BLETCHLEY with FENNY STRATFORD and WATER EATON
Bicchelai (xii cent.); Blechelegh (xiii cent.);
Blecheley (xiv–xvi cent.).
Bletchley, which includes the hamlet of Water
Eaton and until 1881–91 also included part of the
market town of Fenny Stratford, (fn. 1) is a large and lowlying parish, watered on the east by the River Ouzel
and the Grand Junction Canal, which run almost
parallel through Fenny Stratford and Water Eaton.
To the west of the canal the land rises slightly, but
its greatest height is 372 ft. above the ordnance datum,
reached at Windmill Hill, a little west of Bletchley
village. The upper surface is strong clay and the
subsoil Oxford Clay.
The London and North Western railway passes
almost due south through the parish, and there are
important railway works at Bletchley station, the
junction of the Bedford and Cambridge and the
Banbury and Oxford branch lines with the main
line. On the former branch is a station at Fenny
Stratford.
Watling Street, which passes south-east through
Fenny Stratford, is the chief thoroughfare.
Bletchley has an area of 1,308 acres, of which 970
are permanent grass and 185 arable land. (fn. 2) In 1862 it
was described as 'scattered and mean-looking—consisting chiefly of poor thatched cottages,' built in two
sections, The Green and The Town. (fn. 3) The older
houses, still for the most part thatched, are halftimbered with brick filling, and date from the 17th
century. Bletchley village is about half a mile west
of the station. The church stands a little to the
north-west of the village, and is approached by a
fine avenue of ancient yews; near it is one of the
entrances to Bletchley Park, the seat of Sir Herbert
Leon, bart. The park extends as far as the railway.
The Rectory Cottages, to the south of the church,
incorporate the remains of a small half-timber house
of the 15th century. The hall, which is now used
as a barn, retains two hammer-beam trusses, one of
which is in a comparatively perfect state and has
carved heads at the terminations of the hammerbeams. The hall appears to have been originally of
three bays, but the easternmost bay has been rebuilt,
and now forms part of one of the cottages which
occupy the adjoining chamber wing. This portion
of the house appears to have been much altered and
largely rebuilt in the 17th century, but some moulded
beams of original date still remain in the ceiling of
the room on the ground floor next the hall. The
modern 'town' of Bletchley has grown up round
the railway works, and is now practically united to
Fenny Stratford. A Wesleyan chapel was built at
Bletchley in 1895.
South-east of Bletchley is the hamlet of Water
Eaton (fn. 4) (Etone, xi cent.; Eton, Etone, xii–xvi cent.),
which has an area of 1,016 acres and a population of
201. Charters were dated from Water Eaton in
1228. (fn. 5) In 1725 there was a great flood here. (fn. 6) On
the river bank is a corn-mill. There is a Wesleyan
Methodist chapel here.
About one and a quarter miles south of Water
Eaton, on the bank of the canal, is Waterhall Farm,
probably marking the site of the mansion of Waterhall,
formerly belonging to the Lords Grey de Wilton. (fn. 7)
In 1711 Browne Willis, the eccentric Buckinghamshire antiquary, built a house on rising ground by
Bletchley Church, which, as William Cole says, 'he
very absurdly . . . called . . . Water Hall.' (fn. 8) He
never lived there, and in 1780 it was put up for
auction. (fn. 9) Lipscomb says it was at some time purchased by Earl Spencer's steward, who pulled it
entirely down. (fn. 10) About 1862 there were remaining
two portions of what might have been the out offices
and a great portion of a moat still full of water. It
was approached 'by avenues of elm and lime trees
from each side.' (fn. 11)
Browne Willis (1682–1760), eldest son of Thomas
Willis, (fn. 12) was owner of the Bletchley estate from 1699
to 1760. He was M.P. for
the borough of Buckingham
from 1705 to 1708, (fn. 13) and
was elected F.S.A. in 1718.
'Through his charitable gifts,
his portions to his married
children, and the expenditure of £5,000 on the building of Waterhall, he ruined
his fine estate, and was
obliged towards the end of
his days to dress meanly and
to live in squalor, becoming
very dirty and penurious, so
that he was often taken for a
beggar.' He died at Whaddon and was buried beneath
the altar in Fenny Stratford
Church; he left a benefaction for a sermon there
every year on St. Martin's
Day. (fn. 14)
The town of Fenny Stratford lies to the north of
Water Eaton, on Watling
Street; its area is 1,040 acres.
The church stands at the
junction of Watling Street and Aylesbury Street,
and near it are Baptist, Wesleyan and two Primitive
Methodist chapels, built in 1800, 1809, 1866 and
1898 respectively. A cemetery with two mortuary
chapels was opened in 1859. There are a few 17thcentury houses and cottages of half-timber with brickfilling.
Among the rectors presented by Browne Willis to
the living of Bletchley were Edward Wells (1716),
an 18th-century mathematician and geographer, (fn. 15) and
William Cole (1753), the Cambridge antiquary and
friend of Horace Walpole. (fn. 16)
Lands in Bletchley were inclosed in 1517. (fn. 17) Inclosures were made in Fenny Stratford and Bow Brickhill under an Act of 1793. (fn. 18) The common lands in
Bletchley parish were inclosed under an Act of 1810, (fn. 19)
the award being made in 1813. (fn. 20)
The following place-names occur: 'Le Cok super
le Hope,' 'Le Key sur le Hope' (fn. 21) (xv cent.), Cotmanfield (fn. 22) (xvi cent.), Coketowne End, Madgestewehedge, (fn. 23) Rickly Close (fn. 24) (xvii cent.).
Borough
The market town and ancient
borough of FENNY STRATFORD
(Fenni Stretford or Venni Stretford,
xiii cent.) owed its importance to its position on
Watling Street, between Stony Stratford and Dunstable. Though the site of the Roman station Magiovintum has now been definitely proved to be at the
Auld Fields, Dropshort, Little Brickhill, a short
distance to the south of the modern Fenny Stratford
and on Watling Street, (fn. 25) yet there is no doubt that
Fenny Stratford was afterwards an important place
of call on the chief highway between London and the
north-west of England. The activity of the townspeople appears to have centred on the bridge over the
Ouzel, possibly on the same site as the present threearched bridge of brick with stone coping, and in 1347
a royal writ was issued to the sheriff of the county to
cause as many bridges to be made from Leighton
Buzzard to Fenny Stratford as used to be there, and to
compel all those to come who were bound to construct
or repair those bridges. (fn. 26) The Fenny Stratford Bridge
may have been included among those in need of
repair, for in 1383 a grant of pontage was made to
Richard Candeler and Geoffrey Hall of Fenny Stratford. (fn. 27) This was repeated in 1398 (fn. 28) and again in
1401, when the grant was made to the 'good men
of the town.' (fn. 29) The town had attained the rank of
a borough before 1370, when the burgesses paid 40s.
rent to the lord of the manor for half the vill of Fenny
Stratford. (fn. 30) There is also a mention of burgage tenements in 1429 (fn. 31) and in 1624. (fn. 32) The organization
of the burgesses for judicial and administrative purposes appears to have been of the slightest, and their
corporate action was exercised solely, so far as is
known, in connexion with the gild founded in 1493
(see below). The Patent granting them licence to
found the gild constituted it a corporate body with a
common seal. (fn. 33) There is no record of any attempt
on its part to usurp authority in regulating town
affairs, and the chief control appears to have vested
in the lord of the manor. It was to Roger de Caux,
the lord, and not to the townspeople, that a weekly
market on Mondays was granted in 1204. (fn. 34) The
locality specified was the manor of Water Eaton, but it
may be safely presumed that the market was held from
the first at Fenny Stratford, the position of which
on a great thoroughfare with a constant stream of
travellers made it a more suitable venue. Moreover,
the weekly Monday market at Fenny Stratford is
included among the appurtenances of Water Eaton
Manor in 1324, (fn. 35) when the tolls and stallage fees
for a little over one-third of the year amounted to
7s. 6d. (fn. 36) An annual fair was also granted to the
lord of the manor of Fenny Stratford in 1252, to be
held on the vigil and feast of the Nativity of the
Virgin (8 September) and six following days. (fn. 37)
Rectory Cottages, Bletchley.
James I, by charter in 1608, granted to John and
Francis Duncombe and the inhabitants of Fenny
Stratford a free market on Monday and two fairs on
7, 8 and 9 April and on 12, 13 and 14 October,
with tolls and court of pie-powder. (fn. 38) Towards the
end of the 17th century, 'by the confusion of the
Civil Wars and other accidents that followed,' (fn. 39) the
market fell into disuse. It was revived by Browne
Willis in 1702, (fn. 40) and was still held in 1792, but by
1888 it had altogether ceased. (fn. 41) In 1792 four annual
fairs on 19 April, 18 July, 10 October and 28 November were held. By 1888 an additional fair was held
on the second and fourth Thursdays in every month,
probably identical with the present cattle market held
every alternate Thursday. Fairs are still held on
19 April and 11 October. The Market House, the
'sorry little erection' mentioned in 1819, (fn. 42) was built
by Browne Willis in 1716, but destroyed about
1840. (fn. 43)
In 1436 John Peyntour of Fenny Stratford,
'peyntour' and king's approver, and others were
indicted of having in 1419 'sweated and clipped
genuine English money, to wit, nobles of choice gold,
called "Edwardes" . . . and other nobles, . . .
pence called "penyes of topens" and of having
coined counterfeit money.' (fn. 44) At the same date
mention is made of Brabanters, who had settled at
Fenny Stratford and taken the oath of fealty. (fn. 45)
Fenny Stratford is not mentioned by Leland or
Stukeley, but that it maintained its early importance
is shown by the frequent references to its inns. The
Swan Inn was standing in 1474, (fn. 46) and is mentioned
in 1624 (fn. 47) ; the George Inn, mentioned in 1459, (fn. 48)
was taken down in 1681, (fn. 49) because it hindered the
custom of the 'Red Lion.' (fn. 50) The Bull Inn was built
before 1609. (fn. 51) The Civil War struck the first note
of decay. (fn. 52) Troops were quartered in the town by
Sir William Waller in 1644, (fn. 53) and during the war
the chapel was destroyed. In 1665 a further disaster
befel the town in the shape of a terrible visitation of
the plague. (fn. 54) The Bletchley registers show a list of
126 burials in that year, mostly of deaths from the
plague. (fn. 55) The road was temporarily diverted and
the inns closed. (fn. 56) For many years the market was
discontinued. Evidence of the distress occasioned
is afforded by a contemporary deed, which, referring
to a row of church houses standing in the middle of
the town for the poor to dwell in, mentions a messuage
much ruined by the poor who inhabited it in the
late war and pestilence. (fn. 57) The town has never
recovered its former status. It is described by Camden
in the 18th century as remarkable only for its inns
and market. (fn. 58) A diary of 1768 refers to it as 'a very
small disunited village, not sufficiently considerable to
deserve observation.' (fn. 59) In 1819 it is described as a
small decayed market town, built in the shape of
a cross. (fn. 60)
Fenny Stratford was still only a chapelry, partly in
the parish of Bletchley and partly in Simpson, in
1831, (fn. 61) but with the opening of large railway works
at Bletchley it has once more acquired a measure of
prosperity. It was formed into a separate civil parish
between 1881 and 1891, and by Local Government
Board Order in 1895 was with Simpson constituted
an urban district. The Order was extended in 1898
to include Bletchley. (fn. 62) The people are chiefly employed on the railway; brushes are made, and market
gardening is an important industry. Formerly strawplait and lace were the chief manufactures, but these
trades have died out. (fn. 63)
Manors
Bletchley contains two manors, neither
of which is mentioned in the Domesday
Survey. At that date the first manor
was included in the more important one of Water
Eaton. It first occurs as a separate manor in 1499, (fn. 64)
and has always descended with Water Eaton.
The second manor, known as OVER (fn. 65) or WEST (fn. 66)
or OLD (fn. 67) BLETCHLEY, or 'le Westmanirade' (fn. 68)
(xiv cent.), was perhaps included in the adjacent
manor of Great Brickhill in the Domesday Survey,
for, like Brickhill, it was afterwards attached as half a
fee to the honour of Giffard or Gloucester, (fn. 69) which
descended in the Earls of Gloucester and Stafford, to
whom an annual rent of 2s. was paid from this
manor. (fn. 70) By the early 17th century the tenure was
unknown. (fn. 71)
Early in the 13th century this manor was held by
John Grey, (fn. 72) who was accused of withdrawing at
Bletchley a hide of land which before was geldable
and did suit at the county and hundred courts. (fn. 73)
He was also lord of Water Eaton, with which
place Bletchley formed one vill, the estate being
known as the vill of Eaton cum Bletchley in 1284–6 (fn. 74)
and as Bletchley cum membris
in 1316. (fn. 75) It descended with
Water Eaton until the death
of John Grey in 1323, when,
in accordance with a settlement of 1311, it passed to his
younger son Roger, (fn. 76) Henry,
the elder son, renouncing all
claim in 1328. (fn. 77) Roger was
summoned to Parliament as
Baron Grey (de Ruthyn)
from 1324. (fn. 78) He died in
1353, (fn. 79) having settled Bletchley on his son Reynold and
Eleanor his wife. (fn. 80) Reynold
died in 1388, (fn. 81) and Eleanor
held the manor till her death in 1396. (fn. 82) Their son
Reynold (fn. 83) was a privy councillor to Henry IV, with
whom he was in great favour. He died in 1440,
and, his son John having predeceased him, he was
succeeded by his grandson Edmund. (fn. 84) He was created
Earl of Kent by Edward IV in 1465, (fn. 85) having
deserted Henry VI at the battle of Northampton,
1460. He died in 1489, succeeded by his eldest
surviving son George, (fn. 86) who had been knighted at the
coronation of Richard III. (fn. 87) On the death of George
in 1503 Bletchley descended to his son Richard, who
died without issue in 1524, 'when he had greatly
wasted his estate.' (fn. 88) His half-brother and heir
Sir Henry Grey (fn. 89) never assumed the title, nor did
his grandson Reynold till 1572, ten years after his
succession. (fn. 90) He died in 1573, succeeded by his
brother Henry, who in 1601 dealt with the manor
of Bletchley, (fn. 91) probably in settlement on his nephew
Henry on his marriage with Lady Elizabeth Talbot. (fn. 92)
Henry Earl of Kent died without issue in January
1614–15, (fn. 93) and his brother and heir Charles in 1623. (fn. 94)
Charles's son Henry sold Bletchley in 1630 (fn. 95) to Katherine dowager Duchess of Buckingham, (fn. 96) whose son
George sold it to Thomas Willis in 1674. (fn. 97) Since
that date Bletchley has descended with Water Eaton.
Grey de Ruthyn. Barry argent and azure with three roundels gules in the chief.
The manor of FENNY STRATFORD is first
mentioned in 1252, when it was held by John Grey, (fn. 98)
with whose manor of Water Eaton it has always
descended.
The manor of WATER EATON was held before
the Conquest by Edith; she could sell it to whom she
wished. At the Conquest it was given to Geoffrey
Bishop of Coutances, who held in 1086. It was then
assessed at 10 hides. (fn. 99) The bishop rebelled against
William II in 1088, (fn. 100) and his estate of Water Eaton is
said to have been given to Walter Giffard Earl of
Buckingham about 1092. (fn. 101) The chief authority for this
grant is the confirmation by Walter Giffard, his son, (fn. 102)
to the priory of Newton Longville of the tithes of
the demesne of Bletchley. (fn. 103) The younger Walter
died without issue in 1164, and this manor is said to
have passed to his aunt Rose, (fn. 104) wife of Richard Fitz
Gilbert, grandfather of the first Earl of Pembroke. (fn. 105)
The head of the Giffards' Norman honour was
Longueville in the Pays de Caux, (fn. 106) and it was possibly
as the Fitz Gilberts' tenant that Roger de Caux held
Water Eaton in 1204. (fn. 107) It may, however, have been
granted to Gerard de Caux by Henry I along with
land in Ludgershall, (fn. 108) as it was held by the same
tenure, by a serjeanty of falconry mentioned for the
first time in 1210–12. (fn. 109) In 1284–6 the kind and
number of falcons were stated to be unknown (fn. 110) ; in
1308 the service was given as that of keeping the
king's gerfalcons at the king's expense, (fn. 111) and in 1324
of keeping one gerfalcon only. (fn. 112) In 1343 Water
Eaton was stated to be held by service of keeping one
falcon until the time of flight. Upon taking this falcon to the king the tenant received the king's riding
horse with trappings, and the table with trestles,
linen and all vessels from which the king was served
that day, and a tun of wine immediately after the
king had tasted it. (fn. 113) This service is again mentioned
in 1370 (fn. 114) and in 1511. (fn. 115) The last reference occurs
in 1563. (fn. 116)
The Caux family had an interest here in 1212, (fn. 117)
and Roger de Caux presented to the church in 1219. (fn. 118)
Before 1235 John Grey was returned as holder of
Water Eaton, (fn. 119) and there is no further mention of
the Caux family in this place. John Grey was Sheriff
of Buckinghamshire in 1238 (fn. 120) ; he is said to have
married Helen the daughter of Richard Fitz
Gilbert and his wife Rose. (fn. 121) In 1243 he had a grant
of free warren in his demesne lands of Water Eaton
and Bletchley, with licence to hunt the fox, wolf,
hare and cat in all the royal forests, except in the
king's demesne warrens. (fn. 122) His manor of Water
Eaton was broken into by malefactors in 1265 and
his cattle were carried away. (fn. 123) He died in 1266,
and was succeeded by his eldest son Reynold, (fn. 124) who
in 1284–6 was lord of the vill of Water Eaton. (fn. 125)
From 1295 he was summoned to Parliament as Lord
de Grey. (fn. 126) He died in 1308 (fn. 127) and his son John
in 1323. (fn. 128) John's son Henry in 1337 settled the
manor of Water Eaton on his eldest son Reynold, (fn. 129)
who succeeded him on his death about 1342. (fn. 130)
Reynold died in 1370. (fn. 131) His son Henry was summoned to Parliament from 1377 as Lord Grey de
Wilton (fn. 132) and died in 1396. (fn. 133) Richard, son and
successor of Henry, mortgaged the manor of Eaton
in 1441 to William Burley and others. (fn. 134) He died
in 1442. (fn. 135) His widow Margaret appears to have
married Sir Thomas Grey, with whom in 1448 she
renounced her life interest in this manor to her first
husband's son, Reynold Grey. (fn. 136) In 1454 he settled
this manor in fee-tail on himself and his wife Tacina (fn. 137)
and died in 1493, being buried at Bletchley. (fn. 138) His
son John died in 1499, (fn. 139) and in 1501 Elizabeth
widow of John, then the wife of Sir Edward Stanley,
sued his son Edmund Grey for her dower in Water
Eaton. (fn. 140) Edmund settled the manor of Water Eaton
on his wife Florence for life, (fn. 141) and died in 1511, his
will directing his burial to be at Bletchley. (fn. 142) As his
first three sons George, Thomas and Richard successively died as minors without
issue, his fourth son William
succeeded to the title in
1520 (fn. 143) and soon afterwards
sued John Abrahull for the
retention of deeds relating to
Water Eaton, (fn. 144) which he inherited on the death of Florence in 1536. (fn. 145) He was one
of the peers who attempted
to place Lady Jane Grey on
the throne, and, though pardoned, was attainted and his
honours forfeited. They were
restored to him in 1559. (fn. 146)
He died in 1562, (fn. 147) having in 1560 quitclaimed
this manor for £1,000 to the Marquess of Winchester, (fn. 148) to whom it was granted by the queen in
1563 (fn. 149) and quitclaimed by Arthur son and heir
of William Lord Grey in 1564, (fn. 150) both grant and
quitclaim to be void if Arthur paid £3,000. (fn. 151) As
he effected this in 1572, Elizabeth regranted the
manor to him in that year, (fn. 152) and from this date until
1674 Eaton followed the descent of Giffard's Manor
in Whaddon. (fn. 153) In the spring of 1674–5 it was sold
by the Duke of Buckingham (fn. 154) to Thomas Willis,
M.D., (fn. 155) who died the following November. (fn. 156) His
son Thomas was in possession in 1681 (fn. 157) ; he died
in 1699, (fn. 158) and was succeeded by his son Browne
Willis the antiquary. (fn. 159) A settlement of Water Eaton
was made in August 1735 on the marriage of Thomas,
eldest son of Browne Willis, with Anne daughter of
John Hulme. (fn. 160) She had a son Thomas, and died
sometime before February 1747–8, when Thomas
Willis the elder married Frances Robinson, by whom
he had a son John. (fn. 161) Thomas Willis the elder died
in June 1756, (fn. 162) and his elder son Thomas proved
the will of his grandfather, Browne Willis, who died
in 1760. (fn. 163) Thomas Willis took the name and arms
of Fleming on inheriting North Stoneham, Hampshire, on the death of a distant cousin, William
Fleming. (fn. 164) He is still called Thomas Willis, however, in his will proved after his death in July 1762, (fn. 165)
but his half-brother John, who inherited under the
terms of the will, procured an Act of Parliament in
1767 enabling him to adopt the name of Fleming. (fn. 166)
By this John Fleming heretofore Willis the Bletchley
and Water Eaton estate was sold to the Rev. Philip
Barton of Great Brickhill, (fn. 167) with which manor it has
since descended to Sir Everard Philip Digby Pauncefort
Duncombe, bart., the present owner.
Grey de wilton. Barry argent and azure with a laberl gules.
Two parks were included in the extent of the
manor of Water Eaton in 1308: 'there is a park
in which are deer . . . and another park of great
wood (de grosso bosco), containing 20 acres, in which
is no underwood.' (fn. 168) Further references to these parks
occur during the 14th century. (fn. 169)
A park at Bletchley is first mentioned in 1563. (fn. 170)
It is said to have been inclosed after Lord Grey
removed from Water hall to Whaddon. 'It had a
keeper's lodge in the middle, and was moated about
. . . and came down to the great road at Watling Street
way.' It was disparked before 1735. (fn. 171)
A mill was on the bishop's demesne in Water Eaton
in 1086. (fn. 172) Browne Willis in his MSS. quotes an
undated deed by which Sir John Grey enfeoffed
Herman de Eaton and his heirs of the water-mill of
Eaton with the whole suit to the mill of the tenants
of the honour of Giffard. (fn. 173) There was a water-mill on
the manor in 1308, (fn. 174) while two water-mills are
mentioned in 1324 (fn. 175) and again in 1370. (fn. 176) Eaton
Mill is mentioned in 1596. (fn. 177) There was a water gristmill here in 1705 (fn. 178) and two water-mills in 1735. (fn. 179)
There is a corn-mill at Water Eaton now.
At the British Museum there are Court Rolls for
the manor of Eaton for the reigns of Edward III and
Richard II. (fn. 180)
In 1308 the lords of the manor had two views
of frankpledge on Hock Day and at Michaelmas, (fn. 181) pleas
and perquisites being assessed at 30s. in 1324 (fn. 182) ; a
dovecote and a fishery worth 13d. a year are mentioned
at the same time and on other occasions in the 14th
century. (fn. 183) A free fishery in the Ouzel was among the
manorial rights in 1681 (fn. 184) and 1735. (fn. 185)
Churches
The church of ST. MARY consists
of a chancel measuring internally
30 ft. 3 in. by 18 ft. 2 in., north
chapel 30 ft. 9 in. by 13 ft. 6 in., nave 48 ft. 2 in. by
19 ft., north aisle 13 ft. 6 in. wide, south aisle
10 ft. 6 in. wide, west tower 14 ft. by 12 ft. 9 in.,
and a south porch 11 ft. 6 in. by 9 ft. 6 in.
The earliest part of the church which can be definitely dated is the late 13th-century chancel, but
evidence of an earlier building is afforded by the late
12th-century voussoirs reset over the south doorway
of the south aisle. The size of the stones suggests
that they formed part of a former chancel arch, and
it is possible that the existing nave walls incorporate
those of the structure to which it belonged. The
south aisle was built about 1300, when clearstory
windows were pierced in the wall over its arcade, and
about twenty years later the north chapel was added
to the chancel. A north aisle of three bays was
thrown out about 1330, and somewhere about this
period the original lean-to roof of the south aisle
appears to have been superseded by a high-pitched
gabled roof, now gone, a new east window being inserted of more lofty proportions than the earlier
arrangement would have allowed. Early in the 15th
century the west tower was added and the north aisle
and arcade were extended one bay westwards. Previous to these alterations it is probable that the west
wall of the nave lined with the west wall of the south
aisle, as the south-east angle of the tower curtails the
westernmost bay of the south arcade, hiding the
respond and cutting short the western limb of the
arch. Late in the 15th century the chancel and
chapel were reroofed and new windows were inserted in the chapel and north aisle, while early in the
16th century a new clearstory was added to the nave
and the walls of the south aisle were raised, a new roof
being constructed above the old clearstory windows.
Between the years 1704 and 1707 the church was
'repaired and beautified' largely at the cost of Browne
Willis, the roof of the chancel being ceiled and
painted with figures of the twelve Apostles in the
Verrio manner. In 1868 the church was restored.
The chancel windows are modern; a print of
1794 (fn. 186) shows three windows, apparently of the 15th
century, and a doorway of the Browne Willis period
in the south wall, but these features have been replaced by two windows and a doorway. At the
south-east are three late 13th-century sedilia in range
with a fourth recess, doubtless intended for a piscina.
The recesses have hollow-chamfered two-centred heads,
springing from shafts with moulded capitals and bases
attached to the partitions and jambs. At the east
end of the north wall, opening to the north chapel, is
an early 14th-century doorway with a continuously
moulded two-centred head and to the west of it is a
small blocked niche with a trefoiled ogee head continously rebated with the jambs, perhaps originally a
locker, but subsequently cut through to open into the
piscina recess in the chapel. The remaining portion
of the north side of the chancel is occupied by an
interesting early 14th-century arcade of two bays,
dividing the chancel from the chapel. The arches are
two-centred and of two broach-stopped chamfered
orders, with labels on both faces, and are supported
by a central octagonal column and semi-octagonal
responds. The capital of the column has ball-flower
ornament, while that of the east respond has a late
form of dog-tooth. The late 13th-century chancel
arch is two-centred and has an outer order continuously chamfered with the responds, the inner
order, which is also chamfered, being carried by
moulded corbels. There is a label on the east face,
but only a fragment of the label on the west face
remains, the rest having been cut away for the rood
beam. The timbers of the roof are probably of the
late 15th century, but they are now concealed, with
the exception of one tie-beam, by the early 18thcentury painted ceiling. Externally an original late
13th-century dwarf buttress with a weathered and
gabled head remains at the north end of the east
wall, but the diagonal buttress at the south-east angle
is probably of the 15th century. The original walling
is of neatly worked ironstone rubble where undisturbed,
and both here and elsewhere may be distinguished
from the limestone rubble of the later alterations.
The parapet, like those of the nave and aisles, is
embattled.
The east window of the north chapel has jambs of
the early 14th century, but the tracery is modern.
In the north wall are two late 15th-century windows,
each of three cinquefoiled lights under a square head.
The sill of the eastern window cuts into the head of
a 14th-century tomb recess, leaving only the jambs
with a portion of the eastern limb of the arched head
and the springing of the western limb. In it is placed
a late 13th-century tomb slab carved with a floreated
cross and a hunting horn. To the east of this recess
is a double locker. On the south side, between the
doorway from the chancel and the east respond of the
arcade, is the piscina recess, the back of which must
have been pierced by the opening in the back of the
niche in the chancel above described. It has a
trefoiled head and is contemporary with the original
building of the chapel. A two-centred arch of two
chamfered orders, with moulded corbels supported by
heads carrying the inner order, opens into the slightly
later north aisle. Externally part of the head of one
of the original windows is visible to the west of the
eastern window of the north wall. In the parapet
of the east wall has been reset a stone carved with
a chalice and wafer, probably part of a tomb slab.
The low-pitched roof is of the late 15th century.
Plan of Bletchley Church
The north arcade of the nave is of four bays with
two-centred arches of three chamfered orders supported by octagonal columns with moulded capitals.
The two eastern columns with the three eastern arches,
which are of the 14th century, are of limestone; the two
outer orders of the easternmost arch die upon the east
wall of the nave, the inner order being carried by a
moulded corbel supported by a carved head. The
westernmost column and arch are contemporary with
the early 15th-century west tower, and, with the
exception of the base of the column, are of clunch.
The semi-octagonal west respond has been moved
westwards from its original position in the 14thcentury arcade, and, like the other work of that period,
is of limestone; the capital is sculptured with fourleaved flowers at the angles and a ball-flower in the
centre of each face. The late 13th-century south
arcade is of four bays with two-centred arches of two
chamfered orders and octagonal columns with moulded
capitals and plain
splayed bases. The
arches have plain labels
on both faces, and the
chamfers of the inner
orders are stopped at
their springing. The
east respond has a
moulded corbel, but
the west respond is
hidden by the southeast angle of the tower
which partially blocks
the westernmost bay,
cutting short the
western limb of the
arch. Immediately
above the arcade, and
now looking into the
heightened south aisle,
are the three circular
quatrefoiled windows
of the late 13th-century clearstory. The
later clearstory above
this level has four
square-headed windows on either side, each of three
lights with four-centred heads. Above the east respond of the south arcade, about 9 ft. above the
present floor level, the upper doorway to the roodloft has recently been uncovered and the filling
removed, exposing the upper portion of the staircase.
The doorway measures about 5 ft. 6 in. by 2 ft.,
being the full width of the staircase, and the stonework, which is very rough, appears to have been
always plastered. No door seems to have been hung
in it, the east jamb, which is flush with the east wall
of the nave, having been plastered and painted continuously with the adjoining wall surface. The nave
roof, probably of the early 16th century, is lowpitched, and has moulded timbers and carved wall
brackets.
In the north wall of the north aisle are three late
15th-century windows like those in the north wall of
the chapel, and the west window is of the same date
and type. Between the two western windows in the
north wall is a good 14th-century doorway, with a
two-centred head moulded continuously with the
jambs and inclosed by a label with spirited head-stops.
The position of the aisle altar is shown by the cutting
back of the lower part of the north respond of the
arch to the chapel. The lean-to roof must be of the
early 15th century, and contemporary with the addition of the western bay to the aisle. It is supported
by five trusses with curved braces forming two-centred
arches; these spring from wall-posts with moulded
feet resting upon stone corbels, some of which have
been renewed. With the exception of that at the
south-west, the original corbels are carved with grotesque heads. Externally a change in the walling to
the west of the north doorway shows the commencement of the 15th-century extension.
The east window of the south aisle, an insertion of
c. 1340, is of three trefoiled lights with leaf tracery
in a two-centred head. The height of the window,
taken in conjunction with indications in the masonry
of the external face of the wall, suggests that previous to the raising of the roof in the 16th century
a high-pitched gabled roof was constructed over the
aisle when this window was inserted, as the head
would otherwise have risen considerably above the
original lean-to roof, the level of which is shown by
a weather-mould below the late 13th-century clearstory. The two windows in the south wall are
modern, but the west window is a late 15th-century
insertion of the same type as those of the north
aisle and chapel. The south doorway is contemporary
with the aisle and is of two continuously moulded
orders externally, the outer order being inclosed by
an arch of reset late 12th-century voussoirs moulded
with the beak-head and engrailed ornament. The
early 16th-century roof has cambered principal timbers
and moulded purlins and wall-plates.
The early 15th-century west tower is of three
stages with buttresses at the east ends of the north
and south walls, a diagonal buttress at the northwest, and a vice turret at the south-west. The
tower arch is of two moulded orders separated by a
casement, and springs from responds with well-moulded
capitals. Above the west doorway, which has been
almost entirely renewed, is a window of four trefoiled
lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head.
The ringing-chamber has a single light in the south
wall, and the bell-chamber is lighted on all four sides
by windows of two lights with traceried two-centred
heads, all entirely renewed. The south porch, though
much repaired and altered, is substantially of the
14th century. The outer entrance is of two moulded
orders, the jambs of the outer order being shafted,
and in each side wall is a two-light window, unglazed; that in the west wall is modern, while the
lower part of the east window, the lights of which
have uncusped segmental heads, has been blocked.
The font, which has a shallow cup-shaped bowl, is
probably of the early 17th century, and the pyramidal
wooden cover is of the same period. Against the
middle column of the south arcade is a poor-box on
a baluster stem, bearing the date 1637.
In the east bay of the north arcade of the chancel
is the monument of Richard Lord Grey de Wilton
(d. 1442), a fine altar tomb with an alabaster effigy of
a man in plate armour. (fn. 187) The head rests on a helm
and the feet on a lion, round the neck is a collar of
SS, and the sword and gauntlets hang from the left
side. The north and south sides of the tomb have
each three quatrefoiled panels containing shields, and
between them are narrower cinquefoiled panels. The
middle shield on the north side has the arms of Grey
of Ruthyn, while the arms in the panels on either
side are those of Grey of Wilton; the two eastern
shields on the south side bear the same arms, but the
western shield is blank. The present inscription
seems to have been added by Browne Willis, who
had the monument thoroughly restored. On the
north wall of the chancel is a marble-framed brass
commemorating Dr. Thomas Sparke, a former rector,
who died in 1616. The design, which is very delicately
engraved, represents a table tomb bearing on the front
a portrait of Dr. Sparke in an oval inscribed panel
flanked by figures, those on the dexter side representing three sons and two daughters, while those on the
sinister side appear to be intended for his congregation.
On the top of the tomb is a quaint medley of allegory.
Death as a skeleton is filling an urn from which Fame
has succeeded in snatching the books written by the
doctor, all with their titles inscribed upon them,
while above all is an angel with a trumpet; the
figures are surrounded by scrolls with inscriptions in
Latin verse. On the east wall of the north chapel is
a tablet to Rose, the daughter of Andrew Ickforby,
and wife of Dr. Sparke, who died in 1615. On the
same wall are the coloured alabaster effigies of a man
in armour of the late 16th century and those of
eight children. The monument, which has no inscription, is said to have been brought by Browne
Willis from Deptford Church. (fn. 188) At the north-east
corner of the chapel is a table tomb commemorating
Katherine, the daughter of Daniel Eliot of Port Eliot
in the county of Cornwall, and wife of Browne
Willis, who died in 1724. In the floor at the east
end of the chancel are slabs to Thomas Willis and
his wife Alice (Browne), the parents of Browne
Willis, both of whom died in 1699.
There is a ring of eight bells: the treble and
second cast by Abraham Rudhall in 1717 and 1713
respectively; the third, fourth, and fifth by the same,
but bearing the date 1712; the sixth by Robert Stainbank of London, 1867; the seventh by R. Taylor
& Sons, 'Oxfod,' 1827; and the tenor by Gillett & Johnson, 1893.
The plate consists of a silver-gilt flagon of 1697,
inscribed: 'This Flaggon was Given by Mrs. Katherine Willis to the Church of St. Mary, Blecheley in
Buckinghamshire, A.D. 1711'; a silver-gilt standpaten of 1698, inscribed: 'Ex dono Tho. Sparke S
Theologiae Professoris et Ecclesiae de Blechlye
rectoris'; a large silver-gilt plate of 1710, given, like
the flagon, by Mrs. Katherine Willis in 1711; and
a silver-gilt cup of 1716, given by Paul Collins and
Frances his wife in 1717.
The church possesses a very fine copy of the 1638
Cambridge edition of the Bible, bound up with the
Prayer Book and Sternhold and Hopkins's metrical
version of the Psalms. The book, which is said to
have belonged to Charles I, was given to the church
by Browne Willis, and received its present binding
of red velvet with silver mounting in the early 18th
century. (fn. 189)
The registers begin in 1577.
The church of ST. MARTIN, FENNY STRATFORD, when erected on the site of the former chapel
of St. Margaret in 1730, was a very small building.
In 1823 a south aisle was added, which was demolished in 1866, a large new nave and chancel being
built in its place, and the former nave became the
north aisle. A new south aisle was added in 1908, and
the building now consists of chancel, nave, north and
south aisles, south porch and tower. (fn. 190)
Advowson
The church of Bletchley was built
before 1212, (fn. 191) in which year Gerald
de Caux was parson of the church. (fn. 192)
Roger de Caux held the advowson in the time of
Bishop Hugh of Wells, (fn. 193) and it descended with the
manor of Water Eaton. (fn. 194) It was bequeathed with
other property by John (Willis) Fleming, who died
in 1802, to his cousin John Barton Willis on condition of his taking the name of Fleming. (fn. 195) His son
John Browne Willis Fleming, who succeeded in 1844,
alienated the advowson in 1860 to Joseph Bennitt,
by whose family it is still held.
Tithes of the demesne of Bletchley were given
to the priory of Newton Longville by Walter Giffard,
first Earl of Buckingham, and his son. (fn. 196) The priory in
1291 had an annual pension of £1 from the church, (fn. 197)
and was still in possession of the tithes in the 14th
century. (fn. 198) Henry VI gave the priory and most of
its lands to New College, Oxford, in 1441, (fn. 199) and
at the Dissolution an annual pension of £1 was still
paid to that college. (fn. 200)
The chapel of St. Margaret of Fenny Stratford,
said to be on the roll of Peter's Pence in 1460, (fn. 201) was
probably refounded about 1493, in which year it was
endowed by the foundation of a gild or fraternity (fn. 202)
which entirely maintained the chapel for the benefit
of the district. (fn. 203) Gilbert Ipswell in 1502 left his
body to be buried in the chancel of this chapel. His
executors were to finish paving the chapel with tiles,
work having been begun in the north aisle. (fn. 204) It was
valued at £6 at the Dissolution. (fn. 205) In 1550 the chapel
with stones, walls, iron, timber, glass, lead, and bells
was granted to Thomas Reeves and others (fn. 206) and soon
afterwards pulled down. (fn. 207) A church which appears to
have had parochial rights (fn. 208) was built on the same
spot and visitations were frequently held in it, but it
was destroyed in the Civil War. (fn. 209) Browne Willis
bought the site and was instrumental in building on
it the new church (fn. 210) of which he laid the foundation
stone in 1724 and which was consecrated in 1730. (fn. 211)
The advowson belonged to his family (fn. 212) till 1859.
It has since passed through a number of hands and is
now held by the Bishop of Oxford. (fn. 213)
The gild above mentioned, dedicated to St. Margaret
and St. Katherine, was founded and endowed by Roger
and John Hobbs in 1493. It consisted, besides the
brothers and sisters of the gild, of one alderman and
two wardens elected yearly on the Sunday after the
feast of St. Margaret the Virgin; the members were
a corporate body and had a common seal. They had
power to acquire lands to the value of £8 for providing two priests to celebrate divine service daily in
the chapel of the gild and for other deeds of charity. (fn. 214)
In 1547 the fraternity was worth £14 16s. 9d. yearly,
of which 15s. was paid to Lord Grey for rent and
5s. 4d. was paid for keeping up the founders' obit.
The ornaments and goods were valued at £17 8s.,
plate '58 once.' There were '2 priests, both well
lerned' and with no other living, ministering sacraments and sacramentals. (fn. 215) The chantry estate, with
the Brotherhood House, was leased in 1569 to Arthur
Lord Grey for twenty-one years, (fn. 216) and in 1579 to
Thomas Wake for a similar term. (fn. 217) The Brotherhood
House is said to have been converted into the Bull
Inn, (fn. 218) but they are referred to as two distinct messuages
in 1609 and 1616. (fn. 219)
Charities
The following charities comprised
in the Bletchley Inclosure Award,
dated 21 January 1813, are regulated
by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, dated
7 May 1901, namely: (1) Fuel allotment, consisting
of 24 a. 3 r. 2 p. of land in Bletchley Leys; (2) Poor's
land for ancient township, 2 a. 2 r. 28 p. of land in
Bletchley Leys; and (3) Poor's allotment, 2 a. 2 r. 26 p.
in Bletchley Leys, and 30 p. in Windmill Field.
These properties produce £20 a year, which is distributed in coal to about sixty recipients. (4) Poor's
land for the ancient parish, 1 a. 2 r. 33 p. of land in
Upper Field in the parish of Shenley, producing
£1 15s. yearly, which is distributed in tea among the
poor of the ancient parish.
Chapelry of Fenny Stratford.—William Underwood, by his will proved in the P.C.C. 28 February
1798, gave £100, the interest to be distributed in
bread in the chapel on New Year's Day. The legacy
is represented by £159 7s. 3d. consols with the official
trustees, producing £3 19s. 8d. yearly.
It appears from the Parliamentary Returns of 1786
that David Bryne and Browne Willis gave land for
the poor. The property was comprised in an indenture dated 25 March 1808, and then consisted of
two tenements. The endowment now consists of
£33 18s. consols with the official trustees, producing
16s. 8d. yearly, which, together with the dividends
from William Underwood's charity, is applied in the
distribution of bread.
On the wall of a house called St. Martin's House
there is the following inscription: 'This House was
settled on the parish Officers of this town for the annual
observance of St. Martin's Day, anno Domini 1752.'
This, property given by Browne Willis by deed in 1745,
consists of two cottages producing £11 1s. yearly.
The net rent is applied in the payment of £1 18s. for
a commemoration sermon, and the balance in entertainment to the inhabitants on St. Martin's Day.
In 1864 Sarah Bristow, by deed, gave £657 10s. 8d.
stock—now a like amount of consols standing in the
names of James Baisley and three others—the annual
dividends to be applied in distributing food, blankets
and apparel to the fatherless, widows and sick poor of
the hamlet of Fenny Stratford and the parish of
Simpson. The distribution is made in drapery to
about seventy recipients.