FRANKTON
Acreage: 1,705.
Population: 1911, 211; 1921, 224; 1931, 231.
Frankton is a small parish and village 6 miles southwest of Rugby, the River Leam forming the southern
boundary of the parish, where the lowest ground is
about 200 ft. above sea-level. The village stands on a
well-marked hill of about 360 ft. in the centre of the
parish and is very secluded, with no main road through
or near it. There are a few timber-framed cottages
with red-brick infilling and tiled roofs, and close to the
church is a group of 18th-century red-brick houses.
Minor roads connect the village with Stretton, Bourton,
and Birdingbury, and at its north-west corner the
parish reaches within a few hundred yards of the Fosse
Way. The Rugby and Leamington branch of the
former L.M.S.R. crosses the south-eastern corner of
the parish, Birdingbury Station being within its borders,
about a mile from Frankton village. Frankton Wood
occupies a considerable area in the north-west, and
there are several other spinneys, also many ponds,
including two large fish-ponds south-west of the village.
Frankton was inclosed in 1656; twenty-two years
later, in a lawsuit about the tithes, it was stated that
'two thirds of the former common fields in Frankton
now lye in very large pastures, so do all the xii yardland
tithable to the plaintiff, but with so very little interruption of knowledge by reason that it lyeth still ridge
and furrow'. (fn. 1)
Manors
FRANKTON formed part of the lands
granted by Earl Leofric to Coventry Priory
on its foundation in 1043, but it is not
assigned to this monastery in Domesday Book, when
Earl Roger of Shrewsbury held 4 hides less 1 virgate
here. (fn. 2) There is no trace of any later connexion with
Earl Roger's fee, so that Dugdale is probably correct
in considering that these lands had been seized by
Earl Roger from Coventry Priory, (fn. 3) to which they
certainly returned, as Leofric's charter was confirmed
in 1267, (fn. 4) and Frankton was stated to be in the barony
of the Prior of Coventry in 1316. (fn. 5) Free warren was
granted to the prior and convent in 1257. (fn. 6) The
Coventry Priory estates in Frankton were enlarged by
grants of a virgate in 1221 (fn. 7) and an acre of meadow in
1305. (fn. 8) In 1291 they consisted of 3 carucates and a
windmill, producing £14 1s. 4d. yearly, (fn. 9) and in
1535 a total revenue of £17 11s. 2d. (fn. 10) After the
Dissolution this manor was kept in Crown hands till
1579–80, when it was granted to Thomas Thornton
and Thomas Woodcock. (fn. 11) From them it passed to the
Temple family, (fn. 12) of whom John (died 1603) settled it
in 1592 on his younger son John in tail male. (fn. 13) The
younger John died in 1642, when his son Thomas was
20. (fn. 14) Thomas who dealt with the manor in 1662 (fn. 15) was
probably the son of this Thomas. (fn. 16) It was finally sold
by Richard Temple, the younger Thomas's brother, to
Sir Theophilus Biddulph, bart.,
of Westcombe in Greenwich,
in 1680, (fn. 17) in whose family it
has since remained.
Biddulph. Vert an eagle argent.
The remaining 1 hide and 1
virgate, completing the Domesday assessment of 5 hides, were
held freely before 1066 by
Chentwin, and in 1086 by Ralf
of the Count of Meulan. (fn. 18) In
1166 1 knight's fee was held of
the Earl of Warwick by Robert de
Franketon de veteri feffamento, (fn. 19) and a similar amount by
William in 1235–6. (fn. 20) Half a knight's fee in Frankton and
Kenilworth was held of the Earl of Warwick in 1316
by William le Botiler of Oversley, (fn. 21) and in 1428 this
half-fee was stated to have been formerly held by Henry
de Hinton and William le Palmer, (fn. 22) two of William
le Botiler's subtenants. (fn. 23) In a return of the Warwick
fees made c. 1320 there were said to be 'many who
hold of the same William'; John le Palmer held of
Sir R. de Champayne, who held of Ralph Basset, who
held of the said William le Botiler; and Palmer himself
had as a subtenant William Bordan. (fn. 24)
Ralph de Franketon, presumably a descendant of
the William mentioned above, passed the manor to
Roger de Elinhale, and he to Robert de Okeover, who
had married his sister Alice before 1291. (fn. 25) Robert and
Alice de Okeover in 1310 granted a messuage, 2 virgates of land and 3 acres of meadow, with 3s. 1d. in
rents and the advowson of the church, to John le
Palmer, subject to 30s. yearly rent during the lifetime
of Alice, (fn. 26) and John le Palmer and Isabel his wife also
obtained a messuage and 2 carucates of land from John
Burdoun in 1331. (fn. 27) The Palmer family continued in
possession of this manor and the advowson till the reign
of Henry VI, when they came into the hands of John
Hereward, who married Katherine, daughter and
heiress of Thomas Palmer. (fn. 28) By the early 16th century
manor and advowson had come, again by marriage, (fn. 29)
to the Dukes, of Newton Purcell (Oxon.), Richard Duke
conceding a presentation to the living to Reynburn
Balguy and others in 1529. (fn. 30) He or his son Richard
conveyed the manor in 1558 to John Eden in trust, (fn. 31)
with remainder to his son John (died 1565) and his
wife Margaret in tail. (fn. 32) In 1652 a conveyance of the
manor had been made by Roger Duke to Anthony
Leson or Leeson. (fn. 33) Thomas Leeson conveyed the
manor by fine to Thomas Chamberlayne in 1601, (fn. 34)
and in 1605 sold it to Edward Yorke. (fn. 35) These transactions were disputed by Paul Clarke and Alice his
wife, daughter of Richard Duke, (fn. 36) and by John Adams
and Mary his wife, daughter of John second son of
Richard Duke; (fn. 37) but Edward's son George Yorke, who
died seised of the manor in 1627, left it to his kinsman
Sir Thomas Yorke, who predeceased him, and then
to his brother-in-law John Shuckburgh of Bourton. (fn. 38)
His son Thomas Shuckburgh was vouchee in a recovery
of Frankton manor in 1659, (fn. 39) and died without issue;
after which the manor came to the Biker or Bicker
family, of whom Lewis, who was concerned in the
above recovery, with his wife Rebecca and Hugh
Meade and his wife Ann conveyed it in 1663 to Francis
Gramer and Christopher Alisbury, (fn. 40) perhaps for a
settlement, as it was dealt with in 1696 by John Biker,
clerk, (fn. 41) and in 1713 the Rev. John Biker was lord. (fn. 42)
The manor seems to have remained in the family until
the middle of the 18th century, but in 1759–64 James
Gramer was stated to be lord of the manor. (fn. 43) It was
probably acquired soon after this by the Biddulphs and
annexed to their manor.
Church
The church of ST. NICHOLAS stands
on the west side of a small churchyard,
west of the village. It consists of a chancel,
nave, south aisle, west tower, vestry, and south porch.
The earliest part of the church is the lower stage of the
tower, which dates from the early 13th century; the
rest of the church was rebuilt in the 14th century, and
in the 15th century the upper part of the tower was
rebuilt. It is built of small roughly coursed limestone
rubble with red sandstone dressings, except for the
upper stage of the tower, which is red sandstone ashlar.
The roofs are modern.
The east wall of the chancel has been rebuilt in red
brick on a stone base with diagonal buttresses and has
a modern traceried three-light window with a hoodmould. On the north side a modern vestry has been
erected; it has a square-headed doorway and is lighted
by a window of two trefoil lights. West of the vestry
there is a small restored ogee-headed window. The
south side has two small modern buttresses, a modern
square-headed doorway, and a small modern trefoil
light with an ogee head. High up in the wall there are
two square-headed windows of three trefoil lights, of two
hollow splays, with hood-moulds, both much restored.
The south aisle has a plinth of one splay and is
lighted on the east by a modern three-light traceried
window with a hood-mould, the stops left rough for
carving; on the south are two windows of three trefoil
ogee-headed lights with square heads, but only the
jambs are original, and on the west a single light, of
which only the ogee head is original. West of the two
windows is a modern timber porch. The doorway has
a pointed arch of two orders, a wave and sunk splay,
continued down the jambs without capitals; a modern
hood-mould has been added. The door is oak boarding
on plain framing, hung on two iron hinges the full
width of the door, and between them two iron straps;
all are decorated with zigzag chisel-cuts and have
fleur-de-lis terminals; the straps are similar but with
fleur-de-lis at both ends. The handle is a twisted ring
with a lozenge-shaped back-plate and escutcheon,
with their corners filed to fleur-de-lis; probably 15th-century. The north side of the nave is lighted by two
windows of two trefoil lights with heads out of one
stone; one has a restored head and the other is a modern
copy. The parapet is modern, built of ashlar on a
moulded string, and at the west end a modern buttress
has been added.
The tower rises in two stages, of which the lower
is 13th-century and the upper 15th-century. The
original tower was no doubt in three stages and when
it was rebuilt in the 15th century the second stage
was omitted. The lower stage has wide shallow buttresses or pilasters at each angle, a plinth consisting of
a large roll-moulding at the top of a wide splay, and
narrow pointed lights to the ringing-chamber on the
south and west. A modern buttress has been built
against the north wall and a modern door inserted in
the centre with a cement pointed arch. On the south
side two further modern buttresses have been added,
a low one in brick and stone to the west and to the east
one of three stages carried half-way up the tower. A
modern traceried window of two pointed lights with
a hood-mould has been inserted in the west wall,
probably replacing a lancet. The upper stage has a
string-course at its junction with the earlier work, an
embattled parapet on a moulded string-course which
has carved heads in its hollow, one at each corner with
two between, and pinnacles at the angles, with trefoil
panels and crocketed finials. The belfry windows on
all four faces are set in deep recesses with four-centred
arches, the reveals and soffits of the arches panelled
with a series of trefoil-headed panels, the windows
being two trefoil lights of one splayed order, but on
the south face two have been put in, separated by a
narrow pier. The roof is a tiled pyramid surmounted
by a weather vane.
The chancel (27 ft. by 7 ft. 7 in.) has a modern tiled
floor, plastered walls, and two steps to the altar. The
east window has a segmental-pointed rear-arch, the others
all have flat heads. In the north wall there are two
modern aumbries and a door with a square head to the
vestry. The roof is modern, but two of the carved corbels supporting the west truss are of 14th-century date.
The nave (43 ft. 2 in. by 15 ft. 9 in.) has a modern
tiled floor and plastered walls. The arcade consists of
three bays of pointed arches of two splayed orders
supported on octagonal pillars with moulded capitals
and bases, and half-octagon responds. There are
inserted modern clearstory windows on the south only;
they are small trefoil two-light windows in wide
splayed recesses with flat timber lintels. The other
windows have pointed stop-chamfered rear-arches.
The tower arch is a modern one of two splays on the
tower side and three to the nave, all dying out on the
tower walls, and the chancel arch has been restored
and partly rebuilt on modern bases. It is pointed, of
two splayed orders.
The south aisle (42 ft. 9 in. by 7 ft. 3 in.) has a
modern tiled floor and plastered walls. In the south
wall near the east end there is a piscina with a restored
ogee head and a badly broken basin. The door has
splayed jambs and a segmental-pointed rear-arch, the
south windows segmental rear-arches, and the window
at the west end a flat head. The font is modern and
placed at the west end near the door; its circular basin
stands on four attached shafts with moulded capitals
and bases on a splayed octagonal base.
The tower (11 ft. 8 in. by 11 ft. 4 in.) has a modern
tiled floor and the window a widely splayed recess
with a pointed arch. On the north wall there is an
18th-century memorial tablet.
The plate includes a silver chalice and cover with
hallmark 1763.
Of the four bells one is by Newcombe, 1607, the
others by Hugh Watts, 1616, 1623, and 1636. (fn. 44)
The registers begin in 1559.
Advowson
The first recorded presentation to
the rectory of Frankton is in 1304,
by Robert de Okeover and Alice his
wife. (fn. 45) From this time the advowson followed the
descent of the Meulan-Warwick manor till the end of
the 17th century. It continued to be held by the Biker
or Bicker family, Anna Biker presenting in 1716, John
Berriman, clerk (probably by concession of a turn) in
1730 and John Biker in 1745. (fn. 46) James Parker, clerk,
had the presentation for one turn only in 1758, (fn. 47) and
in 1763 Mr. Biker is named as patron. (fn. 48) From 1782 the
advowson has been in the hands of the Biddulph family,
lords of the other Frankton manor. Since the union of
the benefice with Bourton-upon-Dunsmore about 1932
the presentation has been alternate between Col. W. H.
Biddulph and Mr. J. F. Shaw, patron of Bourton. (fn. 49)
The value in 1291 was £3 13s. 4d., (fn. 50) and in 1535
£5 12s., in addition to 4s. paid to the sacrist of Coventry
Priory and 8s. for procurations and synodals. (fn. 51)
A selion of land in Frankton called the Church Hedlond was given for the upkeep of a lamp in the church. (fn. 52)
Charities
Ann Biker. By an Indenture dated
28 September 1736 Ann Biker granted
to trustees an annuity of £6 out of
land in Frankton-upon-Dunsmore called the Heath
Pieces and another annuity of £7 out of land called the
Wasts and Holts Land in the parishes of Shilton and
Sowe; the said annuities to be payable at Lady Day
and Michaelmas; upon trust that £10 should be paid
for the maintenance of a free school in Frankton-upon-Dunsmore, 40s. should be paid yearly to the rector
and churchwardens of Frankton, to be disposed of on
Candlemas-day unto poor ancient maids and widows
inhabiting the parish, and the balance of 20s. to the
trustees to answer the reasonable expenses of their
meetings. By an Order dated 15 July 1904 the Charity
Commissioners determined that the part of the
endowment of the charity which ought to be applied
to educational purposes consists of five-sixths of the net
income.
Church Land. The endowment of this charity, the
origin of which is unknown, formerly consisted of land
in this parish. From time immemorial the income has
been applied for the church and its services. The
land was sold in 1919 and the proceeds of sale
invested. The annual income thereon, amounting
to £12 9s. 8d., is remitted to the rector and churchwardens.
Jane Leeson, by her will dated 27 May 1646
charged certain property at Abthorpe in the county
of Northampton with the payment of £30 to be
delivered yearly on 10 December in various amounts
to the respective churchwardens and overseers of the
poor of the several towns and villages named, to be
distributed by them yearly on 17 December in the
presence and with the advice of the clergy of the
several towns and villages, towards the relief of the poor
of the several places. The amount applicable for the
poor of this parish amounts to £2.