RAVENSTONE
Raunston (xv–xviii cent.).
The parish of Ravenstone lies between the
Northamptonshire boundary and the River Ouse,
and covers 2,074 acres, of which 784 are arable.
There are 120 acres of woodland, nearly all accounted
for by the Great Wood on the north-eastern boundary. A piece of waste ground called 'Cokenowebrande,' which was in dispute in 1568, must have
been in this part of the parish. It was claimed by
the Crown as part of the manor of Ravenstone and
by John Cheyne as a detached part of Cogenhoe, in
Northamptonshire. (fn. 1) To the west of the village,
which is near the eastern boundary, is a much smaller
plantation called Parkfield Spinney, and near it is
Parkfield Farm. Here must have been the 'Great
Park's of Ravenstone, mentioned about 1270. (fn. 2)
'Tenements called Parkefeld' are mentioned in
1555. (fn. 3)
Limestone was quarried in the parish in 1862. (fn. 4)
The only industry at the present day appears to be
agriculture. Wheat, barley, beans, oats and root
crops are raised, the soil being clay on a subsoil of
Great Oolite.
The village has a long street running north and south.
A lane leading south-west to Stoke Goldington connects it with the Newport Pagnell and Northampton
road. Olney, 3 miles away, has the nearest railway
station, though the Midland railway cuts across the
north-east corner of the parish. The church stands
on a little hill at the north end of the street. Below
it is the site of the priory, now occupied by Abbey
Farm. There are no remains of the building. A
large orchard just below the farm is surrounded by
a moat, (fn. 5) and was probably the site of the old manorhouse of Ravenstone. A capital messuage existed
here in 1245, (fn. 6) and formed part of the endowment
of the priory ten years later. (fn. 7) The dovecot, which
existed in 1291, (fn. 8) was probably attached to it. In
the 16th century the prior had a 'manor-place' here
with a court in which there were fish-ponds. (fn. 9)
These were apparently filled by the chalybeate
spring from which a little stream now flows south
into the Ouse. The existence of the fish-ponds in
the orchard already mentioned was still remembered
in Lipscomb's time. (fn. 10) There are no references to
the manor-house later than 1588, but it probably
existed as the residence of the Finch family in the
17th and 18th centuries. Sir Heneage Finch,
afterwards Lord Chancellor and Earl of Nottingham,
was described as of Ravenstone in 1660. (fn. 11)
The Almshouses, Ravenstone
Opposite the Abbey Farm are the almshouses built
by him. (fn. 12) The buildings are of red and black brick
with tiled roofs and wooden cornices at the eaves.
They are arranged in two two-storied blocks, each
containing six two-roomed houses.
Robinson's Farm, about 150 yards south-west of the
church, is a 17th-century stone house of two stories
with an attic.
The village also contains a Union chapel, founded
in 1790 and rebuilt in 1907.
The only place-names of interest occurring in the
records of the parish are 'Thongestoching' (1270,
an assart of the Tonge family), 'Scytho' (1331), and
'Wotteny ferme' (1465). (fn. 13) It is worthy of note
that in the late 15th and early 16th century three
messuages in Ravenstone, to each of which 24 acres
of land were attached, were destroyed by the prior
and George Throckmorton. (fn. 14)
Manor
Five hides in RAVENSTIONE forming
one manor were held under the Confessor
by a thegn Lewin, who had power to sell.
In 1086 this manor belonged to the fee
of Walter Giffard, of whom it was held
by Hugh (de Bolebec). (fn. 15)
The overlordship of the Giffards descended through Rose wife of Richard
Fitz Gilbert and sister of Walter Giffard
to the Clares, Earls of Hertford and
Gloucester. (fn. 16) It is last mentioned in
1313. (fn. 17) Hugh de Bolebec's lordship
followed the descent of Whitchurch (q.v.)
to Robert de Vere, third Earl of Oxford,
who married Isabel daughter and co-heir
of Walter de Bolebec. (fn. 18) The Earls of
Oxford are mentioned as mesne lords
down to the end of the 14th century. (fn. 19)
Part of the manor was held in 1375 of
their manor of Whitchurch by suit of
court at Whitchurch every three weeks. (fn. 20)
A second fee in Ravenstone, not
apparently mentioned in the Survey,
belonged in the middle of the 12th
century to Osbert Martel. (fn. 21) With his
land in Edlesborough (q.v.) it was in
the king's hands in 1167–8. (fn. 22) Three
years later part of it had been granted to Adulf de
Braci. (fn. 23) This fee was always afterwards held in chief. (fn. 24)
The two holdings came into the possession of the
family of Wahull apparently before the end of the
12th century and formed a single manor. The half
which was held of the Bolebecs was given to Walter
de Wahull (who flourished 1165–72) in marriage
with his wife Rose, (fn. 25) probably a Bolebec. The other
half Walter or his heirs must have had by grant of
the Crown. John de Wahull, son of Walter's successor Simon, (fn. 26) was called upon to do homage to the
Bolebec heirs in 1212 (fn. 27) and was dead in 1217. (fn. 28)
Alice his widow, who afterwards married William de
Breaute, had rent in Ravenstone as her dower. (fn. 29) The
heirs of John were his sisters,
Rose wife of Robert Lisle and
Agnes wife of Robert Basingham, (fn. 30) who afterwards married
William Fitz Warin. (fn. 31) Rose
died without issue, and John
Basingham, son of Agnes, inherited the family lands in
1238. (fn. 32) He died in 1239, (fn. 33)
when his male heir was Saher
de Wahull, evidently a distant
cousin. (fn. 34) Saher inherited only
that half of the manor of
Ravenstone which was held
of the Crown. (fn. 35) He granted it in 1245 to Peter
Chaceporc, keeper of the king's wardrobe and a distinguished ecclesiastic, to hold for a rent of one pair
of gilt spurs. (fn. 36) Peter had a grant of free warren in
Ravenstone in 1253 (fn. 37) and died shortly afterwards. (fn. 38)
His heir was Hugh Chaceporc, his brother, who at
once released the manor to the king. (fn. 39) In 1255 it
was granted to a community of Augustinian canons,
who were called upon to celebrate divine service for
the souls of Peter and Hugh de Vivon, his uncle. (fn. 40)
The prior of the house so founded was said to hold
one knight's fee in Ravenstone in 1275. (fn. 41) Four years
later his holding was described as half a knight's fee,
which was probably correct. (fn. 42) Its value in 1291 was
£10 10s. 10d. (fn. 43)
Wahull. Or three crescents gules.
The priory was dissolved in 1525, (fn. 44) and in the
following year the site and the part of the manor
attached to it were granted to Cardinal Wolsey, (fn. 45) who
also acquired the second half of the manor (fn. 46) and
devoted the whole to the endowment of his college
at Oxford. (fn. 47) It came again to the Crown on Wolsey's
fall, (fn. 48) and in 1535 was granted to Sir Francis Bryan
for life. (fn. 49) Sir Francis surrendered the manor to
Edward VI, who in 1548 made him a new grant for
the lives of himself and his wife Joan Countess of
Ormond and Ossory. (fn. 50) Sir Francis was dead in
November 1550. (fn. 51) His widow with her third
husband Gerald, son and heir of the Earl of
Desmond, (fn. 52) leased her interest in 1551 to Sir William
Herbert and Clement Throckmorton. (fn. 53) They sold
the lease to Sir Robert Throckmorton of Weston
Underwood, (fn. 54) who in 1558 received a grant of the
manor for seventy years from the death of Joan at a
fee-farm rent of £73 13s. (fn. 55) He forfeited his interest
through a failure in the payment of his rent, (fn. 56) and a
lease for twenty-one years was made to Henry Berkeley
in 1586. (fn. 57) Two years later the queen granted Ravenstone in fee to Sir Moyle Finch and John Audley in
trust for Sir Thomas Heneage, afterwards her vicechamberlain. (fn. 58) The trustees conveyed it in the same
year to Sir Thomas, who was thereby involved in a
dispute with Thomas son of Sir Robert Throckmorton,
who had died in 1581, (fn. 59) as to the lease of 1558. (fn. 60)
Throckmorton's claim was finally referred to arbitration, (fn. 61) the decision presumably being in favour of
Heneage.
Elizabeth daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Heneage,
whom she succeeded in 1595, (fn. 62) was the wife of Sir
Moyle Finch, (fn. 63) with whom she made settlements of
Ravenstone in 1596 and 1606. (fn. 64) She survived her
husband, who died in 1614, by twenty years, and
was created Viscountess Maidstone in 1623 and
Countess of Winchilsea in 1628. (fn. 65) She died in
possession of Ravenstone, having made in March
1632–3 an elaborate settlement in tail-male on her
eldest son, with contingent
remainder to John son of her
son John, Heneage, Francis
and John sons of her son
Heneage, and her son Francis. (fn. 66)
The younger Heneage, who
was keeper of the king's seal,
Lord Finch of Daventry and
Earl of Nottingham, was
accordingly holding the manor
in 1651 and in 1674. (fn. 67) His
son and heir Daniel, who inherited Ravenstone in 1682,
succeeded his second cousin in 1729 as Earl of
Winchilsea and died the following year. (fn. 68) Daniel's
son of the same name died in 1769, (fn. 69) and was succeeded by his nephew and heir George, (fn. 70) who died
unmarried in 1826. (fn. 71) By his will the manor passed
to George Finch of Burley (co. Rutland). who was
still holding it in 1862. (fn. 72) George Finch was succeeded in 1870 by his son George Henry, on whose
86. An earlier settlement was made in
1623 (Feet of F. Div. Co. Hil. 20 Jas. I).
death in 1907 the manor passed to his son Mr. Alan
George Finch. (fn. 73) He was succeeded in 1914 by the
present owner, Mr. Wilfred Finch.
Finch, Earl of Winchilea. Argnet a cheveron between three griffons passant sable.
That half of the manor which was not inherited
by Saher de Wahull in 1239 passed, presumably
through female heirs of John Basingham, to William
Blancminster and the heirs of Adam de Tyndal, (fn. 74) and
was held till the end of the 14th century at least in
two separate quarters. William Blancminster had
four daughters and co-heirs, of whom Joan the wife
of Sir William Barentine seems alone to have had any
interest in Ravenstone. (fn. 75) The Hugh Blancminster
who was returned as tenant here about 1245 was
apparently William's brother, and may have had
custody of his heirs. (fn. 76) Joan was still holding land
here in 1302–3, (fn. 77) and was succeeded by Drew
Barentine, probably her son. (fn. 78) Drew was said to
hold half a knight's fee in 1316. (fn. 79) In 1330 a settlement of land and rent in Ravenstone was made on
William Barentine and Maud his wife and the heirs
of William. (fn. 80) Maud survived for more than fifty
years and married her second husband Sir Warin
Trussel, who is returned as lord of this part of Ravenstone in 1346. (fn. 81) The heir of William Barentine
was his brother Philip, who granted the reversion to
William Isbrond, 'brouderer,' and his wife Nichole. (fn. 82)
They in 1371 conveyed it to John Pykenham, to
whom Maud Trussel also granted her interest. (fn. 83)
After the death of Maud, John Pykenham gave a life
interest in the manor to William Trussel. (fn. 84) Meanwhile Thomas son of John Lovel of Dawley, who
claimed the reversion as cousin and heir of William
Barentine, (fn. 85) made a grant of it in 1381 to Sir Robert
Sall, (fn. 86) though he had already confirmed the grant to
John Pykenham. (fn. 87) The grant to Sail was set aside
on the ground that Thomas Lovel was under age (fn. 88) ;
nevertheless Margaret sister and heir of Sir Robert
Sall and her husband Philip Warner conveyed the
reversion to Hugh Fastolf and William Snettisham, (fn. 89)
who in their turn had a confirmation in 1386 from
Thomas Lovel. (fn. 90) They conveyed their interest
before 1394 to William Thirning and others, who in
that year sued William Trussel, the life tenant, for
the estate. (fn. 91) The verdict was given for the plaintiffs,
but the defendants appealed. This part of Ravenstone
is next mentioned in 1399, when it belonged to John
Baker of Sutton in Holderness (Yorkshire), and was
taken into the king's hands for the satisfaction of his
creditors, Robert de Garton, Simon Gaunstede, and
Henry Maupas, clerks. (fn. 92) Another gap in its history
follows, Henry Watford, who was 'late of Raunston'
in 1471, (fn. 93) being the next tenant whose name is
known. His daughter and heir Joan married
William son of William Isham of Pytchley, (fn. 94) and
with her husband conveyed three messuages and 80
acres in Ravenstone to Robert Throckmorton in 1501. (fn. 95)
Two years later they made him a further grant of three
messuages, 100 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow,
30 acres of pasture, and 10 acres of wood. (fn. 96) Sir
Robert died seised of 'the manor' in 1518, leaving
a son and heir George, on whom it was settled. (fn. 97)
In 1528 George Throckmorton sold it to Cardinal
Wolsey, (fn. 98) and it was joined to that part of the manor
which had belonged to the priory.
The remaining fourth part belonged in 1239 to
Nicholas de Boltby, who had married Philippa, elder
daughter and co-heir of Adam de Tyndal. (fn. 99) Henry
de Boltby was said to hold it about 1245. (fn. 100) probably in mistake for Nicholas, who lived till 1272. (fn. 101)
Nicholas' widow Alice held a quarter of the vill in
dower for a quarter of a knight's fee in 1279 (fn. 102) and
1284–6. (fn. 103) In 1302–3 the tenant was Henry de
Bray or Gray. (fn. 104) The holding passed before 1316 to
Sir William de Muxton (Mokelistone), (fn. 105) who had it
in right of his wife Joan. (fn. 106) He was in debt to John
de Sutton in 1340, and pledged his manor of Ravenstone in payment. (fn. 107) It was forfeit by 1347 to John
de Sutton, who mortgaged it in that year to Henry
Green. (fn. 108) When next mentioned this part of the
manor was held in thirds, one of which Joan Stubbs,
who died in 1371, had granted to John Cave and
others. (fn. 109) Another was then held by Thomas Bosyate
by courtesy of England after the death of Elizabeth
his wife, probably a sister of Joan. (fn. 110) On the death
of Thomas in 1375 it passed to Thomas Stubbs, son
of Joan, as kinsman of Elizabeth. (fn. 111) Thomas granted
lands and tenements in Ravenstone in 1390 to
trustees, (fn. 112) who regranted them to his widow Joan
and his daughter Joan nine years later. (fn. 113) The son
and heir of Joan the daughter was John Man. (fn. 114)
The further history of this part of the estate is
uncertain. John Baker (fn. 115) was said to hold 'half the
manor' in December 1399, an expression which
suggests that both the fourth parts were united in his
possession; but Joan Stubbs held this quarter in
March 1398–9, (fn. 116) and it seems unlikely that John
Baker should have acquired land during the intervening months, when he was heavily in debt.
Probably this part of the manor was acquired later
by Henry Watford or the Throckmortons.
A court baron at Ravenstone in the prior's manor
is mentioned in 1525. (fn. 117)
Church
The church of ALL SAINTS consists
of a chancel 28 ft. by 15 ft., a south
chapel of the same dimensions, nave
39 ft. 6 in. by 21 ft. 6 in., south aisle 11 ft. 6 in.
wide, and west tower 10 ft. 6 in. square. All these
measurements are internal.
Some herring-bone rubble in the west wall of the
nave indicates the former existence of an 11th-century
church, consisting probably of a chancel and nave.
In the 12th century a short south aisle of two bays
was built, and perhaps a north aisle. The present
west tower was added about 1250, and some hundred
years later the chancel appears to have been rebuilt
and the south aisle lengthened westward by one bay
and reroofed. A nave clearstory was added in the
first half of the 15th century. Considerable restoration and alterations were carried out in 1670, when
probably a north aisle was destroyed and most of the
windows and doorways were renewed in the style of
the time; the walls of the nave and chancel were
at the same time lined with oak panelling and
oak panelled pews inserted. Probably in 1675 the
south chapel was built as a mortuary chapel for the
Finch family, and particularly to receive the body of
Elizabeth Lady Finch, who died in that year. The
church was restored in 1885, and the south chapel
in 1892.
The chancel has a modern east window and roof.
The chancel arch is of two chamfered orders, which
die into plain jambs; the whole of the stonework is
coated with modern paint, but probably dates from
the 14th century. The walls are lined with oak
wainscot having raised moulded panels and a moulded
capping, which is continued across the west side to
form a low chancel screen with two doors in the
middle.
The south chapel with the wall between it and
the chancel is of about 1675. It communicates
with the chancel by a wide pointed arch of two
chamfered orders, the inner order resting on semicircular shafts which have capitals and bases of
Renaissance detail.
The chapel has in the east wall a window of three
lights with a transom, under a square head, and a
similar window in the south wall; to the west of the
latter is a small square-headed doorway. An arch
like that to the chancel, but narrower, opens to the
south aisle on the west. The openings of both archways are filled in with oak screens, the lower part
having raised moulded panels, while the upper part,
which is left open, has twisted balusters under a classic
entablature. The screens are divided into bays by
panelled pilasters and have folding doors with old
brass locks. In the middle of the chapel stands
a fine monument of black and white marble to
Heneage Finch, Earl of Nottingham and Lord
Chancellor (d. 1682), and his wife Elizabeth daughter of Daniel Harvey (d. 1675). It consists of a large
altar tomb with a moulded top slab of black marble,
on which is the life-size effigy of the chancellor in his
robes of office, leaning on his right elbow. At the
angles are carved and panelled pilasters; on the east
and west sides are shields of his arms with coronet
and motto, behind which the chancellor's purse and
mace are shown in saltire; on the north side is a long
inscription in Latin, and on the south side another in
English. At each corner of the top slab is a Corinthian
column supporting a horizontal canopy with a classic
entablature. On the north and south sides are
curved and broken pediments inclosing the earl's
armorial achievement with crest and supporters;
below the entablature on the same sides are white
marble curtains twisted round the columns, and at
each corner of the canopy is a flaming urn. All the
heraldic detail is coloured and gilded, and the whole
monument was carefully restored in 1909 by Mrs.
Edith Finch, and is in excellent condition. Against
the east wall of the chapel is a reredos of four oak
panels painted with the Creed, Lord's Prayer and
Commandments, and surmounted by a central broken
pediment with a flaming urn. This was formerly in
the chancel and is of late 17th-century character. A
plain oak chest with three locks and iron bands is
kept in the chapel and is probably of 17th-century
date. The open lean-to roof of the chapel is of flat
pitch and has moulded main rafters, purlins and
cornices.
The nave has a south arcade of three bays, the
two eastern of which date from the latter part of the
12th century, and have plain pointed arches. The
east respond has a hollow-chamfered impost, and the
eastern column has a moulded base and square plinth
and a capital carved with shallow leaf-ornament rising
from interlacing arches, the abacus being similar
to the impost of the respond. The third and westernmost bay was probably added about 1350 and has an
arch of two chamfered orders. The western pier has
moulded capitals and bases, and the springing stones
of the central arch have been cut back to fit the
circular capital. The west respond is semicircular.
In the wall to the east of the arcade is a plain arched
opening, apparently ancient but much plastered. In
the north wall is a single light with chamfered jamb
and an ogee head, probably of 17th-century date, and
to the west of this is a re-set 14th-century doorway
with a pointed head. The east end of the wall,
which is slightly thicker than the rest, may indicate
the position of the east respond of the former north
arcade. One of the three buttresses on this side of
the nave bears the date 1670. The three pointed
clearstory windows on each side of the nave date
from the 15th century; each is of two trefoiled lights
with quatrefoil tracery in the head. The nave walls
are lined with oak wainscot of the same date and
detail as that in the chancel; the oak-panelled pews
are also of 17th-century date, as well as the hexagonal
oak pulpit, which has moulded and inlaid panels,
moulded sill and cornice, a panelled wall standard
and a large horizontal sounding-board with moulded
cornice.
The south aisle has two south windows, both with
15th-century jambs, but the segmental head of the
eastern window belongs to the period of the late 17thcentury reconstruction, while the head and tracery of
the western window are modern. The south doorway
is entirely of the late 17th century and has moulded
jambs and entablature, above which on the outside
is a stone head, probably refixed 15th-century work.
The external stonework to the west of the doorway
shows signs of alteration. In the west wall is a twolight window of 15th-century date altered in the
17th century. The lean-to roof of three bays has
moulded main rafters with curved braces under their
southern ends standing on embattled and moulded
wooden corbels; the purlins and lesser principals are
chamfered, and all the work dates from the 15th
century. Over the nave arcade is a plain chamfered
corbel. In the south wall of the aisle are a trefoilheaded piscina, and two sedilia with chamfered heads
supported by a small central column and half-columns,
attached to the jambs, all with moulded capitals and
bases. Both piscina and sedilia are of 14th-century
date.
The 13th-century west tower is of three stages,
with short angle buttresses at the west corners, and is
crowned by a modern parapet, below which are
several carved stone heads much decayed. The tower
arch is chamfered and has an indented label; the
chamfered jambs have moulded imposts little more
than 3 ft. above the floor. The arch is filled in with
an oak screen and panelled door of the 17th century.
The west doorway is probably of the same date, and
just above it is a small ancient lancet. The bellchamber is lighted by a two-light window in each
wall; that on the east is of 17th-century date. On
the north there is a window of the 13th century,
with dog-tooth ornament in the heads of the lancet
lights, and traces of a moulded capital and base on the
mullion. The south window is partially restored,
and the west window, which is much decayed, has
been repaired with cement.
The early 13th-century font has a tapering circular
bowl carved with trefoiled arcading having quatrefoils
in the spandrels; the plain circular base has four
volute-like reeded projections near the top, probably
intended for foliage. The oak cover is a tall plain
pyramid with turned top, and dates from the 17th
century.
In the nave is a plain tablet to Robert Chapman,
vicar (d. 1785), and on the east side of the churchyard is a head-stone, now illegible, to Thomas Seaton,
vicar (d. 1741), founder of the Seatonian Prize for
Sacred Poetry at Cambridge University. The communion table is of oak and has a moulded top
and rails and twisted legs. The rails have twisted
balusters similar to those of the screens in the
south chapel. Both table and rails are of 17thcentury work.
There is a ring of three bells: the treble is by
Newcome, 1616; the second, a 14th-century bell, probably by John Rufford, is inscribed 'Ave Maria' (fn. 118) ;
the tenor, inscribed 'God Save our King, 1625, I.K.,'
is by James Keene.
The plate consists of a cup and cover paten, both
without marks, but of 17th-century date. The cup
has an engraved shield of the Finch arms surrounded
by mantling. There is also a flagon inscribed 'The
Gift of Rev. Thos. Seaton, Vicar of Ravenstone in
the year 1741.'
The registers down to 1812 are as follows: (i)
mixed entries 1568 to 1652 (there is a gap from
1653 to 1700); (ii) mixed entries 1701 to 1771
(in this book is a register of briefs with amounts
collected, 1726 to 1741); (iii) mixed entries 1771 to
1812; (iv) marriages 1754 to 1812.
The churchwardens' accounts are contained in
two books: (i) 1641 to 1734, (ii) 1767 to 1870.
There is also a book of vellum leaves bound in panelled
calf, lettered on the outside 'Orders for the Almshouse at Ravenston,' containing carefully written
regulations, with a list of deeds and an extract from
the will of the Earl of Nottingham, 1682, founder of
the charity, and signed on page 17 by his successor
and six others of the Finch family. At the end is a
register of admissions from 1684 to 1908.
Near the south doorway is the square stone base of
a churchyard cross of the 14th or 15th century.
Advowson
William Fitz Warin presented a
rector to the church of Ravenstone
in 1225 in right of his wife Agens
de Wahull. (fn. 119) The church was then in the possession
of Walter de Ravenstone, who as vicar received its
fruits, paying the rector a pension of 40s. (fn. 120) The
advowson passed with half the manor to the priory
of Ravenstone, (fn. 121) to which it must have been appropriated between about 1260, when Richard de Clifford
was rector, (fn. 122) and 1291, when a vicarage was already
ordained. (fn. 123) In 1465 the prior agreed to augment
the vicar's stipend by £3 14s. from two farms belonging to the priory. (fn. 124) After the Dissolution the advowson descended with the manor (fn. 125) till the lease in 1558
to Sir Robert Throckmorton, when it was reserved to
the Crown. (fn. 126) A grant of it was made to Heneage
Lord Finch afterwards Earl of Nottingham in 1676, (fn. 127)
and the lords of the manor have since presented. (fn. 128)
Mr. Wilfred Finch is the present patron.
The rectory was leased to Sir Robert Throckmorton in 1567 for twenty-one years, and in 1578
was granted to John Goodwin for life with remainder
to Thomas Throckmorton for life. (fn. 129) In 1604 it was
granted to Anthony Crewe and William Starkey, (fn. 130)
who perhaps sold it to Thomas Throckmorton. In
1610 it was conveyed by Sir Francis Fortescue,
Sir William Fortescue and Thomas Throckmorton
to Sir Arthur Savage. (fn. 131) He sold it two years later to
Sir Moyle Finch, (fn. 132) and it has since followed the
descent of the manor.
At the dissolution of chantries it was found that a
rent of 3s. 6d. had been given for an obit in Ravenstone. (fn. 133)
Charities
The hospital founded in 1682 by
Hereage Earl of Nottingham, Lord
Chancellor, for six single men and
six single women is endowed with certain fee-farm
rents in the counties of York and Cambridge, in
respect of which £247 11s. 6d. was paid in 1910.
The official trustees now (1913) also hold a sum of
£1, 263 16s. 6d. consols, producing £31 11s. 8d. a
year, arising in part from the redemption of fee-farm
rents, and a sum of £400 India 2½ per cent. stock is
held by the trustees of the hospital, producing £10 a
year. The charity is regulated by a scheme of the
Charity Commissioners of 20 April 1886, as varied by
a scheme of 19 April 1904. The six men hospitallers
and the six women hospitallers receive 5s. a week each,
amounting to £156 a year, with an allowance for coal,
£10. The sum of £84 a year is paid to the vicar of
Ravenstone in augmentation of his emoluments, and
the sum of £10 a year is paid to the churchwardens
for the reparation of the church.
James Ward by his will, 1787, devised a cottage,
the rent of which was to be distributed in bread and
meat at Christmas. The cottage was sold in 1885,
and the proceeds, with accumulations, are now represented by £62 4s. 10d. consols with the official
trustees, producing £1 11s. yearly. The income
has for some time been accumulated, there being in
1910 a balance in hand of £9.
The Rev. Robert Chapman, a former vicar, by his
will proved in the P.C.C. 3 January 1786, bequeathed
his residuary personal estate to trustees for investment
in the public funds, the interest to be applied for the
charitable purposes in his said will specified. (fn. 134) The
trust fund is now (1913) represented by £5,303 India
3 per cent, stock with the official trustees, producing
£159 1s. 8d. a year. The charity was the subject
of a scheme of the Court of Chancery, 31 July
1857.