WOLVEY
Acreage: 3,472.
Population: 1911, 657; 1921, 686; 1931, 763.
Wolvey is a large parish and village on the border
of the county 5 miles south-east of Nuneaton. It is
watered by the head streams of the River Anker, rising
near Wolvey Farm in the south and Wolvey Wolds in
the south-east of the parish. The north-east and
southern boundaries, with Leicestershire and Withybrook, are well defined by the Watling Street and a long
shelter-belt of trees respectively, but the remainder are
extremely irregular, the Monks Kirby hamlet of Copston Magna jutting into the eastern side of the parish,
which on the west includes parts of the Bulkington
hamlets of Bramcote, Ryton, and Wolvershill and is
closely adjoined by Shelford in Burton Hastings.
Though the situation is on a watershed the ground is
fairly level, the extreme heights being about 450 ft. at
the south-east corner beyond Wolvey Wolds Farm, and
311 ft. where the Anker leaves the parish on the west.
There is very little woodland except for the plantations
surrounding Leicester Grange at the north end.
There are no railways or canals, but Wolvey is
very well supplied with roads, the chief of which are
the main road from Coventry to Leicester, crossing the
parish from south-west to north-east and leaving the
parish at Smockington, a hamlet on the Watling Street,
well known in the early 18th century for its inns, (fn. 1) the
upper road from Lutterworth to Hinckley, crossing
the former north-east of the village, and a road from
Nuneaton crossing Wolvey Heath and linking these
two. Other roads run from the village westwards via
Bulkington to Bedworth; from the Coventry road
south-east to Withybrook and eventually Rugby; and
from the Lutterworth road eastwards to Copston Magna
and High Cross. The village, though scattered, is a
large one, formerly the scene of a weekly market and a
fair on St. Mark's Day, the latter being held as late as
1830. (fn. 2) Wolvey Heath, just north of the village, was
the scene of a public execution in 1555, when Lady
Smyth was burnt to death for the murder of her
husband Sir Walter Smyth of Sherford. (fn. 3) The actual
scene was a circle of raised ground, visible in Dugdale's
time, about 100 yards south of the 'vestigia of a moat,
a pool and an old house within it', which still exist,
marking the site of a medieval hermitage. (fn. 4)
Wolvey Hall, at the southern end of the village, was
rebuilt in 1889, but the staircase and some oak panelling
were re-used from the earlier hall, which was rebuilt
in 1677. In one of the windows there are some fragments of late-16th-century coloured heraldic glass
from the still earlier hall. The staircase which leads
from the ground to the first floor is in three flights
separated by landings. It is of oak, with plain massive
square newels, moulded handrails and strings. The
balustrades of the two longer flights each consist of two
carved spiral scrolls, the short flight a single scroll, and
at the first-floor landing is a central carved urn with
scrolls in the corners and the date 1677 on the urn.
The strings have a battlemented top moulding, the
newels four-sided ogee-shaped finials and pendants, the
pendants pierced with a heart on each side. The stair
is continued to the second floor with square newels,
moulded handrail, and delicate turned balusters, dating
from the 18th century. At the foot of the staircase
there is a 17th-century balustrade with a moulded
handrail and twisted balusters, part hinged, to give
access to a cellar stair.
In the grounds, close to the road, is Jacob's Well
with the ruins of a masonry well-head piled over it.
Among the stones is a carved reclining figure holding
a pitcher which formed the outlet, and above it the
date 1707.
The open fields of the parish, still commemorated in
Wolvey Fields Farm a mile south of the village, remained till at least 1794 when they amounted to 2,524
acres; there seems to have been no general Inclosure
Act for the parish. (fn. 5)
The repair of Goose Bridge, carrying the WolveyBulkington road across the Anker, caused disputes
between these two parishes between 1659 and 1664.
It was at first declared to be an equal charge on the
two parishes, and later each was ordered to repair its
own part, but the bridge was still not repaired in
1664. (fn. 6)
Manors
WOLVEY in 1086 was assessed at 5½
hides, held of the king by Robert de Vesci,
Alric son of Meriet having held it freely before 1066. (fn. 7) The overlords of the vill in later times,
however, were the Earls of Warwick. Earl William
in 1166 stated that Ivo de Harecurt held 7 fees de
vetero feffamento, but that his father (Earl Roger) had
transferred (the overlordship of) 3½ fees to the Earl of
Leicester (fn. 8) —from whom it descended to the Earls of
Winchester, so that the overlordship was shared by the
two earls. Ivo's great-grandson Sir Richard de Harecurt in 1242 held of the Earl of Warwick a half and a
fifth of a fee in Wolvey and Copston. (fn. 9) The monks of
Combe held 1 fee of the Earl of Warwick in 1235; (fn. 10)
they also in 1271 held 2 of William de Harecurt in
frank almoin, excepting scutage, and he held of the
Earl of Winchester, (fn. 11) who had held a quarter of a fee
in Wolvey, tenant not stated, in 1235. (fn. 12) On the death
of the last Quency Earl of Winchester (1264) his
estates were divided amongst his daughters, two of
whom, with their descendants, held interests in Wolvey.
By the marriage of Margaret to William de Ferrers,
Earl of Derby, the overlordship of the two Harecurt
(later Combe Abbey) fees was brought to the Ferrers
of Groby, the first of whom was the younger son of the
earl. This overlordship is recorded down to 1458. (fn. 13)
Ela de Quency became the wife of Alan la Zouche, and
her grandson Alan at his death in 1313 held a total of
2 fees in Wolvey, 1 held of him by the heirs of William
de Bois, a quarter by the (lately suppressed) Knights
Templars, and three-quarters by the Abbot of Combe
and the heirs of Thomas de Leycestre. (fn. 14) These
descended to his daughter Maud and her husband
Robert de Holland (fn. 15) and through their great-grand
daughter Maud, wife of John, Lord Lovel, to her
grandson William. (fn. 16)
Ivo de Harecurt granted his land in Wolvey to
Robert Basset on his marriage with Ivo's sister Beatrice. (fn. 17)
Out of this Robert granted 100 acres of his demesne to
the abbey of Combe. (fn. 18) This was confirmed in 1201 by
his son Reynold, when it was defined as lying on Caldewellhill and including the land between Sandforde
and Grimeswrosne stretching to the Watling Street,
also a messuage near the Holy Well (santam fontem);
he also added pasture on the Heath for 500 sheep. (fn. 19)
Possession of the messuage was lost by the abbot
because it was not warranted; it was therefore replaced
in 1206 by another between the road from Wolvey to
Hinckley and the land of Sherford. (fn. 20) Four years later
Reynold received 6 virgates of land in Wolvey from
Walter Spigurnel and Celestr(ine) his wife for 15
marks. (fn. 21) He was dead by 1227 and his estates divided
between his nephews Robert de Leycestre and Ivo de
Dene; (fn. 22) in this year his widow Maud exchanged her
dower in the two halves of the manor with Robert and
Ivo for Reynold's lands in Scakethorpe (Yorks.) and
rents in Wolvey. (fn. 23) Robert de Leycestre in 1256 was
exempted from taking up the arms of a knight, being
old and feeble; (fn. 24) Thomas de Leycestre, or his heirs,
were recorded as holding, with the Abbot of Combe,
three-quarters of a fee in 1314 and 1328. (fn. 25) Ivo de
Dene was a great benefactor to Combe; in 1230 he
granted 56 acres and a mill in return for a life tenancy
of 1 virgate formerly held by Robert son of John and
Robert of the Cross, (fn. 26) and subject to the right of him
and his heirs to take half the eels and fish caught in the
stake-nets (hayas) allowed to be put across the mill-pond
by the monks. This mill was situated beside his court
(curia). (fn. 27) Ivo also gave the abbey 2s. rent from Ralph
son of Nicholas; (fn. 28) and to Reynold son of Jordan of
Eton, on his marriage with his daughter Alice, land in
Wolvey which was in 1304–5 in possession of Reynold's grandson William de Attelberue. (fn. 29)
The connexion of the Earls of Winchester with
Wolvey may have influenced the marriage of Arabella,
daughter of Saer de Quency, to Sir Richard de Harecurt, who died in 1258. (fn. 30) His son William (died 1270)
granted all the lands of his fee in Wolvey to Combe
Abbey. (fn. 31) This fee is referred to in inquisitions of 1293
and 1344. (fn. 32) William's son Richard confirmed his
father's grant, reserving relief of 2 knight's fees therefrom, (fn. 33) and remitted to the abbey the claim to relief
payable from the manor on the death of any heirs of
Ivo de Dene, saving scutage on the 2 fees. (fn. 34) Roger de
Quency, Earl of Winchester, also released his claims in
Wolvey to the abbey before his death in 1264. (fn. 35) From
Robert de Leycestre the abbey received 14 acres on
Haliwellhull and 3 on Ravenhull extending to Dedespol,
and from Stephen de Sedgrave 2 virgates. (fn. 36) By the end
of the 13th century the monastic estate was the most
important in Wolvey; in 1285 the abbot successfully
claimed view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale,
gallows, and exemption from shire and hundred contributions, murdrum, danegeld, and all other scutages
and tolls. (fn. 37) Free warren was granted in 1290, (fn. 38) and a
Wednesday market and three-day fair in connexion
with St. Mark's Day in 1326. (fn. 39) The abbot was returned as sole lord of Wolvey cum membris in 1316. (fn. 40)
His estates there, valued in 1291 at £11 14s. with the
stock, rents, and perquisites of court, and including a
mill, dovehouse, and garden, (fn. 41) were still being increased
by small grants during the 14th century. (fn. 42) In 1429–30
the abbot seems to have mortgaged the manor to
Humphrey, Earl of Stafford and Buckingham, (fn. 43) from
whom it was received back in 1441, when the abbot
and convent were pardoned for re-acquiring and entering the manor and lands of Wolvey without licence. (fn. 44)
Just before the Dissolution the Combe estates in Wolvey
were leased to Thomas Spenser and Christopher his
son; (fn. 45) they were worth £13 13s. 4d. in 1535 (fn. 46) and
were among those granted for life to Mary, Duchess of
Richmond and Somerset, four years later. (fn. 47) She survived till 1557, but in 1551 the reversion of the manor
was granted to Edward, Lord Clynton, his heirs, and
assigns. (fn. 48) Clynton must have passed it soon to Thomas
Marow, who suffered a recovery of Wolvey manor in
1555, (fn. 49) and in whose family it continued for upwards
of 80 years. (fn. 50) In 1556 he divided it into four quarters
among his sons Thomas, John, Edward, and Kenelm,
the last named dying in possession of his quarter in
1564, (fn. 51) when his heir was Samuel Marow, apparently
the eldest brother. (fn. 52) Thomas Marow the younger died
the same year, (fn. 53) and between 1564 and 1571 Samuel
obtained the lordship of all the quarters except that of
John. (fn. 54) In 1631–2 the reunited manor was conveyed
to Thomas, 1st Baron Coventry of Aylesborough, (fn. 55)
reserving a life tenancy to Ursula (Fiennes), Lady
Marow, who was still in possession in 1640. (fn. 56) The
second Lord Coventry executed a deed of settlement of
the manor in 1653, (fn. 57) and it continued in this family, (fn. 58)
Anne, Countess of Coventry, widow of the 4th Earl
(6th Baron), being lady of the manor between 1727
and 1776. (fn. 59) Up to the end of the 18th century this
was still the main Wolvey manor, the advowson and
moiety of the rectory being appurtenant to it. It was
sold by the Earl of Coventry about 1794 to John Foster
of Leicester Grange, whose son sold it about 1815 to
Samuel Jones Loyd, (fn. 60) who was created Baron Overstone in 1850 and died in 1883, when it passed to his
nephew Lewis Vivian Loyd, and on his death in 1908
to his son Richard Lewis Loyd. (fn. 61)
Coventry. Sable a fesse ermine between three crescents or.
Loyd. Per bend sinister ermine and argent a double-headed eagle sable within a border sable bezanty.
The present manor of Wolvey is that sometimes
referred to as WOLVEY ASTLEY, which consisted
of 37 messuages, 3 carucates, 10½ virgates in Wolvey
and Withybrook in 1304 when it was settled by
Thomas de Wulfheye on his daughter and coheir
Alice de Estleye, subject to a life tenure for himself. (fn. 62)
Thomas was still alive in 1311, when he relinquished
the coronership of Warwickshire on account of old age
and infirmity. (fn. 63) Alice widow of Giles de Astley was
lady of Wolvey in 1341. (fn. 64) Thomas de Astley, Alice's
son, had licence in 1346 to impark his woods, and free
warren, in Wolvey and elsewhere, (fn. 65) and held 1 fee of
Sir William Ferrers of Groby in
1371. (fn. 66) Sir William de Astley
(died 1387–8), Thomas's son,
gave his manor of Wolvey to his
brother Giles and his wife Catherine at an annual rent of a grain
of wheat. (fn. 67) Giles in 1394–5 admitted William de Scregeham to
a hermitage on Wolvey Heath,
to pray for his ancestors and the
founders and benefactors of
Combe Abbey. Later he was
in dispute with the Abbot of Combe about the
presentation to this hermitage, the right of pasture on
the heath, and the 100 acres granted to the abbey by
Robert Basset in the 12th century. This was settled in
1413 by an award of Reynold, Lord Grey de Ruthin,
and Richard (Crosby), Prior of Coventry, whereby the
100 acres were confirmed to Combe, and the pasture
and presentation to the hermitage held in common. (fn. 68)
Giles died in 1427; (fn. 69) his great-grandson William presented John Iddezeard to the hermitage in 1501 (fn. 70) and
held the manor at his death, in 1542, of the Marquess
of Dorset (Lord Ferrers of Groby) as of his manor of
Astley. (fn. 71) His son George was then 28; the manor continued to descend in the family till about 1730. (fn. 72) From
1747 to 1761 William White was lord, (fn. 73) in right
of his wife Elizabeth (Simmonds) granddaughter of
the last Astley; (fn. 74) his son William, lord in 1774, was a
lunatic, the rights being exercised by his sister Elizabeth, (fn. 75) who brought the manor by marriage to George
Arnold of Ashby St. Ledgers (Northants.). (fn. 76) She died
in 1788, (fn. 77) and he was lord up to 1805, (fn. 78) when he was
succeeded by George Henry, (fn. 79) his son by his second
wife. Georgeana, daughter of George Henry Arnold,
married (1840) James Coape of Goldhanger (Essex), (fn. 80)
and their grandson Mr. Cranfield C. H. Coape-Arnold
was lord in 1936. (fn. 81)
Astley. Azure three cinquefoils ermine.
Alice, widow of Reynold de Atlebergh (fn. 82) (and
daughter of Ivo de Dene), granted 2 virgates and 2
tofts in 1257 to Robert de Saunford, Master of the
Order of Templars. (fn. 83) This estate, assessed at a quarter
of a fee, continued to be held by the Templars or their
successors the Hospitallers (fn. 84) till the Reformation. (fn. 85)
On the suppression of the Templars it brought in 7s.
rent from freeholders and 40s. from a water-mill and
a windmill. (fn. 86) In 1553 it was granted, as a separate
manor, to Edward Aglionby and Henry Higford. (fn. 87)
This manor changed hands very rapidly, being alienated by Aglionby to Edward Marrowe in or before
1557 and by Marrowe to William Newman and Agnes
his wife in that year. (fn. 88) The Newmans passed it to
Edmund Scarning in 1561. (fn. 89) He was dealing with
this manor, known as TEMPLE WOLVEY, in 1570, (fn. 90)
and at his death (1604) it was extended at 2 messuages,
4 cottages, a windmill, 12 gardens and orchards, and
640 acres of land and heath, with the privilege of free
warren. (fn. 91) Ezechias his son had licence of entry in
1606 (fn. 92) and held it in 1642 when Gilbert Fitch, to
whom he had let the estate, caused damage by cutting
down trees. (fn. 93) In 1646, three weeks before his death,
Ezechias, who was then eighty, sold the manor to John
Smallbrook, whose right was disputed by Elizabeth
and Susan, cousins of Ezechias, and their respective
husbands Thomas Phillips and Thomas Wakelyn. (fn. 94)
Later it was divided into three parts among the Smallbrook coheiresses, (fn. 95) of whom Mary Best was dealing
with her third in 1691; (fn. 96) she or her daughter Mary and
John Parker, son of Thomas Parker of Chilvers Coton,
the husband of another of the heiresses, were jointly in
possession in 1723. (fn. 97) Later in the century it was reunited in the Miller family, the Rev. Arthur Miller
being lord in 1775 and Arthur Gramer Miller between
1785 and 1815. (fn. 98) By 1850 the Temple was only 'an
ancient farmhouse' in possession of Thomas Worthington. (fn. 99)
The manor of WOLVEY GRANGE or LEICESTER
GRANGE was part of the Combe estates, and leased in
1459 by the convent to John Perkyns and others for
their lives at a yearly rent of 40s. (fn. 1) In 1561 William
Devereux was cited to show by what title he held the
manor of the Grange in the counties of Warwick and
Leicester, almost certainly this manor. (fn. 2) By 1587 it had
come into the possession of William Willoughby; (fn. 3) his
son Gilbert, (fn. 4) of Normanton on Soar (Notts.), settled it
on his wife Frances (Walkeden) and died in 1593, when
his son William was 3 years old. (fn. 5) This William was the
last of his line, dying in 1629, (fn. 6) when his estates were
sold to various purchasers, those in Wolvey coming to
Edward Cotton, who died seised of the grange, described as a farm, in 1635–6, and Susan his daughter,
wife of William Jones, who died two years later. (fn. 7) Her
heir was George Bennett, her son by a former husband,
but the next recorded owner was Sir William Perkyns,
who was convicted of high treason in 1696, the manor
being regranted by the Crown in fee simple to his
widow, who the following year conveyed it to her
eldest son, Blackwell Perkyns. (fn. 8) The latter died in
1721; (fn. 9) the next owner being Dr. George Aldrige, who
in 1735 mortgaged it to William, Lord Craven, the
grandson of the latter purchasing the fee simple in 1774,
which he sold the following year to the Earl of Denbigh. (fn. 10) In 1780 the manor was bought by John Foster,
who was recorded as lord in 1790, as was his son
Robert in 1802, (fn. 11) the latter being alive in 1808.
Edward White, Mary Ann (Foster) his wife, and
Dorothy Foster her sister were vouchees in a recovery
of 1821, (fn. 12) after which this manor is not separately
mentioned.
The Astleys during the 14th century granted much
property in Wolvey to their own and other religious
foundations. A messuage, land, pasture, and rent here
were in 1337 licensed to be granted by Thomas de
Asteley to his chantry, later college, of Astley. (fn. 13) In
1535 the land and tenements composing the estate
were worth 30s. (fn. 14) These were surrendered to the
Crown in 1545, (fn. 15) and granted in tail the following year
to Henry, Marquess of Dorset, and Lady Frances his
wife. (fn. 16) After his attainder they were resumed by the
Crown and regranted in 1598–9 to Edward Stanhope. (fn. 17)
In 1343 Alice de Asteley, Thomas's mother, was
licensed to grant 2 messuages and 2 virgates for the
maintenance of a chantry in the chapel of St. Mary in
Wolvey church. (fn. 18) After the Reformation this was kept
in Crown hands till 1616, when it was granted to John
Gray and Samuel Jones of London. (fn. 19)
Thomas de Asteley also granted a messuage and 36
acres to Arbury Priory in 1341, to maintain a chaplain
to say mass for the souls of himself and relations in the
priory church. (fn. 20) Arbury property in Wolvey also included the 'old' mill by Giselbrugge, a messuage called
Reuecroft, and 60 acres of land granted c. 1200 by
Reynold Basset; (fn. 21) in 1535 the total value was 40s. (fn. 22)
The priory of Monks Kirby had common of pasture
in Wolvey and Copston of the gift of Reynold Basset, (fn. 23)
and was allowed view of frankpledge of its tenants, with
infangthef and weyf in Wolvey in 1305. (fn. 24) These
privileges were accorded to Axholme Priory (Lincs.) in
1469. (fn. 25)
LITTLE COPSTON was granted by Ivo de Harecurt to Robert Basset in the second half of the 12th
century, and the latter 'very suddainly after' gave a
carucate here to Combe Abbey. (fn. 26) Other land in this
hamlet, held by Thomas de Astleye, was, after his
death at the battle of Evesham, granted to Warin de
Bassingburn. (fn. 27) Under the Dictum of Kenilworth
Thomas's estates were redeemed by his son Andrew
for 320 marks, which he obtained from the monks of
Combe in return for the grant of his Copston property. (fn. 28)
Copston is mentioned separately in the grant of free
warren to Combe Abbey (1290), (fn. 29) and remained a
monastic estate till the Dissolution. An eighth part of
Copston Field was demised in 1518 by the abbot and
convent to Christopher Sadeler of Wolvershill for 40
years, doing suit at the abbot's court of Wolvey twice a
year; (fn. 30) and the whole was worth as much as £21 6s. 8d.
to the abbey in 1535. (fn. 31) It subsequently followed the
descent of the Combe Abbey manor, and is now more
generally known as Smockington, the name of a hamlet
of Burbage (Leics.) situated on both sides of the
Watling Street. (fn. 32)
Church
The parish church of ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST stands on the east side of the
main road between Coventry and Hinckley, in a small churchyard. It consists of chancel, nave,
north and south aisles, west tower, and south porch. Apart
from the south door, nothing remains of the 12th-century
church. It was rebuilt early in the 13th century and
again in the 14th century, the tower being either rebuilt
or added in the 15th century. It has been considerably
restored at various times; the north wall of the nave
was rebuilt in 1630, slightly north of its original line,
re-using a considerable amount of the old material; the
east gable was rebuilt in 1624; in the 19th century the
clearstory was rebuilt and the nave reroofed. In 1909
a timber-framed south porch was replaced by a stone
one, and about the same time the south wall of the
chancel was rebuilt with a new doorway and window,
and a corresponding window put into the north wall.
The chancel has a moulded plinth and diagonal
buttresses at the angles. The gable of the east wall has
a tablet inscribed 'Ano. dni. 1624 Robart Kelley';
below, the wall was refaced with ashlar in the 19th
century. It is lighted by a pointed traceried window of
three trefoil lights, the mullions and tracery modern.
The rubble of the north wall has been patched, the
wall-head rebuilt, and a central buttress added. Between the buttresses to the east there is a roll-moulded
string, and to the west a modern pointed traceried
window of two trefoil lights. The south wall was rebuilt in ashlar in recent times with a new four-centred
doorway and a window like that on the north which
was inserted at the same time. The east wall of the
south aisle has a beak moulding at sill level, a plinth of
one splay, and a 14th-century traceried window of
three cinquefoil lights; the plain parapet is modern.
The south wall is divided into four bays by buttresses;
that at the south-east angle is diagonal and terminates
in a crocketed finial. Each bay, except the west which is
occupied by a porch, has a window like that in the east
wall, and the beak moulding is continued. The parapet,
which has been much restored, is panelled with plain
and quatrefoil panels alternately; it rests on a coved
string-course and finishes with a moulded coping.
Plan of Wolvey Church
The porch is built of sandstone ashlar, with a tiled
roof, and has on each side a single trefoil light. The
entrance has a pointed arch on attached shafts with
moulded capitals and bases. Some of the roof timbers
from the old porch have been re-used, a curved truss
with a carved boss, moulded purlins and ridge dating
from the early 17th century. The 12th-century roundheaded doorway is of two orders, the outer decorated
with zigzag and the inner with conventional foliage.
Both orders rest on detached shafts with carved capitals,
decorated with grotesque birds, and moulded bases.
The shafts to the outer order are plain, to the inner
decorated, one with cable moulding, the other with
cheverons. There are traces of an outer band of ornament which has been hacked off. In the 14th century,
a doorway with a roll-moulded segmental-pointed arch
was built into the original opening.
The east wall of the north aisle, built of rubble, has
a plain modern parapet. It has a window corresponding
to the south aisle. The 17th-century rebuilt north wall
is divided into three bays by buttresses and is finished
with a modern plain parapet on a moulded stringcourse. Each of the bays to the east has a similar
window to the one in the east wall, and in the west bay
there is a doorway with a pointed moulded head and
jambs, mostly original 14th-century work re-used. The
east buttress is in five stages, the centre stage gabled,
largely 14th-century work re-used; it is dated 1630.
The west window corresponds with the east. The nave
walls, built of a mixture of rubble and squared stones
have a plain modern parapet.
The tower rises in three stages, each stage diminished
by a weathered offset. It has diagonal buttresses rising
in five weathered stages, and a moulded plinth, and is
crowned by a battlemented parapet with gargoyles and
panelled piers at each corner, from which the pinnacles
are missing. The ground floor is lighted on the west
by a traceried window of three trefoil lights under a
hollow-splayed segmental-pointed head, and above
there is an inserted niche with a four-centred cinquefoil head. In the second stage there is a square window
to the ringing-chamber and a clock dial. The traceried
belfry windows on each face are in deep hollow splays
with four-centred heads over two cinquefoil lights. Let
into the ashlar face on the west is a small shield, and
in each of the other faces a small carved mask. On the
south side there are loop-lights at each stage to the
tower staircase, now blocked up to utilize the staircase
as a boiler chimney.
The chancel (26 ft. 6 in. by 20 ft. 3 in.) has unplastered walls, a modern tiled floor and two steps to a
modern altar. At the east end of the south wall there
is an ogee-headed piscina fitted with a modern shelf in
place of a basin. The reredos, of carved stone and
marble, and the open roof of three bays are modern.
The nave (54 ft. by 22 ft. 6 in.) is paved with stone
and has unplastered rubble walling up to a little above
the apex of the arcade arches, above which it is rebuilt
in squared and coursed masonry, and on the south side
four clearstory windows of two trefoil lights inserted.
Both arcades consist of four bays of pointed arches of
two splayed orders on octagonal pillars with moulded
capitals and bases, and half-octagonal responds. At the
east end of the north arcade the respond had been cut
away for a sunk round-headed panel; the cut-away
portion has recently been restored, the respond now
passing through the centre of the panel. At the east
end of the south arcade there is a blocked doorway
which opened on to the rood-loft. The pointed chancel
arch, with moulded capitals and bases to the responds,
is modern and has a carved boss at the apex. The tower
arch is four-centred, of two splayed orders, resting on
half-octagon responds with moulded capitals and
splayed bases. On the north side of the present arch
there are traces of a round-headed arch and the end of
an earlier wall which now acts as a buttress. The
arcade was built outside it, making the tower out of
centre with the nave and chancel. Above the arch is a
narrow opening which has a wide splayed recess on the
tower side. The roof is a modern one of four bays,
the trusses resting on stone corbels. The pulpit is
modern oak, octagonal with carved traceried panels
and at each angle carved figures under crocketed
canopies. The font, in the south-west corner, is in the
form of an octagonal pillar with a moulded capital and
trefoiled panels; only the 14th-century capital with a
deep lead-lined basin is original. On the west wall
there are two painted lists of benefactions.
The south aisle (54 ft. 3 in. by 11 ft. 6 in.) is paved
with stone and has a modern roof on the timbers of one
of the 18th century; carved on one of the beams are the
initials eb. tf. ta. 1778. The walling is of rubble and,
up to a roll-moulding at sill level, dates from the early
13th century. In the east wall at its junction with the
arcade there is a round-headed doorway to a circular
roof-loft staircase, and the wall below the adjoining
window has been cut away to continue the splayed
recess to the ground. At the eastern end of the south
wall there is a badly mutilated piscina which appears to
have had attached shafts. Adjoining it are triple sedilia
with roll-moulded round arches of two orders, the
inner trefoiled, on attached shafts with moulded capitals
and bases, all early-13th-century and somewhat mutilated; in the 14th century the eastern one was filled in
with masonry flush with the wall. All the windows
have pointed roll-moulded rear-arches, and the recess
of the west window is extended to the floor in the same
way as the east. Just inside the door, which has a
segmental rear-arch, there is an oak panelled alms-box,
dated 1723, and against the west wall a painted and
grained iron-bound chest with three original locks,
probably early 18th century.
The north aisle (54 ft. 3 in. by 11 ft. 3 in.) is paved
with stone and has a modern roof on earlier timbers,
similar to the south aisle; one of the beams has the
initials ht. t.f. c.w. 1726. In rebuilding the north wall
it was moved inwards and now overlaps the splayed
reveals of the east and west windows. At the east end
there is a table tomb (fn. 33) to Thomas Astley, knight, died
1603, and Catherine his wife. It has life-sized effigies;
the man, wearing a beard, is dressed in armour, his head
resting on a helmet; his hands and feet are broken, his
sword is missing, and his features are somewhat defaced.
The woman, wearing a large bonnet and a very large
ruff, has her head resting on a cushion; her hands and
feet are damaged. The panels on the visible side are
defaced and the visible end panel has an inscription on
a marble panel with a small shield on either side, one is
blank, the other has the coat of Astley. There is also an
altar tomb at the west end to Thomas de Wolvey, who
died c. 1305, and Alice (Clinton) his wife. (fn. 34) The
visible side is divided into three panels, two with shields
and the centre with a defaced inscription and at the
end two shields. It has life-sized effigies; the man in
chain armour with a shield and sword on his left, his
head resting on a cushion and his feet on a lion; the
feet are broken. The woman, a much finer piece of
work, wears a kerchief and wimple; the drapery of her
mantle and cote-hardi is gracefully arranged; in her
hands she holds a small heart. She has two cushions
under her head and a lion at her feet. All but two of
the shields are either blank or mutilated, the two in
good condition are (1) ermine on a chief two molets
(Clinton), and (2) two lions passant (Erdington). On
the north wall there is a large white and grey marble
memorial of the Doric order surmounted by an urn,
to Elizabeth, wife of Geo. Arnold, died 1778; a
white marble cartouche on the arcade wall to John
Astley, died 1708; and a small black and white
marble memorial with a broken pediment on marble
columns to Giles Astley, died 1666. There are also a
number of mural tablets of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The tower (10 ft. 6 in. square), which is stonepaved, has been closed by a modern oak screen to provide a vestry. The door to the tower staircase, now
blocked to provide a boiler flue, has a chamfered fourcentred head. The walls are unplastered ashlar.
Of the bells the earliest is by John de Yorke (c. 1400)
and is said to have been brought from Nuneaton Priory.
The others are by Hugh Watts, 1625, and Toby
Norris of Stamford, 1680. (fn. 35)
The registers of burials begin in 1650, of baptisms
and marriages in 1653.
Advowson
There was a priest at Wolvey in
1086, (fn. 36) and a moiety of the church
was granted to Combe Abbey by
Reynold Basset. (fn. 37) Between 1198 and 1207 Bishop
Geoffrey de Muschamp decreed that the other half of
the church and patronage, including the chapel at
Copston, should belong to the Cathedral of Lichfield,
constituting a prebend; this, and a confirmation of the
original moiety to Combe, was confirmed by Archbishop Hubert Walter and Pope Innocent III. (fn. 38) In
1291 each half of the church was worth £6 13s. 4d.; (fn. 39)
in 1535 the prebendal moiety of the rectory was rated
at 43s. 4d., (fn. 40) the value of the vicarage then being
£6 6s. 4d., with 6s. 6d. for proxies and synodals. (fn. 41) The
presentation during the Middle Ages apparently alternated between the prebendary and the convent, (fn. 42)
which practice was continued, with the lords of the
Combe manor, who held also the rectory, replacing the
convent, till 1732, from which date till 1807 all
presentations, except one by the Earl of Coventry in
1784, were made by the bishop. (fn. 43) The presentation
of 1816 was made by one Samuel Butler, and in 1850 (fn. 44)
and 1859 the advowson was shared between the Bishop
and Mr. J. Smith, the latter being represented by
J. W. Smith, LL.D. in 1900 and 1915. (fn. 45) The living,
with Burton Hastings and Stretton Baskerville annexed
since 1927, is now in the gift of the Bishop of Coventry. (fn. 46)
Charities
The Rev. James William Arnold,
D.D., by the second codicil to his will,
proved on 11 August 1865, directed
that the rest of his plate and plated articles not specifically bequeathed should be sold and the proceeds invested, the income during the first ten years to be
applied in putting into good repair certain monuments
and gravestones in the church of St. Anne, Westminster, and in the parish church of Wolvey, and afterwards towards the decorative repairs of Wolvey church
or the chancel thereof. By a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners dated 17 February 1920 the vicar and
churchwardens of Wolvey and the owner for the time
being of the Wolvey Hall Estate, if such owner be (a)
a member of the family of the Founder of the Charity,
(b) of full age, and (c) willing to act in the trusts of the
charity, were appointed to be trustees of the charity.
The annual income of the charity amounts to £19 12s.
Mark Bailey by will dated 24 January 1888 gave
to the vicar and churchwardens of Wolvey £10, the
interest to be given away in bread to the most needy
poor of the parish. The annual income of the charity
amounts to 5s. 4d.
William Willoughby by will dated 3 October 1587
bequeathed his lands in Nottingham, Lenton, and Radford on condition to deliver yearly on Whit Sunday to
four aged, weak, and needy persons four frieze gowns,
ready made, about the price of 10s. apiece, and to six
honest men, of occupations, or tradesmen, £6, and to a
godly learned preacher to instruct the people on the
said feastday 6s. 8d., the several sums to be paid to the
people dwelling within the towns and parishes of
Great Marlow in the County of Buckingham, Nuneaton in the County of Warwick, Normanton-on-Soar
in the County of Nottingham, the town of Nottingham,
and Wolvey in the County of Warwick, successively.
The body of trustees of the non-ecclesiastical share of the
charity applicable for this parish consists of the vicar,
one person nominated by the vicar, and one person
appointed by the parish council.
Joseph Barratt in 1801 gave £50, the interest to be
distributed yearly in bread upon 2 February to the poor
of the parish.
Richard Spooner Jacques by will dated 23 July 1803
gave £100, the interest to be applied for the following
uses; 10s. 6d. to be given to the resident minister for a
sermon preached on Christmas day, and the remainder
to be distributed in sixpenny loaves to poor persons
who should attend the preaching of such sermon.
William Winterton, by will dated 25 May 1815
directed his executors to purchase in the name of the
vicar, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of the
parish of Wolvey, so much stock as would produce a
yearly sum of 50s., which sum he directed should be
given in bread to poor widowers and widows belonging
to the parish, at the church there, on 13 February.
The total annual income of these charities amounts
to £5 5s.
Elizabeth Crofts by will dated 25 August 1898 bequeathed £50, the interest to be applied in keeping the
tomb and grave of her husband in the Baptist Chapel
Yard at Wolvey and also her own grave in proper
repair and the surplus (if any) towards the relief of the
oldest and poorest widows living in Wolvey. Trustees
of the charity are appointed by Order of the Charity
Commissioners. The annual income of the charity
amounts to £1 13s. 8d.