OLNEY with WARRINGTON
Ollaneg (x cent.); Olnei (xi cent.); Olnea (xii
cent.); Ouneia, Ouneya (xiii cent.); Olneye (xiii–xv
cent.).
The ancient parish of Olney covers 3,366 acres (fn. 1)
on the left bank of the Ouse and contains the township of Olney, the civil parish of Olney Park Farm,
and the hamlet of Warrington. The land for the
most part lies low, for the River Ouse, which
here suddenly bends northwards, forms both the
southern and eastern boundaries of the parish. The
highest point, 355 ft., is reached at the extreme
north of the parish, but the greater portion of the
town stands at about 172 ft. to 200 ft. above the
ordnance datum and some 12 ft. to 40 ft. above the
level of the stream. The parish lies principally on
soil of the oolitic series, but cornbrash is found in the
north and the subsoil of the higher land is Oxford
Clay. Most of the land is laid down in grass, but
1,227 acres are arable and 33 acres woodland. (fn. 2)
Agriculture absorbs most of the labour, although
within recent years a large brewery and tanyard have
been established and the making of boots and shoes is
also carried on. In 1769 the town was famed for
its 'considerable Manufacture of Bone-lace' (fn. 3) ; the
trade greatly decreased in the middle of the 19th
century, (fn. 4) but has lately been revived.
In the earliest known mention of Olney the boundaries are said to run along a brook to the Ouse and
along the river to Wilinford. (fn. 5) It is probably to this ford
that Olney owes its origin, for the town runs northward from the river along the road from Newport
Pagnell to Wellingborough, and the High Street is
but a widening of this highway. The river was
crossed by a ford at this point until the reign of
Queen Anne, when, according to tradition, the bridge
of 'wearisome but necessary length' (fn. 6) was built across
the whole valley, thus making communication with
the south possible throughout the year, (fn. 7) even when
the river was in flood. (fn. 8) The bridge was much
dilapidated and was rebuilt in 1832. At its northern
end this bridge joined the more ancient one said to
have been built in 1619, (fn. 9) and itself the successor of a
bridge which was out of repair in 1334. (fn. 10) Near the
five old arches an iron bridge was built in 1894.
The town is entered by Bridge Street. The
shrubbery on the left of the bridge was a shallow
pool in the 18th century, and across the road was the
Anchor Inn, usually kept by the toll-keeper, and
perhaps built on the site of the orchard next the
bridge mentioned in 1425–6. (fn. 11) At its northern end
Bridge Street enters the High Street, Church Street
running to the east and south, and Weston Road,
once Dagnall Street, running west. Still going northward the High Street enters the triangular Market
Place at its south-west corner, and then, leaving it at
the north, runs straight on for about 600 yds. to an
open space, where it divides, one branch going north
to Wellingborough, and the other east to Bedford.
Modern development, chiefly due to the manufacture
of shoes, has occurred in the north of the town, where
the station on the Bedford and Northampton branch
of the Midland railway stands. Building has also been
carried on along East and West Streets, the two 'back
lanes' that run parallel with the High Street on either
side.
Just north of the open space at the head of the
High Street is the Home Close, through which an
ancient road running towards Lavendon could still be
traced in 1862. (fn. 12) Home Close also contains the
'Chrysten Well' mentioned in 1556. (fn. 13) Near the
Home Close in the High Street is the Castle Inn, a
17th-century house, now much restored. The Duke
of York Inn, also in the High Street, bears the
inscription ME In 1682. In 1860 another house at this end of
the town contained some interesting reliefs in stucco
work wrought at the expense of 'Mr. John Brunt,' one
of the king's messengers, in 1624. (fn. 14) The northern part
of Olney was described in 1862 as having 'a much
more ancient aspect than the south end,' many of
the houses being thatched and having gable ends. (fn. 15)
The description is the more remarkable, since a
disastrous fire in June 1854 'consumed about 50
houses near the N.E. end of the town, 30 more being
damaged.' (fn. 16) Some of the older houses, mostly of
the 17th century, still stand in this quarter. The
footpath that runs past the houses on either side of
the High Street is a comparatively modern improvement. Until about 1790 or 1791 a stream ran
from the Yardley Road down the western side of the
High Street to the High Arch, a bridge now marked
by a slight rise in the level of the ground. Here it
was met by a second brook flowing north down the
street from Spring Lane, and the combined stream
then ran east to the Ouse. (fn. 17) The road was carried
on a raised causeway in the middle of the street, and
this was kept in repair by the Causeway Charity,
which was in existence at least as early as 1556, when
the 'Cawse house' is mentioned. (fn. 18)
Standing back from the middle of the High Street, on
the east side, is the Cowper Memorial Congregational
Church, built in 1879 to replace the Independent
Meeting-house built in 1700. (fn. 19) This congregation was
formed by a secession from the Baptists, whose old
meeting-house, still standing, was built in 1694 and
enlarged in 1763. (fn. 20) The Baptist chapel occupies the site
of Joseph Kent's barn, licensed for Presbyterian meetings
in 1672, (fn. 21) and used until the revocation of the indulgence in 1678, when meetings were held at Northey in
Lavendon, close to the border of both Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. (fn. 22) Nonconformity has always
been strong in Olney, (fn. 23) and the town was the scene
of the labours of John Sutcliff, one of the founders of
the Baptist Missionary Society, who in 1799 established a seminary for the training of missionaries in
what is now No. 23 High Street. (fn. 24) William Bull
(1738–1814), the Independent, frequently preached
at Olney, both at the meeting-house and at the Great
House, where John Newton was always glad of his
help. (fn. 25) The Wesleyans built an iron chapel here in
1902, and in Silver End is an old meeting-house of
the Society of Friends, now used by the Salvation
Army. Owing probably to the presence of the
Throckmorton family at Weston Underwood, Roman
Catholicism has a footing in the neighbourhood, and
in 1900 the church of Our Lady, Help of Christians,
and St. Laurence was built. Adjoining the church is
the convent of St. Joseph, belonging to the congregation of the Holy Ghost.
Around the market-place are several 17th and
18th-century houses of stone with tiled roofs; one on
the south side bears on its modern front the date
1622 and the initials G, while another on the north
side has two stones built into the south-west wall,
inscribed T S and I G respectively. It has altered in
appearance since Cowper's day, though a few of the old
buildings remain. Then as now the Bull Inn stood on
the west, while opposite were the 'Royal Oak' and the
'Swan.' (fn. 26) None of these names occur among the inns
of the 15th century, but in 1556 there was an inn
called the 'Cross Keys,' and mention is also made of
the 'Harteshorne.' (fn. 27) In the centre of the open space
stood the Shill Hall, (fn. 28) a stone building lying north
and west with a room approached by a double flight
of steps. No building of this name occurs in the
mediaeval surveys, but there seems little doubt that
it represents the 'Mottehale in the market place'
of 1440–1, (fn. 29) if not the 'Church House or Town
House' of 1556. (fn. 30) In the Shill Hall Samuel Teedon
kept his school, though in 1791 the building was
threatened; in or about 1816 it was destroyed. (fn. 31) In
the middle of the 18th century it was said that there
was no market house here, but good shambles, successors of the 'Flescheshalles' that were repaired in
1440–1. (fn. 32)
To the north-east of the Shill Hall stood the
Round House or 'lock up,' taken down in 1846. (fn. 33)
The south-east corner of the market-place is called
Silver End, the inhabitants of which gave William
Cowper the poet so much annoyance and amusement.
No mention of Silver End has been found in mediaeval
records, but it doubtless takes its name from the Silver
Street Lane mentioned in 1556. (fn. 34) Cowper's house,
far from being 'deep in the abyss of Silver End,' stands
near the centre of the southern side of the marketplace, and in his day was known as Orchard
Side. It is an 18th-century building of three
stories with a red brick front and slate roof.
After varying fortunes, the house was presented
to the town by Mr. W. H. Collingridge on
25 April 1900, the centenary of Cowper's
death. (fn. 35) The day was celebrated with great
ceremony, and the building was formally opened
as a Cowper and Newton Museum, the property
being vested in eight trustees.
On 16 September 1767, two days after
Cowper and Mrs. Unwin reached Olney,
Newton wrote to Lord Dartmouth that the
house was small and cut 'a rueful appearance,
having been for a long time empty and in the
hands of very poor tenants.' (fn. 36) His hopes that
when it was furbished up it would be 'tolerable
considering the place' do not seem to have been
fulfilled, for Unwin was shocked when he saw
the house and thought it like a prison. (fn. 37) Internally
it was comfortable enough. While it was used
as the first infants' school certain alterations
were made, but some of the rooms have been
recently restored. At the back was the greenhouse where Cowper wrote John Gilpin, (fn. 38) and at
the end of the garden the summer-house. The
garden ran south, and was separated from that
of the vicarage by an orchard, now called the
Guinea Field, from the circumstance that Cowper
and Newton paid a guinea yearly for right of
way between the gardens, thus avoiding a walk
through the town.
The vicarage, a building of two stories and
attics with a dentil cornice and tiled roof, lies
on the north side of Church Street and a short
distance from the end of Bridge Street. William
Johnson rebuilt the house in the middle of the 17th
century, but little of this structure remains. The
present vicarage is the 'comfortable habitation' built
by Lord Dartmouth for John Newton (1725–1807),
the former slaver, who was destined to become
one of the leading spirits of the Evangelical revival
in the Church of England. Newton was ordained
deacon in April 1764 and priest two months later,
having through the influence of Lord Dartmouth
secured a title to the curacy of Olney under the
non-resident rector, Moses Brown, author of Angling
Sports. (fn. 39) The study in which Newton wrote the
Letters of Omicron and Cardiphonia is an attic at the
east end of the house. (fn. 40) Over the mantelpiece
may still be seen the texts (fn. 41) Newton caused to be
painted there when he took possession of the house. (fn. 42)
Newton drew round him a distinguished company of
friends and with Cowper's aid organized much parish
work and many services.
A little beyond the vicarage is the water-mill, probably on the site of that mill which in 1086 was worth
to the lord 40s. and 200 eels. (fn. 43) There were two
mills appurtenant to the manor in February 1343–4,
but only one is mentioned in 1411–12. (fn. 44) The
mill was let at farm in 1440–1, (fn. 45) and this policy was
continued by the Crown in the 16th and 17th
centuries.
Cowper's Summer House, Olney
Just across the road from the vicarage and between
the mill and the church stood the Great House, an
E-shaped building of three stories with stone-mullioned
windows, built before 1624. (fn. 46) It seems possible that
this occupied the site of 'the old parsonage' mentioned
in 1503 (fn. 47) and of the tenement of the rector which in
1556 was certainly on this side of the road. (fn. 48) The
house was enlarged by William Johnson in the middle
of the 17th century, (fn. 49) and with the rectory came into
the hands of Lord Dartmouth, (fn. 50) who placed its rooms
at Newton's disposal for services and meetings. (fn. 51) It was
for these services that Cowper and Newton wrote some
of the 'Olney Hymns' (fn. 52) which include 'How sweet the
name of Jesus sounds' and 'God moves in a mysterious
way.' Later the house was in habited by the Rev. Henry
Gauntlett, the Evangelical divine, who was vicar
here from 1815 to 1833. (fn. 53) It was afterwards deserted, and, becoming ruinous, was pulled down before
1857. (fn. 54)
Close to the church is a field called The Lordship
Close. Though all memory of their origin has been
lost, the foundations traceable here are probably those
of 'the lordship' which was standing until at least the
reign of Charles II. (fn. 55) William Byfield was in possession
of a capital messuage in 1302, (fn. 56) and in February
1343–4 it was described as having but a dilapidated
dovecote and no garden. (fn. 57)
Olney Park Farm
The extremely restricted character of the site,
hemmed in between the river, the high road and the
rectory, probably led to the formation of Olney Park
by Ralph Lord Basset under licence obtained in
1374. (fn. 58) The tract inclosed now forms the civil
parish of Olney Park Farm and contains 206 acres;
though formerly extra-parochial, (fn. 59) it is now included
in the ecclesiastical parish of Olney. It lay on the
extreme northern border of the parish, with 'the
beastes pasture' on the south-east and the common
arable fields to the south and south-west. (fn. 60) In the
reign of Elizabeth the park was paled, and in 1608
contained 3,854 trees. (fn. 61) Sylle woode (Seley wode,
xv cent.) lay at the extreme south-west of the park,
while 45 acres north of the Lodge were known as
the Great Grove. (fn. 62) The park came with the manor
into the possession of the Crown, and the office of
keeper was granted to various distinguished persons,
including Arthur Lord Grey de Wilton (1536–93)
and Christopher Lord Hatton. (fn. 63) In 1640 the Earl
of Northampton was staying at the Lodge, (fn. 64) which,
a few years later, was described as built of timber
and stone very strongly and covered with tile. (fn. 65)
It contained a hall, parlour and small buttery
adjoining; 'above stares in the first Storry three
chambers and in the second Storry two chambers
and a clossett there,
and in another Rainge
of Buildings standinge
on the West side of
the sayd Howse.' (fn. 66)
At the time of the
Commonwealth Survey there were no
deer, but 'all that
game of Conneys
beinge in the parke'
were valued at £10. (fn. 67)
Lying among the
fields close to the
boundary of Warrington is Olney Hyde. (fn. 68)
Though now only a
farm, it was evidently
of more importance in
the middle ages, for it
was described as a
hamlet in 1353, (fn. 69) and
in 1411–12 there
were twelve customary
tenants as well as freemen and cottagers. (fn. 70)
The township of Warrington contains 1,008 acres
and stretches down to the river; it is well-wooded. The
hamlet is small, but contains several cottages of interest.
The Earl of Lincoln had a messuage here which was
broken into in 1285–6. (fn. 71) The house is again mentioned in 1294, when it and its whole inclosure were
valued at 13s. 4d. (fn. 72) In the 18th century the hall
was the residence of a branch of the Throckmorton
family. (fn. 73)
Borough
Very little is known of the mesne
borough of Olney, the lordship of
which followed the descent of the
manor. (fn. 74) Though possibly in existence at an earlier
date, it is first definitely found in 1237, (fn. 75) and from
this date the vill regularly made separate presentments
before the justices in eyre. The number of the early
burgage tenements seems to have been fifty-six. (fn. 76) Each
of these paid 1s. in 1302, (fn. 77) but a readjustment of
rents was made in 1425 or 1426. (fn. 78) In 1440–1 the
tenements were usually held as half burgages at 8d. or
9d. rent, with a further sum of 6d. for commuted
works. (fn. 79) These half burgages were still usual in 1556,
but the rents were then very varied and ranged from
3s. 4½d. to ½d., (fn. 80) the amount probably being determined by the quantity of land held beyond the curtilage. The position of these burgages is not known,
though they certainly stretched along the High Street,
and were also found in Above the Bere Lane, Jeffreys
Lane and Silver Street Lane. (fn. 81) From the 18thcentury evidence (fn. 82) it seems probable that the High
Arch was the northern limit of the borough. The
large number of 13th and 14th-century fines of small
quantities of land in Olney would seem to show that
the burgesses had power to alienate their holdings (fn. 83) ;
in the 15th century all leases were entered on the
rolls of the court of the borough. (fn. 84)
The borough courts or portmotes were held on a
Tuesday at intervals roughly of three weeks, a fact
suggestive of their origin in the manorial court. (fn. 85) At
this court were heard pleas of debt and trespass.
Four great portmotes and sixteen portmotes sat in
1497–8, when the perquisites were 22s. 2d. (fn. 86) A
great portmote was held on the Tuesdays following
the feasts of St. Denis (9 October), St. Hilary
(13 January), St. Ambrose (4 April), and SS. Peter
and Paul (29 June). (fn. 87) At the first of these courts the
officers for the year were elected and sworn in, while
as elsewhere presentments were made by each according to his office: thus the constables presented
assaults, the ale-tasters presented breaches of the assize
of ale, and the tithing men nuisances. (fn. 88) At this court
also the holders of burgages paid relief and did fealty. (fn. 89)
The affairs of the borough were administered by
two reeves (prepositi), (fn. 90) and there was also a body of
twelve who on one occasion ordered the reeves to hale
an offender from the vill under penalty of 20s. (fn. 91) The
reeves had power to distrain for debt. Two ale-tasters
were also appointed as well as two market tasters, (fn. 92)
six tithing men, three for the vill and three for the
fields, and a hayward. Two constables were also
sworn in as officers of the king. (fn. 93)
Though the fact is not definitely stated, it seems
probable that the burgesses were the farmers of the
toll of the fair and market-place. (fn. 94)
The Monday market was prescriptive and was first
mentioned in January 1205–6. (fn. 95) It was still held on
Monday in the middle of the 18th century, (fn. 96) but
during the second half of the 19th century it fell into
decay and is now held on Thursdays fortnightly.
The fair on Easter Monday is also prescriptive, but
licence for the fair now known as the 'Cherry Fair'
on 29 June (fn. 97) was obtained by Ralph Lord Basset in
1316 for the vigil, feast and morrow of St. Peter and
St. Paul. (fn. 98)
Manors
Although the earliest mention of
OLNEY occurs in the grant of 10
hides here in 979 by King Ethelred to
his kinsman Elfere, (fn. 99) the only other fact of its preConquest history that has survived is that in the reign
of Edward the Confessor the 'manor' here was held
by Borret, an important Northamptonshire thegn. (fn. 100)
Borret's land here as elsewhere was granted to the
Bishop of Coutances before 1086, when it was assessed
at 10 hides, of which 3 hides were on the bishop's
demesne. (fn. 101) The bishop's lands passed as forfeit to
the Crown; Olney was in the king's hands in
1162–3 and until at least 1194–5. (fn. 102) Between that
date and January 1205–6 it was granted to Randal
(de Blondevill) Earl of Chester. (fn. 103) Randal, who was
one of the chief supporters of King John and of
Henry III, obtained a quittance of scutage for a fee
here in 1214–15, (fn. 104) and was returned as holding two
fees in Olney in 1217–18. (fn. 105) Being childless he
resigned his earldom of Lincoln to Hawise his sister
at some time between April 1231 and his death in
October 1232. (fn. 106) His lands were divided among
his four sisters (fn. 107) or their descendants, Olney being
part of the 500 librates of land that formed the share
of Hugh (Daubeney) Earl of Arundel, (fn. 108) surviving son
and heir of Mabel wife of William Earl of Arundel,
while Warrington passed to Hawise. (fn. 109)
Hugh Daubeney was holding three-fourths of a
fee in Olney in or about 1234–5 (fn. 110) ; he died childless
in 1243, (fn. 111) leaving four sisters and co-heirs, Mabel,
Nichole, Cecily and Isabel. (fn. 112) Olney fell to the
share of Nichole wife of Roger de Somery, but was
granted to Isabel, Hugh's widow, in dower, and
she held it until her death in 1282. (fn. 113) Meanwhile
both Nichole and Roger had died; their son Ralph
predeceased them, his inheritance passing to his four
sisters (fn. 114) : Margaret widow of Ralph Basset the
younger and wife of Ralph de Cromwell, Joan wife
of John Lestrange, Mabel (or Elizabeth) wife of
Walter de Sully, and Maud wife of Henry de
Erdington. (fn. 115) The manor was delivered to the coheirs or their representatives for a season in 1282, but
complete livery was delayed perhaps until the full age of
all the co-heirs. (fn. 116) It is not evident that the Lestranges
obtained any permanent interest here, (fn. 117) for the manor
was apparently held for some years in common by
the families of Basset, Sully and Erdington.
Henry de Erdington was dead before December
1282, (fn. 118) and by the spring of 1285–6 Maud had married
William de Byfield without royal licence. (fn. 119) William
seems to have survived his wife and lived until about
1302, when Maud's son, Henry de Erdington, was
aged twenty-four. (fn. 120) Henry may possibly have quitclaimed his interests to the Basset family, for no
further mention is found of him in connexion with
this place. Short-lived, also, was the interest of
Mabel and Walter de Sully. Walter died before the
beginning of 1285–6, when her land in the hundred
of Bonestou was valued at £16. (fn. 121) Before 1310
Mabel and her son Raymond de Sully granted their
fourth part of the manor to Philip de Burley for
life. (fn. 122) Mabel died in or about 1312, (fn. 123) and Philip
was returned as one of the lords of the vill in 1316. (fn. 124)
He was still holding at Raymond's death about a
year later, when a reversionary interest was inherited
by Raymond's daughter Elizabeth, wife of William
de Brus (Brewose). (fn. 125) William and Elizabeth were in
possession of one-fourth of a knight's fee here in
1346. (fn. 126)
Margaret, the eldest daughter and co-heir of Roger
de Somery, (fn. 127) married Ralph Basset, Lord Basset of
Drayton, by whom she had a son and heir Ralph. (fn. 128)
Her husband died in 1265, (fn. 129) and she then married Ralph de Cromwell, who was living in the
spring of 1285–6. (fn. 130) Before June 1293 she had
entered the religious life. (fn. 131) Ralph Basset, her son
and heir, died 31 December 1299, and was succeeded by Ralph his son. (fn. 132) Ralph was returned as
one of the three joint lords of the vill in 1316, (fn. 133)
and took a considerable interest in Olney, where he
received a grant of free warren in 1330. (fn. 134) Olney
was one of the manors included in the elaborate
marriage settlement made by him in 1339, (fn. 135) and
from this time it followed the descent of the manor
of Hanslope (q.v.), coming into the possession of the
Beauchamps, Earls of Warwick. With other manors
it was quitclaimed by Anne Countess of Warwick in
the spring of 1487–8 to Henry VII, (fn. 136) who, however, restored Olney to her for life two years afterwards. (fn. 137) She died before 4 December 1492, (fn. 138) when
it reverted to the Crown. (fn. 139) In 1548 Edward VI
granted Olney to the Princess Mary for life, (fn. 140) and it
was the subject of various leases (fn. 141) until the spring
of 1628–9, when it formed part of the vast grant
made by Charles I to the citizens of London. (fn. 142)
Some ten years later the manor was purchased
from the trustees by Richard Nicoll, a Turkey
merchant of London, from whom it passed to his
son William Nicoll, and was then inherited by his
son Richard Nicoll of Norbiton (co. Surrey). (fn. 143)
Richard left two daughters and co-heirs, of whom Judith
married George Gounter of Racton (co. Sussex), (fn. 144)
and Frances remained a spinster. Judith had one
son, Sir Charles Gounter Nicoll, K.B., of Wherwell (Hampshire), but he predeceased his mother in
1733, (fn. 145) leaving no male issue. On her death in or
about 1737 Judith left all her Buckinghamshire
manors to her daughter Catherine, wife of Sir Henry
Maynard, bart., of Walthamstow, with remainder to
Catherine's son William and his issue and contingent
remainder to Elizabeth and Frances Katharine,
daughters of Sir Charles Gounter Nicoll. (fn. 146) Catherine
survived her husband and died in 1744, (fn. 147) when her
lands descended to her son Sir William Maynard,
bart. Meanwhile Frances Nicoll, by her will proved
in 1743, had left her moiety of the manors of
Olney, Warrington, &c., to Catherine for life, with
remainder to Elizabeth and
Frances Katharine Gounter
Nicoll and their issue. (fn. 148) Elizabeth died shortly afterwards, (fn. 149)
Frances Katharine being her
heir. In 1755 she married
William (Legge) second Earl
of Dartmouth, (fn. 150) who is said to
have obtained the remaining
moiety of the manors from Sir
William Maynard at about
the time of the marriage. (fn. 151)
Legge, Earl of Dart-mouth. Azure a hart's head cabossed argent.
Lord Dartmouth's great
interest in the Evangelical
Revival earned him the name
of the Psalm Singer, (fn. 152) and though Colonial Secretary
in 1772–5 and Lord Privy Seal in 1775–82 he
found opportunity for interest in the schemes of
Newton and for correspondence with the leading
members of the seriously-minded society of his day. (fn. 153)
He died in 1801, (fn. 154) and was succeeded by his son
George third Earl of Dartmouth, President of the
India Board in 1801, and afterwards Lord Warden
of the Stannaries. On his death in 1810 the title
and estates passed to his son William, on whose death
in 1853 they devolved on William Walter, his eldest
surviving son. (fn. 155) The fifth earl died in 1891, when
he was succeeded by his son William Heneage, Earl
of Dartmouth, sometime member of Parliament for
West Kent and for Lewisham. His son and heir
William Viscount Lewisham, who since 1910 has
represented West Bromwich in Parliament, is the
present lord of the manor.
Olney had its full complement of manorial courts.
View of frankpledge was held once a year at the close
of the 13th century, (fn. 156) and this liberty, together with
those of waifs and quittance of suit at the county and
hundred courts, was claimed by the lords of the manor
in the spring of 1285–6. (fn. 157) In 1411–12 the perquisites
of the view were said to be usually 64s. 10d., (fn. 158) but the
value greatly decreased within the next hundred
years. (fn. 159) Pleas of debt were heard in the halmote,
which sat sixteen times in 1497–8, when the perquisites amounted to 103s. 8d. (fn. 160) The number of
courts varied, but in 1440 only four halmotes were
held, and there was one court leet held on the feast
of the Decollation of St. John Baptist, besides ten
courts of freemen. (fn. 161) At a later date the courts leet
and baron were held once yearly at the Bull Inn.
No mention of WARRINGTON (Wardington,
Wardyngton, xiii–xvii cent.) is found in the Domesday Survey, and it appears to have been assessed with
Olney, which it followed in descent until the death of
Randal de Blondevill, Earl of Chester. It then fell to
the share of Hawise, the earl's fourth sister. Margaret,
only child of Hawise by her husband Robert de
Quincy, married John de Lacy, who was created
Earl of Lincoln in 1232. (fn. 162) He died in 1240, and
was succeeded by his son Edmund, a minor. On
his death in 1257 Warrington passed to his son
Henry Earl of Lincoln, (fn. 163) who obtained a grant of
free warren in his demesne lands here in 1294. (fn. 164) In
this same year Henry received licence to lease the
manor for life to whomsoever
he would. (fn. 165) On his death in
February 1310–11 he was succeeded by Alice his daughter,
who married Thomas, son
of Edmund 'Crouchback,'
younger son of Henry III. (fn. 166)
Thomas, who succeeded his
father as Earl of Lancaster in
1296, (fn. 167) was one of the three
joint lords of Olney in 1316. (fn. 168)
His rebellion cost him his
head in March 1321–2, and
his lands were then seized by
the Crown. His brother
Henry became Earl of Lancaster in March 1326–7
on the reversal of the attainder, (fn. 169) and had a daughter
Mary, whose son Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland was in 1390 overlord of at least a portion of
Warrington. (fn. 170) Henry son of Henry Earl of Lancaster succeeded his father in 1345, and was created
Earl of Lincoln in 1349 and Duke of Lancaster
in March 1350–1. (fn. 171) He died in March 1360–1,
when his wide lands passed to Blanche his daughter,
wife of John of Gaunt. At some date before 1353, (fn. 172)
however, the manor of Warrington came into the
possession of the Bassets, who remained in possession
until the death of Ralph Lord Basset in 1390. (fn. 173) It
was then seized. (fn. 174) unjustly, as it was said, but probably under a writ of formedon or entail by Henry
Earl of Derby, evidently in right of his inheritance
through his mother, the Duchess Blanche. (fn. 175) Henry
succeeded his father in the duchy of Lancaster in
February 1398–9, and in September ascended the
throne as Henry IV. (fn. 176) From this time Warrington
has formed part of the duchy of Lancaster.
Lancaster. ENGLAND with the difference of a label of FRANCE.
In February 1407–8 Henry ordered the manor
and vill of Warrington to be delivered to Nicholas
Bradshaw, to be held by him for life, (fn. 177) and in 1415
it was vested in feoffees. (fn. 178) In 1604 the manor was
granted in fee to Sir George
Throckmorton, (fn. 179) lord of Fulbrook in Hogshaw (q.v.). He
died seised in 1612, having
settled the site of the manor
in February 1607–8 on himself for life, with remainder to
Raphael his son and Elizabeth
his wife for life, with remainder
to George their son. (fn. 180) Raphael
Throckmorton obtained livery
in 1618. (fn. 181) John Throckmorton
was in possession of the manor
in 1645, (fn. 182) and appears to have
been living here in 1675. (fn. 183)
He, or another of his name, died at Warrington in
1693, (fn. 184) and was apparently succeeded by another John
Throckmorton, in possession of the manor in 1710,
when a settlement was made. (fn. 185) Robert son of John
was baptized three years later. (fn. 186) The Throckmortons
parted with the manor not long afterwards, and in
1767 it was in the hands of Lord Dartmouth. (fn. 187) It
was apparently again sold, for in 1798 it was the
property of William Farrer of Cold Brayfield (fn. 188)
q.v.).
Throckmorton. Gules a cheveron argent charged with three gimel bars sable.
The reputed manor of WHITHILLS (Wightles,
xvii cent.) is first mentioned in the 16th century.
It seems to have derived its name from the family
of Wighthill, lords of Whitehill in the parish of
Tackley (co. Oxon.). Robert Wighthill, the first to
be mentioned in connexion with Olney, was in 1474
pardoned for having been concerned in the forgery
and publication of a deed relating to land in this
parish and in Warrington, Weston Underwood and
Sherington. (fn. 189) On his second marriage Robert settled
the Buckinghamshire lands on Margaret his wife
for life, but this arrangement was cancelled in 1523,
when the Oxfordshire manor was settled on Margaret,
with reversion to Joan wife of Owen Whitton and
daughter of Robert and Margaret. (fn. 190) Robert died in
the autumn of that year, leaving, by his first marriage,
a daughter, Bridget, aged fifty. (fn. 191) Bridget and her
sister Elizabeth immediately complained of having
been wronged by Margaret and Joan, seeing that the
Oxfordshire manor was of greater value than the
lands in Buckinghamshire. (fn. 192) It seems possible that
some exchange was afterwards made, for no mention
of Bridget or Elizabeth's heirs (fn. 193) has been found in
connexion with this place, and early in 1569–70 Joan
Whitton, widow, conveyed this manor of Whithills
to George Whitton. (fn. 194) In April 1575 George sued
Thomas Osborne and Edward Bromley for the detention of deeds relating to the manor, (fn. 195) and in 1602
he settled it on John Whitton alias Darling, Mary
daughter of John Knottesford, his bride, and their
issue. (fn. 196) George, who was lord of Hensington (co.
Oxon.), died there in 1606. (fn. 197) John Whitton alias
Darling made a conveyance of the manor in 1611,
when he was associated with Thomas Parker. (fn. 198)
Dorothy Parker, widow, with George Parker and
Dorothy his wife conveyed it to Robert Fitzhugh in
1629, (fn. 199) and in 1667 James Parker cut off the entail. (fn. 200)
Nothing was known of the manor in 1730, (fn. 201) and
there is no evidence to connect it with the reputed
manor of Dagnall, now represented by Dagnall House
in Weston Road, (fn. 202) for which no records exist.
Church
The church of ST. PETER AND
ST. PAUL consists of a chancel measuring internally 49 ft. by 22 ft. 5 in., nave
75 ft. 6 in. by 22 ft., north aisle 15 ft. 5 in. wide,
south aisle 16 ft. wide, west tower 17 ft. 8 in. square,
and north porch. It is built of ashlar, faced both
internally and externally, and the roofs are covered
with tiles, slates and lead.
A church existed in the parish from a very early
period, probably long before 1273, the date of the
first known reference, (fn. 203) but the present structure was
built during the middle of the 14th century, the
chancel being erected first and the other parts of the
building some few years later. As there are no vestiges of earlier work, the local tradition that it was
built on a new site is probably correct. By 1556
the chancel had become dilapidated (fn. 204) and was probably, with other parts of the building, soon afterwards repaired. A gallery was erected at the west
end of the nave in 1723, and another in the north
aisle in 1765, but both have been removed. In 1807
the church was extensively restored, particularly on
the north side, and the porch was rebuilt, an upper
story being added to it to be used as a schoolroom.
'To cover the expense of these operations,' observed
James Storer, writing about 1825, (fn. 205) 'it was unfortunately thought necessary to sacrifice a fine carved roof
that adorned the interior, and to strip the church of
its lead. Accordingly the curiously ornamented work
was broken to pieces, and the timber sold by auction
in the churchyard. Among the lots were a great
variety of figures and heads, some of which are still to
be seen in the town as ornaments in gardens or placed
upon barns and other buildings. The metal was sold
to a Birmingham merchant.' Plaster ceilings were
then substituted, and those over the nave and south
aisle still remain. The chancel was repaired in 1828
and again in 1832, and the whole building was restored
by Sir G. Gilbert Scott between 1870 and 1885. A
chapel dedicated in honour of our Lady once stood
in the churchyard, but all traces of it have now disappeared.
Plan of Olney Church.
The chancel is a charming example of 14th-century
work, and has preserved its original character despite
the various restorations it has undergone. In each
lateral wall are three tall windows with delicate tracery
under pointed heads, the tracery in each window
varying from that in the adjacent bay but corresponding to that of the window directly opposite. These
have all been repaired, but, with the exception of
those in the eastern bay, are mostly original. Both
the north and south windows of the western bay have
transoms in line with the sills of the other windows,
while their own sills are carried to a lower level,
thus forming low-side windows of three lights. An
arrangement similar to this occurs in the church at
Emberton, which in general character closely resembles
this building. The large traceried window in the east
wall is modern, though its design is probably similar
to that of the original window, (fn. 206) the jambs of which
remain. Below the middle window on the south is
a pointed doorway with an original rear-arch but
modern external stonework, and further east are three
sedilia in range with a piscina, divided from one
another by circular shafts; these have been entirely
renewed with the exception of the east jamb. On
the north, opposite the sedilia, is an original wide
tomb recess, which was probably used as an Easter
sepulchre, while at the east end of the wall there is a
plain aumbry; the former, which has been repaired, has
a moulded drop arch and contains a flat tomb with a
panelled front. The chancel arch is of three moulded
orders, which die into the wall on the north side and
into a short projection from the wall on the south, the
slight irregularity being probably due to the construction of the nave some few years after the chancel was
built; the projection is corbelled off a short distance
below the springing of the arch. There is an original
straight parapet on each of the north and south sides
of the chancel resting upon a corbel course embellished
with grotesques and flowers.
The nave has north and south arcades of five bays
with moulded arches acutely pointed and supported
by quatrefoil pillars and responds with moulded capitals
and bases. In the west wall is the pointed tower arch
which spans the full width of the ground-stage, its three
orders dying into the walls on either side. The
roof of the chancel is modern, and that of the nave
is concealed by a segmental plastered ceiling.
The north aisle is lighted by three windows on
the north and one on the west, all of three lights
with tracery in pointed heads. The north-west
window, with its flowing tracery, is original, but the
tracery of all the others is modern. Above the two
eastern windows on the north side are the outlines of
two windows, which were doubtless inserted in 1765
to give light to the north gallery, and have since
been blocked. The inner jambs of both the windows
of the western bay are enriched with large filleted
edge rolls which rise to intersect the mouldings of the
rear-arches, and the lower parts of the jambs of the
north-east window have similar rolls, now considerably hacked for plaster. There is no east window,
but at the south end of the east wall is an original
cinquefoiled piscina niche with a modern sill, which
served the chapel here. The north doorway, which
is also original, has a pointed head with a deep outer
splay, the mouldings of which are continued to the
floor; the present large label stops date from the late
17th century and represent a bishop and a priest.
The south aisle, which has a flat plastered ceiling,
has been much restored, and, excepting the jambs of
the south-west window, all the openings are practically
modern. The north porch, rebuilt in 1807, has a
plain entrance doorway with a two-centred drop
arch, and against the east wall is a straight flight of
stone steps leading to the upper room. A stone reset
on the outside, bearing the date 1686, probably
records a restoration of the original structure.
The tower is of three diminishing stages with
western diagonal buttresses, and is surmounted by a
stone broached spire, the sides of which have a very
pronounced entasis. Octagonal pinnacles were added
at the base of the spire, probably in the 17th century.
The ground stage has an original west doorway with
a pointed head of three moulded orders dying into
plain chamfered jambs. In the north jamb of the doorway is a hole for a heavy oak bolt, and an original west
window of two trefoiled lights with flowing tracery.
The second stage of the tower is plain and has a clock
face on the west. Both these divisions were designed
to form one lofty stage with a stone vault at the top,
the wall ribs, springers, and moulded corbels of which
still remain. The vault, however, has been removed,
the present intermediate chamber formed, and a
doorway, obviously of late date, cut through the wall
from the turret stairway, which originally ascended
directly to the bell-chamber. There is an original
pointed window of two cinquefoiled lights with
tracery in each wall of the bell-chamber, and the spire
is pierced by four tiers of spire-lights.
The font in use is modern, but there is an octagonal
font in the north aisle which probably dates from the
late 16th century and has a plain stem and base, and
a panelled bowl, the upper portion of which appears
to have been cut away.
On the north wall of the chancel is a mural monument to Catherine daughter of Thomas Johnson
(d. 1680), and on the south wall are two tablets, one
to the Rev. Moses Browne (d. 1787), who was vicar
of the parish for thirty-four years, and the other
to Lieut. William Mason and his brother Robert
Valentine Mason, 'who were both wrecked in the
Æolus Transport near the Isle of Portland in the
memorable gale of wind on the 18th of Novr. 1795.'
In the north aisle there is a mural monument to William
Gaines (d. 1657). On the west side of the porch is a
large iron-bound chest of the 17th century. The
Rev. John Newton, who was curate here from 1764
to 1779, and his wife, are buried in the churchyard,
where a monument has been erected over their grave.
Newton died in 1807 and his wife in 1790, and both
were originally buried at St. Mary Woolnoth, London,
but their remains were reinterred here in 1893.
The tower contains a ring of eight bells: the treble
and second are by Bowell & Sons of Ipswich, 1903;
the third by Henry Bagley, 1682; the fourth is
inscribed 'God save the Queen 1599'; the fifth is
by Henry Bagley, 1699; the sixth is inscribed
'Robert Atton of Buckingham made me, 1631'; the
seventh is by Thomas Russell, 1733; and the tenor
probably by one of the Bagleys, 1682. (fn. 207)
The communion plate consists of a cup and cover
paten of 1726, a cup and cover of 1796, dated 1797,
a standing paten of 1719, and a plated flagon.
The registers to 1812 are as follows: (i) all entries
1665 to 1733; (ii) 1734 to 1787; (iii) 1787 to
1812.
Advowson
The first mention of the church of
Olney is found in the 13th century,
when the advowson was in the hands
of the lords of the vill. (fn. 208) It followed the descent of
the manor until the spring of 1482–3, when Richard
Duke of Gloucester and Anne his wife, by licence of
Edward IV, (fn. 209) conveyed it to the Dean and canons of
the chapel of St. George, Windsor. (fn. 210) The conveyance
does not, however, appear to have been effectual, possibly owing to the rights of Anne Countess of Warwick,
mother of the duchess. (fn. 211)
The advowson passed with the manor into the possession of the Crown early in 1487–8, but in 1502 was
granted by Henry VII to the abbey of Syon, which.
at the same time received licence to appropriate. (fn. 212) The
nuns let the rectory at farm, £13 6s. 8d. being reserved
to the vicar as stipend and 6s. 8d. being given as alms. (fn. 213)
In 1531 the abbey granted a twenty-one years' lease to
Thomas Lawe, (fn. 214) and the Crown subsequently followed
the same policy (fn. 215) until 1606, when the rectory and
advowson of the vicarage were granted to Sir John
Ramsay, kt., in fee. (fn. 216) Sir John, a Scot and favourite of
James I, was in 1606 created Viscount Haddington and
Lord Ramsay of Barnes. (fn. 217) In the spring of 1609–10
he conveyed the rectory, advowson and lands here to
Michael Throckmorton, Erasmus Cope, Valentine
Pigott and Sir Arthur Savage, kt. (fn. 218) Valentine Pigott
with Cope and Sir Thomas and George Pigott sold
the rectory and advowson in the spring of 1623–4
to Sir Robert Gorges, kt., of Redlynch (co. Somerset), (fn. 219)
who retained them until 1633, when he sold them to
William Johnson (fn. 220) of Milton Bryant in Bedfordshire. (fn. 221)
William Johnson was succeeded in 1669 by his son
Thomas, (fn. 222) who exercised the patronage in 1668 and
1671. (fn. 223) His son William Johnson was patron in
1732, (fn. 224) and died four years later, (fn. 225) leaving a son
Wolsey Johnson, himself vicar of Olney from 1735
until his resignation in 1753. (fn. 226) He thereupon
presented Moses Browne to the church, but as he
intended leaving Olney for Lincolnshire, (fn. 227) it seems
possible that be alienated the advowson to the trustees
of Frances Katharine Gounter Nicoll, since the second
Earl of Dartmouth was apparently patron in 1764, (fn. 228)
and held the rectory in the right of his wife. (fn. 229) From
this time the advowson followed the descent of the
manor, the Earl of Dartmouth being the present
patron.
By his will made early in 1389–90 Ralph Lord
Basset directed that a stipend should be provided for
a priest to perform divine service in the chapel of
St. Mary in Olney churchyard. (fn. 230) In this chapel (fn. 231)
Richard Earl of Warwick in 1465 obtained licence to
found a chantry at the altar of St. Mary for the good
estate of the king and his soul after death, and for the
welfare of Richard and Anne his wife. (fn. 232) This was
known as the Earl of Warwick's chantry, and the
priest also helped the incumbent. (fn. 233) In 1556 the
priest of the chantry held land, two burgages, a half
burgage, a cottage and a toft, (fn. 234) one of these tenements being called the Chapel House and another the
Catharine Wheel. (fn. 235) Rent from an acre in 'Downefeld' was appropriated to the maintenance of a lamp
in the church. (fn. 236) In 1516 Sir Thomas Digby, kt.,
wished to be buried before the image of the Holy
Trinity in this church. (fn. 237) The fraternity of St. Christopher and St. George is mentioned in 1538. (fn. 238)
Charities
The Olney feoffee charity, comprising the charity of Richard Pierson,
founded by deed 1649, and the Causeway estate, constituted in its present form in 1650, is
regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of
19 February 1886. The property consists of seven
cottages on the site of the old churchyard, a cottage in
Silver End, two houses in the High Street, a house in
Market Place, two cottages and about 8 a. in Weston
Road, a close called Fiddle Field containing 5 a. and
9 a. in Olney Pastures, also certain garden grounds.
In 1912 the gross income from these sources amounted
to about £240. The scheme directs that after providing for the repair and upkeep of the property, and
a sum not exceeding £20 yearly towards the repair
of the main street, one-third of the net income shall
form the endowment of the Olney Educational
Foundation, applicable in apprenticing, prizes and
scholarships, and the remaining two-thirds to be
applied for the general benefit of the poor.
The almshouses founded and endowed by Mrs. Ann
Hopkins Smith consist of twelve messuages comprised
in deeds of lease and release dated respectively
23 and 24 November 1819, for the accommodation
of single women and widows. The donor by her will,
dated in 1846, bequeathed £5,200 consols, the
dividends to be divided among the inmates, and a
further legacy of £700 consols for the insurance and
repair of the buildings. The legacies, with accumulations, are now represented by £5,462 8s. 5d. and
£942 9s. 3d. India 3 per cent. stock, with the official
trustees, producing respectively £163 17s. 4d. and
£28 5s. 4d. yearly. In 1910 each of the twelve
inmates received 5s. a week and half a ton of coal.
The British school erected by the said Mrs. Ann
Hopkins Smith, comprised in a deed of 23 January
1835, was endowed by her will with £1,500 consols
now represented with accumulations by a sum of
£1,568 0s. 2d. consols, with the official trustees, producing £39 4s. yearly. The school and endowment
are regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 17 September 1880, providing for the
letting of the school buildings and for the application
of the income in apprenticing poor children, any
surplus to be applied in prizes and exhibitions.
The same testatrix likewise bequeathed £750
consols, the interest to be applied in clothing to be distributed in January to poor persons usually attending
the Baptist Meeting. The stock is held by the official
trustees, and produces £18 15s. yearly, which appears
to be distributed in gifts of money.
The same testatrix further bequeathed £750 consols
for clothing for poor persons usually attending the Independent Meeting. The stock is held by the official
trustees, and the annual dividends of £18 15s. are
applied in the distribution of tickets varying from
2s. 6d. to 10s.