors have
since held it. (fn. 96)
CHURCH
The church of Chatteris was granted to
the nunnery by Bishop Niel (1133-69)
and confirmed by Prior Roger (c. 1210-
29). (fn. 97) Its value was £4 in 1217, £13 6s. 8d. in 1254,
and £16 13s. 4d. in 1291. (fn. 98) The church was styled
ecclesia in 1291, so that a vicarage would not seem to
have been ordained at that time. In 1535 the vicarage
was valued at £10. The appropriated rectory was
not entered separately, but included among the other
spiritualities of the nunnery. (fn. 99)
The advowson descended with the manor of Chatteris
Nunns or Betts to the end of the 18th century. Some
time before 1803 John Seymour, then lord of this
manor, sold it to Robert Chatfield of Croydon (Surrey),
who presented in that year. (fn. 1) In 1851 Revd. M. A.
Gathercole was patron and incumbent. (fn. 2) In 1909 the
advowson was obtained by Caius College, in exchange
with Revd. C. H. Brocklebank for that of Ashdon
(Essex), and it has since remained with the college. (fn. 3)
The rectory also descended with Nunns manor until
1615, when Bestney Betts and his brother John sold the
greater part, including Wylley Close, to Simon Bennett
of Swineshead (Beds.) for £1,900, (fn. 4) and in 1624 the
remainder, consisting solely of the great tithes, a barn
and an acre of land, was conveyed by Bestney with his
wife and other members of the family to Sir Thomas
Hetley, serjeant-at-law, and his son Francis. (fn. 5) Shortly
after this (c. 1632) it was stated that the Nunns manor
and impropriate rectory had been held together for so
long that the glebe was not distinguished from the
demesne. The Hetleys had difficulty in collecting their
tithes, obstacles being placed in their way by Betts,
George Carter the vicar, and the Earl of Suffolk who
held 400 acres, valued at £200 a year, in Honey Fen. (fn. 6)
Francis died in 1638 and was succeeded by his brother
William, then a minor, (fn. 7) who was dealing with the
rectory in 1651. (fn. 8) Carrina Hetley, widow, was in
possession in 1676-7, (fn. 9) and it continued with the Hetley
family to the end of the century. (fn. 10) Charles Cholmondeley was returned as impropriator in 1819. (fn. 11)
In 1562 the Bishop of Ely was awarded a pension
of 20s. from the vicarage. (fn. 12) The rectorial tithes were
commuted in 1818 for £600, and there were 297 acres
of glebe. In 1851 the glebe was the property of J. D.
Gardiner, lord of two of the Chatteris manors. The
vicarial tithes were commuted for £900, and 344½
acres of glebe, including 24½ in lieu of common rights. (fn. 13)
There were in 1389 guilds in Chatteris of the Holy
Trinity, Blessed Virgin and All Saints (1334), and of
Corpus Christi. (fn. 14) In 1549 a cottage called the Guildhall, let at 2s. 6d. yearly, with a yard, and 2 acres and
1 rood of land in tenure of the churchwardens, was
granted to William Warde. (fn. 15) The Guildhall was regranted in 1571 to Richard Hill and Robert Don. (fn. 16)
Plan of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
The church of ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL
consists of chancel, north and south chapels, north
vestry, clerestoried nave, aisles, two south porches, and
west tower. The material is rubble with stone dressings.
The roofs of the chancel, north chapel, and nave are
tiled and the other roofs leaded. The church had
originally a chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, and west
tower. In 1910 it was in need of repair and a drastic
reconstruction then began which involved the rebuilding of the whole fabric with the exception of the nave
arcades, western south porch and tower. The nave was
extended one bay to the east and the old chancel arch
re-erected; the aisles were widened and this involved
the destruction of part of the porch. Fortunately many
of the old windows were reset in the new walls. (fn. 17) The
sum of £5,000 for the restoration was bequeathed by
Robert Wright, son of a former sexton. He emigrated
to America, found work in the Presidency gardens at
Washington, and later became proprietor of a laundry.
He died at Walthamstow in 1903. (fn. 18) The old work is
all of mid-14th-century date with the exception of the
porch, which is of the 15th century, and the modern
additions are in keeping.
The chancel has an east window of five lights with
flowing tracery, and is entirely modern with the exception of part of the jambs. There are diagonal buttresses
with one set-off, the northern of which is composed of
old material. There are north and south arcades of two
bays with two-centred arches, all modern and of 14thcentury character. The lofty chancel arch is twocentred and of two orders with hood-mould and
rounded responds with embattled caps and moulded
bases. On the north is the rood stair with upper and
lower doorways, the former square-headed and quite
plain and the lower with shouldered lintel, both much
restored. The south chapel has an east window of three
lights, entirely modern. There is a diagonal buttress
with one set-off and another similar one on the south,
both modern. There are two 14th-century two-light
windows in the south wall, cinquefoil headed with
quatrefoils above and hood-mould. The north chapel
has two reset 14th-century windows of two trefoiled
main lights with quatrefoil above, and hood, in the east
wall, and two similar windows in the north wall above
the vestry with trefoils in the head, the eastern of which
has renewed tracery. The vestry is entirely modern
with the exception of the outer doorway, which is of
the 14th century, reset, with continuous mouldings
and hood.
The nave has arcades of six bays with two-centred
arches of two orders, slightly stilted, with hood-moulds
terminating in heads; the columns are octagonal with
moulded caps and bases. The easternmost arch and
column are modern, but the eastern responds, which are
semi-octagonal, have been re-used. The western responds are similar. There are six clerestory windows on
each side, of two cinquefoiled heads with external hoodmoulds. The internal head consists of a shouldered
lintel. All the tracery has been renewed and the easternmost pair of windows is entirely modern.
The modern south aisle has four lateral windows, all
of similar design, of which the three easternmost are of
the 14th century; they are of three cinquefoiled lights
with hood-mould to the arch. The west window is of
similar design; part of the west wall is original. The
eastern porch is entirely modern, but the western is of
the 15th century, though curtailed by the widening of
the aisle. The outer arch has jamb shafts with moulded
caps and bases. There are diagonal buttresses with one
set-off, and a modern two-light window with square
head in the east and west walls. The parapet with
moulded coping and gabled end is modern. The north
aisle is entirely modern except for part of the west
wall and the west window, which is similar to those in
the south aisle. All the buttresses of both aisles have one
set-off and are of 14th-century character. The aisles
open to the chapels by plain modern two-centred arches
of two orders.
The tower is of three stages with diagonal buttresses
with four set-offs. The newel stair is contained in the
south-east buttress, which is enlarged for the purpose.
In the interior of the base of the tower there is a large
plain arch in each wall. Each of these arches is blind
except that on the west which is fitted with doors and
serves as the entrance; on the exterior the entrance has
continuous mouldings and a hood terminating in heads.
The tower communicates with the nave by a doorway
set in the east arch with deep mouldings and jamb
shafts with moulded caps and bases and a hood terminating in a male and female head. Above the doorway
there is a niche. There is a large stoup recess to the
south of the inner doorway. The second stage has
a lancet on the west face. The belfry windows are of
two trefoiled lights with a hood-mould terminating in
heads. The tower is finished with stepped battlements
much renewed. There is a small leaded spire.
All the roofs are modern.
The font has a plain octagonal bowl and shaft and is
of 14th-century date. The other fittings are modern.
In the vestry is a panel painting of the royal arms as
borne between 1814 and 1837.
There are some good 18th-century headstones in the
churchyard, of local type.
The plate includes a paten marked 'Ex Dono Sarah
Carill 1708', a chalice and a flagon inscribed 'Ex dono
Sarah Dilke to the Parish of Chatris 1728', a paten
marked 'Chatteriss parish 1744', a chalice given in
memory of H. K. Bagshaw by M. and C. Burnett,
1919, and a paten given by Hilda Francis in memory
of Eliza Richardson, 1922.
The tower contains six bells: 1st to 4th by Joseph
Eayre of St. Neots, 1735; 5th by Mears and Stainbank,
1886; 6th by Taylor of Loughborough, 1911. The
peal was re-tuned and the 5th re-cast in 1911. The 1st is
inscribed 'Utile dulcis vivitur ingenio, grata sit arguta
resonans campanula voce', the 2nd has the last six
words of the above inscription, and the 3rd 'labor ipse
voluptas'. (fn. 19)
The registers begin in 1614 and are complete except
for the years 1665 to 1671 inclusive which are missing.
There are Anglican mission-rooms at Horseway and
Slade End, the latter established 1908.
NONCONFORMITY
Though there were some
Baptists living in Chatteris in
1654 there was apparently no
permanent Baptist church in the town until the late
18th century. (fn. 20) Chatteris people were baptized as
members of the Fen Stanton Baptist congregation at
various dates in the latter half of the 17th century. (fn. 21) In
1785 Joseph Scott and about 30 others were baptized
at Wisbech and began meetings in a hired barn in
Lyon's Yard, West Park Street. (fn. 22) In 1818, when this
meeting had 21 members, it joined the New Connexion
of General Baptists. Membership increased, reaching
58 in 1845 and 140 in 1851. (fn. 23) In 1835 a permanent
building was erected in West Park Street at a cost of
£800, on land bought from Theophilus Seymour for
£110. (fn. 24) This church was enlarged in 1869 and renovated in 1885; schoolrooms were added in 1898. (fn. 25)
There is a Particular Baptist church (Salem) at Hive
End, Huntingdon Road, (fn. 26) founded in 1800 and endowed by the Clarett family with land. The endowment brought in £100 per annum in 1851. (fn. 27) Another
such church (Zion) in Park Street was founded in 1819.
In 1851 the congregation numbered 485. (fn. 23) These two
churches are still in existence. A daughter chapel of the
West Park Street church on the Forty Foot Bank was
established in 1860, rebuilt in 1889 (fn. 28) and closed during
the Second World War. (fn. 29) The Congregational church in
East Park Street dates from 1838, and is a good example
of early Nonconformist 'Gothic'. At the 1851 census it
had just been taken over by the Wesleyan Methodist
Reformers, (fn. 30) , who had a congregation averaging 315. (fn. 23)
The Wesleyan Methodist church, in New Road, was
originally built in 1815 and was enlarged in 1855. (fn. 31)
The Wesleyans, who first came to Chatteris in 1806,
used the General Baptist meeting-room during the first
years. (fn. 32) The congregation numbered 360 in 1851. (fn. 23)
The Friends' Meeting, established in 1703, had in 1851
20 members: (fn. 33) it was dissolved between 1929 and 1933.
The graveyard still exists behind the meeting-house in
High Street. (fn. 34) A Salvation Army hall was built between
1900 and 1904.
SCHOOLS
A new school building seems to have
been erected about 1738, according to
a reference in the Churchwardens' Accounts of that year. This building is now a social club,
and the former school, used as a storehouse during the
re-roofing of the church in 1747, stood on the site of
the present parish room, just south of the church. (fn. 35)
At the end of the 18th century there were four private
schools in Chatteris, kept severally by Thomas Camps
the parish clerk, Christopher Walters, a former exciseman, Joseph Scott the Baptist minister and Thomas
Kid, a Baptist layman. None of these teachers was
licensed. (fn. 36)
No further provision for primary education was
made in Chatteris until 1819 when application was
made to the National Society for a grant for a tworoomed school for 200 boys and 150 girls to be held
weekdays and Sundays. It was stated that there were
about 200 boys and 200 girls between 7 and 13 who
required education, which was already supplied to 80
boys and 50 girls in Dissenters' schools. An evening
school had recently been set up which functioned during the winter months. This was attended by 80 to
100 young people and was supported by voluntary
subscriptions. The site chosen for the new school was
by the churchyard, and was held copyhold of Corpus
Christi College, Cambridge. The National Society
granted £200 towards the school, for which £835 was
subscribed locally, including £175 and a yearly endowment of 10 guineas from Dr. Robert Chatfield, vicar.
The master's salary was fixed at £70 and house, and 'if
the master were acquainted with land measuring, it is
very probable that during the month of harvest, he
might be able to increase his profits by that manner'.
In 1821 112 boys and 128 girls were attending the
school. The numbers increased in 1845 to 123 boys
and 168 girls. In the latter year the National Society
gave £40 towards the estimated cost of £250 of a
school for 120 infants. (fn. 37)
The boys' National School was rebuilt in 1856 to
accommodate 200 boys and remained open until 1927:
it had long been more than half empty. The average
attendance was 68 in 1907, and 37 in 1919. The boys
were eventually transferred to the King Edward School
(see below). (fn. 38)
Another infants' school was built by trustees at Slade
Lode, near the old workhouse on the March Road, in
1858. The cost was £589 and 98 places were provided.
On the death of the last trustee in 1887 this school was
taken over by the School Board, which had been established in 1873. The Board enlarged it (1895) to take
146 infants-a figure reduced in 1910 to 129. This
school is still (1950) in use. (fn. 39)
A British School was founded in Chatteris about
1820. (fn. 40) In 1830 it had 118 boys and 80 girls on the
books, with average attendances of 70 and 50 respectively. (fn. 41) It still existed in 1851, (fn. 42) but failed to attract
sufficient voluntary support and was taken over by the
School Board (1873). The Board built in 1873 boys'
and girls' schools in New Road and an infants' school at
Hive End. The last named was rebuilt in 1888 at a
cost of £325, for 138 children. It was enlarged in 1904
to accommodate 207 and scaled down at the 1910
reorganization to 192, and to 130 infants in 1939.
From 1928 it accommodated the infants who had previously been taught at New Road. This school is still
(1950) in use. (fn. 43)
The New Road Boys' Board School, which was
built for 200, existed until 1902. It was then replaced
by the King Edward School for 305 boys which was
enlarged in 1912 by the addition of a woodworking
centre and in 1928 by the provision of an extra classroom. Central heating was installed at a cost of £495
in 1934. The educational system in Chatteris has been
re-cast in each generation since the establishment of the
School Board. The culminating developments occurred
in 1938-9, when the Cromwell Secondary Modern
School (see below) was built, to give general education
with a rural bias to 500 pupils in the 11-15 age-groups
from Chatteris and the surrounding villages. The King
Edward School was at the same time converted into
a junior mixed school for 330 children, the older boys
who had gone on to the Cromwell School being replaced by the 62 remaining girls from New Road school
(see below) and 89 and 52 pupils of each sex from the
older children at Hive End and Slade Lode schools
respectively. (fn. 44)
Girls and infants were accommodated in a Board
School in New Road, which provided 341 places and
was enlarged early in the 20th century to take 287 girls
and 198 infants. It was never more than about twothirds full (240 in 1899, 323 in 1919) and by the 1920's
was considered to be dilapidated in appearance and
inconvenient in arrangement. It was closed in two
stages, the infants and some girls being transferred to
Hive End in 1928 and the remaining girls to King
Edward School in 1939. (fn. 45)
Proposals for a senior elementary school in Chatteris
were put forward as far back as 1930, but were not
taken up until 1934 owing to the economic crisis and
the prior claims of March and other places. The site
finally selected was of 6 acres, later increased to nearly
9 acres, at the corner of Wenny Road and Matting
Close, with an additional frontage on Wood Street. The
school, which has places for 320 boys and 320 girls, was
opened in January 1939. The total cost was nearly
£40,000. (fn. 46)
CHARITIES
In 1837 the charities consisted of
(i) the 'Poor's Land', of 34¼ acres in
Slade End and Nightlayer's Fen and
5¾ acres at Purrant's Pound, let for £82 per annum,
(ii) the Acre Close, let for £3 3s., (iii) the 'Poor's
Pieces', 7½ acres in Great Acre Fen, let for £12 5s.,
and (iv) a house and land left by John Dring in 1682
which produced £25 6s. yearly. There was also (v)
the Town Meadow of 9 acres, and (vi) the Town Yard,
on which 10 houses, worth £1,000, had recently been
erected. There were no documents, however, to prove
that the former belonged to the parish. The total available for charity after expenses had been met was £97 8s.
which was given in sums of from 2s. 6d. to 12s. to
about 300 persons, preferably non-paupers. The same
persons could benefit two years in succession, and the
trustees published a list of the intended beneficiaries.
Chatteris shared with Doddington and March an
area of 235 acres which was used by the poor of these
parishes indiscriminately for turf cutting. The Commissioners stated that this land had been so much dug
up as to be almost useless for this purpose, but if properly
cultivated could be very productive, and that its capital
value as agricultural land was £8,000. (fn. 47)