CORLEY
Acreage: 1,394.
Population: 1911, 333; 1921, 405; 1931, 560.
This small parish is roughly diamond-shaped, being
2 miles from east to west and 1½ miles from north to
south. A survey of the bounds made early in the 15th
century (fn. 1) begins at the eastern point at 'the gallows of
Corley' and runs by Woddcokkgrove (now Woodcock
Hill Wood) and Moserddswod (Muzzards Wood) to
Dudleyfeld (Daddleys Wood) and so to Corley Moor,
where they follow the road to Little Packington. The
40 acres of the Moor in this parish were inclosed in
1847 (fn. 2) and the road has been straightened, diverging
slightly from the boundary. The bounds then turned
north-eastwards past Falkwood to 'the highway called
le End' (apparently Savage's Lane), past 'John Catesby's wood called Tackeley' (fn. 3) to a stream (Breach Brook),
including in the parish 'le Hayle (perhaps part of Holly
Farm) belonging to the Hospital of St. John of
Coventry', (fn. 4) and so by Heynelane (now a field footpath) to the Coventry road where the said gallows
stood.
The village stands high, the church being at an
elevation of 590 ft., on the road between Coventry and
Tamworth. Northwards the ground falls to 480 ft. at
the hamlet of Corley Ash, where there are brickfields,
and to 380 ft. along the Breach Brook. The soil,
though sandy, is good corn land, and on Corley Moor
is a disused windmill, probably standing in the Wyndemulnefeld mentioned in the 15th century. (fn. 5)
Corley Hall, about ½ mile north-east of the church,
dates probably from the first half of the 16th century
but it has been very much transformed by later alterations. The plan is H-shaped facing south-east, with
a 17th-century back extension to the north-east wing
and other modern enlargements. The front is roughcasted and betrays little sign of age, but in the northeast side is an early-16th-century four-centred and
square oak door-head, and in the internal wall of the
same wing is another ancient door-frame and a door
hung with strap-hinges having fleur-de-lis ends. The
middle block and south-west wing have Elizabethan
moulded ceiling beams to the lower story and the latter
has a late-16th-century overmantel. This is of three
round-headed bays inclosing grotesque heads and
divided by foliage-carved pilasters. Over them is a
carved frieze of serpentine monsters. The fire-place has
foliage-carved side pilasters. In the upper room of this
wing is reset a remarkable series of early-16th-century
carved panels, said to be indigenous. There are 8
moulded panels containing carved heads, almost portraits, one very like Francis I and another a lady in
a flat head-dress. Six others have smaller heads in
medallions and three others conventional heads and
scrolls and a cherub holding a shield; seventeen in all.
There is other panelling of c. 1630 and an overmantel
of c. 1680 with a bolection-moulded panel. The upper
ceiling beams are chamfered. The front courtyard to
the house has a pair of gate-posts with moulded stone
heads on which are pedestals with griffons' or wolves'
heads.
There is little else of age in the parish. Two thatched
cottages opposite the church show some 17th-century
timber-framing, and timber-framed outbuildings and
a barn ¾ mile north-west of the church indicate ancient
sites.
MANOR
At the time of the Domesday Survey
Godwin held 1 hide in CORLEY of the
king, and he held it before the Conquest. (fn. 6)
By 1315 the Earls of Warwick had acquired the overlordship. (fn. 7) Under them the manor was held by the
Hastings, lords of Fillongley, (fn. 8) who at an early date
subinfeudated it to the family of Ringesdon. The
advowson of the church, and presumably the manor
also, belonged about 1190 to Adam de Ringesdon,
whose son Hugh disputed the patronage in 1220 with
the Prior of Coventry. (fn. 9) The manor belonged in 1268–9 to Ralph de Ringesdon, (fn. 10) who seems to have been
dead by 1284 when three sisters, probably his coheiresses, claimed the church of Corley. They were
Felice wife of Roger le Thatcher and her sisters Christiane and Felicente. (fn. 11) In 1313 the manor was said to
be held by the heirs of Ralph de Ringesdon. (fn. 12) From
this time the descent of the manor becomes obscure.
In 1437 it was stated that Corley manor was held of
Joan widow of William de Beauchamp, to whom the
Hastings estate had come, by Guy heir of John de
Mancetter by the service of half a knight's fee. (fn. 13)
Before 1458 the manor had passed to Roger Champernoun. (fn. 14) Roger Champernoun died without issue
and his brother John (fn. 15) died seised of the manor in
1475. His heirs were his daughters Blanche wife of
Sir Robert Willoughby, kt., and Joan Champernoun (fn. 16)
who afterwards married Sir Humphrey Talbot. (fn. 17) Joan
Talbot died in 1506, when her nephew and heir
Robert, 2nd Lord Willoughby de Broke, obtained the
whole manor. (fn. 18) Sir Robert died
in 1521 leaving as his co-heiresses
the three daughters of his son
Edward, Elizabeth, Anne, and
Blanche. (fn. 19) Elizabeth, who eventually became sole heir, married
Sir Fulke Greville, and Corley
manor passed on her death in
1560 to her son Fulke. (fn. 20) Fulke
was succeeded in 1606 by a son
Fulke Greville, created Baron
Brooke of Beauchamps Court in
1621. (fn. 21) He died unmarried in
1628, and his cousin Robert
Greville succeeded to the manor
which descended with the title till at least 1745. (fn. 22)
Greville. Sable a cross engrailed in a border engrailed or with five roundels sable on the cross.
By 1754 Dr. John Smyth had acquired the manor. (fn. 23)
He was a son of Joseph Smith of Corley (fn. 24) and died at
the age of 82 at Chipping Norton in 1792, (fn. 25) when he
was succeeded by John Bohun Smyth, who was still
lord in 1797. (fn. 26) The history of the manor during the
19th century appears to be a blank, except for the
occurrence of Viscount Lifford as lord in 1850. (fn. 27)
Joseph Cooper held it in 1900, (fn. 28) and Thomas Knowles
in 1932. (fn. 29)
CHURCH
The parish church (of St. Mary?
dedication uncertain) consists of a chancel, nave, and north aisle.
The nave is of early-12th-century origin and was
very small, not more than about 28 ft. long. Later in
the same century a north aisle was added, with an
arcade of two bays. The chancel was rebuilt, and
obviously enlarged, c. 1300, and about thirty or forty
years later the aisle was rebuilt and widened. About
six or seven years ago the fabric was restored and the
nave lengthened about 9 ft. at the west end.
The chancel (about 21½ ft. by 14½ ft.) has an east
window of three pointed lights and intersecting tracery
in a two-centred head; the external hood-mould has
perished head-stops; it has a lancet rear-arch.
In each side wall are two similar windows of two
lights with sharply pointed heads. Between the two
southern is a coeval priests' doorway of one chamfered order with a hood-mould and defaced headstops. The walls are of roughly coursed rubble inside
and of ashlar outside, with plinths of two chamfered
courses. Below the kneelers of the east gable are
grotesque-face corbels. At the angles are square
buttresses of one stage with foiled acute gable-heads
and fleur de lis ridges.
In the north wall is a plain locker and in the south
a contemporary piscina with a trefoiled head and a
foiled square basin.
The gabled roof is modern, of trussed rafter
type.
The chancel arch is of the early 12th century with
square reveals, having chamfered plinth-bases and plain
grooved and chamfered imposts, and a round head of
two plain square orders. The wall above the arch is of
early rubble work but contains one reset voussoir of an
arch showing diaper ornament. The gable above has
carved corbels to the kneelers as the chancel.
The nave (about 37 ft. by 15 ft.) has a late-12th-century north arcade of two 11-ft. bays with a cylindrical pillar and half-round responds. The pillar, 31 in.
diameter, has a capital carved with a series of spiky
leaves, and a chamfered abacus, also round in plan but
cut back flush with the wall-face on the aisle side. The
east respond capital is treated with nearly similar foliage,
but in its south-west face is also carved a man's head
with what may be intended for a wing and to his left
a monster. The half-round of the west respond has
been cut back in the reveal to a flat surface; its capital
to the north of the flattening is treated with the usual
scallop ornament and to the south of it with vertical
fluting and three rows of horizontal zigzag ornament.
The bases have a chamfered and grooved top member
and stand on square sub-bases with chamfered plinths.
The semicircular heads are of one square order with
wide-jointed voussoirs and have on the nave side
grooved and chamfered hood-moulds. Owing to the
circular plan of the capitals the reveals set back about
10 in. from the east and west edges. Above and
between the arches, but not centrally, is an early-12th-century small light looking into the aisle and not glazed.
The splays, towards the nave, have dressings with beadmoulded and filleted edges; the cheeks are of rubble.
East of the east respond the wall is pierced by a later
square-headed opening for a rood stair; it has two oak
steps in the threshold and one lower, cemented, about
4 ft. above the floor.
In the south wall are two 12th-century windows
near the east end. The eastern, 15 in. wide, of the
later period, has been restored externally but the inner
splays are original and have a small roll-moulded edge.
The outside is of two square orders. Below it are traces
of a former 19th-century window. The second is a
plain 8-in. light of the earlier period, also restored outside.
The south doorway, west of them, is also of the later
period. It has jambs of two square orders with restored
nook-shafts with voluted capitals and modern bases: the
grooved and chamfered abaci have diaper ornament.
The half-round head is moulded and has a chamfered
hood-mould and diapered tympanum. It is all of wellpreserved or perhaps retooled sandstone. The two
windows west of the doorway, three in the west wall,
and one in the north, are all modern copies of the
south-eastern. The ancient walling is of red sandstone
rubble, roughly in courses and with wide jointing repointed in cement. There are original ashlar quoins to
the east angle. The nave-roof has a flat wooden ceiling
with moulded cross-beams; two over the 12th-century
windows may be of the 16th or 17th century, the other
three are modern. Over the east end of the roof is a
bell-cote rising only about 2 ft. above the tiling. It is
of timber-framing and has a pyramidal roof with a post
and weather-vane.
Plan of Corley Church
The aisle (29 ft. long by 9¼ ft.) has an east window
of two cinquefoiled pointed lights and a trefoil spandrel
in a round head with an external hood-mould and segmental rear-arch. It has been mostly restored. In the
east half of the north wall is a similar window with
a rough brick round rear-arch, and in the west half a
doorway of two chamfered orders with a two-centred
head and hood-mould. The west window is like the
others but all modern outside; the north internal splay
is of old stonework, the south splay of 18th- or 19th-century bricks. Reset at the east end of the north wall
is a 14th-century piscina with a trefoiled head and
square basin. The aisle walls are of red sandstone
squared rubble with a plinth like that of the chancel
to the north and west walls. The north wall has a
middle buttress and at the angles are diagonal buttresses
with the same plinth. The east wall has a different
lower plinth. The top of the north wall is of seven or
eight courses of 18th-century brick. Several put-log
holes inside were probably for a former gallery. The
gabled roof is modern.
The font has a round bowl with a moulded top edge
and chamfered lower. A panel in its side is inscribed
RR 1661 RI cw. The stem is plain, the base moulded.
Over the north doorway is a patch of plaster with
remains of a medieval painting of St. Christopher
dressed in blue or black. There are only faint traces
of the head and the Christ Child, on a yellow background.
There are five bells: 1st, of 1641 by Hugh Watts;
2nd, probably of c. 1410 by Johannes de Colsale of
Leicester or Nottingham and inscribed 'Gloria tibi
domine'; 3rd, recast in 1937 by Taylor & Co.; 4th,
uninscribed; and the 5th, of 1631 by Thomas Hancox
of Walsall. The plate is modern. The registers date
from 1540.
A carved stone lying loose in the churchyard, with
four gabled faces, was evidently the base of a gablecross.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church of
Corley was evidently granted with
the manor to the Ringesdons, for
Adam de Ringesdon presented a clerk called Robert
about 1190. When Hugh de Nonant, Bishop of
Coventry, expelled the monks of Coventry in 1191 he
came to Corley and took the church away from Robert,
the parson appointed by Adam, and afterwards consecrated the church. Adam came to the dedication and
presented to the bishop a certain Ralph Shanke, whom
the bishop refused to admit because he was not worthy
to have a benefice. Eventually a certain John de
Offaton became parson, and Ralph Shanke was made
vicar; and when they both were dead Adam once more
presented the original Robert. On his death about
1220 Adam's son Hugh claimed the advowson, but the
Prior of Coventry produced a charter showing that
Adam had granted the advowson to the priory, and
that Corley church was a chapel belonging to the church
of Coventry. (fn. 30) The Prior presented to the church
in 1250 (fn. 31) and the rectory was appropriated in 1259, (fn. 32)
but in 1284 the advowson was claimed by Felice,
wife of Roger le Thatcher, one of the co-heirs of
Ralph de Ringesdon. (fn. 33) Felice lost her case as her
sisters did not join in the suit, and the prior remained
in possession until the Dissolution. A controversy which
broke out between the Priors of Coventry and Maxstoke as to the tithes from a wood in Fillongley and
Corley called Le Falkwoode was settled by assigning
to the Prior of Maxstoke the tithe of the wood as far
as Falkwood gate opposite le Cowpercroft and to the
Prior of Coventry the tithes of the part of the wood
from that gate to the park of Fillongley and the croft
of John of Fillongley. (fn. 34) In a rental of the glebe land
made in 1410 it appears that the chaplain of Corley
had two crofts lying round the church called le Gillecroft and le Churchfield, lying next Wyndemylnefeld. (fn. 35)
The advowson was granted in 1542 to Richard
Andrews and Leonard Chamberlain of Woodstock, (fn. 36)
who probably sold it to Henry Over of Coventry. (fn. 37)
He presented in 1543, (fn. 38) and in 1554 sold the advowson to Michael Camsewell, who presented in that year
and 1557. (fn. 39) Michael complained in 1559 that Henry
had made a conveyance of the advowson to Richard
Stansfield; but according to Henry this was part of a
general settlement of Michael's debts, and he had permitted Michael to make the two presentations, though
the purchase-money, £20, was still unpaid. (fn. 40) The next
presentation was made in 1571 by Nicholas Harding,
and in the following year the executors of Thomas
Saunders made a presentation, (fn. 41) possibly for that term
only, as Nicholas Harding was holding the advowson
when he died about 1574. (fn. 42) The king presented Basil
Smith in 1620, but it was subsequently found that John
Gregory of Styvechale was the patron, and he presented
Basil in 1621. (fn. 43) John Gregory was succeeded by his
grandson Loveisgod, who was a minor in 1681 when
a presentation was made by his mother Mary, then wife
of John Downes. (fn. 44) Arthur Gregory son of Loveisgod
presented in 1704. (fn. 45) He died about 1743, and his son
Arthur was patron in 1760. (fn. 46) Francis son of Arthur,
who succeeded in 1791, presented in 1794, (fn. 47) and
dying in 1833 was followed by his son Arthur Francis
Gregory. Arthur Francis married the Hon. Caroline
Hood, and dying in 1853 was followed successively by
his sons Arthur Hood Morgan Grosvenor Gregory and
Major Francis Hood Gregory. The latter died unmarried in 1909, and was succeeded by his cousin the
Hon. Alexander Frederick Hood, who assumed the
name Gregory in lieu of Hood. He died in 1927 and
the advowson passed to his son Major Charles Hugh
Hood of Loxley Hall and Styvechale, who was patron
in 1929. (fn. 48) Soon after the patronage passed to the
Church Association Trust.
CHARITIES
Church land. The endowment of
this charity consists of a close of land
called Divetts Close, a cottage and
garden and a plot of land, all at Corley. The property
is let at an annual rent of £12 approx. which is paid
to the churchwardens towards church expenses.
Henry Davy by will proved 15 January 1665 gave
an annuity of 5s. issuing out of property known as
Hatton's Cottage for the use of the godly poor people
of Corley. The charge is distributed by the vicar and
churchwardens to the poor of the parish.
Henry Davy the younger gave £20, the interest to
be given to poor widows or fatherless children; and
William Green gave £40, the interest to be applied to
best use of the poor for ever. These two charities now
produce £1 12s. 8d. per annum, distributed to the
poor in bread.
Mary Tallis by will dated 27 June 1637 gave 5s.
for ever to be paid out of property at Corley Moor
to the poor of Corley. The charge is distributed by
the vicar and churchwardens to poor widows.
Susannah Moggs by will proved 12 August 1881
bequeathed to the vicar and churchwardens £100, the
interest to be applied to the poor and infirm of Corley.
The interest amounting to £2 4s. 8d. annually is distributed as directed.