ASTWICK
Estwiche (xi cent.), Estewike (xii cent.), Asswyk
(xiii cent).
The parish of Astwick, covering 664 acres, lies
midway between Biggleswade and Baldock. The
ground slopes from the north—where the highest point
is 249 ft. above the sea level—to the south, where it
reaches only 138 ft. The soil and subsoil are clay, the
chief crops being wheat, barley, peas, and beans. Of
the acreage 504¾ acres are arable land, 145½ permanent grass, and 8 woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The
village itself, watered by a tributary of the Ivel, lies
concentrated in the south of the parish, off the
Roman road which forms the eastern boundary. On
the west side of the road which approaches the village
a lane leads to the corn-mill. After passing Astwick Bury, which also lies on the west, the road
takes a sudden downward trend, and a lane on the
east leads to the church of Saint Guthlac, and to
the Church Farm. Around the village the land is
well timbered, chiefly with elm. Astwick is five
miles south-south-east from Biggleswade station on
the Great Northern main line, and four miles northnorth-west from Baldock on the Hitchin and Cambridge branch of the same line.
Among place-names may be mentioned the following:—Gews Pightell occurs in a fifteenth-century
court roll. (fn. 2) It reappears in the following century as
le Pytyll. (fn. 3) Temple Ground and Temple Leyes in
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (fn. 4) are reminiscent
of the claim of the Knights Templars to view of frankpledge in Astwick. (fn. 5) A fifteenth-century lease refers
to a vinery belonging to the manor of Astwick. (fn. 6)
Traces of this are to be found in the Vine Farm,
which occupies an isolated position at the extreme
corner of Langford abutting on Astwick. (fn. 7)
Other place-names occurring are Willkytmede, (fn. 8)
Willkytholme (fn. 9) (xiv cent.), Hempwyk, Floggate (xv
cent.), None Lane, Portemyllebrygge, Whelersmede,
Twyshill, Le Strebe, Le Butte (a messuage) (xvi cent.). (fn. 10)
Manors
At the time of the Domesday Survey
the land that afterwards became ASTWICK MANOR was held by Hugh de
Beauchamp. (fn. 11) He had at that time three tenants,
Bernard, holding one hide and one virgate; Wenelinc holding half a hide, and Ledmar, who held half
a hide, including a mill, which he had held in the
time of the Confessor as man of Earl Tosti. (fn. 12) The
Beauchamp overlordship continued to be exercised in
Astwick, for in 1166 Simon, son of Payn and heir of
the Hugh of Domesday, exacted feudal service in Astwick, (fn. 13) and in 1198 he was quitclaiming the advowson
of Astwick to Chicksands Priory. (fn. 14)
William de Beauchamp, grandson of Simon, was
overlord in 1261, in which year he had the wardship
of Elias de Astwick (cf. the descent of mesne manor (fn. 15) ).
In 1265 John de Beauchamp, the last feudal baron of
Bedford, was slain at Evesham, leaving sisters as coheiresses. Of these Beatrice, who married William
Monchesney, (fn. 16) inherited the overlordship of Astwick,
for in 1284 feudal service was due to her husband
there. (fn. 17) Maud, the daughter of Beatrice, married
John Botetourt, (fn. 18) and in 1328 received a licence to
grant Astwick manor to William le Latimer (who
had married her daughter Elizabeth) with remainder
to the right heirs of Elizabeth. (fn. 19) In pursuance of
this settlement John de Nevill of Raby (whose wife
Elizabeth was granddaughter of William le Latimer
and suo jure Baroness Latimer) is found seised at his
death of a knight's fee in Astwick. (fn. 20)
Richard Neville Lord Latimer was holding this
overlordship in 1495, (fn. 21) and four years later conveyed
it by fine to John, archbishop of Canterbury, and
other trustees. (fn. 22) One later reference has been found
to this lordship in an inquisition of 1608, which states
that George Kympton held this manor of the earl of
Shrewsbury as of his manor of Lanthony. (fn. 23)
From Domesday onwards Astwick was held under
the Beauchamps by a family who took their surname
from this property, and who gradually acquired most
of the land in the parish, becoming lords of the
manor. In 1166 Richard de
Astwick already held half a fee
of the Beauchamp honour, (fn. 24) and
thirty years later Elias de Astwick renounced all claim to the
advowson in favour of his overlord. (fn. 25) John de Astwick received in 1202 quitclaim from
Edith, daughter of Payn, of
half a virgate of land in Astwick, (fn. 26) and by 1241 had given
place to Elias, son of Henry de
Astwick, who is mentioned in
a plea between William de Beauchamp and the prior of
Chicksands as under age, and in the custody of the
former. (fn. 27) William de Astwick, probably a brother,
appears to have succeeded Elias, and in 1252 brought
a suit respecting lands in Astwick to a successful issue. (fn. 28)
Walter de Astwick owed feudal service for one and a
half hides of land in 1284, (fn. 29) and at his death in 1290
left a son Simon as heir, (fn. 30) who two years later did
homage for all lands and tenements which he held in
Astwick of the king. (fn. 31) In 1311 Simon of Astwick
made a settlement of his property in Astwick with
remainder to his son John and his heirs. (fn. 32) Simon
held the manor certainly until 1320, when he and his
son made a further conveyance by fine, (fn. 33) but by 1346
John of Astwick had succeeded him. (fn. 34) From the
scanty documentary evidence which alone exists for
the later fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries, it is
clear that the Astwicks continued to hold the manor.
Astwick. Argent three crosslets sable.
In 1393 a John Astwick was holding the manorial
courts, (fn. 35) and in 1479 William Astwick leased the lordship of Astwick to Robert and John Squire for nine
years at a rent of 12 marks. (fn. 36) With the next holder,
John Astwick, the manor appears to have passed finally
away from this family. An inquisition taken at the
death of Richard Sheldon states that John Astwick
enfeoffed Richard Godfrey and other feoffees of Astwick manor to the use of Richard Sheldon, (fn. 37) and
there is evidence that the latter held the manorial
courts from 1487–8 till his death in 1495. (fn. 38) He
left as heir a son Richard, who held a court in 1497, (fn. 39)
and two years later leased the lordship to Roger Slow
for thirteen years. (fn. 40) Richard Sheldon was still holding courts in 1512 and 1513, (fn. 41) and probably died
without issue before 1539, at which date the manor
had passed to John Poley (husband of Prudence, sister of
Richard Sheldon), (fn. 42) who at
that date conveyed it by fine
to Edmund Kympton. (fn. 43) Up
to 1551 Edmund Kympton's
name appears as lord on the
manorial rolls. (fn. 44) Elizabeth or
Lucy Kympton (afterwards
married to John Shipman) held
the courts between 1560 and
1564, (fn. 45) being followed by her
son George Kympton, (fn. 46) who
held the manor at his death
in 1608. (fn. 47) His son George sold Astwick in 1620 for
£2,100 to John Hodgson or Hudson of London, (fn. 48)
and in 1652 William Hudson, described as of Middlesex (and probably a son of John Hudson) sold the
manor to William Fletcher, (fn. 49) who within two years
transferred it to Samuel Browne, (fn. 50) a justice of the
Common Pleas, who was knighted in 1660, (fn. 51) and
died in 1668, being succeeded by his son Thomas, (fn. 52)
whose daughter and heir Mary married as her second
husband John Schutz, (fn. 53) and, together with him, conveyed the manor by fine to Samuel Denison in 1784. (fn. 54)
Lysons, writing before 1804, stated that the manor
was the property of Michael Angelo Taylor. (fn. 55) The
Inclosure Act of 1804 names John Jackson as lord of
the manor, (fn. 56) whilst by a fine of 1822 Michael Angelo
Taylor conveyed the manor to Robert Jackson and
others, (fn. 57) since which date no further reference has
been found to Astwick Manor.
Kympton. Azure a pelican between three fieurs de lis or.
In the fifteenth century there are traces of another
so-called manor in Astwick. The will of John
Enderby, dated 1450, and proved in 1457, mentions
amongst his real property lands and tenements in
Astwick. (fn. 58) In the inquisition taken in 1471 at the
death of his widow Maud, who had married a second
husband Robert Bothe, this property is called the manor
of ASTWICK alias JOHN DE JONS. (fn. 59) Maud left a
son Richard Enderby as heir, (fn. 59a) who at his death in
1487 was seised of the same manor of Astwick, worth
£4, and held of Richard Sheldon as of his manor of
Astwick. He left a son under age at the time of
his father's death. (fn. 60) Here all traces of the manor as
such cease, but at a court held by Richard Sheldon
in 1497 John Enderby, lately come of age, did homage
for the lands of Richard Enderby. (fn. 61) Sixteenth century Court Rolls of Astwick also refer to the Piggotts
(to whom the Enderby lands had passed) (fn. 62) as defaulting suitors of the manor. (fn. 63)
Walter the Fleming had a small holding in Astwick at the time of the Survey, when Hugh held of
him 1 virgate and a mill which had formerly been
held by Lewin, a thegn of King Edward, (fn. 64) and this
fee was held by his heirs the Wahulls. (fn. 65)
In the fourteenth century the prior of St. John of
Jerusalem successfully claimed the right of view of
frankpledge twice a year as of his manor of Langford (q.v.). (fn. 66)
At the same time the abbot of Warden claimed
view of frankpledge over his lands in Astwick, but
judgement was deferred. (fn. 67) The abbot of Warden is
mentioned as a defaulter at the manorial court of
Astwick. (fn. 68)
Two mills are mentioned in Domesday; one, a
water-mill, belonged to Hugh de Beauchamp's tenant, (fn. 69)
and appears to have remained appurtenant to Astwick
manor (q.v.); the appointment of the miller is constantly to be found in the Court Rolls. The other
mill belonged to Hugh, who held it of Walter the
Fleming. (fn. 70) This was probably the same mill which
in 1386 Sir John Vynter, parson of Clothall, granted
to John Cukkowe of Clifton, (fn. 71) but no further mention has been found of it.
Certain jurisdictional rights over the town appear
to have been possessed by the lord of the manor. At
his court the constable of the town was elected and
sworn in. (fn. 72) At a court held in 1564 the stocks were
declared to be in ruin, and the inhabitants were
ordered to repair them by a certain date. (fn. 73) Again a
Court Roll of 1583 relates that all who had offended
against the statute of 13 Elizabeth anent the wearing
of caps were amerced to the lord 3s. 4d. (fn. 74)
A document recording a lease of the manor in 1479
by William Astwick to John and Robert Squire
affords interesting detail as to the resources of a fifteenth-century manor. The manor-house or hall,
'with the chambers in the eyr end of the hall, with
botry, pantry, kechyn,
stabylle, with the chambers above the stabylle,
the hawkes house, and
the garden within the
mote on the east side of
the hall, before the hall
window' were not to
be included in thelease.
William Astwick was
also to retain 'all the
fruits that shall happen
to grow within the said
mote,' and a hey-house
at the westgate, the
dove-house, a garden,
and the cherry trees in
the Church 'mede.'
Reference is also made
to a vinery belonging
to the said William
Astwick. Robert and
John were to make
yearly payments of fuelwood, two hogs, three
dozen capons, a gander,
three geese, a cock, six
hens, half a bushel of
apples, one peck of 'grate walnotys schalyd,' and straw
for litter 'both for horses and beds,' and were to pay
all charges on the manor save stint money. They were
not to fowl with nets nor fish within the grounds, moats,
and waters of the manor, nor to fell or lop the trees.
William Astwick on his side had to provide sufficient
plowbote, cartbote, and harowbote, and to find at the
beginning of the term 'all manner of heggyngwode
necessary to closure,' which John and Robert were to
leave in good repair at the end of their lease. William
was also to give yearly a cloth gown or 3s. 4d. in
money, and four cart-loads of wood or else 5s. 4d. In
conclusion, John and Robert entered into a bond of
£40 to fulfil the conditions of the lease. (fn. 75)
Astwick Church From South-west
Church
The church of ST. GUTHLAC consists of chancel 20 ft. 6 in. by 18 ft. 6 in.,
nave 36 ft. 6 in., of the same width as
the chancel, and western tower 10 ft. 6 in. square
within the walls.
It is evidently only a fragment of a larger building,
but the process by which it has arrived at its present
plan is somewhat obscure. The tower is almost
certainly the central tower of a cruciform church,
which in the early part of the fifteenth century was
brought approximately to its present use as a western
tower. The south transept was certainly retained at
this time, and there was a building of some sort on
the north side of the tower also.
The chancel at this time probably occupied the
position of the present nave, whose south wall is at
least as old as the fifteenth century. The present
chancel appears to be entirely composed of old
masonry somewhat clumsily re-used, and the north
wall of the nave, which is clearly outside the line
of the former north wall, is probably of the same
date as the chancel. A curious point is that on either
side of the east window of the chancel there are
corbels for images, and in the south-east angle a
piscina, features which are hardly likely to have been reset at a post-Reformation date, but, on the other hand,
the evidence that the chancel arch and windows are
clumsy rebuildings of fifteenth-century materials tells
strongly against the present arrangement being of
mediaeval date. The east window of the chancel is
of three lights with wooden head and mullions, the
jambs being re-used fifteenth-century work. Of the
image brackets on either side of it that on the north
has late fifteenth-century mouldings, and that on the
south, perhaps of somewhat earlier date, has an angel's
head and wings. The piscina has a cinquefoiled arch
under a square head with marks of a shelf low down
in the recess. The drain is much lower in the wall
than in normal instances. There is a plain north
doorway which is modern, and west of it a window
of a single light clumsily made up of old material. The
chancel arch is of three chamfered orders, the crown
not being central between the jambs. It has moulded
capitals with a half-round shaft to the inner order,
the outer orders being continuous. The chancel
walls where exposed are very roughly constructed of
brick and stone rubble, and have in places a very
modern appearance. The nave has two windows on
the south, each of three cinquefoiled lights with
clumsy three-centred heads, the mullions being continued up to the arch of the window, and it seems
that only the lower part of the tracery is mediaeval.
The north windows are copied from them, but are
entirely of a later date, and the north wall, which is
thinner than the south, is supported by large brick
buttresses. The tower is of two stages with a lowpitched slate roof. Its walls are 5 ft. thick, and the
internal angles are quoined. In its east wall it has a small
fifteenth-century doorway opening inwards to the nave,
in its north wall is a blocked doorway of somewhat
similar type, but a little more elaborate, and in the
south wall is a tall fifteenth-century arch of two
chamfered orders with moulded capitals and splayed
jambs with a roll between the two orders of the
jambs. This is an early example of a feature commonly occurring in the neighbourhood later in the
fifteenth century, and appears to be developed from
the small rolls in the angles of the quatrefoiled fourteenth-century piers to be found in so many of the
churches. Its use here is purely illogical, and corresponds with no member of the arch above. The
archway, as already said, must have opened into a
transept, but is now blocked, with a small doorway
pierced in the blocking. In the west wall of the
tower is a fifteenth-century window of two cinquefoiled
lights with a quatrefoil over. The upper stage of the
tower is lighted by single windows on each face,
which do not appear to be older than the arches
below, except that the west window, which is a small
round-headed light, is possibly of earlier date. The
internal quoining of the tower shows no signs of
early tooling, although it is difficult to believe that
the tower itself is not considerably older than any
other part of the church. It has, however, undergone
so much change that it has lost any traces from which
its former condition can be deduced.
The roofs of the church are of low pitch and
modern, but with some old timbers re-used, and are
covered with blue slates.
The pulpit is of eighteenth-century date, with
reading-desk and clerk's seat, and the font is plastered
and of no interest.
In the chancel floor are four slabs with inscriptions
to children of Thomas and Elizabeth Cokayne of
Astwick, 1657–8, and there are also several modern
monuments ranging from 1823 to 1866 to the Fossey
family.
There is one bell in the western tower.
The plate consists of a silver chalice of 1794, a
plated paten, and a pewter almsdish.
The earliest register, which has only lately been
recovered from an old chest at Stotfold, runs from
1655 to 1717. The second book, beginning 1718,
contains burials and baptisms to 1812 and marriages
1735 to 1812.
Advowson
Astwick was originally a parochial
chapel, but by 1291 had become a
parish church. (fn. 76) The advowson was
granted to the priory of Chicksands by Simon de Beauchamp, whose father Payn had founded the monastery
about the year 1150. (fn. 77) This gift was confirmed by the
charter of his son William to the monastery. (fn. 78) In
1291 the tithes of Chicksands in Astwick were
assessed at 13s. 4d. (fn. 79) At the Dissolution the temporalities of Chicksands Priory were worth £4 13s. 4d.,
whilst the rectorial tithes amounted to £7 6s. 8d. (fn. 80)
The advowson appears to have remained with the
crown for some short time, but Edward Butler was
holding it at the time of his death in 1561, (fn. 81) and
Beckingham Butler was presenting in 1605. (fn. 82) In
1660 the right of presentation was exercised by
Sir Samuel Browne, (fn. 83) and it appears to have followed
the same descent as the manor till the eighteenth
century. (fn. 84)
In 1764 Astwick Rectory was annexed to the vicarage
of Arlesey (q.v.), and at the present day the right of presentation is vested in the Rev. George Mayhew.
There are no endowed charities in this parish.