WINGRAVE
Withungrave, Witungrave (xi cent.). For Rowsham:—Rolleston (xii, xix cent.).
Wingrave is a parish of 2,884 acres, including
507 acres of arable land and 2,255 acres of permanent
grass, but no woodlands. (fn. 1) The slope of the land
above the ordnance datum varies from 256 ft. in the
south of the parish to 428 ft. in the village. The
soil is clay and gravel. The village is situated on a
hill in the centre of the parish overlooking the town
of Aylesbury. The church stands in the middle of
the village. The ancient custom of strewing it with
grass on the first Sunday after St. Peter's Day
(29 June) is still observed. To the north-east of the
church is the vicarage, and to the south-east are the
school and Wingrave Old Manor House, the residence of Mrs. Stewart-Freeman, a 17th-century brick
house with tiled roof, which has been modernized in
recent years. Slight remains of a moat can be seen.
There are a few other 17th-century buildings, but
all have been much altered. In this part of the
village there are also a recreation ground, an infants'
school, and Independent and Primitive Methodist
chapels.
Windmill Hill Farm, lying to the south-east of
the church, is a timber-framed house dating probably
from the 16th century. It is now entirely covered
with plaster externally and has 19th-century additions, but retains the base of an original brick
chimney stack. Mitchel Leys Farm to the south of
the church is a red brick house of late 17th-century
date. The front has three gables, the centre one
bearing the date 1668. The original windows are
now blocked, and modern ones have been inserted.
Church Farm, to the south of the village, is an ancient
building of two stories, altered in the 16th century
and again in the 18th century. Maltby's Farm, to
the south-east of the village, is another 17th-century
house of brick and timber altered in the following
century. Floyds and Straws Hadley are other farms
on the outskirts of the village. The greater number
of the cottages are at Niep End, on the road leading
north-west past the disused corn-mill.
The large hamlet of Rowsham lies in a valley
about a mile south-west by footpath from Wingrave
on the road between Aylesbury and Leighton
Buzzard. There are some good residential houses
and one or two 17th-century cottages of brick and
timber and tiled roofs, a Congregational chapel, a
brewery, and Mercers' Farm, part of the endowment
of St. Paul's School, of which the Mercers' Company
are trustees. Burbage Manor House, which stood
nearly in the centre of the hamlet, was taken down
in the early 18th century. (fn. 2)
In 1759 Susanna Hannokes, an elderly woman of
Wingrave, was accused of bewitching a neighbour's
spinning-wheel. She was weighed against the church
Bible, but outweighing it was honourably acquitted
of the charge. (fn. 3)
This parish was inclosed in 1797. (fn. 4)
The following place-names have been found:
Aycroft, Ballwey, Dudwell, Galowes Layes, Hykstrede
Jeffrey, Long and Short Madythe, Merewaterlayes,
Netyn Hill, Long and Short Rede, Spyrewell, Wooland,
Wotebrache, Younderkynchyll (fn. 5) (xvi cent.).
MANORS
Before the Conquest Brictric, a man of
Queen Edith, held, and could sell, WINGRAVE MANOR, and in 1086 it was
assessed at 5 hides, and belonged to Miles Crispin. (fn. 6)
In the 13th century it was held as a knight's fee of
the honour of Wallingford. (fn. 7) Wingrave remained part
of this honour for the next three centuries, (fn. 8) and was
later transferred to the honour of Ewelme. (fn. 9) Its last
mention in this connexion occurs in 1720. (fn. 10)
In 1086 Wingrave Manor was held under Miles
Crispin by Niel, (fn. 11) probably the ancestor of William and
Robert Pipard, who held respectively in 1166 six fees
and one fee of the honour of Wallingford. (fn. 12) William
Pipard was holding in Wingrave in 1235 (fn. 13) and 1236. (fn. 14)
He died about 1267 and his son and heir Edmund (fn. 15)
in 1272. (fn. 16) He was succeeded by his brother Thomas, (fn. 17)
who died in 1283. (fn. 18) His son and heir William was
still a minor at his death in 1301. (fn. 19) John Pipard,
his uncle, was next in the succession, (fn. 20) and was still
holding in 1316. (fn. 21) His namesake had succeeded
before 1346. (fn. 22) William son of this John Pipard (fn. 23)
was jointly enfeoffed with his wife Margery, who held
Wingrave Manor at her death in 1364. (fn. 24) It passed
to their daughter and co-heir Margaret, wife of
Sir Warin Lisle. (fn. 25) He died seised in 1382, (fn. 26) when
his heir was his daughter Margaret, wife of Sir Thomas
de Berkeley, (fn. 27) fourth Lord Berkeley, (fn. 28) and to them
Wingrave Manor was shortly afterwards conveyed. (fn. 29)
He died in 1417, his wife
having predeceased him, and
the manor passed to their
daughter and heir Elizabeth,
wife of Richard Earl of Warwick. (fn. 30) It was conveyed to
their daughter Elizabeth and
her husband Sir George
Nevill, (fn. 31) afterwards Lord
Latimer, (fn. 32) in 1444. (fn. 33) He
died in 1469 (fn. 34) and she in
1481, when Wingrave Manor
passed to her grandson Richard
Lord Latimer. (fn. 35) His death
occurred in 1530, and his son
John Lord Latimer (fn. 36) sold this manor in 1538 to
Thomas Lord Cromwell, (fn. 37) who immediately transferred it to John, (fn. 38) afterwards Sir John, Gostwick, kt. (fn. 39)
He sold it in 1544 to John Rock, (fn. 40) who died seised
in 1547 in the minority of his son and heir John. (fn. 41)
The widow, Joan Rock, married George Eton, who
acted as her son's guardian. (fn. 42) John Rock obtained
livery of his father's estates in 1567 (fn. 43) and licence to
alienate Wingrave Manor to Thomas Hyde in 1569, (fn. 44)
the transfer taking place in the same year. (fn. 45) In 1570
Thomas Hyde was succeeded by his son George, (fn. 46)
and he in 1580 by his brother Robert, (fn. 47) who owned
this manor in 1582. (fn. 48) It was evidently sold by
Robert Hyde before his death in 1607 (fn. 49) to Sir Robert
Dormer, and follows the same descent as Wing Manor (fn. 50)
(q.v.) until after 1826. Before 1862 it had been
transferred to Baron Anthony de Rothschild, (fn. 51) at
whose death in 1876 it descended to his nephew and
heir Baron Nathan de Rothschild, the present owner.
Nevill, Lord Latimer. Gules a saltire argent with the difference of a ring sable.
Maud Pipard granted four messuages and 2 virgates
of land in this manor in free alms to Pinley Priory,
Warwickshire. (fn. 52) The prior enfeoffed Ralph D'Eiville,
on whose death before 1283 the property was taken
into the hands of Thomas Pipard. (fn. 53) A writ of mort
d'ancestor restored Ralph's inheritance to his son,
Thomas D'Eiville, who enfeoffed John and Maud le
Waleys. (fn. 54) The latter in 1288, after her husband's
death, complained that they had been wrongfully
ejected in the king's name as guardian of William
Pipard. (fn. 55) She appears to have been reinstated in
accordance with the finding of inquisitions in 1288 (fn. 56)
and 1289, (fn. 57) but the later descent of this holding is
indistinguishable from that of the manor.
The right of view of frankpledge appertained to
this, the principal manor in Wingrave, during the
16th century, (fn. 58) but no later reference to it has been
found. Court Rolls of various dates between 1543
and 1582 are extant. (fn. 59) One dated 1552 records a
muster of twenty-one copyholders with their names
and details of their holdings, and also states that
customary holders might let their lands to farm for
three years in accordance with ancient custom. (fn. 60)
Reference to the court baron occurs in the later 18th
century. (fn. 61)
The 'North Mill' is mentioned in 1543, (fn. 62) apparently the horse-mill included in the conveyance of
1544. (fn. 63)
In 1086 Gunfrey de Cioches, or Chokes, held
another manor in WINGRAVE assessed at 6 hides. (fn. 64)
Before the Conquest Suen, one of King Edward's
thegns, had held it with option of sale. This land
(from the name of its tenant) (fn. 65) appears in the
next century as one and a half fees of the honour of
Chokes, (fn. 66) a Northamptonshire barony. (fn. 67) It passed
to Gunfrey's son Anselm, (fn. 68) who was holding under
Henry I, and was succeeded by his son Robert. (fn. 69) The
last of this family, Peter de Chokes, was Sheriff of
Northamptonshire in 1205. (fn. 70) Their barony passed
to Robert, advocate of Arras and lord of Béthune
(hence it is sometimes called his fee), (fn. 71) and from him
to Robert de Gynes, (fn. 72) who was holding in 1235. (fn. 73)
His charter granting the manor to Ingram, lord of
Fienles (later Fenes or Fiennes) was inspected and
confirmed in 1248. (fn. 74) In 1284 Isabel de Fiennes
held the overlordship of the one and a half fees in
Wingrave which in this century are named as extending into Rowsham, (fn. 75) but before 1458 the honour of
Chokes had passed to the Crown, (fn. 76) and in the 16th
century its interest in Wingrave can be traced in the
rights pertaining to the king's castle of Northampton,
reference to which occurs in connexion with Wingrave
in 1526. (fn. 77) A grant of Northampton Castle with
all fees of Chokes was made to Gilbert North and
his heirs in 1629. (fn. 78)
The Gorhams, a Northamptonshire family, held a
mesne lordship of one and a half fees of the honour
of Chokes in Wingrave and Rowsham during the
13th century. (fn. 79) Their rights appear to have been
subordinate at first to those of Richard Marshal, who
surrendered his claims in 1208 to Henry de
Gorham, (fn. 80) and later to the Lisles, for in 1233
William Lisle enforced his supremacy over William
de Gorham. (fn. 81) In 1266 a later William Lisle granted
his rights in these fees to Richard de Hanrede. (fn. 82)
Wibald is named as tenant of Gunfrey de Cioches
in Wingrave Manor in 1086. (fn. 83) Henry de Pinkney
was holding in the time of Henry II (fn. 84) and Robert
de Pinkney before 1190. (fn. 85) Robert de Hersi, who
appears to have obtained a decision in his favour in
1195, (fn. 86) put in a counterclaim in 1199 which was
disallowed because he was said to be with the king's
enemies. (fn. 87) In 1223 Henry, son and heir of Robert de
Pinkney, (fn. 88) quitclaimed his land in Wingrave and
Rowsham for a sparrow-hawk or 2s. yearly on Lammas
Day (1 August) to Gilbert de Brente, (fn. 89) who was holding in 1235. (fn. 90) In 1281 Roger le Brabazun conveyed
this land (10 librates) to Benedict de Rolleston and
his wife Denise, (fn. 91) but the immediate tenants in 1284
were Nicholas Fermbaud (who paid 45 marks to
Benedict de Rolleston during this year, probably in
respect of this transfer) (fn. 92) and William de Okholt. (fn. 93)
In 1292 Nicholas Fermbaud with Amicabel his wife
obtained a grant of free warren in their demesne
lands of Wingrave. (fn. 94) Nicholas Fermbaud was succeeded by another Nicholas, probably the one holding
in 1316. (fn. 95) His son Thomas (fn. 96) held half a fee in
Wingrave in 1346, (fn. 97) and to him and his wife Alice
in that year Maud, widow of Thomas Wingrave,
granted a messuage and land, (fn. 98) which appears to have
merged with the land they already held to form
BURY MANOR. It seems to have been his widow
Maud who in 1365 claimed land in dower in Wingrave
against his son Thomas Fermbaud. (fn. 99) The latter died
in 1389 in the minority of his son and heir Thomas, (fn. 100)
who gave proof of age in 1409 (fn. 101) and died in 1429 or
1430. (fn. 102) Isabel, his daughter and heir, died without
issue, when Bury Manor passed to William Oxbridge,
grandson of the Thomas and Alice Fermbaud previously mentioned by their daughter Joan. (fn. 103) He had
been succeeded by his son Thomas Oxbridge before
1465, when through a misapprehension this manor
was taken into the king's hands (fn. 104) as part of the
forfeited estates of Sir Edmund Hampden. (fn. 105) Shortly
afterwards it was granted to Richard and Thomas
Croft for life. (fn. 106) After an inquiry in 1469, however,
the manor was restored to Thomas Oxbridge. (fn. 107) By
agreement with him in 1485 (fn. 108) and later with his
successor, John Oxbridge, Bury Manor came to Sir
Henry Colet, (fn. 109) who died seised in 1505. (fn. 110) In 1510
it was included in the lands which his son John
Colet, Dean of St. Paul's, (fn. 111) was allowed to grant to
the Mercers' Company (fn. 112) as part of the endowment of
St. Paul's School and as such they have retained it, (fn. 113)
the old name being lost in that of Mercers' Farm in
Rowsham.
The land held by William de Okholt in 1284 was
held under Nicholas Fermbaud as intermediary. (fn. 114)
John de Okholt succeeded as heir in 1285 (fn. 115) and quitclaimed in 1295 a portion of his land in Wingrave
and Rowsham to Nicholas and Amicabel Fermbaud. (fn. 116)
This land appears to correspond to EDMUND'S
MANOR, named in 1465 as part of the forfeited
estates of Sir Edmund Hampden and with Bury Manor
granted in that year for life to Richard and Thomas
Croft. (fn. 117) This seems to have been an earlier name for
BURBAGE MANOR, of which William Hampden
died seised in 1525. (fn. 118) His son and heir John (fn. 119)
succeeded to Great Hampden Manor in 1553, (fn. 120) and
the descent of both manors is identical until 1597, (fn. 121)
when on the death of William Hampden, Burbage
passed to his brother Edmund. (fn. 122) He, then Sir
Edmund Hampden, kt., conveyed it in 1608 to
George Brooks, (fn. 123) who transferred it in 1626 to
William Pratt, (fn. 124) and he in 1645 to William Abraham. (fn. 125)
This manor came later into the possession of Thomas
and Richard Beringer, who conveyed it in 1697 to
John Deacle. (fn. 126) He died in 1723, (fn. 127) and was succeeded
by his nephew John Deacle, the owner in 1735. (fn. 128)
He was represented by the Rev. John Deacle in
1787 (fn. 129) and 1797, (fn. 130) whose family were still connected
with Wingrave in the early 19th century. (fn. 131) Before
1862 the distinctive name of Burbage survived only
as a memory.
Another manor in Wingrave arose out of the endless subdivisions in the 13th century of the manor
held in 1086 by Gunfrey de Cioches. In 1219
Ralph de Puteham and his wife Denise, formerly
wife of Robert de Pinkney, quitclaimed half a hide
and 12 acres of land in Wingrave in frankalmoign to
Woburn Abbey. (fn. 132) In 1282 Benedict de Rolleston
granted it exemption from services in respect of lands
held of his fee in Wingrave and Rowsham. (fn. 133) Woburn
Abbey continued in possession (fn. 134) until its dissolution in
1538, when this land was transferred to the Crown. (fn. 135)
In 1539 as WINGRAVE MANOR it was granted in
fee to John Gostwick, (fn. 136) and
was sold by him in 1544 to
John Rock. (fn. 137) It follows the
same descent as the principal
manor of Wingrave (q.v.), but
was retained by Robert Hyde,
and passed at his death in
1607 to his brother Nicholas, (fn. 138)
afterwards Sir Nicholas Hyde,
bart., of Albury in Hertfordshire, who died in 1625. (fn. 139)
Bridget daughter and heir of
his son and successor Sir
Thomas Hyde, bart., who
died in 1665, (fn. 140) married in
1682 Peregrine Osborne, afterwards second Duke of Leeds. (fn. 141) Their grandson
Thomas, fourth Duke of Leeds, (fn. 142) sold the Wingrave
estate in 1776 to Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton and
Robert Winn, trustees under the will of Sir Thomas
Salusbury of Offley Place, Hertfordshire. (fn. 143) It appears
to have been in respect of this property that John
Tirel-Morin claimed manorial rights in 1797. (fn. 144)
Hyde of Albury, baronet. Or a cheveron between three lozenges azure and a chief gules with an eagle or therein.
Another small subdivision of the original manor
equal to one-third of a knight's fee was conveyed in
1284 by Benedict and Denise de Rolleston to
Nicholas Fermbaud. (fn. 145) In 1285 Walter de Berkhampstead appears to have put in an unsuccessful
claim against the donors on behalf of his tenant
Nicholas de Bosco. (fn. 146) Nicholas Fermbaud's claim
was disallowed in 1290, (fn. 147) and in 1302 Nicholas de
Bosco was holding with under-tenants. (fn. 148) In 1346
unspecified tenants were holding of William de
Berkhampstead. (fn. 149)
In 1086 one and a half hides in Wingrave belonged
to the land of the Count of Mortain. (fn. 150) It was later
held of the small fee of Mortain (fn. 151) of the honour
of Berkhampstead. (fn. 152) In the 17th century the view
of frankpledge was held at Wingrave for all the
estates appurtenant to the honour in this county.
As Duke of Cornwall, George Prince of Wales
claimed rights in Wingrave in 1797. (fn. 153)
The Count of Mortain's tenant in Wingrave in
1086 was Alan. (fn. 154) The Wedons were holding in the
13th century. Laurence de Wedon is said to have
withdrawn his suit previously made to the county and
hundred before 1276. (fn. 155) In 1284 Ralph de Wedon's (fn. 156)
tenant William de Lingyure was holding for the
service of half a fee. (fn. 157) This land with other lands
held of the honour of Wallingford made up a
manor (fn. 158) later called ROWSHAM. It apparently
corresponds to the knight's fee in Rowsham held by
John Broc of Hundridge and his tenants in 1302 (fn. 159)
which Ralph de Wedon and his tenants were holding
in 1346. (fn. 160) The descent of this manor is the same
as that of Wedon-in-the-Vale in Hardwick (q.v.)
until it was obtained in 1377, after the death of
John de Cobham, (fn. 161) by William of Wykeham, Bishop
of Winchester, by grant of Thomas de Hynton. (fn. 162)
Wykeham was only allowed to retain some small
pieces of land in Wingrave, (fn. 163) since Rowsham Manor,
in common with the other estates of John de Cobham,
reverted to the Crown. (fn. 164) When this manor reappears
in the next century it was held by William Broc,
whose ancestors had been connected with Wingrave
and Rowsham for at least two centuries. (fn. 165) He died
in 1476 seised jointly with his wife Anne by feoffment
of Thomas Bergh. (fn. 166) From this date Rowsham Manor
follows the same descent as that of Hundridge in
Chesham (q.v.) until 1536, (fn. 167) when it diverged for a
time. In 1552 it was held by Richard Morice in
right of his wife Margaret with reversion to Sir Robert
Dormer. (fn. 168) Before 1575 it had passed to Sir William
Dormer of Wing, (fn. 169) whose son Robert acquired the
principal manor of Wingrave (q.v.), with which
Rowsham has since descended.
CHURCH
The church of SS. PETER AND
PAUL consists of a chancel 40 ft. 6 in.
by 14 ft., a chapel on the north side
8 ft. by 3 ft., south vestry, south organ chamber,
nave 54 ft. by 18 ft. 6 in., north aisle 11 ft. wide,
south aisle 9 ft. 6 in. wide, west tower 13 ft. 6 in.
square, and a south porch.
The church dates from the latter part of the 12th
century, and was probably built by William son of
Alured de Wedon just before he gave it to St. Albans
Abbey. It then consisted of a chancel, with a chapel
on the north side, and a nave. In the following century the chancel appears to have been lengthened
and the tower was built. Late in the 14th century
the north and south aisles were added. In the 15th
century the chancel walls were raised and the clear-story added to the nave, a number of windows being
inserted during the same period. The church was
thoroughly restored in 1887–8, when the vestry and
organ chamber were added, and in 1898 the upper
part of the tower was rebuilt.
The walls are of rubble with stone dressings. The
roof of the chapel on the north side of the chancel is
of modern stone; the roofs of the chancel, organ
chamber, and south porch are tiled and the remainder
are covered with lead.
The east window of the chancel is of the 15th
century, but has been much restored. It is pointed and
composed of three cinquefoiled lights with tracery.
Built into the wall on either side is a small 12th-century stone capital. At the east end of both the
north and south walls is a lancet, part of the 13th
century alterations, having on the outside a label
with dog-tooth ornament continued as a string-course. The lancet on the south side is blocked.
To the west on the north side is a 14th-century
window having two trefoiled lights with tracery in a
segmental head. The late 12th-century doorway into
the north chapel is pointed and continuously chamfered. At the west end is a 14th-century low-side
window. There are now in the south wall a window
and a doorway of the 14th century, both much
restored, the former of three trefoiled lights with
tracery in a pointed head; the latter, now leading
to the vestry, has a pointed head and jambs continuously chamfered. At the west end of the wall is
the entrance to the modern organ chamber. Both
the north and south walls retain portions of their
original wall arcades. That in the north wall is of
four bays with pointed arches springing from circular
shafts which have carved capitals and moulded bases;
the drop arch of the easternmost bay was inserted at
the same time as the window above. In the second
bay is a small rectangular opening in the wall, rebated
externally. The remains of a similar arcade in the
south wall are only fragmentary. This wall has in
addition, near the east end, a double aumbry, of
which the western compartment has its opening divided
into two by a mullion. Near to it is a 13th-century
piscina, much restored. The pointed chancel arch has
two chamfered orders, the inner springing from corbels
and the outer continuous. It has been altered and
restored at some date, but may be originally of the
14th century.
The chapel to the north of the chancel has plain
walls and a pointed vault, much restored. On the
south wall and the vaulting is a painting, probably of
13th-century date, representing two angels holding
scrolls, above which are fragments of other figures.
The nave arcades are each of five bays, and date
from the latter part of the 14th century. The arches
are pointed and of two orders, springing from octagonal
columns and semi-octagonal responds with moulded
capitals and bases. Above each arcade are five much-restored 15th-century clear-story windows, each of
three trefoiled lights. The three windows in both the
north and south walls of the aisles have each three
cinquefoiled lights beneath a drop arch and date from
the 15th century. At the east end of the north aisle is
a 14th-century window of two trefoiled lights with
tracery in a segmental head. In the north wall a
modern doorway has been inserted between the two
western windows, and on the same wall is a painted
inscription, probably of the 16th century, relating to a
charity. In the east wall of the south aisle is a modern
arch to the organ chamber, and at the east end of the
arcade, on the south side, is a moulded stone bracket.
In the south wall is a 15th century pointed doorway
with continuous moulding, and at the east end of this
wall is a 14th-century piscina with a restored trefoiled
head.
The tower, of which only the ground story is
original, is of three stages. The arch is two-centred
and of three orders. The outer order springs from
attached shafts and the inner two from semi-octagonal
responds, with moulded bases and capitals enriched
with foliage. The north respond has traces of original
colouring.
The roofs of the chancel and nave are for the most part
modern, but the former retains part of its 15th-century
moulded cornice, and in the latter are two old tie-beams and twelve carved brackets. These are probably
of 15th-century date, and consist of wooden figures of
men standing on stone corbels. The roof of the
north aisle is of 15th-century date and has moulded
principals carved at the lower ends with the figures
of angels holding shields.
The chancel contains a brass inscription to Penelope
Cleaver (d. 1657), and on the north wall is a tablet
to William Cleaver (d. 1742), with shields of arms.
On the south wall of the nave is a tablet to Thomas
Dixon, a former vicar (d. 1846), and on the east
wall of the north aisle one to Mary Anne Granville
(d. 1779). In the south aisle are tablets to Samuel
Theed (d. 1676); to Thomas Cleaver (d. 1700); to
Richard Woolley, a former vicar (d. 1792), and to
Anne Woolley, his daughter (d. 1818). The floor
slabs are as follows: in the nave to Samuel Theed
(d. 1676); to Richard Rose (d. 1682) and Alice his
wife; to Thomas Cook (d. 1700); to Simon Cleaver
(d. 1700); to Samuel Cook (d. 1709); to John Theed,
with arms (d. 1762).
The former chancel screen, which was for some
years in a wagon shed at Manor Farm, north of the
church, is now preserved in the ground stage of
the tower, resting against the wall. It is of late
15th-century date and has a central opening with a
four-centred head and carved spandrels and three bays
on either side. The upper panels have cinquefoiled
ogee heads and tracery, the lower panels being closed
and plain. The cornice, middle rail, and mullions
are moulded, and nailed to the lower part are two
linen-fold panels of the following century.
The font dates from the 12th century and is circular. Around the lower edge of the bowl, which is
supported on a modern stem and base, is a cable
moulding.
In the vestry is an oak chest dated 1684, a 17th-century table and panelling which incorporates some
17th-century work, decorated with a small painted
leaf on each panel. The modern organ case also incorporates some panels of about 1500, several of which
are carved with vine enrichment and others with linen
fold.
There is a ring of six bells: the treble and fourth are
by Lester & Pack, 1760; the second is inscribed 'John
Theed 1618, W[illiam] W[akefield]'; the third is by
Joseph Carter, 1608; the fifth, originally by Chapman
& Mears, 1783, was recast in 1900 by Mears &
Stainbank, who in the same year made the tenor.
The original tenor is a 15th-century bell by John
Danyell inscribed 'Intonat de celis vox campana
Michaelis.' It is now cracked and lies in the ground
story of the tower. There is also a sanctus by Anthony
Chandler, 1678.
The communion plate includes a cup of 1568 and
a paten of 1671, and a large cup and paten of the
early 18th century.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i)
all entries 1550 to 1611 and a few entries of baptisms
and burials of 1643, 1644, 1647, 1649, 1668 and
1669; (ii) all entries 1675 to 1697; (iii) baptisms
1679 to 1710, burials 1680 to 1713 and marriages
1695 to 1709, but not in regular order; (iv) baptisms
1710 to 1726, burials 1742 to 1762, marriages 1715
to 1726; (v) baptisms 1724 to 1773, marriages 1727
to 1752; (vi) burials 1713 to 1742, and a few entries
of 1754 to 1756; (vii) baptisms 1773 to 1812.
There are three volumes of Foxe's Acts and
Monuments, bound in 1696 in leather, with brass mounts
and staples for securing with chains, also a book on
the Defence of the Apologie of the Church of England.
ADVOWSON
William son of Alured de Wedon
gave Wingrave Church to St. Albans
Abbey (fn. 170) in the later 12th century. (fn. 171)
It was probably about this time that William de
Wedon's gift was confirmed by Robert Archdeacon
of Buckingham. (fn. 172) In 1200 Ralph de Wedon claimed
the advowson on the ground that his grandfather
Alured had made the last presentation. (fn. 173) His grandson John renewed the claim in 1250, when the Abbot
of St. Albans asserted the right of his abbey in virtue
of the original gift and of four presentations (fn. 174) and
gained the suit. (fn. 175) The abbey retained this advowson,
valued at £16 13s. 4d. in 1291 (fn. 176) and at £10 0s. 0¾d.
in 1535, (fn. 177) until the Dissolution, (fn. 178) when it passed to
the Crown. It was reserved from the Crown leases of
the rectory in the 16th century, but included in the
grant of 1606 to Thomas Marbury and Richard
Cartwright. It was shortly afterwards transferred to
Chancellor Egerton, (fn. 179) better known as Lord Chancellor
Ellesmere, who was created Viscount Brackley in
1616. (fn. 180) On his death in the following year one to
his heirs was his granddaughter Mary, wife of Sir
Thomas Lee, kt., (fn. 181) and Sir Henry Lee, bart., of
Quarrendon died seised of this advowson in 1631. (fn. 182)
It remained in his family for some years, (fn. 183) but before
1673 had passed to John third Earl of Bridgewater, (fn. 184)
representative of the direct male descent from Lord
Chancellor Ellesmere. (fn. 185) The descent has since
followed that of Cheddington advowson (fn. 186) (the right
of presentation of the Earl of Carnarvon in 1678 (fn. 187)
being of a temporary nature) to Earl Brownlow, (fn. 188) by
whom the advowson was conveyed in 1910 to the
Bishop of Oxford.
A licence to appropriate the rectory of Wingrave
was made to St. Albans Abbey in 1257 (fn. 189) and confirmed by Robert Archdeacon of Buckingham. (fn. 190)
At the Dissolution Thomas Duncombe was lessee for
a term of fifty-six years dating from 1535. (fn. 191) In
1571 the Crown granted a new lease for twenty-one
years to John Duncombe, (fn. 192) and another in 1575 to
Benedict Duncombe, (fn. 193) which was cancelled for a fresh
lease in 1580. (fn. 194) In 1583 he obtained a further lease
for three lives in survivorship. (fn. 195) In 1589 the Crown
also granted a lease for twenty-one years, in reversion
on the death of the last survivor, to Richard Beamond
and Miles Barker. (fn. 196) In 1606 the rectory was granted
in fee to Thomas Marbury and Richard Cartwright, (fn. 197)
the fee-farm rent of £17 being granted a few years
later to Queen Anne, wife of James I, in jointure. (fn. 198)
Later in the century the rectory had passed to Thomas
and Richard Beringer, and descended with Burbage
Manor (q.v.). The present lay rector is Mr. Leopold
de Rothschild of Ascott House, Wing.
The chapel of St. Lawrence at Rowsham annexed
to Wingrave Church was dismantled in the 16th
century. (fn. 199) It consisted of one bay, and was granted
in 1574 to Christopher Fenton and Bernard Gilpin. (fn. 200)
It appears to have been still standing in Church Field
at the beginning of the 18th century, and fragments
of it were still to be found in the neighbouring farm
in the 19th century. (fn. 201)
A tenement and half an acre of land called the
Knoll House in Wingrave, held in copyhold by
Thomas Broc in the time of Henry VIII, (fn. 202) was given
for the maintenance of a light in the church. (fn. 203) It
was granted in 1589 to Sir Edward Stanley. (fn. 204) The
name survives in 'The Knolls.'
In 1548 4 acres of land in this parish, worth 1s. 9d.
yearly, maintained a light in Aylesbury Church. (fn. 205)
This land was included in 1552 in a grant to Sir
Edward Bray, John Thornton, and John Danby. (fn. 206)
CHARITIES
The charity of Thomas Pratt,
founded by deed 18 November 1614
for poor of this parish, Cheddington,
Mentmore, and Wing, is regulated by schemes of the
Charity Commissioners of 24 April 1868 and 2 July
1886. The trust estate consists of 16 a. 3 r. 29 p.,
known as the Town Land Farm, allotted on the inclosure in 1798 in respect of the lands originally charged,
and let at £41 16s. a year; also £329 15s. 9d. consols
with the official trustees, producing £8 4s. 8d. yearly,
arising from the sale in 1876 of half an acre. Under
the scheme each of the parishes of Wingrave, Mentmore,
and Wing is entitled to a four-thirteenths part of the
net income, amounting in 1908 to £16, which, after
deducting a yearly sum of 10s. for the poor of the
hamlet of Betlow and Adwick in the parish of Tring
(Herts.), is distributed in doles of money and to
provident clubs, £1 1s. being paid to the Royal Bucks
Hospital, Aylesbury. The parish of Cheddington is
entitled to one-thirteenth of the net income.
In 1720 William Grace by his will charged a piece
of meadow land, called the Ham, with an annuity of
40s. for the instruction of the poorest children between
the ages of seven and nine. The charity is regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of
7 November 1899, and is applied in giving rewards
of the value of 5s. each. This charity is regarded as
a substitution of a devise for a similar purpose by the
will of James Grace, dated 2 March 1712.
In 1744 Francis Mortimer by his will charged
4 acres of land lying in the North Field with 20s.
yearly to be laid out in a coat for the poorest man,
with the initials F.M. thereupon. The rent-charge
is regularly paid and applied.
Elizabeth Theed, as appears in the Parliamentary
Returns of 1786, devised land for the poor. The
property consists of about an acre of land, adjoining
the land belonging to Pratt's charity, producing
£2 11s. a year, which is distributed in doles of from
2s. to 3s. each.
The same returns mention that Sir Richard
Goddard and — Abraham gave land to the poor.
A rent-charge of £1 8s. issuing out of a farm in
Wingrave is received in respect of this charity and
applied in doles.
The Church and Clock Estate, otherwise Bailey's
House Gift, consists of certain allotments awarded on
the inclosure, containing together about 2 acres, including half an acre belonging to the charity of Brooks
and Cox mentioned in the Parliamentary Returns of
1786, of the annual rental value of £5 2s.; also a
blacksmith's house and shop let at £10 a year, and
a wheelwright's shop, &c., let at £16 a year. The
rents are applied in repairing the church clock and
ornamenting the church.
Further, 3 roods of land were awarded under the
Inclosure Act for land left for the purpose of furnishing
rushes for the church on the village Feast Sunday,
being the first Sunday after St. Peter's Day. The
rent, amounting to £2 10s. a year, is carried to the
churchwardens' account.
In 1824 Joseph Lucas, by deeds of lease and
release dated respectively 6 and 7 August, granted an
annuity of £20 out of Rowsham Farm and other
lands to be distributed at Christmas time in sums of
5s. and 2s. 6d. to a certain number of widows and
aged poor. The annuity is applied in money doles,
including gifts to the church cleaners.
In 1868 Moses Lovett, by his will proved 16 July,
bequeathed £700 consols, the dividends to be paid
half-yearly to the organist of the parish church. The
stock is standing in the names of Edward M. M. Lucas
and three others. Out of the dividends, amounting
to £17 10s. a year, £2 is paid to the organ-blower,
£3 for tuning, and the balance to the organist.
In 1869 Miss Catherine Lucas, by her will proved
16 April, bequeathed £300, the income to be
applied towards the salaries of the master and mistress
of the Church of England school or in augmentation
of the funds of the school. The sum of £320 17s. 1d.
consols, representing the legacy, is standing in the
names of John Charles Blake and three others, producing £8 0s. 4d. a year.
The same testatrix also bequeathed £200, the
interest to be distributed in money or kind. The
sum of £213 6s. 8d. consols, representing the legacy,
is held by the same stockholders, the dividends,
amounting to £5 6s. 8d., being applied in money
doles to about fifty poor persons.
In 1887 the Rev. John Molesworth Butt, by his
will proved at Oxford 6 December, bequeathed
£200, the income to be applied in aid of sick poor.
The legacy, less duty, was invested in £181 2s. 4d.
consols, and the annual dividends, amounting to
£4 10s. 4d., are duly applied.
The same testator further bequeathed £100, the
income to be applied for the Sunday school. The
legacy, less duty, is represented by £90 11s. 2d.
consols, and the annual dividends of £2 10s. are
applied in prizes, treats, and expenses in connexion
with the Sunday school.
The two sums of stock are held by the official
trustees.