BOW BRICKHILL
Brichelle (xi cent.); Brichull (xii cent.); Bolle
Brichulle, Bellebrikhulle (xiii cent.).
This parish, the northernmost of the three Brickhills, covers about 1,848 acres. Of these only 301
are arable, with wheat, barley and beans the chief
crops, 916 permanent grass, and 288 woods and
plantations. (fn. 1) The surface soil is clay on a subsoil of
Lower Greensand. In the village itself and in the
woodlands to the east the ground rises from 400 ft.
to 500 ft. above the ordnance datum, the average
height elsewhere being 300 ft.
The Bletchley and Bedford section of the London
and North Western railway, which runs through this
parish, has a motor halt here.
The village stands on rising ground to the northeast of Watling Street, and is approached by a by-road
from Fenny Stratford. There is a number of whitewashed cottages on either side
of the road leading to the
church, which stands on
higher ground at the southeast end of the village. Some
of the houses are of 17thcentury date, and are built of
half-timber with brick nogging. The Congregational
chapel contains some remains
of 17th-century work, but
was almost entirely rebuilt in
1810. There is also a Wesleyan chapel, built in 1840.
The Wheatsheaf Inn is a
picturesque half-timber and
brick building of about 1600,
with a thatched roof.
Caldecott (Caldecote, xi
cent.; Calcott, xvi cent.) lies
to the east of the River Ouzel.
It contains an early 17thcentury farm - house with
thatched roof and walls of
half-timber and brick. To
the west is a homestead moat,
partly levelled.
In 1208 a wood in Caldecott bore the name of
'Le Impehey.' (fn. 2) Place-names of the 13th century
are 'Russesled,' 'Chaldewelleridie' and 'Rielond' (fn. 3) ;
of the 17th century, Bow Close and Grove Close. (fn. 4)
Bow Brickhill was inclosed by an Act of Parliament
of 1790, (fn. 5) the award being dated 16 October 1793. (fn. 6)
Manors
In 1086 two manors in this parish
belonged to Walter Giffard. One of
these consisted of 5 hides, of which 2
had been held before the Norman Conquest by
Goduin, a man of Wulfwig, Bishop of Lincoln, as one
manor, the other 3 by Godbold, Alric and Ordric,
each owning a hide and all four having power of
sale. (fn. 7) The other contained 4 hides. Two belonged
to the same Goduin as a manor, the rest to five other
thegns, and the right to sell was included in this case
also. (fn. 8)
This land was later attached to that part of the
honour of Giffard afterwards known as the honour of
Gloucester, from its descent through the Earls of
Gloucester and Hertford. (fn. 9) It afterwards passed to
the Earls of Stafford, Dukes of Buckingham, (fn. 10) after
whose attainder it escheated to the Crown, of which
Bow Brickhill was held in 1530 as of the honour of
Gloucester. (fn. 11) It remained attached to the honour,
of which it was held by knight service until the
abolition of feudal tenure in the 17th century. (fn. 12)
From one or both of the tenants of the two
manors of Walter Giffard in 1086, of whom Ralph
held 5 hides and Robert 4, (fn. 13) a manor of BOW
BRICKHILL came eventually to the Chaunceys. (fn. 14)
Geoffrey Chauncey (Cauceis, le Cauchois, Cauceys,
Causers), who acquired 2 hides in this parish, which
had hitherto been included in Little Brickhill Manor,
from Stephen de Thurnham at the close of the 12th
century, (fn. 15) was dead in 1216, when his 'land of Brickhill' was assigned to his daughter Margaret wife of
Geoffrey Martell as her inheritance. (fn. 16) The male line
of the family, however, had not died out, William
Chauncey, a minor, having rights here in 1221. (fn. 17)
Another member, Robert Chauncey, in the reign of
Henry III was lord of a knight's fee in Bow Brickhill, (fn. 18) part of which, described in the middle of the
14th century as a manor, he had acquired in free
marriage with Joan daughter of Robert de Hoo. (fn. 19)
In 1243, presumably for the sake of Joan, then a
nurse in the royal household, the scutage owing for
this fee was respited. (fn. 20) That Robert had rights in
Bow Brickhill apart from his wife seems likely from
the renunciation made to him by Margaret daughter
of Geoffrey Chauncey and her second husband, Roger
de Ibelun, of houses and lands, once her father's, in
this parish, and confirmed in 1257 at the instance of
the queen and of Robert's wife Joan, 'sometime
nurse of Margaret the king's daughter, Queen of
Scotland.' (fn. 21) Robert, still lord of Bow Brickhill in
1276, (fn. 22) and living in 1283, (fn. 23) died not long after. (fn. 24)
The tenure of his son John had ceased in or before
1291, when John son of John, son of Robert
Chauncey, sold his lands in Bow Brickhill to Henry
Cheval, (fn. 25) a member probably of the same family as
Roger, Robert and Hugh Cheval, who had owned
land here in 1208, (fn. 26) 1235, (fn. 27) and 1276 respectively. (fn. 28)
Henry had probably been succeeded before 1301 by
his son Robert, (fn. 29) who conveyed part of his inheritance here to Nicholas Frembaud, (fn. 30) owner of half a
knight's fee in this parish in 1302. (fn. 31) The occupation
of Nicholas was chequered by disputes with the late
owners. In 1309 and the three succeeding years
he, his wife Annabel and their son John went to law
against Robert Cheval to compel him to abide by his
agreement made with them concerning the manor of
Bow Brickhill, which they held, and claimed to hold, of
him. (fn. 32) Nicholas Frembaud also recovered 384 acres
of land and some rent in this parish from Nicholas
Cheval, (fn. 33) perhaps a younger brother of Robert, whom
he charged about this time and later with trespass
and violence. (fn. 34) A considerable amount of land still
remained in the Cheval family. Osbert Cheval made
a settlement of over a hide on his daughter Alice and
her husband Robert Maunsel in 1312. (fn. 35) Robert
Cheval held upwards of 200 acres besides other
property in Bow Brickhill in 1315, when they were
settled on himself and his wife Alice, with remainders
to Nicholas Cheval and his sister Alice. (fn. 36) The manor
itself, however, was in the hands of Nicholas Frembaud,
returned as tenant of the Earl of Gloucester in
1314 (fn. 37) and as lord of the parish in 1316. (fn. 38) In
or before 1346 he was succeeded by his son John,
who, with his tenants, then held a diminished share
of the half fee enjoyed by his father. (fn. 39) His right to
the manor of Bow Brickhill was challenged in 1347
or 1348 by Robert Noble and his wife Margaret,
daughter and heir of the last John Chauncey. (fn. 40)
Later it possibly passed by marriage to John Woodville, (fn. 41) who held here with his wife Katherine in
1366. (fn. 42)
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Bow Brickhill
The manor remained in the possession of the
Woodville family until 1403, (fn. 43) and probably afterwards, the heirs of Nicholas Frembaud being described
as late tenants in 1460. (fn. 44) For the following sixty
years its history is obscure. (fn. 45)
In 1530 Edward Watson died, leaving his manor
of Bow Brickhill (which had been in his possession
since 1520, if not earlier) to a younger son Kenelm. (fn. 46)
In 1587 Kenelm acquired about 100 additional
acres from John Richardson, (fn. 47) who sued him two years
later for non-fulfilment of the contract. (fn. 48) At Kenelm's
death in 1598 the manor passed to his son and heir
Anthony. (fn. 49) Anthony, a lunatic in 1601, when an
inquiry was made into his condition and possessions, (fn. 50)
was seised at his death in 1619. (fn. 51) A third of the
manor came in dower to his widow Elizabeth, who
married Sir Francis Browne, (fn. 52) and was in her possession nine years later, when Francis, son and heir of
Anthony, came of age. (fn. 53) In 1632, with his wife
Mary, Francis sold Bow Brickhill to Robert Staunton, (fn. 54)
son and heir-apparent of Sir Francis Staunton of
Birchmore in Woburn (Bedfordshire). (fn. 55) Robert's son
Robert held in 1659 (fn. 56) and also in 1664 with his
wife Elizabeth. (fn. 57) Perhaps, like Birchmore, Bow
Brickhill remained with the Stauntons until the end
of the 17th century. (fn. 58) In 1742 a moiety was in the
possession of Ann Bartlett, widow, who mortgaged it
at that date to William Rhodes. (fn. 59) The whole had
been acquired before the close of the century by
Francis Moore of Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, (fn. 60) to whom
as lord of the manor compensation was made in 1793
for his manorial rights over certain waste grounds
then inclosed. (fn. 61)
Bow Brickhill came afterwards, probably through
intermarriage with the Hilliers of Stoke Park, (fn. 62) to
the Delaps of Monellan, Lieut.-Col. James Bogle
Delap owning the manor in 1847, his widow in
1854. From her it descended to the Rev. Robert
Delap, nephew of the last lord, (fn. 63) whose trustees are
still considerable landowners in the parish, though
the manor itself now belongs to the Duke of Bedford.
Delap. Gules a pile argent with an eagle gules thereon.
Russell, Duke of Bedford. Argent a lion gules and a chief sable with three scallops argent therein.
CALDECOTT MANOR is not mentioned in
1086, but was probably included in Bow Brickhill
Manor, as the first mention of the overlordship in
1261 assigns Caldecott to the honour of Gloucester. (fn. 64)
Though the right of the earl was impugned by the
officers of the Crown in 1276, (fn. 65) it descended in his
heirs and successors, as did the overlordship of Bow
Brickhill.
Colour to the supposition that this small manor
was comprised within the larger at the Domesday
Survey is lent by the fact that the Chaunceys, lords
of Bow Brickhill, were also lords of Caldecott.
Geoffrey Chauncey owned Caldecott Mill in 1208, (fn. 66)
and the lands surrendered nearly fifty years later by
his daughter Margaret to Robert Chauncey were in
Caldecott as well as Bow Brickhill. (fn. 67) Robert's
knight's fee in this parish was described in 1261 as
in Caldecott, (fn. 68) in 1276 as in Caldecott and Bow
Brickhill, (fn. 69) and from that time until the 17th century
Bow Brickhill and Caldecott were in the same hands
as one knight's fee, but two manors. (fn. 70) They
descended together until 1628, when Francis Watson
and his wife Mary sold the manor of Caldecott to
Sir Francis Staunton, (fn. 71) who four years later settled
it on his second son Francis. (fn. 72) At his death in 1639
Sir Francis Staunton was seised only of three messuages
and 100 acres of land in Caldecott and Bow Brickhill. (fn. 73) No mention of Caldecott has been found in
public records from that date until 1798, when, with
his wife Mary, Joseph Ager, a landowner here in
1793, (fn. 74) sold the manor to Elizabeth Hillier, spinster. (fn. 75)
She was probably a relative of Nathaniel Hillier of
Stoke Park, whose daughters Harriett and Susan
Eliza, with their respective husbands James Bogle
Delap and the Hon. Thomas Cranley Onslow, (fn. 76) and
Susan Hillier, made a settlement of the manor of
Caldecott twenty years later. (fn. 77) From that time it
has followed the descent of Bow Brickhill.
The mill of Caldecott, probably on the site of the
mill on the smaller of Walter Giffard's manors in
1086, (fn. 78) was granted with some land in 1208 by
Geoffrey Chauncey to Robert de Braybrook, (fn. 79) from
whom this estate descended to Gerard de Braybrook,
probably his great-grandson. (fn. 80) He alienated it before
1293 to John Grey, (fn. 81) who in 1307 settled lands,
a mill and rent in Bow Brickhill and Caldecott on
himself and his sons. (fn. 82) The rent attached to this
property appears to have been claimed by the Greys
of Wilton, the descendants of the eldest son, who
held Water Eaton in Bletchley (fn. 83) (q.v.), but the more
important part passed to the younger son and his
descendants the Greys of Ruthyn who had Bletchley
Manor (q.v.), and was held in 1526 by Henry Grey,
de jure Earl of Kent, (fn. 84) as a so-called manor of Bow
Brickhill. (fn. 85) This younger branch had also held the
manor of Brogborough in Ridgmont (Bedfordshire), (fn. 86) to which Caldecott Mill was deemed appurtenant in the reign of Elizabeth. (fn. 87) The miller,
Humphrey Blackshaw, (fn. 88) paid a rent of £4 13s. 4d.,
which was granted to Edward Ferrers and Francis
Philipps in 1610, and sold to Andrew Rowley of
Birchmore, Woburn (Bedfordshire), in 1650. (fn. 89) In
1653 the water-mill with a windmill and messuage in
Bow Brickhill and Caldecott were in the possession of
Robert Morgan. (fn. 90)
Another holding originated in gifts made in the
12th or 13th century by Geoffrey Chauncey and his
tenants to Woburn Abbey (Bedfordshire), and confirmed in 1315. (fn. 91) The temporalities enjoyed here
by this house, valued in 1337 at £6 8s. 4d., (fn. 92) were
described in 1346 as a sixth part of the half fee once
of Nicholas Frembaud. (fn. 93) In 1535 they were leased
to William Burre and Edward Staunton, (fn. 94) and fourteen
years later they were granted as the farm called Bow
Brickhill, formerly of the late monastery of Woburn, to
William Lord Grey de Wilton, and John Bannester. (fn. 95)
At the ecclesiastical taxation of 1291 the rent of £1
was due to Delapré Abbey, near Northampton, for a
mill in 'South' Caldecott, (fn. 96) so-called in distinction
to the hamlet in Newport Pagnell. (fn. 97)
From 1166 onwards the nuns of Fontévrault
Abbey were paying 32s. a year for lands in Brickhill (fn. 98) said to amount to a quarter of this parish and
called a manor in the 13th century, (fn. 99) though only an
insignificant rent was ascribed to them in Brickhill in
1291. (fn. 100) As a member of their manor of Grovebury,
Leighton Buzzard, (fn. 101) it descended with Radnage, another
of their estates in Buckinghamshire, with which it was
bestowed on Eton College in 1444. (fn. 102)
A grant of free warren in 1292 to Henry Cheval (fn. 103)
was renewed in 1366 to John Woodville and his wife
Katherine. (fn. 104) In 1284 the Abbess of Fontévrault was
required to make good her claim to view of frankpledge in her manor of Bow Brickhill, (fn. 105) but this
liberty and court leet seem afterwards to have been
associated only with the overlordship here. (fn. 106)
Church
The church of ALL SAINTS consists
of a chancel measuring internally 25 ft.
6 in. by 11 ft., nave 34 ft. 6 in. by
15 ft., north aisle 9 ft. 6 in. wide, south aisle 9 ft.
wide, west tower 12 ft. square, and south porch; it
is built of rubble with stone dressings, and the roofs
are covered with tiles.
The nave probably dates from the 12th century,
but it was so completely remodelled in the 15th century as to obliterate the earlier details. At this period
both aisles and the tower were added and the chancel
was probably rebuilt. In 1630 the nave was reroofed.
The whole building was restored in 1756–7 by Browne
Willis, who rebuilt the east wall of the chancel in brick.
The church was again restored in 1883, when the
porch was added.
All the windows and other details of the chancel
are modern, but the chancel arch, though considerably
restored, dates from the 15th century. The nave
has a south arcade of three pointed arches, supported
by octagonal pillars with moulded capitals and bases,
and springing at the responds from moulded corbels.
The north arcade is of similar character but without
respond corbels; the western arch on each side is wider
than the other two. Both arcades date from the 15th
century, and the pointed tower arch in the west wall
is of the same period. At the south-east is a pointed
niche. The low-pitched king-post roof with plain
cambered beams bears the date 1630.
The east window of the north aisle is of two
trefoiled lights, and dates from the 15th century,
though it has been considerably restored; all the other
windows in this aisle are modern. The south aisle
is lighted from the south by three windows, each of
two cinquefoiled lights in a square head, from the west
by a similar window, and from the east by a window
of three trefoiled lights in a four-centred head, all of
the 15th century. At the south-east is a pointed
piscina of the same period with a round bowl. The
south doorway is modern.
The tower is of two stages, with a vice-turret at the
south-east, and is surmounted by an embattled parapet.
In the west wall of the ground stage is an original
window of three plain lights in a three-centred head,
and the bell-chamber is lighted by plain windows,
also of the 15th century, each of two lights in a
pointed head.
The octagonal font has a panelled bowl, below
which are figures of angels with outspread wings. It
dates from the 15th century. In one of the panels
is a shield charged with two implements, perhaps
instruments of the Passion. The pulpit, which is
of the same period, though considerably restored, is
hexagonal and has some traceried panels. On the
north wall of the chancel is a tablet to William Watson,
rector of the parish, who died in 1608.
The tower contains a ring of four bells: the treble,
inscribed 'God Save Ovr King 1634,' is by James
Keene; the second is by Anthony Chandler, 1670;
the third is of the 16th century and bears the
inscription [ABGD. SRQ. DEAG. FE. W.] the tenor, inscribed 'Soli Deeo Gloria Pax Hominibus 1649'
(some letters reversed), is by Henry Bagley. The
framework is inscribed '1628 I. I.'
The communion plate includes a cup and paten of
1626, both inscribed 1627.
The registers begin in 1687.
Advowson
The church dedicated in honour of
All Saints (fn. 107) is said to have been given
by the Chaunceys to Woburn Abbey
in 1185. (fn. 108) In 1221, however, the guardian of William
Chauncey presented with the consent of the king
and the Abbot of Woburn, (fn. 109) and the abbot's successor,
Roger, fourteen years later surrendered all right in
the advowson to Robert Chauncey. (fn. 110) The living fell
vacant in 1283, when Richard Justin and his wife
Alice, who held a considerable amount of land in
the parish, (fn. 111) after claiming the advowson as Alice's
right, agreed, with a reservation of their right to
another vacancy, that Robert Chauncey should present
on this occasion. (fn. 112) From that date until 1628 the
advowson descended with the manors of Bow Brickhill and Caldecott. It passed into other hands
soon afterwards, being in the possession of Robert
Barker, clerk, at his death in 1632. (fn. 113) Christie his
son and heir (fn. 114) perhaps sold it to Sir William Ashton,
who is said to have presented in 1636. (fn. 115) Elizabeth
Ashton was patron in 1668 or 1669, (fn. 116) Mary daughter
of William Ashton and widow of Sir John Buck,
bart., (fn. 117) in 1671, (fn. 118) in which year a later presentation
was made by the Crown. (fn. 119) Samuel Barker, whose
title appears to have been doubtful, (fn. 120) presented in
1680, (fn. 121) Sir William Buck, son and heir of Sir John
Buck and Mary Ashton, (fn. 122) in 1681 and 1687. (fn. 123) It
is said that Sir Charles Buck, son and heir of Sir
William, (fn. 124) and patron in 1722, (fn. 125) sold the advowson
of Bow Brickhill in 1726 to Sir John Statham, (fn. 126) of
whom it was bought in 1735 by David Willaume. (fn. 127)
David, patron in 1742, 1744, 1751, and 1760, (fn. 128)
was succeeded in or before 1780 by John Williams
Willaume, (fn. 129) perhaps acting as trustee for David's son
Edward, (fn. 130) who in 1782 presented himself, (fn. 131) in 1783
presented James Bestham, the historian of Ely. (fn. 132) The
next patron, John Dupré, who presented himself in
1795, (fn. 133) took part in a settlement of the advowson on
John Ward more than fifteen years later, (fn. 134) but was
again patron in 1817. (fn. 135) John Ward, patron in
1822 and 1829, (fn. 136) was succeeded by Mrs. Davis
in or before 1836. (fn. 137) From 1841 to 1892 the living
was in the gift of Queens' College, Cambridge (fn. 138) ;
Mr. R. Knight was patron from 1893 to 1898, (fn. 139)
and the Rev. Robert Knight, now rector, has been
patron since 1899. (fn. 140)
Tithes of Brickhill of the gift of Walter Giffard,
confirmed to the priory of St. Faith, Longueville, by
charters of Henry I and Henry II (fn. 141) and valued at
£1 in 1291, (fn. 142) belonged to the priory of Newton
Longville in 1325. (fn. 143) At the close of the 14th century
these were in the possession of Sir Gilbert Talbot. (fn. 144)
In 1384 there is mention of a newly-constructed
chapel, as yet unlicensed for divine service. (fn. 145)
Charities
Charles Parrett, by his will proved
in the P.C.C. in 1634, gave £5
yearly for the relief of the poor, £5
towards teaching poor children, £5 for apprenticing
poor children and 20s. to a preacher for a sermon on
25 March and another on Michaelmas Day in each
year. The several annuities were redeemed in 1863
by the transfer to the official trustees of £533 6s. 8d.
consols. Under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 14 May 1897 £33 6s. 8d. consols, part
thereof, was set aside to form the endowment of the
ecclesiastical branch, and the sum of £166 13s. 4d.
consols, further part thereof, was, together with
£79 7s. 11d. consols, representing accumulations of
income, set aside in 1904 to form the endowment of
the educational foundation, the annual dividends of
which, amounting to £6 3s., are applied in supplying
outfits to poor children. The residue of the stock,
amounting to £333 6s. 8d. consols, represents the
endowment of Parrett's eleemosynary and apprenticing charity, producing £8 6s. 8d. yearly, which is
applicable, one moiety for apprenticing and the other
moiety for distribution among the poor.
In 1719 Augustus Shaw, by his will, gave £2 10s.
yearly, to be applied in putting forth an apprentice
to some handicraft trade, issuing out of land at Bow
Brickhill belonging to the Duke of Bedford. The
annuity is applied, with Parrett's charity, in apprenticing. The premium is usually £25, paid in two
instalments.
In 1722 Jane Shaw, by her will, gave £3 yearly
for the benefit of the most aged and impotent poor,
issuing out of land called Beresteeds. It is distributed
among fifteen poor.
Under the Inclosure Award of 1793 land called
Black Ground was awarded in trust for the use of
the poor for firing. The land was sold in 1896 and
the proceeds invested in £101 10s. 8d. consols, with
the official trustees. The annual dividends, amounting to £2 10s. 8d., are, together with the income of
Parrett's eleemosynary charity, distributed among
about seventy poor.
Under the same award 6 a. or. 19 p. of arable
land in Bow Brickhill were awarded to the churchwardens and overseers. The land is let at £9. The
net income is applied towards church expenses.
The Protestant dissenting chapel and endowment
for the minister, chapel and Sunday school are comprised in indentures of lease and release, dated respectively 24 and 25 November 1800. The endowment
consists of £1,000 consols, with the official trustees,
producing £25 yearly.