THE HUNDRED OF TOSELAND
|
|
CONTAINING THE PARISHES OF |
| ABBOTSLEY |
HEMINGFORD ABBOTS |
ST. NEOTS |
| BUCKDEN |
HEMINGFORD GREY |
SOUTHOE |
| DIDDINGTON |
HILTON |
GREAT STAUGHTON |
| EYNESBURY |
MIDLOE |
TETWORTH |
| FEN STANTON |
OFFORD CLUNY |
TOSELAND |
| GREAT GRANSDEN |
OFFORD DARCY |
WARESLEY |
| GODMANCHESTER |
GREAT PAXTON |
YELLING |
| HAIL WESTON |
LITTLE PAXTON |
|
Toseland Hundred, at the time of the Domesday Survey (1086), was
returned as 214 hides, and, with the exception of Godmanchester, which in the
return of 1086 was included in Leightonstone Hundred, and Papworth, which is
now included in Cambridgeshire, the extent was the same as it is to-day. Some of
the names mentioned above do not appear in the Survey, but their areas were
included with those of other parishes; thus Abbotsley was probably part of
Eynesbury, as was also St. Neots; Hilton was included in Fen Stanton, and
Midloe probably in Great Staughton; Tetworth was covered by Everton, and
the parish of Toseland appears in the 12th century as a berewick of Great
Paxton. (fn. 1)
Index Map to the Hundred of Toseland
The name Toseland is Scandinavian in origin and is possibly connected
with the old Norse word 'lunde,' meaning a grove, perhaps a sacred grove or
small wood, the first syllable bearing some resemblance to the name of the
Danish Earl Toglos or Toli, who was killed at the battle of Tempsford (921). (fn. 2)
The hundred belonged to the king, and in 1279 its value was returned as
4 marks. (fn. 3) It may be assumed that the court of the hundred was originally
held in the parish of Toseland (q.v.) from the 'Moot' stone in the churchyard
there, but in 1651 it was held every three weeks at Spaldwick. (fn. 4) In 1279 there
were comparatively few suitors.
In 1628–9 the hundred was leased by Charles I to the Earl of Manchester
for a term of 31 years, at a yearly rent of 22s. 9d., being part of £2 17s. 9d.,
but by 1651 the value had increased to £12 13s. 1d. A fresh lease was granted
to the Earl of Manchester in March, 1661, (fn. 5) for a further term of 31 years, at a
rent of 50s. 9d., together with the Hundred of Leightonstone, and all privileges
and advantages thereto belonging, including the office of bailiff of both
hundreds. In 1691 Charles Earl of Manchester petitioned for a renewal of
the grant under the same conditions as that made to his grandfather. The
matter was referred to the Treasury, (fn. 6) but no evidence of the request being
granted has been found. The profits from the hundred have now been lost,
and any rights belonging to the hundred are apparently still in the crown.