WALLINGTON
Wallingtone (xi cent.); Waudlington or Wadlington (xii–xiv cent.); Wadelington (xv cent.).
The village of Wallington lies on the northern
slope of the chalk hills about 3 miles south-east of
Baldock station on the Cambridge branch of the
Great Northern railway.
The single village street lies at right angles to the
road from Sandon to Baldock. The village has a
plentiful water supply, and the hill on which it
stands is almost surrounded by the Cat Ditch, a
tributary of the River Beane. At the head of the
street, 466 ft. above the ordnance datum, is Wallington Bury, and just below it lie the church and rectory
faced by the Manor Farm. Below these the street
follows the slope of the hill in a north-easterly direction, and at its centre the road to Baldock turns
westwards near the school. (fn. 1)
Wallington, like the adjacent parishes of Bygrave
and Clothall, is still uninclosed, and it retains a few
features of the mediaeval village community. The
great open arable field, covering nearly two-thirds of
the whole area of the parish (2,043 acres), lies on
the sloping ground to the north of the village. Its
wide expanse is unbroken by hedge or tree and only
divided from the open fields of Bygrave by the
Icknield Way and from those of Clothall by an open
roadway. In its centre, at Metley Hill, is a tumulus
of unknown date and origin. At the present day
the villagers apparently claim no rights over the
field, which is farmed by the occupiers of the Manor
Farm, Wallington Bury and the Lodge Farm. The
cottagers have, however, the right to keep a cow and
a calf on the small common pasture in the south
of the parish. (fn. 2) This district is well wooded and
contains inclosed meadows and fields. The permanent grass increases and the population of the parish
diminishes. (fn. 3) The inhabitants are almost entirely
employed in agriculture.
In 1401 a house with 360 acres of land in Clothall
and Wallington was purchased from Richard Martell
of Dunmow by the Prior of Dunmow. (fn. 4)
MANORS
The modern estate of Wallington
was consolidated early in the 16th
century by John Bowles, who acquired
the three manors of Wallington, Monks and Montfitchets. These three were evidently identical with
the two holdings of Robert Gernon and Goisbert de
Beauvais at the time of the Domesday Survey. (fn. 5)
In 1086, however, there were three other holdings
in Wallington. Wimund held 2 hides less 10 acres of
Count Alan of Britanny, lord of the honour of Richmond. Before the Conquest this land had been held
by two sokemen of Eddeva, (fn. 6) probably Edith the
Fair. (fn. 7) It was possibly a part of the 'two hides
and one virgate' in Wallington which with a virgate
in Clothall was held in the 12th century by Robert
of Abinger (de Habingwurth, de Abbingburne). (fn. 8) The
mesne lord of the fee was then Ruald Pincerna. (fn. 9)
The heir of Robert of Abinger was a leper and a
minor, and therefore his inheritance was seized by the
Crown about 1185. (fn. 10) One part of the fee was then
in the occupation of the lords of the manors of Wallington and Monks, while Warin de Bassingbourn held
a carucate 'by so much knight's service as pertains to
a hide.' (fn. 11) It appears possible that the first portion
became absorbed in the two manors of Wallington
and Monks. In 1275 the bailiffs of Richmond
Honour still took 12d. yearly from the tenement
which had belonged to Theobald 'de Mora,' (fn. 12) and
may have been that formerly held by Warin de
Bassingbourn. 'William' of Abinger is said to have
given two thirds of the tithes of Wallington to the
priory of Bermondsey. (fn. 13) Evidently this gift was of
two thirds of the tithes arising out of the 'Abinger
fee' in Wallington. It gave rise to a dispute
between William de Thorntoft, parson of Wallington, and the Abbot of St. Albans in 1308. (fn. 14)
Of the other Domesday holdings, the one belonged
to the fee of Hardwin de Scales, of whom it was
held by Siward. It included 1½ hides and 26 acres,
and had formerly been held by Wlware, a man of
Anschil of Ware. (fn. 15) No later trace of this holding
has been found. It may have been attached to
Hardwin's neighbouring manor of Reed (q.v.). It is
not clear whether it was this same Siward who held
a virgate in Wallington of Geoffrey de Mandeville. (fn. 16)
Wallington
The manor of WALLINGTON seems to be
identical with the 3 hides and 40 acres of land
there which were held of Goisbert de Beauvais by a
certain Fulk in 1086. The greater part of this
holding was occupied before the Conquest by Edric,
one of Earl Algar's men; but a small tenement of
24 acres was held by a sokeman of Eddeva the Fair,
and subsequently came to Ralf Earl of Norfolk. It
was amalgamated with the main manor before 1086,
and probably before 1075, for it was not then held
by the earl. (fn. 17)
In 1543 the manor was said to be held as of Little
Wymondley (fn. 18) ; this was probably an error for Great
Wymondley, for a portion of the latter was held by
Goisbert de Beauvais in 1086. (fn. 19) From the 13th century onwards the overlordship of Wallington Manor
was held by the Argentines and their successors, lords
of both Great and Little Wymondley (q v.), of whom
it was held by the service of half a knight's fee. (fn. 20)
The immediate tenants of this manor in the 12th
and two following centuries took their name from
Wallington. They may possibly have been descendants
of Fulk, the tenant in 1086. William de Wallington
appears to have held the manor in 1185. (fn. 21) He was
probably the son of Robert de Wallington and the
same William who gave the church to the monks of
St. Albans. (fn. 22) William and Reginald de Wallington
served as jurors with Richard of Clothall and others
in 1200. (fn. 23) John de Wallington witnessed charters
relating to neighbouring lands in 1279. (fn. 24) This or
another John held the manor in 1303, (fn. 25) and was still
living in 1324. (fn. 26) Apparently he was succeeded by
Richard Monchesney, (fn. 27) the king's escheator in Hertfordshire, (fn. 28) who had grant of free warren in Wallington
and also in Clothall, (fn. 29) where his interest was for life
only. (fn. 30) Walter Monchesney, evidently the heir of
Richard, seems to have conveyed the manor to Sir John
Lee, kt., lord of the neighbouring manor of Botteles
in Clothall, for a yearly rent of 100s. (fn. 31) Sir Walter
Lee, kt., son of Sir John, (fn. 32) released all his rights
in Wallington to Richard Ravensere and others in
1376, (fn. 33) evidently in trust for sale. (fn. 34)
The history of the manor during the next century
is obscure. William Brid was holding it in 1428. (fn. 35)
In 1455 it was settled on John Prisot, a judge and
member of the commission for raising funds for the
defence of Calais, (fn. 36) and his wife Margaret with
remainder to the heirs of Margaret by her former
husband William Walkern. (fn. 37) Richard Echingham
and his wife Joan were parties to this settlement, and
appear to have been the heirs of Margaret, (fn. 38) since
the manor subsequently descended to Sir Edward
Echingham of Ipswich, kt. (fn. 39) In February 1515–16
he sold Wallington Manor for 400 marks to John
Bowles, gent., who already resided at Wallington. (fn. 40)
John Bowles purchased also the manors of Monks
and Montfitchets (q.v.), thus consolidating in Wallington a considerable estate, which he settled upon his
grandson Thomas. (fn. 41) The latter was aged thirteen at
his grandfather's death, which took place in 1543. (fn. 42)
In his time a single court was held for his manors in
Wallington. In consequence even the tenants of his
son and successor Thomas Bowles began to doubt the
existence of two distinct manors of Monks and
Wallington, while the existence of Montfitchets was
almost forgotten. (fn. 43) Thomas Bowles the younger
settled the Wallington estate on John son of his eldest
son Lewis with remainders in succession to Lewis
and to the latter's younger brothers, Charles, Thomas
and others. Thomas Bowles died 10 September
1626, (fn. 44) and John, the grandson, on whom the estate
had been settled, 28 January 1627–8, (fn. 45) leaving a
brother and heir Thomas. Lewis Bowles survived
till 1 February 1633–4, when his son Thomas was
still living. (fn. 46) It is not clear whether this Thomas
was to inherit under his grandfather's settlement. A
Thomas son of Thomas Bowles and probably nephew
of Lewis was dealing with the estate in 1659, (fn. 47) and
was possibly the same Thomas who in 1671 sold it
to the Rev. John Breton, D.D., Master of Emanuel
College, Cambridge. (fn. 48)
The latter bequeathed it to Thomas Breton, a
merchant of London, who was succeeded by his son
Francis Breton. A life-interest was bequeathed by
Francis Breton to his widow. (fn. 49) His daughter and
heir, Alice Breton, married Sir John Jennings of
Newsells in Barkway. (fn. 50) Their granddaughter Hester
Elizabeth Jennings carried the estate in marriage to
John (Peachey) Lord Selsey. (fn. 51) Their second son and
ultimate heir Henry John Lord Selsey died childless
10 March 1838. (fn. 52) The estate descended to his
sister the Hon. Caroline Mary Peachey, who married
the Rev. Leveson Vernon-Harcourt, and died without
issue in 1871. (fn. 53) In accordance with her mother's
will, Wallington then passed to Hugh Henry Rose,
Lord Strathnairn of Jhansi, who had distinguished
himself in the command of the Central India Field
Force during the Sepoy Mutiny. (fn. 54) He died in 1885,
and his estate was administered by his great-nephew
Admiral the Hon. George Henry Douglas, who
succeeded to the Wallington property. (fn. 55)
Apparently Mr. John Dorsett Owen of Plastyn
Grove, Ellesmere, Salop, purchased the whole of the
Wallington estate, which was held by his trustees after
his death in March 1905. They sold to Mr. Philip
Arnold. The estate has again been divided in recent
years. The Manor Farm, with the manorial rights,
was purchased by Mr. Hugh Rayner, junior, whose
father has long been tenant of the farm. The Bury
Farm was purchased in two lots by Colonel H. A.
Remer and Mr. Pratt. (fn. 56)
Half a knight's fee in Wallington was held early in
the 14th century as a separate tenement. Richard
de Hoggeswell held it of the lord of Wallington in
1303. (fn. 57) He was still living at Wallington about
1322. (fn. 58) He seems to have been succeeded by
William de Hoggeswell, but this holding evidently
escheated to the lord of Wallington before 1428, (fn. 59)
and was probably absorbed in the main manor.
Monks' Manor
MONKS' MANOR in Wallington and Clothall
originated in grants of lands to the monks of
St. Albans by William son of Robert de Wallington
and several others. (fn. 60) These gifts were confirmed by
Henry II between the years 1174 and 1182. (fn. 61) It
was probably assigned to the use of the monks' kitchen,
as was Wallington Church. (fn. 62) In 1291 the manor
was worth £7 12s. 4d. (fn. 63) The lands, with reservation
of the courts baron and view of frankpledge, were let
to farm in the 16th century and were held by John
Bowles, (fn. 64) who was also tenant of the monks' lands in
Bygrave (q.v.).
The manor was purchased in June 1540 by
John Sewster of Ashwell. (fn. 65) He alienated it in the
same year to John Bowles, (fn. 66) who thus completed the
consolidation of the Wallington estate.
A field called 'Monks' Piece' still belongs to
Wallington Manor. (fn. 67)
Montfitchets
The manor of MONTFITCHETS is probably
identical with 3 hides all but 20 acres held of Robert
Gernon by a certain William in 1086. This land
had been held by Alvric, a man of Goduin son of
Ulestan. (fn. 68) It was probably acquired in the time of
Henry I by William Montfitchet together with the
estate at Letchworth held of Robert by the William
of Domesday Book. (fn. 69) The overlordship apparently
descended in the Montfitchet family. Richard Montfitchet (son of Gilbert and grandson of William)
succeeded to the Letchworth Manor (q.v.) about 1190.
The latter's son and heir died about 1258, and the fee
of Montfitchet in Wallington was ultimately assigned
to Margery Corbet, granddaughter of his sister
Margery. (fn. 70) It was held by the service of a quarter of
a knight's fee. (fn. 71) As in the case of Letchworth a subfeoffment seems to have taken place, the actual tenant
of Montfitchets being John Muschet, (fn. 72) a name which
is possibly a corruption of Montfitchet. (fn. 73) With
Letchworth the Wallington quarter-fee had certainly
come by 1295 to a younger branch of the Montfitchet
family. (fn. 74) It seems possible that the feoffment was
made to a younger son of William Montfitchet during
the 12th century, as in 1198 Richard son of William
Montfitchet unjustly disseised Warin son of John of a
tenement in Wallington. (fn. 75) Before 1295 the overlordship had been acquired by Philip Burnell, heir of
the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and was assigned to
his widow Maud. (fn. 76)
The subsequent history of Wallington Montfitchets
is identical with that of Letchworth Montfitchets
until 1539, when John Hanchet, gent., sold the
former to John Bowles, (fn. 77) who had already purchased
the main manor of Wallington. Thenceforward
these two manors have been amalgamated.
CHURCH
The church of ST. MARY consists
of chancel 27 ft. by 17 ft. 6 in., north
chapel 24 ft. by 11 ft. 6 in., nave
47 ft. by 20 ft. 6 in., south porch 10 ft. 6 in. by
9 ft., west tower 11 ft. square; all internal dimensions.
The walls are of flint rubble, all covered with
cement except the chancel, the dressings are of stone;
the chancel roof is slated, that over the nave being
covered with lead.
The general walling of the nave and chancel may
be of the 14th century, but the absence of such early
detail makes the date uncertain. The west tower
belongs to the beginning of the 15th century, and
the north chapel and north nave aisle were probably
added shortly afterwards, and at the same time new
windows were inserted throughout; the south porch
is of late 15th-century date. In 1864 the chancel
was almost entirely rebuilt and a new chancel arch
inserted.
All the details of the chancel are modern with the
exception of the arch opening into the north chapel,
which dates from about 1440–50. It is four-centred
and consists of two wave-moulded orders, the outer
order being continuous, the inner resting on shafts
with moulded capitals and bases.
The east window of the chapel is of three cinquefoiled lights with rectilinear tracery under a fourcentred arch; the two windows in the north wall
have each three lights under a four-centred arch. In
the south wall are the remains of a piscina projecting
from the wall on a semi-octagonal moulded pedestal;
in the north-east angle, high up in the wall, is a
stone roof corbel carved with an angel bearing a
shield.
On the north side of the nave is an arcade of three
bays with pointed arches of two moulded orders upon
piers composed of four semicircular shafts separated
by hollows; the shafts have moulded capitals and
bases; the shafts on the east and west sides of each
pier are larger than those on the north and south,
and their capitals are deeper. In the east end of the
south wall is a low-side window of two cinquefoiled
lights under a square head, very similar in position
and detail to that at Hinxworth Church, and belonging to the same period (about 1440). The two
other windows in the south wall are of three plain
lights under four-centred
arches; these belong to the
15th century, as also does the
south doorway of two moulded
orders with label. In the
north-east angle of the nave
is the doorway to the stair to
the rood loft. The roof over
the nave is of the 15th century, plain.
In the north wall of the
north aisle are three windows
similar to those in the north
wall of the chapel, and the
west window in the aisle is
like the east window of the
chapel. The north doorway
is blocked; it has a fourcentred arch under a square
head. The roof over the aisle
is original, about 1440–50,
and has moulded principals
with carved bosses at the intersections; at the feet of the
principals are carved figures
of angels. The roof is carried
to a point a little to the east
of the chapel screen, the remainder of the chapel having
a flat panelled modern roof.
The outer doorway of the
south porch is of two moulded
orders, the inner order forming the arch and resting on
shafted jambs with moulded
capitals and bases, the outer
order being carried over
square; the arch spandrels are
pierced. On either side of the porch is a three-light
window, most of the stone-work being modern. In
the north-east corner are the remains of a stoup.
The tower arch is of three orders, a plain splay
between two hollow chamfers; the semi-octagonal
responds have moulded capitals and bases. The
buttressed tower is of three stages; the west window
in the first stage is of two trefoiled lights with quatrefoiled opening above; the second stage has a narrow
single light on the south side; the belfry windows
are each of two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoiled
opening in the head, but are much decayed; the
tower is finished with an embattled parapet.
A 15th-century oak screen separates the north
aisle from the chapel; the open upper panels have
traceried heads, and the lower closed panels are also
traceried. The doorway has an ogee crocketed arch;
a portion of the carved and moulded cornice remains. (fn. 78)
There are some plain old pre-Reformation seats in
the nave, and the oak communion table belongs to
the early part of the 17th century.
In the north window of the chapel are some
fragments of 16th-century glass with the arms of
Piggot and Prysot.
Wallington Church from the South-east
In the chapel is a 15th-century altar tomb panelled
alternately with cusped niches containing small figures
of saints, and large cinquefoiled panels containing
shields bearing the arms of Piggot and Prysot; on
the west end one panel contains a shield, and the
other a carving of a pelican in her piety. On the
covering slab are indents of a man and his wife, four
shields and a marginal inscription. In the nave floor
is a slab to Richard Blow, who died in 1698. In
the chapel are the indents of an early 16th-century
brass of a man and his wife, with four sons and four
daughters, also two shields and a representation of
the Trinity, and in the south porch is the indent of
a 15th-century brass of a priest or civilian.
In the churchyard are remains of the old font,
which is much broken. The octagonal bowl is of
the late 12th century, and has shallow arched sinkings on the sides; the clunch base is of the 15th
century and is moulded with cusped panels.
There are five bells, all by John Briant, 1794.
The communion plate consists of a cup of 1754,
paten of 1840, a modern plated flagon and two
pewter almsdishes.
The registers are in three books: (i) baptisms and
burials from 1661 to 1753, marriages 1661 to 1751;
(ii) baptisms and burials from 1754 to 1812; (iii)
marriages from 1754 to 1812.
ADVOWSON
The church was given to the
monks of St. Albans with the manor
of Monks by William de Wallington. (fn. 79) In 1218 Honorius III confirmed the assignment of Wallington and Bygrave Churches to the use
of the kitchen of the monastery. (fn. 80) Apparently no
appropriation took place, but an annuity of £1 was
assigned to the abbot. (fn. 81) The right of presentation
remained with successive abbots until the Dissolution,
but the advowson for one turn was often granted by
the abbot to private individuals. (fn. 82)
The subsequent history of the advowson is coincident with that of Monks Manor until 1660, when
Thomas Bowles sold the advowson for one turn to
Neville Butler. (fn. 83) Upon the death of his nominee,
which took place in 1714, Francis Breton, to whom
the advowson then reverted, gave it to the Master of
Emanuel College, Cambridge, on condition that the
incumbent should always be a Fellow of the College. (fn. 84)
The advowson was subsequently transferred to
Mr. Owen, who died in 1905. It was purchased by
the late Mrs. Clara Risdon. (fn. 85)
In 1645 the ejected minister, John Bowles, evidently
a relative of Thomas Bowles, then patron of the
living, assaulted William Sherwin, a Puritan divine
of some note, who had been appointed to the living
upon its sequestration. (fn. 86) Sherwin ceased to preach
at Wallington either in 1660 or in 1662. (fn. 87)
CHARITIES
In 1736 the Rev. John Browne
by his will gave £100 for a schoolmistress. The same testator also
gave £20 for aged poor, the interest to be distributed
every year on Easter Monday. These legacies were
invested in £131 17s. 4d. consols with the official
trustees, and in 1868 £106 13s. 4d. stock was sold
to provide a cottage and premises for the residence
of a schoolmistress. By an order of the Charity
Commission, dated 5 August 1904, it was determined
that the cottage and premises and a sum of £3 4s. 5d.
consols should form the endowment of 'Browne's
Educational Foundation,' and the residue £21 19s. 7d.
consols should form the endowment of 'Browne's
Charity for the Poor.'
Joseph Edmonds gave, but at what period is unknown, a sum of £5, the interest to be paid to the
most constant communicants among the poor. This
legacy was invested in £5 8s. 5d. consols in the name
of the official trustees, producing 2s. 8d. yearly.
In the Parliamentary returns of 1786 it is stated
that £30 was given many years ago by an unknown
donor for the benefit of the poor. This sum was
invested in 1864 in £32 18s. 7d. consols in the
name of the official trustees, producing 16s. 4d.
yearly.
The income arising from 'Browne's Charity for
the Poor' and the two last-mentioned charities is
distributed among poor communicants and those
attending church.