WARBOYS
Wardebusc (xi cent.), Wardebusche (xii cent.),
Wardeboys (xiii–xvii cent.).
Warboys is a large parish on the eastern side
of the county bordering on Cambridgeshire. It
covers 8,435½ acres, of which a considerable part in
the north-east is fen-land, the higher land in the south
being of stiff clay. The land falls from about 114 ft.
above the ordnance datum in the south to 2 ft. in the
fen-land (fn. 1) in the north and north-east. Nearly threequarters of the area is arable, upon which potatoes
are largely grown and also corn, beans, etc. Warboys
Wood and Pingle Wood are the only remaining pieces
of woodland and cover about 110 acres.
The fairly large village lies on high ground in the
south-west part of the parish overlooking the fen to
the north-east. It has grown up at the fork formed
by the junction of the main road from St. Ives to
Ramsey with the branch road leading eastward over
Warboys Heath and to Fenton. The main road as it
passes through the village is called Church Street and
the branch road is the High Street. The church is
at the south end of the village and adjoining it to
the north-west is the Manor House, now the residence
of Mr. G. L. Ekins, J.P. It is an early 17th-century
two-storied brick house with attics, probably built
by Sir John Leman, who bought the manor in 1622
and died in 1632. The front has rounded and shaped
gables and within is an original staircase. To the
north of it is a contemporary brick barn. On the
opposite side of the road is the rectory, an early
18th-century house. A good door with a hood over
it formerly formed the main entrance, but has now
been moved to the back of the house. Some architectural fragments in the garden are said to have come
from Ramsey Abbey. There are three or four old
cottages in the village, including the White Hart
Inn on the north side of the High Street, a 17th-century brick house with a thatched roof. The
eastern part of the village, where the railway station
now stands, is called Mill End from the windmill
which is situated in the fork of the road here. Near by
are brickworks and a little west is the Baptist Chapel.
A memorial clock was erected in the village in 1887.
In 1774 an Act was passed for draining certain lands
in Warboys, including 300 acres called High Fen and
60 acres, part of New Pasture. (fn. 2) Again, in 1795, an
Act was passed for dividing, inclosing and draining the
open common fields in Warboys. (fn. 3) A further Act was
passed in 1798 to amend the last Act as regards the
lands allotted in lieu of tithes. (fn. 4)
Warboys became conspicuous in 1593 by the trial
and execution of three persons of the village for
bewitching the five daughters of Robert Throckmorton, lessee of the manor, and Susan Lady Cromwell, Sir Henry Cromwell's wife.
MANOR
Warboys was the gift of Archbishop
Dunstan to the Abbey of St. Benedict of
Ramsey, and was confirmed by King
Edgar in 974, (fn. 5) by Edward the Confessor, (fn. 6) by William
the Conqueror in 1077, (fn. 7) and by Edward III in 1334; (fn. 8)
and further by Pope Alexander in 1178, (fn. 9) and by Pope
Gregory in 1229. (fn. 10)
Warboys was returned in the Domesday Survey
among the lands of St. Benedict of Ramsey; and it
was stated then that the abbot had 10 hides in the
manor which paid geld. There were a priest and a
church and 3 acres of meadow. There was wood
for pannage 1 mile long and 1 mile broad. (fn. 11) The
same hidage was given in the 13th century survey
for 'Wardebois cum Caldecote,' (fn. 12) 30 acres being
reckoned to the virgate and 4 virgates to the hide. (fn. 13)
An inquisition concerning customs and rents in 1251
again returns Warboys and Caldecote as of 10 hides. (fn. 14)
There was a wood belonging to the manor extending
from Middelgrave to Mareweye, from Mareweye to
Wolfheye, from Wulfheye to Newedyche, and from
Newedyche to Middelgrave. (fn. 15) The marsh of Warboys belonging to the manor was a subject of dispute
during the abbacy of Abbot Rainulf (1231–53) with
the Abbey of Thorney. The dispute resulted in
Abbot Rainulf granting to Thorney half the herbage,
between the weirs of Tyllingwere and Wulveywere
from the river to the next 'merefen' in Warboys
marsh, for a rent of one penny. Thereupon the
Abbot of Thorney acknowledged that all the soil of
the marsh was the property of the Abbot of Ramsey
as belonging to his manor of Warboys. (fn. 16) The Abbot
of Ramsey's tenants at Broughton had rights of
pasturage, etc., in this marsh, but had to pay to the
manor of Warboys for licence to enter. (fn. 17) The tenants
of Warboys with those of Broughton had rights of
common in Wystow Marsh, but not beyond the
"Drauht" without licence of the abbot. (fn. 18)
In 1279 the Abbot of Ramsey held the manor of
Warboys cum Caldecote of the king, including a
windmill, and a messuage with a garden of 2½ acres,
and gallows, tumbrel, view of frankpledge and all
appurtenances. (fn. 19) In 1535 the site of the manor was
leased by the abbot to John Mayhue or Mayhew of
Warboys, husbandman, for 40 years at a rent of £8. (fn. 20)
Two days before, a close in Warboys called Caldecotts
had been leased for 40 years with the site of the
manor of Broughton to John Lawrence of Ramsey,
bailiff of Warboys. (fn. 21)
After the Dissolution the manor of Warboys with
grange or farm, wood, fisheries and marsh, was granted
in 1540 to Richard Williams alias Cromwell, (fn. 22) and
followed the descent of Ramsey (fn. 23) until 1622, when
Sir Oliver Williams alias Cromwell, jointly with his
wife Anne, Henry his son and Dame Anne Carr,
Henry's wife, and Henry Williams alias Cromwell his
brother, sold the manor to Sir John Leman, kt.,
citizen and alderman of London, to Robert Leman,
and William Leman, son of
Sir John's deceased brother
William. (fn. 24) In the following
September, Sir Oliver Williams
alias Cromwell of Hinchingbrooke, kt., with Henry
Williams alias Cromwell of
Ramsey, esq., his son and
heir, leased to Henry Williams
certain land in Upwood, in
consideration of the latter
conveying his interest in the
pasture or warren of Woolvey
(Wolvey) in Warboys to Sir
John Leman. (fn. 25) Robert granted
his interest in the manor to Sir John and his nephew
William in 1628. (fn. 26)
Leman of Warboys and of Northaw, Baronet. Azure a fesse between three dolphins rising argent.
Sir John Leman was a member of the Fishmongers'
Company, and Lord Mayor of London, 1616–17. He
was the son of John Leman of Beccles in Suffolk and
died unmarried in 1632. (fn. 27) His elder brother William
had four sons, John, Robert, William and Philip.
John the eldest predeceased his uncle, leaving a son
William, who was his grand-uncle's heir. Sir John
Leman, however, bequeathed Warboys to his nephew
William, third son of William his brother. (fn. 28) William
married in 1628 Rebecca, daughter and co-heir of
Edward Prescott, of London, (fn. 29) and they together
in 1655 settled the manor and advowson, with view
of frankpledge, etc., (fn. 30) on their son William's marriage
with Mary, daughter of Sir Lewis Mansel by his
third wife Elizabeth, and granddaughter of Henry
Montagu, first Earl of Manchester. (fn. 31) This son
William was created a baronet in 1665; (fn. 32) he succeeded his father in 1667, became sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1676, and M.P. for Hertford in 1690. In
1670 an Act was passed for settling the boundary
between Warboys and Ramsey manors. The Bedford
Level Commissioners had placed Warboys Fen within
the manor of Warboys, and Sir Henry Williams
attempted unsuccessfully to have it included in
Ramsey. (fn. 33)
In 1682 and 1683 Sir William Leman, bart., with
his wife Mary and his son Mansel Leman, settled
the manor and advowson, (fn. 34) evidently at the marriage
of Mansel with Lucy, daughter of Richard Alie,
alderman of London. Mansel died in 1687, (fn. 35) and
his father Sir William in 1701. (fn. 36) Mansel's son
Sir William Leman, bart., of Northaw, co. Herts, in
1708 settled the manor of Warboys. (fn. 37) He married
Anna Margareta, daughter of Colonel Brett, and
mistress of George I, and with her settled the manor
in 1738. (fn. 38) Sir William Leman died childless in 1741.
His widow died on 24 December 1745, her sister-inlaw, Lucy Leman, the heiress of her brother, having
predeceased her on 3 October 1745. (fn. 39) Mansel
Leman's sister Elizabeth had married Henry, son of
Richard Alie, brother of Mansel's wife. Their son
Richard Alie was adopted by Sir William Leman,
and inherited Northaw, and presumably Warboys, but
died childless in 1749, after having assumed the surname Leman. (fn. 40) His sister and heir Lucy died
childless in 1753. She gave Northaw to John
Granger, who took the name of Leman, and dying
childless as John Leman was buried at Warboys in
1781, leaving his estates to his wife with a reversionary
interest to William Strode, whom she afterwards
married. (fn. 41) William Strode of Loseby, co. Surrey,
was holding the advowson of Warboys in 1795, (fn. 42) but
not the manor, which appears to have passed to the
family of Mansel Leman's sister, Theodosia, who had
married Lewis Newnham, of London and Sussex.
In 1769 it was held by John Newnham, (fn. 43) apparently
of Maresfield Park, Sussex, whose daughter Wilhelmina
married Sir John Shelley, bart., (fn. 44) by whom the manor
was held in 1794, when he conveyed it to William
Palmer. (fn. 45) The inclosure Acts of 1793 (fn. 46) and 1798 (fn. 47)
return John Richards of Brampton and John Kirton
of Gray's Inn as lords of the manor. In 1813 John
Carstairs, of Stratford Green, Essex, appears as lord, (fn. 48)
and in 1815 one-fourth part of the manor was conveyed to him by George Farcy (sen.) and Frances
his wife. (fn. 49) John Carstairs left two daughters and
co-heirs, Cecil, who married Wilson Jones of Hartsheath, co. Flint, in 1822, (fn. 50) and Johanna, who in 1840
married Sir John Henry Pelly, bart. (fn. 51) The Rev.
Hugh Chambers Jones seems to have held the manor
for a time and afterwards it passed to Henry Carstairs
Pelly, son of Sir John Henry Pelly. After his death,
in 1877, it was held by his trustees. His daughters,
Annie Evelyn, widow of Capt. Thomas Rivers
Bulkeley (killed in 1914) and Constance Lilian, wife of
David, 27th Earl of Crawford, in 1918 joined in
selling the manor to W. L. Raynes, of Cambridge,
who conveyed it to Mrs. Fanny Elizabeth Spearing and Mrs. Mary Florence Raynes, the present
owners. (fn. 52)
A field called Wolfheye was mentioned in 1251 (fn. 53)
and as Wolveye in 1291, (fn. 54) later as belonging to the
infirmarer of Ramsey, (fn. 55) seems to have been the
origin of a property referred to as the manor of
WOLVEY. In 1535 John Warboys, Abbot of
Ramsey, leased it pertaining to the infirmarer's office,
to John Somerbye of Ramsey for 40 years at a rent of
53s. 4d. (fn. 56) In 1540 the manor or farm of Wolvye was
leased with the site of Warboys manor to Gabriel
Throckmorton 'in like manner as William Pope
lately held it.' (fn. 57) The separate conveyance of Wolvey
pasture or warren was made to Sir John Leman,
since which date it has followed the descent of the
principal manor.
CHURCH
The Church of ST. MARY MAGDALENE, formerly of the BLESSED
MARY THE VIRGIN, (fn. 58) consists of a
chancel (34 ft. by 17 ft.), nave (49 ft. by 20 ft.), north
aisle (8½ ft. wide), south aisle (8 ft. wide), west tower
(12 ft. by 11½ ft.), north and south porches. The walls
are of rubble and the roofs covered with lead. Nothing
remains of the church which existed here at the time
of the Domesday Survey (1086). The earliest church
of which there is now evidence was built in the
middle of the 12th century, probably when the
church and its possessions were granted by Abbot
Walter to the almonry of Ramsey Abbey about
1155. (fn. 59) This church consisted of a chancel and the
present nave and a north aisle. (fn. 60) The chancel arch,
the responds at each end of the north arcade and a
small piece of walling at the south-west corner of the
nave of this church still survive. Early in the 13th
century, the Norman north aisle with the arcade was
rebuilt, and immediately afterwards the south aisle
with its arcade was added. (fn. 61) In the middle of the
13th century the west tower with its broach spire of
ashlar was built, and it was evidently intended at
this date to extend the aisles westward to the line of
the west wall of the tower. If this intention was
then carried out, the south extension was rebuilt in
the latter part of the 14th century when the south
porch was added, and the north extension was also
rebuilt in the early part of the 15th century when
the north porch was added. The chancel was rebuilt
and shortened before the beginning of the 19th
century, and in 1832 it was extended eastward apparently to its original length and considerably
altered. At this date large galleries were erected in
both aisles and the tower, the floor being lowered a
foot to give head room under them; the east wall
above the chancel arch and the west wall of the
tower were cased in lath and plaster, a vestry was
formed at the west end of the north aisle, all the
walls were coated with thick plaster and wooden
mouldings fixed below the clearstory windows and
in other places. The spire was restored in 1898, and
in 1926 the tower and south aisle were underpinned,
the additions of 1832 (except those to the chancel)
were removed and the floor restored to its former
level.
The chancel has a three-light east window, two
windows on the north side and three on the south.
On the modern north door has been fixed a fine 12thcentury knocker consisting of a lion's face holding in
its mouth a ring formed of two winged dragons
fighting. The 12th-century arch is semicircular and
of two orders, the lower consisting of two large rolls
and the outer having the cheveron ornament; the
responds have attached shafts with simple Norman
capitals and bases.
The nave arcades are of four bays, the arches on
the north side are moulded on the side next the nave,
while those on the south are simply chamfered. The
piers are cylindrical, except the middle pier on the
north, which is octagonal, with moulded capitals and
bases. The responds at each end of the north
arcade are of the 12th century. They are square
with moulded imposts, and a 13th-century corbel has
been inserted in each to carry the lower order of the
later arches. A locker was formed in the east respond
of the north arcade; only the rebated stone frame,
however, with the holes for the hinge hooks, now
remain, the back having been destroyed when steps
to a modern pulpit were inserted. The nave walls
were heightened and a new roof made in the 15th
century, when the present clearstory windows of two
lights were inserted. Previously the walls were only
carried a little above the sills of the present windows,
and the line of the old roof, which was of steeper
pitch, can still be seen on the wall of the tower.
Between this roof and that of the aisles there was
just sufficient room for three circular or quatrefoil
windows in the spandrels of the arches (not over the
arches as usual). The inner jambs of these windows
may still be seen inside the church. At the northeast angle of the nave was the stair to the rood loft,
and the entrance to the staircase was probably in the
nave. Parts of the upper doorways may be seen both
in the nave and the north aisle. Apparently in 1832
the lower part of the staircase, which was much worn,
was destroyed and an entry to the modern pulpit
formed from the aisle, leaving a large cavity in the
wall which endangered its safety; it was therefore
found necessary in the recent repairs to fill up the
cavity to the springing of the chancel arch above
which it is left empty. A small piece of a moulded
beam of the rood screen with coloured decorations
was found used up in one of the plaster casings.
The north aisle
has an east window
of the early part of
the 15th century,
and three windows
in the north wall
of the same date,
all of three lights.
The north doorway
is of the 13th century. In the east
wall is a 15th century bracket carved
with a lion's face,
probably for an
image. The beautiful arch across the
north aisle in a line
with the east wall
of the tower is of
the 15th century,
and the west window of this aisle,
which has a ram's
head as a label stop
in reference to the
arms of Ramsey Abbey, is of the same date. In the
extension of this aisle there is an ancient chest.
Plan of Warboys Church
The south aisle has an east and three south windows
of the late 14th century, all of three lights. The
south door and porch are of the same date. At the
eastern end of the south wall is a mutilated fragment
of a 13th-century piscina indicating the position of
an altar. (fn. 62) At the west end of the south wall are the
remains of an ancient fireplace, the flue of which,
some few feet up, has been filled in. One jamb of
the fireplace has been restored and the lintel is broken.
The present square-headed three-light west window
of the aisle was probably inserted in the 17th century,
the date 1695 on the jack-leg above the window, or
T.M. 1676 cut on the south-east pier of the tower,
may give the date of it. This window, which was
partially destroyed by the addition of a modern doorway now removed, has lately been restored. The
roofs of the north and south aisles are of the 15th
century, but are much restored and renewed.
The 13th-century tower is of three stages with a
moulded plinth and a corbel-table at the base of the
spire. The tower is carried on three arches of two
chamfered orders resting on moulded imposts with
attached shafts. The arch in the east wall of the
tower is lofty and imposing, the arches on the north
and south walls are lower, although the outer order
inside the tower is carried up to the same height as
the eastern arch. The west wall has a wall-arch
enclosing a tall and elegant lancet window with the
unusual feature of a trefoiled transom at about half its
height. Down the southern jamb of the window are
four quatrefoils now only visible from outside, which
were inserted in 1832 to give light to a sham window
in the lath and plaster casing inside, which is now
removed. The arches and windows in the south and
west walls are forced out of their proper place by the
stair turret in the south-west angle of the tower. In
the second stage there is a lancet in the north, south
and west walls. The third stage has in each of the
four sides two coupled lancet windows with shafted
jambs and mullions. The broach spire has three
tiers of lights on the cardinal faces, the lowest of two
lights and the others of single lights.
The font is an interesting specimen of early 13th-century date; it has a square bowl carved with
rather crude foliage, standing on a large central and
four angle shafts having moulded capitals and bases—
the capitals of the angle shafts being carved on the
corners of the bowl.
Various stones, chiefly of 13th-century date, found
in the course of the recent works, have been built into
the walls for preservation.
On the floor of the chancel are stones in memory of
the Rev. Allen Cowper, M.A., rector for 40 years,
died 1772 aged 77, and the Rev. Thomas Stona, M.A.,
rector, died 1792 aged 64. On the nave floor are
stones to Edward Smith, died 1733 aged 70, and
Mary his wife, died 1747 aged 80; Christopher Wood,
died 1797 aged 92, and Elizabeth his wife, died 1775
aged 75; the Rev. John Warburton, rector, died
1721, and Margaret his wife, died 1715 aged 88.
On the north wall of the chancel is a monument to
John Leman, Esq., died 1781, and another to Elizabeth relict of the said John Leman, and wife of William
Strode, died 1790. In the churchyard, on the north
side of the chancel, is a coped stone of 14th-century
date with a cross and large rosettes; of the inscription in Lombardic capitals all that can be read are the
words "… Dieu de sa alme eyt merci, Amen."
There are five bells, inscribed: 1, Cum voco
uenite. Joseph Eayre fecit, 1765; 2, Omnia fiant
ad gloriam Dei. Joseph Eayre, St. Neots, fecit 1765;
3, Edward Dring and Oliver Hills, Churchwardens,
Joseph Eayre, St. Neots, fecit 1765; 4, (name erased)
Churchwarden, Joseph Eayre fecit 1765; 5, Allen
Cowper, Rector, Edward Dring and Oliver Hills,
Churchwardens, 1765 (and on the rim) Ego sum
vox clamantis. These bells have lately been rehung
in a new oak frame.
The registers are as follows: (i) Baptisms, 31
Aug. 1551 to 4 Feb. 1653–4, marriages, 8 Feb.
1565 to 15 June 1662, burials, 31 March 1565 to
22 Jan. 1653–4, and one entry 27 Dec. 1662;
(ii) baptisms, marriages and burials, 11 Feb. 1663
to 23 July 1769, marriages end 5 Feb. 1754; (iii)
baptisms and burials, 30 Sep. 1771 to 29 Feb. 1812;
(iv) the official marriage book, 2 July 1754 to 6
Oct. 1812. Book III is bound in at the end of
Book IV.
The church plate consists of a silver gilt cup,
standing paten and flagon, each inscribed 'Dedicated
to the Service of the Altar and presented for the use of
the Parishioners of Warboys by the Rector, the Revd.
William Finch, M.A., A.D. 1842,' all hall-marked for
1841–2; two plated plates, inscribed 'Presented by
the Revd. Wm. Finch, A.D. 1842.'
ADVOWSON
A church and a priest at Warboys
were recorded in 1086, and the
church was confirmed to Ramsey
Abbey with the manor by Popes Alexander and
Gregory. Alfred, the priest of Warboys, witnessed
numerous deeds between 1114 and 1130. (fn. 63) Between
1148–60 the church with all its appendants, and with
free lands and tithes, was assigned to the almonry of
Ramsey by Abbot Walter for the sustenance of
pilgrims and the poor, the almoner to have the
parsonage. This grant was to take effect after the
death or removal of Nicholas de Sigillo and Richard
the clerk of Warboys. It was confirmed by Robert
Bishop of Lincoln, and Theobald Archbishop of
Canterbury, and at various later dates. It continued
to be held by Ramsey Abbey until the Dissolution. (fn. 64)
The advowson was granted with the manor in 1540
to Sir Richard Williams alias Cromwell, (fn. 65) with which
it continued to be held, with occasional exceptions,
until late in the 18th century. In 1722, Lucy Leman,
widow of Mansel Leman, whose son Sir William Leman
was lord, presented; and in 1772, for that turn,
Margaret Stona, widow. William Strode of Losely
held the advowson in 1792, and in 1828 his trustees.
It was then held by T. Daniel, Esq. In 1871 the
Rev. Chas. Grey Hill presented, and in 1894 his
executors. The advowson was next held by the
Rev. W. H. Bromley Way. The presentation was
made by A. Fuller in 1900, and the advowson now
belongs to Richard Flowers Sergeant, esq. (fn. 66)
CHARITIES
The Rev. Robert Fowler, by will
dated 3 Aug. 1824, gave to the
rector and churchwardens £200 for
investment, the interest to be distributed amongst
the poor of the parish in meat and bread. The endowment of the charity now consists of £192 5s. 5d.
Consols with the Official Trustees producing £4 16s.
annually in dividends, which is distributed by the
rector and churchwardens to about 30 recipients in
meat, in accordance with the directions of the donor.
Poor's Estate and Church Estate. This property,
as to which there are no writings to be found, comprises two cottages at Fenton End and several closes
of land, containing in all about 26 acres. The land
and cottages are let to various tenants, and the rents,
which in 1923 amounted to £78 9s., are carried to the
general church expenses account. The charity is
administered by the rector and churchwardens.