ROCK or AKE
Le Aka, Roke, Hac (xiii cent.); Oke (xiv cent.);
Rooke (xv cent.); Acha alias Roch, Akenborough
alias Rock (xvi cent.); Aker alias Rock (xvi-xvii
cent.).
This extensive parish, about 20 miles in circumference, is situated on the right bank of the Dowles
Brook, on the north-western boundary of the county,
and is crossed by the Tenbury and Bewdley branch
of the Great Western railway. The road from Cleobury Mortimer to Bewdley runs through the parish,
meeting the road from Tenbury to Bewdley at Finger
Post. The north of the parish is very well wooded,
being in Wyre Forest, and the whole must at one time
have been dense forest. The woodland of the manor
of Alton (q.v.) was entered in the Domesday Survey
as being 4 leagues long and 2 leagues wide, and was
the subject of many law-suits as to hunting and timber
rights in the 13th, 16th and 17th centuries. The
parish is very hilly; its scattered farms are well
watered by the Dowles, Lem, Tanners, Dumbleton,
Dick and Gladder Brooks and their tributaries, which
flow through the parish or form its boundaries.
The ground is irregular, rising to over 700 ft. at
High Clows Farm on the western boundary, and to
600 ft. at Conningswick Farm and elsewhere. The
parish has an area of 8,772 acres, of which 1,697
acres are arable, 5,528 permanent grass, and 1,263
woodland. (fn. 1) The eastern portion of it lies on Old
Red Sandstone, the west and north on Coal Measures,
and there are several coal-pits here. The soil is clay
and red marl, producing crops of wheat, oats, barley
and fruit.
Rock contains several interesting old houses. The
church stands 582 ft. above the ordnance datum, and
its tall tower is a prominent landmark for many miles
around. (fn. 2) The old rectory, immediately north of the
church, is an L-shaped house of about 1600, built of halftimber and brick and roofed with tiles. This building
is now converted into two cottages and the present
rectory, a much larger square brick house of the 18th
century, is situated half a mile to the north. Outside
the churchyard wall on the north are the stocks and
whipping-post; the former, which is said to have been
used within living memory, has six holes, and the
whipping-post, found by the late rector in a cottage
garden near by, has a double iron clasp, to fit the hands of
either male or female offenders. About 50 yards southeast of the church is a square piece of ground of about an
acre, possibly the site of a cattle inclosure. It is
inclosed by a low bank on the north and west and by
a moat on the south and east and is entered from the
west where there is a break in the bank. The school
built in 1806 to take the place of the free grammar
school which had then died out, stood at the cross
roads near the church, but the buildings have now
disappeared.
Bower Court Farm, a quarter of a mile east of the
church, is a 16th-century half-timber and plaster twostory house with tiled roofs. The south and east sides
are faced with 18th-century brickwork and modern
additions have been made on the west. The plan is
L-shaped, with the main entrance at the re-entering
angle on the north, the kitchen on the west, and some
living apartments in the east wing. The kitchen and
one room in the east wing have good original moulded
oak ceilings, and in another room is an 18th-century
panelled oak cupboard. A moat surrounds the house
except on the south side, where it has been filled in.
Deaseland Farm, in Deaseland Lane, a mile north of
Heightington Chapel, comprises two interesting old
houses; the 'new house' is an L-shaped half-timber
and plaster two-story building with a central hall. The
lower part of the house, which is constructed of heavy
timbers with curved struts springing from the ground,
dates probably from the 14th century, but the upper
story was added early in the 17th century. On the
west side is an open timber porch with oak mullioned
sides. On the lintel is the date 1611, while on the
strut above are the initials G.W. In the hall is a part
of the screen and some early 17th-century panelling.
The 'old farm' to the north, a half-timber and plaster
L-shaped house, probably of the 16th century, now
disused as a dwelling, is considerably dilapidated, but
retains much of the original work, including the oak
entrance door with its iron hinges.
Rock was evidently at one time more important
than at present, as in 1328 Henry de Ribbesford had
a grant of a weekly market on Wednesday and of a
yearly fair on the feast of St. Margaret and two days
following. (fn. 3) Among the manuscripts which were
destroyed when Stanford Court was burnt was one
recording that 'here was anciently a large town fit
for receit, it may seem to have been a mercat.' (fn. 4)
Two miles north of the church is the hamlet of
Alton, inclosed under an Act of 1816, (fn. 5) the award
being dated 1820. (fn. 6) Other districts are: Blissgate, Lye
Head, Cross Bank, Callow Hill, Gorst Hill, Pound
Bank, Far Forest and Buckeridge. Heightington is a
chapelry to the west. Far Forest, or Bewdley Far
Forest, is an ecclesiastical parish formed on 11 July 1845
from Ribbesford, (fn. 7) Rock, and Stottesdon. (fn. 8) There is a
Primitive Methodist chapel at Callow Hill.
MANORS
ROCK does not appear in the Domesday Survey, (fn. 9) unless it is to be identified
with one of the two berewicks of Kidderminster called Ribbesford. (fn. 10) Rock, (fn. 11) which appears
for the first time in 1210–12, (fn. 12) was afterwards a
member of the manor of Ribbesford, (fn. 13) and followed
its descent, being held under the Mortimers of
Wigmore by the Ribbesfords, and passing to the Earls
of Warwick. (fn. 14) It descended with Ribbesford until
the death of Anne Countess of Warwick in 1448–9.
It then probably passed to her aunt Anne, wife of
Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, whose
claim to the estates of the Earls of Warwick was set
aside, after the death of Richard at Barnet, in favour
of her daughters. Rock was assigned to Isabel wife of
George Duke of Clarence, and passed on his death in
1478 to his son Edward. (fn. 15) During Edward's minority
it was in the king's hands, (fn. 16) and, as he was attainted
in 1499, it is doubtful whether Edward ever came
into possession of the manor, which remained in the
Crown until 1524, when it was leased for twenty-one
years to Sir Humphrey Coningsby. (fn. 17) It was granted
in 1533–4 to Catherine of Aragon, (fn. 18) and a lease for
twenty-one years after the expiration of Sir Humphrey
Coningsby's lease was granted to Humphrey Orme in
1542. (fn. 19) Two years later a grant of the manor in fee was
made to Richard Andrewes of Hailes and George Lisle, (fn. 20)
who in 1545 sold it to Sir Robert Acton and Margery
his wife. (fn. 21) Sir Robert Acton settled it in 1557 for a term
of years on his daughter Fortune, whose interest was
later the subject of a Chancery suit, both William
Childe and William Bayllis claiming that Fortune
had sold her interest to themselves. (fn. 22) From Sir Robert
Acton the manor passed to his son Henry, who died
in 1563 and was succeeded by his son Robert. (fn. 23)
Robert sold the manor in 1606 to John Churchill, (fn. 24)
who on 2 November 1607 bequeathed two-thirds of
the manor of Rock and Snead to his cousin Ellis
Churchill for providing for his younger children, and
died two days later, when he was succeeded by his
son John. (fn. 25) In 1613 John Churchill and his wife
Elizabeth sold the manor to John Newce, (fn. 26) who
married Anne daughter of Francis Roberts of Willesden, Middlesex, and on 9 January 1617–18 settled
it on her at their marriage. (fn. 27) John Newce died in
1633 and was succeeded by his son John, (fn. 28) who
died, a minor and unmarried, in 1641, his sisters,
Mary wife of Edward Partington, clerk, and Edith
wife of Charles Cornwallis, being his co-heirs. (fn. 29)
Edward Partington and his wife Mary dealt with her
moiety of the manor in 1641 (fn. 30) and 1668, (fn. 31) and in
1695 it was held by their grandson Edward Partington. (fn. 32) The moiety of Charles Cornwallis and his
wife Edith was conveyed by them in 1649 to their
son Francis, (fn. 33) and passed from him before 1692 (fn. 34) to
his son Thomas, who sold it shortly after to Thomas
Winford. (fn. 35) In 1695 a partition of the manor
was made between Thomas Winford and Edward
Partington. (fn. 36)
The history of the manor during the 18th century
is obscure, but it had passed before 1786 to Sir Walter
Blount. (fn. 37) In 1815 it was conveyed by Joshua Harris
to Thomas Bury. (fn. 38) Joseph Jones purchased it in
1868, (fn. 39) and it has since descended with the manor
of Elmley Castle, the present lord being Mr. James
Arthur Jones.
The manor of ALTON (Alvintune, xi cent.;
Alvinton, xiii cent.; Alveton, xv cent.; Alvington,
xvi cent.) was the principal manor in Rock. It
belonged to the church of Worcester until Brihteah
Bishop of Worcester granted it with Sapey, with the
consent of his convent, to a man who had married
his sister; but Agelric, the bishop's kinsman, seized
Alton into his own hands, and soon after gave it to
his son Godric. From him Ralph de Barnack wrested
it by force, but was ousted before long by Ralph de
Toeni. (fn. 40) This Ralph de Toeni is no doubt the Ralph
de Conches, son of Roger de Toeni, (fn. 41) who, wishing
to make amends for having assisted Ernald de Eschaufo
in burning the town of the Abbot and monks of
St. Evroul, granted to the abbey of St. Evroul Alton
with its church and all Ralph's forest of Wyre, saving
his inclosure (haia) at 'Beitone.' (fn. 42) Mr. Round dates
this charter c. 1080, but Ralph de Toeni is returned
in 1086 as holding Alton as successor to Godric, a
thegn of Earl Ælfgar, (fn. 43) and there is no mention of
any grant to the abbey. The grant, therefore, probably took place after 1086 and before 1101–2, when
Ralph died. (fn. 44) Roger grandson of Ralph (fn. 45) was holding
2 hides at Alton in the time of Stephen, (fn. 46) probably as
overlord, as the manor seems to have remained in the
possession of the Prior of Ware, proctor of the abbey
of St. Evroul in England.
The abbot's wood at Alton seems to have been a
constant source of contention between him and the
Toenis. Ralph de Toeni tried to disseise him in
1225 of 300 acres, and Ralph grandson of Ralph
renewed the claim in 1292, though the case had been
settled in 1264 in favour of the abbot, (fn. 47) whose successors retained possession of the manor until the
reign of Henry V. (fn. 48) As an alien abbey it was then
deprived of its property in England, which was
bestowed in 1415 on the priory of Sheen. (fn. 49) This
priory held the manor of Alton until the Dissolution. (fn. 50)
It was granted in 1541 to Sir Philip Hoby, (fn. 51) who
died seised of it in 1558, when his heir was his sister
Mary wife of Brian Carter. (fn. 52) In the following year
she with her husband conveyed the manor to Sir
George Blount (fn. 53) in consideration of an annuity of
£12 4s. 8½d. from it. (fn. 54) In 1561 this rent was
granted by George Anderson and Mary his wife,
possibly the widow of Brian Carter, to Humphrey
Hill of Silvington, co. Salop., (fn. 55) who had possibly
already bought the manor from Sir George Blount, as
in 1588 he settled it in tail-male on Richard Hill, son
of William Hill of Bickley, co. Worcester, and Ursula
Hincksman, with remainder to the said William, and
to John, Francis, and William Hill, nephews of
Humphrey. (fn. 56) The death of Humphrey was followed
by a disputed succession owing to the fact that Ursula
Hincksman married John Hill instead of Richard,
with the result that Richard sued her in 1608 to
recover possession of the manor on the ground that
she was only entitled to hold it as jointure if married
to himself. (fn. 57) John and Ursula remained in possession, (fn. 58) and the former died seised of it in 1625, (fn. 59)
when he was succeeded by his son John. John Hill
sold the manor in 1658 to Thomas Hill, who in the
same year, with William Watts, conveyed it to John
Hammond and Anthony Wem, in trust for Cole and
Powell. (fn. 60) For nearly a century the history of the
manor then remains obscure. Before 1752 it had
passed to Charles Baldwyn. (fn. 61) His son or grandson
William assumed the name Childe, (fn. 62) and was succeeded in 1824 by his son William Lacon Childe. (fn. 63)
The manor remained in the possession of this family
until 1893, when it was sold by Capt. Charles
Baldwyn Childe to Mr. William Corbett. (fn. 64)
Ralph de Toeni, when granting to the abbey of
St. Evroul 'all his forest of Wyre,' saved to himself
his inclosure (haia) at 'Beitone.' (fn. 65) This wood, afterwards known as Alton or Wyre Woods, became part
of the Toenis' manor of Abberley, though it was
situated in Rock parish. In 1292 Ralph de Toeni
was in conflict with Edmund Mortimer, lord of
Wyre Forest, (fn. 66) as to hunting rights in Alton Woods.
Ralph claimed 2,000 acres of woodland at Alton, but
Edmund maintained there was no such vill as Alton
in Worcestershire, that the wood, only 1,000 acres in
extent, was in Bayton, Rock, and Carton, and that
Ralph had never had hunting rights there. (fn. 67) The
jury, however, upheld Ralph's claim, (fn. 68) and Alton
Woods followed the descent of Abberley Manor. In
the 16th century great confusion arose between the
woods which had been granted to the abbey of
St. Evroul and belonged to the manor of Alton, and
those which formed part of Abberley Manor, both
being known as Alton Woods. (fn. 69) From one of the
numerous commissions appointed to settle the ownership and right to timber, it appears that both were in
Wyre Forest, that they did not adjoin, and that lords
of the manors of Abberley, Alton, Shakenhurst,
Bayton, Tymberlake, Linden, the Bower and Cheney's
More had housebote and timber. (fn. 70) The bounds of
each wood are given, but it is difficult to gather who
were actual owners. The wood which belonged to
Abberley (fn. 71) seems to have remained in the Crown
until 1610. It was reserved from the grant of the
manor of Abberley to Sir William Walshe in 1609, (fn. 72)
but a lease for sixty years was granted to him on his
petition (fn. 73) in the following year. (fn. 74) The wood was
granted in 1624 to Edward Ramsay of Hethersett,
co. Norfolk, and Robert Ramsay of London, in trust
for John Earl of Holderness at a rent of £24. (fn. 75) This
fee-farm rent was granted in 1664 to Queen Catherine. (fn. 76)
Sir William Walshe's lease was assigned by William
Walshe to Sir John Farewell (fn. 77) and in 1670–1 the
fee-farm rent was paid by George Farewell, who was
presumably then in possession of the woods. (fn. 78)
The manor of MORE or CHENEY'S MORE
(Cheniesmore, xvi cent.; Cheney Moor, xviii cent.)
was held as two manors by Ralph de Toeni in 1086.
Of these Grim had held one (fn. 79) and Leofnoth the other. (fn. 80)
In the first, 1 hide paid geld, in the second 1 virgate. In
the 12th century the two estates were united under the
name 'Mora Hugonis,' and were held as a hide and
a half by Roger de Toeni. (fn. 81) More descended in the
Toeni family (fn. 82) as half a fee held of the honour of
Clifford until the 13th century, (fn. 83) but the overlordship
is not again mentioned until 1559, when the manor
was said to be held of Testa de Nevill by knight
service, (fn. 84) the same tenure being given three years
later. (fn. 85)
John de la More held half a fee in More under
the Toenis about 1235–46. (fn. 86) A third of 2 virgates
of land in More, granted in 1230 to John de Bance
and Cecily his wife by Robert son of Nicholas and
Maud his wife, may have been part of John de la
More's estate. It had belonged to William son of
Robert, father of Maud and Cecily. (fn. 87) Five years
later Hugh de Brakspere and Alice his wife granted a
third of 2 virgates of land in More to John de Bance
and Cecily. (fn. 88) It was possibly this property which
Tristram de la More granted in 1259 as a quarter
of a carucate of land in Rock, at the instance of
Robert de la More and Christina his wife, to Roger
Mortimer, to hold of Tristram and his heirs for the
rent of 1d., Roger agreeing to keep Nicholas, son of
Robert and Christina, and Clementia his sister, for
their lives, and to pay yearly to Robert and Christina
2 marks of silver and 8d. sterling at their house at
Rock. (fn. 89) Henry de Bance settled a messuage and
2 virgates of land in More in 1275 on Stephen de
la More and Cecily his wife. (fn. 90) The manor probably
passed in the same way as the rangership of Bewdley
Forest from the Mores to the Cheneys, though little
has been found to connect either family with the
manor. John de la More paid 2s. to the subsidy
under 'More et Colingwyk' in 1332–3, (fn. 91) and in the
reign of Henry VIII William son of Humphrey
Cheney held the reversion of the manor after the
death of William Thurkill and his wife Eleanor. (fn. 92)
William and Eleanor sold it in 1528 to Humphrey
Coningsby. (fn. 93) The manor then descended with North
Piddle (q.v.), being sold by Fitzwilliam and Humphrey
Coningsby in 1657 to Sampson Wise. (fn. 94) It was one
of the manors which Humphrey Coningsby afterwards
recovered, and was conveyed by him and his sister
Philippa Langhorne and others in 1670 to George
and Richard Johnson. (fn. 95) The manor seems then to
have passed to the Gorges, Ferdinando Gorges being a
party to the sale of 1670. Ferdinando died in 1701,
when his son Henry succeeded. (fn. 96) Henry died in
1718, (fn. 97) his son Robert being then an infant. Robert
probably died while still a minor, (fn. 98) his brother Richard
succeeding (fn. 99) and dying in 1749. (fn. 100) His son Richard
held the manor until 1786. (fn. 101) In a rent roll of the
estates of Richard Gorges at that date it was entered
with the note, 'there is a reputed manor called
Cheany Moor at the Rock, but it does not appear
when any court was held,' and Sir Walter Blount,
lord of the manor of Rock, owed nineteen years' rent
for the estate. (fn. 102) It was in the possession of Sir
Walter Blount in 1795, (fn. 103) and followed the descent
of Sodington until 1816. (fn. 104) The manor now belongs
to Mr. James Arthur Jones, who holds regular
courts. (fn. 105)
The manor of LINDEN (Linde, xi cent.), previously held by Ethelward, a thegn of Earl Æltgar,
was held in 1086 by Ralph de Toeni. (fn. 106) This estate
at Linden followed the descent of Abberley, (fn. 107) of
which it eventually seems to have become a part. (fn. 108)
A second estate at Linden, known as Linden Coudray, (fn. 109)
was a member of Ribbesford, (fn. 110) and followed the
descent of the manor of Rock, both estates at Linden
thus passing to the Earls of Warwick. Though only
one manor of Linden is mentioned during the 15th
century, the two estates seem to have preserved their
separate identity, and in 1613 Sir William Walshe
and Sir Thomas Coningsby were disputing the possession of certain lands called Vernalls (or Twyfornells)
in Upper Linden, (fn. 111) the former claiming it as part of
his manor of Abberley and the latter as part of his
manor of Bower. Linden does not again occur as a
separate estate, and the two parts probably became
merged in the manors of Bower and Abberley respectively.
The manor of BOWER (le Boure, xvi cent.;
Bower in the Rock, Bower in le Roche, xvii cent.)
was held of the manor of Abberley by service of being
bailiff of that manor. (fn. 112) According to 17th-century
tradition Roger Toeni bestowed the Bower upon his
chamberlain, and his heirs 'to be free-bailiffs of
Abberley,' and it passed by an heiress to the Coningsbys. (fn. 113) It may possibly have been the property
held by William Coningsby of Rock in 1351. (fn. 114)
Habington states that it belonged to the Frenes,
and passed to the Coningsbys from them. (fn. 115) Sir
William Coningsby married Benedict daughter and
heir of Ingram de Frene, (fn. 116) and is probably the
William Coningsby mentioned above. A pedigree
of this family is given in the
Visitation of 1569, and, though
no deeds have been found to
prove that they held the manor
of Bower, they probably continued to do so. Thomas
Coningsby was buried in the
church in 1498, (fn. 117) and his son,
Sir Humphrey, was holding
the manor or chief messuage
called le Bower at his death
in 1535–6, and left directions that the tabernacle of
our Lady, lately erected in
the south aisle by him, should
be goodly painted and gilt, and likewise the image
of St. George; and that the image of St. Margaret
in the Lady chapel should be dressed and repaired. (fn. 118)
The manor descended with Cheney's More (q.v.) to
the Gorges of Eye, and was included in a rent roll
of the estates of Richard Gorges in 1786. (fn. 119) The
manor was purchased about 1869 by Sir Edward
Charles Blount, and now belongs to his nephew Sir
Walter de Sodington Blount. (fn. 120)
Coningsby of Rock. Gules three sitting conies argent in a border engrailed sable.
The manor of HOLLIN (Hollim, xi cent.; Holine,
Holyne, xiii cent.; Holyn, xvi cent.) was held in
1086 by Drew Fitz Ponz, and had been previously
held by Wulfmar. (fn. 121) The overlordship had passed by
the beginning of the 14th century to the Mortimers
of Richard's Castle, (fn. 122) and followed the descent of that
honour until the 15th century. (fn. 123)
In 1308 Henry de Ribbesford was holding Hollin
with Rock and Ribbesford, with which it evidently
descended. (fn. 124) It is probably to be identified with
the messuage and carucate of land in Rock held
by Walter de Ribbesford at his death in 1365 of John
Talbot of Richard's Castle, (fn. 125) the manor of Rock being
held of the Mortimers of Wigmore. In 1370 there
was some controversy as to the tenure of this manor
and the guardianship of the heir, the estate having
been returned in 1366 as held of Thomas de Louches, (fn. 126)
and after of Geoffrey de Cornwall. (fn. 127) It was decided
in 1370 that John Talbot was overlord. (fn. 128) Before
1507 Hollin seems to have been granted to the priory
of Westwood, of whom land in Hollin and Stildon
was then held. (fn. 129) It was held by the priory until the
Dissolution, (fn. 130) and was granted in 1538 to Robert
Acton and Charles Acton his son. (fn. 131) It passed with
Ribbesford to John Churchill, who succeeded his
father in 1608, (fn. 132) but does not afterwards appear as a
manor. It is probably to be identified with Holling
Farm mentioned in 1695 as part of the manor of
Rock. (fn. 133)
The manor of STILDON (Stilledune, xi cent.;
Stillendone, xvi cent.) was held by Drew Fitz Ponz in
1086. Ulchet had held it, and could depart from his
lord Wulfmar. (fn. 134) Stildon probably shared the early
history of Hollin, though little is known of it. It was
taxed with 'Sned Holmee' in the 13th century (fn. 135) and
with Hollin in the 14th, (fn. 136) but no further mention of
it occurs until 1507, when with Hollin it belonged
to the Prioress of Westwood. (fn. 137) From this date until
1608 a manor of Stildon was held with Hollin (q.v.),
but after John Churchill succeeded to Stildon and
Hollin in that year Stildon seems to have been repurchased by the Actons. The chief messuage called
Stildon was settled by Thomas Acton and Margaret
his wife on 2 November 1619 on their son Robert
and Fortitude daughter of Samuel Danvers, (fn. 138) and
Robert Acton died seised of it on 4 February 1632,
when he was succeeded by his son George. (fn. 139) Land
in Stildon was purchased of Henry Acton by John
Newce, lord of Rock Manor, and passed with that
manor to his daughters Judith wife of Charles Cornwallis and Mary wife of Edward Partington. (fn. 140) It
seems to have passed with Rock Manor until 1692, (fn. 141)
but in 1710 Stildon belonged to Francis Walker. (fn. 142)
Four-twelfths of the manor of Stildon and Clows was
conveyed in 1741 by Francis Herbert and Mary his
wife, Richard Knightley and Elizabeth his wife, Samuel
Powell and Elizabeth his wife, and John Freeman to
Richard Fleming and John Woodhouse. (fn. 143) Richard
Clutton and Mary his wife two years later conveyed
the manor of Stildon and Clows to John Woodhouse, (fn. 144)
and in 1752 Thomas Wright and Martha his wife
conveyed seven-twelfths of it to Adam Ottley. (fn. 145) These
conveyances seem to have been connected with a
mortgage which was in 1771 the property of Francis
Walker, nephew and heir-at-law of Mary widow of
Richard Clutton, John Woodhouse and the Rev.
Thomas Severne, executors of Richard Clutton, the
manor being then held by Sir Walter Blount and his
wife Mary, one of the daughters and co-heirs of James
Lord Aston, upon whom settlement was made at their
marriage in 1766. (fn. 146) It has since remained in the
Blount family, the present owner being Sir Walter de
Sodington Blount. (fn. 147)
Two water-mills at 'le Orchard' in this parish,
called 'Neumulne' and 'Willemulne' were held in
1311 (fn. 148) and 1315 (fn. 149) by Walter Blount, who in the
latter year also held a third mill called 'Housemaynesmulne' at Linden, (fn. 150) still held by the Blounts
in 1424–5. (fn. 151) In 1716 a water-mill was held by
Elizabeth Holmes, widow. (fn. 152) At the present day
there is a corn-mill, Forest Mill, on the eastern
boundary, and another, Worrall's Mill, on Dick
Brook.
CHURCHES
The church of SS. PETER AND
PAUL consists of a chancel 34 ft.
3 in. by 18 ft. 6 in., small north vestry
(now used as a heating chamber) 10 ft. 3 in. by 7 ft.
9 in., south chapel 35 ft. by 16 ft. 6 in., nave 56 ft.
6 in. by 27 ft. 3 in., south aisle 57 ft. 9 in. by 12 ft.
9 in., and west tower 15 ft. by 14 ft. 10 in. These
measurements are all internal.
The nave and the western part of the chancel
were built in the first half of the 12th century, the
chancel being extended 10 ft. eastward and a north
vestry added during the 14th century, while the
south chapel, south aisle and west tower were built
by Judge Coningsby in 1510. (fn. 153) The church was
restored in 1861 and the tower in 1881, but the
whole fabric remains much in its original condition.
The nave and early part of the chancel rank with
the best work of the period in the county, while the
lofty and bold west tower and the well-executed
south aisle and chapel are valuable as dated examples
of early 16th-century building. The church and
tower are built of squared rubble and ashlar sandstone, the walls being faced both inside and out.
The chancel has an open-timber trussed roof
which probably dates from the 14th century. The
original wall, which is nearly 4 ft. thick, is preserved
on the north side from the west end to a point
about 10 ft. from the east wall. In this part are two
windows, the easternmost an original round-headed
light with a stepped sill and shafted jambs inside and
out, the other a two-light 14th-century window with
modern tracery, placed much lower down in the wall
and blocking an original window, the head of which
can be seen on the outside above it. Externally this
portion of the wall is divided into two bays by
a pilaster buttress, and is crowned by an original
corbel table; a second buttress, probably the clasping
buttress of the original north-east angle of the chancel,
is partly buried in the west wall of the later vestry.
The east window is of three trefoiled lights with
reticulated tracery under a two-centred head; the
jambs and arch, including the outside label, are of the
14th century, but the tracery is modern. On either
side of the window is a restored niche. The south
wall, with the exception of 2 ft. at the east end, is
occupied by a 16th-century arcade of two bays
opening into the chapel. This arcade has fourcentred arches of two chamfered orders and rests
upon a central octagonal column with concave sides
and moulded capital and base; there is a semi
octagonal eastern respond, but the western arch dies
into the wall. The small 14th-century vestry built
against the eastern part of the extended north wall has
a lean-to roof and diagonal buttresses. It is now converted into a heating chamber and the original doorway to the chancel has been blocked. There is a
single pointed light in the east wall with a small loop
light above, and in the west wall is a modern
doorway.
The chancel arch is a very elaborate and well-preserved example of 12th-century design. It is of three
richly carved orders on the nave side and two on the
east, the inner order being supported by half-round
shafts and the outer order by slender detached nook
shafts, all with carved capitals and abaci and moulded
bases. The carving on the orders of the arch consists
of varieties of cheveron pattern within an engrailed
and billeted label; the capitals and abaci are enriched
with ornament in low relief composed of grotesque
figures and formal foliage, and the bases of the halfround central shafts supporting the inner order are
enriched with leaf ornament. Originally semicircular,
the arch has spread somewhat at the springing line,
and this has occasioned the depression of the crown
and the fracture of the wall above, as may be seen by
the cracks on the west side.
Plan of Rock Church
The south chapel is lighted from the east by a
window of three cinquefoiled lights with restored
tracery under a four-centred head, and from the
south by two windows, each of two lights with tracery
under a pointed head. At the south-west is a doorway with a four-centred head. The arch between the
south chapel and aisle, which takes the form of a flying
buttress, appears to be mostly of modern stonework;
this is supported on the outside by a 16th-century
buttress, and the chapel walls are further strengthened
by a straight buttress between the windows on the
south and a diagonal one at the south-east.
The north wall of the nave remains practically in
its original condition. It is divided externally into
four bays by pilaster buttresses, and is pierced by
three round-headed windows, one in each of the two
eastern bays and one in the westernmost bay, the
intermediate bay being occupied by the north doorway. The windows, set high in the wall, have
splayed jambs and stepped sills, and jamb shafts with
moulded bases, capitals and abaci. Externally each
of the two eastern windows is coupled with an
answering niche which repeats its head and shafted
jambs. There is a string-course continued along
the wall at the level of the sills both inside and
out, which is broken by the doorway and the buttresses; the latter are reinforced at the corners of the
nave, and rise to a corbel table below the eaves. The
doorway, a particularly fine example of the Norman
style, projects 1 ft. 10 in. from the external wall face.
The head is of four orders enriched with varieties
of cheveron and embattled ornament and is inclosed
by a billeted label, returned horizontally above the
springing line and surmounted by a restored gable.
The outer order is broken only by the abaci and
is enriched on the jambs by cheveron ornament,
but the three inner orders are supported by detached
shafts with carved capitals, chamfered abaci enriched
with running foliage, and moulded bases; the tympanum is plain. Below the original window in the
eastern bay is a restored two-light window of the
14th century, the internal jambs and mullion of which
are rebated for shutters in the manner of a low-side
window. The iron staples for the shutters remain.
The south wall, which was rebuilt in 1510, opens
into the south aisle by an arcade of four bays. The
arches are four-centred and of two chamfered orders,
and the columns are octagonal with concave sides, and
moulded capitals and bases. The respond on the west
repeats the columns, but the eastern arch dies on to the
face of the wall. Some 12th-century carved stones,
probably removed from the original wall, are built
into the face of the north wall opposite. Over the
arcade are four clearstory windows, one of two ogeeheaded lights under a square head, over each column,
and a single square-headed light, evidently designed
to give light to a rood-loft, at the east end of the wall.
The nave has an open-timber trussed rafter roof of the
14th century, strengthened by three large cambered
tie-beams, which were probably added when the south
wall was rebuilt.
In the south wall of the aisle are three two-light
windows. The two eastern are of the 16th century
with restored tracery and have two-centred heads;
the other, a restored 14th-century window with modern
tracery, was probably taken from the original south
wall of the nave. To the east of this is a 16th-century
doorway with a four-centred head, and in the west
wall is a three-light window of the same date with
restored tracery. The roofs over the south chapel
and aisle are modern.
The west tower is substantially built, its walls being
5 ft. 6 in. thick, and rises from a bold plinth in three
stages divided by string-courses and crowned by a
moulded cornice and embattled parapet. Diagonal
buttresses at the angles ascend in weathered stages to
the cornice, and there is a turret stairway at the
north-east angle. The tower arch is of two orders,
the inner order being carried by flat semi-octagonal
responds with concave sides and moulded capitals
and bases. The outer order of the arch is moulded
with a wide casement, while the inner order follows
the concave-sided, semi-octagonal plan of the responds
supporting it. To the north of the arch is a blocked
doorway to the turret stairway. In the west wall of
the ground stage is a large window of four uncusped
lights with tracery under a pointed head, the mullions
of which have been renewed. The intermediate stage
is lighted by windows of two cinquefoiled lights, and
the bell chamber by windows of four trefoiled lights
with tracery under four-centred heads.
The stone font dates from the 12th century, and
has a circular bowl, the surface of which is enriched
by formal foliated and strap ornament in low relief.
The stem is composed of a central and four engaged
shafts with scalloped capitals and moulded bases.
There is a monumental stone slab against the
south wall of the south chapel, on which is incised in
outline the figure of a vested priest with rude canopy
work and an inscription now in part illegible. This
slab was formerly in the chancel, and Nash gives the
full inscription as follows: 'Hic jacet Dominus
Ricardus Smith, quondam rector hujus ecclesiae, qui
obiit 24 die mensis Aprilis 1554. Cujus animae
propitietur Deus. Amen.' At the north-west of
the chapel is a rectangular table tomb with a flat top
slab and moulded base. Round its sides are six quatrefoils inclosing shields, the charges on which are now
indecipherable, though some traces of colour remain,
and on the top slab is the incised outline of a canopy.
The inscription, which has disappeared, is given by
Nash as follows: 'Here lieth Thomas Coningsby, esq.,
who deceased A.D. 1498, father to Sir Humphrey
Coningsby, knt. and one of the justices of the king'sbench, who built this isle and steeple of the church,
A.D. 1510, at his own charges. He died at Aldnam,
in the county of Hertford, 1551, and is intombed in
that church. Of this Sir Humphrey was descended
Sir Thomas Coningsby of Hampton-court, in Herefordshire, who caused this monument to be renewed,
A.D. 1589, and now is re-edified by his son Fitzwilliam Coningsby, esquire, A.D. 1637.' He also
gives the shields as those of Coningsby and its
alliances. On the south wall of the chapel is a mural
monument to George Corbin of Aston, who died in
1742, and on the south wall of the south aisle is a
monument with shield of arms and Latin inscription
to Mary Walls, daughter of George Karver of Butthouse in King's Pyon, Herefordshire, who died in
1707. There is an ancient oak chest in the church,
which dates probably from the 13th century, and is
composed of a single rectangular block, bound with
iron straps and studded with nails; the central portion
only of the log is dug out, and this is fitted with three
locks and has a slit in the cover for coins. The
present hinges are of a later date.
The tower contains a ring of six bells: the treble,
the second and the fourth were recast by W. Blews &
Sons of Birmingham in 1867, and the fifth is by
Mears of London, 1853; the third is inscribed
'Fear God Honour The King 1738,' but the date is
reversed in the casting; and the tenor (same date as
last) 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.'
The communion plate consists of a cup of 1732
inscribed 'Ex dono Edwardi Boylstone,' a flagon of
1740, a large salver of 1728, and a plated paten.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1548 to 1641 with fragmentary entries for
1653 and 1654; (ii) all entries 1678 to 1721;
(iii) all entries 1721 to 1754 and baptisms and
burials to 1766; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812;
(v) baptisms and burials 1766 to 1802; and (vi)
baptisms and burials 1802 to 1812.
The chapel of ST. GILES at Heightington is a
small rectangular stone building of the early 13th
century, measuring internally about 45 ft. 6 in. by
16 ft. 8 in. A square bell-turret, probably of the
17th century, projects from the west face, and there
is an 18th-century brick south porch.
The walls are of uncoursed rubble with 17thcentury and modern brick quoins, and are all plastered
internally. The east window is a modern single light.
In the north wall, near the east end, is an early 13thcentury lancet, and to the west of this are two square
windows with 18th-century brick jambs and wood
frames. In the south wall are two windows, each of
three ogee-headed lights under a square head; these
are very rough, but probably date from the 14th
century. Between them is a lancet coated externally
with cement, so that its date cannot be ascertained.
Two old principals of the trussed roof, probably of
the 14th century, remain, and the beam of the third
has been lowered to support a west gallery. The
small oak altar with turned legs is of the 17th century,
and some oak carving of the 16th and 17th centuries
is worked into the reredos. The west gallery, which
was probably erected in the 17th century, has been
modernized, but retains the original oak newel stairs
and some 17th-century panelling. The turret contains one bell by Richard Sanders, 1736.
ADVOWSON
There was a priest, and possibly
also a church, at Alton in 1086, (fn. 154)
and Ralph de Toeni when granting
the manor of Alton to the Abbot of St. Evroul gave it
'with its church.' (fn. 155) Mainard, Abbot of St. Evroul,
when quoting this charter in 1292 in defence of his
claim to Alton Woods, stated that it was a grant of
'Auvynton cum ecclesia de Hac,' (fn. 156) which seems to
show that the church of Alton is identical with the
present church of Rock, and not, as supposed by
Habington (fn. 157) and others, a separate structure since
removed. The church of Alton is not referred to
after Ralph de Toeni's grant, and the church was
known as that of Rock (del Ak) in 1223–4, when
Henry de Ribbesford challenged the abbot's right in
it. (fn. 158) Though Henry gave up his claim in 1223–4,
he still seems to have been hindering the prior's right
of presentation in 1302. (fn. 159) The advowson then
descended with Alton Manor, the presentations being
made either by the Abbot of St. Evroul or the Prior
of Ware, except when the advowson was in the king's
hands by reason of war with France. (fn. 160) It passed in
1415 to the priory of Sheen and was granted with the
manor of Rock and Snead to Richard Andrewes and
George Lisle in 1544. (fn. 161) The presentation was made
in 1560 by Thomas Green, who was holding the
advowson for one turn only by grant of the Prior of
Sheen before the suppression of that house. (fn. 162) Thomas,
however, presented again in 1565, (fn. 163) and after this time
confusion seems to have arisen as to the true patron.
The advowson was apparently claimed both by the
lords of Rock and the lords of Alton. According to the
deeds relating to Rock Manor it descended with Rock
and Snead from the grant of 1544 until 1675, (fn. 164) but it
is also included in conveyances of Alton Manor from
1559 until 1625. (fn. 165) Unfortunately the names of those
who actually made the presentation are not recorded
between 1565 and 1672, with the exception of one
case, when Anthony Croft presented Edward Partington
in 1648. (fn. 166) Anthony was not the owner of either
Rock or Alton, but was evidently acting as a trustee
for John Newce, lord of Rock, who had died in 1641,
for in the survey of the living taken in 1655 it was
returned that Edward Partington, then incumbent,
had been presented 'by the right and title of John
Newce, late lord of the manor of Rock.' (fn. 167) There
was evidently at that time some doubt as to the true
patron, for the jury returned that the patrons at that
time 'as wee conseave' were Edward Partington and
Charles Cornwallis, who had married the daughters
of John Newce. (fn. 168) The lords of Alton do not seem
to have claimed the advowson after this date, and it
remained with the Cornwallis family until 1675,
when Charles Cornwallis and Richard Chase sold it
to Sares Boyleston. (fn. 169) John Meysey of Shakenhurst
married Anne daughter of Sares Boyleston and the
advowson thus passed to the owners of Shakenhurst, (fn. 170)
with which manor it descended to Anna Maria Meysey
Wigley. (fn. 171) She seems to have given it to her younger
son Charles, (fn. 172) on whose death without issue in 1830
it passed to his sister, Anna Maria wife of John Michael
Severne. (fn. 173) The advowson remained with the Severnes
until 1861–2, when it passed to J. H. James of Kingswood, co. Hereford, (fn. 174) who held it until 1870, when
it was sold to Mrs. Reiss. (fn. 175) It was purchased of the
Rev. Frederick Augustus Reiss in 1914 by Mr.
Walker. (fn. 176)
The chaplain of Heightington (Huythindone) is
mentioned in 1325. (fn. 177) In 1655 the curate in charge
was allowed by the rector of Rock all the tithes
belonging to the hamlet to the value of £30. (fn. 178)
In 1510 (fn. 179) Sir Humphrey Coningsby founded the
chantry of our Blessed Lady and St. George in the
chapel which he had lately built in the church of
Rock, and endowed it with lands for one priest to say
mass and for a free grammar school. (fn. 180) The incumbents continued to carry on the school until the
Dissolution, but the endowment was granted in 1550
to John Bellowe and William Fuller. (fn. 181) The priest's
house and land were in 1573–4 granted to John and
William Mershe, (fn. 182) and in 1587–8 to Edward
Wymarke and others. (fn. 183)
Land from which 10s. yearly was paid for obits
and 3s. 4d. to the poor came to the Crown at the
suppression of the chantries. (fn. 184) A cottage and parcel
of land called Bullefant's given to superstitious uses
were in 1562–3 granted to Cecily Pickerell, widow. (fn. 185)
A messuage given for obits was granted in 1585–6 to
Christopher Hatton. (fn. 186)
CHARITIES
The school (formerly the grammar
school) is endowed with a sum of
£176 13s. 10d. consols, with the
official trustees, representing the redemption of an
annuity of £5 2s. 4d. settled upon the school by
Edward VI. The annual dividends, amounting to
£4 8s. 4d., are applicable in exhibitions to the most
proficient and meritorious scholars.
The official trustees also hold a sum of £110 3s. 10d.
consols derived under the will of John Nott, proved
in the P.C.C., 21 April 1832, the annual dividends,
amounting to £2 15s., being applicable in books, or
in any other way beneficial to the Church of England
day school.
The almshouses erected and endowed by the
Rev. George Walls, D.D., by indentures of lease and
release, dated respectively 27 and 28 August 1724,
for the support and maintenance of six poor distressed
widows, are regulated by a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners of 24 November 1891, as varied by a
scheme of 30 June 1891. The endowment consists of
a rent-charge of £20 issuing out of a farm called Upper
Aston, in the parish of Knighton. A sum of £100
consols is in course of accumulation by the official
trustees as a repair fund.
In 1732—as stated on the church table—Richard
Nott gave to the poor decayed labourers and widows
of Linden 20s., to be paid on every Christmas Day for
ever, charged upon lands called Bellybands.
Mary Mence by her will, date unknown, left £55
for the poor, now represented by £59 18s. 4d.
consols with the official trustees, producing £19s. 8d.
yearly, which is applicable under a scheme of 10 May
1867 for the general benefit of the poor in one or
more of the modes therein specified.
In 1832 William Green by his will, proved in the
P.C.C., 8 May, left a sum of money, now represented
by £235 2s. 4d. consols with the official trustees, the
annual dividends, amounting to £5 17s. 4d., to be
applied for the benefit of the school at Rock Cross,
erected by the Rev. David Davies.
Heightington.— John Hinchliff, by deed 23 June
1902, gave £20, one-half of the income to be applied
in keeping in good repair the boundary fence and
paths of the graveyard and the other half for providing
prizes and rewards for the encouragement and improvement of singing amongst the choir of the chapel.
The gift was invested in £21 6s. 9d. consols with the
official trustees, producing 10s. 8d. yearly.