BROXBOURNE WITH HODDESDON
Brochesborne (xi cent.); Brokesburn.
The civil parish of Broxbourne, (fn. 1) which has an
area of 1,932 acres, contains 509 acres of arable land,
658 acres of permanent grass and 686 acres of wood. (fn. 2)
The ground slopes downward from the west of the
parish, which lies at more than 300 ft. above the
ordnance datum, to the east, where the elevation is
less than 100 ft., on the banks of the River Lea,
which forms the boundary between Broxbourne and
Nazeing, the neighbouring parish in Essex. The
Spital Brook, which runs into the Lea on the east of
the parish, forms the boundary between the civil
parishes of Broxbourne and Hoddesdon for a little
way before the junction. The main road from
London to Ware and the north passes through the
eastern end of the parish and forms the main street of
the village of Broxbourne. In this street are a few
old houses, notably The Gables at the south end of
the village, which is a two-storied house dating from
the early part of the 17th century. It is a timber-framed house now covered with plaster, with a modern
front. The chimney-stack and one fireplace are probably original. The Bull Inn, in the middle of the
village on the west side of High Street, is also a 17th-century timber and plaster house. Opposite the
Bull Inn are the Monson Almshouses erected in
1728. They are contained in a plain two-storied
building of brick, with sash-windows, and a crowning
cornice of moulded brick. Over the entrance doorway is the following inscription:—
'This Building is Erected at the Sole | charge of
Dame Laetitia Monson | Relict of Sr William
Monson Bart | and was Daughter of John Lord
Poulett | of Hinton St George in the County of
Somersett, which Gift is for the Relief | and Benefitt
of poore Widows of the | Parish of Broxborne in
Hartfordshire | in the year of our Lord 1728.'
Above on a lozenge are the arms of Monson impaling Poulett.
The Cedars in the High Street, although an
18th-century house, contains an early 17th-century
staircase. From the main street Pound Lane and
Mill Lane run eastward, the latter passing the church
of St. Augustine and the vicarage, and leading to the
Broxbourne mill, which is picturesquely situated on
the old stream of the River Lea. To the west two
lanes turn off. The lower leads to Baas manor-house,
an early 17th-century brick and plastered timber building now divided into two tenements, Cold Hall and
Cold Hall Green, and the higher to Broxborne Bury,
the seat of the lord of the manor. Broxborne Bury
is a 16th-century house of red brick and stone with
roofs partly tiled, slated and leaded. It was probably
built by John Cock, who received a grant of the
manor in 1544. In the following century an addition was made to the west side of the house, and in
the 19th century it was much altered and largely
rebuilt. Some of the chimney-stacks appear to be
original, and there is a fireplace on the first floor,
which is also of the 16th century. The windows
are of the 18th century or modern.
The western half of the parish is largely covered
by beautiful woods, chiefly of oak, beech and hornbeam.
The Great Eastern railway runs through the parish
parallel to the main street and between it and the
river. The station is situated at the end of Pound
Lane and Station Road. It is doubtless due to the
railway that the new quarter of the town to the
north of the church, consisting mainly of villa residences and practically continuous with the southern
extension of Hoddesdon, has grown up within the
last fifty years.
The subsoil of the parish is London Clay, with the
exception of a narrow strip of Alluvium on the banks
of the Lea. The chalk is not far below the clay on
the lower lands. There is a disused gravel-pit east
of Broxborne Bury Park.
The inclosure award was made in 1843 and 1850,
and is in the custody of the clerk of the peace. (fn. 3)
The civil parish of Hoddesdon, formed from those
of Broxbourne and Great Amwell, has an area of 2,685
acres, which on 1 January 1895 was divided into
the parishes of Hoddesdon Urban, 1,575 acres,
and Hoddesdon Rural, 1,110 acres. (fn. 4) The combined
parishes contain 563½ acres of arable land, 912½ acres
of permanent grass, and 724 acres of wood. (fn. 5)
The elevation of the western half of the parish is
over 200 ft. above the ordnance datum, with the
exception of a small area by the Spital Brook, where
it falls to 170 ft. In the east the ground slopes downward towards the Lea, which forms the eastern boundary of the parish. The town of Hoddesdon continues
up the main road from Broxbourne, and is hardly
separated from that village. About the middle of the
town the road divides into Amwell Street and Burford
Street, both running north to Ware, the Clock House
being situated at the junction in the open space in
front of the Maidenhead Inn. Amwell Street, on
the west side of which there are some 17th-century
cottages, passes the church of St. Paul and the vicarage,
and meets the road from Hertford a little further
north. Burford Street, which is part of the Stanstead Road, has two roads branching off to the east,
Rye Road leading to the suburb of Rye Park, and
Essex Road, the more southerly of the two, which
crosses the New River, passes Geddings and goes on
to the Lea. South of the town hall two roads run
west from the High Street, Lord Street (formerly
Lord's Lane), the most northerly, leading past High
Leigh, the residence of Mr. Robert Barclay, J.P.
Opposite Lord's Lane was the old market cross which
stood at least until the end of the 17th century. A
little south of the cross was the market-house, built
about 1634. The market-place occupied the space
between the cross and the present clock-house. The
market-house was pulled down in 1833, and the market
soon after ceased to be held. The cattle market now
held on a site to the south of the old cross was founded
in 1886. (fn. 6) Eastwards from the High Street Conduit
Lane runs down to Lynch mill pond, from which the
stream called the Lynch flows to the Lea. Lynch
mill pond is mentioned in 1569 as 'a pond anciently
called "le Lince" where is now built a water mill.' (fn. 7)
The Wollans Brook, which flows through Box Wood
and the north of the parish, falls into the Lea.
In the High Street are many old houses. Rawdon
House, now St. Monica's Priory, a convent of the
canonesses of the Augustinian order, on the east side
was built by Sir Marmaduke Rawdon in 1622, as
appears from a stone over the porch and many rainwater heads bearing this date and the initials M.R.
The house is a large red brick rectangular building
with stone dressings and a tiled roof, to which a wing
was added in 1880. It is of two stories with an
attic and has a porch and bay windows, both of two
stories, in front, and a central tower, in which is the staircase, at the back. The hall has a ceiling ornamented
with fleurs de lis, roses, &c., and a fireplace with
plaster figures. There are a fine oak staircase with
heraldic figures and some good old doors and panelling, but many of the original fittings were sold by the
canonesses, three of the fireplaces being purchased by
Sir Charles Wittewronge and set up at Rothamsted
House, Harpenden. A little to the north of St. Monica's
Priory on the same side of the road is Stanboroughs
House, now the Conservative club, the main part of
which was built about 1600 of timber and plaster work
and a wing of brick added in 1637, according to a
date upon the rain-water heads. A good deal of the
woodwork within is original, including a fine oak staircase in the added wing and some oak panelling and
doors. On the same side of the road is Hogges Hall,
originally built probably in the 15th century. The
exterior of the house is modern, but some of the
internal details, including the timber ceiling of the
hall and a wooden doorway, are of the 15th century.
There is also some 16th and 17th-century panelling
which is not in its original position.
On the west side of the road is the Grange (once
an inn called the 'Cock'), a brick house of two
stories, built in 1657, but almost rebuilt in the 18th
century. It contains some 17th century panelling
and an overmantel of the same period, together with
three doors of the early part of that century.
There have always been many inns in the town.
The 'Black Lion' (now the 'Salisbury Arms') was
held in the 16th century of the manor of Geddings. (fn. 8)
Henry Barrell or Burwell, serjeant-at-arms and tenant
of the 'Black Lion,' died in 1562, leaving a widow
Jane, who afterwards married Christopher Lyster.
His son Henry Barrell entered upon the tenement
at his father's death, but died in 1566 and was succeeded by his brother George. (fn. 9) Another inn called
the 'George' was held before 1464 by Richard
Riche (fn. 10) and remained in his family until 1528,
when it was sold by Thomas son of Thomas and
Rachel Riche to Sir Thomas Baldry, alderman, and
John Garwey, mercer of London. (fn. 11) In the 17th
century it was held by George Taylor and afterwards
by John Marshall. In 1702 it was sold by Matthew
Clarke to Edward Browne. (fn. 12) The Golden Lion Inn
stands on the west side of the High Street and is a
two-storied house of plastered timber and brick with
an overhanging story built in the early part of the
17th century, but much altered at a later date. The
Old Swan Inn is a similar house built in the latter
part of the 17th century, and the Griffin Hotel
contains some woodwork possibly of the same century.
Another inn called the 'Bull,' the front of which
appears to date from the 18th century, projects over
the pathway, the two upper floors being carried on
Ionic columns. Near the southern end of High Street
is some good Georgian work. A house on the east
side three stories in height, with a moulded brick
string-course and cornice, has a good Doric doorcase
with elaborate fretwork in the metope of the frieze
containing in Roman characters the date 1746.
At Connals Farm is the stone conduit-head presented to the town by Sir Marmaduke Rawdon in
the early part of the 17th century. It formerly
stood at the town well in the High Street, and represents the three-quarter length figure of a woman carrying a pitcher. The old 'Thatched House,' immortalized by Izaak Walton, stood on the site of the
brewery offices of Messrs. Christie & Co., adjoining
the brewery in the High Street. The clock-house
itself stands on the site of the ancient chapel of St.
Catherine. In it is hung a bell, probably from that
chapel, which was cast by Thomas Bullisdon at the
beginning of the 16th century and bears the inscription 'Sancta A[nn]a ora pro nobis.' (fn. 13)
In the west of the parish, which is thickly wooded,
runs the Ermine Street, a Roman way, which crosses
the Spital Brook and passes through the Hoddesdon
Woods. There is a tumulus at Hoddesdonbury on
the south side of the road. The hospital of St. Laud
and St. Anthony, of which the first record seems
to be in the 14th century, has left its name in
Spital Brook, near which it stood. The hospital
(which survived the Dissolution) fell into decay
towards the end of the 16th century, and the Spital
House was then adapted for the use of the free
grammar school founded by Queen Elizabeth by
charter of 4 January 1559–60. By the same charter
the queen incorporated the town of Hoddesdon
under the style of a bailiff and warden of the
town and school, and eight assistants, and granted
the tolls of the market and of two fairs to the corporation. The school, however, was apparently
discontinued before 1595, and nothing further is heard
of the corporation. (fn. 14)
The Great Eastern railway passes through the
east of the parish and Rye House station is in the
extreme north-east.
The subsoil of the parish is chiefly London Clay
on chalk, but in the east this gives place to Woolwich
and Reading Beds, beyond which is a strip of Alluvium by the Lea. In the north-east a wedge of
Chalk separates the two latter. There are many
gravel-pits in the parish.
The inclosure award was made in 1855, and
Lampits Field was inclosed in 1841. Both awards
are in the custody of the clerk of the peace. (fn. 15) The
chief common fields were Lowefeld, Westfeld, Middlefeld (or Ditchfeld), Estfeld (or Ryefeld), Lampitfeld, and Southfeld. The chief common meadows
were Dole Mead, Ditch Mead, Chaldwell Mead and
South Mead. (fn. 16)
Other place-names that occur in Broxbourne and
Hoddesdon are Phelippesholm, Flodgate Bridge,
Huttescroft, Beggeres-grene, Gosewellehelle, Algoresholme, Loffeld (xiii cent.); Hathell, le Newelonde,
Coppethorne (xiv cent.); Pikottes, Sawells, Sampsons,
Broderedyng, Longhedge and Stockinges (xv and
xvi cent.); Tunefield, Harfield, Cockabury Stable
(xvii cent.); Morsforlong, Sparewynesmade, Lawefeld, Godewelleacre, Blakemad, Safoghel and Curstmarsh.
MANORS
Broxbourne
The manor of BROXBOURNE was
held in the time of Edward the Confessor by Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose reeve held half a hide of it as a sokeman. In 1086 it was held by Adeliza wife of
Hugh de Grantmesnil, and was assessed at 5½ hides. (fn. 17)
Ivo de Grantmesnil, son and heir of Hugh, (fn. 18) gave
Broxbourne to the abbey of Bermondsey, but as a consequence of his having previously mortgaged his estates
to Robert Count of Meulan and first Earl of Leicester
to defray the expenses of his journey to the Holy Land
and dying on the way, Robert is said to have taken
possession of Broxbourne with the consent of the monks
of Bermondsey. (fn. 19) Robert died in 1118, and Waleran,
his eldest son, took his father's Norman lands and
became Count of Meulan,
while Robert, the second son,
became Earl of Leicester and
inherited the English estates. (fn. 20)
Robert Earl of Leicester, son
of the latter, married in 1168
Parnell or Petronilla, the
heiress of the Grantmesnils
and apparently granddaughter
of Ivo, (fn. 21) shortly after which
Robert and Parnell, with the
consent of their sons William
and Robert, gave the manor
of Broxbourne to the Knights
Hospitallers. (fn. 22) King John confirmed this grant in
1199, (fn. 23) and the manor remained in the hands of the
Hospitallers until the dissolution of their order in
1540. (fn. 24) In 1331 the king confirmed a charter of
the late prior, Thomas Larcher, by which he granted
the manor, reserving the lordship and royalty of his
tenants there, to Edward de St. John for life, at a
rent of 10 marks for the first
five years and of 5 marks for
the rest of the term. (fn. 25) In
1539 it was leased to John
Sargeante, dyer, of London,
for twenty-nine years. (fn. 26)
The Knights Hospitallers. Gules a cross argent.
In 1544 Broxbourne
Manor, with woods of 70
acres called Broxbourne Wood,
Broderedyng, and Longehedge, was granted to John
Cock, (fn. 27) who died seised of it
in 1557, leaving it to his wife
Anne as jointure, after whose
death it passed to his son Henry. (fn. 28) Sir Henry Cock died
in March 1609–10, leaving two daughters, Frances,
the wife of Sir Edmund Lucy, and Elizabeth, who
married first Robert West and secondly Sir Robert
Oxenbridge. (fn. 29) Broxbourne was apportioned to Elizabeth, who married thirdly Sir
Richard Lucy about 1617, and
died in 1645. (fn. 30) Sir Richard
survived her and continued
to hold the manor until his
death in 1667, when it passed
to Ursula Oxenbridge, daughter of Elizabeth Cock by her
second husband. (fn. 31) Ursula was
the wife of Sir John Monson,
bart., K.B., who died in 1683,
and was succeeded by his grandson Henry. (fn. 32) Sir Henry Monson died childless in 1718 and
his brother William died in
March 1726–7, when Broxbourne passed to his
nephew John, son of a third brother George. (fn. 33) This
Sir John Monson was created
Lord Monson of Burton in
1728 and lived until 1748. (fn. 34)
His son John died in 1774, (fn. 35)
and his grandson, also named
John, joined with his mother
Theodosia Dowager Lady
Monson in selling the manor
of Broxbourne in 1790 to
Jacob Bosanquet. (fn. 36) The latter
was succeeded in 1830 by his
son George Jacob Bosanquet,
whose daughter and only child
Cecily married Horace James
Smith, second son of Samuel
George Smith of Sacombe. (fn. 37)
Upon becoming lord of the
manor of Broxbourne in right of his wife in 1866
Mr. Horace Smith assumed the surname of Bosanquet. (fn. 38)
He died in 1908 and was succeeded by his son Mr.
George Smith-Bosanquet, who is the present possessor.
Cock of Broxbourne. Quarterly gules and argent.
Monson, Lord Monson. Or two cheverons gules.
Bosanquet. Or a tree on a mount vert and a chief wavy gules with a crescent between two six-pointed molets argent therein.
Broxbourne possessed a mill in 1086, (fn. 39) which passed
with the estate of the Knights Hospitallers. The
mills were granted with the manor in 1544 to John
Cock, together with 'le lokk' upon the River Lea,
through which water was carried from the river to
the mills. (fn. 40) John Cock in the same year granted
the lock and the mills to William Garnett and
Agnes, (fn. 41) and in 1550 the mills were granted as
'parcel of the lands of William Garnett' to Ralph
Sadleir and Laurence Wennyngton and the heirs of
Ralph, being then or late in the tenure of Richard
Stansfeld. (fn. 42) William Garnett, however, died seised of
them in 1559, leaving a son William. (fn. 43) At the end
of the 16th century the mills and lock were held by
Robert Garnett, who died in 1600 or shortly after,
leaving his property to his daughter Elizabeth, who
was then the wife of Abraham Hartwell. She soon
afterwards married Robert Bennett, and died in 1610,
when she was succeeded by John Hartwell, her son
by her first husband. (fn. 44) John Hartwell died in 1644
seised of two water-mills called Broxbourne Mills and
two other mills, and also the lock, all of which passed
to his cousin Henry Hartwell, son of Abraham Hartwell's brother Alexander. (fn. 45) In 1671 the vicar of
the parish sued the occupier of the water-mills, then
Thomas Pryor, for his tithe. This had been fixed
at one peck of the best wheat meal weekly, for which
a former vicar in 1662–3 had compounded for £4
a year. It was then stated that there were three
water corn-mills under one roof. (fn. 46)
In 1547 'the sewer called a Weyre, and a fishery
called the Weyre, and one island called the Islande
and the shrubbery and wood,' and two meadows in
Broxbourne and Nazeing (the neighbouring parish
of Essex) were granted to Sir William Herbert and
his heirs, having been part of the possessions of the
Knights Hospitallers. (fn. 47) This weir and fishery with
the island were subsequently held by Elizabeth
Bennett, the heiress of the Garnetts, (fn. 48) and descended
with the mills. (fn. 49)
In 1670 Sir John Monson obtained a licence to
make a park of 320 acres, and to 'enjoy franchise
and liberty of free chace and free warren within the
same,' and to store it with deer and coneys. (fn. 50) It is
mentioned in 1751, but is said to have been disparked in the time of the last Lord Monson who held
Broxbourne, and to have been converted partly into
a grazing farm and partly cultivated. (fn. 51) A park of
about 330 acres still surrounds the Bury.
Besides the manor of Broxbourne there were in
1086 several holdings in Hoddesdon, whose assessment made a total of about 10 hides. (fn. 52) Of these one
holding assessed at 2 hides and 3 virgates was in the
hands of Alan Count of Britanny and formed a
berewick of his manor of Cheshunt, and another
consisting of 1 hide, was held of Geoffrey de Mandeville (fn. 53) by a certain Ralph.
Baas
The manor of BAAS was formed out of lands
held of both these fees. (fn. 54) Early in the 13th century this manor seems to have been in the tenure of
John de Burgh, and he enfeoffed of it Henry de Baa or
Ba (Bathonia), (fn. 55) from whom
it takes its name. The manor
was recovered against Henry
by the king as an escheat on
the ground that Henry was
a Norman, but in 1257 it
was confirmed to him and his
wife Aline. (fn. 56) Aline, widow
of Henry de Baa, died about
1274 seised of a messuage,
120 acres of arable land, 3½
acres of meadow, 10 acres of
pasture, 8 acres of wood,
19s. 4d. rent of assize, and a fishpond in Broxbourne,
held of the Earl of Hereford (representing Geoffrey
de Mandeville) by scutage for a quarter of a knight's
fee and of the Count of Britanny by a rent of 20d.,
with small services to other lords. (fn. 57) Henry left a
son and heir John, who conveyed the manor to John
Pykard and Joan his wife, niece of John Baa. (fn. 58) In
1297 John Pykard, keeper of the king's forests in the
county of Huntingdon, exchanged the manor with
Richard Chertsey. (fn. 59) John Chertsey is recorded as
the holder of a quarter of a fee in Broxbourne in
1303, (fn. 60) and in 1394–5 the 'manor of Bas' was
settled on John Chertsey and Isabel his wife. (fn. 61) In
1402–3 it was held by Richard Spice, who seems to
have been the second husband of this Isabel, for he
leased the manor to John Chertsey (apparently the
son and heir of the above-mentioned John) 'for the
term of the life of Isabel wife of the said Richard.' (fn. 62)
After the death of Isabel the manor evidently came
to John Chertsey and descended to his son, also John,
for in 1418 'John, son and heir of John Chertsey,'
conveyed Baas to Robert Hackeston and John
Neweton. (fn. 63)
Baa. Gules a cheveron between three roundels argent.
The manor seems to have remained in the hands
of trustees for some time. In 1426–7 one William
Rotse surrendered his right in the manor to William
Lochard and others, (fn. 64) and in 1430–1 Edmund
Chertsey, son and heir of John Chertsey, released
his right to Nicholas Dixon and others. (fn. 65) Probably these transactions were for the purpose of a
mortgage to Thomas Gloucester, for the latter held
courts at Baas from 1433 onwards, (fn. 66) although it does
not seem to have been formally conveyed to him
until 1438. It was then surrendered by William
Chertsey and Lettice his wife. (fn. 67) Ten years later
it was conveyed to John Say by John Edward and
Joan his wife, (fn. 68) brother and sister-in-law of Thomas
Gloucester. Sir John Say died seised of Baas in
1478 and was succeeded by his son William, (fn. 69) after
whose death in 1529 it passed to his daughter Mary
and her husband Henry Earl of Essex, (fn. 70) and thence
to their daughter Anne, the wife of William Lord
Parr, created Marquess of Northampton in 1547. (fn. 71)
The marquess was attainted in 1553 and his lands
forfeited. (fn. 72) Queen Mary granted the manor to the
Earl of Arundel and others in 1553, to hold during
pleasure, apparently to the use of Anne Marchioness
of Northampton. (fn. 73) Elizabeth granted it in 1569 to
Sir William Cecil, (fn. 74) who also obtained releases of
title from Anne Parr (fn. 75) and other heirs of Sir William
Say. (fn. 76) From that time Baas descended in the Cecil
family (fn. 77) and eventually became amalgamated with
the manor of Hoddesdonbury. It is mentioned
separately as late as 1820. (fn. 78) Courts held at Baas are
recorded from 1404 onwards. (fn. 79)
Hoddesdonbury
The manor of HODDESDONBURY seems to
have been also formed of lands held of the fees of
Mandeville and Richmond. Those held of the latter
fee owed a service of a quarter of a knight's fee to
the Earls of Richmond, 1s. 6d. rent for the ward of
the castle of Richmond and the service of inclosing
11 perches of hedge belonging to Cheshunt Park. (fn. 80)
The Mandeville fee descended to the Earls of Hereford through Maud, heiress of the Mandevilles, who
married Henry de Bohun Earl of Hereford, who
died in 1220. (fn. 81) A half fee in Hoddesdon remained
in the hands of the Bohuns (fn. 82) until the death of the
last Humphrey de Bohun in January 1372–3, (fn. 83) when
it passed to his elder daughter Eleanor, who married
Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester and died
in 1399. (fn. 84) Eleanor left three daughters: Joan, who
also died in 1399, (fn. 85) Isabel, who became a nun in
1402, and Anna, who married first Thomas Earl of
Stafford and secondly his brother Edmund Earl of
Stafford, (fn. 86) and inherited her sister's lands. At the
death of Edmund in 1403 (fn. 87) a redistribution of the
estates took place between the heirs of Eleanor and
Mary, daughters of Humphrey de Bohun, and
Hoddesdonbury fell to Mary's son and heir Henry,
who ascended the throne as Henry V. The overlordship thus became vested in the Crown, and the
view of frankpledge at Hoddesdon was granted by
Henry VI to his mother Katharine in dower in
1422. (fn. 88) The rolls of the courts of the honour of
Mandeville, parcel of the duchy of Lancaster, held
there in 1539 and later are preserved at the Record
Office. (fn. 89)
Mandeville. Quarterly or and gules.
Bohun. Azure a bend or cotised argent between six lions or.
The sub-tenant of the Mandeville fee at Hoddesdon
before the Conquest was Godid, and in 1086 it was
held of Geoffrey de Mandeville by Ralph. (fn. 90) The next
sub-tenants of whom there is record are the Bassingburn family, who probably
acquired the manor towards
the end of the 12th century.
The first to be mentioned in
Hoddesdon are Humphrey de
Bassingburn and his mother
Aubrey, who appear in 1242. (fn. 91)
This Aubrey was probably
identical with Aubrey the
wife of John de Bassingburn,
who was holding the manor
of Woodhall in Hatfield in
1198. (fn. 92) Humphrey was apparently succeeded by another
John de Bassingburn, (fn. 93) perhaps his brother John,
who is mentioned in 1243. (fn. 94) John died about 1276, (fn. 95)
and was succeeded by Stephen de Bassingburn, whose
son John was in possession by 1301–2. (fn. 96) About
1323 Agnes de Bassingburn, mother of this John,
died seised of Hoddesdon Manor, which she held for
the term of her life 'from the inheritance of Agnes,
daughter of John, son of the deceased Agnes.' (fn. 97) The
granddaughter Agnes, who was aged five in 1323,
may have been assigned the manor by her father, but
in this case must have died young, for Stephen de
Bassingburn, son of John, was holding Hoddesdon
in 1333. Joan, widow of John de Bassingburn, was
then holding a third in dower. (fn. 98)
Bassingburn. Gyronny or and gules.
Later in the same century the manor was held by
Thomas de Bassingburn. He was holding Astwick
(in Hatfield) in 1370, and presumably Hoddesdon
at the same time, for he is mentioned later as having
held it. (fn. 99) He died before 1397, leaving an infant
son John, whose wardship he had sold to Alexander
Besford for 100 marks. The wardship was duly
delivered to Alexander by Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of York, and Edward Earl of Rutland, but
he afterwards entered into an agreement to deliver
the child up to Ralph Hamelyn and Ralph son of
Richard upon payment of 200 marks. A little later,
however, in spite of this, Alexander granted the wardship of the infant John to Robert Whytington and
others. The two Ralphs gave up the child to
Robert's servants, but afterwards Ralph Hamelyn
'chased the servants and took away the child by
force.' (fn. 100) In 1457 apparently another John de
Bassingburn and Katherine his wife conveyed the
manor of Hoddesdonbury to trustees, (fn. 101) probably for
the purpose of a settlement, for John de Bassingburn
was lord of the manor in 1477, and two of the same
feoffees granted it to John's son Thomas Bassingburn
and his wife Katherine in 1493. (fn. 102) In the following year Thomas Bassingburn conveyed Hoddesdonbury to Sir William Say, (fn. 103) his wife's brother. At the
death of Sir William Say in 1529 the manor descended
to his daughter Mary and her husband Henry Earl of
Essex, (fn. 104) whose daughter and heir Anne Bourchier
married William Parr, afterwards Marquess of Northampton. (fn. 105) Sir William Parr was attainted in 1553
and his lands forfeited to the Crown. The reversion
of Hoddesdonbury after the expiration of a grant made
in favour of Anne was granted by Queen Elizabeth in
1566 to Robert Earl of Leicester, (fn. 106) who in the following
year conveyed it to Sir William Cecil, afterwards Lord
Burghley, who obtained releases from the Marchioness
of Northampton and other possible heirs of Sir John
Say. (fn. 107) From him it passed to his second son Robert
Cecil, (fn. 108) who was created Earl of Salisbury in 1605;
it has since descended in that family, (fn. 109) the Marquess
of Salisbury being the present lord of the manor.
Stephen de Bassingburn claimed a park in Hoddesdon in 1277 of ancient custom. (fn. 110) Hoddesdon Park
Wood probably marks the site of it. Stephen de
Bassingburn also claimed by charter of King John
free warren, gallows, and waif. (fn. 111)
In 1533 Henry Earl of Essex petitioned for a
licence to change the day of the fair at Hoddesdon,
which, he said, would be 'a great ease for the inhabitants.' This evidently referred to the fair originally granted to Richard de Boxe in Hoddesdon in
1253 (see below). The date, that of the vigil, feast
and morrow of St. Martin (in winter), 11 November,
was changed to the vigil, day and morrow of the Translation of St. Martin in summer (3–5 July). (fn. 112) The
charter of Queen Elizabeth granted two fairs to the
corporation, one beginning on the vigil of St. Martin
in winter (11 November) and the other on the vigil
of St. Peter (29 June). (fn. 113) In 1792 the fair was held on
29 June as a toy fair, (fn. 114) and a pleasure fair is still held
on 29 and 30 June. A market, to be held on Thursdays, originally granted to Richard de Boxe, (fn. 115) was also
confirmed to Henry Earl of Essex at the same time as
the fair. By Queen Elizabeth's charter the tolls (the
ownership of which was said to be unknown) were
granted to the corporation. The market is now
held on Wednesdays.
In 1086 the manor received twenty-two eels from
the weir. (fn. 116) A water-mill which it was hardly possible
to use except in winter is mentioned in 1323. (fn. 117) In
1277 Stephen de Bassingburn was expected to provide a bridge in Rutholm, 16 ft. by 6 ft. (fn. 118) In 1656
it was presented that the town of Hoddesdon was
destitute of stocks, and that the parishioners of Broxbourne ought to provide them. (fn. 119)
Another manor of Hoddesdon may perhaps be
identical with a hide in Hoddesdon held before the
Conquest by Asgar the Staller, later by Ingelric, and
in 1086 by Count Eustace of Boulogne. (fn. 120) The
sub-tenant of Asgar the Staller in this hide was
Godid, but it was given soon after the Conquest
to the canons of St. Martin-le-Grand, London,
probably by Ingelric, their founder, predecessor of
Count Eustace, of whom the canons held it in
1086. (fn. 121) It had been confirmed to them by William
the Conqueror in the second year of his reign. (fn. 122)
The church still had demesne lands in Hoddesdon
in 1290, when the dean, William de Luda, had
licence to stock his park there from the forest of
Essex, (fn. 123) but probably most of their lands had been
already granted in sub-fee, for in 1287 (fn. 124) certain
privileges exercised by the canons in their lands were
claimed by John le Sarmonner, who was apparently
holding under them. The hide was confirmed to
them as late as 1422–3, and at the end of the 15th
century suit was still owed to the leet of St. Martin
by tenants in Hoddesdon. (fn. 125)
The earliest sub-tenants of the manor apparently
were a family of Boxe, who took their name from
Boxe in Walkern and Stevenage and who held that
manor. Alan de Boxe, nephew of a Hugh de Boxe,
is mentioned as holding land in Hoddesdon in 1198. (fn. 126)
In 1253 Richard de Boxe had a grant of free warren
in his demesne lands of Boxe (i.e. Boxe in Walkern)
and Hoddesdon and a weekly market on Thursdays
at Hoddesdon and a yearly fair on the vigil, feast and
morrow of St. Martin (11 November). (fn. 127) In 1256
he had licence to inclose and build on a space of
ground between the two high roads and the cross
of Hoddesdon. (fn. 128) He was apparently succeeded by
John le Summoner or Sarmonner, who is mentioned in Hoddesdon in 1276, (fn. 129) and in 1287 claimed
view of frankpledge and assize of bread and ale
at Hoddesdon as among the liberties belonging
to the Dean and canons of St. Martin's, London
(see above). He was living in 1290, (fn. 130) but before
1303 his lands seem to have been divided between
heirs. These were apparently Thomas Langton and
Richard de St. Edmund, then both minors. (fn. 131) In
1307 Mabel widow of Thomas de Langton conveyed her share of the manor to Robert de Langton,
clerk, probably for a settlement. (fn. 132) This part of the
manor continued as the manor of Langtons, whilst
the part of Richard de St. Edmund, which seems to
have descended to an heiress Margery wife of Ralph
de Foxton, (fn. 133) became known as Foxtons.
Langtons
The part of the manor known as LANGTONS
descended to John de Langton, (fn. 134) who was son of
Robert de Langton, and may have been nephew of
Thomas and Mabel. (fn. 135) From John de Langton it
descended to his daughter and heir Alice wife of
Sir Robert Corbet, whose only child Agnes married
John Halle, citizen and goldsmith of London. In
1429 John and Agnes conveyed one year's rent of
60s. from lands in Hoddesdon called 'Langtonnesland' to Richard Benyngton and William Burton. (fn. 136)
In the same year the 'manor' of Langtons was
acquired by Thomas Gloucester, who held courts
there from that year until about 1442. (fn. 137) It then
came into the hands of John Edward, brother of
Thomas Gloucester, and Joan his wife, and they
conveyed it in 1448 to Sir John Say, (fn. 138) who in
1468 obtained an inspeximus of the grant of free
warren and the market and fair granted to Richard
de Boxe. (fn. 139) He died seised of it in 1478. (fn. 140) His
son and heir Sir William Say became lord of the
manor of Hoddesdonbury, (fn. 141) in which this small estate
seems to have afterwards become absorbed.
Foxtons
The quarter fee of FOXTONS, held in 1325 by
Ralph de Foxton in right of Margery his wife, (fn. 142) had
come into the same hands as Langtons by 1380, (fn. 143)
and follows the same descent. (fn. 144)
Boxes
The manor of BOXES was a part of the holding
of the Boxe family, which seems to have become
separated from the larger holdings in the divisions
of the 14th century. In 1376 a messuage and
30 acres called 'Le Boxes' with rents and services
in Hoddesdon were held by Simon son of Imbert. (fn. 145)
After his death these tenements were acquired by
the Langtons (fn. 146) and thenceforth descended with their
manor. (fn. 147) In the inquisition on William Say in 1529
it is mentioned as the manor of Boxes. (fn. 148)
Marions
MARIONS formed part of the lands of the Knights
Hospitallers, (fn. 149) to whom a rent was payable from the
manor. Under the Hospitallers the manor was held
in the 15th century by John Edward and Joan his
wife, who conveyed it to Sir John Say in 1448,
together with Langtons and Foxtons and other
manors, (fn. 150) whose descent it follows. Maryons Manor
House stood west of the high road above Spital
Brook. (fn. 151)
Halle or Halles
The 'manor' of HALLE or HALLES was another
holding in Hoddesdon which by the 14th century
had given its name to a family of Halle. Richard
and John atte Halle were holding lands in Hoddesdon
of the manor of Great Amwell at the end of the
14th century. (fn. 152) There is a rental of the manor
made in the reign of Henry VI. (fn. 153) In 1448 it was
in the possession of John Edward and Joan his
wife. They conveyed it in that year to Sir John
Say, (fn. 154) and it followed the same descent as the above
manors. (fn. 155)
Geddings
The manor of GEDDINGS probably formed part
of the berewick of Hoddesdon, which was originally
appurtenant to the manor of Hatfield Broadoak in
Essex, (fn. 156) and which in 1086 seems to have been included in the manor of Great Amwell, then held by
Ralph de Limesi. (fn. 157) With that manor (q.v.) it came
into the possession of the Abbot of Westminster.
Lands in Hoddesdon were held under the abbot in
the 13th century by a family of Gedding. William
de Gedding is mentioned at Hoddesdon during the
abbacy of Richard of Ware, (fn. 158) who held that office
from 1258 to 1283. (fn. 159) A Richard de Gedding is
mentioned in Hertfordshire in 1287. In 1327
Edmund de Gedding received a grant of free
warren in his demesne lands of Amwell and
Hoddesdon. (fn. 160) He died before 1331, when the
wardship of Robert de Gedding, son and heir of
Edmund, was granted by the Abbot of Westminster
to Richard and William of Hailey. (fn. 161) In 1332
Beatrice widow of Edmund de Gedding was assigned
in dower one-third of a messuage in Hoddesdon. (fn. 162)
Robert son of Robert de Gedding was returned as
holding a fourth of the vill of Amwell by half a
knight's fee in the latter part of the 14th century, (fn. 163)
and this must have included his lands in Hoddesdon.
In 1378 Reynbroun de Gedding, son of Robert,
conveyed a messuage, 300 acres of arable, 25 acres
of meadow, 6 acres of pasture and 40 acres of wood
and 100s. rent in Hoddesdon to Philip de Melreth,
clerk, and his heirs. (fn. 164) In the next century these lands
were in the possession of Edward Chertsey, who in
1430–1 granted them as the manor of Geddings
to Nicholas Dixon and others, (fn. 165) after which the
manor follows the same descent as the manor of
Baas (q.v.).
Bernardes or Barnetts
The reputed manor or tenement of BERNARDES
or BARNETTS belonged about the middle of the
16th century to the family of Castell. Thomas son
of Dorothy Castell mortgaged Bernardes about 1559
to Henry Brograve, who sold the property to William
Frankland of London. (fn. 166) In 1582 William and Hugh
Frankland (for this family see Thele Manor in Stanstead St. Margaret's) conveyed the 'manor,' then called
Barnetts, to Bernard Dewhurst and Thomas Bennett. (fn. 167)
Within the next ten years the two latter sold it to
Sir William Cecil, lord of the manor of Geddings, (fn. 168)
after which it follows the same descent as that manor. (fn. 169)
Hoddesdon
Before the Conquest nearly 6 hides in HODDESDON (Odesdone, Dodesdone) were held by Gode of
Queen Edith, wife of Harold, as two manors. (fn. 170) In
1086 the larger of these, assessed at 3¾ hides, was
held by Edward the Sheriff of Salisbury. (fn. 171) The
other, of the extent of 2 hides, was held of the king
by Peter, a burgess. The latter was evidently identical with the Peter of St. Olave, Southwark, who in
1096 gave his lands at Hoddesdon to the monks of
Bermondsey. (fn. 172)
About 1180 these lands or part of them seem to
have been held by Robert de Hurtford in chief, for
in that year he is entered as owing 2 marks for
3 hides in Hoddesdon, (fn. 173) and in the following year
the same amount for 2 hides, of which he had 'not
yet had right.' (fn. 174) He died three years later without
having obtained it. (fn. 175) In 1210–12 Simon son of
Gilbert held a quarter fee in Hoddesdon of the
king in chief, (fn. 176) which perhaps represents this estate.
Rectory Manor
The RECTORY MANOR of Broxbourne was
held with the church by the Bishops of London, (fn. 177)
who seem to have generally farmed it out. (fn. 178) In
1651 the rectory and glebe lands were sold by the
trustees for the sale of bishops' lands to Edmund
Lewin and his heirs for £522. (fn. 179) The Bishop of
London regained it at the Restoration, and in 1728
it was leased to the lord of the manor, (fn. 180) and was
probably acquired by him together with the advowson in 1868.
CHURCHES
St. Augustine
The church of ST. AUGUSTINE
stands a little to the east of the
village. It consists of chancel 35 ft.
by 17ft., north and south chapels, each 34 ft. by
10 ft., nave 68ft. 6 in. by 17ft., north and south
aisles, each 69ft. by 10 ft., vestry, with upper room,
adjoining the north chapel, south porch and west
tower, all internal dimensions.
The church was entirely rebuilt and enlarged in
the 15th century, and no detail now remains of the
former nave and chancel, which appear to have been
added to from time to time. The north aisle was
the earliest addition, then the two east bays of the
south aisle and the west bay of the south chapel;
shortly afterwards the south aisle was extended westwards the full length of the nave and the south
chapel eastwards to the east wall of the chancel;
the west tower was erected about the close of the
15th century, the north chapel and vestry are dated
1522, and the south porch was added in the early
17th century.
The walls are of flint rubble, except the north
chapel and vestry, which are faced without and within
with squared limestone ashlar. The nave and chancel
roofs are tiled, the others lead-covered.
In the east wall of the chancel is a 15th-century
window of three cinquefoiled lights with traceried
head; hidden behind the table of the Commandments on the north side of the window are some
remains of the splayed jamb of an earlier window;
on each side of the chancel is an arcade of two bays
with arches of two moulded orders and jambs of four
engaged shafts with moulded capitals and bases.
The north chapel east window is of three cinquefoiled lights with traceried head under a four-centred
arch; in the north wall are two similar windows
with the door to the vestry between them. The
doorway has a splayed four-centred arch and jambs,
and retains its original oak door and ironwork. In
the east wall of the vestry are two small recesses
under four-centred arches; in each of the north and
west walls is a small two-light window under a square
head; in the chamber over the vestry are two similar
windows; a third window, now blocked, opened into
the church. The north chapel and vestry, both built
in 1522, have an ornamental parapet carried round
outside on which is carved the inscription 'Pray for
the welfayr of Syr Wylyam Say knyght wych fodyd
yis chapel in honor a ye trenete the yere of our Lord
God 1522.' Stags' heads and traceried panels with
the arms of Say are carried at intervals above the
parapet; the upper parts of the panelled and
crocketed buttresses are set diagonally.
The south chapel has a two-light window with
traceried head in the east wall and two traceried
windows of three lights under four-centred arches
in the south wall; the junction between the earlier
and later 15th-century work can be seen outside.
In the south wall between the windows is a large
recess for a tomb under a four-centred arch, with
moulded jambs and arch. In the same wall is a
piscina belonging to the earlier portion of the
chapel, partially destroyed by the later tomb recess;
the jambs of the piscina are moulded and have a ballflower ornament. The four bays on either side of
the nave are continuations of the arcades between
chancel and chapels, and their detail is similar, though
they are somewhat earlier in date. At the east end
of the north wall of the north aisle is a semi-octagonal
stair turret projecting on the outside leading to the
rood-loft and roof over the aisle; the doorway to the
rood-loft is blocked. In the north wall of the aisle
are four windows, each of two cinquefoiled lights
with traceried head under a pointed arch; the external
stonework has been renewed. In the west wall is a
splayed loop light. In the south wall of the south aisle
are four windows similar to those in the north aisle;
there is no window in the west wall. The south
doorway has continuously moulded jambs and four-centred arch. In the east jamb of the doorway, in
the porch, are remains of a roughly executed stoup,
and in the south aisle, a little to the east of the doorway, is a plain recess, probably for a stoup. The south
porch has a semicircular arched doorway with flanking
pilasters and pediment over, and above is a shield
charged with arms.
The roofs over the chancel and chapels have flat
panelled ceilings of early 16th-century date; those
over the nave and aisles are of the 15th century, but
have been much restored. Over the east end of the
nave is a painted inscription recording that the
ceiling and decoration of the chancel roof was done
by John Bryce.
The west tower is of three stages and is buttressed;
at the south-west angle is a turret staircase; both tower
and turret are finished with embattled parapets.
The four-centred tower arch is of two moulded
orders; the jambs have engaged shafts with moulded
capitals and bases. The west doorway has a two-centred arch under a square head with traceried
spandrels. The west window is of four cinquefoiled
lights with tracery under a two-centred arch; the
stonework is much decayed. On the north and
south faces of the second stage of the tower are
narrow trefoiled lights with square heads; on the
west is a clock face. The belfry windows are of
two cinquefoiled lights under square heads.
Broxbourne Church from the North-east
The font has an octagonal bowl of Purbeck marble,
on each face of which are two plain sunk panels with
round heads; the bowl rests ory a circular shaft with
eight smaller ones under the angles of the octagon;
the shafts have moulded bases and stand on a plain
octagonal plinth; it is of late 12th-century date.
In the chamber over the
north vestry are two oak
chests, one belonging to the
14th, the other to the 17th
century. In the south-east
window of the south chapel
is some 15th-century heraldic
glass.
Say of Broxbourne. Party azure and gules three cheverons or voided party gules and azure.
On the south side of the
chancel is the Purbeck marble
altar-tomb of Sir John Say and
his wife, dated 1473. The
sides of the plinth are panelled
and traceried panels, three of
which contain shields which
retain some of their original
colouring. On the moulded slab are fine brasses of
the knight and the lady; the knight is in plate
armour with surcoat charged with his arms, the
figure is now headless. The lady wears a sideless
surcoat and a mantle charged with her arms. The
figures are elaborately engraved and retain much of
the original coloured enamelling. Two shields still
remain with the arms of Say, and a brass inscription,
parts of which are missing, runs round the margin.
On the north side of the chancel is the altar-tomb of
Sir William Say, the builder of the north chapel; it
is of early 16th-century date. The plinth is ornamented with square moulded and cusped panels set
diagonally, in which are shields bearing indents of
missing brass figures. On the plinth is a slab of
Purbeck marble. Above the tomb, supported on
octagonal columns, is a canopy, the soffit carved with
pendants and fan vaulting; under the east end is a
slab with indents of a knight and a lady. In the
south chapel is the tomb of Sir Henry Cock and his
wife, 1609, with recumbent effigies, in alabaster,
under a semicircular canopy with panelled soffit over
which is the achievement of arms; on the plinth
below are the kneeling figures of two daughters and
their children. In the chancel is a mural monument to William Gamble alias Bowyer, 1646, with
inscription and arms. In the north chapel is a mural
monument to Sir R. Skeffington, 1646, and another
to John Baylie, 1609. There are several 17th-century floor slabs to members of the Monson and
Rawdon families; in the south aisle is a tablet in
memory of John Loudon McAdam, the great road
maker, who was buried at Moffat in 1836.
On the chancel floor is the brass of a priest in
chasuble and holding a chalice; it is without inscription, but is of late 15th-century date; another
of a priest in cassock and amice is also without inscription. At the corners are symbols of the Evangelists,
and part of an inscribed scroll remains; it belongs
to the early 16th century. In the nave are indents
of a knight and a lady; a portion of the knight's
figure remains. In the centre of the nave is a shield,
vair bordered crusilly, and dated 1630; also the brass
of a knight clad in armour and holding a mace,
said to be that of John Barrell, serjeant-at-arms to
Henry VIII. This brass was recovered from Roding
in Essex in 1892.
There are eight bells: the treble, second, third
and sixth are dated 1903; the fourth, fifth and
seventh by Robert Oldfeild, 1615, and the eighth by
John Hodson, 1670.
The communion plate consists of cup and cover
paten, 1606, a paten, 1633, a cup and cover paten,
1824, and two flagons.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms,
burials and marriages from 1688 to 1741; (ii) baptisms
and burials from 1741 to 1812, marriages 1741 to
1754; (iii) marriages from 1754 to 1812.
St. Paul
The church of ST. PAUL, Hoddesdon, near the
centre of the town, was built in 1732 and repaired
in 1822 and 1849; in 1865 the building was
enlarged by the addition of a chancel with north and
south chapels or aisles; in 1888 the brick tower
and spire were added. It now consists of chancel
35 ft. 6 in. by 21 ft., north and south chapels or aisles,
each 34 ft. by 19 ft., nave 61 ft. 6 in. by 31 ft., vestry
and semi-detached tower, east of the south nave wall;
all the dimensions are internal. The church is built
of brick with stone dressings. There are eight bells
in the tower hung in 1901. The plate consists of
three chalices, two patens and a flagon, all modern.
ADVOWSONS
The advowson of the church of
St. Augustine originally belonged
to the lords of the manor of Broxbourne and was granted together with that manor
to the Knights Hospitallers by Robert Earl of
Leicester. (fn. 181) In 1190, however, Garner of Naples,
Prior of the Hospitallers, granted the church of
Broxbourne to the Bishop of London for a yearly
payment of 4 marks. (fn. 182) The advowson remained in
the hands of the Bishops of London until 1852,
when it was transferred to the Bishop of Rochester. (fn. 183)
In 1868 it was acquired by Mr. Smith-Bosanquer,
lord of the manor, (fn. 184) and is now in the hands of
trustees.
Sir John Say left 200 marks in 1478 for a priest
to sing mass for his soul for twenty years, (fn. 185) and his
son Sir William Say built the chapel of our Lady
within the parish church of Broxbourne as a chantry
for his family (see above). He also left to the chapel a
chalice of silver gilt and 'a payer of cruets of silver parcel
gilt with other ornaments as shall be necessary for the
chapel.' The salary of the priest belonging to the
chapel was to be paid out of Sir William's lordship
of Bengeo. (fn. 186) In 1578 it was reported that until
about thirty-three years before two priests had been
accustomed to sing mass in 'Sir William Saye's
chapel,' and received £10 a year for it. It was also
stated that until thirty-five or thirty-six years before
'there was usually set up a hearse in the midst of the
church, furnished with lights and torches, and bells
were rung.' (fn. 187)
There was a chapel at Hoddesdon in the 14th
century which seems to have been appurtenant to the
manor of Hoddesdon. It was the subject of a dispute in 1242–3 between Alexander de Swereford,
Treasurer of St. Paul's, and Humphrey and John de
Bassingburn. (fn. 188) Alexander acknowledged the right of
the Bassingburns to the advowson, and Humphrey
and John granted that the chapel should be moved
back to its former situation by the side of the road
which led to the court of Alexander de Swereford
and near to the court of Humphrey de Bassingburn.
Humphrey and John also agreed to supply a chaplain
to celebrate service daily for their souls and that of
Alexander and of their ancestors, and they confirmed
all lands previously belonging to the chapel. (fn. 189) This
chapel seems to have fallen into disuse, for in 1336
William de la Marche obtained licence to build a
chapel in honour of St. Catherine on a 'void place'
in Hoddesdon, 30 ft. by 20 ft., and to alienate it in
mortmain when built to a chaplain or religious man. (fn. 190)
In the time of Henry IV witnesses declared that the
chapel lay in the parish of Great Amwell, (fn. 191) and in
1650 it was said to be partly in Amwell and partly in
Broxbourne. It was then suggested that it could be
conveniently constituted a parish church for Hoddesdon (fn. 192) ; the suggestion, however, was not carried out.
At the end of the 17th century the chapel was pulled
down, with the exception of the clock-tower, which
remained until about 1836. (fn. 193)
In 1844 the parish of St. Paul, Hoddesdon, was
formed as a consolidated chapelry out of Broxbourne
and Great Amwell. (fn. 194) The living is a vicarage, and
the patronage goes with that of Broxbourne. (fn. 195) There
is a mission church at Rye Park, served from the
parish church.
The priory of St. Monica at Hoddesdon is now
used as a convent of the order of Canonesses Regular
of St. Augustine. (fn. 196) There are also Congregational,
Wesleyan, and Baptist chapels there, as well as meeting places of the Society of Friends (fn. 197) and Plymouth
Brethren. Meeting-places for Protestant Dissenters
were certified in Broxbourne in 1813, and at Hoddesdon in 1689, 1691, 1692, 1704 and 1821. (fn. 198)
CHARITIES
Broxbourne: The Free school,
founded in 1667 by will of Sir
Richard Lucy, bart. (fn. 199)
The Girls' school at Baas Hill. (fn. 200)
The following eleemosynary charities are regulated
by scheme of the Charity Commissioners 3 October
1899. They comprise the charities of:
(1) Lady Lucy, gift about 1676, consisting of
4 a. or. 29 p., situate at Roydon, of the annual letting
value of £6.
(2) Roger Marsh, deed, 1635, being a rentcharge of £2 4s. 5d. issuing out of Hailey Hall
estates in Great Amwell.
(3) William Purvey, will, proved in 1617, being
a rent-charge of 3s. 4d. out of Wormley Bury estates.
(4) George Swaine, will, proved in 1829; trust
fund £125 consols, with the official trustees, producing £3 2s. 4d. yearly; and
(5) William Thorowgood, will, proved 25 February 1603, being a yearly sum of £1 4s. issuing out
of Hoddesdon vicarage.
In 1909 the income was applied as to £1 in
surgical aid, £5 towards coal and clothing clubs, £2
in money gifts and the balance in the distribution of
calico and bread.
The ecclesiastical charity of William Thorowgood
consists of £107 13s. 5d. consols, in the names of
the Rev. John Salwey and two others, producing
£2 13s. 8d. yearly, representing the redemption of
an annuity of £2 to the vicar for preaching six
sermons, and an annuity of 16s. for repairing the
windows in the church.
The almshouses erected by Dame Letitia Monson
for six poor widows, and endowed by her will, dated
in 1729, are regulated by a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners 6 January 1888. The present endowment consists of £2,663 6s. 9d. Bank of England
stock, which produced in 1909 £254 10s. 11d., and
a sum of £519 10s. 9d. consols, producing £12 19s. 8d.
yearly; the former sum of stock is standing in the
name of the Paymaster-General in the High Court
of Justice, and the latter is held by the official
trustees.
In 1909–10 the sum of £163 16s. was paid to
nine inmates, £7 4s. 9d. for gowns, £34 9s. for
wood and coal, 5s. to the vicar for gloves and £10
for prayers and services.
The charity of Catherine Augusta Baroness of
Sternberg, founded by will, proved in 1859, consists
of £504 16s. 1d. consols, with the official trustees,
producing £12 12s. 4d. yearly, which is in pursuance
of a scheme of the Charity Commissioners 10 February 1882, applied for the benefit of the poor by
the district visitors.
The Cecilia Smith-Bosanquet Memorial Trust,
founded by deed 15 December 1904, for providing
a nurse for the sick poor, is endowed with £2,500
New South Wales 3½ per cent. stock, with the official
trustees, producing £87 10s. yearly.
The official trustees also hold a sum of £100 2½
per cent. stock, arising from the sale in 1891 of land
known as the Clock Half-acre, the income of which is
applicable for the winding, &c., of the church clock.
Hoddesdon: The following eleemosynary charities
are regulated by scheme of the Charity Commissioners 3 October 1899. They comprise the charities
of:
(1) Lynch Mill Corner, founded by an agreement,
dated 21 April 1679, in consideration of the inclosure
of certain Lammas land, being a yearly sum of
£2 15s.
(2) Roger Marsh, by deed, 1635, being a rentcharge of £4 8s. 11d. issuing out of Hailey Hall
estates in Great Amwell.
(3) William Purvey, will, proved in 1617, being
a rent-charge of 10s. out of Wormley Bury estates.
(4) George Swaine, will, proved in 1829, trust
fund, £375 consols, with the official trustees, producing £9 7s. 4d. yearly.
(5) William Thorowgood, will, proved 25 February 1603, being a yearly sum of £4 issuing out of
the land now occupied by Hoddesdon vicarage, for
distribution of bread.
(6) William Thorowgood, for distribution of beef
and bread, consisting of a rent-charge of £4 4s.
issuing out of Balls Park, near Hertford.
(7) Unknown donor—but stated in the Parliamentary returns of 1786 to have been given by Lady
Oxendon in 1635—being a yearly sum of £1 6s. 8d.
issuing out of the Grange, Hoddesdon.
In 1909 the sum of £4 was paid to the clothing
and coal clubs, £1 to the dispensary and £25
applied in the distribution of meat and bread to 220
recipients.
In 1818 Easter Jones purchased land and erected
a school thereon for girls, and endowed the same
with £1,000 consols.
The income of a sum of £450 consols, the gift of
— Game, is also applicable for educational purposes.
The Priscilla Manser Fund consists of £508 12s.
Local Loans 3 per cent. stock and £400 East Indian
Railway 3 per cent. stock, in the names of Robert
Barclay and four others, producing £27 5s. yearly.
In 1907 £11 14s. was paid to three inmates of
the homes, and the balance added to the fund for
their upkeep.
Samuel Dunn's Charity for the organist is endowed
with a piece of meadow land near Hoddesdon, let
at £4 a year.
In 1910 William Alfred Pryor, by his will, proved
at London 12 October, left £50, now represented
by £60 Great Northern Railway 3 per cent. stock,
the annual dividends, amounting to £1 16s., to be
applied for the benefit of the poor of the Congregational church.
Hoddesdon, St. Catherine: In 1885 George
Ringrose, by his will, proved at London 25 September, left a legacy, now represented by £90 11s. 4d.
consols, with the official trustees, the annual dividends,
amounting to £2 5s., to be distributed to the poor in
coal, bread, or money.