HUGHENDEN
Huchedene (xi cent.); Hugendene (xiv cent.);
Hitchenden (xvii, xviii cent.).
Hughenden, formerly often called Hitchenden, (fn. 1) is
a hilly parish 5 miles in length and 3½ miles in
width lying in the hundred of Desborough except
that part of it called the Liberty of Brand's Fee,
which is in Aylesbury Hundred. It covers an area
of nearly 5,828 acres, including 3,336 acres of arable
land, 1,532 acres of permanent grass and 611 acres
of woods and plantations. (fn. 2) The slope of the land is
very irregular. The chalk hills are often between
500 ft. and 600 ft. above ordnance datum and reach
their maximum height (644 ft.) at Denner Hill near
the northern boundary separating this parish from
that of Great Hampden. Deep valleys wind round
these hills, but the surface of the land is never lower
than 265 ft. above ordnance datum in the extreme
south of the parish. The soil is chiefly gravel, the
subsoil chalk. Wheat and barley form the principal
crops. There is no village in Hughenden, but
scattered along a winding road leading from High
Wycombe to Great Missenden are the hamlets of
Four Ashes, Great Kingshill and the village and
ecclesiastical parish of Prestwood formed 9 April
1852 out of Hughenden, Great Missenden and a
detached portion of Stoke Mandeville. Naphill
hamlet is in the west of the parish, and Widmer End
in the east is now comprised in Hazlemere parish.
Hatches Farm, in Great Kingshill, Great Moseley
Farm at Naphill, and Coombs Farm, on the north
side of the road leading east from Naphill, are all
17th-century houses, with later additions and alterations, but retaining much of the original work. The
church stands on the north side of the grounds of
Hughenden Manor, in the southern part of the
parish, and to the south-west of it there is a range of
early 17th-century almshouses given to the parish
by the Dormers. An inscription on the building
records that Ellen Countess Conyngham (d. 1816)
left a legacy for repairing the houses. They have been
a good deal restored and altered in modern times.
The manor-house stands on a hill in the south of
the parish. It is a square building with two wings,
of which only a small part is ancient, and commands
from its south front a fine view of the town of High
Wycombe, 2 miles distant. The carriage drive to
the north front winds through a well-timbered and
undulating park watered by a trout-stream. A mill
at one time stood on this stream by Old Ford Lane,
and the head-water surrounding a small island fills
up when there is sufficient water in it. (fn. 3) Hughenden
Manor, which was formerly the seat of Benjamin
Disraeli Earl of Beaconsfield, is now the property
and residence of his nephew Mr. Coningsby
Ralph Disraeli. The path down-hill to the northeast of the manor-house leads past the vicarage
to the churchyard and church. Church Farm
lies to the north-east of the church, and threequarters of a mile further on is Brands House, the
seat of Mr. Samuel Newman, who is also the owner
of Rockhalls Farm to the east of Brands House. At
the end of the 18th century the old moated mansion
locally known as Rockhalls still retained traces of
former grandeur. (fn. 4) It was replaced by the present
farm-house in the early 19th century, (fn. 5) when five
stone shields from the old house bearing the arms of
Montfort and Wellesbourne inaccurately charged were
rebuilt into the walls.
The name of Widmer, a family who lived at
Rockhalls in the 17th and 18th centuries, survives in
the small hamlet of Widmer End with Widmer End
and Widmer Farms, half a mile to the north-east.
In this part of Hughenden are also Hazlemere
Lodge, the seat of Mrs. Leadbetter, and Uplands, the
property and residence of Mr. T. Somers Cocks.
About the centre of the parish is the hamlet of Cryer's
Hill with its farm and plantation. Here are also a
school and Methodist chapel. Half a mile north-east
of Cryer's Hill is the hamlet of Great Kingshill, which
before the middle of the 19th century was an open
common. (fn. 6) Part of it in 1852 was included in the
ecclesiastical parish of Prestwood. (fn. 7) The hamlet of
Naphill, 2½ miles to the north-west of Hughenden
Church, has a mission hall and school and a Primitive
Methodist chapel built in 1851. A reference to
Moseley Farm occurs in 1616, when it was the
property of Richard Clarke, (fn. 8) a name found in Hughenden in the 15th century. (fn. 9) Naphill Common
extends into the neighbouring parish of West
Wycombe. Bricks are made at Walter's Ash in the
extreme west of the parish. A finely-grained building stone has been quarried here for some time (fn. 10) and
is extensively used for channelling. Large quantities
were used in refacing the Round Tower at Windsor.
To the north-east of Walter's Ash beyond Courn's
Wood is the hamlet of North Dean, once the property of Sir William Lawrence Young, bart., and
formerly the residence of the Young family. Half a
mile further in the same direction are Piggott's Farm
and Wood belonging to the Earl of Buckinghamshire.
Hughenden is inseparably connected with the
memory of the great Victorian statesman, Benjamin
Disraeli Earl of Beaconsfield, who made the manor
his home during the greater part of his Parliamentary
career, and on his death in 1881 was buried in the
church by the side of his wife at his express desire. (fn. 11)
In 1826 an urn containing silver and copper coins,
a flint arch supported by side walls and other Roman
remains and a battle-axe of later origin were found
in this parish near Hazlemere turnpike gate. (fn. 12) A
vase, probably Roman, was also discovered during
excavations at Hughenden Vicarage in 1883. (fn. 13)
Some portions of Hughenden parish were inclosed
in 1856. (fn. 14)
The following place-names have been found:
Bossemede, Colverhouse, Cornewalestondes, Prioreslymore and an osiery called Hallebushes (fn. 15) (xv cent.);
Curtismede and Hugynersfield (fn. 16) (early xvi cent.);
Knife's Lane, which still survives at Great Kingshill (fn. 17) (xvii cent.); Deadman-Danes Bottom, (fn. 18) Upper
and Lower Mill Field and Mill Field Grove (fn. 19) (xix
cent.); Theeds Wood (xx cent.).
MANORS
In 1086 HUGHENDEN MANOR,
formerly part of Queen Edith's lands,
was held by William son of Oger of the
Bishop of Bayeux and was assessed at 10 hides. (fn. 20)
After his forfeiture it was held of the Crown, (fn. 21)
presumably of the honour of Wallingford. (fn. 22)
Henry I bestowed Hughenden Manor on his lord
chamberlain and treasurer, Geoffrey de Clinton. (fn. 23)
He in the third of his extant charters granted it
with the consent and at the request of his tenant
Geoffrey de Sancto Roerio to the priory which he had
founded at Kenilworth (fn. 24) in 1122. (fn. 25) The gift was
confirmed by Henry I (fn. 26) and Henry II, (fn. 27) and in
1250 by Henry III. (fn. 28) The Hughendens, descendants of Geoffrey de Sancto Roerio, held the
manor of the priory. Geoffrey's grandson Nicholas
de Hughenden (fn. 29) early in the reign of Henry II gave
the church to Kenilworth Priory (see advowson).
Ralph de Hughenden dealt with lands here in
1194 (fn. 30) and 1202, (fn. 31) and later mortgaged the manor
to the Jews. (fn. 32) By arrangement with Ralph the
Prior of Kenilworth in 1206 redeemed the mortgage, receiving in return a quitclaim from Ralph of
the reversion of land which his mother Denise held
in dower and an increase in the yearly rent. (fn. 33) Simon
son of Ralph de Hughenden succeeded in 1216. (fn. 34)
In 1223 Simon son of Robert Blund successfully
sued Simon de Hughenden for reinstatement under
a lease for twenty-one years made to his father in
1213, (fn. 35) and set aside on the ground of disloyalty
during the war. Simon son of Simon de Hughenden is named in connexion with Hughenden in
1250. (fn. 36) Geoffrey de Hughenden was holding in
1308 (fn. 37) and Nicholas de Hughenden in 1341, after
which date no further reference to this family has
been found. (fn. 38) At the surrender of the priory in
1538 (fn. 39) the manor escheated to the Crown and was
granted in the following year to Sir Robert Dormer, (fn. 40)
whose father William Dormer owned some property
in Hughenden before his death in 1506. (fn. 41) Hughenden Manor follows the same descent in his family
as that of Wing (q.v.) until 1737, (fn. 42) when it was sold
by Philip Earl of Chesterfield (fn. 43) to Charles Savage. (fn. 44) He
died in 1763, (fn. 45) and his brother and successor Samuel
Savage (fn. 46) in 1771. (fn. 47) Hughenden Manor passed to
their nephew John Norris, (fn. 48) sheriff for the county
in 1775, (fn. 49) and on his death in 1786 (fn. 50) to his cousin
Ellen Countess Conyngham, (fn. 51) in accordance with the
will of their uncle Charles Savage. (fn. 52) She was succeeded in 1816 (fn. 53) by a relative, John Norris,
distinguished in his day as an antiquary and scholar. (fn. 54)
He died in 1845, (fn. 55) and Hughenden Manor was
purchased from his executors by Isaac D'Israeli of
Bradenham Manor about a year before his death in
1848. (fn. 56) He was succeeded
by his son Benjamin, who in
1876 was created Viscount
Hughenden of Hughenden
and Earl of Beaconsfield. (fn. 57)
On his death in 1881 (fn. 58) the
manor passed to his nephew
Mr. Coningsby Disraeli, who
is the present owner.
Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Party saltirewise gules and argent with a castle argent in the chief an eagle or in the foot and two lions sable in the flanks.
The Priors of Kenilworth
had the right of holding the
view of frankpledge in
Hughenden before 1254. (fn. 59)
The right of free warren was
also granted them in 1388. (fn. 60)
All rights which they had formerly held in Hughenden were
included in the grant of the
manor in 1539 to Sir Robert Dormer. (fn. 61) The last enumeration of them that has been found occurs in 1794. (fn. 62)
A water-mill in Hughenden is named in 1279. (fn. 63)
It was then held by Adam de la Penne, previously by
Walter Bluet, (fn. 64) son of Simon Bluet of Hughenden. (fn. 65)
No later reference to it has been found.
The so-called manor of OVERHALL or EVERHALL appears in Hughenden in the early 16th
century as the property of John Colet (fn. 66) and his wife
Cicely, who conveyed it in 1505 to Robert Belson
and his heirs. (fn. 67) His nephew Augustine Belson (fn. 68)
conveyed Overhall in 1575–6 to John Lane. (fn. 69) This
manor appears to have remained in his family, (fn. 70) one
of whom, his grandson Thomas Lane, (fn. 71) was Recorder
of High Wycombe in 1634. (fn. 72) In 1708 William
Lane, Martha wife of Henry Noy, and Martha wife
of William Chilton surrendered their rights in the
manor to John Gibbons. (fn. 73) Before 1755 Overhall
had passed to Richard Warre, who in that year
warranted it to John Upton. (fn. 74) It was evidently
purchased by one of the owners of Hughenden
Manor, (fn. 75) and appears to correspond to the North Dean
estate which passed to the Young family through the
marriage in 1832 of Sir William Lawrence Young,
bart., with Caroline daughter and co-heir of John
Norris of Hughenden Manor. (fn. 76) It now belongs to
their grandson (fn. 77) Sir William Lawrence Young, bart.
Another estate in Hughenden called HUGHENDEN MANOR in the 16th century and more usually
known as ROCKHOS alias
DEROQUILLE, later ROCKHALLS, was apparently held
by Richard Wellesbourne at
the end of the 14th century. (fn. 78)
His descendants lived at Rockhalls. (fn. 79) Sir John Wellesbourne
of Hitchenden and of Finmere,
Oxfordshire, (fn. 80) was M.P. for
High Wycombe in 1429, (fn. 81)
1446 (fn. 82) and 1448 (fn. 83) and
Thomas Wellesbourne in
1477. (fn. 84) John Wellesbourne
is the last member of the
family found in connexion
with Hughenden. His name
occurs in 1552 in conjunction with that of Thomas
Widmer, (fn. 85) who in 1566–7 on the occasion of the
marriage of his son Thomas to Anne Grant made a
settlement of this estate on
them and their heirs. (fn. 86) The
younger Thomas Widmer
died seised in 1586, leaving
a son Richard, (fn. 87) who succeeded his mother Anne some
time before 1598. (fn. 88) He was
still living in 1624. (fn. 89) His
family lived at Rockhalls during the 17th (fn. 90) and 18th centuries, but had ceased to do
so before 1797. (fn. 91) They still
owned a right to tithes in
Hughenden between the years
1776 and 1791. (fn. 92) Rockhalls
Farm, on the site of the
former mansion, came into the possession of the
Newman family of Brands House (see Brand's Fee)
before 1862. (fn. 93)
Young of North Dean, baronet. Or three piles sable and a chief or with three rings sable therein.
Wellesbourne. Gules a griffon or and a checkered chief of azure and or with a bend ermine over all.
The property in Hughenden known as PIGGOTTS
(fn. 94) was owned by Thomas Hampden of
Great Hampden at his death in 1486. (fn. 95) It follows
the same descent in his family (fn. 96) as the manor of
Great Hampden, passing in 1824 to the Hobart
family, Earls of Buckinghamshire. (fn. 97) Sidney, the
seventh earl, is the present owner.
Eton College owns some land in this parish (fn. 98)
granted by Henry VI in 1444 as land which John
Coleshull of Hughenden (fn. 99) had given him. (fn. 100)
The liberty of BRAND'S FEE forms that division
of the parish of Hughenden which lies in Aylesbury
Hundred. No rights seem to have been attached to
the liberty, which apparently owes its separation from
the rest of Hughenden parish solely to its being in a
different hundred. The liberty did not exist till the
15th century or later (fn. 101) and seems to have been formed
from land in Kingshill, which itself extended into
two parishes, the hamlet of Great Kingshill being in
Hughenden and that of Little Kingshill in Little
Missenden parish. Kingshill, however, was connected manorially with Wendover, and hence Brand's
Fee is sometimes returned under that town. (fn. 102) The
name of Brand's Fee was derived from Sir Robert
Brand, (fn. 103) who in 1252 received a knight's fee in Kingshill from Ingram de Fiennes. (fn. 104) His son John Brand (fn. 105)
held the manor of Kingshill in the 13th century of
Isabella de Fiennes as of her manor of Wendover. (fn. 106)
The lands of Missenden Abbey in Brand's Fee
were known as the manor of RAVENSMERE. (fn. 107)
Ingram de Bethun, who
granted lands to the abbey of
Missenden, (fn. 108) occurs in connexion with Kingshill in
1237 (fn. 109) and was succeeded by
Sir Robert Brand, (fn. 110) who with
his son John confirmed such
grants. (fn. 111) John Brand made
further gifts, all of which were
confirmed by Stephen de
Chenduit. (fn. 112) These lands were
called 'le Brondes,' (fn. 113) and in
the 14th century the manor
of 'Brondes' is mentioned.
The possessions of the abbey
in Brand's Fee were held in
1541 (fn. 114) by Sir William Windsor at the yearly rent of
£20 19s. 4d. Before 1546 the manor of Ravensmere
in Hughenden and Little Missenden had been granted
to Sir Thomas Darcy, and in that year he obtained
leave (fn. 115) to alienate it to Sir Robert Dormer. Sir Robert
Dormer died seised of the manor in 1553, (fn. 116) and it
passed to his son and heir Sir William Dormer, who
left it under the name of the manor of Brand's Fee to
his wife Dorothy for the performance of his will. (fn. 117)
Missenden Abbey. Barry wavy ermine and sable with a crozier or set bendwise.
The Dormers' title to Ravensmere was disputed by
Queen Elizabeth, (fn. 118) and Sir Robert Dormer, son and
heir of Sir William, obtained a new grant of the
manor from her. (fn. 119) The manor has remained with
his family, (fn. 120) but after the death of Charles second
Earl of Carnarvon in 1709 (fn. 121) it did not descend to
his daughters, but passed to his cousin Rowland
Dormer, who succeeded him as fourth Lord Dormer
of Wing (fn. 122) ; it has since descended with the title to
the present Lord Dormer.
Lysons appears to have confused the manor of
Brand's Fee with Brands House, which has been
held by the family of Newman for a considerable
time. (fn. 123) The late Mr. John Newman inherited the
house and estate from his father and came to live
there about 1840. On his death in 1888 it passed
to Mr. Samuel Newman, the present owner.
CHURCHES
The church of ST. MICHAEL
AND ALL ANGELS consists of
chancel measuring internally 33 ft.
by 20 ft., north chapel 17 ft. wide, nave, north aisle,
south porch and north-west tower.
The chancel and north chapel are of mediaeval
date, but were very considerably restored between
1874 and 1890, when the rest of the church was
completely rebuilt. The walls are of flint with stone
dressings and the roofs are tiled.
The chancel has a modern window in the east
wall, and in the south wall are two modern
windows, and a 14th-century piscina with a trefoiled
ogee head, having a round basin and a shelf at the
back; internally the outline of an early pointed doorway can be traced. In the north wall is an arcade of
two bays, dating probably from the late 15th century,
with four-centred arches supported on an octagonal
pillar and semi-octagonal responds with capitals
bearing shields. There is a small trefoiled niche on
the east respond and a square niche on the north
side of the pillar. The chancel arch is modern, with
the exception, perhaps, of a few jamb stones.
The north chapel has a restored east window of
three trefoiled lights with tracery under a pointed
head, dating probably from about 1350; in the north
wall are modern windows and a 14th-century tomb
recess with a moulded two-centred drop arch, while in
the south wall, west of the arcade, is a small fourcentred tomb recess of about 1500, with two glazed
rectangular openings to the chancel. On the sill of
the east window are three head corbels, comprising
a grotesque of the 12th century, a mailed head of
the 13th, and a crowned head of the 14th century.
The nave is of three bays and is built in the style
of the 14th century, as are the tower, aisles and
porch. The roofs throughout have been renewed.
The font, dating from the early 13th century, is
of cylindrical form enriched by continuous trefoiled
panels with a foliated band at the top. The altar
dates from the 17th century and has carved rails and
turned legs. Two high-backed oak chairs, one in the
chancel and the other in the nave, are probably of the
17th century.
On the east wall of the north chapel is a small
brass figure of a priest in mass vestments, with an
inscription to Robert Thursbe, 'Capellanus,' who
died 15 January 1493, and in the recess in the
north wall of the chapel is a marble slab with indents
for a head, a scroll and two shields. In the north
chapel are six very interesting effigies, of which the
oldest, a recumbent effigy of a cross-legged knight,
dating from about 1285, but slightly altered probably
in the 16th century, lies in the south-east corner.
This is supposed to be a de Montfort, ancestor of the
Wellesbournes of this parish. He wears chain mail
and a long surcoat charged with a griffon grasping a
child in his left paw and a chief checky, possibly for
Wellesbourne; with his left hand he grasps his long
sword, on the scabbard of which are seven shields,
and holds a dagger in his right, while a long
shield over his left arm bears a lion with forked tail
in an orle of crosslets and holding a child in its
mouth, possibly for Montfort, though it differs
somewhat from the Montfort shield, as do the arms
on the surcoat from the shield of Wellesbourne. Both
the head and feet rest upon cushions ; that at the head
has a shield on either side, of which the dexter is
bendy of ten a chief and the sinister seems to be
bendy, but is much defaced. On the sill of the east
window is a knight in chain and plate armour of the
time of Edward III and wearing a bascinet with
camail. The forearms having been broken off, they
have been rudely carved in the body of the figure.
The head rests upon two griffons, each holding a
child in its claws, and at the elbows, feet, and on the
jupon are arms similar to those on the older effigy.
On either side near the knee is a peculiar crescent
inclosing a face. This effigy has also been altered at a
later date, probably in the 16th century. On either
side of the window is a slab with the figure of a man
in armour carved in low relief ; both are probably
16th-century imitations of earlier work. The figure
on the north, which is somewhat defaced, wears a
quilted gambeson and a large shield covering the
breast and all but the lower part of the sword; the
legs are in profile and the arms on the shield are
similar to the above. The figure on the south side
wears a vizored helm with orle and holds a mace in
his right hand, while suspended from his shoulder is
a shield bearing a griffon and chief checky, as on the
surcoat of the first effigy, and over all a bend. This is
the nearest approach to the arms of Wellesbourne. In
the recess in the north wall is another effigy of a man
in armour carved in low relief, wearing a short gambeson, a coif and collar of roundels, a sword and a large
shield on the breast which covers the right hand and
both arms. The left hand grasps a staff with a cross
end and another sword pierces the head of a beast at
his feet. The arms on the large shield are incorrect
versions of Wellesbourne and Montfort and those on
the small shields are meaningless. In the recess on
the south side of the chapel is an effigy, probably of
the 16th century, of a corpse lying on a shroud
which partly envelops the body; in a cavity formed
in the breast bone is a little figure with arms out
stretched, symbolizing the departing spirit. On the
south wall of the chancel is a monument, with the
kneeling figure of a boy, to Thomas Lane, who died
in 1621, and south of the church, in the churchyard, is a slab to William Russell, 1694. In a case
in the nave is a key dating probably from the 15th
century.
Hughenden Church from the South-west
The tower contains a ring of eight bells: the
treble and second are by J. Warner & Sons, 1881,
and the third and fourth by Mears & Stainbank,
1875; the fifth and sixth are by Henry and Ellis
Knight, 1663; the seventh is inscribed 'Sancta
Maria Ora Pro [N]obis' in black lettering with
crowned initials, and the tenor 'Criste Baptista
Campana Gaudeat Ista,' with lettering as the last.
These two are of 15th-century date.
Near the seat which he used is the monument to
Lord Beaconsfield erected by Queen Victoria. It is
of white marble and contains a portrait in relief of
the earl by R. C. Belt. Below is the following
inscription: 'To the dear and honoured memory
of Benjamin Earl of Beaconsfield, this memorial
is placed by his grateful sovereign and friend
Victoria R.I. Kings love him that speaketh right.
Proverbs xvi, 13. February 27, 1882.' On the
outside of the church are memorials to Mary Ann
Disraeli, 1872, and to Sarah widow of James Bridges
Williams, who died in 1863 and made the earl her
heir. The banner and other insignia of the Garter
belonging to the earl, from St. George's Chapel,
Windsor, are in the chancel.
The plate consists of a Spanish silver-gilt chalice
and paten, presented by Mrs. Blagden in memory of
her father, a silver chalice and paten of 1714 and a
silver flagon.
The registers begin in 1559.
The church of the HOLY TRINITY, Prestwood,
consecrated in 1849, is built of flint with stone
dressings in 14th-century style and consists of
chancel, nave, aisles, vestry, south porch and open
western turret containing one bell. The living is
a vicarage in the gift of Mr. Coningsby Ralph
Disraeli.
ADVOWSON
Hughenden Church was given by
Nicholas de Hughenden to Kenilworth Priory (fn. 124) apparently early in
the reign of Henry II. (fn. 125) In 1258 Simon Bluet of
Hughenden claimed the church against the prior, (fn. 126)
and about three years later his sons joined with others
in burning the porch and breaking the windows. (fn. 127)
The advowson follows the descent of Hughenden
Manor (fn. 128) (q.v.), the present owner being Mr.
Coningsby Disraeli.
Hughenden rectory does not appear to have been
appropriated by Kenilworth Priory before 1291,
when the church was valued at £20, (fn. 129) its valuation in
1535 being £9 1s. 4d., (fn. 130) when the rectory was worth
£11 2s. 10d. yearly. (fn. 131) The latter remained under
the same ownership as the advowson until 1641,
when according to Langley it was sold by the Earl of
Carnarvon to William Mayne and others. (fn. 132) It seems
to have been dispersed on its sale by Edward Harvey
in 1703. (fn. 133) In 1862 the great tithes belonged to the
landowners and the small tithes had been commuted. (fn. 134)
In 1548 land and rent which had been left for an
obit in Hughenden were worth 11s. yearly. (fn. 135)
CHARITIES
In 1690 Thomas Gregory, by will
proved 29 March, devised an annuity
of £2 for poor housekeepers, issuing
out of an estate called Knife's Farm, which is distributed in bread.
The almshouses consist of four cottages in the
churchyard, given to the parish by the Dormer
family. (fn. 136)
In 1816 Ellen Countess Conyngham, by her will
proved 24 July, bequeathed £500 4 per cent. bank
annuities, now represented with accumulations of
income by £635 8s. 8d. consols, the income to be
distributed half-yearly to the inmates of the almshouses above referred to. The stock is held by the
official trustees, producing £15 17s. 8d. yearly.
The charity of Katherine Pye. (fn. 137)
The sum of
£7 to £8 a year is received as the share of the net
residue applicable for educational purposes in this
parish. (fn. 138)