BAYTON
Betune (xi cent.); Bertona, Bedtona (xii cent.);
Beyton (xiii cent.); Baynton (xvii cent.).
The parish is bounded on the north and west by a
portion of Shropshire, from which it is partly divided
by the River Rea. Shakenhurst Brook, a tributary
of the Rea, forms its south-western boundary, and
the Mill Brook, which flows into Shakenhurst Brook,
bounds it on the south. Tanner's Brook forms the
eastern boundary. The parish lies high and is very
hilly, the Cleobury Mortimer road reaching a height
of 700 ft. at Church Hill, otherwise known as
Colliers Hill.
The village consists mainly of 17th-century halftimber cottages with tiled roofs, picturesquely disposed
on the roads to the east of the church. At the crossroads, near the post office, is an early 18th-century
T-shaped brick house of two stories, with original
windows and moulded string-courses above them.
Shakenhurst Hall, standing in a park about a mile to
the west, is a large early 19th-century brick house
of three stories, with an 18th-century west wing.
It stands in an extensive park, and has long been
the residence of the lords of the manor. It is now
let to Major Capel Cure. Parts of the vicarage,
which lies to the north-west of the village, are of
the 18th century.
Coal is dug on land belonging to the lord of the
manor, and conveyed by an aerial ropeway to Cleobury Mortimer station. The soil is marl and clay;
the subsoil Old Red Sandstone in the west and Coal
Measures in the east. The chief crops grown are
wheat, barley, oats and fruit. The parish has an
area of 2,257 acres, of which 362 acres are arable
land, nearly three-quarters are permanent grass, and
221 acres woods and plantations. (fn. 1) In the south-east
of the parish is Clows Top, a modern flourishing
hamlet, partly in the parish of Mamble. There is
a Wesleyan Methodist chapel, erected in 1861. A
mission room was built here in 1895 in memory of
the Rev. J. Cawood, a late vicar.
An Inclosure Act was passed in 1814, (fn. 2) the award
being dated 16 May 1817. (fn. 3)
Among place-names have been found: Mylryse,
Calvernest or Covernest (fn. 4) (xvi cent.); Collier's Hill,
Cross Hands, Plach Lane (fn. 5) (xix cent.).
MANORS
At the date of the Domesday Survey
Rayner held BAYTON under Ralph
de Toeni, and it had been formerly held
as two manors by Eadric and Leofwig. (fn. 6) The manor
descended with Abberley, (fn. 7) and was entered with it
in the Subsidy Roll about 1280 as 'Albedeley et
Beyton.' (fn. 8) From that time Bayton seems to have
been looked upon as a member of Abberley, (fn. 9) and in
1814, when Bayton was inclosed, Henry Bromley,
as lord of Abberley, claimed the soil of the commons. (fn. 10)
A manor of Bayton, which appears for the first
time in 1580, (fn. 11) was held by the lords of Shakenhurst, (fn. 12)
probably forming part of that manor.
In 1722 a so-called manor of Bayton was held by
Sir Edward Blount, owner of Tymberlake in this
parish. (fn. 13)
The manor of SHAKENHURST (Suttenhurst,
xiii cent.; Shernhurst, Shekenhurste, xiv cent.;
Chekenhurst, Shekemyster, xvi cent.) was probably
included in Ralph de Toeni's holding at Bayton in
1086. It was held of Elmley Castle in 1513, (fn. 14) and
of the manor of Abberley in 1565 (fn. 15) and 1622. (fn. 16)
Stephen de 'Suttenhurst,' who contributed 2s. to
the subsidy about 1280, (fn. 17) may possibly have been
holding the manor, and was perhaps succeeded by
Walter de Shakenhurst, who complained in 1304 that
certain writings had been carried away from his house
at Shakenhurst while he was in Scotland on the
king's service and under his protection. (fn. 18) Walter de
Shakenhurst contributed 12 d. to the subsidy in Bayton
in 1327 (fn. 19) and William de Shakenhurst 2s. in
1332–3. (fn. 20) Walter de Shakenhurst, who was Sheriff
of Worcestershire in 1339, (fn. 21) was dealing in 1345
with land in Broughton Hackett. (fn. 22) He settled his
manor of Mamble in 1349–50 upon himself for
life with remainder to John Meysey, his nephew, (fn. 23)
and his wife Joan, (fn. 24) and appears to have been living
as late as 1366–7. (fn. 25) He seems to have been succeeded at Shakenhurst before 1384–5 by John
Meysey. (fn. 26) In 1448 John Meysey and his wife Anne
granted land called Wendeswall near 'Cloes' and
land in Shakenhurst to John Blount. (fn. 27) The first
Meysey entered in the pedigree of Meysey of Shakenhurst at the visitation of 1569 is John Meysey, whose
son William married the daughter of William Cheney
of More. (fn. 28) Their son Humphrey succeeded to the manor
in 1513, (fn. 29) and married Anne
fourth daughter of Sir Thomas
Blount of Kinlet (co. Salop). (fn. 30)
On his death in 1540 his son
Thomas Meysey succeeded. (fn. 31)
He died seised of the manor
in 1564, and was followed
by his brother Leonard, (fn. 32) who
married Joyce daughter of
Humphrey Plowden and sister
of Edmund Plowden, the
great lawyer. (fn. 33) In 1580
Leonard, with his niece
Frances wife of John Poston, (fn. 34) conveyed the manor
to Edmund Plowden and others, (fn. 35) evidently for a
settlement on his marriage. He was succeeded before
1619 by his son Thomas, who married Susanna
daughter of Henry Perkins. (fn. 36) He settled the manor
on his son Matthias in tail-male, and died seised of
it on 6 March 1622. (fn. 37) Matthias had livery of the
chief messuage of Shakenhurst in 1624. (fn. 38) His sons
Thomas and Robert by his first wife Frances daughter
of Robert Middlemore died childless. (fn. 39) John, his
son by his second wife Martha Clutton, also died
unmarried, and Matthias was succeeded about 1678
by his nephew Francis Meysey, (fn. 40) who died in
1688. (fn. 41) From Francis the manor passed to his son
John, who was dealing with it in 1706 (fn. 42) and died in
1730. (fn. 43) He was succeeded by his son Francis, who
never married, and whose brother the Rev. John
Meysey, who succeeded him at his death in 1756,
died without issue in 1764. (fn. 44) The manor then passed
to their nephew Charles Watkins, the son of their
sister Anne and of the Rev. Richard Watkins. He
assumed the name Meysey, and as Charles Watkins
Meysey was dealing with the manor in 1764. (fn. 45) He
married his cousin Anna Maria Meysey, daughter of
his mother's brother the Rev. Thomas Meysey, (fn. 46) and
at his death in 1774 (fn. 47) the manor passed to their only
child Anna Maria Meysey. (fn. 48) She married in 1795
Edmund Wigley, (fn. 49) who died before 1825, when she,
as Anna Maria Meysey Wigley, widow, settled this
manor on her younger children Charles Meysey
Meysey Wigley, Anna Maria, Caroline and Mary
Charlotte. (fn. 50) Charles Meysey Meysey Wigley died
in 1830, (fn. 51) and a partition of the Meysey estates was
made between his sisters in 1845, their mother having
died in 1836. The manors of Shakenhurst and
Bayton fell to the share of Mary Charlotte, then
wife of Charles Wicksted of Betley Hall (Staffs.). (fn. 52)
On her death in 1878 her second son Charles Wigley
succeeded to Shakenhurst. (fn. 53) The manor is now in
the hands of the trustees of the late Mr. Hugh
Gurney, who died in 1913. (fn. 54)
Meysey. Argent a fesse between three cinqfoils sable.
The manor of TYMBERLAKE (Tyndelak, Timberlac, xiii cent.) was not entered in the Domesday
Survey, being then probably included in the manor
of Bayton, as it was subsequently held of the manor
of Abberley. The overlordship followed the descent of
Abberley, (fn. 55) being mentioned for the last time in
1611. (fn. 56) The manor was held in socage by service
of one sparrow-hawk. (fn. 57)
In the 13th century the manor was held under
Roger de Toeni by Henry Lovett of Elmley Lovett,
after whose death it was claimed as dower in 1260–1 (fn. 58)
by his widow Joan and Robert
Stocumbe, then her husband. (fn. 59)
Tymberlake then passed with
Elmley Lovett (fn. 60) to Henry's
grandson Sir John Lovett, (fn. 61)
who gave land there, possibly
the manor, to his mother
Isabel, then wife of William
Blount, (fn. 62) by whom she had a
son Peter. Sir John Lovett
died about 1316, leaving as
co-heirs Cecilia and Alice
Lovett, (fn. 63) who conveyed the
manor in 1316 (fn. 64) to Peter
Blount (fn. 65) above mentioned, who was already holding
his mother's life estate in the manor by her grant. (fn. 66)
Peter, who died in 1320, (fn. 67) gave Tymberlake before
his death to his brother Walter Blount. (fn. 68) Walter
was apparently dead in 1323, when his sons John
and Walter confirmed the manor to Lady Isabel
Blount for her life and one year after. (fn. 69) The manor
descended with Sodington in Mamble (q.v.) in the
Blount family, (fn. 70) and belonged to Sir Edward Blount
in 1816, (fn. 71) when it is mentioned for the last time as
a manor. Sir Edward Blount still held the so-called
site of Tymberlake Castle in 1875, (fn. 72) and it became
part of the Blounts' estate of Mawley Hall in Cleobury
Mortimer (co. Salop). The moated site is still known,
though few traces now remain. (fn. 73)
Lovett. Argent three wolves passant sable.
At the date of the Domesday Survey Osbern Fitz
Richard held CARTON (Carletune, xi cent.;
Karkedon, xiii cent.; Carkedon, xvii cent.), which
his father had previously held. (fn. 74) The overlordship
remained with his heirs, following the same descent
as Ham Castle in Clifton upon Teme (q.v.) until the
manor lapsed to them about the middle of the 14th
century. (fn. 75)
An under-tenant Odo was holding under Osbern
Fitz Richard in 1086. (fn. 76) In 1211–12 Hugh de
Milleville was holding half a fee in Carton. (fn. 77) He
was succeeded by William de Milleville, (fn. 78) from whom
Carton passed to Hugh de Milleville and Primorel
his wife. They in 1248–9 sold the manor to William
Mortimer. (fn. 79) It had passed before 1287 to Hugh
Mortimer. (fn. 80) He, who as Hugh Mortimer of Carton
received exemption for life from being put on assizes,
juries, &c., (fn. 81) in 1318, was still holding the manor in
1327. (fn. 82) He was then said to be holding it for life
of the inheritance of Joan widow of Richard Talbot
of Richard's Castle, joint overlord of the manor with
the Cornwalls of Burford. On Hugh's death the
tenancy of the manor apparently lapsed, one moiety
passing to the Talbots (fn. 83) and the other to the Cornwalls. (fn. 84) The manor then descended in moieties with
Ham Castle (q.v.). The part held by the Lucys is
not mentioned after 1431, (fn. 85) and may possibly have
passed to the Cornwalls, as Sir Thomas Cornwall
seems to have been holding the whole in 1512–13. (fn. 86)
He sold it in 1528 to Sir Humphrey Coningsby, (fn. 87)
and it then followed the descent of North Piddle
(q.v.) until 1657–8, when the manor is mentioned
for the last time. (fn. 88) Carton Farm, which evidently
marks its site, belongs to Sir Walter de Sodington
Blount, bart. (fn. 89)
Talbot. Gules a lion and a border engrailed or.
Cornwall. Ermine a lion gules with a golden crown in a border sable engrailed and bezanty.
Carton was described by Habington as 'a place of
great accompte in thys paryshe,' and he says it was
formerly known as Sherelench Carton and Churchlench Carton. (fn. 90) It was taxed separately in the Subsidy
Rolls of about 1280, of 1327 and 1332–3. (fn. 91)
A mill at Bayton worth 5s. was entered in the
Domesday Survey, (fn. 92) and a water-mill was held with
Shakenhurst in the 16th century. (fn. 93) At the present
day there is no mill at Bayton, but the site of one
remains near the house known as 'Coneybury,' to
which Mill Ground adjoins.
CHURCH
The church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW consists of a chancel 26 ft. 9 in.
by 19 ft. 3 in., north organ chamber,
nave 46 ft. by 24 ft. 1 in., west tower, and south
porch.
The walls of the nave and western portion of the
chancel are probably of the 12th century, to which
date the south doorway of the nave belongs. The
only other mediaeval details surviving are the roof of
the nave and the jambs of its two eastern windows,
which are of the 15th century. The plain jambs of
a blocked window at the south-west of the chancel
are also visible externally. Any other indications of
its history which the structure may have presented
were swept away by the renovation undertaken in
1905, when the eastern portion of the chancel was
entirely rebuilt, with a five-light east window, twolight windows in the north and south walls, and an
organ chamber, with an arch opening into it, on the
north side. A wooden screen, with a wide pointed
central opening, and narrow traceried openings on
either side, takes the place of a chancel arch, and the
roof has a timber ceiling in six cants. As mentioned
above, the jambs of the north-east window of the nave,
which is of three cinquefoiled lights, with a segmental
head, are of the 15th century. The jambs of the
window opposite in the south wall, which has a fourcentred head, are of the same date. The tracery in
both cases has been renewed. The late 12th-century
south doorway has an external round-arched shafted
order, moulded with the cheveron on the face and soffit,
a rear arch of the same form, and a plain tympanum.
The two western windows of the nave are modern.
The 15th-century roof has trusses with cambered tiebeams, braced collars, and curved wind-braces. The
ends of the tie-beams have been strengthened by
modern wall-posts and knees. The west tower is of
two stages externally and has an embattled parapet.
A date over the doorway, much weatherworn but
apparently reading '1817,' gives the date of its
erection. The walling of the church generally is of
sandstone rubble, plastered internally, and the roofs
are tiled.
The font is an extremely fine example of mid12th-century work. The bowl is circular, and
measures about 2 ft. 10½ in diameter by 9 in. in
depth. The side is enriched with a running strap
ornament, carved with considerable elaboration, and
below this is a heavy cable mould. The stem is also
circular, diminishing slightly at the bottom, and is
sculptured with formal foliage in low relief. Some
Jacobean panelling has been worked into the pulpit
and chancel stalls. On the south side of the chancel
externally is a stone inscribed with the elegiac couplet:
'Sanctus si vivens, moriens si sanctus in quum (sic)
sanctus cum sanctis, quum morieris, eris. Abiit non
obiit the iii day of September T.M. 1654.'
There is a ring of three bells: the treble is of the
15th century and is inscribed in crowned Gothic
capitals: 'Sancte Necolae ora pro nobis'; the second
is inscribed: 'Thomas Tayler Fransis Morley C.W.
1683,' and bears the mark of John Martin; and
the tenor, by the same, is inscribed: 'Francis Maylard
Thomas Morelye C. W. Soli Deo Gloria Pax
Hominibus 1672.'There is also a small 'sanctus'
bearing the date 1652.
The plate consists of a silver cup of 1656; a silver
cover paten with the hall-mark worn away; a modern
silver cup, a copy of the late 17th-century cup at
Mamble; a modern flat paten; a large pewter flagon;
and two large pewter almsdishes.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: (i)
all entries 1590 to 1683, with a few entries from
1564 to 1574 copied in; (ii) 1683 to 1710; (iii)
baptisms and burials 1710 to 1812, marriages 1710
to 1754; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
It is not known by whom the
advowson of Bayton was given to
the priory of Great Malvern, but
it was confirmed to them by Pope Honorius III in
1217, (fn. 94) and the advowson (fn. 95) and rectory (fn. 96) remained
in their hands until the Dissolution, when the advowson passed to the Crown, in which it has since
remained. (fn. 97)
The church of Bayton was appropriated to the
priory of Great Malvern in 1275. (fn. 98) The vicarage
was ordained in 1298, when it was arranged that the
vicar of Mamble should serve the church, and his
portion was prescribed. (fn. 99) The union of the parishes
of Bayton and Mamble was ordered in 1669, since
they were of too small value to support two ministers.
The inhabitants of both were to resort to Mamble
Church. (fn. 100)
CHARITIES
In 1827 Thomas Stokes by his
will bequeathed £110 15s. 4d.
consols, the annual dividends to be
applied in the payment of 10s. to the minister for
a sermon on St. Thomas's Day and the remainder in
the distribution of bread among resident poor attending
to hear the said sermon, unless prevented by illness.
In 1835 John Cook by his will bequeathed
£111 8s. 5d. consols, the annual dividends to be
applied in the payment of 10s. 6d. to the minister for
a sermon on Twelfth Day and the remainder for the
like purpose as in the preceding charity.
In 1875 the Rev. David Davies by his will,
proved at Worcester 19 January, bequeathed £104
14s. 10d. consols for providing for the distribution of
clothing on St. Thomas's Day yearly amongst Protestant poor.
James Griffiths by will (date not stated) bequeathed
£100 5s. 4d. consols, the annual dividends to be
distributed among poor widows and widowers of
sixty years of age and upwards.
The several sums of stock are held by the official
trustees, producing together £10 13s. 4d. yearly, which
is duly apportioned among the respective charities.