PURLEY
Porlei (xi cent.); Purlai (xii cent.); Purle (xiv
cent.); Purlew (xvi cent.).
Purley Hall: Garden Front
The parish of Purley lies to the west of Pangbourne and is bounded on its northern and eastern
sides by the River Thames; it contains 862 acres, of
which 471 are arable, 375 permanent grass and 15
woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The nearest railway station
is at Tilehurst.
Purley Park, which stretches down to the banks of
the river, is divided into two parts by the Great
Western railway. The road from Wallingford to
Reading runs along its southern border. The house,
a large modern building of Portland stone in the
Italian style, is the property of Mrs. Fullerton, the
lady of the manor. The parish church of St. Mary
is in the park, just above Purley Ferry a little distance
to the east of the village; it stands much nearer to
the river than the house, from which it is separated
by the railway line.
Purley Hall, formerly known as Hyde Hall, which
now belongs to the Rev. Henry Charles Wilder, rector
of Sulham, is an early 17th-century mansion of brick
and stone. It is of two stories, and nearly square on
plan, the offices and stables being grouped round a
courtyard on the north side. Originally there is
said to have been a third story, but this was taken
down, as the weight was too much for the wall.
The interior appears to have been much repaired
early in the 18th century, when the present principal
stairs were constructed and sash windows inserted to
some of the first floor rooms in the place of the
original mullioned windows. The date 1719 on
the rain-water head in the centre of the south or
garden front probably gives the date of these alterations. In 1869 considerable restorations were entered
upon, and in 1906 an addition was made to the east
side of the house. The principal entrance is in the
centre of the west front and opens into a large hall
panelled and painted in the style of Sir James
Thornhill. The principal stairs ascend from the
east end of this hall. The steps have console
brackets, and the rail is supported by twisted
balusters. On the north side of the entrance is the
dining room, which still retains its original panelling.
Here also are some pilasters, brought from the
former stables, carved with reins, brushes, currycombs, and the like appropriate subjects. In the
centre of the ceiling is a shield charged as follows:
(1) and (4) A cheveron between three leopards'
heads (Hawes); (2) and (3) A fesse between two
running greyhounds (Hall ?) impaling a bend between
two lions' heads razed with three crosses formy on
the bend (Atherley). The shield is inclosed in a
circle with the motto 'Floresco et Evanesco.' In
the upper lights of the windows of the drawing room,
which opens out of the entrance hall on the south,
are two pieces of heraldic glass, one of which is
charged with Hawes impaling Argent two bars sable
battled on both sides with three whelk shells sable in
the chief, with the crest of a griffin's head and the
motto 'Fructus Virtutis.' The other shield is Azure
a dove holding an olive branch with a molet between
two crosses formy or in the chief, for John Leng,
Bishop of Norwich (1723–7), impaling Hawes. Above
is a mitre with the motto 'Noli Altum Sapere.' In
the library, on the east side of the house, is a fine
original chimneypiece of oak with linen pattern and
inlaid panelling and black marble pilasters. The centre
of the entrance front is recessed and is occupied by a
porch apparently modern with the date 1609 above it
on an elaborate stone panel of Jacobean design. The
projecting portions of the elevation on either side of
the recessed centre are crowned by low-pitched gables.
The garden front remains pretty much in its original
condition, with the exception that the windows of the
ground floor appear to have had their sills lowered.
The angles are marked by stucco quoins. The chimney shafts are octagonal and of brick and the roofs
are covered with slate.
The northern part of the parish lies very low and
is liable to floods. Saltney Mead, which stretches
along the river bank about half a mile east of Whitchurch Bridge, is common to the parishes of Purley
and Sulham and a corner of Whitchurch. Three
sheaves used to be put in the three corners as tithe.
It contains nearly 5¼ acres.
The soil is loam and gravel, the subsoil gravel.
The chief crops are oats, barley and beans. The
common lands were inclosed in 1856. (fn. 2) The kennels
of the South Berks fox-hounds are in this parish.
MANORS
The manor of PURLEY MAGNA
(Porle Huscarle, xv cent.) was held of
Edward the Confessor by Bristeward, (fn. 3)
and passed into the possession of Ralf or Roger the
son of Seifrid, tenant in 1086. (fn. 4) It was later of the
honour of Wallingford, the overlordship being last
mentioned in 1589. (fn. 5) In 1166 three knights' fees
in Berkshire were held under the honour of Wallingford by Gilbert Huscarle, one of which may have
been the manor of Purley. (fn. 6)
Gilbert was succeeded before
1176 by Richard Huscarle, (fn. 7)
who may have been his son.
Roland Huscarle, the heir
of this Richard, is first mentioned in 1199 (fn. 8) ; he was succeeded apparently about 1212
by his son Thomas, (fn. 9) who in
1224 confirmed to the Abbot
of Thame 1 virgate of land
in Purley which his father
had given them. (fn. 10) Thomas
seems to have been succeeded
by William Huscarle, who held one-fourth of a
knight's fee in Berkshire as of the honour of Wallingford in 1235–6. (fn. 11) In 1307 another Roland Huscarle was in possession of Purley, which was then
settled on himself and his wife Margaret. (fn. 12) He
was succeeded by his son Thomas, who came of age
in 1313 and settled the manor in the same year
on himself and his wife Julian. (fn. 13) Sir Thomas
Huscarle, who was perhaps their son, married about
1343, apparently as his second wife, Lucy daughter
and heir of Sir Richard Willoughby, (fn. 14) and a fresh
settlement of the manor being then made, it was
vested in Sir Thomas and Lucy and the heirs of their
bodies, with contingent remainders to John son of
Sir Thomas and his heirs. (fn. 15) Lucy survived her
husband and married secondly Nicholas Carew in
1357. (fn. 16) John Huscarle, named in the settlement
of 1343, had apparently died without issue, and Sir
Thomas Huscarle's heir by Lucy was his son Thomas,
whose trustees in 1369 granted the manor to his
stepfather, Nicholas Carew,
with reversion to his son of
the same name and the heirs
of his body, and contingent
remainder to the right heirs
of Sir Thomas Huscarle. (fn. 17)
Huscarle. Azure three axes argent.
Carew. Or three lions passant sable.
In 1375 Nicholas Carew
the elder obtained a grant of
free warren in his demesne
lands in Purley, (fn. 18) and in 1379
a quitclaim from the heirs
of Sir Thomas Huscarle of
all their right in the manor. (fn. 19)
Nicholas Carew was named
one of the executors of Edward III. (fn. 20) He died
in 1390, leaving as his heir his son Nicholas. (fn. 21)
This Nicholas married, first, Isabel de la Mare,
by whom he had a son Nicholas, (fn. 22) and secondly,
about 1398, Mercy daughter of Stephen Haym. (fn. 23)
He was still living in February 1432. He had
before this settled the manor on himself and Mercy
and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to
his own right heirs. (fn. 24) There seems, however, to
have been another settlement on his son, a third
Nicholas, and his heirs, with contingent remainder to
the heirs of Thomas Carew, son of the elder Nicholas
by his second wife Mercy. (fn. 25) Nicholas the elder died
in 1432, (fn. 26) when the manor seems to have passed
according to the latter settlement. About 1450 an
action for assurance of the remainder was brought by
Richard Forde and William Saunder in right of their
wives Mercy and Joan the daughters and co-heirs of
Thomas Carew. (fn. 27) Nicholas the son and namesake
succeeded to the estate, which he settled in 1454 on
himself with reversion to his son (fn. 28) Nicholas, the
fourth of this name at Purley and his wife Margaret
the daughter of Edward Langford. (fn. 29) Mercy, the
widow of the second Nicholas, was still living at this
time, and together with Arthur Ormesby, then her
husband, was a party to this settlement. (fn. 30) She seems
afterwards to have quarrelled with the fourth Nicholas,
who succeeded his father in 1458, (fn. 31) for in 1461 she
brought a suit against him, apparently on the plea
that he had given her insufficient dower. (fn. 32) Nicholas
Carew died in 1466 seised of the manor of Great
Purley leaving Margaret, his wife and joint tenant,
surviving and a son and heir Nicholas, then four years
old. (fn. 33) The last-named Nicholas came of age in
September 1484, (fn. 34) but he died childless about 1485 (fn. 35)
leaving as his heirs his three sisters, Sanchea, who was
married to Sir John Iwardby, Elizabeth the wife of
Walter Twynho, and Anne Tropnell. (fn. 36) The manor
of Purley formed part of the portion of Sanchea,
who was succeeded before 1514 by her daughter
Joan, then the wife of Nicholas Saunder. (fn. 37) Joan
had previously been married to Sir John St. John of
Lydiard Tregoze (co. Wilts.), (fn. 38) whose descendants
continued to be in possession of the manor of Purley
Magna for nearly 300 years. After the death of
her first husband, Joan, together with her son another
John St. John, settled the reversion of the estate on
Elizabeth, one of the daughters of Richard Blount of
Mapledurham (co. Oxon.), for her life, with remainder to John's son Nicholas. (fn. 39) This settlement
was perhaps made in anticipation of the marriage
which afterwards took place between Nicholas and
this Elizabeth. (fn. 40) Nicholas came to live at Purley, (fn. 41)
and died seised of the estate in 1589, leaving as his
heir his son John. (fn. 42) This John apparently preferred
to live at Lydiard Tregoze, where he died in 1594. (fn. 43)
His heir was his son Walter, who died under age in
1597, and was succeeded by his brother, another John. (fn. 44)
John St. John was created a baronet at the institution of that order 22 May 1611. (fn. 45) He was
member for Wiltshire in the
Parliament of 1624, (fn. 46) and
seems, like his father, to have
lived chiefly at Lydiard Tregoze. It is possible, however,
that he was at Purley in
1627, for his brother-in-law,
Sir Allen Apsley, lieutenant
of the Tower, was certainly
staying there at the time of
his illness in that year. (fn. 47)
Apsley had married Lucy,
the youngest of the St. John
sisters and mother by him of
Mrs. Hutchinson, the celebrated memoir writer. (fn. 48) This was not the only
connexion that the family had formed with the
unpopular party, for Barbara, the eldest sister, had
married Edward Villiers, half-brother of the Duke
of Buckingham, and Katherine was the wife of
Sir Giles Mompesson, impeached as a monopolist
by the Commons in 1621, who was the supposed
original of Sir Giles Over-reach in Massinger's
'A New Way to Pay Old Debts.' (fn. 49) Sir John
St. John was a zealous Royalist, and three of his
sons were killed on the king's side during the
Civil War. (fn. 50) He dealt with Purley Magna by fine
in 1634, (fn. 51) and died in 1648 at Battersea, which he
had inherited from his uncle Oliver St. John Viscount
Grandison. (fn. 52) He was succeeded by his grandson
John, who died unmarried in 1657, leaving as his
heir his uncle Walter. (fn. 53) Sir Walter made a settlement of the manor in 1673. (fn. 54) He died in 1708,
and was succeeded by his only son Henry, who had
married, first, Lady Mary Rich, by whom he had
one son, Henry, afterwards the famous minister of Queen
Anne, and, secondly, Angelique Madeleine, daughter
of Georges Pelissary, treasurer of the French Navy. (fn. 55)
Sir Henry, who was created Viscount St. John in
1716, died in 1742, and was succeeded by his son
Henry Viscount Bolingbroke. (fn. 56) Bolingbroke died
childless in 1751, leaving as his heir Frederick, the son
of his half-brother John St. John. (fn. 57) Frederick Viscount
Bolingbroke made a settlement of Purley Magna in
1754, (fn. 58) and was succeeded there on his death by his
son George Richard, (fn. 59) who sold the manor in 1789 to
Robert Mackreth, (fn. 60) from whom it passed before
1791 to John Martindale. (fn. 61) It was bought about 1793
by Anthony Morris Storer, the antiquary and collector.
He died in 1799, (fn. 62) leaving the estate to his nephew
Mr. Anthony Gilbert Storer,
whose son Major Anthony
Morris Storer held it at his
death in 1902. Mrs. Fullerton,
the latter's daughter, is the
lady of the manor at the
present day.
St. John. Argent a chief gules with two molets or therein.
Storer of Purley. Six pieces gules and argent with three cranes argent in the gules.
The manor of PURLEY
PARVA (Purlew Westbrook,
xvii cent.), assessed at half a
hide, was held at the time
of the Domesday Survey by
Theodoric the Goldsmith, and
had belonged in the reign of
Edward the Confessor to
Edward. (fn. 63) It was held of the
king in chief, rendering 20s. yearly at Windsor Castle.
The last mention of the overlordship occurs in
1427. (fn. 64) Early in the 12th century the estate may
have passed to Robert de Sifrewast, (fn. 65) whose son
William was a Berkshire landholder in 1160. (fn. 66)
William was succeeded before 1186 by Halnoth de
Sifrewast, who may have been his son. (fn. 67) Halnoth
was still living in 1212, (fn. 68) but died before 1217, in
which year his son and heir William did homage and
received seisin of his lands on payment of a relief of
100s. (fn. 69) William de Sifrewast was succeeded by his son
Nicholas, (fn. 70) whose heir, another William, in 1302
enfeoffed Henry Buskre of Malines and Cecily his
wife, (fn. 71) whose descendants held the manor for more
than 120 years. Henry 'Malyns' died about
1324. (fn. 72) Cecily survived him and was seised of the
estate until her death in 1331 (fn. 73) ; her heir was her
son Edmund Malyns, then said to be thirty years
old, (fn. 74) though his age had been stated at twenty-eight
and more in the inquest taken after his father's death.
In 1339 Edmund obtained licence to grant the
property to his son Reynold Malyns and to Edmund
de Hampden for life. (fn. 75) Reynold afterwards acquired
also lands in Oxfordshire and became a knight. He
died in 1384, leaving as his heir his son Edmund, (fn. 76)
on whose death in 1386 the manor of Purley Parva
passed, for the only time during the Malyns' tenancy,
to a minor. (fn. 77) This was Edmund, the younger son
of Sir Edmund Malyns, upon whom the estate had
been settled for life with reversion to his father's heirs
and contingent remainder to Thomas Barentyne and
Joan his wife. (fn. 78) Edmund Malyns died in 1399 and
was succeeded by his elder brother Reynold. (fn. 79)
Reynold Malyns remained in possession of the
manor until 1424, in which year he conveyed it to
Thomas and Alice Walshe and John their son. (fn. 80)
Thomas Walshe was still holding it in 1428, (fn. 81) but it
passed before 1433 to Reynold, the son of Thomas and
Joan Barentyne named in the settlement of 1386. (fn. 82)
Reynold Barentyne was succeeded before 1451 by
his son Drew, (fn. 83) who granted the manor in that year
to John Norreys as security for the payment of an
annual rent of 10 marks from the manor of Rofford
in Chalgrove (co. Oxon.). (fn. 84) Apparently the rent
was unpaid, for John Norreys was in possession of
the estate by 1462, in which year he settled it on
himself and his wife Margaret. (fn. 85) The manor remained in the Norreys family, until 1630, (fn. 86) when it
was held by Edward Wray and his wife Elizabeth,
daughter of Francis Norreys, Earl of Berkshire; it
passed subsequently to Anthony Lybbe, who dealt
with it by fine in 1659. (fn. 87) Richard Lybbe, probably
the grandson of Anthony, was dealing with it in
1707. (fn. 88) His daughter Isabel married Philip Powys (fn. 89) ;
their son, Philip Lybbe-Powys, was vouchee in a
recovery of 1759. (fn. 90)
The present owner of the estate is Mr. Reginald
Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe, but the manorial rights,
which were exercised as late as 1790, (fn. 91) have fallen
into abeyance.
The manor of LA HYDE, later known as HYDE
HALL or PURLEY HALL, appears to have been
partly situated in Pangbourne parish and partly in the
parishes of Sulham, Purley and Whitchurch. In 1086
1 hide in Pangbourne was held by a certain knight
under William, who was the tenant of Miles Crispin, (fn. 92)
and the same William held 1 hide in Sulham of Miles
Crispin. Later, Hugh de St. Philibert, lord of Sulham
held lands of Richard de la Hide in Pangbourne,
Purley and elsewhere, which seem to have included
the manor of La Hyde. (fn. 93) This passed with Sulham till
the close of the 15th century. (fn. 94) On the death of
Nicholas Carew before 1485 Hyde Hall passed to one
of his three sisters, Elizabeth the wife of Walter
Twynho. Her son and grandson Edward and
Anthony Twynho (fn. 95) held Hyde Hall successively (fn. 96) ;
the latter died in 1529, and his possessions passed to his
sisters and heirs—Ann the wife of Henry Heydon,
son of Sir Henry Heydon, and Katherine the wife of
John Dauntesay. (fn. 97) In 1543–4 a moiety of the
manor was held by Ann and Henry Heydon. (fn. 98)
They had a son named Francis, but the whole of
Hyde Hall finally came to Bridget Dauntesay, the
daughter and heir of Katherine. (fn. 99) Bridget married
Hugh Hyde of Letcombe, (fn. 100) and her son and heir
Francis Hyde of Pangbourne was lord of the manor
in 1605. (fn. 101) The Hydes were Roman Catholics and
two-thirds of a capital messuage and land in the
parishes of Whitchurch, Purley, Pangbourne and
Sulham were seized by the Crown through the recusancy of Francis Hyde. (fn. 102) Charles I gave a lease
of this two-thirds to William
Smith in 1627–8. (fn. 103) Two
years later Francis Hyde died
seised of the manor and was
succeeded by his son and heir
Richard, (fn. 104) who died before
1665, when his son Francis
was summoned to appear at
Ashmole's visitation of the
county. (fn. 105) Francis Hyde died
about 1688 and was succeeded
by his son and grandson, both
named Francis. (fn. 106) The last
Francis Hyde and his younger
brother John sold the Hyde Hall estate in 1720 to
Francis Hawes of Purley. (fn. 107) The latter was implicated in the affairs of the South Sea Company, his
cousin Francis Hawes having been one of its promoters, and in 1722 the manor was put up for sale
by the creditors of the company. It was bought by
Charles Hall, but this appears to have been a creditors'
settlement, as the Hawes remained in possession till
1753, when the property was in Chancery. It was
heavily mortgaged and was finally bought from the
creditors of the Hawes family by the Rev. Henry
Wilder in 1773. (fn. 108) His descendant the Rev. H. C.
Wilder is the present owner.
Hyde. Gules two cheverons argent.
In the 16th century the Staffords of Bradfield had
a holding in Purley, which was by them called a
manor. (fn. 109) It was settled on Thomas Stafford in 1534 (fn. 110)
and remained in possession of his descendants at least
as late as 1605, (fn. 111) but its history after this date
is unknown.
There was no mill attached to the manor of Purley
Magna in 1086 (fn. 112) ; Richard de la fullinge mille of
Purley is mentioned in the 13th century, (fn. 113) but there
appears to be no later record of any mill. A mill
belonged to the manor of Hyde Hall in 1332–3,
when it was worth 20s. (fn. 114) The disused mill which
adjoins the park of Purley Hall is probably on the
same site.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of a modern chancel
with north vestry and organ chamber,
nave, north aisle, a 17th-century west tower measuring
internally 9 ft. 6 in. by 9 ft. 8 in., and a modern
south porch.
The church was entirely rebuilt in the year 1870
with the exception of the tower. The materials are
flint with stone dressings. The early 12th-century
chancel arch of the former building has been reset in
the north wall of the chancel, where it now spans
the opening into the organ chamber. It is of two
square orders on the south face, the soffit of the
outer order being moulded with a half-round, and
the jambs have shafts with moulded bases, cushion
capitals, and chamfered abaci carved with the nailhead. Some fragments of original 13th-century date
survive in the lancet at the north-east of the chancel
and in the north doorway and window of the vestry
and organ chamber. A late 15th-century window
of three cinquefoiled lights under a four-centred
head, now serving as the east window of the vestry,
completes the catalogue of the structural survivals from
the former church.
The west tower, dated 1626, is of stone faced with
red brick, with external dressings of stone. It is in
three recessed stages, with an embattled parapet and
moulded cornice. On the east, south and west faces
of the cornice respectively are two gargoyles; on the
north face is one gargoyle only, placed centrally. The
tower arch is two-centred and of a single chamfered
order. The west window of the ground stage is of
two uncusped lights within a square head. The
ringing stage is lighted on the west by a modern
window of two trefoiled lights. The belfry is lighted
on all four sides by plain square-headed openings. In
the exterior of the south wall of the ringing chamber
is a stone slab on which is carved the date 1626 and
a quartered shield of the arms of Sir John St. John,
which are St. John quartered with Poynings and
Tregoze. The stone font is of early 12th-century
date and is tub-shaped with a moulded base. Surrounding the bowl is a highly enriched arcade of
semicircular interlacing arches with a narrow band of
cheveron ornament above. In the centre of the east
side two wider bays are formed in the arcading by
the omission of the alternate pilasters with their arches.
In one of the panels thus formed is a head, probably
intended for the head of our Lord; the other panel
is filled with interlaced work.
In the east wall of the organ chamber is a brass
commemorating William Noble, son of Thomas Noble
of Rearsby, Leicestershire; the inscription states that
he was 'late parson of Brooksbye & Vicar of Quenneburrough,' Leicestershire, and died 6 October 1644.
In the north wall of the tower is an elaborate
mural tablet to Anne the wife of Edward Hyde, afterwards Lord Clarendon, and daughter of 'Sr George
Ayliffe, kt., of Grittenham Wilts. She died 2 July
1632, aged 20.' Above is a shield of arms: Sable
a cheveron argent between three leopards' heads or,
for Noble, impaling Argent two battled bars sable
and a chief with three shells sable therein. Over
the shield is a helm with a crest of a griffon's head,
with the motto 'Fructus Virtutis.' In the same
wall is a tablet to Jane daughter and heir of John
Iwardby, wife of John St. John. On the tablet is a
shield: Azure a dove rising holding an olive branch
and a molet argent between two crosses formy or in
the chief, which are the arms of John Leng, Bishop
of Norwich, 1723–7, impaling those of Noble. Over
the shield is a mitre with the motto 'Noli altum
sapere.'
There is a ring of six bells: treble, by Thomas
Ganaway, 1778; second, inscribed 'Prayse ye the
Lord 1635'; third, inscribed 'Prayse ye the Lord
1629'; fourth, inscribed 'Prayse ye the Lord 1627';
fifth, recast in 1787; and tenor, inscribed 'Lord
Grandesonn 1629. S. R. O. S.'
The communion plate consists of a chalice and
paten, both inscribed 'The gift of Francis Hawes
to the Parish of Purley in Berks 1733,' and bearing
the date letter of the same year, an almsdish inscribed 'The gift of Frances Twysden, Spinster,
Daughter of Sir William Twysden Bart. of East
Peckham in Kent, to the Parish Church of Purley in
Purley, in Berks 1735,' bearing the date letter of
1683, and a flagon of 1871.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) baptisms 1663 to 1773; marriages 1662 to
1753, burials 1664 to 1773; (ii) baptisms and
burials 1773 to 1812; (iii) marriages 1755 to 1812
(this continues to the present day).
ADVOWSON
There was a church at Purley valued
in 1291 at £4 6s. 8d., from which
the Abbot of Reading received a
pension of 2s. (fn. 115) The patronage seems to have
belonged at first to the lords of the manor, (fn. 116) but
passed, probably in the 14th century, to the college
of St. Edmund in Salisbury. (fn. 117) It was taken into the
king's hands at the time of the Dissolution, (fn. 118) when the
church was worth £12 17s. 3½d. and paid a pension
of 20s. to the provost of the college. In 1595 the
church was described as 'a parsonage impropriate
sometime belonging to the dissolved College of
St. Edmund.' (fn. 119) By 1623, however, the living was
a rectory, (fn. 120) as it is at the present day. The advowson was granted in 1546 to William St. Barbe, (fn. 121) but
it afterwards reverted to the Crown, (fn. 122) in whose possession it remained until 1822. (fn. 123) It subsequently passed
with other Crown patronage to the Lord Chancellor, (fn. 124)
who is the present patron. (fn. 125)
CHARITY
A sum of 6s. a year was formerly
distributed among poor widows, under
the head of Cow money, in respect of
£6 in the hands of the overseers. It has ceased to
be paid for many years.