HIMBLETON
Hymeltun (ix cent.); Hymeton (x cent.);
Humeton (xiii cent.); Hemelton (xiv cent.);
Humilton (xvi cent.).
Himbleton parish is watered in the north by Dean
Brook, a tributary of Bow Brook, which it joins in
the hamlet of Shell. Another tributary of Bow Brook
called Little Brook forms part of the southern
boundary. Bow Brook itself passes through the village
of Himbleton, and Habington says of this parish,
'She is well watered yf not to muche in winter.' (fn. 1)
The parish is low in the valleys of these brooks,
Neight Hill to the south-east of the village being the
highest point, about 190ft. above the ordnance datum.
The area of the parish is 2,373 acres, (fn. 2) of which 631
are arable, 1,302 permanent grass and 133 woods. (fn. 3)
The soil is principally clay on the Lower Lias formation,
and the chief crops are wheat, beans and barley.
An Inclosure Act
for Himbleton was
passed in 1779, (fn. 4)
and the award is
dated December
1780. (fn. 5)
The village of
Himbleton lies
about 5 miles south-east of Droitwich
and 7½ miles north-east of Worcester.
The village, though
a small one, is particularly rich in
examples of half-timber work of the
16th and 17th
centuries. Of these
the finest is Shell
Manor Farm,
which stands about
a mile to the north
of the church, by
the side of Bow
Brook, and is approached by a ford, with a stone footbridge. Roughly
the plan resembles an H, and consists of a central
entrance hall facing south with rooms on either side
of it, the eastern limb of the plan projecting considerably further northward than that on the west.
The house is half-timbered and two stories high
with wattle and daub filling, the sills resting on a
plinth of local limestone. It appears to date from
the 16th century, but there is a brick addition of the
19th century at the north end of the east wing.
The ground floor of the west wing is divided into a
larger and a smaller room by an original stud partition
with a four-centred doorway, now blocked, in the
centre. The walls of the former room are lined with
early 17th-century panelling, having a well-carved
frieze; panelling of similar date and character
exists in the room above. The original entrance
doorway at the south-east of the hall has been blocked,
but the early 17th-century porch remains untouched.
The posts and head of the outer doorway are ogee-moulded, and the room above is brought slightly forward,
the sill being supported by plain console brackets.
The interior has been entirely modernized, and the
present entrance and stairs are in the east wing.
The lower portions of the chimney stacks on the north
and east are of rubble masonry, and are surmounted by
fine brick shafts, those on the east being formed by the
intersection of two squares, while those on the north
are plain diagonal shafts. The chimney stack on the
west side of the house is more elaborate. The base
is of ashlar work surmounted by a capping of brick,
with gablets at the angles, above which rise two diagonal shafts of the same material. The roof timbers
of this wing have arched braces, and generally there is
more elaboration on this side, which probably included
the private apartments, while the kitchen and offices
were on the opposite side of the hall, beneath which
portion there is a cellar. The half-timbered front of
the house with its tiled roof, flanked by the two gabled
wings, is extremely picturesque. Of the farm buildings the weather-boarded barn on the east of the forecourt appears to be contemporary in date with the house.
Shell Manor Farm, Himbleton
Court Farm, standing to the west of the church in
Himbleton itself, is an L-shaped two-storied half-timber house of very similar arrangement, and appears
to date entirely from the late 16th century. The
entrance porch is of three stories, the attic gabled and
windowless. A new entrance and stairs have been
constructed on the east of the original hall. A cellar
exists beneath this portion of the house, with walls
of rubble masonry. Brook Farm, also of half timber
and of similar date, has a fine projecting gable, supported by richly carved console brackets.
The Manor Farm, now divided into two cottages and
known as the Church Cottages, is another half-timbered
house, with a large pigeon-house of the same material.
Until lately there was a pair of handsome chimneys
of triangular section, but these, though not dilapidated,
have been pulled down. To the east of the village
stands Himbleton Manor, formerly the residence of
the late Sir Douglas Galton, K.C.B., and now occupied
by his daughter Mrs. Gascoigne.
The hamlet of Dunhampstead is partly in
Oddingley. A moat still existed on the site of the
ancient manor-house in 1865, when Himbleton was
visited by the Worcester Naturalists' Club, (fn. 6) but it
now seems to have disappeared. Shernal Green is a
hamlet to the extreme north-west, and Phepson and
Shell (fn. 7) are in the north of the parish. Earl's Common
is a hamlet to the east of the village, and near it
are several woods, the largest of which are Harnil
Wood, Saldon Wood, Rabbit Wood, Bossil Wood,
and King's Wood.
Court Farm, Himbleton
Lime-burning is carried on to some extent in the
parish, (fn. 8) but there are no traces of the coal mines said
to have been worked here in the 17th century. In
1868 and at the present day glove-sewing employs
some of the female population. (fn. 9) In 1744 the house
of Thomas Baker was licensed for Baptists, (fn. 10) but there
is no Dissenting chapel there now.
A considerable quantity of Roman pottery was
found in a limestone quarry in 1865, (fn. 11) and at the
same place some prehistoric implements made from
the horns of red deer were discovered.
Places mentioned as being on the boundary of
Himbleton in the 9th century are Egcbrihtingethyrne, Scipenelea, Maigdenbrycge, Bercrofte, Cestergeate, Ceasterwege, Langenleage, Deorleage, Midlestanwicwege, (fn. 12) Baddon Aesc, Wadlege, Ennanpol,
Wynnastigele, Lytlanbrook, Hymelbroc, Hennuc, (fn. 13)
Blacanpyt, Aescbed, Biscespeswuda, Ealdandic, Maerford, Ipwaelhylle. (fn. 14)
Seventeenth-century names are Puckhill, Finch
Grove, Quarter Grove, Ansells, Dunnam Grove,
Harnell, Great and Little Moone Shaft, Nether
Held, Fower Men's Coppice, Nynteene Lands,
Alcott Wood, Oaken Vallett Coppice, Fursale
Coppice, Light Grove Coppice, (fn. 15) Court Orchard,
Oldberry, Wallsett, Stocking. (fn. 16)
MANORS
According to the Register of Worcester Priory, Coenwulf, King of
Mercia, gave HIMBLETON to the
church of Worcester at the beginning of the 9th century. (fn. 17) This statement probably refers, however,
to a charter of Coenwulf dated 816, by which he
freed this among other estates from all royal
exactions except the building of strongholds and
bridges and military service, (fn. 18) and from this it
would seem that the manor had been given to
the church prior to 816. By a charter dated
884 Ethelred Ealdorman (dux) of Mercia
granted the land of five 'manentes' at Himbleton
to Ethelwulf, making it free of tribute. (fn. 19) This
land probably passed afterwards to the church of
Worcester, for in 975–6 Archbishop Oswald (fn. 20)
demised a hide of land at Himbleton to his servant
Wulfgeat for two lives. (fn. 21) According to the historian of Worcester Priory, Himbleton was among
the lands alienated by Bishop Brihteah (1033–8).
He gave it to his brother Aethelric or Alric, who
was, however, deprived of it by Earl William of
Hereford, 'so that,' continues the historian, 'the
possession is up till now alienated from the
church.' (fn. 22) This story is to some extent substantiated by the fact that Aethelric had held
Himbleton in the time of King Edward, but in
1086 Roger de Lacy, who then held the manor,
did service for it to the monks at their manor of
Hallow. (fn. 23) Himbleton was then waste, and, together
with Spetchley, was assigned to the support of the
monks. (fn. 24)
Roger de Lacy still held the manor at the beginning
of the 12th century, (fn. 25) but his descendant Hugh de Lacy
lost it before the time of Henry II, for it was then
stated that Hugh ought to hold of the Bishop of
Worcester 3½ hides of land in Himbleton and
Spetchley, which Roger de Lacy anciently held, but
that Hugh Poer then held them of Walter de
'Marine.' (fn. 26) This Walter de 'Marine' was evidently
Walter de Meduana, who was said in a survey of
about the same date to be holding Himbleton and
Spetchley in right of his wife Cecily late Countess of
Hereford, evidently by grant of Hugh Poer, who
stated that he acquitted Walter against the Bishop of
Worcester for the service of one knight's fee. (fn. 27)
Isnard Parler is said to have held half the vill of
Himbleton in the time of Henry I, (fn. 28) and with his
wife Emma to have bestowed it upon the monastery
of Worcester, (fn. 29) but this hardly agrees with a charter
of Brian de Brompton and his wife Margery, by
which they gave to the church of Worcester their
part of Himbleton which Isnard and Emma had
bequeathed to them, reserving to themselves a rent
of 3s. yearly during their lives. William son of Guy
de Offern grandson of Isnard confirmed this grant,
which was also ratified by Hugh Poer, who claimed
some interest in the land, evidently as overlord, by
descent from his grandfather Walter Poer. (fn. 30)
The monks of Worcester were holding 2 carucates
of land at Himbleton in 1240 and 1291, (fn. 31) and in
1248 the king granted that 3½ acres of assarted land
there in the metes of Feckenham Forest should be
held rent free by the prior and convent. (fn. 32) In 1378–9
the prior leased the manor to William Hull for a term
of thirty years at a yearly rent of £14 2s. 8d. (fn. 33) It
remained in the possession of the prior and convent
until the dissolution of the priory in 1539–40. (fn. 34) It
was granted in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter of
Worcester, (fn. 35) with whom it continued until sold in
1654 by order of the Parliament, described by
Prattinton as 'that ever infamous and destructive
Parliament and great enemy to all Hierarchy order
and decency in church and state.' (fn. 36) It was purchased
by Nicholas Lockyer, (fn. 37) a Puritan divine of some note,
chaplain of Oliver Cromwell. (fn. 38) As mistakes had
been made in its valuation, the lands being charged
with payments to charitable uses, he was allowed in
1655 to reconvey the manor to the State. (fn. 39) At the
Restoration it was recovered by the dean and chapter.
It was confirmed to them in 1692–3, (fn. 40) and remained
in their possession until it was taken over in 1859
by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, (fn. 41) who are now
lords of the manor of Himbleton. (fn. 42)
A cassata of land at DUNHAMPSTEAD (Dunhamstyde, Dunhamstede, ix cent.; Dunestead, xvi
cent.) was granted to the church of Worcester by
Coenwulf, King of Mercia, in 814. (fn. 43) Land at Dunhampstead is also said to have been given to the
monastery by Earedus and his wife Tunthrytha
in 896. (fn. 44) Alfstan brother of Bishop Wulfstan, who
succeeded as Prior of Worcester in 1062, purchased
land in Dunhampstead for the priory. (fn. 45) It is not
mentioned by name in the Domesday Survey, but
seems with Ravenshill to be included in 2 hides held
by two radmanni in the manor of Hallow. (fn. 46) The
overlordship remained in the possession of the prior
and convent. (fn. 47) It seems to have become annexed to
the manor of Phepson, for in 1148 Bishop Simon
confirmed Phepson with Dunhampstead (fn. 48) to the
prior and convent.
By an undated charter John Rous of Ragley gave
up to Ralph de Dynbergh and Joan his wife all his
right in the manors of Dunhampstead and la Sale. (fn. 49)
It was probably towards the end of the 13th century
that Hugh de Caveruche gave to Peter de Saltmarsh of Dunhampstead and Alice his wife certain
land in Dunhampstead. (fn. 50) Peter de Saltmarsh paid a
subsidy of 3s. at Dunhampstead in 1280, and at the
same date Lady Parnel de Dunhampstead paid 5s. 6d. (fn. 51)
Alice, who is called in a deed of 1310–11 lady of
Dunhampstead, was evidently the widow of Peter de
Saltmarsh. (fn. 52)
Edward de Dunhampstead by a charter without
date gave to Walter de Lench and his wife Joan certain
lands in Dunhampstead, (fn. 53) and in 1329–30 John
Lench son and heir of Walter gave all his land in
Dunhampstead and la Sale to William de Eccleshall, chaplain. (fn. 54) Ten years later Walter Lench
acquired land in la Sale of William son of Richard
Saundyes, (fn. 55) and in 1342–3 land near the churchyard
of Dunhampstead from John de Mone. (fn. 56) In 1347–8
Nicholas de la Sale, rector of Spernore (Spernall, co.
Warw.), gave to Walter all his property in la Sale, (fn. 57) and
at the same date Thomas de Beauchamp gave him
30 acres in Dunhampstead. (fn. 58) It was probably his widow
who as Joan wife of Ralph Dynbych granted in 1368–9
to Walter de Lench a third of a messuage which she
held as dower. (fn. 59) Ralph and Joan were dealing with
land in Dunhampstead in 1404–5, (fn. 60) but Ralph died
soon after and his widow conveyed the manors of
Dunhampstead and Sale to trustees in 1406. (fn. 61) This
was probably a preliminary to the gift of the manor
in 1408 by Joan, then called Joan de Dunhampstead,
to the Prior and convent of Worcester. (fn. 62) This
manor is not mentioned in the Valor of the priory
lands in 1535, but probably remained in the possession of successive priors until the Dissolution, and
was granted with the other priory lands to the Dean
and Chapter of Worcester, for in 1575 the dean
petitioned Burghley that his college might not be
deprived of the farm of Dunhampstead on Mr. Ralph
Holliwell's pretence of concealed lands. (fn. 63) This
petition was probably made on account of a grant by
the Crown in 1574 to John and William Marsh of
land in Dunhampstead held by Richard Halliwell. (fn. 64)
No further reference to Dunhampstead has been
found, but the so-called manor was sold by Judge
Amphlett, K.C., of Wychbold Hall, in 1911 to Mr.
Gibbs of Tibberton, the present owner. (fn. 65)
PHEPSON (Fepsetnatune, x cent.; Fepsintun,
xii cent.; Fepsynton, xiii cent.; Phepston, xvii
cent.) was granted by King Eadwig to the monastery
of Worcester in 956, (fn. 66) and at the date of the Domesday Survey the monks owned 6 hides there, 5 of which
paid geld, Walter Poer being their under-tenant. (fn. 67)
Henry I freed 4 hides at Phepson from 'geld,' (fn. 68) and
by a charter without date William son of Almaric
confirmed the gift of his grandfather William son of
Herman to the monks of Worcester of all the land
in Phepson which was of the hide of Trunchet, (fn. 69)
free from all services. (fn. 70)
Bishop Simon confirmed Phepson to the prior and
convent in 1148. (fn. 71) In 1231 the manor of Phepson
was let to farm to the men of the vill for eight years. (fn. 72)
They were still holding it in 1240, (fn. 73) and the lease
fell in in 1253. (fn. 74) From that time all trace of the
manor disappears, and it probably became merged in
the manor of Himbleton. In the 13th century
Phepson seems to have been a member of the manor
of Stoke Prior, (fn. 75) and is said to have been in the
liberty of the hundred of Stoke. (fn. 76)
A tithe barn and close at Phepson were sold in 1656
as late possessions of the Dean and Chapter of
Worcester to George Hooper of Westminster. (fn. 77)
In 1086 Roger de Lacy owned SHELL (Scelves,
xi cent.; Shelne, Schelne, xiii cent.; Shelbe, xvi
cent.), and Herman held it of him. In the time of
King Edward it had been held as two manors by
Aelfwig. (fn. 78) The Lacy's interest in the manor evidently
passed like their lordship at Spetchley to the lords
of Inkberrow, Shell being held of that manor in
1375–6 (fn. 79) and in the 15th century. (fn. 80) It probably
continued to be held of the manor of Inkberrow
until 1536, when a rent of 1d. was paid from the
manor to Lord Bergavenny. (fn. 81) In 1275–6 the
jurors of the hundred court presented that William
de Valence, who then owned Inkberrow, had appropriated Shell and Morton Underhill to his liberty of
Nobury in Inkberrow. (fn. 82)
Herman's tenancy of the manor evidently passed to
William son of Herman, who by an undated charter,
which was confirmed by his grandson William son of
Almaric, gave land in Phepson to the monks of
Worcester, promising to acquit Phepson from all royal
services, which should from henceforth be supplied
from his land of Shell. (fn. 83)
Shell, which seems to have followed the same
descent as Hill Croome in early times, is probably to
be identified with the 'Solive' which was held by
William de la Hull in 1194–5. (fn. 84) Whether William's
interest in the manor was that of overlord or tenant is
not clear, but he sold the vill of Shell in 1206–7 to
William Marshal Earl of Pembroke.
The tenancy of the manor afterwards passed to a
family who took their name from the estate.
Alexander de Shell settled a messuage, a mill and
half a virgate of land in Shell in 1268–9 upon himself and his wife Alice and Alexander his son. (fn. 85)
Simon de Shell paid a subsidy of 2s. at Shell and
Crowle in 1280, and at the same date Geoffrey de
Shell paid 2s. 6d. at Phepson, (fn. 86) while in 1282 William
de Shell came before the king and sought to recover
his land in Shell which he had forfeited for his default
against John de Haulton. (fn. 87) In 1292 Richard de
Berton presented to the chapel of Shell, (fn. 88) whose
advowson appears to have belonged to the lords of the
manor, and in 1295 Richard 'called Barcham' presented. (fn. 89) The usual form of the name seems to have
been Bartram. Richard de Bartram held the manor
in 1297–8. (fn. 90) Maud Bartram is called lady of Shell
in 1325, (fn. 91) and two years later Agnes Bartram paid a
subsidy of 40d. at Shell. (fn. 92) Roger de Butterley, who
was lord of Shell in 1344, (fn. 93) was holding in 1346,
jointly with the Prior of Worcester, a thirteenth of a
fee in Shell which Richard 'Herthram' once held. (fn. 94)
Lucy Bartram held the manor in 1361, (fn. 95) and John
Bartram seems to have been in possession in 1375–6. (fn. 96)
John son of John de Shell and grandson of Richard
Shell or Bartram, who presented to the chapel in
1382, (fn. 97) died in 1384–5, leaving a son John, aged
ten. (fn. 98) The latter died a minor in 1395–6, his heir
being his cousin Thomas Best, grandson of Maud sister
of Richard Bartram, John's great-grandfather. (fn. 99) The
advowson of the chapel, and possibly also the manor,
soon afterwards passed to the Webbs, Henry Webb
presenting in 1399 and 1400. (fn. 100) In 1410 and 1413
William Webb, whose relationship to Henry is not
known, and Thomas Hawkeslow, who had married
Sibil sister of Henry Webb, were patrons of the
chapel of Shell. (fn. 101) The manor subsequently passed to
the college of Westbury, but neither the donor nor
the date of the gift is known. In 1535 it brought in
a rent of £6 9s. 11d. to the college. (fn. 102)
The college was surrendered to Henry VIII on
10 February 1544, (fn. 103) and its possessions, including the
manor of Shell, were granted on 22 March to Sir
Ralph Sadleir, (fn. 104) who sold the manor of Shell to Thomas
and Richard Finch or Fincher in 1549–50. (fn. 105) The
shares of these two brothers follow a different descent. (fn. 106)
Thomas Fincher died in 1590, having previously, in
1567, settled the manor on his wife Joan, with
remainder to his third son Robert. (fn. 107) The latter,
dying in 1593, was followed by his sons Thomas
and John in succession. (fn. 108) John was followed about
1663 by his grandson John Fincher, (fn. 109) who died before
1717, (fn. 110) when his son Philip and his five daughters
were dealing with the manor. (fn. 111) Philip died in 1755,
and the manor passed to co-heirs, Mary wife of Thomas
Hornblower, Mary Fincher and Anne Fincher. (fn. 112)
Thomas Hornblower conveyed a third of the manor
in 1801–2 to William Humphreys, (fn. 113) and Anne wife
of Nicholas Pearsall, who conveyed the manor of
Shell in 1795–6 to Matthew Jefferys, (fn. 114) was perhaps
Anne Fincher mentioned above. Later the whole
manor passed to Henry Payton, who died in 1819, (fn. 115)
when it was sold to Edward Bearcroft, (fn. 116) whose grandson, Colonel Edward Hugh Bearcroft, C.B., is now
lord of the manor of Shell. (fn. 117)
The moiety of the manor of Shell bought by
Richard Fincher from Sir Ralph Sadleir was given
by the former in 1563 to his prospective son-in-law
Ralph Lench. (fn. 118) Richard, however, seems to have
retained a life interest, for Ralph Lench and Elizabeth
his wife did not enter into possession of the manor
until after Richard's death in 1581. (fn. 119) George Lench,
who was the owner of the manor in Habington's
time, (fn. 120) was possibly Ralph's son. John Lench was
the owner in 1651 (fn. 121) and in 1655. (fn. 122) In 1671 John
Kerver and his wife Elizabeth, Elizabeth Lench,
only daughter and heir of George Lench, deceased,
and John Lench of Doverdale conveyed the manor
to Paul Foley. (fn. 123) Paul died in 1699, leaving a son
Thomas, who died in 1737. (fn. 124) His son Thomas was
created Lord Foley of Kidderminster in 1776, and
his grandson Thomas Lord Foley was dealing with
the manor of Shell in 1802. (fn. 125) This portion of the
manor seems also to have passed to the Bearcrofts.
There was a mill in the Prior of Worcester's
manor of Himbleton in the middle of the 13th
century, (fn. 126) but it seems to have disappeared before
the middle of the 16th.
There is a water corn-mill on Bow Brook at Shell.
The first mention of it seems to be in 1268–9, when
it was in the possession of Alexander de Shell and
his son Alexander. (fn. 127) It afterwards belonged to the
college of Westbury, and was evidently granted to
Sir Ralph Sadleir with the manor. (fn. 128)
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY MAGDALENE consists of a chancel and nave
without division 70¾ft. long (of which
about 27 ft. belong to the chancel) by 18ft. in width,
north aisle 40 ft. by 10½ ft., with a modern vestry, communicating with it by a passage, south transept 12 ft.
deep by 11 ft. wide, and a south porch. A small
bell-turret of wood rises above the roof at the west
end of the nave. All the measurements are internal.
The 12th-century church consisted of a nave, with
a narrower chancel to the east of it, but of this
building only the south doorway and part of the south
nave wall remain. About 1240 the chancel appears
to have been entirely rebuilt of the same width as
the nave. The next addition was about 1370, when
the south transept was built as a chapel, and at the
same period the arch of the early south door was
reconstructed and the porch added. The west and
south-west walls of the nave were rebuilt, probably
when the wood turret was first erected in the 15th
century. The aisle was an addition of the 16th
century, and many of the windows were altered at
the same or a later period. The chief restoration
during the past century was undertaken in 1893; the
vestry is quite a modern addition.
The east window, of three pointed lancets, is
mainly of 13th-century date, but the buttresses at
the eastern angles of the chancel are modern. Of the
four windows in the side walls the first pair are
original, each being of two lights with a square head.
The second on the north is also a square-headed,
two-light opening, but the window opposite is entirely
modern. The archway to the transept appears to be
14th-century work and has two continuous chamfered
orders. The south transept or chapel has a window
in each wall; that to the east has three square-headed
lights and is original. To the south is a 14th-century window of two lights with a quatrefoil over.
The two-light west window, of similar date, has a
plain spandrel in the head, and in the sill is a piscina
basin. Cut on the south-west diagonal buttress of
the transept is a sundial. The south window of the
nave is a plain square-headed opening of two lights,
the stonework of which is old. The south doorway
has 12th-century jambs of two square orders, with
shafts in the angles, having carved capitals and moulded
bases. The western shaft is modern and the pointed
arch is of late 14th-century date. The contemporary
wood door is divided into nine main panels by rails,
each subdivided into four by muntins, the thirty-six
panels thus formed being quatrefoiled. The north arcade
consists of three bays, with arches of two chamfered
orders, resting on slight octagonal columns, with chamfered bases and moulded capitals. The responds have
been partly cut away, and beyond the eastern respond
is the blocked square-headed doorway to the former
rood stair. The west window of the nave has three
square-headed lights and has been much repaired.
Church Porch, Himbleton
The east window of the aisle is of three lights
with plain four-centred heads under a flat lintel.
The first window in the north wall is similar, and
the other two resemble it in type, but are of two lights
each. The west window of the aisle is entirely modern.
The north doorway is old and has a four-centred
arch of a single chamfered order. It now opens into
the passage to the new vestry.
The south porch is of timber on low stone walls,
each side having an arcade of trefoiled openings; the outer doorway is arched, and above
it is an open timbered gable. The bargeboard is panelled with quatrefoils and the roof is
tiled. The sloping sides of the lower part of
the bell-turret are covered with oak shingles, and
above this rises the belfry, which is of half-timber work filled in with rough-cast and crowned
by a pyramidal tiled roof. The belfry windows
are of two lights under flat lintels. The walls
generally are of rubble, but the west wall of the
nave and the south wall west of the porch,
which were rebuilt in the 15th or 16th century,
are of ashlar, chiefly red sandstone.
The gabled roofs retain some of their old
15th or 16th-century timbers. Both chancel
and nave have ancient pointed barrel trusses,
once plastered, and the chancel wall-plates are
moulded and embattled. The corresponding
feature in the nave has carved flowers at intervals, but is largely modern. The transept has
a gabled roof with plain embattled wall-plates,
and the aisle is roofed with barrel trusses, the
timbers of both being old but plain. Across the
chancel is a modern rood beam.
The font is square in plan, the sides of the
bowl being chamfered below and having a
Paschal Lamb carved on the east face. The
stem is moulded at the top and the base is
modern. The original portion may be as early
as the 12th century. An 18th-century marble
font on a carved baluster stem now stands in the
vestry. This was made for Hanbury Church,
and afterwards went to the new church at Finstall, in each case making way for a modern
Gothic font.
In the church is a quantity of old stained glass (fn. 129)
and other modern glass, very closely resembling it. The
only old piece in the east window is a small figure of
St. Mary Magdalene with the name inscribed below.
In the north-west window of the chancel are some
fragments including the greater part of the figures of
St. Anne and the Virgin. The east window of the
transept has ancient glass in the side lights. On
the north is St. Mary with two kneeling figures in
blue below and the words in black letters 'Sancta
Maria ora pro nobis,' and on the south St. John
with two similar figures and the inscription 'Sancte
Johannes ora pro nobis.' Below all three lights is
the inscription 'Orate pro animabus Henrici Godd
et Agnetis uxoris ejus.' In the south window of
the transept are a few old fragments, while the north-east window of the aisle contains in its western light
an eagle on a tower said to be a badge of the Winters
of Huddington; below this is a head on a geometrical
figure, and under this the head, hand, spear and shield
of St. George, with the dragon and skull of a human
victim below, all mixed up with fragments of a robe,
of which part of a nimbus and veil belong to the
St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin in the chancel
windows. In the middle light is a large R. E.
with a W, (fn. 130) and below it the crowned figure of St.
Catherine. Under these is a mantled helmet with
the crest of an eagle and a shield: Quarterly: 1 and
4 quarterly: (1) Argent a bend azure with three cinqfoils or thereon, for Cooksey; (2) and (3) Gules a
saltire argent in a border sable charged with molets or,
for Hoddington; (4) Argent a bend gules with three
buckles or thereon, for Cassey; 2 and 3. Sable two
bars argent with three roundels argent in the chief,
and the difference of a molet argent, for Hungerford.
In the east light is the headless figure of St. John
the Evangelist in blue vestments holding a chalice
with a serpent issuing from it, and in the head of the
light is a rebus of Cooksey; a kitchen table in a cockboat; between them the word 'Mņ' in a geometrical
figure. Over the east window is a remarkable painting
of the royal arms of Queen Elizabeth, executed on
the plaster. Unfortunately this is fast fading away.
In the south transept are a number of gravestones
to members of the Fincher family; one to Philip
Fincher, died 1660, and others to John Fincher of
Shell, died 1703, John died 1705, and Elizabeth his
wife 1709. On the wall is a monument to Philip,
the last male of the family of Fincher of Shell, died
1755, and other wall monuments of later date.
There are four bells, all cast by John Martin of
Worcester in 1675. The inscriptions read: on the
treble, 'Jesus be our good speed'; the second, 'Prayse
and glory be to God for ever'; the third, 'Bee it
known to all that doth we see, John Martin of Worcester hee made wee,' and the tenor, 'All men that
heare my rorin sound, Repent beefore you ly in ground.'
The communion plate includes a cup and cover
paten, inscribed 'Mr. John Fincher's gift to ye
Church and Parish of Himbleton 1656 augmented
1688' (it bears no hall-mark, but the stamp S R four
times), and a paten, also with no hall-mark, but
inscribed 1688.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1713 to 1791, marriages 1713 to 1753, and
burials 1713 to 1790; (ii) marriages 1754 to 1812;
(iii) baptisms and burials 1792 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of Himbleton
belonged to the priory of Worcester
until the dissolution of their house, (fn. 131)
when it passed to the Crown. It was granted with
the manor in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter of
Worcester, (fn. 132) who are still the patrons.
In November 1389 the Prior and convent of
Worcester obtained a licence to appropriate the church
of Himbleton (fn. 133) to the guest-house of the monastery,
which was then insufficiently endowed. The appropriation was confirmed by the pope in 1395. (fn. 134) In
1403 the vicarage was ordained, a pension of 10 marks
and 16 acres of arable land being assigned to the
vicar. (fn. 135) Shortly after the pension of 10 marks was
doubled and the prior and convent undertook to pay
3s. 4d. to the poor parishioners of the parish. (fn. 136) In
1535 the rectory was annexed to that of Tibberton. (fn. 137)
In 1536 Cromwell wrote asking the Prior of
Worcester to lease the tithe and parsonage of Himbleton to Robert Sturges. The prior replied that
the rectory was always kept in his own hands and
could not be spared, as the monks did not obtain sufficient corn from their tenants to meet their needs. (fn. 138)
There was a chapel at Shell annexed to the church
of Hanbury. (fn. 139) The first presentation which has been
found was made in 1292 by Richard Bartram, lord of
the manor of Shell, and successive lords of the manor
seem to have been patrons of this chapel (fn. 140) until 1413,
when the last recorded presentation took place. (fn. 141) The
chapel is not mentioned in the valuation of Hanbury
rectory taken in 1535. The tithes of Shell continued, however, to belong to the lords of the manor
until 1717 or later. (fn. 142) It was probably after the
destruction of the chapel at Shell that a chapel in the
church of Himbleton was assigned to the use of the
inhabitants of Shell.
From entries in the register of Worcester Priory
it seems possible that there were chapels at Phepson
and Dunhampstead in the 13th century, for the Prior
and convent of Worcester are said to have been
patrons of the former by collation of King Edwy and
of the latter by collation of King Coenwulf. (fn. 143) It is to
be observed, however, that no mention is made of
any chapel in the survey of either of these manors
given in this register. No further reference to a
chapel at Phepson has been found, but in a deed of
1342–3 land near the churchyard of Dunhampstead
is mentioned. (fn. 144)
CHARITIES
It appeared from the church table
that the Rev. William Maschall, the
vicar in 1633, the Rev. Samuel Wilkins (a former vicar) and Francis Mince gave certain
donations for the use of the poor which cannot now
be traced. A cottage with two dwellings situate near
Road Bridge was subsequently purchased with a sum
of £30, presumably representing these gifts with
interest thereon. They were occupied by two poor
persons rent free.
An annuity of 20s., stated on the same table to
have been devised by will of Andrew Baker of Hill
Court, Grafton Flyford, for bread for the poor, has
ceased to be paid.
The church lands, formerly consisting of 3 r. 15 p.,
held by the vicar and churchwardens since 1657, were
sold in 1907 and the proceeds invested in £59 11s. 1d.
Birmingham Corporation 3 per cent. stock with the
official trustees, producing £2 1s. 8d. yearly, which is
used for church repairs in accordance with the description of the church lands in the 18th-century map of
the parish, where the piece of land is labelled 'for
church repairs.'