SANDON
Sandona (x cent.); Sanduna (xii cent.); Saundon
(xiii cent.).
Sandon is a parish of 4,060 acres lying high on the
chalk. The level of the land over the greater part
of the parish ranges upwards from some 400 ft. above
the ordnance datum to 528 ft. in the immediate
neighbourhood of the village, from which there is a
gradual descent in a north-westerly direction to a level
of only 240 ft. The soil is light, containing a
considerable quantity of chalk, of which the subsoil
is wholly composed. Arable land covers rather
more than 3,000 acres, pasture nearly 700 acres,
and the extent of woodland, which comprises small
plantations at Roe Wood, Tichney Wood (possibly
the 'Tichenho' Wood of 1222) (fn. 1) and Park Wood, is
about 115 acres. (fn. 2) The Cat Ditch, a tributary of the
Ivel, flows northwards through the parish. The
village itself stands on the high ground at some
distance from the main road. It consists of a few
farms and cottages grouped irregularly about the
church. There are several outlying hamlets. Roe
Green, (fn. 3) three-quarters of a mile to the south-west of
the village, may be identical with 'the green at le
Rothe' mentioned in 13th-century court rolls. (fn. 4)
There is a Congregational chapel at Roe Green
dating from 1868, (fn. 5) and representing a community
which existed in the parish in the latter half of the
17th century. (fn. 6) In 1809 the house of Thomas Smith
at Roe Green was licensed for worship. (fn. 7) The chapel
was licensed for marriages in 1877. (fn. 8) The same
minister serves the chapel of Red Hill, a hamlet in the
extreme south-west of the parish. (fn. 9) The first chapel
was built here in 1720, and in 1805 a new building
was erected on ground given by Mr. Fordham. (fn. 10)
There are no important roads passing through the
parish, but that part of the Icknield Way which forms
the high road from Hitchin to Royston separates this
parish from that of Ashwell, where the nearest railway
station lies.
The open fields were inclosed in 1842. (fn. 11)
There are moated sites at Daniels Farm and at
Hankins, about a mile to the south-west of the
church, and a thickly planted moated tumulus on the
east side of the village. Traditions are attached to
the two latter. That relating to Hankins is that the
owner, who has probably been wrongly identified
with John Fitz Geoffrey, whose brass, dated 1480, is
in the church, on his arrival from London one night
found his home in flames and his wife and children
slain by robbers. The other legend, which refers to
the Mount (Woodley Yards), is that the inhabitants
were forewarned by a boy of an impending attack
by robbers, which they successfully resisted, but
the robbers, having caught the boy, flayed him
alive. (fn. 12)
MANORS
The canons of St. Paul's held
Sandon in 1086. They had been in
possession before the Conquest. (fn. 13) A
charter, of which copies are preserved in registers of
the dean and chapter, (fn. 14) purports to be a grant or
confirmation made by King Athelstan (924–40) to
the monastery of ten 'mansae' at Sandon with Rode
(possibly Roe Green) (fn. 15) and other lands in Hertfordshire. The charter itself is a palpable forgery, but there
may be truth in the tradition that the canons owed the
gift of these lands to Athelstan. In 1086 Sandon was
assessed at 10 hides, of which 5 hides were then in
demesne, and half a hide was attached to the church (fn. 16)
(q.v.). There was arable land sufficient for twenty
ploughs. An extent of the manor taken in 1155
gives a detailed account of the stock. There were on
the farm forty-four oxen, five horses and one cart
horse, in addition to cattle and sheep. (fn. 17) Some of the
services mentioned in an inquisition of 1222 are of
interest. (fn. 18) Tenants of half-virgate holdings had to
carry twenty-five loads to London, They also paid
wood-silver and malt-silver, and provided two hens
at Christmas and fifteen eggs at Easter. Holders
of 10 and 5 acres rendered similar services in proportion to the extent of their holding. The manor of
Sandon was not attached to any of the prebends, but
formed part of the 'communa,' the revenue of which
was appropriated to the support of all the officers
of the cathedral. (fn. 19) Together with 'Rode' and
Luffenhall it supplied the chapter with 'farm' or
provisions for about ten weeks in each year. (fn. 20)
Luffenhall was in fact taxed with Sandon for temporal
purposes, but for spiritual purposes it was regarded as
a part of Ardeley (fn. 21) (q.v.).
The lessee of Sandon was often one of the canons
of the cathedral. Thus in 1155 the canon Alexander
was appointed 'farmer' of this manor for life. (fn. 22)
Towards the end of the next century Master Robert
de Braundon, prebendary of Sneating, (fn. 23) had a life
interest in the farm of the manor, (fn. 24) although Ralph
de Diccto, the chronicler, who was dean from about
1181 to 1204, tried to secure that the lessee should
always be the dean himself. (fn. 25) He apparently found
two lay 'farmers' there, namely Richard the Red
(ruffus) and Richard of Sandon. (fn. 26)
The manorial lands were let to John Newport in
1526 (fn. 27) and the lease was renewed to him and his eldest
son Robert in 1550. (fn. 28) Robert succeeded his father
about 1552, but was disturbed in his possession by
his younger brother Thomas and the latter's daughter
Clare, who married her cousin John Newport of East
Greenwich. (fn. 29) Moreover, in February 1559–60
Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester obtained from the
dean and chapter a ninety-nine years' lease of the
manorial rights with a reversionary interest in the
hnds let to Newport, (fn. 30) and conveyed his title to
William Hyde of Sandon. (fn. 31) Consequently disputes
arose between Hyde and Robert Newport, who feared
that Hyde would oust him from his lease and also
arrogated to himself the right of holding courts. (fn. 32)
After the abolition of cathedral chapters in 1641
the reversionary interest of the Dean and Chapter of
St. Paul's was sold to Henry Scobell of London, (fn. 33)
afterwards clerk of the Parliament and Secretary of
State. At the Restoration it was recovered by the
dean and chapter together with their other estates.
In 1863 they sold the manor to Mr. John George
Fordham of Royston. (fn. 34) From him it has descended to
Mr. Francis John Fordham of Yew Tree House,
Royston, the present owner. (fn. 35)
The house of the manor is mentioned in the early
part of the 13th century, when its 'houses, ditches
and closes' were repaired. (fn. 36) The present farm-house,
called Sandon Bury, which stands on the south-east of
the church, is a 17th-century brick building of three
stories to which a wing has been added on the east
side. It contains an original staircase. Near the
house are two 17th-century barns and a 17th-century
brick pigeon-house with a tiled roof, now much out
of repair. Late in the 17th century the house called
Sandon Bury was in the occupation of Edward
Nicholas, son of the Dean of St. Paul's. (fn. 37)
The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's claimed their
usual extensive liberties in this manor. (fn. 38) In 1247
they had a grant of free warren which was confirmed
in 1316. (fn. 39) It appears, however, that until 1253 the
men of Sandon had been accustomed to come to the
sheriff's tourn twice a year, and in 1278 the township
was ordered to be distrained because it had not come
to the tourn. (fn. 40)
John son of William Fitz Geoffrey of Sandon
released his right in 'Ladygrove' in Sandon to
Stephen Cowherd in 1421. (fn. 41) This William appears
to have been the grandfather of John Fitz Geoffrey of
Sandon, who died in 1480, leaving a son and heir
John. (fn. 42) The brasses of John Fitz Geoffrey the father
and of his wife and children are still preserved in
the nave of the church. (fn. 43) It appears that the Fitz
Geoffrey estate was the reputed manor of DANIELS,
since Francis Fitz Geoffrey son of John Fitz Geoffrey
of Clapham (co. Beds.) (fn. 44) sold the 'manor of Daniels '
to George Hyde of Throcking
about 1541. (fn. 45) He bequeathed
the manor to his younger son
William Hyde, (fn. 46) who sold his
life-interest to Sir John Perient,
kt., and others, including
Thomas Bowles the elder. (fn. 47)
The conveyance was possibly
in trust for Thomas Bowles
the younger and Mary his
wife, to whom a William
Hyde (presumably the nephew
and heir of the former
William) and his wife Elizabeth transferred their rights in 1556. (fn. 48) By 1578
the estate had apparently reverted to William Hyde,
the nephew, of Hyde Hall,
since with his sons Leonard
and George he then sold it
to Thomas Morrison, (fn. 49)
evidently the Thomas Morrison of Cadeby, co. Lincs.,
whose son Thomas lived at
Sandon. (fn. 50) Charles son of
Thomas Morrison of Sandon
moved to Overstone, co.
Northants, after the death of
his first wife Elizabeth, and
in 1650 sold the property to
Thomas Flyer of Brent
Pelham. (fn. 51) It descended to
his son Francis, (fn. 52) who sold it in February 1720 to
Sir Gregory Page (fn. 53) of Greenwich, bart., one of the
directors of the East India Company. (fn. 54) His son
Sir Gregory sold the property in 1729 to Sir John
Jennings of Newsells. (fn. 55) Sir John's son George
sold it to Mr. Edward King Fordham in 1786, (fn. 56)
and from this date Daniels has descended with the
manor of Gannock (q.v.).
Fitz Geoffrey. Sable a bull passant or.
Morrison of Sandon. Or a chief gules with three wreaths or therein.
The farm called Daniels is about a quarter of a
mile south-east of Sandon Church, and one of the
fields belonging to the farm is known as 'Mooresmead.' It appears possible, therefore, that Daniels
and La More (q.v.) were once held as one property,
and this theory is strengthened by the tenure of
La More by a certain John Daniel about 1275. (fn. 57)
Gannock
The reputed manor of GANNOCK is identical
with lands held of the dean and chapter as of
Sandon Manor by Warin de
Bassingbourn of Wimpole,
who died about 1348. (fn. 58) Land
in Sandon had been held by
two branches of this family
since at least 1222, when
Alan son of Alexander de
Bassingbourn (fn. 59) was tenant of
3 virgates of freehold in addition to other land, and John
de Bassingbourn had the
custody of William 'Anglus'
with 1 virgate of freehold and
3 acres of the demesne of
Sandon. (fn. 60) In 1239–40 Aubrey (Albreda) de Bassingbourn joined in a settlement on Alexander de
Bassingbourn of lands in Sandon and Kelshall and
elsewhere. (fn. 61) Both John and Warin de Bassingbourn
were presented as defaulters in the view of frankpledge of 1301. (fn. 62) It appears that the holding of John
de Bassingbourn included the mill. (fn. 63) He was succeeded
in 1320 by his brother Nicholas. (fn. 64) The tenement
called Gannocks had been settled by Rosamond de
Hoo (living in 1316) (fn. 65) upon Warin de Bassingbourn
of Wimpole during her life with reversion to her
own son Robert de Bassingbourn. (fn. 66) In 1324 another
settlement had been made on Warin de Bassingbourn
and his wife Amice and the heirs of Warin. (fn. 67) It
was possibly on this pretext that Warin withheld the
lands from Robert de Bassingbourn until his own
death, after which they were restored to Robert. (fn. 68)
Bassingbourn. Gyronny or and gules.
The subsequent history of the Bassingbourn holding
at Gannock is obscure. The 'manor' of Gannock
was said to be held by John Sawyer at his death in
1525, when it descended to his daughter Elizabeth
wife of John Clifford. (fn. 69) It was afterwards found
that her father had sold it to Humphrey Monmouth,
in whose favour a decree was issued in 1537. (fn. 70) Two
years later the manor was sold by Richard Breame
(possibly an agent of Monmouth) to John Newport,
lessee of Sandon Bury, and Margery his wife. (fn. 71)
John died seised of it in 1552 and left it to his
eldest son Robert. (fn. 72) In 1600 Edward Newport
son of Robert (fn. 73) conveyed the estate to Thomas
Morrison. (fn. 74) The latter with his wife and son
Charles (fn. 75) conveyed it in 1629 to Christopher
Vernon (fn. 76) of Hertingfordbury (q.v.). Francis son of
Christopher Vernon and Eleanor his wife and another
son Edmund (fn. 77) made a conveyance of the property in
1654 to Elias Harvey and John Prestwood, (fn. 78) possibly
in trust for sale. By 1680 the manor had come into
the possession of Henry Lawrence and Ann his wife,
who conveyed it that year to Giles Lawrence (fn. 79) of
Stepney, mariner. He bequeathed all his estates, including Gannock and 'Laomer' (i.e. La More) Farm
in Sandon, to his wife Sarah and her heirs. (fn. 80) He had
previously settled two-thirds of his estate on his wife
for life with remainder to their children, (fn. 81) and in 1688
Mary wife of John Chappell conveyed her interest
in two-thirds of the manors of Gannock and More to
William Wakelyn and Richard Wildey. (fn. 82) This twothirds was apparently acquired by Rene Tahourdin,
who was in possession in 1746. (fn. 83) He died in
1751. (fn. 84) He was apparently succeeded by Richard
Tahourdin, who with his wife Anne sold this estate
to Edward Slater in 1778. (fn. 85) The subsequent history
of this part of the property is unknown. It is said
that Richard Lawrance of Lambeth Marsh was
owner of the 'manor and estate of Gannock'
(possibly the remaining third of the original manor)
in 1761, and that it was sold by his brother Giles and
his sister Cecily Courtenay and others to Mr. Elias
Fordham of Sandon. (fn. 86) He sold it to his brother
Mr. Edward King Fordham of Ashwell, who died
in 1847. After this the estate came by will to
his nephew John George Fordham of the Priory,
Royston. (fn. 87) It now belongs to Mr. F. J. Fordham
of Yew Tree House, Royston.
The present farm-house of Gannock lies to the
north-west of the village near Gannock Green and is
in the occupation of Mr. J. S. Sale.
The history of another reputed manor known as
GRENEHALL is somewhat obscure. It was the
subject of a plea in the King's Bench between
Robert son of Nichola, who was wife of Adam Pigas,
and Sir Thomas de Heslarton, kt.,and his wife Alice.
In 1345 Robert claimed the reversion of Grenehall
in accordance with a settlement upon Adam and
Nichola, which he affirmed had been made during
the reign of Edward II. (fn. 88) The termination of
the plea, which was still proceeding in 1350, (fn. 89) is
unknown. In 1568 Grenehall Manor was conveyed
by Edward Bridges and Frances his wife to Nicholas
Fitz Hugh for the life of Frances. (fn. 90) In 1571 a
settlement was made on Nicholas for twenty years
from March 1569 with remainder to Richard Fitz
Hugh, (fn. 91) who in 1584 conveyed the estate to George
Edwards and his heirs. (fn. 92) Nothing more is known of
Grenehall after this date.
La More
The manor of LA MORE was held of the Dean
and Chapter of St. Paul's. (fn. 93) Walter and William
'de Mora' were freehold tenants in Sandon early in
the 13th century. (fn. 94) Robert 'atte More' was a
tenant there about 1301. (fn. 95) The earliest known
record of the manor is a conveyance by Robert
Basset of Rushden and his wife Margaret to John
de Preston and Thomas Semelegh. (fn. 96) In 1261
William Basset had been among the witnesses of
a surrender to the dean and chapter by William son
of James de Sandon of 1d. rent due from Theobald
'de la Mor' for land in Wodewellfeld. (fn. 97) Robert
Basset also witnessed the surrender by Warin de
Bassingbourn of his lands in Sandon in 1316. (fn. 98)
Evidently the manor alienated by Robert Basset in
1384 was identical with the messuage and lands in
Sandon held by the trustees of Sir Robert Belknap, kt.,
in 1390. (fn. 99) He had succeeded the Bassets as lord of
Rushden (q.v.). With that manor Sir John Fray, kt.,
baron of the Exchequer, also acquired the manor of
La More in Sandon. (fn. 100) He settled it upon his wife
Agnes with remainder to their daughters Agnes and
Katherine in succession. (fn. 101) The latter married
Humphrey Stafford (fn. 102) and succeeded her sister, who
died without issue. (fn. 103) Possibly La More was accounted
an appurtenance of her manor of Rushden. It is not
specifically mentioned among the lands of which she
died seised in 1482, (fn. 104) but in 1654 (fn. 105) it was in the
possession of Francis Vernon of Gannock, whose
predecessor, Robert Newport, purchased Rushden in
1574. (fn. 106) Nevertheless, the house and land called 'the
Moore' in Sandon was the property of Ralph Parker
about 1600. (fn. 107) From 1654 onwards the manorial
rights seem to have descended with Gannock (q.v.).
Olivers, known also as Hyde Hall, East
End or Southall
OLIVERS, known also as HYDE HALL, EAST
END or SOUTHALL, was held of the Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's as of Sandon Manor. (fn. 108) The
family of Oliver were tenants of the manor in the
13th and 14th centuries. About 1277 William
Oliver was sued in the court of Sandon in a plea of
debt. (fn. 109) Towards the end of the same century Richard
Oliver witnessed a conveyance of a grove in Sandon. (fn. 110)
A Richard Oliver had land in Sandon and 'Somereshale' in 1312. (fn. 111) 'Magister' Ralph Oliver was in
default at a court held at Sandon in 1322. (fn. 112) It
was possibly he upon whom settlement was made
in 1314 of two messuages and certain land in
Sandon (fn. 113) for life with successive remainders to Alice
and Nichola his sisters and to William Oliver
of Buntingford and his heirs. It seems probable that
one of these sisters married Laurence de Ayot, lord of
Ayot St. Lawrence. In 1353 he died seised of a
tenement called Olivers in Sandon which he held of
the inheritance of his son and heir William, (fn. 114) who
was imprisoned for felony in the Bishop of Winchester's gaol at the time of his father's death. (fn. 115)
In 1457 Walter and Alice Freeman were holding
the manor in right of Alice and granted a life-interest
in it to Robert Oliver and his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 116)
Possibly in consequence of the felony of William de
Ayot the tenement had reverted to the other heirs
under the settlement of 1314. (fn. 117) In 1490 this estate
belonged to Matilda Exton in her own right, and
she together with John Barbour, her son by a former
marriage, conveyed it to Richard Fyfehid alias Lowe
and other trustees, (fn. 118) who granted it in 1492 to
Leonard Hyde of Throcking and others. (fn. 119) These
appear to have been acting only as trustees. In
1506 they transferred the 'manor' to Sir Robert
Drury, kt., and others, who in turn conveyed to
Thomas Sandon. (fn. 120) It passed from his daughter
Agnes to her daughter Rose
wife of John Bird. (fn. 121) They
sold the 'manor of Olivers or
East End' to Simon Pratt,
and his son John with his
wife 'Etheldred' (fn. 122) (Audrey)
made a conveyance of the
estate to William Hyde of
Throcking about 1522.
George Hyde of Throcking
had a release from Francis
Fitz Geoffrey. (fn. 123) His grandson William son of Leonard
Hyde conveyed the estate to
his uncle William Hyde of
Daniels, who reserved it in alienating Daniels. (fn. 124)
William Hyde of Daniels died childless, and Olivers
appears to have reverted to William Hyde of Throcking. He died in 1580, leaving to his son and heir
Leonard the manor of Olivers, and a capital messuage
called Hyde Hall to his wife for life. (fn. 125) After this
date the manor is frequently called by the name of
Hyde Hall.
Hyde of Throcking. Azure a saltire engrailed or and a chief ermine.
In 1607 Sir Leonard Hyde, kt., sold the manor of
Olivers or Hyde Hall to Sir Thomas Cheeke, kt.,
of St. Martin's in the Fields, (fn. 126) who is said to have
conveyed it two years later to the Earl of Exeter. (fn. 127)
In 1612 he sold it to Sir Julius Adelmare alias
Caesar. (fn. 128) This estate was settled on his son Sir John
Caesar. (fn. 129) His eldest son John sold it in 1656 to
William Franklyn. He died without male issue,
and the manor passed to his only sister and heir
Mary wife of Sir Nicholas Miller, kt. (fn. 130) They were
succeeded by their son Franklyn, who married Jane
daughter of Sir Reginald Forster. (fn. 131) She succeeded
to the manor on the death of her husband in 1728.
At her death four years later the estate passed to her
grandson Nicholas Franklyn Miller. (fn. 132) He died at
the age of nineteen, and the estate passed to his aunt
Jane Northcliff, widow, his father's sister. Under
her will the estate came to Edward Mundy (fn. 133) of
Shipley, Derby, who had married Hester sister of
her nephew Nicholas Franklyn Miller. From
Edward Mundy the estate passed to his son Edward
Miller Mundy, (fn. 134) and he sold it in 1789 to William
Baker of Bayfordbury. (fn. 135) It has since descended in
his family, and the present owner is Mr. Clinton R.
Baker (fn. 136) of Bayfordbury.
Baker of Bayfordbury
Hyde Hall is a 17th-century house much restored
and altered. Two of the chimney-stacks and a part
of one of the gables appear to be original. Near the
house is a large 16th-century brick barn lighted by
long narrow loops.
CHURCH
The church of ALL SAINTS consists
of chancel 36 ft. by 15 ft., nave 52 ft.
6 in. by 20 ft., north and south aisles
54 ft. by 9 ft. 6 in., south porch 12 ft. by 10 ft., west
tower 12 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft., all dimensions being
taken internally.
The chancel was rebuilt on the old foundations
about 1348, (fn. 137) and the nave with its aisles was erected
about 1360–70, the west tower and south porch
being later additions of about the first decade of the
15th century. The church, all but the tower, was
repaired in 1832 and 1875 and the tower and south
porch in 1909. The church is built of flint rubble
with stone dressings, the chancel roof is tiled and the
nave roof covered with lead.
The three-light traceried window in the east wall
of the chancel is modern; in the north wall are two
late 14th-century windows having two trefoiled lights
with rectilinear tracery. Between them is a lowarched recess which was probably used as an Easter
sepulchre; the arch has a richly crocketed label; it
is of late 14th-century work. The two windows in
the south wall are similar in detail and date to those
on the north. In the south wall is a 14thcentury triple sedile with a good deal of modern
work, which does not appear to be in situ. The
arches are trefoiled with crocketed heads and
the shafts under have moulded capitals and
bases. Adjoining the sedile is a trefoil-headed
piscina of contemporary date but a good deal
defaced. The chancel arch is of the latter part
of the 14th century and has two hollowchamfered orders, and the jambs have moulded
capitals and bases. Parts of the roof trusses
over the chancel appear to belong to the 14th
century, the rest of the roof being modern.
The nave arcades are of four bays, the arches
having two chamfered orders with labels on both
sides of the walls; the piers are octagonal and
have moulded capitals and bases; the bases vary
in the north and south arcades. A small clearstory window at the east end on either side of
the nave was inserted in the 15th century, probably to give additional light to the rood-loft.
In the east wall of the north aisle is a threelight window, nearly all of which is of modern
stonework. Adjoining it, in the north wall, is
a plain niche or recess with a segmental head,
which possibly contained an image, or it may be
part of the stairway to the rood-loft of which no
other traces remain. In the south-east angle is
a 15th-century piscina with cinquefoiled arch
and moulded edges. The east and west windows in the north wall are of the late 14th
century and have two trefoiled lights with a
sixfoiled opening above; the other window is
modern. The north doorway is of two moulded
orders with grotesque head stops to the label.
In the east wall of the south aisle is an
obtusely pointed window of three lights with
flowing tracery of about 1360–70 ; adjoining it,
in the south wall, is a 14th-century trefoiled
piscina with credence shelf. The two windows
in the south wall are of modern stonework, but the
doorway of two moulded orders is original. There
is an old iron ring handle on the door.
The south porch, of early 15th-century work,
restored in 1908, has a two-light cusped window on
either side, and the doorway is of two moulded
orders with moulded capitals, all a good deal
repaired.
The roofs over nave and aisles are chiefly modern,
but some old timbers remain, and at the west end of
the north aisle is a 15th-century moulded beam and
carved boss.
The tower is of three stages. It was considerably
restored in 1908. The four-centred tower arch is of
three moulded orders, the inner order resting on
engaged shafts with moulded capitals and bases.
The west doorway and window above are modern.
The second stage is pierced in the south by a narrow
single light; the belfry windows are of two lights
with a cusped opening in the heads, all much repaired.
The bowl of the font is modern, but the octagonal
stem with its four flanking octagonal shafts and bases
belongs probably to the 14th century.
Sandon: Church Tower and South Porch
The 15th-century oak rood-screen stands in its
original position; the upper part is open with ogee
arches and traceried heads, the lower panels are
cusped, with carved spandrels and are separated by
pilaster buttresses; some traces of colouring are
visible.
The early 17th-century oak pulpit is richly carved;
the reading-desk has some old linen panels in it.
At the west end of the nave are some oak seats of the
15th century with poppy-head finials. In the windows
of the aisles are some fragments of old painted glass.
On the nave floor is the brass of John Fitz Geoffrey,
lord of the manor of Daniels, who died in 1480, in
armour, with his wife and six daughters; there are
three shields, a fourth being missing. At the west
end of the south aisle is a brass inscription, undated,
but probably of the early 16th century, to Symond
Pratt, lord of Olivers Manor, and his wife Jone.
On the south chancel wall is a mural tablet to Edward
Nicholas, who died in 1683, and an alabaster monument to Elizabeth Moryson of Daniels, who died in
1626. There is a slab on the nave floor to Edward
Nicholas, 1683.
There are five bells: the treble (undated), second
(1721), third (1728) and fourth (1709) by John
Waylett; the tenor (1624) by Miles Graye.
The communion plate consists of cup and large
paten, 1688, the gift of John Nicholas, Warden of
Winchester College, and a pewter almsdish. (fn. 138)
The registers are in four books: (i) baptisms
1697 to 1749, marriages and burials 1678 to 1749;
(ii) baptisms and burials 1750 to 1795, marriages
1750 to 1766; (iii) baptisms and burials 1796 to
1812; (iv) marriages 1767 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church of
Sandon belonged to the Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's, (fn. 139) and in 1155
it was let to farm with the manor to Alexander,
one of the canons of the cathedral. (fn. 140) There was
attached to the church half a hide of land which
was geldable to the king. (fn. 141) The church was
appropriated to the dean and chapter by Bishop
Walter of Lincoln in 1183–4. (fn. 142) A vicarage was
ordained in the time of Bishop Hugh Wells
(1209–35) (fn. 143) and confirmed in 1406. (fn. 144) The advowson of Sandon remained with the Dean and Chapter
of St. Paul's until the middle of the 19th century. (fn. 145)
In 1845 the parish was transferred from the diocese
of Lincoln to that of Rochester, and in 1850 the
advowson was transferred to the bishop of the latter
diocese. (fn. 146) In 1877, after the formation of the see of
St. Albans, the patronage of Sandon was transferred
to the Bishop of St. Albans, (fn. 147) in whose gift it now is.
CHARITIES
In the Parliamentary returns of
1786 it is stated that an unknown
donor gave a rent-charge of £2 for
bread to the poor. Bread to the value of £2 is provided annually by the tenant of Beckfield Farm and
distributed by him at Christmas.
It is also stated in the same returns that an
unknown donor gave £2 yearly for distribution to
the poor. This sum is annually distributed by the
tenant of 'Killhop Farm' to the poor in small sums.
In 1747 John Brett by his will gave a sum of
money, now represented by £782 3s. 9d. consols
with the official trustees, producing £19 11s. yearly,
the interest to be applied towards the support or
maintenance of the Protestant Dissenting Calvinist
minister or ministers officiating at Redhill.