PIDLEY WITH FENTON
Pidele et Fenton xiii cent.; Pidel, Puddele, Pydele,
Fenton xiv cent.
The parish of Pidley with Fenton lies to the west of
Somersham and no doubt originally formed with it
one large parish. The land rises from about 3 ft.
above the ordnance datum in Warboys Fen in the
north to over 100 ft. in the middle and south parts
of the parish. In the fen-land the soil is the usual
black peat, where the chief crops are potatoes and other
vegetable. On the higher land clay is found, which
produces wheat and barley. The parish comprises
3,752 acres of which about half is arable land and a
little less than half pasture: there is no woodland, but
a few copses—Hill Close Spinney, Stroud Hill Spinney,
Dovehouse Close Spinney, where there are the remains
of a homestead moat, and Little Wood Spinney—
stand on the northern slope of the hill crossing the
parish from east to west. The greater part, if not
the whole, of the parish was within the chace of
Somersham and was open country until the inclosures
made after the chace was dischaced at the end of the
18th century. Earlier inclosures seem to have been
made by the Hammonds at the end of the 17th and
beginning of the 18th centuries, when they obtained
the interest in the lease and the reversion in fee of
the manor and soke of Somersham.
The village of Pidley stands on the top of a hill
along the road from Huntingdon to Chatteris. Church
End with the modern church of All Saints, a Baptist
chapel, and Church End Farm, lie about a third of a
mile off the road on the north side. The houses and
cottages in the village are mostly of brick, but a few
half-timber cottages remain on the north side of the
road. Stanley Farm on the south side of the road, the
residence of Mr. George Silk, is a substantial brick house
covered with tiles. It was built early in the 18th
century and contains internally many of its original
features. Near to it, on the east, is Hayden Hall,
where there are indications of a moat. About half a
mile east of the church is the Manor Farm, the residence of Mr. Ernest Braybrook, originally a 17thcentury brick house plastered and roofed with tiles
but considerably altered in the early part of the 18th
century.
The hamlet of Fenton is about a mile north of
Pidley and lies along the road to Warboys. It consists
of some scattered farms and brickworks. Fenton
House, formerly the Manor House, a little to the north
of the road, is an early 18th-century brick building
with a tiled roof, now the residence of Mr. Felix
Ashcroft. Padgetts Farm, near to Fenton House,
apparently takes its name from Richard Pagitt who
lived in the parish in the middle of the 17th century.
In the north-west corner of the parish is Fenton End,
which touches the village of Warboys, and Rowey
Farm lies to the north of the parish in the fen.
MANORS
The manors of PIDLEY and FENTON passed to the Abbey of Ely and
later to the Bishops of Ely under the
early grants of Somersham (q.v.). They have followed
the descent of that manor down to the present day.
They were included in the 99 years lease made in
1619 to trustees on behalf of Prince Charles and the
Queens of Charles I and Charles II. The site of the
manor of Pidley and the demesne lands were granted
in 1630 for the remainder of the lease to William
White, William Steventon and John Perkins without
rent, but on the expiration of that term for a rent of
£7 6s. 8d. (fn. 1) Their interest appears to have passed to
Humphrey Browne who about 1698 sold the site with
certain inclosures, including a close forming part of
the inheritance of Humphrey, to Anthony Hammond
of Somersham Place. (fn. 2) Other copyhold lands were
obtained by Anthony with his mother Amy Hammond
(née Browne) from Thomas Hubbard and Mary his
wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Peck. All these
lands passed in 1763 to the Duke of Manchester. (fn. 3)
Within the manor of PIDLEY were certain large
freeholds held of the Bishops of Ely as parcel of their
soke of Somersham, but whether they were manors is
doubtful. The earliest mention of Pidley is in a
confirmation of a charter (1225–8) of Bishop Geoffrey
to Master William de Argentein of 100 acres in the
manor of Somersham at a place called Strode (probably
now Stroud Hill), adjoining the bishop's demesne in
Pidley. (fn. 4) As early as 1210–12 Richard de Argentein
was holding a knight's fee in Somersham. He was
succeeded on his death in 1246 (fn. 5) by his son Giles, (fn. 6)
who in 1242 claimed rights in Warboys Fen in respect
of his freehold tenement in Pidley and Fenton. (fn. 7)
Giles, as a rebel, suffered forfeiture after the Battle of
Evesham when his lands in Pidley were seized, (fn. 8) but
in 1279 he was holding a messuage containing an acre,
and 25 acres of land with a grove of 1½ acre. (fn. 9) Giles
died in 1282 leaving a son and heir Reginald, aged
forty years, (fn. 10) and other sons Richard (ob. s.p.), William,
and Giles (ob. s.p.). (fn. 11) John son of Reginald died
in 1318 seised of a messuage and 80 acres of arable
land and 3 acres of meadow in Pidley held in socage
of the Bishop of Ely. (fn. 12) He left a son John, aged
half a year, whose wardship was granted to William de
Bereford. After the death of William de Bereford
in 1326 the wardship was given to Simon de Bereford
who forfeited for rebellion in 1330. (fn. 13) The property
seems to have passed to the bishop, but owing to
forfeitures and a long minority it is uncertain how he
acquired it.
Another large freeholder in Pidley was Ralf de
Bereford who in 1229 was holding 30 acres and a
tillage (cultura) called Gunnokeslong (Gunnokesleg')
in the soke of Somersham. (fn. 14) He seems to have
married Isabel, mother of Giles de Wackesham and
with her obtained a carucate of land in Colne (q.v.).
In 1242 he claimed rights in Warboys Fen. (fn. 15) As a
follower of Sir Giles de Argentein he forfeited a
carucate of land in Pidley in 1265. (fn. 16) His son Ralf
was holding a messuage containing half an acre and a
carucate of land in Pidley in 1279. (fn. 17) After this
date we lose sight of the Berefords as tenants in
Pidley.
In 1279 William le Moygne was holding, of the
Bishop of Ely ROWHEY, otherwise ROWEY
(Rueye), which contained 35 acres and Asmundemere
and Rueyemere, for certain services unknown, and his
three tenants there came to the autumn boondays of
the bishop, and to the boondays of the bishop's
carucate. (fn. 18) The manor followed the descent of
Moynes Manor in Great Raveley (q.v.) until the
beginning of the 16th century. (fn. 19) In 1584 Gilbert
Smythe and Anne his wife, conveyed a messuage,
3 tofts, some 60 acres of land, 60 acres of marsh
and common of pasture in Somersham, Pidley,
and Fenton, and free fishing in Rowey, to Richard
Tryce. (fn. 20) In 1608 Richard Tryce with his wife Anne
conveyed the manor of Rowey, with a free fishery, to
Francis St. John, (fn. 21) who with Margaret, his wife, and
John St. John, their son and heir apparent, conveyed
them in 1624 to Thomas and James Ravenscroft. (fn. 22)
Thomas Ravenscroft and Frances, his wife, were holding the manor and fishery in 1698, (fn. 23) and in 1709 James
Ravenscroft and Diana his wife (fn. 24) conveyed them to
Roger Peck, when it probably merged into the other
property of the Pecks in this parish.
An inclosure Act was passed in 1796 for inclosing
and dividing Somersham Heath, and such parts of it
as were allotted to Woodhurst, Somersham, and
Pidley with Fenton, with the open fields in these
parishes. (fn. 25)
On 24 November 1583, William Cranwell of Pidley
died seised of messuages there, leaving a son and heir
William, aged 30 and more. (fn. 26) In 1600 Kenelm
Pulter, clerk, and Katherine his wife, Margaret
Ellys, Nicholas Bedford and Agnes his wife, conveyed
lands, tenements and two windmills in Fenton,
Pidley and Somersham to Oliver Cromwell and
Christopher Hodson. (fn. 27) A windmill and land in
Fenton were conveyed to Richard Witlesey by Thomas
Pamplyn and Joan, his wife, in 1608, with warranty
against the heirs of Joan. (fn. 28) Three windmills and
common of pasture in Fenton, Pidley, and Somersham,
with lands and tenements there, were conveyed
by Christopher Hodson and Mabel, his wife, and
Benjamin Hodson and Cassandra, his wife, to Richard
Pagitt (fn. 29) in 1621. Richard Pagitt, senior, with his
wife Susan, in 1656 conveyed lands, tenements and
two windmills in Fenton, Pidley and Somersham to
Richard Pagitt, junior. (fn. 30) One windmill, etc., in
Pidley cum Fenton was held in 1702 by John Hopkins
and Anne his wife, Thomas Faux and Elizabeth
his wife, John Oakely and Sarah his wife, and John
Cumbers and Elizabeth his wife, who then conveyed
it to Thomas Webb and Thomas Saywell. (fn. 31)
CHURCH
The ancient church of ALL SAINTS
consisted of a chancel, nave, south
porch and a modern bell-turret of wood
at the west end. The south doorway of the chancel
and the north doorway of the nave were of the 12th
century; the south doorway of the nave was late
of the same century; and the east window was of the
14th century and of three lights. The remaining
features were of 15th century date. (fn. 32)
This church was pulled down in 1863, and a new
church erected on the same site in 1864–5. The
present church consists of a chancel with vestry on
the north, nave, west tower and south porch. The
walls are of stone faced internally with brick, and the
roofs, including the spire, are covered with tiles.
The only features of the old church which have
been preserved are a 14th-century square-headed twolight window reset in the west wall of the vestry,
and a scratched circular sundial in the north wall, but
much of the stone facing is obviously old material
re-used. The modern font is a square bowl on five
circular shafts. There are three bells, all inscribed:
Christopher Gray made me 1675.
There are the following monuments: in the
chancel, windows to William and Sarah Silk and
William and Mary Taylor, erected 1921; and William
Henry Hamilton (d. 1923); on nave floor to John
Cole (d. 1780); Elizabeth his wife (d. 1769); John
Cole, junior (d. 1786); Anne Cole (d. 1792) and
John Cole (d. 1805); and in vestry to John Cole,
Ann his daughter (d. 1792), and John his son
(d. 1804).
The registers are as follows: (i) baptisms,
marriages and burials, 23 Aug., 1558 to 11 April,
1724; (ii) ditto, 5 April, 1724 to 4 Feb., 1768,
marriages end 23 April, 1754; (iii) baptisms and
burials, 29 May, 1767 to 3 January, 1794; (iv) ditto
3 January, 1794 to 15 Nov., 1812; (v) marriages,
23 April, 1754 to 28 May, 1837.
The church plate consists of: A silver cup hallmarked for 1576–7. A silver cover-paten hall-marked
for 1758–9. A modern plated paten.
In the churchyard is part of a 13th-century coffin
lid with the double omega ornament.
ADVOWSON
As a chapelry annexed with Colne
to Somersham church, the advowson
of Pidley church has shared the
history of that of Somersham (q.v.). (fn. 33)
In 1534 the stipend of two chaplains celebrating
in Colne and Pidley was £10 13s. 4d. The parish
is now served by a curate.
CHARITIES
Robert Hempsted, by his will
proved 6 July 1883, bequeathed
to his trustees upon trust for sale the
residue of his estate. The endowment of the charity
now consists of a sum of £487 2s. 11d. 2½ per cent.
Annuities with the Official Trustees producing
£12 3s. 4d. yearly in dividends, which are expended on
an annual dinner and tea for widows and widowers
and a tea for children. The charity is regulated by
a scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated 20
Aug. 1907, under the provisions of which one cooptative trustee and two representative trustees
were appointed trustees of the charity.
Perne's Gift. It is recorded on a table of benefactions in the church that the Rev. Andrew Perne,
late Master of St. Peter's College, Cambridge,
gave the following benefactions, viz.: to the poor
6s. 8d.; to the children who attend the church to
be instructed in the catechism 1s. 8d., and to the
preacher of a sermon 5s.; and that the above sums
were paid by the Bursar of St. Peter's College.
The sum of 13s. 4d. is annually received from St.
Peter's College; 6s. 8d. is distributed among poor
persons chosen by the minister and 6s. 8d. is given to
the children attending the Sunday School.