WESTBURY
Westberie (xi cent.); Westbir' (xii cent.).
Westbury is a parish with a large detached portion,
amounting to 1,148 acres, separated from it by Shalstone and Biddlesden. The part round the church
covers 1,381 acres, of which 654 are arable, 588
permanent grass, and 20 woods and plantations, (fn. 1)
Westbury Wild in the north of the parish being the
only wood of any size. The soil and subsoil are
mixed, clay, loam and gravel, and a good building
stone is found here. The slope of the land is from
north to south and varies from 425 ft. to 313 ft. above
ordnance datum. In the neighbourhood of the Ouse,
which forms the southern boundary, the land is liable
to flood.
The small village, which is situated in the southwest of the parish, contains several 17th-century stone
cottages with thatched roofs. The modern manorhouse is occupied by Sir Samuel Scott, bart. Southwest of the manor-house is the parish church of
St. Augustine standing on low ground and nearly
hidden by surrounding trees. Near the church is the
vicarage, a 17th-century stone house of two stories
with modern brick additions. It was probably built
in 1661, the date on a stone reset in the modern
work, and retains on the north two original woodmullioned windows. Westbury has a village green
on which stands a remarkably fine elm. (fn. 2)
Fulwell and Westbury station, on the Banbury
branch of the London and North-Western railway,
is in this parish.
Westbury was inclosed by Act of Parliament in
1764, (fn. 3) and the detached part was in 1884 transferred
to Biddlesden for civil purposes. (fn. 4)
Among place-names occur Waterslede, Corhale
and Midelcherweie in the early 13th century, (fn. 5) and
meadow called Winstonslake in the 16th century. (fn. 6)
Manor
Alnod Cilt, a thegn, held WESTBURY MANOR in the Confessor's
reign, (fn. 7) being dispossessed at the Conquest
when Westbury was granted to the Bishop of Bayeux. (fn. 8)
Roger, the tenant in 1086, was probably Roger de
Ivri, (fn. 9) for after the confiscation of the Bishop of
Bayeux's fief, and the erection of the holdings of his
chief tenants into baronies, (fn. 10) Westbury was attached
to the honour of St. Walery, into which Roger de
Ivri's lands were absorbed. (fn. 11)
Thomas de St. Walery is mentioned as connected
with Westbury in 1196, (fn. 12) and Gunnora de St. Walery
in 1198. (fn. 13) The St. Walery Honour was later held
by the Earls of Cornwall, and between 1240 and
1335 Westbury Manor is said to be held of the earls
as of this honour. (fn. 14) After the latter date the St.
Walery Honour, as far as this manor is concerned,
appears to have become merged in the larger honour
of Wallingford. (fn. 15) A view for the honour of Wallingford was held at Westbury, Court Rolls being preserved
at the Record Office dating from the 15th century.
In 1422 a 'certain rent' of 13s. 4d. was paid by the
tithing men of Westbury to the honour.
Westbury was subinfeudated to a family which took
its name from the parish. Walter de Westbury held
here before 1198 (fn. 16) and was succeeded by his son,
William de Westbury, (fn. 17) some time before 1203. In
the latter year William conveyed to Ralph Hareng all
his land in Westbury, including that held in dower
by Eleanor de Westbury, his mother. (fn. 18) Seven years
later a carucate of land and other appurtenances which
William de Fraxino (le Freyne) and Philippa his wife
held of William de Westbury were settled by the latter
on Ralph Hareng. (fn. 19) In 1218 he received licence to
impark his wood of Westbury towards the abbey of
Biddlesden. (fn. 20) His death took place before 1230, in
which year Ralph Hareng, his son, paid 50 marks for
renewing his father's charter to impark. (fn. 21) Ralph
Hareng, jun., was returned as holding the vill a few
years later, (fn. 22) while his mother Isabella (fn. 23) held Westbury in dower in 1254–5. (fn. 24) Within the next twenty
years a partition of Westbury took place between this
family and Simon de St. Lys; the method of acquisition, whether by descent or alienation, has not been
discovered. The history of Radclive, however, which
runs parallel to that of Westbury, rather points to the
former method, for in Radclive (q.v.) Simon de St. Lys
is found holding simultaneously with Isabella Hareng.
In 1278–9 Joan de Somery, whose connexion with
the Hareng family has not been established, was returned as lady of Westbury. Her property included
2 hides, half a virgate of land, 10 acres of wood and
4 acres of park, of which she held one hide in demesne. (fn. 25)
Before 1284 she had been succeeded by Edmund de
Salenewe, Aula Nova or Newhall, as the name alternatively appears. (fn. 26) Edmund was still holding in 1302,
when he acquired licence to demise his manor for
eight years. (fn. 27) Beatrice his widow was assessed for Westbury in 1316, (fn. 28) and two years later obtained licence
to demise the manor for a period of twelve years. (fn. 29)
In 1330 John de Newhall, possibly her son, transferred 'two parts of the manor' of Westbury to Ewald
Lestrange or Strange, (fn. 30) who died seised in 1335. (fn. 31)
His heir was his kinsman,
Roger Strange of Knockin, (fn. 32)
but his widow Alice, subsequently married to Hugh le
Freyne, held Westbury in
dower. (fn. 33) In 1373 Roger
Strange of Knockin, son of
the above Roger, (fn. 34) granted
Westbury Manor to John, son
of John Strange of Walton, co.
Warwick (perhaps representing a branch of the family),
and Mabel his wife and their
issue. (fn. 35) In 1396 the said
John Strange again alienated the manor to another
member of the family, Alan Strange, with whose
name in the alienation appears that of Margaret his
wife, daughter of John Wyard. (fn. 36) A remainder settlement here gives the names of Michael, Thomas,
John and Baldwin Strange, brothers of Alan Strange,
and Philippa and Ida his sisters. (fn. 37) Alan Strange died
in 1417, but no mention is made of the manor in
the inquisition then taken, though he was said to
hold by knight service of the honour of Wallingford
2s. annual rent from a messuage and carucate of land
held by John Hardwick in Westbury. (fn. 38) His heir
was stated to be his daughter Eleanor, then aged
twelve and more, (fn. 39) but Westbury appears to have
continued in the male line of the Strange family, for
in 1485 Thomas Strange died seised of this estate. (fn. 40)
His heirs were his daughters Anne and Margaret,
aged nine and six respectively. (fn. 41) Westbury was
assigned to Anne, who carried it in marriage to John
Strange of Little Massingham, Norfolk. (fn. 42) After his
death in 1514 (fn. 43) she married Sir Edward Knyvett,
and, left again a widow in 1528, (fn. 44) joined in 1540
with Barbara, wife of Robert Mordaunt, and her
daughter and heir by her first husband, in making
a settlement of the manor (fn. 45) on Robert and Barbara
Mordaunt and their heirs. In pursuance of this
settlement Westbury passed to their son, Robert Mordaunt, who died in possession in 1602. (fn. 46) Lestrange
Mordaunt, son of his brother Henry, was his heir, (fn. 47)
and he in 1621 alienated the manor to Laurence
Washington, (fn. 48) who had succeeded his father Laurence
Washington in 1619. (fn. 49) He held until 1639, when
he conveyed it to Sir Thomas Littleton, bart., (fn. 50)
whose estate in Westbury was assessed at £300 in
1647 as that of a delinquent. (fn. 51)
His son and heir, Sir Henry
Littleton, with his widow
Catherine, (fn. 52) transferred it in
1650 to Roger Price, sen.,
and Roger Price, jun. (fn. 53) Roger
Price, sen., died in Spain in
1677, (fn. 54) and Roger Price, jun.,
Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in
1680, (fn. 55) obtained an Act in
1689 empowering him to
make a settlement of Westbury Manor on his wife Elizabeth, and a like settlement on
his brothers George, Thomas,
Ingham and Joseph, in respect of their wives. (fn. 56) Roger
Price died in 1694 (fn. 57) and was survived by his widow
Elizabeth for some years, for in 1709, together with
her son Thomas, she made a settlement of Westbury
Manor. (fn. 58) Thomas Price died in 1733, (fn. 59) and the
following year Campbell Price, his son, (fn. 60) suffered a
recovery of the manor. (fn. 61) It was probably his daughter
and heir who brought Westbury by marriage into
the Withers family, (fn. 62) of whom Benjamin Price
Withers presented to the church in 1753, (fn. 63) and by
his will dated 1771 settled Westbury Manor on his
descendants for ever. (fn. 64) One of the same name held
the manor in 1789 (fn. 65) and also exercised patronage in
Westbury in 1814. (fn. 66) The Price Withers family died
out at the beginning of the
19th century. The family
of Gurden of Brackley, which
succeeded, took the name of
Withers, owing to the last
Withers being godfather to
the heir of the Gurdens. (fn. 67)
Westbury was retained by
them until 1854, when it
passed by purchase to the
Hon. Percy Barrington, (fn. 68) who
succeeded his brother as Viscount Barrington in 1886.
After his death in 1901 it
was purchased by Sir Samuel Scott, bart., the present
owner.
Strange. Gules two lions passant argent.
Price of Westbury. Argent three Cornish choughs.
Scott, baronet. Party indented argent and pean a saltire countercoloured.
In 1302–3 Simon de Grenehulle was said to hold
'the manor of Westbury' for one fee, (fn. 69) and in 1346
William de Cauntelow held two parts of this fee of
the honour of Wallingford, Rose widow of Simon
de St. Lys holding the third part. (fn. 70) No further
mention of this fee has been found.
The family of St. Lys, as above stated, had an
important holding of the St. Walery Honour in
Westbury during the 13th century. (fn. 71) First mention
is found of them in Westbury c. 1260, when Simon
de St. Lys of Radclive made a grant of lands in
Westbury which was witnessed by Jordan de St. Lys
of Westbury. (fn. 72) In 1274 Simon de St. Lys recovered
seisin of 7 acres of wood here. (fn. 73) Five years later the
same Simon was said to own in this parish 2 virgates
in demesne, 10 acres of wood, and 4 of park. He
had also one virgate in villeinage and four cottagers. (fn. 74)
The name of Simon de St. Lys appears under Westbury in the feudal assessment of 1284–6. (fn. 75) He died
in 1288, leaving a widow Isabel and a son, Andrew,
then a minor, (fn. 76) who in 1301 (fn. 77) and 1316 (fn. 78) held of
the Earl of Cornwall here by knight service. He
was contemporaneous with Agnes widow of Roger de
St. Lys, who claimed dower in Westbury in 1327, (fn. 79)
and was succeeded by Ralph de St. Lys, (fn. 80) who conveyed his fee to Ewald Strange, lord of the manor, (fn. 81)
whose history it henceforth shares.
Part of the Hareng property in Westbury appears
to have come to the Chastillon family, who certainly
succeeded to the Hareng lands in Thornton (q.v.) with
which their estate in Westbury descended. Mentioned
in their possession in 1279, (fn. 82) it was described as the
park of Westbury in the following year, (fn. 83) and was
specified in 1440 as 60 acres of wood and the park. (fn. 84)
These distinctions probably corresponded to the Royes
and Makeloms Parks of twenty years later (fn. 85) which may
perpetuate the names of Rose (Royse) Chastillon and
her son Malcolm (Malculmus, Masculinus), the 13th
and 14th-century owners. They were still attached
to the Thornton estate (q.v.) in the early 17th century
as lands and woods in Westbury. (fn. 86)
One mill is mentioned in Westbury at Domesday. (fn. 87)
It was known in the 13th century as Hunt Mill. (fn. 88)
It remained attached to the honour of Wallingford (fn. 89)
though separated from the manor, and in the 15th
century is found in the ownership of the lords of
Shalstone Manor. Philip Purefoy died seised in
1468, (fn. 90) and further mention of it in this family
occurs during the two following centuries. (fn. 91) Hunts
Mill still stands at the south-eastern corner of the
parish.
Mention is found of a second water-mill in Westbury in the 17th century. In 1608 Thomas Slye
died seised of various hereditaments in Westbury, (fn. 92)
which, on the death of his son William in 1615,
were described as a water-mill and lands held of Sir
Lestrange Mordaunt bart. as of his manor of Westbury
by a rent of 13½d., 2 lb. of wax, and a pair of
spurs. (fn. 93) This mill is probably to be identified with
one standing on the Ouse at the west end of the
village at the present day. (fn. 94)
In addition to Elstow no fewer than seven
religious houses held land in this parish in the 13th
century and earlier. The
master of St. Thomas Acon
held land here as in Buckingham (q.v.). (fn. 95) Its extent was
said to be in 1278 10 acres
of assart not hidated. (fn. 96) At
the Dissolution two closes of
wood called Heremytes Grove
or Heremytes Fields in Westbury, containing 28 acres,
occupied by John Lambert,
lately belonging to St. Thomas
Acon, were granted for life to
John Josselyn. (fn. 97) In 1543
Richard Andrews of Hayles,
Gloucestershire, obtained the reversion in fee of this
grant, (fn. 98) which was confirmed to him, two years
later. (fn. 99) Biddlesden Abbey acquired lands in this
parish early in the 13th century from a family of
Lega, of whom Thomas and John sons of Richard
de Lega and Susanna their mother made various
grants, confirmed by their overlords Ralph Hareng
and his son Ralph. (fn. 100) After the Dissolution these
lands appear to have been acquired by the Temple
family, who were also lords of Stowe (q.v.). Described in 1603 as 'lands' held of the manor of
East Greenwich, (fn. 101) and in 1638 as lands and view of
frankpledge extending into Westbury, late of Biddlesden, (fn. 102) this property is in the 18th and 19th centuries
erroneously called a manor. (fn. 103) The hospital of St.
John of Brackley in 1278–9 owned a virgate of land
in Westbury for which the master rendered a yearly
rent of one pound of cummin. (fn. 104) This holding was
augmented in 1301, when John le Poer obtained
licence to alienate to the hospital a messuage and 35
acres of land and the moiety of an acre of meadow. (fn. 105)
Roger and Walter Hardel likewise made a grant in
1336. (fn. 106)
St. Thomas Acon. Sable a cross formy party argent and gules.
The Prioress of Catesby, Northants, owned land
in Westbury of which mention is first found in
1278–9, when it was assessed at one carucate of assart
and 3 acres of wood. (fn. 107) In 1309 this property was
referred to as a manor in an action for waste brought
by the prioress against the lessees. (fn. 108) In 1363 she
received pardon for acquiring in mortmain from
Richard Chastillon of Leckhampstead 18s. rent here. (fn. 109)
At the Dissolution the priory owned rents in Westbury valued at £4 14s., (fn. 110) and these were leased in
1537 to John Giffard. (fn. 111) In 1278–9 Hogshaw Preceptory owned a virgate of land and a water-mill, for
which Jordan Bastard paid a yearly rent of 30s. (fn. 112)
Luffield Abbey had an early grant of lands in Westbury (fn. 113) which were valued in 1291 at 3s. (fn. 114) They are
mentioned in 1512, when they were leased to William
Tyler for thirty-four years. (fn. 115) It seems likely that
this estate is represented by the view attached to the
manor of Luffield and extending into Westbury in
1701. (fn. 116) In 1267 an early charter of Robert Doyley
to St. George's Chapel, Oxford, was exemplified in
favour of the Abbot and canons of Oseney. (fn. 117) It
contains mention of land in Westbury which was
held by Oseney till the Dissolution, when, described
as a messuage and 16 acres of land, it was said to be
worth 7s. (fn. 118) It was granted in 1541 to John Wellesbourne, who also obtained the advowson. (fn. 119)
Church
The church of ST. AUGUSTINE
consists of a chancel measuring internally
30 ft. by 17 ft., south vestry and organ
chamber, nave 40 ft. by 20 ft. 6 in., north aisle 6 ft.
wide, south aisle 7 ft. wide, north porch, and west
tower 8 ft. 6 in. square. It is built of rubble with
stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with slate
and tiles.
The church dates from the 12th century, and consisted then of the present nave and probably a small
chancel. In the 13th century the chancel was rebuilt
and widened towards the north, and the small tower,
which projects some 4 ft. into the west end of the
nave, was added. The south aisle was built at the
end of the 13th century and the north aisle some
twenty-five years later, though the latter was considerably repaired at a subsequent period. The fabric
was restored in 1863, and the vestry and porch are
modern.
The chancel is lighted by a modern traceried
window in the east wall, an original lancet at the
east end of each side wall and a 14th-century low-side
window at the north-west, the last being of one
trefoiled light with a transom, below which the light
is blocked. All these windows have modern rear
arches. At the west end of the south wall are a
modern arch and doorway to the vestry and organchamber, and at the east end is a piscina with a
cinquefoiled ogee head and modern bowl. The wide
chancel arch, dating from the 13th century, is of two
chamfered orders, the outer continuous down the
jambs and the inner supported by semi-octagonal
responds with moulded capitals. Above the capitals
the arch has been rebuilt.
The nave is of three bays, and has a modern clearstory with circular cusped windows. Both arcades
are of three pointed arches supported by octagonal
pillars and responds with moulded capitals and bases.
The south arcade dates from the end of the 13th
century, and the capitals of its responds are embellished
with nail-head ornament. The north arcade is of
about 1320, though the mouldings of its capitals and
bases seem to have been somewhat altered at a subsequent period. The pointed tower arch in the west
wall of the nave is of a single order with an indented
label, and dates from the early 13th century; the
responds, which are formed of octagonal shafts with
moulded capitals and bases, do not appear to be in
their original position. There is a square-headed
recess to the south of the chancel arch which probably
formed the reredos of a nave altar, but its lower part
is now built up. At the north-east of the nave is a
small ogee-headed piscina of about 1400, without
bowl. Both aisles have been extensively restored, and,
with the exception of some old jamb stones re-used in
the north aisle, the windows and doorways are modern.
Several fragments of mediaeval wrought stones have
been incorporated in the walling of the south aisle,
among them a 15th-century carved head.
The tower, which has been considerably restored,
is of three stages, and has a modern saddle-back roof.
The windows of the ground stage and bell-chamber
are modern, and the ringing chamber is lighted by
small loops on the north and south.
The font and pulpit are modern. There are some
fragments of old painted glass reset in the south
window of the vestry, and on the floor of the chancel
are several mediaeval encaustic tiles.
The tower contains a ring of three bells: the
second is by Henry Bagley, 1711; the treble, which
was also by Henry Bagley, 1711, but had become
broken in two parts, was recast in 1898; the tenor,
inscribed with seven letters in Gothic capitals, arranged
independently, is of about 1600, and probably from
the Bedford foundry.
The communion plate consists of a cup and cover
paten of 1592 and a plated flagon and two patens of
the 18th century. (fn. 120)
The registers begin in 1558.
Advowson
The church of Westbury, though
not mentioned in the charter of confirmation of Henry II, (fn. 121) appears to
have been early granted to Elstow Abbey, which
some time previous to 1225 had instituted a perpetual
vicarage there. (fn. 122) In 1278 the endowment of the
church included 2 virgates of land and a 'cottage,'
for which the abbess paid 20s. yearly. (fn. 123) In 1291 the
abbess was assessed there for rents and heriots worth
£1 9s. 6d. (fn. 124) At the Dissolution the rectory was worth
100s. (fn. 125) and the vicarage £10. (fn. 126) The rectory and advowson were granted in 1541 to John Wellesbourne, (fn. 127) who died in 1548. (fn. 128) His son and heir
John Wellesbourne with Anne his wife made a
settlement in 1594 on John Sill, (fn. 129) who had married
their daughter Elizabeth Wellesbourne. (fn. 130) John Sill
predeceased John Wellesbourne, who died in 1611,
when Elizabeth, then the wife of Edward Mole, inherited the advowson and rectory of Westbury. (fn. 131)
Her son Wellesbourne Sill united with herself and
husband to make a settlement in 1632. (fn. 132) He died
in the spring of 1634 leaving his widow Philippa and
his son Wellesbourne, then aged sixteen, to survive
him. (fn. 133) In 1660 Wellesbourne Sill alienated both
rectory and advowson to Roger Price, (fn. 134) then lord of
Westbury Manor. He and his family built the
vicarage house c. 1661 and also augmented the vicarage with the great tithes. (fn. 135) The advowson has since
been retained by the lords of the manor, (fn. 136) and is at
present the property of Sir Samuel Scott, bart.
In 1328 Andrew de St. Lys obtained licence to
alienate land in Westbury in mortmain to a chaplain
to celebrate in St. Mary's chapel, Radclive. (fn. 137)
Nathaniel Markwick, the divine, was vicar of
Westbury 1692–4. (fn. 138)
Charities
The Poor's Allotment, acquired in
1764, on the inclosure of the parish,
contains 21 a. 1 r. 37 p., producing
£12 a year, which is applied in the distribution of
small sums of money.
The church allotment, also allotted under the
same Act in lieu of lands in the common fields
belonging to the church, consists of 5 a. 1 r. 27 p.,
let at about £6 a year, which is carried to the
churchwardens' general account.