CLIFTON REYNES
Cliftone (xi cent.); Clifton next Olneye (fn. 1) (xiv cent.).
Clifton Reynes is bounded on the north and northwest by the Ouse, where the land is liable to floods;
it rises in the south-east to 273 ft. above ordnance
datum. The Bedford and Northampton branch of the
Midland railway crosses the north of the parish. The
area is 1,454 acres, of which 387 acres are arable,
967 acres permanent grass, and 50 acres woods and
plantations. (fn. 2) The soil is gravel, stone, and loam,
the subsoil chiefly stone; the chief crops are cereals
and beans.
The small compact village stands on the hill overlooking the Ouse and the town of Olney, and has St.
Mary's Church on the west, with the rectory, a 17thcentury stone building incorporating remains of an
earlier house, but much altered and restored, to the
south of the church. In a terrier of 1639 it is
described as of five bays of stone covered with thatch,
the whole 'contained in eight rooms.' (fn. 3) About 1830
what is said to have been a small 15th-century
oratory, which adjoined the house on the east, was
pulled down.
North-west of the church stood the house built by
Alexander Small on his purchase of the manor c. 1750.
It was destroyed about 1850, (fn. 4) and nothing now
remains to indicate its site save the wall round the
garden, orchard, fish-pond and portion of the avenue. (fn. 5)
The dovecote attached to the manor is still standing
in the centre of the village; it is a circular building
of 17th-century date with stone walls and a thatched
roof.
In the village are some 17th-century houses,
among them the Robin Hood Inn.
The common fields were inclosed by Act of Parliament in 1822, (fn. 6) and the award is dated 1824. (fn. 7)
According to Sheahan that part of the parish which
belonged to the principal manor (Reynes) was inclosed
at a remote and unknown period. (fn. 8) One great field
of arable land, in extent about 12 score acres, was
inclosed about 1560 by Francis Lowe, then lord of
that manor. (fn. 9)
Among place-names have been found: Thornydols
Close (fn. 10) (xvi cent.); Water Hills, Revell Mead,
Aldridge Wood, Pepies Grove, Long Meadow Dusse, (fn. 11)
Heirons Grove (fn. 12) (xvii cent.).
Manors
Osulf, a thegn of King Edward, held
and could sell CLIFTON, afterwards
CLIFTON REYNES or REYNES, a
manor of 4 hides, 1 virgate of which was held by
Alric his man. (fn. 13) By 1086 this manor had come to
Robert de Toeni. (fn. 14) He was succeeded by the
Daubeneys, (fn. 15) whose land passed about 1248 by the
marriage of Isabel, daughter and heir of William
Daubeney, to Robert de Ros, (fn. 16) overlord in 1284–6. (fn. 17)
The connexion of the Ros family with Clifton existed
as late as 1428. (fn. 18)
The under-tenants in 1086 were William de
Borard (Boscroard, Bosco Roardi, Bosco Rahara,
Bosco Roaldi) and his brother, apparently named
Roger. They had also taken possession of 3
virgates formerly held by Suert and Turbert,
which they had concealed to the king's damage,
as the men of the hundred asserted. (fn. 19) The
Borards also held Stathern in Leicestershire, and a
Simon de Borard is mentioned in 1166 as holding
three fees in that country of William Daubeney. (fn. 20)
A late Simon de Borard revolted against King
John, but returned to his allegiance in 1217. (fn. 21)
A son of the same name, (fn. 22) who came of age
before 1230, (fn. 23) held Clifton in the middle of the
century, (fn. 24) and is said to have died some time
after 1260, the latest reference found bearing
date October 1261. (fn. 25)
His successor, Richard de Borard, probably his
son, (fn. 26) is mentioned in 1278, (fn. 27) and is returned
as lord of Clifton in 1284. (fn. 28) He is mentioned
in connexion with Stathern in 1290, (fn. 29) and in
1293 paid £20 to be exempted for life from
bearing the arms of a knight. (fn. 30) His sister and
heir Joan is said to have married Thomas
Reynes, (fn. 31) from whose family Clifton received its
distinguishing appellation, and their son Ralf
Reynes (fn. 32) held Clifton in 1302–3. (fn. 33) Two
wooden figures in the church may commemorate
this Ralf and his second wife Mabel, daughter of
Sir Richard Chamberlain of Petsoe in Emberton. (fn. 34)
He must have died before 1310, in which
year Sir Roger Tyringham had the custody of
his land and heir. (fn. 35) This heir, a son Thomas,
was in possession of Clifton in 1316, (fn. 36) and was
knight of the shire for the Parliaments of 1339,
1343, 1344, and 1346. (fn. 37) He is mentioned as in
possession of the manor in 1344 (fn. 38) and in 1346. (fn. 39)
In 1354 he settled the manor on himself and wife
Joan for life, with remainder to Thomas their son and
his issue, and contingent remainder to the issue male
of Thomas the father, and to Joan, Cecily, and Agnes
his daughters. (fn. 40) It was probably the son Thomas who
was knight of the shire in 1369 and 1377, (fn. 41) and
made in 1368 a settlement of Clifton Reynes, (fn. 42) which
he confirmed twenty years later. (fn. 43) He appears to
have died about this date, (fn. 44) and was succeeded by his
son John, (fn. 45) who is returned as lord in 1394. (fn. 46) By
his first wife, Katherine Scudamore, who was alive in
1388, John had a son Thomas, who died during his
father's lifetime in 1416, leaving a son John, (fn. 47) who
died an infant five years later, (fn. 48) when his grandfather
John claid claim to the estate. (fn. 49) By his second wife
he had a son Walter, born in 1403, (fn. 50) and by his third
wife Alice, on whom he made a settlement of the
manor in 1427, (fn. 51) he is said to have left a son John. (fn. 52)
John Reynes died in the following year, and Walter
Reynes, his son, was found to
be his heir. (fn. 53) In 1438 he
was sued, unsuccessfully, however, by Joan daughter of
Henry Street and of Cecily,
daughter of John Reynes by
his first wife Katherine, who
asserted that in 1388 Clifton
Reynes had been settled on
John's issue by Katherine, of
whom Thomas and Denise
his sister had died without
issue, leaving Cecily as sole
heir. (fn. 54) In 1430 Joan's brother,
William Street, had laid claim to lands in Hertfordshire as heir to his cousin John Reynes, who died an
infant in 1421. (fn. 55) As wife of John Anstey, Joan
Street renewed her claim in 1440, after the death of
Walter Reynes without issue, another claimant being
her half-cousin Margaret, wife of John Gibbon and
daughter of Margery, sister of the whole blood to the
said Walter. (fn. 56) It appears, however, that the manor
went to John son of John Reynes by his third wife
Alice, who is said to have died in 1451, (fn. 57) when
Clifton passed to Thomas Reynes of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, who had succeeded his father
Thomas in that year, (fn. 58) the latter being son of
Richard, brother of the John Reynes of Clifton who
died in 1428. (fn. 59) This Thomas Reynes, who was
sheriff of the county in 1462, (fn. 60) appears to be
identical with the Thomas who died in April 1471. (fn. 61)
He was succeeded by John Reynes, probably his
son, alive in March 1498–9, (fn. 62) who left a daughter
and heir Elizabeth, the wife of Richard Dicons. (fn. 63)
In 1518 Dicons obtained a quitclaim of rights
in half the manor from George Pierpoint, (fn. 64) son or
grandson and heir by another husband of the Margaret
who claimed half the manor in the suit of 1440. (fn. 65)
The Dicons appear, however, to have renounced their
interest in Clifton at an earlier date to Thomas
Reynes, clerk, uncle of Elizabeth, (fn. 66) who presented
to the church in February 1507–8 (fn. 67) and died about
the end of 1524. (fn. 68) By his will, proved 18 February 1524–5, he left all his household stuff in
Marston parsonage to his nieces, the three daughters
of his sister. (fn. 69) He was succeeded by his brother
Richard, (fn. 70) during whose tenure of the manor a
renunciation of rights appears to have been made in
1528 by Lawrence Taillard, (fn. 71) probably son and heir
of Elizabeth wife of William Taillard, and daughter
and co-heir of Joan Anstey, the claimant in the suit
of 1440. (fn. 72) Richard Reynes settled Clifton on his
wife Maud, (fn. 73) and left three daughters and co-heirs, of
whom one married Thomas Lowe, esquire of the
body and captain under Henry VIII. (fn. 74) In 1540 the
Lowes bought up the rights
of Sir Robert Dormer, (fn. 75) to
whom Clifton may have been
mortgaged, and in 1544
Thomas Lowe died seised of
the manor, which passed to
his son Francis. (fn. 76) Francis got
into debt, and into money
difficulties, and repeatedly
mortgaged the manor. (fn. 77) With
his wife Thomasina he was
dealing with the manor in
1591. (fn. 78) He was succeeded by
his son Reynes Lowe, (fn. 79) who
died in 1618, (fn. 80) leaving a son
Reynes, a minor, who came of age in 1627. (fn. 81)
He was living in 1651, (fn. 82) but by 1661 had been
succeeded by James Lowe, (fn. 83) his son, (fn. 84) who with his
wife Elizabeth was holding the manor in 1668. (fn. 85) In
1673 James Lowe and his mother, Mary Lowe, sold
Clifton Reynes for £13,500 to Sir John Maynard, (fn. 86)
Elizabeth wife of John Curtis renouncing any claim
to it in the following year for £1,200. (fn. 87) This Sir
John Maynard was a celebrated Parliamentarian, but
also one of the first serjeants called at the Restoration,
and termed therefore by Pepys 'a turncoat.' He died in
October 1690, and his estate, according to his will,
dated 21 March 1689–90, became the right of Elizabeth wife of Sir Henry Hobart, bart., and Mary wife
of Thomas second Earl of Stamford, daughters of his
son Joseph, who had predeceased him. (fn. 88) An Act of
Parliament was passed in 1694 for settling the estate, (fn. 89)
and in 1696 the Hobarts levied a fine of Clifton
Reynes. (fn. 90) Sir Henry Hobart was killed in a duel in
1698, (fn. 91) and his widow died in 1701, (fn. 92) leaving an eight
year old son, Sir John Hobart. (fn. 93) In 1711 Sir John
Hobart settled his half of the manor on his eldest
son and heirs male. (fn. 94) His aunt Mary Countess of
Stamford died without issue, (fn. 95) and the sole interest
in the manor therefore devolved on him. Sir John
Hobart as Earl of Buckinghamshire sold it about 1750
to Alexander Small, surgeon of Chelsea, (fn. 96) who died
two years later, (fn. 97) leaving a legacy to his widow Martha
and settling the manor on trustees to the use of his
infant son Alexander. (fn. 98) The eldest son of this
Alexander, another Alexander Small, is mentioned in
connexion with Clifton in 1785, (fn. 99) when he apparently
joined in levying a fine to cut off an entail on the
manor. He died in 1794, (fn. 100) and his father survived
until 1816, when he was succeeded by his daughter
Martha Elizabeth Anne Small, (fn. 101) to whom he had
bequeathed the manor for life, with remainder to an
illegitimate son, Arthur Small. (fn. 102) This daughter
married in 1819 Richard Hurd Lucas, who then
became, in right of his wife, lord of the manor. (fn. 103) He
had been succeeded before 1831 by Arthur George
Small, who was then holding it. (fn. 104) It was sold some
years later by the Smalls to Joseph Robinson, (fn. 105) who
was still the owner in 1877. (fn. 106) By 1899 it had passed
into the possession of Mr. James West Scorer, the
present lord of the manor.
Old Dovecote, Clifton Reynes
Reynes. Checky or and gules a quarter crmine.
Lowe. Argent a bend azure with three wolves' heads razed argent thereon.
Two estates in Clifton, one of 1½ hides and the
other of 1 hide and half a virgate, which had
been held respectively by Alvric, a man of Bishop
Wulfwig, and by two thegns, men of Alric son of
Goding, were assessed in 1086 among the lands of
the Countess Judith. (fn. 107) They afterwards formed part
of the honour of Huntingdon, (fn. 108) the overlordship
rights passing from the Hastings (fn. 109) to the Greys of
Ruthyn, (fn. 110) whose interest in Clifton was acknowledged
as late as 1475. (fn. 111) These two estates, the undertenants of which in 1086 were Niel and Roger de
Olney respectively, correspond to the later Butlers
and Wakes Manors, which extended into the adjacent
parish of Newton Blossomville. WAKES MANOR,
which owed its distinguishing name to the family
who afterwards held it in fee, appears to have passed
from Roger de Olney to a descendant, Simon de
Olney, who is mentioned in connexion with onethird of a hide in Olney in 1199. (fn. 112) He, or a
successor of the same name, was said to hold a
quarter of a fee in Clifton of the Earl of Arundel in
the next century, (fn. 113) and is probably identical with the
Simon de Breynes holding a quarter of a fee of
Henry Hastings in 1241. (fn. 114) His successors in the
manor, the Wakes, first appear in Clifton in 1281,
when Hugh Wake and Isabel his wife made a life grant
of land held in her right to Roger de Stowmarket. (fn. 115)
Hugh son of the above Hugh Wake (fn. 116) was returned
as lord of this manor in 1302, (fn. 117) and in 1305 he and
his wife Anderina acquired additional land in
Clifton. (fn. 118) Hugh Wake died before 1313, in which
year his widow Anderina held
alone, (fn. 119) but another Hugh
Wake, probably their son,
was holding this property in
1318 jointly with Isabel his
wife. (fn. 120) He was still alive in
1359, (fn. 121) but had been succeeded in 1375 by Ralph
Basset le Riche, (fn. 122) whose widow
Joan in 1395 claimed a third
of Wakes Manor, first so
called, in dower. (fn. 123) It descended with the Basset manor
of Newton Blossomville (fn. 124)
(q.v.), but after 1423 lost its
distinguishing name of Wakes (except for a single late
reference in 1686 (fn. 125) ) and probably coalesced with
the manor of Butlers, which had been in the same
ownership since 1305, to form the manor of CLIFTON.
Clifton was retained by the Mordaunts, Earls of Peterborough, when they alienated Newton Blossomville,
and descended with the title (fn. 126) until 1789, when the
fifth and last earl sold it to John Higgins of Turvey
House (Bedfordshire) for £1,400. (fn. 127) John Higgins died
in 1813, and was succeeded by his son Thomas Charles
Higgins. (fn. 128) He is described in 1822 as holding in
his own right, and also as lessee of Queen's College,
Oxford. (fn. 129) He died at Leamington in 1865, (fn. 130) shortly
after which date the sole interest in the estate appears
to have been acquired by Queen's College, Oxford. (fn. 131)
Wake. Or two bars gules with three roundels gules in the chief.
That part of the Countess Judith's lands which
afterwards became known as BUTLERS MANOR
took its name from a family, a member of which,
John Butler (Pincerna), held in Clifton in the early
13th century. (fn. 132) A William Butler and Alice his
wife had lands here in 1275, (fn. 133) but the head of the
family appears to have been Simon Butler. (fn. 134) He was
succeeded by Peter Butler, lord in 1284 (fn. 135) and 1302, (fn. 136)
who with Margery his wife in 1305 alienated lands
here and the reversion of the dower of Joan, the
widow of Simon Butler, to Hugh Wake. (fn. 137) Butlers,
first so called in 1395, (fn. 138) henceforward descended with
Wakes, but lost its distinguishing name after 1423,
probably coalescing with Wakes to form the later
Clifton Manor.
Six virgates of land in Newton and Clifton
belonged to the honour of Yealmpton (Devon) in
the early 13th century. (fn. 139) By 1284–6 the overlordship rights had passed to Reynold Grey, (fn. 140) and they
were held in 1442 by Richard
Grey de Wilton. (fn. 141) The ownership in fee was vested in the
Visdelou family, and in 1188
[Ralf] Moryn paid 1 mark
for the farm of Newton which
had belonged to Humphrey
Visdelou. (fn. 142) A later Humphrey
Visdelou was in possession in
the early 13th century, (fn. 143) and
in 1227 he claimed land here
against Robert de Flurs and
Hawise his wife. (fn. 144) In 1256
he granted a rent of 2s. in
Newton to William de Nottingham and Philippa
his wife, (fn. 145) and in 1279 they acquired a messuage and
half a virgate of land there from Felise, widow of
William de Falconberg. (fn. 146) John de Nottingham
claimed common of pasture in Newton and Clifton
in 1307 against John Visdelou and others, (fn. 147) and in
1312 Simon de Nottingham and Amice his wife
granted land in Newton Blossomville and Clifton to
Simon le Bedel of Keysoe (Bedfordshire). (fn. 148) This property is mentioned again in 1442, but the names of
the tenants are not detailed. (fn. 149)
Visdelou. Argent three wolves' heads sable.
A manor of 1½ hides in Clifton was held before
the Conquest by Alli, a thegn of King Edward. In
1086 it was held by Morcar of the Bishop of
Coutances, who had received it in exchange for
Bleadon in Somerset. (fn. 150)
Another hide there held in the time of King
Edward by Wulfwin, a man of Deus, was held in
1086 by Turbert of the Bishop of Coutances. (fn. 151)
There was a mill on the Bishop of Coutances'
land in 1086 (fn. 152) and a moiety of a mill worth 11s.
and 125 eels from a fishery on Countess Judith's
holding. (fn. 153) Two mills were held with Reynes Manor
in 1544 (fn. 154) and in 1627. (fn. 155) Three water-mills were
held with it in 1673. (fn. 156) There is a corn-mill on the
Ouse just over the western border.
Church
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of a chancel measuring
internally about 29 ft. 8 in. by 15 ft. 2 in.,
north chapel 24 ft. 7 in. by 9 ft. 11 in., nave 31 ft. by
12 ft. 5 in., north aisle 46 ft. by 12 ft., south aisle
45 ft. 8 in. by 11 ft. 6 in., west tower 12 ft. by
11 ft. and a south porch 7 ft. by 8 ft. 6 in.
The lower stage of the tower is the only remaining
portion of a 12th-century church, consisting probably
of a chancel, nave and western tower. To this church
the existing aisles were added in the 13th century.
Early in the 14th century the chancel was rebuilt and
widened towards the south, and about the same period
the present upper stage was added to the tower.
Shortly after the completion of the chancel the north
chapel was added, and about 1360 the nave arcades
were rebuilt, the original proportions of the nave
being preserved, and the chancel arch was enlarged to
match. The tower arch, which is of the same general
type, was widened a few years later, and early in the
15th century the present clearstory was built, its
addition above the tall narrow bays of the arcades
giving an unusual height to the somewhat narrow
nave. The eastern portion of the south wall of the
south aisle, the internal face of which leans outward very considerably, may have been refaced and
straightened externally in the same century, when the
south-east window was inserted. The south-east
angle, however, has been underpinned with headstones from the churchyard, and it is possible that the
straightening of the wall is modern. It is difficult
to assign a date to the porch, but it may be of the
16th century. The north wall of the north aisle
was rebuilt in 1801, but the west wall appears to
have been left standing. The portion of the aisle
overlapping the tower is divided by a stud partition
from the rest of the aisle, being now used as a storehouse, and has a lean-to roof sloping from east to
west. The church was restored in 1883–4, and in
1905 an arch was built between the north chapel
and aisle in place of a partition which had been inserted at a late period. The walling generally is
of limestone rubble, and the nave and aisle roofs are
lead-covered, that of the north chapel being tiled.
The chancel is a good example of early 14thcentury design, and retains most of its original details.
The east window is square-headed and of three cinquefoiled lights; the tracery and head are of the 15th century, but the jambs appear to be of the 14th century.
Beneath the sill internally is a partially restored stringcourse, which is dropped on either side of the window,
and returned for a short distance upon the side walls.
Above the string-course, to the north of the window,
is a clumsily moulded image bracket, and beneath it
is a smaller bracket, plain and rough, doubtless for a
light. (fn. 157) The north side of the chancel is chiefly
occupied by an early 14th-century arcade of two bays
opening to the chapel. The arches are two-centred
and of three orders; the outer order, which projects
to allow for the plastering of the wall, now removed,
is plain-chamfered, the intermediate order is hollowchamfered, and the inner order is moulded with a
swelled chamfer. The central column is octagonal,
and the inner orders are carried on the east and west
responds by semi-octagonal pilasters. Of the three
windows in the south wall the two eastern are each of
two cinquefoiled ogee lights with quatrefoiled tracery
in a two-centred head. The rear-arches are moulded,
and are inclosed by labels with large head-stops, and
there are also labels to the external heads. The
westernmost window is a single cinquefoiled light
transomed to form a low-side window. Between the
two eastern windows is a doorway with a two-centred
external head of two orders continuously moulded
with the jambs, and a moulded rear-arch inclosed
by a label with stops carved as dogs' heads. At the
east end of the wall are three graduated sedilia with
moulded sills in range with a piscina. The head of
the piscina is cinquefoiled, but the sedilia have trefoiled heads with sub-foliated soffit cusps; only the
head of the westernmost sedile, the cusps of which
have leaf-carved spandrels, is original, the heads of the
eastern pair having been restored. All spring from
circular shafts with moulded capitals and bases and
from half shafts against the back of the recess. The
late 14th-century chancel arch is of two moulded
orders with responds composed of three engaged
shafts separated by small rolls, and having moulded
capitals of octagonal form with a common upper
member to their abaci; the bases are moulded and
stand on octagonal plinths. To the south of the
arch, cutting partly into the splay of the low-side
window, is a 16th-century squint from the south
aisle with a cinquefoiled segmental head. Externally
the walls are crowned by a modern embattled
parapet.
The east window of the north chapel has a twocentred head and is of two plain lights with a plain
spandrel. Most of the stonework is modern, but the
internal jambs and rear-arch are of original early
14th-century date. In the north wall, which has no
windows, is a fine early 14th-century tomb recess
with shafted jambs and an elaborately
moulded drop two-centred head having
cinquefoiled and sub-foliated soffit-cusping. Inclosing the head is a label with
spirited head-stops, and over the apex and
the springing are three blank shields.
The nave arcades are each of three
bays, with piers and responds similar in
detail to the responds of the chancel
arch, and sharply pointed two-centred
arches of two wave-moulded orders
separated by a deep casement. The east
responds are nearly continuous with
those of the chancel arch, the suite of
attached shafts being interrupted only by
a narrow swelled chamfer masking the
eastern internal angles of the nave. The
arches have labels with uncarved stops
on the nave face. Over the south-west
pier is a square recess with moulded
edges; it appears to have been originally
closed by a grille and may possibly have
contained relics. The clearstory has two
windows on either side, and one in the
east gable over the chancel arch, each of two trefoiled
lights with vertical quatrefoil tracery in a two-centred
head. The walls are crowned externally by an
enriched cornice and embattled parapet, the latter
having evidently been designed for a roof of lower
pitch than the present one.
The rebuilt north aisle has two pointed three-light
windows with a plain pointed doorway between them.
An inscribed stone let into the wall externally bears
the date 1801. The weather-mould of the original
roof remains upon the north wall of the tower. The
east window of the south aisle is an early 14th-century
insertion of three lights with intersecting tracery in
a pointed head inclosed by an external label. To
the north of the window is the opening of the squint
to the chancel, which has a segmental cinquefoiled
head like that on the chancel face. At the east end
of the south wall, placed too high in the wall to be
in its original position, is a rectangular piscina recess
with a round basin. To the west of this is a squareheaded 15th-century window of three cinquefoiled
ogee lights with vertical tracery in the head, inserted
evidently for the better lighting of the aisle altar.
The south doorway, opposite the third bay of the
south arcade, has been reconstructed, but the label
appears to be original 14th-century work. At the
west end of the wall is a plain 13th-century lancet
with wide internal splays and a flat segmental reararch, while in the west wall is a similar but larger
lancet with an external label. Externally the walls
are crowned by a cornice and embattled parapet like
that of the nave.
The tower is of two stages with an embattled
parapet, the lower stage containing two stories. The
tower arch is two-centred and of three moulded
orders, the inner orders springing from responds of
a more elaborate plan than those of the nave arcades
and chancel arch, but having capitals of the same
design. Their bases appear to be made up of 13thcentury capitals, perhaps those of the responds of an
earlier tower arch. The outer order is continuous
on the nave face, but on the west face dies upon the
side walls of the tower. In the west wall of the
ground stage is a late 15th-century window of three
cinquefoiled lights within a four-centred head. In
the east and west walls of the ringing chamber are
plain round-headed 12th-century lights, the former
now looking into the nave. The early 14th-century
bell-chamber is lighted from each side by a large
trefoiled light with an external label.
Plan of Clifton Reynes Church
The porch is quite plain, and has stone seats on
either side and a pointed outer entrance with chamfered
angles.
The nave has a low-pitched king-post roof with
wall brackets resting on wooden corbels; on the tiebeam of the eastern truss is inscribed 'H O R W C
1637.' The roof of the north aisle must certainly
be earlier than the date of its rebuilding; the timbers
are probably those of a 16th-century roof re-used.
The font is a fine example of late 14th-century
work. The bowl is octagonal and has a small shaft
at each angle, from each pair of which springs a segmental arch forming a niche which contains a figure.
In the niche on the north face are figures of the
Virgin and Child, with St. Margaret and St. Katherine
in the niches on either side, and on the south is the
Trinity, with St. Peter and St. Paul in the flanking
niches. In the east and west niches are St. Michael
and St. Mary Magdalene or, more likely, St. Barbara,
as the object held in the hands resembles a tower
rather than the box of ointment. The lower edge
of the bowl is enriched with heads and foliage, and
each face of the octagonal stem, which stands on a
moulded base, has a traceried panel. The altar table
is of the 17th century. Two chairs of the same period
with carved backs and shaped arms also remain in the
chancel.
The south-west window of the chancel and the
east clearstory window of the nave contain fragments
of late 14th-century glass, which are said to have
been brought from Emberton Church. In the
former window is the figure of a bishop with a
border composed of various fragments, and in the
head of the window are fragments of canopy work
with a leopard's head. In the north light of the east
clearstory window is an imperfect figure of a saint
holding a book, and in the south light is the head of
another saint, both being made up with fragments of
canopy work. The main lights of the western of the
two north windows of the clearstory contain some
good heraldic glass of the early 15th century, evidently
contemporary with the clearstory. The west light,
which has ornamental quarries and borders, contains
a shield of Reynes impaling Reynes, while in the
east light, replaced inside out, is a shield of arms—Gules a cheveron between three scallops or—for
Chamberlain. In the partition cutting off the west
end of the north aisle is set part of the panelled side
of a 15th-century table tomb comprising three quatrefoils, in one of which remains a shield charged with
two bars. Several other fragments of moulded stone
are preserved at the west end of the same aisle. These
include two traceried panels of the 14th century,
which must have formed part of the side of an altar
or tomb, several moulded jamb-stones of 15th-century
section, and a fragment of the edge of a moulded slab.
In the recess in the north wall of the north chapel
is a pair of wooden effigies representing a knight and
his lady, perhaps Sir Ralf Reynes, who held Clifton
in 1302–3, and his second wife Mabel, (fn. 158) daughter of
Sir Richard Chamberlain. The knight has crossed
legs and wears a mail coif with a fillet, a hauberk of
mail covered by a short surcoat and showing the
haketon beneath, hose of mail with knee-cops, and
the straps of spurs, which are now gone. With his
right hand he grasps his sword, which is suspended
from a plain belt hung obliquely, and his feet rest on
a dog, the head being supported by two cushions.
The lady wears a coverchief and wimple, a kirtle with
tight sleeves and a long sleeveless cote. Beneath her
head are two cushions and at her feet is a dog.
Upon an elaborate early 14th-century table tomb
in the west bay of the chancel arcade is a second pair
of wooden effigies of a knight and lady in the costume
of c. 1320. These would seem to be Sir Thomas
Reynes, son of Ralf Reynes and Mabel, who was
living as late as 1354, and his wife Joan, who by
the heraldry on the tomb appears to have been a
Tyringham. The knight is represented as wearing
what may be intended for a bascinet with camail, or
possibly a coif of mail with a steel cap beneath it.
Over his mail hauberk, which has a pointed skirt,
appear to be two garments, a short cyclas-like surcoat
and a pourpoint with an embattled fringe. Beneath
the hauberk appears the lower edge of the haketon.
His legs are crossed, and are protected by hose of
mail and knee-cops. On his left arm is a small
heater-shaped shield. The sword has gone, and his
right hand has been broken away. The feet rest on
a dog and the head on two cushions. The lady
wears a wimple and a coverchief, held in place by
fillets passing over the crown of her head and round
her temples, a kirtle with close-fitting sleeves and a
sleeveless cote. At her feet is a dog, and under her
head are two cushions. The tomb upon which these
effigies are placed has its sides panelled with quatrefoils containing shields. Those on the north side,
beginning from the east, are as follows: three arches,
for Arches; a cheveron cheeky between three scallops,
for Chamberlain; Chamberlain impaling Reynes;
Reynes; and two lions passant with a label of three
points, perhaps for Ekeny. On the south side of the
tomb, taking them in the same order, are the following shields: a cross engrailed, perhaps for Drayton;
ermine a fesse charged with three millrind crosses, for
Paynel; three harts at gaze, for Green; a saltire
engrailed, for Tyringham, impaling Reynes; and
bezanty a quarter ermine, for Zouche.
In the east bay of the arcade is a fine table tomb of
the last quarter of the 14th century, with the recumbent effigies in stone of a knight and his lady. The
knight wears a pointed bascinet with camail, epaulieres
and arm-pieces of plate, a tight jupon of the arms
of Reynes, beneath which appears the skirt of the
mail hauberk, a richly-studded belt with an elaborate
clasp, and cuisses and jambs of plate, with sollerets
upon his feet. Upon his hands, which are in prayer,
are gadded gauntlets; his sword has been broken
away. The head rests on a helm and the feet upon
a finely sculptured dog wearing a collar bearing the
letters B O, with a cinquefoil flower between them;
the letters probably stand for the dog's name. The
lady wears the nebuly head-dress, a kirtle, over which
is a sideless cote, cut low at the neck, and decorated
with a line of elaborately ornamented buttons extending from the neck to the waist, and a cloak over all
fastened by a band with rich clasps. The head rests
upon two pillows and the feet upon a pair of small
dogs. The sides of the tomb have shallow niches
or housings with trefoiled ogee heads, crocketed and
finialled, and small gabled and crocketed buttresses
between them. The niches contain a fine series of
weepers, and the tomb is crowned by a cornice with
shields. On the north side are the following shields:
a chief with a lion passant therein, for Brok; three
stirrups, for Scudamore; three crosses fitchy and in
chief a demi-lion; a cross engrailed, perhaps for
Drayton; a scutcheon in an orle of martlets; Tyringham; and a fesse between six crosses formy. The
shields on the south side are as follows: Chamberlain;
Paynel; Tyringham; ermine a chief indented, for
Morteyne; Arches; Green; an indecipherable shield;
and Zouche. The ends of the tomb abut upon the
column and respond of the arcade, and are unsculptured. This monument has been ascribed, but with
little probability, to Sir John Reynes, who died in
1428, and is commemorated by a brass in the north
chapel. (fn. 159) The monument in this case would have
been erected at the death of his first wife Katherine
Scudamore, who was alive in 1388. It is far more
likely that the monument commemorates Thomas,
this John Reynes's father, who died between 1388
and 1394. The appearance of the arms of Scudamore would be explained by the supposition that
the monument was erected by Sir Thomas's son
John, whose first wife was Katherine Scudamore.
The later brass affords an interesting commentary on
the development of plate armour in the intervening
period. The gorget or standard of plate takes the
place of the camail, and the jupon has gone out of
use, the breastplate, which appears to be worn over
mail, being exposed. The armpits are protected by
roundels, and the elbow pieces have fan-shaped terminations. The legs and lower taces have disappeared.
Beneath is the inscription: 'Hic iacet Joñes Reynes
Miles qui obiit xxv° die Marcii anno dñ1 Mill'imo
cccc°xxviij° Cuius a[n]i[ma]e ppicietur deus amen.' At the
corners of the slab are shields of Reynes. In the
floor is a slab with brasses of a man and woman in
shrouds, with shields of Reynes, and Reynes impaling
Tyringham, at the four corners. The inscription has
disappeared, but the brass may be assigned to John
Reynes, who was living in 1498. (fn. 160)
In the chancel are floor slabs to Ann daughter of
Richard Bernar (d. 1639); to Elizabeth daughter of
Samuel Pepys, rector (d. 1680); to the same Samuel
Pepys (d. 1703), and to George Pryer, 'gdson of
William Pryer ye Elder' (d. 1718). In the north
aisle are slabs to Mary Dennis (d. 1652); to Peter son
of Samuel Pepys (d. 1684), and a slab, apparently
to a Dennis, bearing the date 1637.
There is a ring of six bells, the treble, a modern
addition, and the remaining five by John Hodson,
dated 1664. The bells are now hung in a steel
frame. The old frame, removed in 1905, was dated
1631, and appears to have been constructed for
three larger bells.
The plate consists of a silver cup of 1692, a cover
paten without date letter, but bearing the same
maker's mark, a large pewter almsdish and a plated
flagon and plate, presented between 1805 and
1832.
The registers begin in 1653.
Advowson
Clifton Church was bestowed by
Simon de Borard in the early 13th
century on the Prioress of Stamford,
but, as he was then a minor in the custody of Roger
Torpel, he recovered the presentation against the
prioress in 1229, compensating her with 8s. rent and
1 virgate in Stathern (Leicestershire). (fn. 161) The advowson of the church, valued at £8 13s. 4d. in 1291 (fn. 162)
and at £13 6s. 9d. in 1535, (fn. 163) henceforward descended
with the manor of Clifton Reynes (fn. 164) until 1816,
when it was bequeathed by Alexander Small in trust
for Henry Alexander Small, to whom and his
heirs it was conveyed after he had been inducted
and instituted rector. (fn. 165) He was holding it about
1862, (fn. 166) but before 1877 it had passed to the Rev. W.
Sutthery, who was also rector. He was still holding
in 1883, but in 1895 Mrs. G. G. Sutthery presented
the Rev. W. Stanley Sutthery, and at the present day
the patron is Mr. A. M. Sutthery. (fn. 167)
The rectory was leased in 1565 by the parson,
William Astbury, to Ralf Scrope, who transferred his
interest to John Studder. The latter in 1571 brought
an action against Francis Lowe, lord of the manor,
who had deprived him of his rights of common, as
lessee of the rectory, for six beasts and forty sheep. (fn. 168)
Francis Lowe had previously been in trouble for
seeking to obtain by persuasion and threat the benefice
in farm. He had had a lease of the parsonage, worth
£30 a year, and allowed Richard Ellis, the parson, a
mere £6. (fn. 169)
In 1343 Thomas Reynes received a licence to have
an oratory in his house at Clifton Reynes. (fn. 170)
Charities
Sir Hugh Kite, as appears from the
Parliamentary Returns of 1786, gave
land then let at £12 per annum for
the poor. The land, known as Kite's Closes, contains
19 a. 1 r. 26 p. and is let at £11 14s. yearly. About
one-third of the net income is distributed in bread,
cheese, tea, &c., the remainder being retained by the
rector. (fn. 171)
The Church Allotment consists of 3 a. 1 r. 8 p. of
pasture land let at £3 10s. yearly, which is applied
towards the upkeep of the church.