EATON SOCON (with its Hamlets)
Eton (xii–xv cent.); Eaton-cum-Soka (xvi cent.);
Eaton Soken, Socon (xvii–xx cent.).
Beger (xiii cent.); la Beggerye (xiv cent.); Bissemed
(xiii cent.); Divelho (xiii cent.); Dewlowe (xvi cent.);
Forde (xv cent.); Godewyk (xiii cent.); Honydene
(xv cent.); Stapelho (xiii cent.); Subur' (xiii cent.);
Wiboldestone (xiii cent.); Wyboldston, Wyboston
(xvi cent.).
Eaton Socon, the largest parish in the county,
occupies an area of 7,602 acres. The land slopes
from west to east, attaining at its highest point to
224 ft. above ordnance datum, and sinking to 52 ft.
in the east where the land is subject to floods. Of
the area of the parish 4,894¼ acres are arable land
and 2,357¾ acres permanent grass. (fn. 1) The soil is
rich loam and the subsoil gravel in most parts, the
remainder of the soil being mixed and the subsoil clay.
The principal crops produced are wheat, barley, oats
and beans; a large and increasing area in the parish
is devoted to market gardening, a flourishing industry.
Eaton Socon is well wooded, there being 101¾ acres
of woods and plantations in the parish. (fn. 2) Staple,
Bushmead and Garden Woods are situated within the
Priory grounds; Cateswood (of ancient origin), Home
Wood and Hook Wood in the north of the parish are
all of some size.
Eaton Socon is well watered by the Ouse—which
forms the eastern and county boundary—and its
tributaries; of the latter may be mentioned Begwary
Brook, which enters from Colmworth in the south-west, and flows in an easterly direction to join the
Ouse; and Duloe Brook, which rises in the north-west and flows south-east to enter the main stream.
On Windmill Hill, as its name implies, is a windmill now supplemented by steam.
The village itself is situated in the east of the
parish on both sides of the main road to York,
through which at one time thirty-six coaches ran
daily to and from London. It is of some importance,
and presents rather the appearance of a small county
town, with good shops and modern residences,
though a few thatched cottages are still to be seen.
It is provided with numerous inns, as is indeed
the whole of this parish, probably owing to its
position as a thoroughfare in coaching days. The
vicarage is on the east of the road, and is a fine
house with good grounds. The church, standing in
a spacious graveyard, occupies one side of the village
green in the south of the village. In its rear and
nearer the river is the Castle Hill and site of the old
castle, near which stands the Castle Mill on the
west bank of the Ouse. West of the churchyard is
an ancient two-gabled structure, once the parish lockup; the remaining sides of the green are occupied by
an inn, with several shops and private residences.
Eaton Ford, on the banks of the Ouse some 2
miles north-east of the village, is directly opposite
St. Neots, of which it is now practically a suburb.
There is little left to recall its antiquity, and it is
rapidly becoming built over, mainly with artisans'
dwellings in grey and yellow brick. Between it and
Eaton Socon, on the western side of the road, is
St. Neots Workhouse, a large building in extensive
grounds.
Wyboston is a straggling hamlet of some size in the
south-east of the parish. It was at one time in the
possession of the ancient barony of Greystock, and
in the 15th century had a chapel of its own. A moat
on the south of the road and the Manor Farm mark
the site of former manors. About a mile west is
Begwary, an ancient district, now only occupied by a
farm-house with a few dependent cottages. Begwary
Farm is a very dilapidated half-timbered structure,
the bricks between the framing being laid in herring-bone fashion, while the windows are filled in with
double-hung sashes and the walls covered on the outside with plaster. The roof is of slate, and the building
is partially surrounded by a moat. Goodwich Farm,
still further south-west of Wyboston, recalls an ancient
estate, whose history, dating from the 13th century,
will be traced below. Honydon, another outlying
district with ancient memories, is north-west of
Wyboston, and contains two farms—Upper and Lower
Honydon—a Methodist chapel and a few cottages.
Crosshall is now marked by two ancient homesteads: Crosshall Farm, a brick building with a tile
roof; and Dert House, formerly a hostel, and a few
cottages.
Bushmead is situated in the extreme north-west of
the parish, 3 miles from Eaton Socon. It is on high
ground, and consists of the Priory and grounds with a
few cottages and farms attached. The Priory, the
residence of Mr. William Wade-Gery, stands in a
well-wooded park of 80 acres; it is a comparatively
modern building, but ruins of the ancient house still
exist in the grounds. East of Bushmead are the
flourishing hamlets of Staploe and Upper Staploe,
from the former of which is approached Basmead
Manor, the site of an old estate. It is a brick building,
now used as a farm-house. The brick chimney on the
south side has a stone base of 16th-century date.
Though the original internal arrangement is now
much altered, an 18th-century panelled room is still
intact on the first floor, while in a room below is a
large mantelpiece of 'Adam' style. Part of a moat
can be traced inclosing about 3 acres of land. Still
further east is Duloe or Devilhoe, (fn. 3) a compact hamlet
with several good farm-houses, in one of which is to
be seen an ancient square brick dove-house, having a
moulded brick cornice and pantile roof. Its roof is
partly hipped, though the hips are not carried to an
apex, but stop against the bases of two small triangular
gables formed by the side slopes of the roof which
meet at the ridge.
In addition to the chapel in Honydon already
mentioned there are a Wesleyan chapel in Eaton Socon,
Primitive Methodist chapels in Eaton Ford and
Wyboston and a Gospel Hall in Staploe.
Eaton Socon was inclosed by Act of Parliament in
1795. (fn. 4)
The following place-names have been found in the
16th century:—Akerncaustrete, Crose Close, Patsale
Lease and Plasworth.
BARONY AND MANOR
At Domesday Eaton Socon was the
seat of Eudo Dapifer, who had succeeded
Wulfmar, the great Bedfordshire thegn.
His lands later became known as the
barony of Eaton. Eudo was also tenant
at this date in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex,
Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire and
Northants, (fn. 5) but his principal property was in Bedfordshire, where he held 67 hides 2 virgates, of
which EATON MANOR comprised 20 hides, and
included two mills worth 36s. 2d., 100 eels, woodland
for 400 swine, and 2 acres of vineyard. (fn. 6) Eudo Dapifer
died in 1120, when his Bedfordshire lands, escheating
to the Crown, were granted to a member of the house
of Beauchamp. The barony of Eaton is not mentioned in the returns of 1166, (fn. 7) but Hugh son of
Oliver de Beauchamp, (fn. 8) the earliest baron of Eaton of
whom mention has been
found, paid £23 1s. 3d. for
his lands in Bedfordshire on
the occasion of an aid in
1156. (fn. 9) According to Dugdale, about the year 1176
he accompanied the daughter
of Henry II to Palermo,
where her marriage with the
King of Sicily was celebrated,
and in 1186 he went to
Palestine on pilgrimage. (fn. 10)
This latter statement is confirmed by an entry in the
St. Neots cartulary recording a grant of lands by
Philippa wife of Hugh de Beauchamp on the
occasion of her husband going to Jerusalem. (fn. 11)
Dugdale states that he died on pilgrimage, but it
would appear that he survived into the early part of
the following century at an advanced age. Between
the years 1200 and 1203 he was engaged in litigation
with William de Lanvaley, who claimed the vills of
Eaton and Sandy as the right of his mother Gunnora,
granddaughter of Hamo de St. Clare, (fn. 12) who held the
lands of Eudo Dapifer in 1130. (fn. 13) Between 1210 and
1214 Hugh de Beauchamp rendered knight's service
for two fees in Eaton, the service by which this barony
is henceforward found held. (fn. 14) He died soon after,
for in 1217 Roger de Beauchamp, his brother, having
done homage, entered upon his inheritance in Bedfordshire. (fn. 15) Roger died about 1221, when John son
of William de Beauchamp and nephew of Roger paid
£10 to have seisin of his uncle's lands in Eaton and
Sandy. About the year 1240 the barony included
six tenants holding fractions of knights' fees of the new
enfeoffment and twelve of the ancient. (fn. 16) About this
date John de Bury and Hadwisa his wife (daughter
of William Lanvaley, who petitioned against Hugh de
Beauchamp) unsuccessfully renewed the former claim
to Eaton and Sandy. (fn. 17) John died before 1287, when
his son Ralph de Beauchamp claimed certain rights
and privileges in his manor of Eaton as the caput of
his barony. (fn. 18) Ralph died in 1294, when the inquisition then taken states that he held the manor of Eaton
by barony, doing service of one knight's fee in the
king's army. (fn. 19) Roger de Beauchamp was his son and
heir. In 1296 Roger de Bray and Isabella his wife
acknowledged Roger de Beauchamp's right and that
of his wife Alice to lands in Eaton and Wyboston. (fn. 20)
Roger held the barony for two knights' fees in 1302–3, (fn. 21)
and appeared before the king's justices in 1330 to
prove his right to certain manorial privileges. (fn. 22) In
1343 Roger acquired licence to alienate Eaton Manor
to John d'Engayne, retaining for himself £4 rent,
five messuages and 26 acres of land, which were
to revert on his death to John. (fn. 23) In 1346 John
d'Engayne and Roger de Beauchamp and their tenants
are declared to hold the two fees representing the
barony, (fn. 24) but after the alienation of Eaton Manor,
though the overlordship of manors held of this barony
passed to John d'Engayne and his descendants, they
made no claim as barons. Returning to the history
of the manor, John d'Engayne made a settlement of
the manor on his son John and Joan his wife in
1348. (fn. 25) He died in 1358, his son John having predeceased him, and Eaton Manor passed to Thomas,
his eldest surviving son. Joan widow of John
d'Engayne, junior, had meanwhile married Sir William
Colville. (fn. 26) Thomas d'Engayne died in 1367, when
his three sisters—Joyce wife of John Goldington,
Elizabeth wife of Laurence de Pabenham, and Mary
wife of William Bernake—became his co-heirs. (fn. 27) To
Joyce passed that third which later became Goldington's Manor (q.v.), and which was retained by Joan
Colville till her death in 1390. (fn. 28) Mary and Laurence
de Pabenham retained the remaining two-thirds of
the manor, which from the 15th century is called
Eaton Manor. (fn. 29) In 1399 Katherine daughter of
Laurence de Pabenham received pardon, on payment
of a fine of 10 marks, for acquiring two-thirds of Eaton
Manor from her father without licence. (fn. 30) This was
probably on the occasion of her marriage with Sir
William Cheney, (fn. 31) on whose death she married Sir
Thomas Aylesbury, who died in 1418. (fn. 32) Eaton
Manor next passed to her son Laurence Cheney,
who held one fee of Eaton Barony in 1428. (fn. 33) His
son Sir John Cheney died seised in 1489. (fn. 34) In 1492
Thomas son of John Cheney, and the last of the
name to hold the manor, was engaged in litigation
with John Ormond and Joan his wife, who declared
that Thomas d'Engayne (ob. 1367) did not die without issue, and that they represented such issue. (fn. 35)
Their claim came to nothing as regards Eaton, which
Elizabeth, sole daughter and heir of Thomas Cheney,
brought in marriage to Thomas Lord Vaux of Harrowden. (fn. 36) This family, whose descent has been traced
under Pavenham (q.v.), retained Eaton Manor until
1624, (fn. 37) when Edward Vaux Lord Harrowden sold it
to Rowland Squire of Ford End in this parish. (fn. 38) At
his death in 1644 Eaton—which now begins to be
called Eaton-cum-Soka, or Eaton Socon—passed to
his son Gaius Squire. (fn. 39) He made a settlement of the
manor in 1656. (fn. 40) He had a
daughter Mary (aged about
four in 1634), (fn. 41) who is perhaps to be identified with the
Mary Mathew, widow, who
with Henry Ashley, junior,
and Alice his wife conveyed
this manor in trust to Edward
Carter in 1692–3. (fn. 42) In 1708
Henry Ashley, senior, and
Henry Ashley, junior, made
further settlements (fn. 43) preparatory to a sale, which took place
in the same year, to the Duke
of Bedford. (fn. 44) It was retained
by the Dukes of Bedford until
towards the middle of the 19th century. In 1847
John Hill Day of St. Neots was lord of the manor,
which belongs at the present time to his representative, Mr. Frank Day.
Beauchamp of Eaton. Gules fretty argent.
Russell, Duke of Bedford. Argent a lion gules and a chief sable with three scallops argent therein.
CASTLE
The Beauchamps had a stronghold in
this parish, whose remains have been
described in the article on 'Earthworks.' (fn. 45) The inquisitions give no indication of this
castle, and it has been conjectured from the nature of
the remains and the absence of masonry that it was constructed entirely of earth and timber. Leland mentions
'vestigia castelli,' but does not indicate their nature. (fn. 46)
In 1086 Eudo Dapifer held WYBOSTON
MANOR, assessed at 6 hides 3 virgates. It had
been held during the Confessor's reign by four of his
thegns, at liberty to sell to whom they wished. (fn. 47)
Like the remainder of Eudo's property, it became
attached to the barony of Eaton (q.v.), (fn. 48) though in
the 15th and 16th centuries it is described as held of
the Crown in chief. (fn. 49) The earliest tenants found of
this manor are the Fitz Williams, later barons of Greystock. In 1221 John Fitz William paid £10 into
the Exchequer for relief of his lands in Eaton Socon
and Sundon. (fn. 50) Ralph Fitz William his descendant,
'baron of Greystock,' who was summoned to Parliament in 1295 as 'Ralph Fitz William,' held by
knight service in 1302 and in 1316. (fn. 51) An inquisition was held on his lands in the following year; he
then held Wyboston Manor, worth £10 1s. 7¼d. (fn. 52)
His son Robert, who was thirty-six years of age and
more, survived his father two years, when one-third
of the manor passed to his widow Elizabeth in dower,
the remainder going to his son and heir Ralph. (fn. 53)
He, who assumed the name of 'de Greystock,' and
is so named in his writ of summons in 1321, (fn. 54) died
in 1323, leaving as heir his infant son William. (fn. 55)
William de Greystock made a settlement of the manor
on trustees in 1343–4, (fn. 56) and died seised in 1358,
when Wyboston was worth £18, (fn. 57) being succeeded
by his son and heir Ralph, aged six. One-third was
at this time held by William's mother Alice (Audley),
who retained it till 1374–5. (fn. 58) Wyboston passed from
Ralph Lord Greystock to his son John in 1417.
John died in 1436, and Ralph his son succeeded
him. (fn. 59) Ralph, last Lord Greystock of this house,
died in 1487, when, his son Sir Robert Greystock
having predeceased him, Elizabeth daughter of
Robert became his heir. (fn. 60) Elizabeth, suo jure
Baroness Greystock, who died in 1516, married
Thomas Lord Dacre of Gillesland, (fn. 61) and her son
William Lord Dacre and Greystock died seised of
Wyboston in 1563. (fn. 62) His son Thomas Lord
Dacre and Greystock made a settlement of the
manor on Lady Mounteagle in 1566, (fn. 63) and died the
same year. George, his son, was then five years old;
he died three years later, when his sisters Anne,
Mary and Elizabeth, all minors, became his co-heirs. (fn. 64)
Mary Dacre died in 1578, whilst still a minor and
a ward of the queen. (fn. 65) Wyboston passed to Anne,
who married Philip Howard Duke of Norfolk, and
her grandson William Howard Viscount Stafford
made a settlement of the property in 1641. (fn. 66) A
further settlement of Wyboston took place in 1656,
and was possibly preparatory to an alienation (fn. 67)
which appears to have taken place about this time.
Early in the next century it passed to the family of
Whetham, (fn. 68) of whom Thomas Whetham owned
Wyboston Manor in 1748. (fn. 69) One of the same
name was a landowner in Eaton Socon at the time
of the inclosure of 1795, (fn. 70) and the following year
Arthur Whetham was lord of Wyboston Manor.
Grfystock, Lord Greystock. Barry argent and azure three wreaths gules.
Dacre, Lord Dacre. Gules three scallops argent.
The manor of BASMEY or BASMEAD was held
of the barony of Eaton by half a knight's fee. (fn. 71)
The last mention of the overlordship has been
found in 1613, when it was held of Lord Vaux as
of Eaton Manor by fealty and suit of court. (fn. 72) The
earliest tenants of this manor were a family called
de Bath or de Baa, from whom it derived its distinctive title. As their name
indicates, they came from
Bath, in Somerset, in which
county they owned much property. They owned land in
this parish certainly during,
if not before, the reign of
John, when Reginald de Bath
acquired 26 acres of assart
from Robert de Meisil. (fn. 73) In
1240, the year in which John
de Bury and Hadwisa his
wife brought the action
against William de Beauchamp, which has been dealt
with under Eaton Manor, Osbert de Bath
and Agnes de Bath were called to prove their
title to 1 carucate of land in Eaton, of which
Agnes, probably the mother of Osbert, held 1 carucate
in dower. (fn. 74) The manor next passed to Reginald de
Bath, who died seised of half a knight's fee in
Wyboston in 1254–5. (fn. 75) His son Reginald succeeded
him, and was followed some time before 1286 by
Osbert, who in that year made a settlement of the
manor (here so called for the first time) on the
Bishop of Bath and Wells. (fn. 76) He died in 1296,
leaving a daughter. Her name is given in the
inquisition as Elizabeth, (fn. 77) but it seems as if this
might be a mistake, and that her identity is to be
sought in the Emma wife of Robert Wauton to
whom in the following year were quitclaimed
one messuage, 373 acres of land, meadow and wood,
and 7 marks rent in Staploe. (fn. 78) Certainly Robert
Wauton, described as 'of Basmey,' and his descendants
are found holding the manor for the next 150 years. (fn. 79)
Robert Wauton was one of the constables of the
peace for the county, and in 1308 complained that
Alice Le Latimer, Joan Comyn and many others
had besieged him in his dwelling at Eaton Beauchamp
(sic), neither suffering him to go forth from it nor to
discharge his duties as conservator of the peace.
They had felled his trees and destroyed his fences,
and thrown them, together with hay found in his
meadow, into the River Ouse, and had assaulted those
of his servants sent to guard the hay and cut the
corn. (fn. 80) In 1328 Robert Wauton, together with John
de Relegh, acknowledged a debt of 80 marks, to be
levied on his goods and chattels. (fn. 81) He appears to
have been followed by Thomas de Wauton, who
is mentioned in an aid of 1346, (fn. 82) but very little
has been found about the family in connexion with
their property during the following century. John
Wauton was justice of the peace and commissioner
of array for the county of Huntingdon (on which
Basmey Manor bordered) in 1382. (fn. 83) Thomas
Wauton, described as of Eaton, was one of more
than 800 men, 'for the most part girt with swords,'
who gathered at Bedford in 1439 on the occasion of
the assizes. They were said to have uttered contumelious words in the presence of the justices, but
received pardon on payment of a fine, because the
certificate against them was made 'of mere malice.' (fn. 84)
There is a brass in Eaton Church in memory of
Ellen Wauton, widow of Thomas Wauton (possibly
the above), who died in 1458. (fn. 85)
De Baa. Gules a cheveron between three spur-rowels argent.
In the beginning of the 16th century one Sir
Thomas Wauton died, leaving a widow Anne and
two daughters, co-heirs. (fn. 86) The manor thus became
divided into moieties, and it will be convenient first
to discuss that part which passed to Cicely Wauton,
who married Sir Nicholas Luke, whose family has
been traced under Cople (q.v.). John, eldest son of
Nicholas and Cicely, died seised of half of Basmead
in 1566. (fn. 87) In 1581 his son Nicholas Luke of
Woodend in Cople and other coppice-owners (not
named) had a dispute with William Gery as to the
boundary between Basmead and Bushmead, by which
it was agreed that the value of wood of the double
hedge which separated the two properties if sold was
to be shared by the two owners. (fn. 88) Nicholas Luke
died in 1613, when his Basmead property was extended at a moiety of five messuages, 618 acres,
35s. 5d. rent and two capons in Basmead, Over and
Nether Staploe, Devilhoe, Wyboston, Honydon and
Eaton. (fn. 89) Sir Oliver Luke of Woodend, kt., his son
made settlements of the manor in 1616, about
which time the other moiety appears to have been
added to his estate. (fn. 90)
In 1627 Sir John Luke alienated the property to
Edmund and Edward Bagshawe, (fn. 91) in whose family
it remained till 1665, when Mary Bagshawe, who
appears to have been the daughter of Edmund, (fn. 92)
with others, conveyed it by fine to Edward Atkins
and Anthony Browne. (fn. 93) It passed later to the
Danvers family, for a monumental inscription in Eaton
Socon Parish Church, dated 1741, bears the name
of John Danvers of Basmead, son of Samuel Danvers
of Smithland. (fn. 94) One of the same name, possibly a
son, suffered a recovery of the manor in 1748. (fn. 95)
On his death the property was put up to sale and
was purchased by Thomas Smith. (fn. 96) About the
middle of the 19th century it was acquired by a
family named Squire, whose representative, Miss
Squire, owns and resides at Basmead Manor at the
present day.
Wauton of Basmead. Argent a cheveron sable with a ring sable for difference.
Luke of Cople. Argent a hunting-horn sable with its strings sable and its tassels or.
Returning to the other moiety of Basmead Manor,
left to the co-heirs of Thomas Wauton in the early
16th century, it is found that c. 1504–15 Thomas
Fitz Hugh (who appears to have married Cicely
Wauton's sister) owned a messuage with lands called
Wautons in Eaton, of which Anne widow of
Thomas Wauton had seized the title deeds. (fn. 97)
Robert Fitz Hugh, a descendant, died seised in
1609 of a messuage called the Farm House, a cottage
and lands in Eaton, Wyboston, Roxton and Shelton.
He left two daughters, Anne Cromwell and Mary
Astry, and a grandson Robert Saunders as co-heirs. (fn. 98)
In the settlement of 1616 the names of George and
Lora Astry are coupled with that of Sir Oliver Luke
as deforciants, (fn. 99) and in the alienation to the Bagshawes
in 1627 Thomas and Mary Saunders appear with
Sir John Luke, from which it may be inferred that
the whole manor was at this time alienated. (fn. 100)
In 1208–9 Robert de Braybrook received a confirmation from the Crown of lands in Eaton granted to him
by Hugh son of Oliver de Beauchamp, (fn. 101) which lands
were later known as CADBURY MANOR. This
manor was held as of the barony of Eaton (fn. 102) by yearly
service of two pairs of gilt spurs, or 12d. and suit of
court, no mention of the overlordship being found
after its grant to Bushmead in 1380.
Cadbury Manor follows the same descent as Potton
Regis (q.v.), passing on the death (c. 1270) of Christine
wife of Henry son of Robert Braybrook to her granddaughter Alice Latimer. (fn. 103) In 1286–7 Alice Latimer
and William her husband were called upon to justify
their claim to view of frankpledge in this manor; he
was at the time abroad, and they did not come up
for judgement on the day appointed, and the manor
was therefore taken into the king's hands. (fn. 104) In 1309
Alice Latimer made a settlement of the manor on
herself for life, after which it was to pass to her son
Nicholas. (fn. 105) In 1313 the Prior of Bushmead claimed
10 marks damage against Alice Latimer and nineteen
others, her tenants, for trespassing; she claimed as
justification that she and her tenants of Cadbury had
had a right of way through the prior's wood from
time immemorial. (fn. 106) There is no evidence that
Nicholas succeeded his mother, and Cadbury Manor
may have returned to the Braybrook family, (fn. 107) for in
1380 Robert Braybrook, Bishop of London, and
Reginald his brother (possibly acting for others) and
various trustees alienated the manor to Bushmead
Priory. (fn. 108) At the Dissolution 120 acres of woods
called Cadbury are mentioned among its possessions, (fn. 109)
and passed to the Gery family, following the same
descent as Bushmead Priory (q.v.), but no further
mention has been found of the manor. Cates Wood
still exists in the north of the parish.
A manor known as GOLDINGTON or EATON
MANOR appears in the 15th century. Its origin is
found in that third of Eaton Manor which on the
death of Thomas d'Engayne in 1367 passed to his
sister and co-heir Joyce wife of John Goldington
of Essex. (fn. 110) In 1370 John and Joyce made a settlement of the third part of the manor on John de
Hemmyngford, Nicholas de Styvecle, William de Castelacre, Robert de Huntingdon and Thomas Walton,
to hold to them and the heirs of the said Nicholas
de Styvecle. (fn. 111) Joan wife of William Colville and
widow of John d'Engayne, brother of Joyce, held the
whole manor until her death in 1390. Joyce's third
was then said to be the right of John de Hemmyngford, William de Castelacre and Robert de Huntingdon,
survivors in the above settlement. (fn. 112)
The descent of the manor is lost from this date till
1510, when Sir John Fisher died in possession of
it. (fn. 113) His son Michael, who died in 1550, also held
Goldington Manor, as it was now called. His granddaughter Agnes, daughter of John Fisher, married
Oliver St. John, to whom the manor then passed. (fn. 114)
It was retained by the St. John family till early in
the 17th century; Oliver Lord St. John held it at
his death in 1618. (fn. 115) According to Lysons it next
passed to the Gery family, and was sold by them to
William Dobbs in 1649. (fn. 116) The same authority
states that it was subsequently in the families of Kent,
Brewer, Sibley and Waller, (fn. 117)
and that in 1782 it was purchased of Joseph Green by
John Brickwood, who had
again sold it to Mr. Becket,
a coachmaker at Huntingdon. (fn. 118) No later mention
of the property has been
found.
St. John. Argent a chief gules with two molets or therein.
An estate in this parish
known as HONYDON or
CAMOYS MANOR was
held of the barony of Eaton
by knight service and suit
of court. (fn. 119) The first tenant
of whom mention has been found was William
de Kirkeby, whose widow Christine held here in
1302–3. (fn. 120) His sister and co-heir Margaret, to whom
this manor passed, married John Camoys, member of
a well-known Sussex family, (fn. 121) whose descendant
Sir Thomas Camoys, kt., in 1389 made a settlement
of this manor on Robert Braybrook, Bishop of London, and
others. (fn. 122) Sir Thomas died
in 1421, when his grandson
Hugh, son of Richard
Camoys, succeeded to Honydon Manor, then worth £6,
with 4s. 8d. rent of free
tenants and tenants at will. (fn. 123)
Hugh died in 1426, whilst
a minor, and his sisters—Margaret wife of Ralph Rademilde and Eleanor wife of
Roger Lewknor—became his
heirs. (fn. 124) The manor thus
became divided into moieties. Dealing first with that
portion which passed to Margaret Rademilde, her
husband Ralph, who outlived her, is found in
possession of her share at his death in 1443. (fn. 125) No
mention of Honydon is found in the inquisition taken
as to the property of Robert son of Ralph Rademilde,
who died in 1456, leaving a son William. (fn. 126) William
Rademilde's name occurs as a commissioner of the
peace for Sussex between the years 1476 and 1485 (fn. 127) ;
but there is no evidence that he held the Honydon
property, whose history at this date becomes confused.
In 1476 Robert and John Spence were farming
Honydon—then apparently in the hands of the
Crown—for 106s. 8d., (fn. 128) and in 1483 a commission
was sent to the 'tenaunts of the manoir' to accept
J. Whitloke as their lord and to content unto him
their dues. (fn. 129) Camoys or Honydon Manor next appears
as the property of Avery Michell, who in 1557 leased
it for twenty-one years at a rent of £12 to Nicholas
Fitz Hugh, who in 1570 brought an action against
William Morgan, representing Avery. Nicholas complained that owing to his sickness whilst in Warwickshire there had been some delay in the payments of
the rent, and his lease had been transferred to William
Gery. (fn. 130) In 1577 John Michell alienated Honydon
to Oliver Lord St. John, (fn. 131) who in the same year
received the other moiety of the manor, whose history
may here be conveniently traced. Eleanor Lewknor's
moiety passed to her son Roger, whose two daughters
each inherited one-fourth of the manor. Of these
daughters one married Sir Arthur Poole. (fn. 132) Lady
Joanna Poole suffered a recovery of Honydon in
1557, (fn. 133) and her fourth share appears to have passed
to Thomas Foster and others, who in 1576 alienated
it to Lord St. John. (fn. 134) Catherine second daughter
of Roger Lewknor married John Mill, and her son
Lewknor Mill (fn. 135) in 1577 also alienated her share to
Oliver Lord St. John, (fn. 136) who had now acquired the
complete manor. He did not long retain it, however,
but alienated it in 1580 to Thomas Anscell. (fn. 137) About
this time the manor was again broken up. Part
passed to Oliver Luke of Begwary, as appears from an
entry in his will in which he leaves to his wife
Frances '10 acres of arable sometimes Camoyes late
purchased of Thomas Anscell.' (fn. 138) Francis Dillingham,
who died in 1624, also owned parcel of the 'manor
or farm' at that date, and in 1638 Richard Gery
held a manor called Eaton or Camoys. (fn. 139) Walter
Reynolds held tenements in Honydon in 1639, (fn. 140)
and it is noteworthy that a family of the same name
were landowners in this parish till the latter part of the
last century. (fn. 141) In 1731 the Duke of Bedford bought
a farm in Honydon from James Grassineau for £1,500,
and in 1777 another farm of 118 acres in the same
hamlet from Foster and Rycroft. (fn. 142) George Thompson
was plaintiff and Ann Glassbrook deforciant in a fine
levied of the manor of Honydon alias Camoys in
1784, whilst Lysons, writing some twenty years later,
says that a manor adjoining Bushmead 'called Kingswood or Chamois Park' was then the property of
James Dyson. (fn. 143) At the present day there are several
farms in Upper and Lower Honydon, but all traces
of a manor (save the name) probably disappeared in
the 17th century.
Camoys. Argent a chief gules with three bezants therein.
The Countess Judith owned 2 hides 3 virgates of
land in Barford Hundred, with which has been
identified SUDBURY MANOR, the only place in
this hundred found later as held of her honour of
Huntingdon. (fn. 144) The overlordship was attached to
that branch of the honour which passed to Robert
Bruce and later to the Crown; the tenants held by
service of half a knight's fee and monthly suit at the
court of the honour. The last mention of the overlordship is found in 1461. (fn. 145)
The Domesday tenant was Osbern, who had succeeded Ulfech, a steersman of King Edward (fn. 146) ; he
seems to have been followed at some time in the
following century by a family who took the name of
de Sudbury or Subiry from their estate. In 1214
Earl David, representing the honour of Huntingdon,
received a quitclaim from Wischard Ledit of all right
in the lands and services of Roger de Sudbury. (fn. 147)
Next mention of the family has been found in
1286–7, when William son of William de Sudbury
claimed view of frankpledge and freedom from the
hundred and county court in his manor of Sudbury
as of right immemorial. (fn. 148) At this time William
le Moyne and Juliana his wife held Sudbury in
dower. William de Sudbury died before 1302–3,
at which date Margery his widow and Juliana, also a
widow, were assessed at half a fee. (fn. 149) Margery died
in 1315, leaving a son John to inherit the manor. (fn. 150)
His name appears in 1316 under Sudbury 'villata,' (fn. 151)
and in 1318 as holding a moiety of a fee, value 40s., of
the honour of Huntingdon. (fn. 152) In 1324, together with
his wife Joan, he made a settlement of the manor, (fn. 153)
and was summoned in 1330 to prove his right to a
view; he did not appear in answer to the summons,
and the liberties were taken into the king's hands,
being restored on payment of a fine. (fn. 154) John de
Sudbury died in 1333–4 (fn. 155) and his wife Joan in the
following year. The estate at this time included a
capital messuage, a broken-down dove-cot, a garden,
200 acres of arable land, 6 acres of meadow and
20 acres of wood. The rents of free tenants amounted
to 36s., and there were 3 lb. of pepper rents. The
manor also included an island in the Ouse containing
half an acre, from which the reeds were cut at the
Feast of the Purification, and were worth yearly 2s. (fn. 156)
William de Sudbury was their son and heir. He
was assessed for a feudal aid in 1346, (fn. 157) and died in
1348, leaving William, a child of thirteen, to succeed
him. (fn. 158) Katherine his widow had the custody of the
manor in 1351, (fn. 159) but an alienation took place before
1376, when the manor was conveyed by Thomas
Ruggerwyk and Margery his wife to John Ragon, kt.,
and others. (fn. 160) This family (who held in Bromham,
q.v.) held the manor till 1442, when Elizabeth
widow of Reginald Ragon granted it to Thomas
Aydrop. (fn. 161) It next passed to John Fray, Chief
Baron of the Exchequer, who died seised in 1461. (fn. 162)
Of his four daughters, Katherine wife of Humphrey
Stafford acquired Sudbury Manor. She died in
1482, leaving an infant son Humphrey. (fn. 163) In 1555,
together with Elizabeth his wife, he made a settlement of Sudbury on Sir William Stafford, kt.,
possibly his son. (fn. 164) Sir William Stafford died in 1606,
and the inquisition then taken refers to his son and
heir William, aged two and three-quarter years, his
daughters Bridget, Elizabeth and Mary, for whom
portions had to be raised, and his brothers John,
Walter and Anthony. (fn. 165) Shortly after his death the
manor passed to Charles Bolle, who settled it by fine
in 1616, (fn. 166) preparatory to a sale to Roland Squire,
who owned at his death in 1644 'parcel of the
manor of Sudbury, or lez Sudbury grounds, late the
possession of Humphrey Stafford,' and a free fishery
bought in 1617 from Sir Charles Bolle, kt., and
Richard Cracroft. (fn. 167) It thus became attached to and
absorbed in the principal manor of Eaton Socon
(q.v.), and henceforward follows the same descent.
No further reference to its name has been found.
Under the lands of Nigel de Albini there appear
at the Survey 9 hides 1 virgate which Pirot held of
the king, (fn. 168) part of which appears later as SOKES
MANOR or LAURENCE PLACE. Pirot held this
fee of the king at Domesday, and the property is later
described as held of the Pirot fee, no reference to the
overlordship being found later than 1428. (fn. 169)
In the time of the Confessor twelve sokemen had
held Pirot's property, with liberty to sell, and a
family called le Sok continued to hold this fraction,
probably from Domesday, though evidence of them
has not been found before the reign of King John.
Thus the charter of confirmation granted by that king
to Robert Braybrook mentions the gift of William son
of William le Sok of 10 acres of land in Wyboston. (fn. 170)
The name of Roger le Sok occurs in a fine of 1262, (fn. 171)
whilst Godfrey le Sok held a fee here in 1302–3, (fn. 172)
and in 1316 William le Sok. (fn. 173) In 1330 the latter,
or one of his name, claimed to have exercised view of
frankpledge in his manor of Wyboston from time
immemorial. (fn. 174) In 1338 William le Sok and his
sons John and Simon, with many others belonging to
Eaton, were accused of interfering with Robert de
Redeware in the discharge of his duty of arresting
William de Wymyngton. They had killed four
horses, valued at £60, and rescued William from the
hands of justice. (fn. 175) William le Sok's name occurs in
1346, (fn. 176) but no further mention has been found of
the family, and in 1428 the assessors for an aid
declare that it was not then known who held William
le Sok's fee. (fn. 177) This property reappears in 1617 as
'Sokes Manor,' and was then conveyed by Anthony
Garnons and Christina his wife (fn. 178) and other members
of the family to Edmund Moore. (fn. 179) He alienated
it in 1619 to Sir Thomas Penruddocke, kt., and
others, (fn. 180) and between this date and 1641 it became
the property of William Howard Viscount Stafford
lord of Wyboston Manor (fn. 181) (q.v.), with which its
history is henceforward identical, separate mention of
it occurring in 1796. (fn. 182)
There are traces of another WYBOSTON
MANOR, which appears to have originated in
part of the 9 hides and 1 virgate held by Pirot
at Domesday. (fn. 183) It was held by the Karun family,
of whom Walter conveyed half a virgate in Eaton to
Robert Cokrel in 1236. (fn. 184) In 1262 Roger le Sok
acknowledged the right of Walter Karun to part of
half a knight's fee in Wyboston. (fn. 185) Another Walter
Karun held one fee with Godfrey le Sok of Ralph
Pirot in 1302–3. (fn. 186) Between 1316 and 1330
Walter Karun enfeoffed Roger de Beauchamp of this
property. From him it passed to John de Beauchamp,
who appears to have represented a younger branch
of the family, and who at this date claimed view of
frankpledge here, as having been held from time
immemorial by the ancestors of Walter Karun. (fn. 187)
The name of 'John de Beauchamp of Wyboldeston' occurs in a charge of riot in 1338, (fn. 188) and
in 1384–5 John de Beauchamp, his descendant,
alienated lands in Wyboston, Chalston and Eaton to
Richard Belgrave and Margaret his wife, (fn. 189) but no
further trace of this manor has been found.
The estate known as BEGWARY or BEGGARY
or GOODWICH MANOR was held of the Prior of
St. Neots by homage and service of 20s. (fn. 190) It doubtless originated in the 2 hides and half a virgate of land
with woodland for 100 swine which the monks of
St. Neots held at Domesday of Richard son of
Count Gilbert. (fn. 191) The manor acquired its first
name from a hamlet which still exists, and of which
mention is found in 1240 (fn. 192) ; Goodwich is also
called a hamlet in 1276, (fn. 193) and at the present day a
farm of this name is adjacent to Beggary.
A family who took the name of de Beggary were
resident here in the 13th and 14th centuries, for in
1317 Joan widow of Richard son of Roger de
Beggary confirmed lands in Eaton to Richard de
Braybrook, (fn. 194) but there is no evidence to connect
them with the family of Fitz Hugh, the first tenants
of Beggary Manor.
In 1374 an inquisition was held as to the property
(here described as a messuage, with 100 acres of
land in 'la Beggerye') formerly held by William
Fitz Hugh. His son John, to whom William had
granted them by charter, had been murdered about
this time by his wife Elizabeth, and on account of
her felony the lands were taken into the king's
hands. (fn. 195) It was found by this inquisition and a
similar one held in 1383 that the right heir was
Richard son of William Fitz Hugh. (fn. 196) Very little
information is available with regard to this family,
but they evidently continued to hold Beggary for the
next century and a half, for in 1568 Richard Fitz
Hugh suffered a recovery of the manor. (fn. 197) One of
the same name was vouchee in a recovery of 1574,
which appears to have involved a transfer to Walter
Luke, who belonged to a branch of the Cople
family. (fn. 198) Walter Luke of 'Begwary' died in 1613,
and Nicholas, probably his son, (fn. 199) made a settlement
of Beggary in 1619. (fn. 200) He died in 1622 seised
of 'a tenement' in Beggary, and was followed by
another Nicholas Luke, (fn. 201) who made settlements in
1624 and 1628. (fn. 202) Ten years later Richard Fitz
Hugh, son and heir of Richard who made the
settlement of 1574, acknowledged the right of
William Luke to this manor. (fn. 203) It seems possible
that this property, of which no further mention as a
manor has been found, passed to the Stockers, a
family for some generations resident in the parish. (fn. 204)
Richard Stocker, described as of Beggary, died in
1656, (fn. 205) and Oliver Stocker in 1667. (fn. 206) Lysons
says that the manor had long belonged to Thomas
Whetham, lord of Wyboston Manor (q.v.), and its
site is probably marked by 'Begwary Farm,' in
existence at the present day. (fn. 207)
The Augustinian priory of Bushmead, later known
as BUSHMEAD MANOR, was founded by Hugh
de Beauchamp of Eaton ante 1187, in which year
he met his death whilst on crusade. (fn. 208) He endowed
the canons with the site of the priory, with certain
rights of wood and pasture and with the tithes of his
park of Eaton. (fn. 209) This endowment was supplemented
by private grants in this parish and elsewhere during
the following century, and in 1291 the prior was
assessed at £6 2s. 10d. for lands in Eaton alone. (fn. 210)
In 1302 he held one-fortieth of a knight's fee here of
the Eaton barony, (fn. 211) and in 1330 claimed view of
frankpledge from all his tenants in Eaton as of right
immemorial. (fn. 212) Between 1350 and 1364 various
parcels of land were added to the possessions of the
priory, (fn. 213) and in 1380 the important manor of
Cadbury (q.v.) was acquired. At the Dissolution
the value of the priory lands in Eaton and its outlying districts of Staploe, Devilhoe and Honydon
was £14 2s. 8½d. (fn. 214) The priory and its lands then
became Crown possessions, and, as appears from a
letter written by Sir Francis Bryan to Cromwell in
1537, were at first granted to Sir John St. John.
Writing on behalf of Sir John, 'a man of gentle
nature,' Sir Francis says: 'When the king was last
at Ampthill he gave Sir John Sant Johne the abbey of
Bushmead in farm because he had £8 a year within
the same, and it lay so near his house that if he
should be driven to remove he could find no place
so meet. I am sure his name was entered in the
book, but I hear Mr. Gasgyne (fn. 215) labours for the
same in recompense of the land he exchanged with
the king.' (fn. 216) In spite of the appeal to Cromwell the
exchange with Sir William Gascoigne was confirmed
by letters patent in the same year, and he received
the Bushmead property, which included:—
The house and site of the late priory of Bushmead and all
houses, &c., within the inclosure and circuit of the said priory;
and all lands . . . viz. a field called Plasworth field, containing
300 acres; two meadows of 3 acres; a pasture with a pond,
3 acres; a pasture called Milgelde, 100 acres; pasture called
Patsall lease, 8 acres; closes of Great Catburie, Little Catburie
and Cootes, containing 40 acres; a close called Dovehouse Close,
containing 40 acres; a field of 80 acres, called le Wyndmylfeld;
30 acres of land lying near with a windmill; also the church,
steeple and churchyard of the priory. (fn. 217)
The Gascoignes did not long retain Bushmead.
In 1545 Sir John Gascoigne son of Sir William
made a settlement on Anthony Cokett, (fn. 218) and in
1562 alienated the property to William Gery. (fn. 219)
William son of William Gery
succeeded his father, and held
Bushmead till his own death
in 1596. (fn. 220) His son Richard,
who was then under age,
became Gentleman of the
Privy Chamber to James I,
and later to Charles I. He
was a staunch adherent of the
latter, and when Sheriff of
Bedfordshire in 1636 is found
writing to the Privy Council
with regard to ship-money.
'My predecessor having
gathered up what was willingly paid, the residue left
to collect has to be compelled, or is not to be had, making it a work
of time and difficulty. I will not be wanting in
my utmost endeavours to expedite the service.' (fn. 221)
Richard Gery died apparently before 1647, in which
year his son William, also an ardent Royalist, compounded for delinquency in arms and was fined onesixth of his estate, valued at £740. (fn. 222) He died
before the Restoration, and his son William, who for
his adherence to the Royalist cause was 'himself
plundered to his shirt,' retired abroad, meeting the
exiled king at Breda. (fn. 223) On the accession of
Charles II both William Gery and his sister Anne
are found petitioning for appointments under the
new régime. She, whose married name was Dartiguenave, asked on behalf of her husband in 1660
for the clerkship of the Bills for Customs in the port
of London, and in 1662 for the post of Dresser to
the queen for herself. (fn. 224) She complained that, owing
to the devotion of her family, who had lost £12,000
in all, she was 'left to inherit nothing but sadness.'
Gery of Bushmead. Gules two bars argent each charged with three voided lozenges gules and a quarter or with a leopard's head or therein.
William Gery asked for a commissionership as a
reward for his services in the royal cause, (fn. 225) and
though it does not appear whether he was successful
in obtaining this appointment, his circumstances
improved sufficiently to allow of his return to the
family seat at Bushmead; for in 1675, when he
married Katherine widow of Richard Taylor, the
marriage licence states that the ceremony was to be
performed in the parish church at Eaton Socon, or
his chapel at Bushmead. (fn. 226) He died before 1688,
when Charles Gery suffered a recovery of the
manor. (fn. 227) In 1738 William Gery held the
property, (fn. 228) and one of the same name who
possessed Bushmead in 1788 (fn. 229) was possibly his
son. Hester, third daughter and co-heir of this
last-named William Gery, married in 1792 the
Rev. Hugh Wade, rector of Thurning, who on his
marriage assumed the additional surname and arms
of Gery, (fn. 230) and who on the death of his father-in-law bought up the portions of his sisters-in-law in
accordance with their father's will, (fn. 231) Bushmead Priory
remaining henceforth with Hester and her heirs.
William Hugh Wade-Gery, her son, succeeded his
father in 1832. He died in 1870, and his son
Mr. William Hugh Wade-Gery is the present
representative of the family and owner of Bushmead
Priory.
The remains of Bushmead Priory consist of the
refectory—a rectangular building ranging east and
west, which is now part of a comparatively modern
house. It is built of cobble-stones, and at the east
end is the label of a 13th-century window, now
replaced by a 15th-century window with three cinquefoiled lights and tracery; the tracery is now blocked
and a door inserted underneath. At each side is a
13th-century buttress of one stage. On the north
side is a blocked window of three trefoiled lights, with
early trefoiled cusping under a square head, and there
is a rear arch with jamb shafts and capitals of the end
of the 13th-century. There is a 13th-century doorway on the south side, with moulded jambs and a
detached shaft, each side having moulded capitals;
the arch is pointed and has an inner order cinquefoiled at the crown. The refectory was turned into
a dwelling-house in the 16th century, an intermediate
floor being built to convert it into two stories, which
are lighted by mullioned windows. There is also a
blocked doorway of the same date in the south wall
of the upper story.
The roof is of the 15th century, with a moulded
wall-plate and trusses, having octagonal king-posts
with moulded capitals and bases, and struts supporting
a centre-piece. The ends of the rafters are triangulated.
There are some fragments of old glass in the south-west window, including a coat Azure, on a pale raguly
a lion rampant or.
The Knights Hospitallers owned an estate known
as EATON MANOR, as well as the advowson of
Eaton Socon. Though not mentioned in the confirmatory charter of Richard de Clare to their
preceptory at Melchbourne, it is possible that the
Hospitallers may have acquired their rights from the
Clares, who had an interest in this parish. (fn. 232) The
first mention that has been found of their lands is in
1218, when Amicia, daughter of William the Miller,
acknowledged their right to a virgate of land in
Eaton. (fn. 233) In 1286 the prior claimed view of frankpledge from his tenants, (fn. 234) and again in 1330, at
which date his manor extended into Wyboston,
Beggary, Honydon, Staploe, Devilhoe and Ford. (fn. 235)
In 1338 the manor included a dwelling-place with
garden, two dove-cotes, 140 acres of land worth 12d.
an acre, 10 acres of meadow, 16 acres of pasture. The
pleas of court amounted to 20s., and the rents of
assizes to 10 marks. Together with the church the
entire value of the property was 116 marks, 5s. 7d.,
whilst the outgoing expenses, including the expenses
of the bailiff and his family, were 30 marks, 5s. 8d. (fn. 236)
At the dissolution of the religious houses this manor
became Crown property, and was granted in 1562 to
Thomas Beverley and his heirs, to be held as of the
manor of East Greenwich. (fn. 237) Thomas died without
issue, and Eaton Manor passed to his great-nephew,
William Beverley, (fn. 238) who died in 1605, when his
daughter and heir Elizabeth was aged five years. (fn. 239)
She married Sir Henry Moore, created a baronet in
1627, (fn. 240) and, together with her husband, alienated
the manor to Richard Gery in 1629. (fn. 241) It was
retained by the Gery family till 1640, when William
Gery and others conveyed it by fine to Gaius Squire, (fn. 242)
who owned the principal manor of Eaton, with which
its history is henceforward identical.
A spurious manor, called WALES MANOR, is
found in Eaton during the 17th and 18th centuries. (fn. 243)
It first appears in 1618, when John and Paul Luke
conveyed it by fine to Henry Lyde. (fn. 244) He died in
1641 seised of four messuages, three cottages and
lands in Wyboston, Eaton Socon and Roxton; his heir
was his son Henry, aged thirty-eight and more. (fn. 245)
By 1653 Wales Manor had become the property of
Anthony Cogan and Anne Posthuma his wife. (fn. 246) She
was still surviving in 1696, when together with Ann,
Katherine and Sara Cogan, spinsters, and Francis
Needham and Mary his wife, she made a settlement
of the manor on Thomas Brooke. (fn. 247) Six years later
it had again changed hands, Thomas Drake and
Elizabeth his wife, Henry Rogers and Alice his wife,
and Samuel Scott and Elizabeth then conveying to
Allan Reynardson. (fn. 248) It appears in 1728 as the
property of John Godfrey and Mary his wife, who
may have been the daughter of Allan Reynardson. (fn. 249)
In 1769 she, then a widow, William Theed and
Elizabeth his wife held the manor, (fn. 250) which was
retained by the Theed family till the close of the
century, last mention of it being found in 1796,
when William and Henry Theed suffered a recovery
of Wales Manor. (fn. 251)
Part of Nigel Albini's land in Wyboston, held at
Domesday by Pirot, passed later to the Braybrookes,
and appears to have been attached to their adjacent
manor of Colmworth (fn. 252) (q.v.). Joan de Braybrooke
and John de Longueville held half a fee here in 1302, (fn. 253)
and Gerard de Braybrooke claimed view of frankpledge
in 1330. (fn. 254) The last mention is found of the Braybrookes' interest in 1428. (fn. 255)
Azelina, the wife of Ralph Tallebosc, held 5½
virgates in Wyboston in 1086, (fn. 256) and Hugh de
Beauchamp held half a virgate. (fn. 257) These lands became
attached to the barony of Bedford, (fn. 258) and were held in
the 13th and 14th centuries by a family called
Stagsden. (fn. 259)
Ramsey Abbey held 1½ virgates in Wyboston in
1086, having as tenant Eudo Dapifer. (fn. 260) No mention
has been found of the abbey in connexion with this
parish.
Eaton Socon, as its name implies, was a soke or
liberty in the 13th century, which was free of suit at
the hundred court of Barford Hundred. In 1247, on
the occasion of a trial concerning the murder of a
man at Eaton, the plea was brought forward that
Eaton, as a soke, did not share in the jurisdiction of
the hundred. (fn. 261) In 1287 Ralph de Beauchamp had
the right of holding view of frankpledge twice yearly,
without the presence of the king's bailiff except in
cases of robbery. (fn. 262) Wyboston, whose lord owed suit
to the hundred court in 1330, (fn. 263) does not appear to
have been included within the soke.
Eaton Manor had two water-mills at Domesday,
worth 100s. in 1358. (fn. 264) Three water-mills are
mentioned in an extent of 1485, (fn. 265) and four in
1625. (fn. 266) A free fishery, view of frankpledge and free
warren were also parcel of this manor.
In 1330 Roger de Beauchamp claimed a weekly
market on Wednesday, and also a three-day fair on
the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, by a charter of
Henry III to William de Beauchamp. When called
up for judgement, however, he declared that both
market and fair had been discontinued because none
came to buy. (fn. 267)
The Earl of Arundel received a grant of free warren
in 1617 in his manor of Wyboston, (fn. 268) to which was
also attached a free fishery. (fn. 269)
Bushmead Priory had a windmill in the 16th and
17th centuries. (fn. 270)
In a charter of confirmation of Richard I to
St. John's, Colchester, founded by Eudo Dapifer, (fn. 271)
mention is found of a grant by him of half the tithes
of Eaton, the tithes of the mills and pannage. (fn. 272) It
appears to have been commuted, for no further
mention of it has been found.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of a chancel 38 ft. 3 in.
by 18 ft. 9 in., a nave 77 ft. by 18 ft. 6 in.,
with north and south aisles 15 ft. 10 in. wide and
a western tower 14 ft. 10 in. by 15 ft. 1 in.
The church appears to have been built almost as
it now stands about the beginning of the 15th century, but with re-use of older nave arcades, the arches
of which, except those of the east bay on each side,
are early 14th-century work, while the columns, with
their capitals and bases, are 15th-century work. The
chancel arch and those in the east bay of the arcades
are in larger stones than the rest, and are probably of
the 15th-century date, and the nave may have been
lengthened a bay eastward at that time. Other
evidences of older work are the south door of the nave,
with an early 14th-century head, the 12th-century
font, and the west window of the south aisle, which
is of 14th-century style and probably a copy of an
older one.
The walls of the church are built of cobble-stones
with a good deal of squared ironstone in the tower,
and all are finished with embattled parapets, which
have been restored. The east window of the chancel
consists of five cinquefoiled lights, with good 15th-century tracery under a two-centred arch. At the
east angles of the chancel are diagonal buttresses in
two stages with projecting gargoyles; to the north is
the vestry, also dating from the 15th century, but
somewhat later than the chancel, with an original
lean-to roof. A chamfered doorway with a four-centred head leads into it from the chancel, and a
little to the west, higher up in the wall, is another
doorway, opening towards the church, as to a gallery.
In the east wall of the vestry is a window with
modern tracery of two trefoiled lights in two chamfered
orders, the inner being hollow, and in the north wall
is a small doorway with moulded jambs and a four-centred head. In the south wall of the chancel is a
doorway with a four-centred head like the outer doorway of the vestry, and on each side of it is a window
of three cinquefoiled lights, with details like those of
the east window, the mullions having been restored;
below the sill of the south-east window is cinquefoiled stone panelling for sedilia and to the east a
cinquefoiled piscina-recess under a square head. The
chancel arch is in two wave-moulded orders, resting
on capitals having rather shallow mouldings. The
roof, which is in four bays, has old main timbers,
filled in with modern panels.
An organ transept has recently been built out on
the north-east, and the window formerly in the
chancel wall moved out to the north wall of the
transept.
The nave arcades are alike and are in five bays,
with arches of two orders, the inner wave-moulded
and the outer chamfered, springing from octagonal
pillars with moulded capitals and bases; they have
plain labels stopped on grotesque heads. In the east
respond of the north arcade is a doorway to the roodloft; and there are six two-light clearstory windows
on each side equally spaced without regard to the
nave arcades; they have cinquefoiled lights and
tracery under a four-centred head. The roof, which
is low pitched and in six bays, is plain and in part
old, but repainted, the east bay being ceiled and
more elaborately coloured.
In the east end of the north aisle opening into the
organ chamber there is a four-light window with
mullions and tracery, but no glass, under a four-centred head. In the north wall are a small 15th-century doorway in the east bay, with moulded jambs
and four-centred head, like the small priest's doorway
in the south wall of the chancel, and four windows of
four cinquefoiled lights, exactly like that into the
organ chamber just described, except that the most
easterly of the four has its jambs moulded on the outside instead of the inside. The north doorway, which is
between the western pair of windows, has a two-centred
head and continuous mouldings, with a label stopped
on grotesque heads; to the east of the door is a stoup
in a recess with a four-centred head. On a square
buttress, at the north-west of the aisle, is inscribed,
'Neare this place lyeth the body of Jeams, the Sonn
of Jeams Topham, who was buryed the 17 day of
January 1684.' In the west wall is a window of
three cinquefoiled lights, in two chamfered orders
separated by a casement, under a flat four-centred
head, to the soffit of which the mullions are
carried up.
In the east wall of the south aisle is a window of
four cinquefoiled lights, like the north-east window of
the north aisle, with the jamb mouldings on the outside. The east window in the south wall is similar
to those on the south side of the chancel, but has four
cinquefoiled lights instead of three. There is a
piscina with a four-centred head and two windows
of four cinquefoiled lights like those in the north
aisles. The south porch is modern and has a window
of two cinquefoiled lights under a four-centred head
in each side; the inner doorway has a pointed head
of early 14th-century date in two moulded orders
separated by a hollow, and modern jambs. To the
west of the porch is a window like the last. In the
west end of this aisle is a modern window of three
trefoiled lights in two chamfered orders, with quatrefoiled net tracery under a pointed head and moulded
label. The north aisle roof has very fine pierced
tracery in the spandrels; the south aisle is of the
same character, and has the arms of France and
England on a boss in the east bay.
The west tower is built in five stages with a moulded
plinth, the walls being of cobble-stones with bonding
courses of squared stone; there are two square buttresses in six stages at each angle; on the north
side in the middle stage is a small chamfered trefoiled
light under a square head and label, and a similar one
in the stage above with no label, and one like it in
the same stage on the east side. In each top stage
are pairs of two-light windows. Beneath the parapet
is a string with carved ornament and a gargoyle in
the centre of each face. The west door is in two
continuous moulded orders separated by a hollow with
a pointed head and label stopped on heads. The
door has good modern scroll hinges. In the stage
above is a window of three cinquefoiled lights in two
chamfered orders with a pointed head and label containing 15th-century tracery; and over it are three
trefoiled niches, the two outer having crocketed ogee-shaped heads and the centre a plain gablet. Over
them again is a square window, set diagonally and
containing quatrefoiled tracery with a moulded frame.
The south side is like the north, but there is a chamfered door with a four-centred head to the stairs, and
the upper niche has an ogee-shaped label. The tower
arch is in three chamfered orders, with shallow
moulded capitals to the two inner; there is an internal
door to the stairs, with a pointed head and label,
which has been blocked up.
The font has a square bowl of Purbeck marble,
dating from about the middle of the 12th century,
ornamented with carved intersecting arcading on a
modern base, consisting of a pedestal and shafts.
There is a restored rood-screen in three bays, with
15th-century tracery in the heads and cusped
panelling below with carved spandrels, capped by
an embattled cornice, ornamented with square
flowers; round the head of the doorway is a row of
pierced quatrefoils, but an inner order appears to
have been broken away, the jambs have attached shafts
with moulded capitals and bases. Some of the bench-ends in the aisles date from the 15th century, and
have fine large poppy-heads with a number of different
beasts, &c.
In the chancel floor is a stone, from which three
brasses have been removed; two remain, small figures
of two girls and a small shield with the arms a
cheveron between three bugle horns with a crescent
in chief for difference, impaling quarterly with a
label of three points. In the nave floor is a stone
slab with a brass figure of a woman; a second figure
and an inscription are missing. In the north aisle is
the brass of a civilian and his wife, c. 1450, with
scrolls inscribed 'Qui venturus es judicare Dne dona
nobis requiem sempiternam.' There are three other
slabs with brasses missing. In the south-west respond
of the nave arcade is a brass tablet to Mrs. Elizabeth Brakin, 1655, and in the west respond opposite
is a brass plate inscribed with 'Hic jacet dna Elena
Wawton quondam uxor dñi Thome Wawton militis,
que obiit V° die mens ffebruarii a° dni milmo CCCCLVIII
cujus anime propicietur deus, amen.'
There are six bells, the first by Jo. Eayre of
St. Neots, 1740; the second by Miles Graye, 1654;
the third of 1832, by Wm. Dobson; the fourth of
1607, inscribed 'Sum rosa pulsata mundi Maria
vocata'; the fifth by Thos. Russell of Wootton,
1741; and the sixth by Thomas Newman, 1705.
The plate consists of a communion cup marked
Eatonsocon, and cover paten of the 17th century (?);
another larger cup with cover paten, the cup being
inscribed 'Anno Domi 1609 John Goodman and
Hughe Dixse Churchwardens of the parishe of Eaton
in Com Bedfford.' On the lid is I.G. HD 1609.
There is also a paten of 1635.
The registers previous to 1813 are as follows:—
(1) all entries, 1566 to 1645; (2) the same,
1645 to 1703; (3) the same, 1704 to 1760;
(4) marriages 1754 to 1788; (5) baptisms and burials
1760 to 1812; (6) baptisms and burials 1773 to
1803; (7) marriages 1788 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church of
Eaton was given to the Knights
Hospitallers by the Beauchamps,
which gift was acknowledged in a fine of 1219
between Hugh de Alneto, prior of the order, and
Roger de Beauchamp. (fn. 273) In 1283 Ralph de Beauchamp confirmed the gift of his predecessors, on which
occasion the prior is said to have paid £100 in
silver. (fn. 274) A vicarage was ordained some time before
1291, when the vicarage was assessed at £4 6s. 8d. (fn. 275)
After the Dissolution the advowson of the vicarage
was acquired by William Vaux Lord Harrowden,
who was lord of Eaton Manor, and who was in
possession in 1556. (fn. 276) The right of alternate presentation was reserved by the Crown and granted
with Eaton rectory (q.v.) in 1608 (fn. 277) and follows the
same descent. The right of presentation vested in
Lord Vaux was attached to Eaton Manor (q.v.) until
between the years 1839 and 1847 it was alienated to
Thomas Atkinson, who presented at the latter date.
By 1864 it had passed to the Rev. Edward Horley,
who was both patron and vicar.
The rectory of Eaton was retained by the Crown
until 1576, when it was granted by patent to Thomas
Beverley. (fn. 278) This grant was confirmed to him for
three lives in 1593, (fn. 279) and a further confirmation
made to James Beverley in 1601. (fn. 280) In 1608 Francis
Philipps and Richard More were grantees, (fn. 281) and
three years later Sir Thomas Lake received a permanent grant. (fn. 282) Sir Thomas Lake, kt., and Sir
Henry Yelverton, attorney-general, acting on behalf
of the king, were deforciants in a settlement of the
rectory in 1619. (fn. 283) Sir Thomas Lake died in 1629. (fn. 284)
His son Sir Thomas Lake suffered a recovery of
the rectory in 1634, (fn. 285) which he alienated in 1645
to Ralph Whitfield and others. (fn. 286) John Bigg owned
the rectory in 1673, (fn. 287) and this family held it until
1747, when the Duke of Bedford purchased the
rectory with 40 acres of land and cottages from
John Bigg for £5,250. (fn. 288)
In the 14th century a gild or fraternity was
founded in Eaton Socon Church, dedicated to Corpus
Christi, by John d'Engayne. (fn. 289) First mention is
found of it in 1353, when Henry Coket, chaplain, and
John de Eton, clerk, granted five messuages, 60 acres
of land and 1 acre of meadow in this parish to the
brethren, who paid 100s. for licence to acquire.
The endowment was to provide a chaplain to celebrate service daily in Eaton Church in honour of
Corpus Christi, for the soul of the king, his progenitors, his heirs and all benefactors of the gild. (fn. 290)
In 1392 the brethren received a confirmation of
these grants. It was further granted to them at the
same time that they might meet annually on the
Sunday after Corpus Christi and elect two masters of
the gild to be its governors; that they might increase their numbers at pleasure; that they might
acquire lands not held in chief to the yearly value of
5 marks towards the maintenance of a chaplain and
the support of other works of piety. (fn. 291) The gild
received a further grant in 1413–14, (fn. 292) and c. 1536
the brothers and sisters were declared to have land in
Eaton valued at £8 9s. 4d. (fn. 293) At the dissolution of
the chantries in the reign of Edward VI the capital
messuage or common hall, with kitchen and garden
annexed, was in ruins and worth only 2s. (fn. 294) The gild
priest Robert Kippest was resident but 'meanly lerned,'
and had a stipend of 100s. from the fraternity endowment. (fn. 295) At this time the object of the gild was said
to be the providing of a priest, the distribution of
money to divers poor folks being brothers and sisters
of the gild, and to other 'poore folke' every year
upon Sunday after Corpus Christi Day. There were
also goods and ornaments worth £6 3s. in the hands
of the two masters. (fn. 296) In 1570–1 the site of the
brotherhood was granted to Henry Seckford, (fn. 297) and
some years later on a twenty-one year lease to William
Webster. (fn. 298) Last mention of the fraternity has been
found in a grant of 1607 to Sir John Ramsey, kt. (fn. 299)
In 1476 William Stokker, kt., John Stokker, citizen
of London, and Henry Stokker, inhabitant of
Wyboston, received a licence to found a perpetual
chantry of one chaplain to celebrate divine service in
a certain chapel dedicated to St. Mary, St. James
and St. Christopher which they had recently built. (fn. 300)
At the dissolution of the chantries this 'chappel'
was worth about £7. It was declared to be in
Wyboston, 'a thoroughfare' one mile from the parish
church, and to be frequently used in winter by the
parishioners of Chawston, who 'by occasion of waters'
were unable to get to their own church. The ornaments included 'one chalyce gylte within the cuppe'
and a bell. (fn. 301) On the dissolution of the chantries
William Smith and Peter Grey received a grant of
Wyboston, (fn. 302) but no trace of the ancient chapel exists
at the present day.
In 1291 Ralph de Beauchamp granted a messuage,
land and rent to a chaplain in St. Mary's Chapel,
Eaton. (fn. 303) This grant was enlarged and confirmed by
his successor Roger de Beauchamp in 1331, (fn. 304) and
again five years later. (fn. 305)
The Beauchamps also appropriated 10 acres of
land to the church to provide a lamp burning near
the cross in the church. In 1389 the lamp had been
in disuse for twenty years, and the profits of the land
had been acquired by the Prior of St. John of
Jerusalem. (fn. 306) It may possibly have been restored to
its original purpose, however, for at the dissolution of
the chantries the churchwardens of Eaton received
8s. 10½d. rent from certain lands for the maintenance
of divers lights in the church. (fn. 307)
CHARITIES
In 1630 Simon Oldham by will
devised an annuity of 10s. charged on
an estate at Upper Staploe for distribution among twenty poorest persons on St. Thomas's
Day. The charge has been redeemed by the transfer
to the official trustees of £16 13s. 4d. consols, now
producing 8s. 4d. a year.
The Poor's Land consists of 12 a. 3 r. 36 p. awarded
on the inclosure in 1796 in lieu of land formerly
purchased with £60 benefaction money and other
open field land in Duloe hamlet. The rents
amounting to £25 a year were formerly laid out in
barley and distributed on the Feast of the Epiphany.
The net income is now applied as a contribution of
£20 to the coal club and balance to old widows and
spinsters and old men in workhouses belonging to the
parish.