ARDELEY
Erdelei or Erdele (xi–xiii cent.); Erdele or Ardley
(xiv cent.); Yerdley (xv–xvi cent.); Yardley (xvi cent.
to about 1850).
The parish of Ardeley was included in Odsey
Hundred until 14 October 1843, when it was
transferred to Edwinstree Hundred. (fn. 1) It consists of
scattered hamlets lying on the southern slope of the
chalk hills of north-east Hertfordshire, at about an
equal distance from Stevenage station on the main
line of the Great Northern railway and the terminus
of Buntingford on a branch line of the Great Eastern
railway. The River Beane flows through the northern
part of the parish, and the numerous lanes connecting
the outlying parts of the parish (fn. 2) are carried across it
and its tributaries by means of fords. It is recorded
that the water did great damage to the roads early
in the last century. (fn. 3)
The village of Ardeley lies on the western edge of
the hill overlooking the village of Walkern and the
valley of the River Beane. It consists of the church
and the vicarage (a rectangular plastered house built
in 1685, (fn. 4) having a carved wooden fireplace on the
ground floor) and a few cottages around the farm
known as Church End. The manor-house called
Ardeley Bury, the residence of Col. Hans CM. Woods,
R.A., is situated a little to the west.
North of Ardeley Bury the village street of Cromer
lies on the road from Walkern to Rushden. It has
its own church and a hall, now converted into two
cottages, and is surrounded by its own common arable
fields. To the south is Cromer Farm, a timber and
plaster house on a brick base, built towards the
end of the 16th or early in the 17th century. It is
L-shaped in plan and has two original chimney stacks.
In the hall is an iron fireback bearing the date 1630,
a pheon, an earl's coronet and the letters R.L. The
outbuildings are probably original. Another timber
and plaster house in the middle of Cromer Street,
now divided into two cottages, is of about the same
date. On the higher ground north-east of Cromer
is a windmill probably on the site of the ancient
manorial mill of Ardeley Bury, which was built on
land acquired by exchange from the lords of Cromer. (fn. 5)
Luffenhall Street is a hamlet also surrounded by uninclosed common fields and is partly in Clothall parish.
Wood End, a considerable hamlet in the timbered
district in the south of the parish, contains the modern
church of St. Alban, a Congregational chapel (fn. 6) and
several farm-houses, including Lite's Farm, possibly
the old manor-house. (fn. 7) Two of the farm-houses are
of timber and plaster and apparently date from the
17th century. The manor-house of Moor Hall, now
converted into a farm, is about a mile north of Wood
End. At Gardner's is a homestead moat surrounding farm-buildings near the road from Great Munden
to Rushden which here forms the boundary between
Ardeley and Cottered and further north passes through
the hamlet of Hare Street.
These considerable farms and houses in a purely
agricultural district doubtless represent the tenements
of the well-to-do yeomen freeholders, who 'dealt much
in the making of malt.' (fn. 8) Chief among these were
the Halfhide family, members of which lived at
Gardner's End, (fn. 9) Moor Green (fn. 10) and Wood End, (fn. 11)
and the Shotbolt family which occupied the tenement
called 'Cowherds' or 'Cowards,' afterwards called
' The Place.' (fn. 12) By 1700, however, the prosperity of
these families had much diminished. (fn. 13)
In addition to barley, wheat and beans are the
chief crops grown. Of 2,424 acres, rather more than
half is arable land. The permanent grass covers 660
acres. (fn. 14) Some of the grass-land consists of open
greens such as Parker's Green, Munches Green
and Moor Green, and in the 17th and preceding
centuries the inhabitants depastured cattle along the
roadside and on the ' balks' dividing the holdings in
the common fields. (fn. 15) The woodland (about 80 acres)
is chiefly about Ardeley Bury and in the south of
the parish. In 1649 seven 'groves' appertained to
Ardeley Manor; among these were Deereloves,
Rooks, Cockshott, and Great Sprosewell. (fn. 16)
The public elementary school dates from 1834,
and was enlarged in 1845. (fn. 17)
MANORS
Ardeley
The manor of ARDELEY was held
in 1086 by the canons of St. Paul's,
London. It had belonged to the church
before the Conquest, (fn. 18) and possibly the tradition that
the canons acquired it of the gift of King Athelstan
(924–40 A.D.) is correct, although the charter recording the gift must be rejected as a forgery. (fn. 19)
Apparently the manor included the whole parish
in 1086, and the canons owned also 2 hides in the
hamlet of Luffenhall, which lies partly in Clothall,
partly in Ardeley. (fn. 20) In 1086 Ardeley was assessed at
6 hides, of which 3 were in the demesne. (fn. 21) In the
time of Henry I the manor was assessed at 7 hides,
but only 6 of these were accounted for; 2 hides were
in the demesne, 1 hide having evidently been alienated
to tenants since the time of the Domesday Survey. (fn. 22)
The manor was allotted for the maintenance of
the keeper of the brew-house of St. Paul's. (fn. 23) The
manor-house and demesne lands were let on lease as
early as the 12th century. The rent due from
Osbert of Ardeley, to whom a lease for life was granted
in 1141, was paid four times a year, (fn. 24) on the ninth,
twenty-sixth, fortieth and forty-sixth Sundays after
the feast of St. Faith. (fn. 25) The
rent paid to the brew-house at
each term was 64 quarters of
wheat, 12 quarters of barley,
64 quarters of oats and a
money rent of 42s. At the
same time there were due to
the chamberlain, besides a
fixed sum from the church,
£11 12s. 4d. from the manor
for wages, wood and alms (fn. 26)
and 40s. towards the obit of
John Malemeyns. (fn. 27) The 12thcentury lessee received in
addition to the farm-stock and
three barns filled with wheat,
oats, barley and hay, a good hall (doubtless on the
site of Ardeley Bury) with 'cloisters' (trisana) and a
chamber leading out of the hall, courtyard, granary
and kitchen, stables and a place for storing hay. In
the hall were four small butts, three cups, 'lead above
the oven,' a bench, a cupboard and two tables. (fn. 28)
Dean and Chapter or St. Paul's. Gules the crossed swords of St. Paul with a D in the chief or.
In 1222 the farmer of the manor was Theobald
Archdeacon of Essex, (fn. 29) and it became customary for
the lessee to be one of the canons of St. Paul's (fn. 30) and
to farm the courts as well as the demesne lands. (fn. 31)
Sir Henry Chauncy, writing in 1700, stated that
the manor-house and demesne
lands (only) had been held for
above 200 years by his ancestors, who had had several
leases for lives from the dean
and chapter. (fn. 32) In 1610 Henry
Chauncy of Ardeley, gentleman, evidently the writer's
grandfather, (fn. 33) sublet' the Owld
House' with various lands and
tenements, including the great
barn called 'Powles Barn,' to
one John Wright of Ardeley,
yeoman. (fn. 34) Chauncy then had
a lease for three lives, which
was renewed to his son Henry Chauncy in 1634. (fn. 35)
Chauncy. Gules a cross paty argent and a chief or with a lion passant azure therein.
In 1649 the Parliamentary trustees for the lands of
deans and chapters sold the manor to Montague Lane
of London, esquire, Peter Burrough of Clement's Inn,
gentleman, and Edward Head of Ardeley, yeoman. (fn. 36)
At the Restoration the dean and chapter recovered
their lands, (fn. 37) and continued to take the profits of
Ardeley until 1808, when the manor-house and
demesne lands were sold to John Spurrier, auctioneer. (fn. 38)
The manorial rights were not included in the sale, but
are now vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
Ardeley Bury and the demesne lands were sold by
John Spurrier to Sir David Baird, K.B., 19 January
1810. He conveyed them in the subsequent year to
Commissary-General John Murray. At his death in
1834 his estate descended to his daughter Susannah
Catherine Saunders Murray, wife of Major Adolphus
Cottin, who assumed the name of Murray. (fn. 39) She
resided at Ardeley Bury and died 21 April 1860. (fn. 40)
Her son and heir Adolphus William Murray bequeathed the property to Philip Longmore of the
Castle, Hertford, his solicitor. Shortly after his
death, which occurred in 1879, the estate was purchased by Mr. J. J. Scott, father of the late Major
J. T. Scott, (fn. 41) in whose trustees it is now vested.
At Ardeley, as in their other manors, the Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's exercised many liberties and
privileges. In 1287 the tenant of their manor
claimed assize of bread and ale, free warren and
gallows. (fn. 42) They held view of frankpledge for the
whole parish as late as 1638. (fn. 43) King Edward II
exempted their tenants at Ardeley from supplying
corn to the royal purveyors. (fn. 44) A grant of free
warren in Ardeley was made by the same king in
February 1315–16. (fn. 45) The lords of the manor were
entitled to fines arising from pleas before the barons
of the Exchequer, the judges of both benches, the
judges on assize, and all 'Greenwax' fines. (fn. 46)
In Chauncy's time Ardeley Bury stood in the midst
of an ancient park, then disparked, and was surrounded
by a moat. (fn. 47) It may therefore have occupied the site
of the ancient hall let to Osbert of Ardeley in 1141, (fn. 48)
for in 1222 the manor-house was surrounded by a
park of 60 acres. (fn. 49) The present house was built in
the latter part of the 16th century, but was much
altered and modernized by John Murray in 1820. (fn. 50)
It is a red-brick house L-shaped in plan with three
towers in the front. The hall has some original
panelling reaching to about 6 ft. 6 in. from the floor,
and there is panelling in some other rooms. The
deep moat, with an inner rampart, which surrounded
the house, is now dry.
Within the parish three small manors were held
of the main manor of Ardeley, in which they were
probably included at the time of the Domesday
Survey.
Cromer Hall
CROMER HALL (Crawmere, xiii cent.; Cromarhall, xvi cent.) originated in 'assart' land reclaimed
from the wood or waste of Ardeley Manor. (fn. 51) It is
evidently identical with a 'place' next Ardeley Park,
which Ralph son of William of Cromer held of the
main manor in 1222 by service of rendering three
capons yearly. (fn. 52) Ralph son of William also held 3
acres of the demesne, (fn. 53) which he had in exchange for
land given for the site of the manorial windmill, (fn. 54) and
half a virgate held in villeinage 'for Robert, servant
of Nicholas the Archdeacon.' (fn. 55) From Ralph the
manor apparently descended to Roger of Cromer and
to his daughter Sabina, who married Ralph son of
Roger of Westover (Westoouer), for they surrendered
122 acres in Ardeley, Cromer and Luffenhall to the
lord of Ardeley in 1258–9. (fn. 56)
The history of the manor during the following two
centuries is obscure. Chauncy (fn. 57) identifies Cromer
with the 'manor' in Ardeley held in 1278 by Roger
de la Lee, together with a warren which had been
made by Philip Lovell (fn. 58) ; but it seems more probable
that Roger's manor was Lite's. (fn. 59) Possibly the later
tenants again took their name from their holding, for
John of Cromer was living in Ardeley in 1290–1, (fn. 60)
and in 1322–3 Alice of Cromer paid towards a
subsidy in Ardeley. (fn. 61)
In 1526 Hugh Brabham with his wife Margaret,
in whose right he was evidently holding, sold the
manor of Cromer to Thomas Catesby and others for
£100. (fn. 62) This Thomas appears to have been the
younger son of Sir Humphrey Catesby, kt., of
Northamptonshire. (fn. 63) His heir was his elder brother
Anthony Catesby of Whiston, co. Northants, (fn. 64) who
in 1540 sold Cromer Hall to George Clerke of
Benington, yeoman. (fn. 65)
In 1550 the homage presented George Clerke for
cutting down trees in the highway at Cromer. (fn. 66) He
transferred the manor in 1557 to his son Thomas
Clerke of Stevenage, (fn. 67) whose title was disputed by
John Austen, citizen and haberdasher of London, who
called himself great-grandson of William Austen and
his wife Katherine, who was daughter of Sir John
Clerke, kt. (fn. 68) Thomas Clerke retained the manor
until his death about 1597, when his next heir was
his son William. (fn. 69) Thomas and William Clerke and
Beatrice Clerke, widow, dismembered the manor, (fn. 70) a
process already begun by the alienation of the windmill in 1576. (fn. 71) The manorial rights with a messuage,
possibly the hall, were purchased by Matthew
Scrivener of Walkern and his wife Grace. (fn. 72) Cromer
Hall was ultimately acquired by John Shotbolt. (fn. 73)
Courts having ceased to be held, ' some of the copyholders took up their lands in Ardeley Manor, some
ceased to perform any of the customary dues.' (fn. 74)
The family of Shotbolt had long resided in Ardeley,
where they held a tenement called Cowards. In
1618 John and Philip Shotbolt granted an annuity
of £400 out of their 'capital messuage and demesnes'
in Ardeley (? Cromer Hall) to Lady Elizabeth Griffin, (fn. 75)
who is also said to have purchased Cowards through
the agency of Thomas Taylor. (fn. 76) Lady Elizabeth
Griffin, 'uneasie in this place,' (fn. 77) perhaps owing to the
difficulty she experienced in obtaining her annuity
from Cromer Hall, surrendered her copyhold tenements (Cowards, &c.) to Sir Edward Baesh, kt., and
his wife Mary and to Edward Adkyns in 1637. (fn. 78)
In 1619 Lady Elizabeth had sought to enter upon
the capital messuage and demesnes of Cromer Hall,
since John Shotbolt had failed to pay the annuity due
to her; but she was 'defeated' in consequence of a
conveyance made to Mary Shotbolt, mother of John. (fn. 79)
Shortly afterwards the house was acquired (probably
by purchase) by William Halfhide, who in 1630
conveyed it to his son John Halfhide, (fn. 80) whose family
had long resided at Ardeley. (fn. 81)
Cromer Hall is a late 16th-century house, now
divided into two cottages. It is of two stories constructed of timber and plaster on a brick base. It
still retains the oak ceiling beams, some oak doors,
and the original staircase.
Lite's Manor
LITE'S MANOR (Leightes, xvi–xviii cent.;
Lights, xvii–xix cent.) is possibly identical with the
manor of Ardeley which Roger de la Lee held in 1278.
Philip Lovell had made there a warren which Roger
held with the manor. (fn. 82) It may be that 'Little Lye
Grove,' near the site of Lite's, is identical with this
warren.
Towards the end of the 13th century Lite's was
held by Richard de Harwedune, who was succeeded by
his daughter Maud. About 1322 she conveyed the
manor to Theobald de Bridebrook. (fn. 83) Theobald's
name does not occur among the inhabitants who paid
to a subsidy in 1322–3, but there was then living
at Ardeley a 'Robert Lithe.' (fn. 84)
In 1414 John Morris of Ardeley sold the manor of
Lite's to John Hotoft and others. They transferred
their rights to John Bardolf and his wife Joan, who
afterwards married Robert Carleton. (fn. 85) How long it
remained in this family is unknown. (fn. 86) In 1558
William Fanne suffered a recovery of certain lands
and tenements in Ardeley. (fn. 87) These may have been
identical with Lite's, which was sold by William Fanne
to George and Joan Brewster in about 1563. (fn. 88) Joan
survived her husband, and was succeeded by his sister's
son, Toby Middleton, gentleman. (fn. 89) About 1621 a
settlement of the manor was made (fn. 90) whereby Toby
Middleton was to hold it for life and at his death it
was to pass to Henry Chauncy and his heirs. Henry
Chauncy having died in 1631 before Toby Middleton, (fn. 91)
the estate passed to his son Henry Chauncy of
Ardeley Bury, who was succeeded in 1681 by Sir
Henry Chauncy, the historian of Hertfordshire. (fn. 92) His
grandson and heir, also named Henry, mortgaged the
estate to John Hawkins, and Chauncy's bequest of the
manor to 'the infant Japhet Crook ' was set aside in
favour of Thomas Hawkins. He died in 1742,
having bequeathed it to his niece Katherine, wife
of William Woolball of Walthamstow. (fn. 93) Their
daughter and heir Katherine carried the estate in
marriage to Sir Hanson Berney, bart., of Kirby
Bedon, co. Norfolk. (fn. 94) In 1789 their son and heir
Sir John Berney, bart., conveyed it to trustees, from
whom it was purchased by John Spurrier. He sold
it in 1808 to John Simon Harcourt. (fn. 95) The latter's
only son George Simon Harcourt succeeded to the
estate, (fn. 96) and sold it to Commissary-General Murray,
the owner of Ardeley Bury. (fn. 97) The two estates have
thus been amalgamated.
Moor Hall
MOOR HALL was also held of the main manor
of Ardeley. (fn. 98) The early tenants were called after their
holding. In 1284 John 'de la More' was the
wealthiest inhabitant of Ardeley, if the farmer of
Ardeley Bury be excepted. (fn. 99) It is said that a John
'de la More' conveyed More Hall to John Munden
about 1317, and that Munden shortly afterwards
conveyed to John de Wylye, parson, of Walton-onThames, probably for a settlement. (fn. 100) In 1324
Robert of Munden, clerk, possessed a 'little manor'
(manerettum) of Moor Hall in Ardeley, which he had
leased for life to John 'de la Forde' of Edmonton
and his wife Maud. (fn. 101) The site of the manor subsequently came into the hands of Edward Kendale. (fn. 102)
John de Wylye is said to have conveyed the manor
to Kendale and his wife Elizabeth, (fn. 103) but she had
dower only in it after his death, (fn. 104) and his right heir
was his son Edward Kendale (fn. 105) possibly by a former
wife. (fn. 106)
The subsequent history of Moor Hall is uncertain.
Beatrice, sister of Edward Kendale the younger,
married Robert Turk. (fn. 107) Their grandchild, Joan
Wallis, married Nicholas Morley. Apparently Moor
Hall descended to the Morleys in the same way as
the manor of Wakeley. (fn. 108) The manor of Moor Hall
had been acquired by Thomas Morley, gentleman,
before June 1559, when the homage returned that
he was recently dead and that his heir failed to
appear. (fn. 109) This heir was his son William, (fn. 110) who sold
the manor in 1568 to Edward Halfhide of Aspenden. (fn. 111)
In 1572 Halfhide conveyed it to William Gurney,
otherwise Gornell, (fn. 112) probably in trust, for the latter
transferred his rights in 1595 to Mary wife of
George Shurley and daughter and heir of Edward
Halfhide. (fn. 113)
From George Shurley the manor was purchased in
1598 by Richard Saltonstall, alderman and goldsmith
of London. (fn. 114) He settled it on his son Peter upon
the latter's marriage with Anne daughter of Edmund
Waller. (fn. 115) In 1605 Peter Saltonstall sold it to Robert
Spence, citizen and fishmonger
of London and Master of
the Levant Company of merchants. (fn. 116) Spence bequeathed
it to his wife Audrey, (fn. 117) who
died seised of it about 1635,
and was succeeded by Robert
Spence of Balcombe, co.
Sussex, her son and heir. (fn. 118) In
1648 Robert Spence settled
it upon his son and heirapparent William Spence of
Lincoln's Inn, upon the latter's
marriage with Mary daughter
of Samuel Short. William Spence having died about
1678 without male issue, the manor descended to his
brother John Spence, also of Lincoln's Inn. (fn. 119) He was
succeeded by his son John Spence, (fn. 120) whose second
son Luke Spence inherited the estate. (fn. 121) He died
at Mailing, co. Sussex, in July 1800, at the age of
eighty-five, having acted as magistrate for that county
for more than sixty years, (fn. 122) and was succeeded by his
grandson Henry Hume Spence. Moor Hall subsequently came into the possession of Lord Salisbury,
and was purchased by the present owner, Miss G.
Cotton Browne, whose father, the late Rev. J. G.
Cotton Browne, had acquired certain land in the
parish. (fn. 123)
Spence. Sable a fesse battled argent.
CHURCHES
St. Lawrence
The church of ST. LAWRENCE,
which stands on high ground to the
west of the village, is built of flint
rubble, mostly covered with rough-cast, with stone
dressings, and roofed with tiles and with lead. It
consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, west tower, north
porch and north vestry. (fn. 124)
In the 13th century the church probably consisted
of a chancel and nave only. The nave, the oldest
portion of the church now remaining, was in existence
early in the 13th century, when the old chancel was
rebuilt and a north aisle added. The south aisle was
not built till a century later, when the present chancel
arch appears to have been built, and the west tower
in about the fourth decade of the 14th century.
During the 15th century the clearstory was added,
the north porch was built, (fn. 125) the north windows of the
north aisle were inserted, and those of the south aisle
altered externally; both aisles were partly rebuilt, the
windows of the bell chamber inserted, and the embattled parapets of the tower and north aisle added.
The church was also re-roofed and was seated with the
existing pews. In the 19th century the chancel
was almost entirely rebuilt and the north vestry was
added.
The chancel has two of the original early 13thcentury lancets rebuilt into the north and south walls.
The east window is modern. At the north-east is a
13th-century tomb recess with shafted jambs and dogtooth ornament, which may have been used as an
Easter sepulchre, and at the south-east is a piscina of
the same date, also with shafted jambs and dog-tooth
ornament. The chancel arch, which is apparently of
the 14th century, is plain, of two chamfered orders.
It may have been altered when the south arcade of
the nave was built. The rood-loft was approached
by a staircase at the north-east of the nave, of which
remains exist, but the upper door is blocked.
The nave, of three bays, has on the north side an
arcade of the early 13th century, consisting of two-centred arches on octagonal columns with plain bell
capitals. The south arcade is similar, but more
massive, and is a century later in date. None of the
detail of the original nave now exists, but the walling
over the arcades is a survival from the first fabric,
dating from before the 13th century. The rather
late 15th-century clearstory consists of three two-light
windows on each side.
The walls and north door of the north aisle are of
13th-century date. The east and west windows are
either original or not much later, but the two north
windows are of the late 15th century, and contain
fragments of 15th-century glass, some of which occupy
their original positions. The south aisle largely escaped
the 15th-century alteration, for though the windows
are externally of that date the openings are of the same
date as the erection of the aisle, the 14th century.
The south door is modern.
The tower arch has shafted jambs, and both it and
the west window are of the late 14th century. The
font is octagonal and the workmanship is rough,
dating probably from the early 15th century, while
the cover is of the early 17th century.
The roof of both nave and aisles is a good example
of 15th-century woodwork. The principals are
moulded, and there are carved bosses at their intersections. At the feet of the principals are carved
figures of angels playing upon various musical instruments, and the nave principals have brackets containing
tracery. One of the beams at the east end of the
nave bears traces of decoration in colour, and the
eastern half of the first bay of the roof is panelled to
form a canopy over the rood. The open seating,
with ends adorned with poppy heads, is of the same
date.
There are three ancient brasses in the church.
The oldest, in the chancel floor, is fragmentary. It
consists of the lower part of a woman's figure, with an
inscription to John Clerke and his wife; the date is
about 1430. On the chancel wall is a brass of
Philip Metcalf, vicar of the parish, dated 1515, and
on the south jamb of the chancel arch is another of
Thomas Shotbolt, his wife, four sons, and two
daughters.
In the nave is a mural monument, with a bust, of
Mary Markham, 1673.
Of the six bells in the tower the first is by
Pack & Chapman, of 1771; the second by James
Bartlett, 1685; the third and sixth are mediaeval, but
of uncertain date, inscribed 'Vocor Maria' and 'Sit
Nomen Domini Benedictum ' respectively; the fourth
is by John Dier, 1587, and the fifth, probably by Robert
Oldfeild, 1613.
The plate includes two patens of 1678 and 1690.
The registers are contained in four books: (i)
baptisms, burials and marriages from 1546 to 1701;
(ii) baptisms, burials and marriages from 1702 to
1753; (iii) baptisms and burials from 1754 to 1812;
(iv) marriages from 1754 to 1812.
St. Alban
The chapel of ST. ALBAN, Wood End, was built
in 1853, largely, it is said, of the stones picked up in
the fields by the children of the parish. (fn. 126)
St. Joseph
The chapel of ST. JOSEPH, Cromer, was built in
1890.
ADVOWSON
The right of presentation has
always belonged to the Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's. (fn. 127) In March
1290 a vicarage was ordained, (fn. 128) and the church was
then assessed at £12. (fn. 129)
From 1690 onwards meeting-places were certified
for Protestant Dissenters in Ardeley. The chapel at
Wood End was built in 1820, as a preaching station
for students at Wymondley Academy, and was rebuilt
in 1855. (fn. 130)
CHARITIES
The Ardeley charity estates are
regulated by a scheme of the high
court of Chancery, 2 March 1836, as
varied by schemes of the Charity Commissioners
dated respectively in 1887 and 1897. They comprise:—
1. A piece of copyhold land called Plaistowe's or
Town Close, containing 1 a. 2 r. 6 p., granted by the
lords of the manor of Ardeley Bury in 1630.
2. The Poor's Acre, copyhold of the said manor,
granted in 1630.
3. Pearson's gift, being a close called 'The Ainage,'
containing 3 a. 3 r. 14 p., the rents and profits to be
applied in bread to the poor, one half on the first
Sunday in January and the remainder on the first
Sunday in February.
4. Robert Austin's gift, founded by deed 1647, and
consisting of a piece of land called Churchfield, containing 1 a. 1 r. 33 p.
5. Edward Hoad's gift, founded by will 1655,
under which the testator gave £20 to be laid out in
land, the interest to be applied in apprenticing poor
children. The endowment consists of a piece of
land now called the Apprentice Land, containing
2 a. 2 r.
6. Henry Chauncy's gift, founded by will
8 February 1680, and consisting of two small cottages
containing two rooms each called 'Reedings with
garden of 16 poles, and the Pightle containing
1 a. 2 r.
7. The Town Stock arising from subscriptions
made in 1807 and consisting of £69 6s. 11d. consols
in the name of the official trustees, producing
£1 14s. 8d. yearly.
The income arising from Pearson's gift shall be
applied in bread in accordance with the will of the
donor.
The rents from the Apprentice Land shall accumulate until there is sufficient money to place a poor
child out as apprentice to some trade or business.
The 'Reedings' shall be used for poor people to
live in rent free, and two loads of fuel, to be provided
out of the rent of the Pightle, shall be delivered
at the 'Reedings' at Michaelmas and Christmas.
From the income arising from the remaining
property a sum of £5 yearly shall be applied towards
the support of the master or mistress of a school, and
the residue for the general benefit of the poor.
The gross income from the estates in 1907 was
£15 9s. 8d.