DENCHWORTH
Deniceswurth (ix cent.); Denchesworde (xi cent.);
Denecheswrth (xiii cent.).
The small parish of Denchworth covers 1,041 acres
of low-lying ground between two feeders of the River
Ock, about 2½ miles to the north-west of Wantage.
The two streams, which are known as the Land
Brook and Childrey Brook, flow in parallel directions
to the north-east. Their names are as old as the
10th century, when the following boundaries were
given in a grant of 5 hides in Denchworth to the
thegn Wulfric: 'First at Cilla rithe (Childrey Brook),
then west to Muttic, to the dike, to Ordulf's boundary,
to Ceawenlaewe (Challow), along the dike to the
Landbroc, along the brook to the boundaries of
North Denceswurthe, then eastward straight back to
Cillan rithe, then south to where we started; there
lie the three hides at North Denceswurthe unappropriated.' (fn. 1) These correspond with some closeness to
the modern boundaries of the parish. (fn. 2)
The Manor Farm, Denchworth
The village of Denchworth lies in the east part of
the parish near Childrey Brook, which supplies it
with water. The street runs north-east and southwest parallel with the stream, and at its central point
is joined by a lane running north-west from Wantage
and crossing the stream at Brook Lanes Bridge. At
the junction of the roads stand the square base and
truncated octagonal shaft of an ancient village cross.
The village contains several timber-framed and
thatched cottages, and near the church is the Fox
Inn, a thatched building of stone. In the churchyard south of the church is another cross with a
square base, octagonal shaft and modern head. The
Manor Farm, north-east of the church, is a two-story
building apparently erected by one of the three
successive William Hydes in the 16th century. It is
built of stone with a timber-framed addition on the
north. A few of the windows retain their moulded
stone labels, and the front door has a moulded fourcentred head surmounted by a handsome 18th-century
shell hood on carved brackets. The early 17thcentury chimney stacks are of brick. South-west of
the house is a large outbuilding with a hipped roof
and wooden eaves cornice dated 1708. Close to
the railway on the Challow road is a moated site
inclosing an early timber-framed cottage, evidently
once forming part of a much larger building.
A farm in the north of the parish is also on
the site of a house of greater pretensions. This
Hyde Farm cannot have been the first holding of
the Hyde family, which is always known as 'la Hyde
de Southcote,' and was certainly in the manor of Circourt, but it is probably on
the site of their 14th-century
manor-house. In 1383 there
were manor-houses known as
Loveday's Place and Cleet's
Place, besides the old manor
of Hyde. (fn. 3)
The boundary of the parish
passes between Hyde and the
farm of North Denchworth,
which is on the site of the
old home of the Fettiplace
family. The southern part of
the parish has the two farms
of Upper and Lower Circourt,
which represent the old manor
of 'Southcote.'
The greater part of the
parish, 626½ acres, is devoted
to pasture. (fn. 4) In the rest
wheat, barley, oats and beans
are grown. Denchworth beans
are noted and fetch a good
price. The soil is stiff clay on
a subsoil near the village of deep Kimmeridge Clay.
The more southerly part of the parish is on Gault.
Manors
The Abingdon Chronicle states that
DENCHWORTH was granted to the
abbey by Caedwalla and confirmed by
Kenulf, (fn. 5) but the charters produced in evidence are undoubtedly forgeries. A fief assessed in King Edward's
time at 7 hides, and in 1086 at 5½ hides, was held
by Henry de Ferrers at the latter date. (fn. 6) The church
was on this holding. (fn. 7) There was an under-tenant
named Rayner who had succeeded one Ælfric, and his
successors continued to hold the manor of the Ferrers
family till the overlordship was granted, with the
honour of Tutbury, to the Earls of Lancaster.
Henry de Tubney son of Henry, held half a knight's
fee here in the middle of the 13th century, (fn. 8) and had
inherited it from his mother Joan. (fn. 9) It followed the
descent of his manor of Tubney (q.v.) till 1428, (fn. 10) and
must have been sold shortly afterwards to the Hydes,
who held it in 1448. (fn. 11) It subsequently followed the
descent of the manor of Hyde in their family till 1617. (fn. 12)
It was sold in that year to Sir William Cokayne, (fn. 13)
and was inherited in 1626 by his son Charles, who
was created Viscount Cullen in 1642. (fn. 14) Brian son
of Charles (fn. 15) sold it in 1663 to Gregory Geering, (fn. 16)
who died in 1690 (fn. 17) and was
succeeded by his son Gregory.
Another Gregory, son of the
latter, (fn. 18) inherited the estate in
1723 and died in 1727. (fn. 19)
His brother William was the
nextowner, and held the manor
till 1743. (fn. 20) It was William's
son William (fn. 21) who in 1758
sold it to Worcester College,
Oxford, to which it has since
belonged.
Worcester College, Oxford. Or two cheversons gules between six martlets sable.
The manor of South Denchworth was conveyed to feoffees
in 1365 by Walter Catewy
and Joan his wife. (fn. 22) They perhaps held it on lease
from the Corbets of Tubney.
CIRCOURT (Suthcote, xii cent.; Sudecote, xiii
cent.; Southcote or Circote, xvii cent.) may be
identified with the 5 hides in Denchworth which in
947 were granted by Eadred to Wulfric, and were
later said to have been conveyed by Wulfric to Abingdon
Abbey. (fn. 23) It is not mentioned by name among the
abbey lands in 1086, but the Domesday Survey states
that 7 hides of the manor of Goosey, previously
appropriated to the monks' table, were held by Hermer,
and according to the Abingdon Chronicle the land
granted to that knight was in Denchworth. (fn. 24) It
seems probable therefore that this was the holding
afterwards known as the manor of Circourt, which
lay in the south-west corner of Denchworth adjoining Goosey, and was described in 1221 as 7
hides in Circourt and Denchworth. (fn. 25) The overlordship continued to belong to the abbey till the
Dissolution. (fn. 26)
In 1166 Circourt was held of the abbot for one
knight's fee by Raer de Aura. (fn. 27) Ralph de Aura was
in possession in 1221, when he claimed warranty
from the abbot of his 5 hides in Circourt and 2 in
Denchworth. (fn. 28) About 1240 John de Aura was holding
the knight's fee. (fn. 29) He or his heir of the same name
granted it before 1305 to Walter de L'Orti of Swell
in Somerset, (fn. 30) Maud his wife, and their heirs. Walter
died about that year, (fn. 31) and Maud held the manor for
life. The next owner was their son Henry, (fn. 32) who was
returned as lord in 1316. (fn. 33) Eight years later he granted
Circourt to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband
William de L'Orti, who is described as the son of Sir
William de Weyland, and must have taken his wife's
name. (fn. 34) They were to hold it for their lives, with
remainder to the heirs of Elizabeth by William, and
a contingent remainder to the right heirs of Henry. (fn. 35)
Elizabeth lived till 1336 at least (fn. 36) ; nevertheless in
1331 Henry de L'Orti of Swell made a conveyance of
his lands here apparently to feoffees. (fn. 37) In 1370 John
de L'Orti, son and heir of Henry, granted the reversion
of the manor to William Whittock. (fn. 38) It was held at
the time by John atte Ya for life by courtesy of
England. (fn. 39)
John atte Ya was still in possession in 1372, when
William Whittock granted his reversion to Edmund
Chelreye, John de Blebury, John Corf and Peter
Stanford, (fn. 40) the last of whom conveyed it in the following year to Richard Saumon. (fn. 41) Henry Saumon was
the tenant in 1428, (fn. 42) but by 1442 Circourt had come
into the possession of John Hyde. (fn. 43) He settled it on
himself and his wife Agnes in 1448, (fn. 44) with four other
manors in the parish.
During the occupancy of the Hyde family Circourt
followed the descent of South Denchworth, Hyde and
Lovedays (fn. 45) (q.v.). It was sold with the rest of the
estates here to the Cokaynes, (fn. 46) and afterwards passed
to the Geerings. (fn. 47) They sold it to the Matthews
family of the neighbouring manor of Goosey, (fn. 48) from
whom it was purchased by Edward Saxton of Abingdon. (fn. 49) His grandson Sir Charles Saxton, bart., was
lord of the manor in 1824. (fn. 50) On his death the estate
was inherited by his nephew John Oliver, (fn. 51) in whose
family it still remains.
Six hides here were held in 1086 of the barony of
Stafford, (fn. 52) and are sometimes described as 'half the
manor of South Denchworth.'
the other half being the
Ferrers fee. (fn. 53) The tenant at
the time of the Domesday
Survey was Laurence, who
also held land at Wilbrighton in Staffordshire. (fn. 54) Both
manors were subsequently held
by the Wilbrighton family.
In 1166 Hervey de Wilbrighton had an alternative name
of Hervey de Denchworth. (fn. 55)
Melana, who was holding the
Denchworth manor at the
end of the 12th or beginning
of the 13th century, (fn. 56) was
perhaps his widow. She had
a son Adam, (fn. 57) whose son
Hervey (fn. 58) was succeeded in
or about 1220 by William de
Wilbrighton. (fn. 59) To the latter Hervey de Stafford remitted his relief for one knight's fee which his father
had held in Denchworth. (fn. 60) Hervey de Wilbrighton,
perhaps the son of William, held half this fee in the
middle of the 13th century. (fn. 61) The other half, which
was afterwards known as CLEETS, had apparently
been granted by his family to the Prior of Poughley,
who in 1241 gave it to Elias de Bagnor for scutage
and an annual rent. (fn. 62) Elias, who was joint tenant
with Hervey, was succeeded by John de Bagnor, who
must have sold the estate to Rowland de Earley,
the tenant in 1294. (fn. 63) From the Earleys, who were
still in possession in 1307, (fn. 64) the manor passed to
David Martin, Bishop of St. David's, (fn. 65) who in 1328
held of the Prior of Poughley a capital messuage
and lands here. His heir was Thomas de Carew,
son of his sister Avice, (fn. 66) who in 1333 granted two
parts of the manor to Richard Cleet of Chipping
Lambourn. (fn. 67) Richard had a son and heir John, whose
daughter and heir Alice married first Edmund
Danvers, (fn. 68) and afterwards Richard Abberbury. (fn. 69) She
and her second husband leased Cleets to the Hyde
family. (fn. 70) The latter had already acquired the mesne
lordship from John Shelford and his wife Elizabeth,
who had bought it from the Prior of Poughley, (fn. 71) and
in 1408 Richard Abberbury and Alice granted to
John Hyde all their right in lands in South Denchworth. (fn. 72) Cleets was thus added to the other Hyde
lands. After their sale in 1617 it seems to have
followed the descent of South Denchworth.
Saxton of Circourt, baronet. Party bendwise argent and or a bend engrailed sable between two wings gules and on the bend another countercoloured of the field and charged with three garlands of roses gules.
The original estate of the Hyde family, from which
they took their name, was a hide of land in the manor
of Circourt generally called 'La Hyde de Southcote.' (fn. 73)
To this they seem to have added by purchasing land
in the north of the parish, so that the manor of
HYDE was said in 1397 to be at North Denchworth. (fn. 74)
They probably held their lands of the manors of
Circourt and South Denchworth till they themselves
acquired those manors; afterwards they are generally
said to hold all their lands of the Abbot of Abingdon. (fn. 75)
The Hyde family claimed in the 17th century to
have been established here since the days of Canute,
but the first Hyde who is
known to have held land in
South Denchworth is Warin,
who lived in the middle of
the 13th century. (fn. 76) He had
two sons, Peter and John, of
whom the former released to
his brother and his heirs all
right in his father's lands at
'La Hyde.' (fn. 77) Evidently this
is the John de la Hyde who
is described as a freeman
within the manor of Circourt
in 1305. (fn. 78) He held I hide
for a seventh part of a knight's
fee of Walter de L'Orti and Maud. (fn. 79) His son
William (fn. 80) succeeded him and recovered in 1327 a
messuage and 4 virgates in Circourt against Robert
de Mountford, (fn. 81) who also held of the De L'Ortis. (fn. 82)
William's successor was known as William Heygarston
de la Hyde. (fn. 83) He had a wife Parnel, and the two
purchased about 1346 from Mary Yve and William
Pavy land in South Denchworth, which was released
to them by the Corbets (fn. 84) and the family of la
Zouche. (fn. 85) John Hyde, William's son and successor,
conveyed the 'manor of Hyde' to feoffees in 1399. (fn. 86)
It was reconveyed to his son John and Graciana his
wife in 1420. (fn. 87) The younger John died in 1447, (fn. 88)
and was succeeded by a son of the same name on
whose heirs the manor was settled in the next year, (fn. 89)
with remainder to his bastard brother Baldwin Hyde.
John had a son John, (fn. 90) who was succeeded in 1487
by his son Oliver. (fn. 91) Oliver died in 1516, leaving a
son William, who succeeded him. (fn. 92) William's son
and grandson, who followed, bore the same name as
himself. (fn. 93) The latter was succeeded in 1598 by his
son George, (fn. 94) who sold the manor to the Cokaynes
in 1617. (fn. 95) It passed with South Denchworth (q.v.)
to the Geerings, (fn. 96) and must have been sold by them
to the family of Moyer. (fn. 97) Lydia Moyer, daughter and
heiress of Benjamin Moyer, married John Heathcote
of Connington Castle, (fn. 98) and their daughter, another
Lydia, inherited the manor. She married William
Dawnay, afterwards sixth Viscount Downe, (fn. 99) whose
daughter the Hon. Lydia Dawnay held it in 1875. (fn. 100)
Miss Dawnay of Beningbrough Hall, Yorkshire, is
the present owner.
Hyde of Denchworth. Gules two cheverons argent.
LOVEDAYS, or DENCHWORTH LOVEDAYS,
probably represents the half of the Stafford fee which
about 1250 was held by Hervey de Wilbrighton. (fn. 101)
William Waldyn de Wilbrighton, probably a son of
Hervey, (fn. 102) must have been in possession of this fee in
1305, when he claimed the advowson. (fn. 103) He disputed
the possession of a messuage and 7 virgates of land in
South Denchworth with Maud widow of William de
Earley in 1307. (fn. 104) It seems probable that his land
came into the hands of Sir John de Charlton, who
in 1310 granted his holding here to Richard de la
Rivere. (fn. 105) John son of William de la Rivere, who
is mentioned in connexion with a smaller estate in
Denchworth in 1321, (fn. 106) probably acquired this
also; in 1327 he appointed Robert his brother his
attorney to give seisin of all his lands in South
Denchworth to John son of John Loveday. (fn. 107) John
Loveday's daughter and heir Elizabeth married
John Shelford, and with her husband granted the
manor to John atte Hyde in 1382. (fn. 108) It was thereby
attached to the Hyde estates and subsequently
followed the same descent as the manor generally
called the manor of South Denchworth. (fn. 109)
In 1270 land here was held by the infamous Adam
de Stratton, (fn. 110) who four years later settled a messuage
and land on Thomas son of Thomas son of Adam
de Denchworth (fn. 111) and Alice his wife. He must
have sold the main part of his estate to William de
la Rivere, who in 1301 granted his holding here to
Richard son of Sarah de Middleton (fn. 112) and his heirs,
with remainder to John son of William de la Rivere
and his brothers. (fn. 113)
Church
The church of ST. JAMES consists of
a chancel 25 ft. 4 in. by 15 ft., nave 38 ft.
by 16 ft. 3 in., north chapel 9 ft. wide,
south transept 13 ft. 3 in. by 13 ft. 9 in., north tower
7 ft. 9 in. by 9 ft., and south porch. All the measurements are internal.
A small part of the south nave wall is of 12thcentury date, but in the 13th century the nave appears
to have been rebuilt and lengthened towards the west,
and the north tower and north chapel were apparently
added during the same century. In the 14th century the south transept was built, and in the 15th
century the chancel was rebuilt with the north chapel
and perhaps the outer walls of the south transept.
The thick abutments on either side of the chancel
arch may perhaps indicate the existence of an early
cruciform plan, but there is no direct evidence of
this. The church has been restored in modern times
and the south porch added.
The chancel has a three-light 15th-century east
window with restored tracery, and in the north wall
is a blocked doorway with a low-side window east of
it, also blocked. Further west is a four-centred arch
of narrow span opening into the eastern part of the
north chapel, now an organ chamber. In the south
wall are two 15th-century windows each of two lights
with a square head, and between them is a priest's doorway with a pointed head of the same date. The early
15th-century chancel arch is two-centred and of two
chamfered orders now distorted; the responds have
moulded capitals, but the bases are buried.
In the north wall of the nave is a pointed arch of
two chamfered and recut orders with shafted responds
having moulded bell capitals apparently of late 13thcentury date. Further west is a blocked north doorway probably of the 15th century and a blocked doorway formerly opening into the tower. In the south
wall is a 14th-century pointed arch of two orders
opening into the south transept, and further west is
the much-restored 12th-century south doorway. It
is of one semicircular order with moulded imposts and
arch and a billeted label. Beyond it is a two-light
square-headed window of the 15th century. The west
window is of three uncusped lights in a pointed head,
probably of the 16th century. The west wall has
two low 13th-century buttresses.
Plan Of Denchworth Church
The north chapel, overlapping both chancel and
nave, has in the north wall a two-light square-headed
window of the 16th century and a two-light window
of the 15th century further west. In the south pier
is a squint to the altar. The 15th-century pent
roof has moulded main timbers. The south transept
has a restored 15th century east window of two lights
under a square head, and in the south wall is a restored
window with a four-centred head, set in an old opening. In the south wall externally is a small panel
with the Hyde arms.
The north tower is two stages high, finished with
a plain parapet, and having diagonal buttresses at the
outer angles. The bell-chamber has a two-light squareheaded window in each wall. The south porch is
modern, but in the east wall is a 15th-century stoup.
The 15th-century octagonal font has a quatrefoil
inclosing a rose in each face, the base is moulded, and
the intermediate faces of the stem have attached shafts.
In the south transept are several tablets to members
of the Geering family, including one to Gregory
Geering (1690), with Ionic columns, a cleft pediment
and the family arms, and others of the 18th century.
On the north wall of the chancel is a brass with
kneeling figures of William Hyde (1557) in armour,
Margery his wife, twelve sons and eight daughters,
scrolls, two inscriptions, and two shields of the quartered
arms of Hyde impaling Ermine a pile with a lion
passant thereon, for Cater of Letcombe; one of the
inscriptions is a palimpsest on an inscription recording
the laying of a foundation stone at Bisham Priory in
1333. Another brass has figures of William Hyde
(1567) in armour and Alice his wife with two shields,
one with the quartered Hyde coat and Cater of Letcombe on an escutcheon, the second Hyde quartering
Cater. On the south wall is a brass to Oliver Hyde
(1516) in armour and Agnes his wife with two
shields of the Hyde arms and an inscription to
William Say (?) (1493). In the south transept
windows are four glass shields, two of which are
ancient, bearing the Hyde arms.
There are four bells, the third and tenor cast by
Mears & Sons in 1868–9; the others are of 1733
and 1624 respectively.
The plate consists of a chalice and paten of 1587–8.
A modern silver-plated flagon and brass almsdish were
presented by the late vicar, the Rev. H. M. Burgess.
The registers begin in 1538.
Before the restoration of the parish church in 1852
there was a room over the porch containing a parochial
library for the use of the vicars of Denchworth. It
was begun in 1693 by the vicar and Gregory Geering.
The books, which included a 1483 edition of the
Golden Legend and other rare volumes, were secured
in their places by chains. The library is now at the
vicarage, and the Golden Legend is the property of the
Bodleian Library.
Advowson
The church of South Denchworth
in 1086 was in the fee of Ferrers,
which subsequently became part of
the duchy of Lancaster. (fn. 114) The advowson naturally
belonged to the owners of that fee, but the lords of the
manors in the Stafford fee frequently put in a claim.
There was also in 1243 a claim by the Prior of Newton
Longville on behalf of the parson of Hanney, to which
church Denchworth was said to be a chapel. (fn. 115) The
prior gave up his right, however, for 35 marks, (fn. 116) and
an agreement was made between Henry de Tubney,
who held the Ferrers fee, and Elias de Bagnor, who
held under the Staffords, by which they were to
present alternately. (fn. 117) The de Bois family and the
Corbets, successors of Henry de Tubney in the Ferrers
fee, seem to have succeeded in making most of the
presentations, (fn. 118) though the Bishop of St. David's in
1328 and Thomas de Carew, his successor, who had
succeeded to the rights of Elias, both preferred a claim
to the advowson. (fn. 119) In 1305 William Waldyn de
Wilbrighton, another feoffee of the Staffords, claimed
to present to the living. (fn. 120) William de Bois avoided
the trial by proving that the church was not vacant,
but it seems that William de Wilbrighton made the
presentation in that year. (fn. 121) There is a solitary instance,
in 1329, of a presentation by John Loveday. (fn. 122) In
1358 Robert Corbet granted the advowson to William
de Shareshull, (fn. 123) to whom John Loveday in the next year
released his right. (fn. 124) William de Shareshull granted it
at once to the abbey of Bruerne, to find a monk to
celebrate in the abbey, and the abbot received licence
to appropriate the church. (fn. 125)
The abbots of Bruerne remained in possession of
the advowson and rectory till the Dissolution, and
frequently let them out to farm. (fn. 126) They were granted
in 1542 to William Sharington, (fn. 127) who in the next year
sold them to William Hyde, jun., of Denchworth. (fn. 128)
From that time the advowson followed the descent of
the manor of South Denchworth. (fn. 129) The present patron
is Worcester College, Oxford. The rectory belonged
in the early 17th century to the Gill family, (fn. 130) but in
1617 George Hyde and George Gill sold it to
William Cokayne, and it afterwards followed the
descent of the advowson. (fn. 131)
Charities
In 1729 Richard Gilgrasse by his
will gave £50, the interest to be
applied for teaching poor children.
The principal sum was supposed to have been laid
out in the purchase of land which was exchanged
under an inclosure award, dated 21 March 1806,
for 2 a. 2 r. 16 p., in Northfield in Grove. The
land is let at £6 10s. yearly. There is also a sum of
£53 13s. 2d. consols in the names of the Rev. W. Oswald
Wait and two others, purchased with £50 supposed
to have arisen from a sale of timber at the time of the
inclosure. The annual dividends, amounting to
£1 6s. 8d. yearly, are with the net rents applied
towards the repair of the National school, founded
by deed poll 1 June 1858.