EFFINGHAM
Fingeham, Epingeham (xi cent.).
Effingham is 3½ miles south-south-west from Letherhead, 8 miles north-east from Guildford, upon the road
between the two places, the village being fairly compactly
placed about the road and a cross road which runs from
over the downs northward. The parish is bounded on
the north by East Horsley and Cobham, on the east by
Little Bookham, on the south by Wotton and Abinger,
on the west by East Horsley. It measures quite
4 miles from north to south and one from east to west.
It contains 3,183 acres.
The southern limit of the parish is on the summit of
the chalk range, which is here extensively covered with
beds of clay and gravel. It reaches over the northern
face of the chalk down, across the Thanet and Woolwich Beds, down on to the London Clay. The church
and village were on the beds between the chalk and
the clay, but the houses have spread upwards on to
the former. The Guildford and Epsom road, and
the Guildford and Letherhead Railway traverse the
parish.
Neolithic implements have been found. On the
chalk were several dene holes, and a round barrow is
recorded near the road from Guildford, (fn. 1) but these seem
to have disappeared except for depressions which may
mark filled-in dene holes. Manning and Bray record
the discovery of a small camp on the downs near Mare
House, to the left of the road from Guildford to
Dorking, that is on White Downs. The ground has
since been cultivated. Lord William Howard, who
had property here from the spoils of Chertsey Abbey,
resided near at hand in Bookham, and was created
Lord Howard of Effingham. The most interesting
side of the place, however, historically, is in connexion
with the social history of England. Little more than
one hundred years ago Effingham was still an open
parish almost entirely, such as used to be called
'champion.' Its geographical position is fairly typical
of the whole group along the northern side of the
chalk range: an elongated parish, with its open fields
and waste on the chalk, its settlement, church, and closes
on the comparatively dry soil just below the chalk, its
waste again on the clay beyond.
There was an Inclosure Act in 1800, (fn. 2) and another
in 1802, (fn. 3) inclosing the wastes and common fields of
Byfleet Manor in Effingham parish, and wastes of
Effingham East Court respectively. There was a further
inclosure in 1814, (fn. 4) and another in 1815. (fn. 5)
In Lee Wood, towards the northern end of the
parish, on the clay, are the remains of a wet moat, inclosing a square of 60 or 70 yds.
Effingham Hill, built by General de Lancey on the
estate of Tib Farm, is the residence of Mr. Caesar
Czarnikow. It took the place of the manor-house of
Effingham East Court. Effingham Lodge is the residence of Mr. G. Pauling; Dunley Hill of Mr. C. J.
Allen. Opposite the Plough Inn is an old house called
Widdington; it has a large projecting brick porch of
about 1600 to 1620. The pilasters of brick on each
side of the doorway resemble those on Slyfield House.
There is a Wesleyan chapel, built in 1854. A
national school was built in 1857.
MANORS
The manor of EFFINGHAM EAST
COURT was held at the time of the
Domesday Survey, of Richard de Tonbridge, Lord of Clare, (fn. 6) by Oswold, who also held the
manor of La Leigh, (fn. 7) but it appears to have been
acquired very shortly after by the Dammartin family.
In 1166 William de Dammartin was holding 11½
knights' fees in Surrey of the honour of Clare, (fn. 8) and in
1230–1 the manor of Effingham was confirmed to
Margery widow of Odo de Dammartin, the founder
and benefactor of Sandridge Priory and son of William
de Dammartin, (fn. 9) as dower, by Alice her daughter and
Roger de Clare husband of Alice. (fn. 10) In 1231 Margery
was summoned to answer a charge of waste and
alienation in this estate, preferred by Alice and Roger,
when Margery declared that the heronry had been
destroyed by her first husband Odo, and that the
alienation had been made by her second husband
Geoffrey de Say, from whom she was divorced, but
that no proof was forthcoming that waste had been
made by her during her widowhood, and consequently
no case could be proved against her. (fn. 11) Alice appears
to have been holding this manor for a knight's fee
shortly after, and in 1248 conveyed it to Thomas de
Warblington. (fn. 12) Shortly afterwards Richard de Clare,
the overlord, took the manor into his own hands, (fn. 13)
and between 1250 and 1260 regranted it to Sir
Nicholas de Leukenore, (fn. 14) keeper of the wardrobe to
Henry III, (fn. 15) to hold with the manor of Chipstead by
the service of two knights' fees. In 1279 William
de Hevre, apparently the successor of Leukenore, was
holding Effingham, (fn. 15a) but not long after the De Clares
seem to have resumed their possession, for in 1295 a
capital messuage and tenements in Effingham were
held by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, as
member of Blechingley, (fn. 16) and in 1306, during the
minority of his son and heir Gilbert, the manor was
held by John Pichard (fn. 17) (who in 1278 had been
acting as attorney for the late earl (fn. 18) ) by service of
one fee, of the honour of Blechingley, then in the
king's hands. The said Gilbert in 1314 died seised
of lands at Effingham held as member of Blechingley,
including a messuage, 112 acres of arable land, of
which 50 were worth 25s. per annum or 6d. per acre,
and 62 were worth 20s. 8d., or 4d. per acre; 4 acres
of meadow worth 10s., or 2s. 6d. per acre; 30 acres
of boscage worth 5s., or 2d. per acre; 74s. 4d. rent of
assize; customary work worth 32s. 9d. per annum;
pleas and perquisites of the court worth 3s. (fn. 19)
In 1317 Thomas de Geddyng was holding at
Effingham a third of a curtilage called 'Bellosehagh'
containing 1/8 rood of land held of the inheritance of
the Earl of Gloucester by service of 4d., and owing
suit every three weeks at the East Court, 'which is in
the king's hands by the death of the said Earl.' He
also held of the said court 7 acres of land called
'Golereslond' by service of 5s. 5½d., owing suit as
above. (fn. 20) In 1347 Hugh de Audley, Earl of Gloucester,
died seised of tenements in Effingham held respectively
for a quarter and a tenth of a knight's fee, which he
had by his wife Margaret daughter and co-heir of
Gilbert de Clare. In 1372 Ralph de Stafford died
seised of this tenement, having married Margaret
daughter of the said Hugh. (fn. 21)
Clare. Or three cheverons gules.
Audley. Gules fretty or.
Their son Hugh died in 1386, (fn. 22) and on the death
of his son Edmund, Earl of Stafford, the manor was
taken into the king's hands by reason of the minority
of Humphrey son of Edmund, afterwards Duke of
Buckingham. (fn. 23) The latter settled this manor after the
death of his eldest son Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, at
St. Albans, 1455, on his third son John, Earl of Wiltshire, and Constance his wife. (fn. 24) Their son Edward
dying without issue in 1498–9, (fn. 25) the manor reverted
to Edward, Duke of Buckingham, (fn. 26) who was attainted
for high treason and beheaded in 1521. (fn. 27) In 1528
the manor was granted to John Bourchier, Lord
Berners, (fn. 28) on whose death in
1533 it was conveyed by his
executor Francis Hastings, and
Joan his wife, to Henry, Marquis of Exeter. (fn. 29) The latter
in 1535 settled it on himself
and Gertrude his wife and
their heirs, (fn. 30) but on his attainder in 1538 it was forfeited
to the Crown, and in 1547
was granted by Edward VI to
Sir Anthony Browne, (fn. 31) one of
the knights of the Bath at the
Coronation, created in 1554 Viscount Montagu. (fn. 32)
Anthony, Viscount Montagu, his grandson, conveyed
the manor in 1618 to Henry Weston and Thomas
Grey. (fn. 33) In 1625 Thomas Grey and William Grey
conveyed the manor to William Wall and John
Fielder, (fn. 34) apparently trustees, for William Grey died
seised of the manor and capital messuage of Effingham
East Court in 1645, leaving a son and heir Thomas,
aged eighteen. (fn. 35)
Stafford. Or a cheveron gules.
In 1660 Thomas Grey sold to Matthew Tayler,
grocer of London, for the sum of £3,000, the manor
of Effingham East Court, a tenement and farm called
Nice Court in Effingham, and the rectory and parsonage
of Effingham. (fn. 36) Matthew died in 1678, having bequeathed this manor, with the farm of Nice Court
and the rectory, to his grandson Thomas White,
younger son of Thomas White and of Margaret daughter
of Matthew. (fn. 37) Thomas White suffered a recovery in
1692, (fn. 38) and manorial courts were held in his name in
1696, 1697, and 1698. (fn. 39) In 1732 William White
son of Thomas (fn. 40) suffered a recovery of the manor, (fn. 41)
and by his will dated 1758 devised it to trustees to
sell for the payment of debts and legacies. (fn. 42) In 1790
William White son of William sold to William
Bryant, (fn. 43) who resold in 1793 to Gerard Dutton
Fleetwood of Letherhead. The latter died in 1796,
and was succeeded by John Fuller, (fn. 44) who with Dinah
his wife made a conveyance of the manor in 1799 to
William Lyson. (fn. 45) The manor was subsequently purchased by General Oliver de Lancey, Barrack-Master
General, whose estates were, however, seized for debts
to the Crown in 1806, and vested in trustees for sale. (fn. 46)
This manor was purchased by Miles Stringer, who died
in 1839, but it was acquired by the Maxse family
before 1874, when Lady Caroline Maxse, daughter of
the fifth Earl of Berkeley and widow of James Maxse,
was lady of the manor. (fn. 47) Her son Admiral Maxse
held the manor in 1891, (fn. 48) and died in 1900. Shortly
afterwards it was acquired by Mr. Caesar Czarnikow,
the present lord of the manor. (fn. 49)
In the 13th century there appears to have existed
some doubt as to the legality of the franchises of the
de Clares in Effingham, and when William de Hevre
in 1279 claimed view of frankpledge, assize of bread
and ale, and other liberties in this manor, it was
declared on evidence that when the Dammartins and
Thomas de Warblington held the manor they were
geldable and came twice a year to the sheriff's tourn,
to which they paid 8s. yearly, but that Richard de
Clare, father of Gilbert the present earl, after he had
taken the manor unto his own hands, had unlawfully
appropriated the said rent. Moreover, it is stated that
William I had given this manor to Odo Dammartin,
his knight and member of his household, who with
his descendants had always had seisin of these liberties. (fn. 50) In view of the Domesday entry the alleged
grant to Odo by the Conqueror can hardly be correct.
EFFINGHAM PLACE COURT alias EFFINGHAM.
About 1316 Thomas de Geddyng died
seised of lands in Effingham, including 29 acres of
land at La Place, held of the manor of La Leigh by
the service of 2s., 4 acres of land held of the Lord de
Berners (Lord of West Horsley Manor in Woking
Hundred) by the service of 12d., also a hall, chamber,
granary, fishery, and dovehouse at La Place. His
heir was Walter de Geddyng, son of his brother
Walter. (fn. 51) In 1320 Walter de Geddyng conveyed
his lands in Effingham under the name of a messuage,
80 acres of land, 60 acres of wood, and 6s. rent to
Master John Walewayn to hold for life, with remainder to William son of Humphrey de Bohun and his
issue. (fn. 52) William de Bohun had a grant of free warren
in his demesne lands of Effingham in 1328.
In 1347 Humphrey son of Humphrey de Bohun
granted the reversion of certain lands to Sir John de
Pulteney, (fn. 53) a distinguished citizen of London and five
times lord mayor, and apparently a similar transaction
took place in regard to some of William's lands also,
for in 1362 Sir William de Pulteney conveyed the
manor of Effingham (said to be formerly of John his
father) to trustees. (fn. 54) In 1363 these trustees settled
it on Nicholas de Lovayne and Margaret his wife,
widow of Sir John de Pulteney, (fn. 55) for their lives, with
remainder to William de Pulteney, and failing issue
to him, to Guy de Lovayne and his heirs. (fn. 56) William
died without issue in 1367. Whether Lovayne succeeded is not clear, for in 1478 Lawrence Downe
died seised of the manor, said to be held of John de
Berners as of his manor of West Horsley, leaving his
grandson John son of Thomas Downe his heir. (fn. 57)
In 1491 John Downe and Joan his wife sold the
manor to John Leigh, (fn. 58) who in 1544 conveyed it to
the Crown. (fn. 59)
In 1550 Edward VI granted the manor to Lord
William Howard, (fn. 60) who died seised of it in 1573, (fn. 61)
having in 1554 received the title of Baron Howard
of Effingham as a reward for his services in suppressing Wyatt's rebellion. (fn. 62) His son and heir, Charles
Howard, distinguished as commander-in-chief against
the Spanish Armada and created in 1588 Earl of
Nottingham, (fn. 63) suffered a recovery of this manor in
1622, (fn. 64) and on his death in 1624 it passed to his
eldest surviving son Charles, second Earl of Nottingham. (fn. 65) The latter was succeeded by his half-brother
Charles, third Earl of Nottingham, who in 1647 conveyed the manor to Thomas
Turgis. (fn. 66) The latter, by will
dated 1703 and proved in
1705, gave the manor to William, third son of Thomas
Urry of Gatcombe in the Isle
of Wight, (fn. 67) subject to such
interest as his wife Mary had
in some part of it. (fn. 68) William
suffered a recovery in 1704, (fn. 69)
but leaving no children the
manor passed to Thomas
Urry, who died unmarried
in 1776, having bequeathed his estates to his niece
Elizabeth, wife of Windsor Heneage, with instructions that the court for his manor of Effingham
should be kept every three years. (fn. 70) Elizabeth had by
her husband, Windsor Heneage of Haynton, two
daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, who became co-heirs.
Elizabeth married Basil Fitzherbert Squire, of Swynnerton, Staffordshire, and Mary married William
Fitzherbert Brockholes of Claughton Hall, Lancashire. (fn. 71) Thomas Fitzherbert Brockholes, son of Mary
and William, suffered a recovery of this manor in
1832, (fn. 72) but in the same year the estate, comprising
upwards of 800 acres, was disposed of in lots, the
manor and manor-house (included in the homestead of
the Upper Farm), with the
woods and other lands to the
extent of 358 acres, being
purchased by Sir Thomas Hussey Apreece, bart., (fn. 73) who died
in 1833, leaving an only son,
Sir Thomas G. Apreece, who
died unmarried in 1842. (fn. 74)
The manor is now held by
Colonel E. Latimer Parratt.
Howard, Earl of Nottingham, bore the arms of Howard with the difference of a molet.
Apreece, baronet. Sable three bloody spearheads argent
The manor of EFFINGHAM-LA-LEIGH was alleged to be Chertsey property as early as 675,
when Frithwald, Subregulus of Surrey, and Bishop
Erkenwald were said to have granted to the abbey
twenty dwellings at Bookham-cum-Effingham. (fn. 75) But
the grant is very suspicious (see Chertsey). In 1086
it was held of the Abbot of Chertsey by Oswold, who
had it in the time of Edward the Confessor; (fn. 76) but
Chertsey does not appear to have exerted any overlordship after this date, and it is possible that Oswold
had merely placed himself under the protection of
Abbot Wulfwold, who was his brother. (fn. 77) Oswold or
one of his successors apparently sub-infeudated, for
La Leigh appears subsequently as held of the manor
of Wotton, which was among Oswold's possessions in
1086. (fn. 78) Early in the 12th century Oswold de la
Leigh, the immediate tenant, granted to Hugh, Abbot
of Chertsey, a tithe of his demesne lands in Effingham. (fn. 79) In the reign of John, Maud de Camoys had
custody of the heir of Gilbert de la Leigh and of his
tenement in Effingham-La-Leigh and Polesden. (fn. 80)
In 1285 Nicholas le Gras had a grant of free
warren in the manor of 'La Leye,' (fn. 81) which he held
at fee-farm of William de la Leigh, who in that year
recovered it from him, Nicholas having for two years
failed to pay his farm. (fn. 82) John de la Leigh, son of
William, was acting in the service of Humphrey de
Bohun in 1314, (fn. 83) and in 1320 released all his right in
the manor of La Leigh to Master John Walewayn, (fn. 84)
apparently with remainder as in Effingham Place
Court, to William de Bohun, who in 1328 had a grant
of free warren in all the demesne lands of Effingham
and La Leigh. (fn. 85) La Leigh then descended with
Effingham Place Court to Lawrence Downe, who
died seised of it in 1478. (fn. 86) From this date there is
no trace of La Leigh as a separate manor, and it
apparently became amalgamated with Effingham Place
Court.
The moated inclosure in Lee Wood (already mentioned) is probably the site of the old manor-house
of La Leigh.
Aubrey, writing in 1718, mentions a small fair at
Effingham on the feast of St. Lawrence (10 August), (fn. 87)
the patron saint of the church, which was transferred
before the end of the 15th century to 15 July, (fn. 88) and
has since been abandoned.
CHURCH
The church of ST. LAWRENCE has
a chancel 26 ft. 7 in. by 16 ft. 1 in.,
south organ chamber and vestry, nave
43 ft. by 21 ft. 6 in., south transept 27 ft. 6 in. deep
by 18 ft. 10 in. wide, south aisle 8 ft. 6 in., south
porch and a west tower 8 ft. 9 in. by 8 ft. 1 in.;
these dimensions are within the walls.
Owing to the great amount of modern reconstruction which the building has undergone the history of
the fabric is for the greater part lost, but enough
remains to prove that it dates at least from the 13th
century, the large south transept having the remains
of windows of that date; no old features are left in
the nave, but the proportion of two squares is suggestive of a 12th-century date. The chancel was repaired about 1388, but has an early 14th-century
window at the north-west, and the masonry of the
walls may be considerably earlier. No other details
are left to give a clue to the history of the building,
but the tower appears to have been built (or rebuilt)
in 1757, on the evidence of a stone recording that
date; it was again reconstructed in 1888; a brass
inscription on the wall states that it was erected at
that time. The nave was wholly modernized in
1888, the south aisle added, and the chancel partly
rebuilt; the vestry, east of the transept, was added
in 1899.
The east window of the chancel is a modern one
of three lights under a traceried pointed head; but
the north-east and south-east windows clearly belong
to the work of 1388, which was done by order of
William of Wykeham, and in their simple and rather
heavy detail have much of the spirit of his work at
Winchester Cathedral. Each is of two cinquefoiled
pointed lights with a quatrefoiled spandrel under a
two-centred segmental arch; the inner jambs and
mullions are moulded, and the outer are doublechamfered with a moulded label. The north-west
window is an earlier one of two trefoiled pointed
lights with a plain pierced spandrel on a two-centred
arch; the jambs are of two chamfers, and the label
is a filleted round. A modern archway with moulded
and shafted jambs and a four-centred arch opens into
the organ-chamber at the south-west, and the chancel
arch is also modern with similar jambs and a twocentred arch.
The nave has three modern north windows each
of two lights with foiled spandrels in pointed heads.
The south arcade, also modern, is of four bays with
round pillars of grey stone having white stone moulded
bases and capitals; the arches are pointed and of two
chamfered orders.
The organ chamber has a doorway in its west
wall to the transept, and another in its south wall to
the vestry; this has an outer doorway on the east
and a three-light south window.
The transept has a 15th-century window at the
south-east, now looking into the vestry, of two
cinquefoiled lights under a square head with a label.
In the south wall is a small square piscina with a projecting corbel basin, 11 in. by 10 in., probably contemporary with the transept. Of the two lancets
which pierce this wall the eastern has modern jambs
inside and old jamb stones outside and the western
old inner jambs and modern outer; only one light
existed here formerly, and the two seem to have been
made from it. In the west wall are two lancets, of
which the north one has old inner jambs and modern
outer, and the other is wholly modern. The walls of
the transept are unusually thick, the south wall being
3 ft. 6 in.; the others have been thinned above a line
about 6 ft. above the floor, but they were originally
over 3 ft. thick. The south-west angle seems to have
fallen into disrepair in the 17th or 18th century, as
it has been repaired with red brick, and the square
buttresses supporting the angles are modern. The
aisle has two lancets in the south wall and a west
window of two lights and tracery, all modern. The
south-west doorway is also modern. East of it is an
old square recess with chamfered edges in which is
set a modern sill with a basin and drain.
A modern arch opens into the tower from the
nave. The west doorway is a modern one with a
pointed arch in a square head; the window over is
of three lights with cusped tracery of 15th-century
style in a two-centred head, all modern except for
some old stones in the jambs; over this window is a
clock. The bell-chamber is lighted by three lancets
in each wall except the east, which is unpierced, and
the parapet is embattled. The chancel and nave
roofs are both gabled and have modern panelled
ceilings, the transept has a low gabled ceiling of
plaster and appears to be old, but the single tie-beam
has been cased; the aisle has a panelled lean-to roof.
The south porch is modern, and has pairs of lancet
windows on each side and a pointed entrance arch.
The altar table is modern, and a former table (of
no great age) serves as a side altar in the transept.
There remains an old bench end with a fleur de lis
head and part of another, of 15th-century work or
perhaps earlier; these have been copied in the modern
chancel seats. The font is modern with a bowl of
a fine piece of alabaster and a marble stem.
In the nave floor is an early coffin-lid; the inscription around is almost illegible, but is said to read:
+ VATER: DE: GEDDINGCES: GIT: ICI
DEV: A: SA: ALME: FACE: MERCI.
In the tower are placed most of the old monuments; the most interesting perhaps are seven small
square tablets to the children of William Walker,
formerly vicar; the inscriptions read thus: 'Hic jacent
Suna W. ob. 1670 act 8 an—Robt. W. ob. 1686
aet 3 an—Rob. W. ob. 1688 aet 2 hebs.—Gu.
Walker huius eccle iam: iam vicario 1693.' They
are roughly cut, and are possibly the work of the vicar
himself. There are two other small stones, one
with initials, apparently, H M or H W dated 1651,
and another dated 1587. Another stone is inscribed:
'Thos. Bonney, vicar—Thos. Killick Geo. Monk
Churchwardens 1757' and refers to the rebuilding
of the tower. A large broken stone slab with chamfered edges, lying in the churchyard south of the
transept, appears to be ancient, but has no inscription.
There are also three small brass inscriptions, the
oldest reading: 'Pray for the soull of John Aley
which decessid the xxvi day of Apriell the yere of
oure Lord MCCCCCVII on whose soull Ihu have
mercy Ame.' Another has the inscription: 'Here
lyeth buried the body of John Agmondesham late of
Rowghbarnes in the County of Surr Esquire, somtymes reader of New Inne and after an aprentice in
the lawe who dyed the first day of August Anno dni
1598.' The third is in Roman type as follows:
'John Cooke and Frances his wife was buried ye
xxv day of April 1629.'
There are five bells, all by Gillett of Croydon,
1890.
Among the communion plate is a silver cup of
1569, with a cover paten dated 1570; there are
also a cup, standing paten, and flagon of 1828.
The registers begin in 1565, the first book containing baptisms, marriages, and burials from that date
to 1725. The first portion is a copy of 1624; the
book is of paper. The second book contains baptisms
and burials from 1660 to 1812, and marriages from
1660 to 1772; the third has the marriages from
1754 to 1812.
The churchyard is not large, and surrounds the
building; to the south are some large chestnut and
other trees; an iron railing bounds the ground towards the road on the west side, and has two gates.
ADVOWSON
The church of Effingham was
bestowed on Merton Priory by
William de Dammartin, (fn. 89) and in
1269 the advowson was granted to the prior by
Gilbert de Clare, (fn. 90) probably in confirmation of the
original grant. In 1291 the church was held by
the priory and valued at
£14 13s. 4d. with a pension
of 26s. 8d. (fn. 91) The same valuations were given on an inquiry
taken six years later as to
whether it would be to the
king's loss if the prior and
convent were to appropriate
the church to their own uses. (fn. 92)
On a further inquiry, however, in 1299, the church was
found to be worth only 20
marks (£13 6s. 8d.), and the
prior and convent had licence
to appropriate accordingly. (fn. 93)
In 1297 the bishop issued an ordinance for the
endowment of the vicarage, under which the vicar
was to receive for his maintenance all the altarage
of the church, and all small tithes and profits pertaining to the altarage, with the tithe of the produce of crofts and gardens dug in the parish by foot
and spade; also the tithe of all hay and produce of
the lands of William Wrenne in the parish, and
18½ acres of arable land with common pasture pertaining to the church, free and quit of tithe, as the
rector of the place used to hold them, with herbage
of the cemetery, and also a competent site near the
church, to be assigned by the monks of Merton,
whereon to build a suitable vicarage within the space
of a year. (fn. 94)
Merton Priory. Or fretty azure with eagles argent at the crossings of the fret.
In 1308 John de Rutherwyk, Abbot of Chertsey,
conceded to the Prior of Merton the tithes both great
and small from those demesne lands within the limits
of the parish church of Effingham, formerly of Philip
de la Leigh and Oswold de la Leigh, the prior rendering in return to Chertsey Monastery 50s. per
annum, (fn. 95) and on the dissolution of Chertsey this
payment was included among the possessions of the
monastery granted to the new foundation at Bisham. (fn. 96)
In 1317 the prior mortgaged to Philip de Barthon,
Archdeacon of Surrey, the tithes of corn or fruit of
the great tithes in Effingham, with the court or manse
there, for a term of six years, in consideration of a
sum of £26, the prior to be responsible for all extraordinary expenses and for the pension of 50s. to the
Abbot of Chertsey; the archdeacon to be responsible
for all ordinary payments and for the sustenance of all
houses and other buildings. (fn. 97)
In 1388 the prior was severely censured for neglecting to repair the chancel, which had fallen into
such a state of ruin that the parishioners complained
that divine service could not be celebrated there. (fn. 98)
In 1535 the Prior of Merton granted to John
Holgate a lease of the rectory, with all tithes and
profits, excepting the presentation of the vicar and
mortuaries, to hold from Midsummer 1544 for a
term of twenty-one years, at a rental of £12 6s. 8d.,
but chargeable with a pension of 26s. 8d. to the
vicar. (fn. 99) In the same year the vicarage was found to
be worth with its appurtenances £7 18s. 9d., (fn. 100) while
the farm of the rectory was worth £10. (fn. 101) After the
dissolution of Merton Priory the king retained the
patronage of the living. (fn. 102) In 1551 the rectory and
church were granted by Edward VI to John Poynet,
Bishop of Winchester, and his successors, (fn. 103) and this
grant was confirmed in 1558 by Philip and Mary. (fn. 104)
But this grant was apparently afterwards revoked,
for a grant of the rectory appears to have been
acquired by William Hammond, who in 1574
bequeathed the remainder of it to Rose Cave his
step-daughter. (fn. 105) Rose married Laurence Stoughton,
in conjunction with whom she is said to have conveyed
the rectory to Thomas Cornwallis of East Horsley, (fn. 106)
who in 1588, as farmer of the king's rectory of Effingham, recovered three cartloads of peas, three cartloads
of barley, one cartload of oats, &c., to the value of
30s., of the tithes of the rectory, (fn. 107) and again in 1592
recovered forty sheaves of peas to the value of 20s. of
the tithes of the rectory. (fn. 107) In 1626 Lady Catherine
Cornwallis died seised of the rectory, from the inheritance of her late husband, the said Thomas, having
settled the same in 1625 on her nephew Thomas, Earl
of Southampton. (fn. 109) The latter, however, in 1629,
conveyed the rectory with tithes to Carewe Raleigh, (fn. 110)
by whom it is said to have been conveyed to William
Grey, (fn. 111) who in 1645 died seised of the rectory and
tithes together with the manor of Effingham East
Court, (fn. 112) with which it descended from that date.
The patronage of the living was, however, reserved
to the Crown, (fn. 113) until in 1866 it was acquired by
A. Cuthell. (fn. 114) Since 1891 it has been in the gift of
the Rev. E. F. Bayly, the present incumbent.
In 1607 a fee-farm rent reserved from the rectory,
of the annual value of £11, was granted by the king
to William Blake and George Tyte, gentlemen. (fn. 115)
Under the Commonwealth Act for the sale of fee-farm
rents, it was sold in 1651 to Walter Kempson and his
heirs, (fn. 116) but Charles II granted it to Queen Catherine
for life. (fn. 117) Subsequently, it appears to have been
acquired by James, Duke of Chandos, who in 1732,
jointly with Cassandra his wife, conveyed to Sir
Matthew Deckes, bart., his annual rents from the
rectory of Effingham. (fn. 118) In 1790 the fee-farm rent
of £11 payable from the rectory was in the hands of
Lord Fitz William and his heirs. (fn. 119)
In 1658 it was proposed to unite the parishes and
churches of Effingham and East Horsley, when the
commissioners appointed to make inquiries reported
that the two parishes were distant about a mile, and
neither alone sufficient to maintain 'an able and
godly preaching minister,' the real yearly values of
both being not above £85 a year. (fn. 120) The project
was however abandoned.
CHARITIES
Smith's Charity is distributed as in
other Surrey parishes. There were
some small tenements near the
church used as a poor-house. They were rebuilt in
1774, the proceedings being the cause of a lawsuit
which ended in the expense being disallowed. (fn. 121)
Later, a workhouse for Effingham stood on the southern verge of the parish, on the brow of the downs.