HAGBOURNE
Haccaburn or Hacceburn (ix cent.); Hacheborne
(xi cent.); Hackeburne (xii–xvi cent.); Hagburne or
Hagborne (xv–xix cent.).
Hagbourne ecclesiastical parish consists of the two
civil parishes or 'liberties' of East and West Hagbourne. Their total area is 2,815 acres; the
greater part is arable land, and about one-fifth of
the whole area is pasture land or orchards. (fn. 1) The
subsoil is the Upper Greensand, (fn. 2) broken by large
blocks of sarsenstone (fn. 3) and the soil is strong and
loamy. The occupations are chiefly agricultural.
Turnips were grown here as early as 1717 by Mistress
Keate of East Hagbourne, (fn. 4) and orchards were farmed
by her husband before 1705. (fn. 5) Hops were grown
as late as 1896. A paper-mill existed at East Hagbourne from the reign of Charles I until about 1860. (fn. 6)
A water corn-mill stands on the Blewbury border.
East and West Hagbourne had two distinct mills in
1086. (fn. 7) In the 16th century the East Hagbourne
mill was called 'Demye Mill,' (fn. 8) and was possibly
on the site of 'Blakemelne,' which had been quitclaimed to the lord of East Hagbourne by Jordan
and Alice Basset about 1196. (fn. 9)
The village of East Hagbourne is separated from
West Hagbourne by the Hakkas Brook and is surrounded by orchards and water-cress beds. The
houses of East Hagbourne are grouped for the most
part along a road running east and west, forming
one long street. Many of the houses were destroyed
by a fire on 10 March 1659. (fn. 10) The Church of
England schools were built in 1874. There is a
Primitive Methodist chapel, which also serves West
Hagbourne. At the west end of the village the road
forks, the main road to West Hagbourne turning
slightly to the north-west, while a by-road leads past
the church to a farm-house. In the gore thus formed
stands a mediaeval cross, the stem and base of which,
including the five steps upon which it stands, have
survived. Surmounting the stem is a Jacobean sundial and finial. This cross is known locally as the
'Upper Cross.' At the east end of the village, standing at the junction of the road from North Hagbourne
with the village street, is the base of another mediaeval
cross, known as the 'Lower Cross,' removed in the
19th century from Broken Cross Piece in Coscote
hamlet. At Coscote (Cokelscote), about half a mile to
the westward, is the base of a third cross. (fn. 11) On the
north side of the road by the upper cross is a brick
and half-timber farm-house of 17th-century date,
with tile-hung gables, a projecting upper story with
carved brackets, and diagonal chimney stacks. On
the same side of the road, by the lower cross, is a
late 17th-century farm-house of brick, with highpitched tiled roofs, tile-hung gables, and windows with
unmoulded central wood mullions and transoms.
In the west wall are blank windows with moulded
brick cornices. In the village are many fine examples
of half-timber and thatched cottages, many having
console brackets supporting the sills of their oversailing upper floors. Coscote Farm, an L-shaped
house, now divided into two cottages, is a good
example of 17th-century work. On the finial post
of one of the gables is carved the date 1683. This
date most probably refers to a reparation undertaken
at that time, as the original house seems from its
style to be fifty years earlier at least.
East Hagbourne: The Upper Cross
At West Hagbourne, about half a mile beyond
Coscote along the same road, are also many cottages
of half-timber and thatch. At the southern end of
the village street is the Manor
Farm, near the traditional
site of the church. (fn. 12) Near
the north end of the street
is York's Farm, which apparently represents the holding called 'York Place,' (fn. 13)
occupied by the York family
in the 15th century. (fn. 14) This
farm was owned by the
Dunch family in the 17th
century. (fn. 15) Many of the garden walls have a coping of
thatch, a feature which adds
not a little to the picturesque
appearance of the village.
Newtown, or North Hagbourne, which constitutes the
new town of Didcot, is entirely modern and possesses
nothing of architectural interest. The Church of England schools were built in
1871 and enlarged in 1892.
There is a Primitive
Methodist chapel, rebuilt in
1903, and also a Wesleyan
chapel.
The common fields of
East and West Hagbourne
were inclosed in 1840–3. (fn. 16)
Some place-names of interest are: Mongewell (a
spring near the Park), Butts
Piece, Cocklum Pits, Gibber
Bush, Lake furlong, the Pill,
the Ransom, Lady Grove
Farm and Penny Ham.
There is a village feast on
the second Tuesday after
Trinity and a fair on Thursday before Old Michaelmas.
Traces of a RomanoBritish settlement are said to have been found at
some distance from the present villages on the borders
of Chilton parish. (fn. 17)
MANORS
According to a spurious charter dated
891 and contained in the 12th-century
chartulary of St. Swithun, Winchester,
Bishop Denewulf surrendered to King Alfred land
in Cholsey with the two vills (villulae) thereto belonging, viz., Hagbourne and Basildon, in exchange for
land at Hurstbourne (co. Hants) and elsewhere. (fn. 18)
The boundaries of Hagbourne set forth in this charter
show that it then included Upton. (fn. 19) In the time of
Archbishop Sigeric (990–4) a dispute arose as to land
at Hagbourne and Bradfield which Aelfric the ealdorman had given to Wynflæd in exchange for land at
Datchet (co. Bucks.). The complaint which was
brought at Woolvers by a certain Leofwin was referred
to the shire-mote at Cuckhamsley. (fn. 20)
By the time of Edward the Confessor Hagbourne
had become two distinct holdings. (fn. 21)
EAST HAGBOURNE, sometimes styled CHURCH HAGBOURNE, (fn. 22) was held of King Edward by Regenbald
(the priest) of Cirencester, and he continued in possession after the Conquest. (fn. 23) His holding consisted
in 1086 of 15 hides assessed only as 11 hides and
3 virgates. (fn. 24) When he died Henry I granted this
with all the rest of his fief to the abbey of Cirencester. (fn. 25) This grant took place in 1133, and the
abbots continued to hold the manor of East
Hagbourne in frankalmoign until 1539, (fn. 26) when the
abbey surrendered to the Crown. (fn. 27) The site of the
manor was at that time in the hands of a tenant,
William Keate, who had acquired a lease through
marriage with Eleanor daughter of James and Alice
Anger. (fn. 28) A certain moat, the houses with a garden
within the moat and the pasturage in Hagbourne
Park had been excepted from Anger's lease, (fn. 29) but
Keate acquired from the Crown the tenancy of these
also. (fn. 30) His widow Eleanor married Edmund Busby, (fn. 31)
whose administrator John Busby disputed the title
with Hugh Keate of Hagbourne, fifth son and
legatee of William Keate. (fn. 32) In 1612 Hugh Keate
the elder with his wife Christian and Hugh Keate
the younger conveyed his interest in the site of the
manor with the tithes of East and West Hagbourne
to William Lord Knollys, (fn. 33) who was created Viscount
Wallingford in 1616 (fn. 34) and in February 1622–3
received from the Crown a grant of the manorial
rights of East Hagbourne and of the site of the
manor. (fn. 35) In 1626 Lord Wallingford was created
Earl of Banbury, (fn. 36) and he received a grant of the
Crown's reversionary right in this manor on 7 June
1627. (fn. 37) Early in the year 1632 he conveyed it to
George Whitmore and others, (fn. 38) trustees under the
wills of Sir William Craven, Lord Mayor of London,
and Dame Elizabeth his wife to purchase lands on
behalf of their second son
John, (fn. 39) who was created Lord
Craven of Ryton (co. Salop)
on 21 March 1642–3. (fn. 40) At his
death his estates were inherited by his elder brother
William Lord Craven of
Hampstead Marshall, (fn. 41) but
East Hagbourne was sequestered under the Commonwealth and purchased by Lewis
Audley and John Yates about
1653. (fn. 42) It was evidently recovered by Lord Craven at
the Restoration and continued with his direct
descendants (fn. 43) until 1863, when it was purchased of
William second Earl of Craven by Lord Overstone. (fn. 44)
It is now the property of his daughter Lady Wantage.
East Hagbourne Village: General View
Cirencester Abbey. Argent a cheveron gules with three rams' heads argent having their horns or thereon.
Keate. Sable three cats passant argent.
Craven. Argent a fesse between six crosslets fitchy gules.
The descendants of William Keate evidently
continued to live at Hagbourne after they had conveyed their rights to Lord Knollys, (fn. 45) but it is clear
that they were only lessees of the manor farm, (fn. 46) which
was occupied by them as late as 1705. (fn. 47)
In 1307 the Abbot of Cirencester enlarged the site
of his manor-house (curia), and for this purpose
diverted a path which had formerly led through it to
the church. (fn. 48) Twenty-four acres of the woodland
were imparked in 1330. (fn. 49) About 1670 the park
had become overrun with briars and witch-hazel
trees, but it was cleared in the time of John Keate
and converted into arable and meadow land. (fn. 50) An
inclosure of rather more than 20 acres in the northeastern part of the parish is still known as the Park.
In addition to court baron the Abbots of Cirencester claimed gallows and amendment of the assize
of bread and ale in East Hagbourne, (fn. 51) and in 1275
the abbot was charged with withdrawing his bailiff
from the hundred court of Moreton. (fn. 52)
WEST HAGBOURNE
WEST HAGBOURNE, sometimes styled WINDSOR
(fn. 53) in Hagbourne, was held by Alwin, a freeman, in
the time of Edward the Confessor. After the
Conquest it came to Walter Fitz Other, constable of
Windsor Castle and founder of the Windsor family, (fn. 54)
whose grandson William de Windsor (fn. 55) was holding
land in Berkshire of the king in chief in 1160–1. (fn. 56)
This William apparently died between 1194 (fn. 57) and
1198, when his sons Walter and William de Windsor
divided the inheritance between them. (fn. 58) William's
portion included West Hagbourne with its appurtenances; the service due from this manor was that
of one knight. (fn. 59) In 1222 William de Windsor was
still apparently in possession of the manor when he
admitted the right of Bartholomew de Chilton to a
tenement in Hagbourne. (fn. 60) This was probably the
land which he recovered in 1225 through trial by
battle, after bribing Bartholomew's champion to come over
to his side. (fn. 61) In 1266 William
his son, who had succeeded
him before 1248, (fn. 62) made a
settlement whereby the manor
of East Hagbourne was to remain at his death to 'William
son of William de Windsor,' (fn. 63)
probably his own son. (fn. 64) About
1273 a William de Windsor
died seised of West Hagbourne,
leaving an heir under age. (fn. 65)
It is uncertain which William
this was, but his heir was indisputably Richard son of a William de Windsor. (fn. 66)
Richard de Windsor came of age in 1279, (fn. 67) and in
1305 settled the manor (fn. 68) on himself and his wife
Joan with remainder in succession to his sons Richard
and William. Joan survived her husband (fn. 69) and died on
21 January 1327–8. (fn. 70) The manor descended to Richard
de Windsor, the son, who died on 3 April 1367, (fn. 71)
leaving a widow Clarice, (fn. 72) who received in dower a
considerable portion of the manor and a chamber at
the hall end with a solar or upper room and an
oratory. (fn. 73) The heir, Richard de Windsor's grandson,
Miles Windsor, (fn. 74) was a minor, and the rest of the
manor was committed to Helming Leget, (fn. 75) who married the widow Clarice, (fn. 76) and subsequently to Adam
de Wymondham, citizen and mercer of London. (fn. 77)
Sir Miles Windsor, kt., exchanged the remaining twothirds of West Hagbourne with Clarice widow of
Richard de Windsor, who had married a third
husband, John York. (fn. 78) In return she surrendered her
right to dower in Stanwell (co. Midd.), the head of
the Windsor barony. (fn. 79) She was still living in 1401, (fn. 80)
when the service due from her part of the manor was
rated at a quarter knight's fee, while the remaining
quarter fee was in the king's hands owing to the
minority of Richard Windsor, (fn. 81) son and ultimate heir
of Brian son of Miles Windsor. (fn. 82) Clarice York died
on 3 March 1403–4, (fn. 83) and West Hagbourne descended
to Richard Windsor, who died seised of it on 16 April
1428. (fn. 84) From his son Miles, who died about 1451, (fn. 85)
it descended to Miles's son Thomas, who entailed it
on himself and his wife Elizabeth (Andrews) on
1 February 1465–6 (fn. 86) and died seised on 29 September
1485. (fn. 87) His heir was his son Andrew (or Andrews),
whose eldest son and heir William Lord Windsor
received the profits until his death in 1558. (fn. 88)
Edmund Windsor, his brother, then entered upon the
manor on the ground that Lord Windsor had not
fulfilled the conditions of his father's will whereupon the estate should pass to Edmund and to his
brother Thomas. (fn. 89) After some dissension concerning
the jointure of Elizabeth widow of William Lord
Windsor and afterwards wife of George Puttenham, (fn. 90)
Edward Lord Windsor, son and heir of William, made
a conveyance of West Hagbourne to Anne Newton,
widow, (fn. 91) who was the mother of Mary (Bekingham) wife of Thomas Windsor. (fn. 92) Upon her death,
31 August 1565, it descended to her daughter. (fn. 93) Mary
Windsor survived her husband and was succeeded by her
eldest son Andrew Windsor of Bentley in 1574. (fn. 94)
He died childless on 4 October 1621, having bequeathed West Hagbourne to his nephews George and
Thomas in succession. (fn. 95) Apparently George Windsor
did not live to succeed, and West Hagbourne passed
to Thomas, who died at Long Ditton on 18 March
1630–1. (fn. 96) Settlement had been made in 1627 on his
son Andrew upon his marriage with Mary daughter of
Robert Hatton of Long Ditton. (fn. 97) Andrew Windsor
died at Thames Ditton on 21 August 1632 and his
wife survived, (fn. 98) but their only child Robert died in
infancy, 8 April 1633. (fn. 99) West Hagbourne accordingly
descended to Richard Windsor, younger brother of
Andrew. (fn. 100) This Richard (fn. 101) sold the manor in 1661
to Stephen Thompson of London, merchant, (fn. 102) who
with his wife Mary conveyed it to John Parrey in
1666. (fn. 103) It was subsequently
acquired by a member of the
Pocock family, in which it
remained for nearly two centuries. (fn. 104) In 1805 it was the
property of John Blagrave
Pocock. (fn. 105) It appears to have
been acquired by George
Harrison upon his marriage
with Eliza Catherine Pocock.
Their son James Samuel
Harrison sold it in 1889 to
Messrs. Eli and Leopold Caudwell, the former of whom,
Mr. Eli Caudwell of Blewbury, purchased the second share in 1892. (fn. 106) After
his death it was sold in 1909 to Mr. Dennis Napper.
Windsor. Gules a saltire argent between twelve crosslets or.
View in East Hagbourne
Pocock. Checky argent and gules a leopard rampant or.
The manor of WATLINGTONS may be identical
with a hide of land held by a certain Robert of
Walter Fitz Other in 1086. (fn. 107) Its early history is
uncertain. It may possibly be the holding of Richard
Newbaude in West Hagbourne and Upton in 1316. (fn. 108)
It was apparently held of the lord of West Hagbourne (fn. 109)
in 1355 by Edmund de Childrey, and it subsequently
followed the descent of the manor of Frethornes in
Childrey until 1411. (fn. 110) It was afterwards in the possession of the Bekingham family, co-heirs of Thomas
Childrey. Edmund Bekingham died seised of it
on 30 August 1498. (fn. 111) He had made a settlement upon
his son Thomas and his wife Mary Browne. (fn. 112) She
survived her husband and married secondly Thomas
Price, retaining this manor until her death in 1549. (fn. 113)
Her heir was her granddaughter Mary, who married
Thomas Windsor, (fn. 114) younger son of Sir Andrew
Windsor, kt. (fn. 115) She also inherited the main manor
of West Hagbourne from her mother Anne Newton,
and the two manors descended together to Richard
Windsor, (fn. 116) who held courts for Watlingtons from
1638 to 1656. (fn. 117) He sold this manor to James
Whitchurch, gent., and a Mr. Parry, who were in
possession in 1675. (fn. 118) Philip Parry of London,
haberdasher, and James Whitchurch sold it to John
Sherwood of East Hendred, whose son Edward succeeded to it about 1682. (fn. 119) His daughter Mary
married George Cooper, M.D., whom she survived. (fn. 120)
She died in 1788 and was succeeded by Sir John
Pollen, bart., (fn. 121) her second cousin, whose grandmother
was Mary Sherwood. (fn. 122) His son Sir John Walter
Pollen sold the manor of Frampton to a Mr. Allen, (fn. 123)
and seems also to have alienated Watlingtons, as it
came into the possession of John Aldworth, who was
lord of the manor in 1842. (fn. 124) In 1877 Robert
nephew of John Aldworth was tenant of the Manor
House, West Hagbourne. (fn. 125) The manor descended
to the daughter of Mr. John Aldworth, who married
her cousin Mr. Philip Aldworth of Frilford, and is
the present owner.
Grove Farm is the manor-house of Watlingtons.
Possibly it is on the site of 'Chelreys,' where a court
was held for West Hagbourne Manor in 1375, (fn. 126)
when the manor-house of West Hagbourne was in
ruins. (fn. 127)
CHURCHES
The church of ST. ANDREW consists of a chancel 31 ft. 9 in. by
14 ft. 6 in., north chapel 21 ft. 10 in.
by 12 ft. 10 in., south chapel 21 ft. by 13 ft. 7 in.,
nave about 44 ft. 10 in. by 19 ft. 8 in., west tower
16 ft. 6 in. by 15 ft. 2 in., and north and south
porches. The above measurements are all internal.
The church appears to have originally consisted of
a chancel and aisleless nave, built probably in the
12th century. The external quoins of the north-east
and south-east angles of this 12th-century nave are
still to be seen. In the first years of the 13th
century, to which period the south arcade of the
nave belongs, a south aisle appears to have been added,
and a few years later the chancel was rebuilt, the
south aisle being extended eastward to form a south
chapel. About 1340 the north aisle was added to
the nave, with a similar eastern extension forming a
north chapel, and a west tower was erected, the nave
arch of which still remains. Early in the 15th
century the south chapel and aisle were rebuilt and
widened. For this date there is absolute historical
evidence in the brasses of the founders now in the
floor of the north chapel. The first of these is to
'Claricia Wyndesor … quare fieri fecit istam
capellam,' and who died in 1403–4. The second
brass is to John York, the husband of Clarice Windsor,
who is referred to as 'Fundator Istius Ile,' and who
died in 1413. Either before or shortly after this
the west tower appears to have been rebuilt, the
14th-century tower arch being re-used. Later in
the century the walls of chancel and nave were raised
and clearstory windows inserted in them. To the
same period belong the roofs of the chancel and
nave and the east window of the former. Early in
the 17th century a new roof was placed over the
south chapel. The church was restored in 1860
without any drastic alterations.
In the east wall of the chancel is a late 15th-century window of five cinquefoiled lights with
vertical tracery within a depressed four-centred head.
The lower portion is partly blocked by a modern
stone reredos. Externally there is a large moulded
string-course immediately beneath the sill, terminating at either end in a lozenge with concave sides.
In the upper lights of the window are fragments of
15th-century glass. In the north wall is a 13th-century square aumbry with a modern door. To the
west of it is a lancet window with a ribbed rear arch
and wide splays. To the west of this window,
opening into the north chapel, is a 14th-century
arcade of two bays with two-centred drop arches of two
orders, the outer order moulded with a sunk quarterround. The pier is octagonal, and has a moulded
octagonal capital and chamfered base. The responds
are similar. Over the column is a carved stone head,
probably the stop of a label which has now disappeared. Above are three 15th-century square-headed
clearstory windows of two trefoiled lights with ogee
heads. In the south wall is a 13th-century piscina
with a quatrefoil basin and a trefoil head, both head
and jambs being moulded with a filleted bowtel.
To the westward of this is a lancet window similar
to the corresponding window in the north wall, and
of similar date, with uncarved label stops. Next is a
squint, commanding a view of the altar from the
south chapel, and next again to the west, opening in
to the south chapel, is an arcade of two bays of
13th-century date, with arches of two chamfered
orders and circular piers and responds. The pier and
east respond have
foliated capitals and
moulded bases, but the
abacus and plinth of
the former are octagonal and of the latter
semicircular. The
capital of the west
respond is a plain bell.
The plinth appears to
have been octagonal.
Over the column is a
head-stop, as in the
case of the north arcades. In the abaci,
bases, and plinths of
the columns and responds of both north
and south arcades vertical chases have been
cut, perhaps in the
15th century, to receive screens which
no longer survive; a
modern screen has
been placed in the
east bay of the north arcade. In this wall are also
three 15th-century clearstory windows resembling
those in the north wall. The chancel arch, which is
of mid-13th-century date, is two-centred and of two
chamfered orders. The outer order is practically continuous, save for the interposition of a shallow abacus.
The inner order is stopped upon carved corbels, the
north corbel consisting of one large grotesque head,
and the south corbel of three more human and
naturalistic masks. The north and south chapels,
being virtually continuations of the north and south
aisles, will be described with them.
The north arcade of the nave is of three bays
with two-centred arches of two orders, the outer
order moulded with a sunk quarter-round, the inner
order chamfered. The piers are octagonal and the
responds semi-octagonal, with moulded shallow bell
capitals and chamfered bases of the same plan. The
mouldings of this arcade correspond exactly with
those of the north arcade of the chancel. Over this
arcade are four square-headed 15th-century clearstory windows, the three eastern windows of two
trefoiled lights with ogee heads and the westernmost
a single light of the same type. The south arcade
of the nave is likewise of three bays, and has twocentred arches of two plain orders supported by
circular piers and responds with circular moulded
capitals and moulded bases standing upon square
plinths, with flat leaf-spurs at the angles. The clearstory windows of this wall correspond exactly with
those of the north wall. Externally the north wall
is crowned by a cornice with carved bosses, surmounted
by a plain parapet with moulded coping. The south
wall has also a plain parapet, which has been plastered
over together with the cornice, and no mouldings are
visible.
In the east wall of the north chapel is a 14th-century window of three trefoiled lights with flowing
tracery within a two-centred head. To the south of
this is a large image bracket with a blank shield
carved upon it. At the south-east is a piscina with a
straight-sided cinquefoiled head with crockets, and
above it is a cross standing on a crescent, with a tenpointed star over each arm. Starting above the spring
of the head, and on either side of it, are two stones,
forming portions of the arc of a circle, carved with
crockets, which may have formed the lower portion
of a containing arch. In the continuous north wall
of the chapel and aisle are three 14th-century windows,
each of two trefoiled ogee lights with flowing tracery
within a two-centred head. The north doorway at
the west end of the wall has a two-centred head and
jambs of typical 14th-century section.
Plan of East Hagbourne Church
In the east wall of the south chapel is a 15th-century window of three cinquefoiled lights with
vertical tracery within a two-centred head. At the
south-east is a piscina, the niche of which is formed
of half the tracery of a late 14th-century two-light
window. In the south wall of the chapel and aisle
are three 15th-century windows, each of two cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery within a two-centred
head. The south doorway has a two-centred head,
and is contemporary with the aisle. In the west
wall of the aisle is a three-light window similar in
design to that in the east wall. Externally the walls
are crowned by a cornice with a large casement
moulding in which are carved bosses of spirited
design. The parapet is plain with a moulded coping.
The tower is in two stages, with angle buttresses of
two offsets, and a stair turret at the north-east. The
re-used 14th-century tower arch is of two orders, the
outer order chamfered and the inner order moulded
with a bold filleted roll. The responds appear to
have been originally composed of three clustered
shafts, but the middle shafts alone, which have
poorly moulded capitals, are now visible. Only the
bases of the shafts on the east side remain; the shafts
themselves appear to have been cut away when the
tower was rebuilt in the 15th century. The shafts
on the west side have been built into the north and
south walls of the tower, into which the outer order
now dies.
In the west wall of the ground stage is a window
of three cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery within
a two-centred head, inclosed by an external label
stopped by two shields below which are carved heads.
On the shield to the south is a fesse charged with a
crescent; the shield to the north is now indecipherable.
In the south wall of the ground stage is a squareheaded window of two cinquefoiled lights, with an
external label stopped by carved heads. There is no
window in the north wall of this stage. In the north
and west walls of the upper stage, lighting the ringing
chamber, are two windows, each of a single trefoiled
light within a square head. The bell-chamber is lighted
on all four sides by windows of two cinquefoiled lights
with uncusped vertical tracery within two-centred
heads. Above the level of the bell-chamber floor the
stair turret is octagonal and is finished above the parapet
of the tower by a conical roof of stone. The parapet
is embattled, and below it is a cornice with carved
heads in the centre of each face, and at each angle,
excepting the north-east, which is occupied by the
stair-turret. Surmounting the centre of the eastern
face is a stone bellcote square on plan and open on
all four sides; the openings have four-centred heads
with the exception of that on the west side, the head
of which is carried above the small cornice which
crowns the chamber in which the bell is hung. The
stone is so much decayed that the mouldings and
form of this head cannot now be determined. The
whole is surmounted by an octagonal pyramidal roof
terminating in a finial, with crocketed pinnacles at
the angles.
The north porch dates from the last half of the
15th century, and is of stone and timber with a lowpitched roof. The lower portion is of stone to a
height of about 3 ft. 6 in. from the ground. All
above this is of timber. The mouldings of the
corner posts are continued upon the stone base, and
the entrance is spanned by a four-centred arch with
traceried spandrels. Internally are benches of stone.
The south porch is of similar date and form.
The late 15th-century roofs of the chancel and
nave are particularly fine. The roof of the chancel
has four king-post trusses with moulded tie-beams
and principals, supported by moulded wall-posts and
curved braces with vertical tracery in their spandrels.
The wall-posts take their bearing on stone corbels,
plain, with the exception of those supporting the
wall-posts of the eastern truss, which are carved with
heads, that on the south representing a mitred bishop.
The nave roof has five trusses of the same type with
moulded tie-beams and principals having flowing foiled
tracery in their spandrels. The tie-beams are supported by moulded wall-posts and curved braces, the
spandrels above and below the beams being filled
with tracery. The wall-posts take their bearing on
plain corbels of stone. In the centre of each tiebeam is also a carved boss. On the sides of the
tie-beam of the central truss are carved deer chased
by dogs. At the feet of the intermediate principals
are shields charged with various devices, which seem
to represent various degrees of men: a double eagle
for the emperor, an orb for the king, a mitre and
crozier for bishop and abbot, a square for the carpenter,
callipers for the mason, a millrind for the miller, and
a pruned tree for the gardener. The north aisle has
a plain 15th-century roof. Over the south chapel
is a roof of Jacobean date with moulded timbers and
pendants. On the western principal is cut the date
of a repair in 1787 with the churchwardens' initials.
The roof of the south aisle is of original 15th-century
date, and has moulded timbers with carved bosses at
their intersections.
The font dates from the 15th century, and is very
probably contemporary with the south aisle, at the
west end of which it is placed. The bowl, stem and
base are octagonal. The sides of the bowl have quatrefoiled panels containing alternately shields and foliated
bosses. The pulpit is made up of 15th-century woodwork, doubtless from the rood screen. The panels
are richly traceried.
In four of the upper lights of the east window of
the chancel, and in the foils of the windows in the
south wall of the south chapel and aisle, are some
pieces of 15th-century glass. In the north aisle and
chapel is some early 14th-century glass, the best
pieces being in the north-east window of the chapel,
a Nativity and a group of our Lady and Child. In
the latter the child holds a basket with three birds.
The north and south doors, which are each divided
into four panels by vertical moulded ribs, appear to
be of original 15th-century date. In the north door
is an iron closing ring. The door now hung in the
west wall of the south porch as the door of the
modern shed adjoining it is also a 15th-century one,
and may possibly have been the door of the stairturret, which now has a modern external entrance, but
probably originally opened into the north aisle. The
modern screens, forming a vestry, in the north chapel
have original 16th-century linen-pattern panelling in
their lower portions. A modern screen, the upper
part of which is composed of 17th-century balusters,
divides the south chapel from the south aisle.
Over these is a velvet hanging with gold borders
inscribed IHS/1721.
In the floor of the north chapel are the brasses
mentioned above. The brass in memory of Clarice
Windsor is inscribed as follows: 'Hic jacet Claricia
Wyndesore quondã dña de Westhakborn et uxor
Joh[anni]s york que fieri fecit istā capellā que obiit …
iii.o die marcii ao dñi MoCCCCoIIIo cui' a[nima]e p[ro]piciet' d[eu]s
Amen.' The following is the inscription on the
brass to John York: 'Orate specialiter p[ro] a[nim]a Joh[anni]s york
fundatoris isti' Ile qui obiit quintodecimo die mensis
Julii anno domini milīmo CCCCoXIIIo.'
In the same slab is a third brass, probably commemorating a son of the John York mentioned above:
'Orate specialiter p[ro] a[nima]bz Johannis york et Joh[ann]e
uxoris ejus qui obierunt quinto die m[ens] Septembris
anno d[omin]i millīmo CCCCoXLo quinto.'
On the south wall of the chancel is a fine brass to
Christian Keate, with kneeling figures of herself, her
husband, and her children. The inscription is as
follows: 'Here lyeth buried the body of Christian
Keate ye wife & widdow of Hugh Keate of Hodcot in
the Countye of Barks, Gent: who had Issue betweene
them fowre sons and fower daūgh' viz. Hugh John
Francis & William, Mary Margret Christian &
Elenor he dep'ted this life ye 23th day of March
ao d[omin]i 1613 and was buried in ye p'rish chancell of
westildsley in ye county aforesaid, shee departed this
life ye 14th day of August Ao d[omin]i 1627. For whose
pious memorie William Keate thire yoongest soñe
Erected this Memoriall.'
There is a ring of eight bells: the treble inscribed
'R. Wells MDCCLXX'; the second recast in 1910 by
Mears & Stainbank; the third inscribed, 'This
Bell was Made in 1602'; the fourth by Henry
Knight, 1670; the fifth inscribed, 'Feare God,
1641'; the sixth, 'Love God, 1641'; the seventh
by Thomas Lester of London, 1751; and the tenor inscribed, 'Robert Wells & Son Hagbourne, MDCCLXXXI.'
The communion plate consists of a cup and paten
bearing the date letter of 1664; a cup given by
Samuel Harwood, and engraved with his arms, a
cheveron between three stags' heads, stamped with
the date letter of 1738; and a flagon, also presented
by Samuel Harwood, and bearing the date letter of
1736.
The registers previous to 1812 are as follows:
(i) all entries 1661 to 1714; (ii) baptisms and burials
1714 to 1767, marriages 1714 to 1744; (iii) baptisms
and burials 1767 to 1812; (iv) marriages 1755 to 1837.
The church of ST. PETER at North Hagbourne
consists of a chancel, nave, west tower and an
organ chamber and vestry on the north and south
sides of the chancel respectively. The church was
built of stone in 1890 in a style of severe simplicity,
which can only be described as 'pointed,' as there is,
literally, hardly a moulded stone in the whole fabric.
The windows are plain two-centred openings without tracery. The west tower has angle buttresses and
an embattled parapet. The pulpit was brought here
from Long Wittenham Church, and is said to have
originally been in the chapel of Exeter College,
Oxford. On the front of the pulpit is a shield with
the initials I.H. and R.C. and the date 1634. The
quire stalls were cut from oak beams bought at the
demolition of Mongewell House. The lower portion
of the bowl of the font was brought from Woodstock,
and is traditionally said to be that in which King
John was baptized.
ADVOWSON
The charter of Henry I, granting to Cirencester Abbey the manor
of East Hagbourne, included 'the
church of the said vill with the chapel and the tithes
of the other Hagbourne.' (fn. 128) East Hagbourne Church
remained in the gift of the successive Abbots of
Cirencester (fn. 129) until the dissolution of the monastery in
1539. (fn. 130) The advowson was subsequently included
in the grants of East Hagbourne Manor to Lord
Wallingford. (fn. 131) It was severed from the manor in
1631, when it was purchased by John Lightfoot of
Gray's Inn. (fn. 132) He conveyed it in 1633 to John
Bristow of Cholsey, yeoman, Henry Bristow of North
Stoke (co. Oxon.), and John Foxe of Didcot, yeoman. (fn. 133)
Thenceforward the advowson apparently changed
hands frequently. In 1661 the patron was James
Perrott, gentleman, and in 1665 Richard Bristoll
presented. (fn. 134) Thomas White, jun., presented in 1685
and the bishop, probably by lapse, in 1736. (fn. 135) Elizabeth Burrough, widow, was patron in 1749 and John
Scoolt, clerk, in 1791. (fn. 136) The advowson of the
church was held in 1823 by Richard Vicars Canniford, and it was subsequently acquired by the Rev.
Richard Meredith, who was vicar of Hagbourne
in 1854. (fn. 137) In 1878 it came into the possession
of Mr. Henry Baker of Buckland, Faringdon, and it
subsequently passed to the Rev. William Robert
Baker, the present incumbent, from whom it came
in 1901 to Lady Wantage, who is now the patron.
The Abbot of Cirencester had licence to appropriate to his own use a moiety of the church in 1322, (fn. 138)
but this appropriation was not carried out, and in
1360 a new licence was obtained to appropriate the
whole church. (fn. 139) The rectorial tithes were evidently
reserved upon the sale of the advowson to Lightfoot, (fn. 140)
and have since descended with East Hagbourne
Manor (q.v.).
Tradition locates the West Hagbourne chapel of
Henry the First's charter to the north-east of the
Manor Farm, at the back of 'Ivy Cottage.' No
later record of it has been found. It is said to have
been destroyed at the Reformation. (fn. 141)
CHARITIES
The following charities are administered under the title of the
Parochial Charities by a body of
trustees appointed in 1906 by the Charity Commissioners, consisting of the vicar, churchwardens,
and overseers, two representatives of the parish
council of East Hagbourne, and one representative
of the parish meeting of West Hagbourne, namely,
the charities of
1. — Reynolds, by will, date unknown, formerly
a rent-charge of 20s. on an estate at Wokingham,
redeemed in 1868 by the transfer to the official
trustees of £35 consols;
2. William Keate, will, date unknown, rentcharge of 20s., issuing out of an estate at Finmere, now
the property of Edmund Symes Thompson, M.D.;
3. Thomas Creswell, will, 25 January 1675,
rent-charge of 10s. to be paid annually to the poor
of West Hagbourne on St. Thomas's Day out of lands
in West Hagbourne Field. On the inclosure of
West Hagbourne in 1843 this charge seems to have
been forgotten.
4. Mrs. Mary Smith, will, 1718, rent-charge of
20s. out of an estate at Chalgrove, Oxfordshire,
whereof 10s. a year is payable to the vicar for a
sermon on 1 May and 10s. to the poor of East
Hagbourne;
5. Mrs. Eleanor Keate, by will, 1719, devised
the rents of her dwelling-house at Wallingford for
the benefit of the poor. The house was sold in
1882, and the proceeds invested in £195 2s. 5d.
consols with the official trustees, producing yearly
£4 17s. 4d.;
6. Mrs. Mary Harwood, by will, proved in the
P.C.C. 23 November 1734, bequeathed £50 placed
at her disposal by her mother, Martha Harwood,
and a further sum of £150 for the benefit of poor
housekeepers. The trust fund now consists of
£258 16s. consols in the names of the Rev. W. R.
Baker, the vicar, and two others now deceased, producing yearly £4 17s. 4d.;
7. Christopher Elderfield, will proved in 1652
(see parish of Harwell). Under the scheme of
17 November 1893 the trustees receive yearly a
twentieth part of the income, which in 1907
amounted to £2 5s. 7d. in addition to the yearly
sum of 10s. for attending the audit.
8. The Poor's Land.—A purchase of land called
'The Poor's Land' appears to have been made at an
early period with the accumulations of several small
donations. In 1840 3 a. 1 r. 23 p. in Upper End
Field and 1 r. 24 p. in Lower End Field were
allotted for the poor in compensation for common
rights; these are now let in labourers' allotments,
producing £10 a year or thereabouts.
The net income of the parochial charities after
payment to the vicar of 10s. for a sermon in respect
of Smith's charity and 10s. to the poor in bread in
respect of the same charity is distributed in coal in
January or February.
In 1772 the Rev. Matthew Eaton by will, proved
in the P.C.C. 17 March of that year, directed his
real and personal estate to be sold and the net
residue thereof to be placed out at interest and
applied in placing out poor children belonging to
the parishes of Harwell, Milton and Hagbourne
apprentices to some working trade, and towards the
relief of poor widows and other industrious poor
persons, inhabitants of the same parishes. In 1822
the trust estate became the subject of proceedings in
the Court of Chancery, in the result of which a sum
of £3,180 consols remained invested in the name
of the Paymaster-General, producing a dividend of
£95 8s. a year, of which £26 10s., being one-third
share, is applicable in this parish. No portion of the
income has been expended in apprenticing for many
years, but it is applied chiefly in providing materials
for clothing and as bonuses to subscribers to a clothing
club.
In 1853 John Armstrong by will, proved at
London 27 April of that year, bequeathed £200 for
the poor. The legacy is represented by £209 18s. 3d.
consols with the official trustees, producing £5 4s. 8d.
a year, which under a declaration of trust of
14 November 1864, executed by the Rev. Richard
Meredith, vicar of Hagbourne, is made applicable in
the distribution of flannel or blankets.
The recreation ground consisted of 1 a. 2 r.
awarded in 1841 on the inclosure, situate on the
Wantage and Wallingford road. In 1882 two small
portions thereof were sold to the Great Western
Railway Company, the proceeds thereof being represented by £40 5s. consols in the names of John
Holliday (since deceased) and Robert Aldworth, and
£19 11s. 8d. consols in the names of Stephen Dixon
and John Holliday, both deceased. The land is
under the management of the parish council.
Gravel Pits, an acre in Lower End Field, and
another acre in Upper End Field were likewise
awarded to the surveyor of the highways of East
Hagbourne for the repair of the highways, &c. The
land is now let in allotments, producing about
£3 13s. a year, which is applied in aid of the township rates.
Township of West Hagbourne.
—In 1662 William
Tyrrell, by will, devised certain lands in the open
fields to the poor of West Hagbourne, subject to the
payment of 20s. annually to the poor of Blewbury.
By an award of 1843 3 a. 3 r. 17 p. bounded on
the south-east by the Chilton Road was granted in
lieu of the common lands. The land is let in allotments, producing in 1907 £7 19s.; the net income,
after deduction of 20s. for Blewbury, is distributed
in coal.
In 1729 Moses Hawkins by will, proved in the
P.C.C. 23 December, charged his arable land in
West Hagbourne Fields with an annuity of 10s. to
be given on 25 December to the poor of West
Hagbourne for ever. Owing to successive sales of the
lands originally charged the rent-charge has ceased
to be paid.