ASTON TIRROLD
Estone, Extona (xi cent.); Eston (xiii cent.);
Aston (xiii-xiv cent.); Aston Torald, Thorold,
Thurroll (fn. 1) (xv-xvi cent.); Austenthorold (xvi cent.).
Aston Tirrold lies on the southern edge of the
fertile valley which crosses the county nearly east and
west from Wallingford to Ashbury. The parish
contains 1,753 acres, and is broken up by detached
portions of Aston Upthorpe. The soil is loam and
lies partly on the Upper Greensand (fn. 2) and partly on
the chalk of the downs, which has been worked
within the parish. Some 1,175 acres are arable
land, and there are considerable apple and cherry
orchards, while the pasture covers about 536 acres. (fn. 3)
The common downs and twelve of the open fields
were inclosed in 1743 (fn. 4) and the remaining fields in
1808. (fn. 5)
The Manor House, Aston Tirrold
The village lies a little north of the main road
from Wantage to Reading, 3 miles east from the
Upton station on the Didcot and Newbury railway,
and 3 miles west from Moulsford station on the
Great Western railway. On the west it adjoins the
village of Aston Upthorpe, locally known as 'Thorpe.'
The majority of the
buildings are of some
antiquity, and are
generally of brick or
half-timber construction with tiled, and,
in some cases,
thatched, roofs, while
several of the cottages have their walls
externally plastered
or hung with tiles.
The church stands
at the north end of
the village.
On the north side
of the churchyard,
standing well back
from the roadway,
is the Manor House,
the property and
residence of Mr.
Francis J. K. Cross,
J.P. It is a fine
Queen Anne building of red brick, two
stories in height,
with an attic. The
principal front has a projecting wooden cornice,
and is crowned by a hipped roof of tiles, a feature being formed by two panelled chimney stacks
which are carried up on either side of the central
dormer. The entrance doorway has a shell canopy
supported by elaborately carved consoles. A few
yards further north along the road is a large barn
of brick and half-timber with boarding upon the
upper portion.
At the corner of the fork of the road, south of the
church, is an interesting little 17th-century house
with mullioned and transomed windows, rough-casted
walls with imitation quoins at the angles, and a
wooden cornice below the tiled roof.
At the south end of the village is an 18th-century
Presbyterian chapel, standing in a prettily wooded
graveyard. The building, which is square in plan
and is built of red brick with a tiled roof, is lighted
by round-headed windows on the north, south, and
west, and by a small circular light over the pulpit on
the east. At the north-east is a small vestry with a
panelled dado, while on the west front have been
built two modern porches. This chapel was served
by Thomas Keyworth, author of Principia Hebraica,
1841–5. (fn. 6) Attached to it was a school, opened in
1871 and closed in 1907. (fn. 7) The Church of England
school was built in 1847 and enlarged in 1882.
There is a village recreation ground of 5 acres.
Aston Tirrold is traversed by several ancient roadways. The southern boundary is an old track in the
hollow of Deans Bottom, and just north of it is
the 'Fairmile,' a branch of the Ridgeway leading
towards Moulsford. Grims Ditch and the Portway
can also be traced in the parish. (fn. 8) Some place-names
of interest are Baggs's Picks, the Berry, Goozle Mere,
Rowham, Mar Furlong, the Severals, the Tubbies,
Waterslade Bottom and Windrell Copse. Windmill
Piece is the site of a mill which was standing early in
the 19th century.
MANORS
Before the Conquest the main part of
ASTON TIRROLD, then assessed at
15 hides, was held by the wife of Lanc. (fn. 9)
In 1086 it was in the king's hands. (fn. 10) William Earl
of Warwick returned one knight's fee held by
Nicholas son of Torold (lord of Aston) among the
lands held of him in 1166. (fn. 11) The overlordship
remained with the successive Earls of Warwick (fn. 12) at
least until 1446, (fn. 13) and at the death of Anne Beauchamp (fn. 14) in January 1448–9 it apparently lapsed to
the Crown. Thenceforward the service, of two parts
of a knight's fee, (fn. 15) was attached to the honour of
Wallingford. (fn. 16)
Possibly it was to Torold son of Geoffrey, (fn. 17) father
of the Nicholas holding in 1166, that Aston Tirrold
owes its name. Certainly Nicholas son of Torold
de Aston, (fn. 18) and possibly his father before him, was
immediate tenant of the manor under the Earls of
Warwick. (fn. 19) Nicholas had brothers, Richard, who
may have succeeded to this holding, (fn. 20) and Miles,
who certainly did so. (fn. 21) Apparently these brothers
left no heirs male, and the manor afterwards followed
the descent of Wokefield in Stratfield Mortimer
(q.v.) until 1241, when it was permanently divided
between Robert Danvers and Margery wife of Alan
de Farnham and co-heir of Nicholas de Bolney. (fn. 22) In
consideration of the surrender of Wokefield Robert
agreed to do to the co-heirs of Nicholas de Bolney
the service which he had formerly done directly
to the Earl of Warwick. (fn. 23) There is record of the
service due from the Danvers portion to the descendants of Alan and Margery in 1336. (fn. 24) The lands of
Robert Danvers, described in 1331 as the manor
of ASTON DANVERS, ultimately descended to
William Danvers, (fn. 25) who made settlement of the
manor in 1427 upon himself for life with remainder
to his wife Joan. Upon her death it was to be sold for
deeds of charity. (fn. 26) In 1457 Joan widow of William
Danvers conveyed her interest to William Bishop of
Winchester, (fn. 27) but the reversionary rights had been
purchased for 200 marks (fn. 28) by William de la Pole,
Marquess, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk, (fn. 29) whose widow
Alice with her son John, the second duke, had a
release of his right in it from John Jankins of
Reading, fuller, probably a trustee, on 26 March
1458. (fn. 30) By the attainder of Edmund third duke
and eighth Earl of Suffolk in January 1503–4 (fn. 31)
Aston Danvers fell to the Crown and was for a time
in the custody of Anthony Fettiplace, squire of the
body to Henry VIII, (fn. 32) and afterwards of William
Compton. (fn. 33) It was evidently accounted a member
of Donnington, (fn. 34) which was granted to Charles
Brandon in February 1513–14, when he was created
Duke of Suffolk. (fn. 35) He sold his right in the manor
to the Crown in 1535. (fn. 36) In 1554 it was purchased,
together with the manor of Aston Priors, by Thomas
Everard of Buckland and Richard Yate of East
Longworth, (fn. 37) his brother-in-law. (fn. 38) In 1577 Thomas
Stampe bought both manors (fn. 39) from John Yate,
evidently the heir of Richard, and Thomas Everard,
probably the son of Thomas. (fn. 40) Thomas Stampe
also acquired a third estate in Aston, formerly
Cheneys, (fn. 41) and a portion of tithes in the parish. (fn. 42)
He died on 18 July 1579 and was succeeded by his
son Edward. (fn. 43) John Stampe, probably the brother
and heir of Edward, (fn. 44) was dealing with these manors
early in 1605. (fn. 45) Either this John or another settled
the estate on his daughter Dorothy upon her marriage,
about 1610, with Sir Henry Sambourne, kt., of
Moulsford, (fn. 46) who had a grant of view of frankpledge
21 June 1616. (fn. 47) In 1649 Sambourne, with his son
Henry, conveyed the manors of Aston Tirrold to
Richard Mansner and George Hatton, (fn. 48) but he
was still dealing with them in 1650. (fn. 49) A moiety of
the estate was, however, in the possession of the
Hatton family early in the 18th century, and the
other moiety, possibly representing the interest of
Richard Mansner, was in the White family. (fn. 50) In
1716 Richard Hatton and his wife Eleanor were
dealing with two messuages and lands and a moiety
of a messuage and certain other property in Aston
Tirrold and Moulsford, including a common ferry
across the Thames. (fn. 51) Richard Hatton joined with
William Hatton, Henry Predy and his wife Dorothy,
Dorothy Predy, spinster, and Richard and John Fuller,
in a conveyance of the 'manor of Aston Tirrold' to
Cornelius Norton, 1727, (fn. 52) possibly for the purposes
of a settlement. Subsequently one moiety was in the
possession of Thomas Fuller and the other of Joseph
and John Fuller. (fn. 53) At the close of the 19th century
the whole had passed into the possession of Thomas
Wellingham Fuller, grandson of the above-named
Thomas Fuller, and he sold in 1901 to Mr. Francis
John Kynaston Cross, the present lord. (fn. 54)
Danvers. Argent a bend gules with three martlets or thereon.
De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. Azure a fesse between three leopards' heads or.
A moiety of the capital messuage was assigned to
Robert Danvers in 1241, (fn. 55) and a capital messuage
was attached to Aston Danvers Manor in 1336. (fn. 56)
The manor of ASTON, i.e., that portion of the
inheritance of Nicholas son of Torold which was
retained in demesne by Alan de Farnham and his
wife Margery, (fn. 57) descended, evidently through the
marriage of their daughter Juliana with John de
Elsefield, to Gilbert son of John de Elsefield. He
had a marriage settlement upon himself and his wife
Joan (fn. 58) and was holding the manor about 1316. (fn. 59)
He was succeeded by his son Gilbert, (fn. 60) whose widow
Elizabeth was holding in dower in 1367. (fn. 61) In that
year Thomas de Elsefield, who was brother and heir
of the younger Gilbert, sold his reversionary interest
for 200 marks to Thomas Cheney and Robert de
Erburghfeld, clerk. (fn. 62) Possibly
they were trustees on behalf
of Sir Hugh Segrave, treasurer
of England, (fn. 63) who was evidently acting for William of
Wykeham in the foundation
of New College, Oxford. (fn. 64)
Joan, then wife of Robert atte
Wood, had a life interest in
1381, when the manor of
Aston formed part of the
estate with which Wykeham
endowed the college. (fn. 65) She
was still living in June 1392,
when the college, with its founder's consent, alienated
its rights in Aston to John Sende. (fn. 66) Robert Quinerton
was attorney to deliver seisin to John Sende, (fn. 67) and
was evidently holding the manor in trust in 1400. (fn. 68)
A plea was then brought against him by Joan wife of
John Hore the granddaughter, and Joan wife of
Thomas Loundres the daughter, of William brother
and heir of Thomas de Elsefield. (fn. 69) It was adjourned
from time to time until Easter 1403, (fn. 70) and its termination has not been found. Subsequently the manor
was acquired, probably by purchase, (fn. 71) by Sir John
Drayton, kt. (fn. 72) John Dalbert, who was holding in
1428, (fn. 73) seems to have been trustee for his heirs, (fn. 74)
who were his daughters Joan
wife of Drew Barantyne and
Elizabeth wife of Christopher
Preston. (fn. 75) In 1453 the two
daughters were holding
jointly, (fn. 76) but the manor
was subsequently divided into
moieties.
Elsefield. Barry wavy argent and sable.
Barantyne. Sable three eagles argent.
The moiety of Elizabeth
Preston evidently descended
to Richard Preston, whose
daughter Elizabeth died seised
of it 12 January 1520–1. (fn. 77)
She was the widow of Nicholas
Lovett of Slapton (Northants), (fn. 78) but by a former
husband had a son and heir Miles Hampden. (fn. 79)
Thomas Hampden, evidently heir to this Miles,
sold the manor in 1596 to John Stampe, (fn. 80) who
thus united it to the estate formed in Aston by
Thomas Stampe. (fn. 81)
The moiety of Aston Manor which formed the
portion of Joan wife of Drew Barantyne passed to
their son John, (fn. 82) after it had been held for a term of
years by trustees for a chantry of their endowment at
Henton in Chinnor (co. Oxon.). (fn. 83) John Barantyne
died seised of this moiety 30 June 1474, leaving a
son John, aged fourteen. (fn. 84) No further connexion
between the Barantyne family and Aston Tirrold has
been found. (fn. 85) It was probably this moiety of the
manor that became the property of Sir Thomas
Bryan and was by him pledged to Henry VIII for
the marriage portion of his daughter. (fn. 86) By process
of reduction it would also seem that this was the
'manor' which afterwards came into the possession of
Westbury College (co. Gloucester). (fn. 87) In 1544,
after the suppression of the college, this 'manor of
Aston Tirrold' was granted to Sir Ralph Sadleir,
kt., and his wife Ellen, (fn. 88) but Sadleir surrendered
his rights to Edward VI in 1547. (fn. 89) About 1553
Sir Thomas Cheney, K.G., treasurer of the household, purchased it from the Crown. (fn. 90) He bequeathed
it to his kinsman John Cheney of Woodhay and to
Dorothy his wife in tailmale. (fn. 91) John Cheney died at
Rochester, 1 January 1567–8,
and was succeeded by his son
Thomas, (fn. 92) whose mother surrendered to him her rights. (fn. 93)
His son Thomas broke the
conditions of Sir Thomas
Cheney's will by alienating
the manor to Thomas Barham,
gent., (fn. 94) whereupon Henry
Lord Cheney, son and heir
of Sir Thomas, entered upon
it under the terms of the
will. (fn. 95) He died seised of it
in 1587, (fn. 96) when it reverted
to Thomas Cheney, grandson of John Cheney of
Woodhay, as heir at law. (fn. 97) The rights of Barham
had been purchased by Thomas Stampe, lord of
Aston Danvers, (fn. 98) who apparently obtained an assurance of title from Thomas Cheney. (fn. 99) Thus this
moiety of Aston Manor was added to the estate consolidated by the Stampe family. (fn. 100)
Cheney of Woodhay. Ermine a bend sable with three martlets or thereon.
Five hides in Aston belonged before the Conquest
to a certain Anschil. (fn. 101) About 1080 William I gave
this land, sometimes styled PRIORS in Aston, (fn. 102) to
the abbey of St. Peter, Préaux (diocese of Lisieux), in
exchange for St. Clair in Normandy, which the king
bestowed upon his brother Count Robert of Mortain. (fn. 103) The abbey held Aston of the count in 1086, (fn. 104)
but in the 13th century the abbot said that he held
in frankalmoign. (fn. 105) Henry II confirmed the grant of
William I, (fn. 106) and the abbey remained in possession of
this manor (fn. 107) until it was seized into the king's hands
together with the abbey's cell of Toft, co. Norfolk,
during the French wars. (fn. 108) In 1390 the abbey
granted to Lewis de Cliffort and Lewis his son life
interests in all their English lands, including Aston. (fn. 109)
For a time a rent was reserved to the Crown during
the French wars. (fn. 110) Cliffort conveyed his interest to
Sir Thomas Erpingham, K.G., (fn. 111) a trusted supporter
of Henry IV, (fn. 112) who received
the resignation of Richard II (fn. 113)
and became warden of the
Cinque Ports. (fn. 114) Erpingham
afterwards acquired the same
estates for his own life (fn. 115) and
transferred them to the Carthusian priory of Witham
Friary (co. Somerset), which
obtained a grant in perpetuity
from the Crown in 1413. (fn. 116)
The Priors of Witham remained in possession of Aston
Manor (fn. 117) until the surrender
of their house in March
1538–9. (fn. 118) Their manor of Aston was purchased
from the Crown by Thomas Everard and Richard
Yate, together with Aston Danvers, and was sold
with the latter to Thomas Stampe, and thus became
a part of the estate consolidated by himself and
his son. (fn. 119)
Erpingham. Vert a scutcheon in an orle of martlets argent.
A capital messuage was attached to this holding in
1401. (fn. 120)
CHURCH
The church of ST. MICHAEL consists of a chancel measuring internally
27 ft. 9 in. by 15 ft. 2 in., a modern
organ chamber, a nave 43 ft. 6 in. by about 20 ft. 7 in.,
a modern north aisle, a south transept 17 ft. 3 in. by
about 16 ft., a tower about 12 ft. square, and a modern
south porch.
The church in the 12th century consisted of a nave
and chancel, but was probably of earlier origin, as in
the wall of the north aisle is a reset square-headed
doorway of roughly hewn masonry, possibly of preConquest date. In the first half of the 13th century
the chancel appears to have been rebuilt and the
south transept and west tower added, but, apart from
the partial remodelling of the transept in the 14th
century and the insertion of windows, no structural
alterations appear to have been made until about forty
years ago, when the north aisle was built. The present
organ chamber was erected in 1910, and in 1913 the
chancel was repaved with stone and marble and
refurnished in oak, in memory of Sir John Leigh
Hoskyns, bart., rector from 1845 to 1911.
The east window of the chancel, a mid-14th-century insertion, is of three uncusped lights with
foiled intersecting tracery under an ogee head. The
rear arch is moulded, and springs from small attached
jamb shafts. At the north-east is a single lancet, and
under its west jamb is a plain aumbry; the remainder
of the north wail is occupied by an archway opening
into the organ chamber. Under the west jamb of
the south-east window, which is like the corresponding window on the north, is a piscina with a foliated
basin corbelled out from the wall. At the south-west is a round-headed window of two pointed lights
with a circle in the head; it is of 13th-century date,
but was raised from its original position when the
church was restored. Immediately to the east is a
blocked 13th-century doorway, the pointed external
head of which has been raised by the insertion of
two square stones above the abaci of the jamb shafts,
which have foliated capitals. The chancel arch is
modern. The walls are coated externally with roughcast, and at the eastern angles the foundations of flat
buttresses may be seen. The organ chamber is
lighted from the east by a reset 15th-century window
of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head, which
was probably taken from the north wall of the nave
when the aisle was added.
At the north-east of the nave is a doorway with a
four-centred head to the now blocked rood stairs,
which has been carried through into the north aisle.
A similar upper doorway to the loft also exists.
The modern north arcade is of three bays, and is
designed in the style of the 14th century. The
opening into the south transept is pointed and of
two chamfered orders; the responds have narrow
chamfered angles and much restored moulded abaci.
To the west of the opening is a late 14th-century
window of two trefoiled lights with tracery of flowing
character under a square head. The rear arch is
four-centred and the central mullion has a small
capital above the springing of the heads of the lights, as
if it had been intended to continue it as a vertical
tracery bar. At the south-west is a round-headed
Norman doorway with square responds and moulded
abaci cut off flush with the wall, and to the east of
the doorway externally is a small holy water stoup,
but the basin has long since been destroyed. Immediately above the doorway, and visible only internally,
is a blocked round-headed window with widely splayed
inner jambs.
The modern north aisle has three single trefoilheaded lights on the north, and in the east bay is
inserted the square-headed doorway referred to above,
which was taken from the north wall of the nave
when the aisle was added, and was originally opposite
to the present south doorway. On the outside,
immediately below the head, are two crudely cut projecting brackets, while in the blocking is set a 13th-century tomb slab on which is carved a very fine
foliated cross; the upper part is missing and the
head is broken across the middle. In the west wall
is a restored round-headed opening with original
splayed inner jambs, which was originally in the
north wall of the nave.
In the east wall of the transept are two much
restored trefoiled lancets with widely splayed inner
jambs. Between these windows, and beneath their
sills, are 14th-century image brackets. In the south
wall is a restored early 14th-century window of three
uncusped lights with reticulated tracery under a
pointed head. In the west wall is a window of about
the same date, of two uncusped lights with a quatrefoil
above, the tracery being set flush with the outside
wall. Externally below the level of the window
sills is a moulded string-course; the diagonal angle
buttresses appear to be modern.
The tower is in two stages with an embattled
parapet, and diagonal buttresses of three offsets at the
western angles, stopping just above the moulded stringcourse which marks the level of the bell-chamber.
At the north-east is a vice, now entered from the
outside, but originally from inside the tower through
a small three-centred doorway in the north wall.
The tower arch is of a single pointed chamfered
order, and springs directly from the side walls of the
tower, the eastern chamfer being continued down the
meeting angles of the nave and tower walls. The
west window is of 15th-century date, and is of three
trefoiled lights with a traceried four-centred head.
The ringing chamber is lighted by a small squareheaded opening, and the bell-chamber by small pointed
lights in each face.
The south porch is comparatively modern. Fixed
against the east wall is a piece of 14th-century oak
tracery, the upper part of which has been cut out of
a single timber. It consists of seven trefoiled openings,
the spandrels between the heads being pierced with
trefoils. On the opposite wall is some 15th-century
oak tracery of six cinquefoiled ogee lights, with half
lights at the ends, and quatrefoiled circles in the
spandrels.
Like those of the chancel, the walls of the nave,
transept, porch, and tower are covered with rough-cast,
the stone quoins and the door and window jambs
being left uncovered. The chancel and nave roofs
are modern, but a truss with a king-post and braced
tie-beam, evidently portion of a low-pitched 15th-century nave roof, still remains above the chancel arch
on the west. Over the transept is an original trussed
rafter roof with a king-post principal towards the south
end. The wall-plate and the principal tie-beam are
moulded. All the roofs are covered with tiles.
The font, which is probably of 12th-century date, has
a circular bowl. In the tower are a restored 16th-century chest and an early 18th-century altar table.
There is a peal of five bells and a sanctus bell: the
treble is by Joseph Carter, 1603; the second, probably
by John White, about 1520, is inscribed in Lombardic
capitals maribelw; the third is by Henry Knight,
1617; the fourth is inscribed 'Love God 1639'; and
the tenor is by Lester & Pack, 1737.
The plate consists of a paten and chalice, both
stamped with the date letter of 1754, and a small
unmarked cover paten, which is evidently of the same
date.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) baptisms 1726 to 1775 and 1773 to 1783, marriages 1728 to 1752, burials 1727 to 1783; (ii) baptisms and burials 1769 to 1812; (iii) marriages
1754 to 1812 (printed). The churchwardens' accounts
begin in 1705.
ADVOWSON
A church existed about 1080,
when William I included in his
grant to Préaux Abbey the church
and 'burying' of the whole vill of Aston. (fn. 121) The
church is returned in the Domesday Survey with the
abbey's holding in Aston, (fn. 122) but it was notified by
Bishop Jocelin of Salisbury (1142–84) that the abbot
had no right to present a parson save in the presence
and with the consent of Nicholas son of Torold, (fn. 123)
i.e., of the lord of the holding which had been in the
king's hands in 1086. (fn. 124) The advowson evidently
followed the descent of Aston Priors until 1561,
when it was sold by Thomas Everard and Richard
Yate (fn. 125) to Henry Clerke of West Hendred. From
him it was purchased by Edward Archer of Compton
Beauchamp, who sold to Leonard Lidcott on 10 April
1575. (fn. 126) Thomas Jones bought the advowson, became rector, and died at Aston Tirrold on 10 September
1596. (fn. 127) He was succeeded by his son Christopher
Jones of Highworth, who sold in 1608 to Magdalen
College, Oxford, (fn. 128) in which the patronage has ever
since been vested. (fn. 129)
CHARITIES
In 1680 (as appears from an inscription in the church) William
Smith, by his will, gave 30s. yearly,
charged upon his estate in Aston Tirrold, for buying
books and paying for the schooling of a poor boy.
Mrs. Susannah Rigby, by her will, date unknown, gave 20s. per annum, charged upon Bell's
Acre in the parish, for the schooling of four poor
children.
The two annuities are received from Mr. F. J.
Kynaston Cross of the Manor House and paid to the
local education authority.
William Sambourne (as appears from the table of
benefactions), by his will, gave £5 a year, charged
upon Aston Farm, to be distributed to the poor on
St. Thomas's Day. This annuity also is paid by
Mr. F. J. Kynaston Cross. In 1905 there were
ten recipients, being poor women, who received
10s. each.
The table of benefactions also stated that Susannah
Cock, who died in 1762, gave £32 10s. to be laid
out in lands, the rents to be distributed on 29 May
amongst the poor people of the parish. The endowment is now represented by 1 a. or. 22 p. allotted on
the inclosure of the parish in lieu of the land originally
purchased, producing yearly £3 10s., which is distributed in bread, one loaf to each recipient.
The table of benefactions further stated that Christopher Rednap (recte Rednage), who died in 1790,
by his will gave £50, the interest to be distributed
among the poor. The legacy having been lost through
the insolvency of a person to whom the same had
been lent, Mr. William Bushnell, who was the churchwarden at the time, by his will proved in the P.C.C.
28 January 1823, bequeathed £50 consols in lieu
thereof. The stock is held by the official trustees,
and the annual dividends, amounting to £1 5s., are
added to the funds of the clothing club.