ORTON LONGUEVILLE with BOTOLPHBRIDGE
Ofertune (x, xi cent.); Ovretune (xi cent.); Overton
(xiii cent.); Ortun (xvi cent.); Longevill (xiii–xiv
cent.); Lungeville (xiii–xv cent.); Longville (xvii cent.).
The present parish of Orton Longueville contains
over 2,409 acres and includes Botolphbridge (q.v.),
originally a separate parish, but the two rectories were
united in 1702. In 1728 an Act was passed for confirming the Inclosure of Orton Longueville and
Botolphbridge. (fn. 1) The parish lies on the borders of
Northamptonshire, from which it is separated by
the River Nene. The subsoil is mainly Oxford Clay,
with Cornbrash near the river. The land is undulating and varies from 22 ft. to 65 ft. above Ordnance
datum. The village, about 54 ft. above Ordnance
datum, lies just off the main road from Peterborough
and Oundle, the nearest station being at Orton Waterville on the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
The church and village are just outside the large park
surrounding Orton Longueville Hall. In the gravel
pits in the park, the remains of a Romano-British hutvillage have been found. (fn. 2)
The early history of the formation of the two
parishes of Orton Longueville and Orton Waterville
is obscure. In Domesday Book no distinction of
name is made and the different holdings are all called
Overton, and only one church is mentioned. (fn. 3) Originally it seems to have been king's land and in his soke, (fn. 4)
but a portion was alienated, probably by King Edgar,
to the Abbey of Peterborough and formed in the reign
of King Edward the Confessor a berewick of the
Abbey manor of Alwalton. (fn. 5) Edward granted 3 hides
of land to the Bishopric of Lincoln. (fn. 6) In 1066 the
remainder of Orton was still in the king's soke, (fn. 7) but
by 1086 the abbey had increased its holding by a
grant of 3½ hides made in the time of William the
Conqueror, (fn. 8) and the other holdings were in the hands
of Eustace the Sheriff. (fn. 9) It seems impossible to fix a
date for the separation of the parish of Orton Waterville, but before 1086 the Abbey of Peterborough had
been forced to subinfeudate many of its lands to
military tenants, and its holdings in Orton were
then both in the hands of Ansgered or Ansered, the
ancestor of the Waterville family, who were hereditary
marshals of the Abbot's Hall at Peterborough. (fn. 10) One
of his descendants probably built the 12th-century
church, of which parts still exist, (fn. 11) and the parishes
were presumably separated at this time and certainly
before 1185. (fn. 12) Besides the abbey holdings, the parish
of Orton Waterville also contained by 1279 the fee of
the Bishop of Lincoln (fn. 13) and part of the lands which
had been in the hands of the sheriff in 1086. The
sheriff's lands consisted of a manor containing 7½ hides
of land, formerly held by Elsi, on which there was a
church; a small holding of 2½ hides, formerly held by
Aluriz, and a third holding of 8 hides and 1 virgate,
which had belonged to seven sokemen before the Conquest. (fn. 14) The last two holdings were not described as
manors, but as being in the king's soke of Norman
Cross. (fn. 15) It seems clear that Elsi's manor, with the
church, formed the nucleus of the parish of Overton
Longueville; (fn. 16) but some part of the remainder seems
to have been acquired by the de Watervilles, and became part of Orton Waterville, to which some 5 hides
seem to have been assigned. (fn. 17)
Manor
The manor of OVERTON LONGUEVILLE or ORTON LONGUEVILLE
can be identified in the main with the
pre-Conquest holding of Elsi. (fn. 18) In 1086 it was in the
hands of Eustace the Sheriff, (fn. 19) and had not then been
subinfeudated. (fn. 20) His two other holdings, the 2½ hides
of Aluriz' land and the 8 hides and 1 virgate of the
seven sokemen, had, however, been given respectively
to Roger and John, both men of Eustace. (fn. 21) Their
successors cannot be traced, and their holdings apparently became part of the manor, which was subinfeudated before 1135, (fn. 22) and was held by the Longueville family as one knight's fee of the Lovetot Barony. (fn. 23)
Longueville. Gules a fesse dancetty ermine between six crosslets argent.
The first member of the family of whom there is
any record was Henry de Longueville, who held the
fee in 1166. (fn. 24) Reginald de Longueville was probably
the next tenant. He died before 1219, his heir being
his son Henry, (fn. 25) who, with his brothers Giles and
Robert, was concerned in a
grant of land in Orton
Longueville to the Abbey of
Ramsey. (fn. 26) Henry held 9 carucates of land there in 1220. (fn. 27)
In 1242, John de Longueville
was the tenant. (fn. 28) He died
before 1265, leaving his son
Henry, a minor, in the wardship of his overlord, Roger de
Lovetot. The latter forfeited
the wardship to the king with
his other possessions for his
support of Simon de Montfort, and Henry III granted
it to Adam de Chesterton, clerk. (fn. 29) Roger, however,
recovered his lands and appears to have granted
the wardship of Henry to his mother, Isabel, widow
of John de Longueville. (fn. 30) Henry married his overlord's daughter, Petronilla, and in 1273, shortly
before Roger's death, they were in seisin of rents in
Orton Waterville which Roger gave them in free
marriage, (fn. 31) although Henry was still in the wardship
of his mother. (fn. 32) He died before 1296 (fn. 33) and was succeeded by another John, who in 1302 settled the manor
on himself and his wife Margaret in fee-tail. (fn. 34) He
died before 1316, (fn. 35) his heir being apparently his
daughter Margaret, afterwards the wife of Gerard
Braybrook. His widow, however, held the manor for
her life. (fn. 36) Sir Peter de Saltmarsh held it in 1316, (fn. 37)
and in 1334 obtained, together with the parson of the
church of Orton Waterville and Richard de Lincoln
of Peterborough, a grant of pontage for three years on
wares passing over the bridge over the Nene at Peterborough. (fn. 38) It seems fairly certain that he married
John de Longueville's widow. He appears to have
died soon after 1337, (fn. 39) but Margaret was living in
1350 and still held the manor, when de Longueville's
heir Margaret and her husband, Gerard, son of Sir
Gerard de Braybrook, kt., in that year settled the
reversion of the manor on themselves and her heirs. (fn. 40)
She had died before 1369, when the Braybrooks had
possession of the Orton Longueville property. (fn. 41)
Gerard died in 1403 (fn. 42) and was succeeded by his
eldest son, Sir Reginald Braybrook, kt., who died in
1405. (fn. 43) His widow, Joan, Baroness Cobham, afterwards married Sir John Oldcastle, who appears as the
tenant of Orton Longueville
in 1412. (fn. 44) She died in 1434,
but the manor was not held
by her fifth husband, Sir John
Harpedon, who survived her
till 1458. (fn. 45) The reversion
seems to have been settled on
Sir Reginald's son Gerard,
who predeceased him and
whose widow, Joan, granted
the manor in 1422 to feoffees. (fn. 46)
It passed to Sir Reginald's
brother and heir male, Sir
Gerard Braybrook, and not to his daughter and heir,
Joan, the wife of Sir Thomas Brooke. (fn. 47) In 1438 it
was held by Elizabeth Lady St. Amand, granddaughter of Gerard and wife of Sir William Beauchamp. (fn. 48) The latter died in 1457 and she married
Sir Roger Tocotes, kt., (fn. 49) whose lands were forfeited
on the accession of Richard III. Orton Longueville
was granted in 1484 to Sir Gervase Clifton, (fn. 50) but the
Tocotes recovered it, she dying seised in 1491, (fn. 51) and Sir
Roger in 1492. (fn. 52) Her son, Richard Beauchamp, Lord
St. Amand, succeeded to the manor, (fn. 53) but died in 1508
without leaving legitimate children. (fn. 54) His feoffees,
acting under his will, sold it to George Kirkham, (fn. 55) in
spite of efforts made to recover its possession by the
Longueville family and by the Brookes. (fn. 56) Kirkham
died seised in 1528, (fn. 57) and his son Robert sold Orton
Longueville manor in 1548 to Robert Rayner. (fn. 58) The
latter died in 1550, (fn. 59) and was succeeded by his son,
William Rayner, (fn. 60) during whose minority Edward VI
granted the manor to Princess Elizabeth. (fn. 61) William
was afterwards knighted and died in 1606. (fn. 62) He left
the manor by will to his daughter Elizabeth, the widow
of Henry Talbot, a son of George, Earl of Shrewsbury,
and the wife of Sir Thomas Holcroft, and her heirs
male, with remainder to Mary, her younger daughter
by Talbot, who was the wife of Holcroft's son and
heir Thomas. (fn. 63) Elizabeth succeeded to the manor
in 1606 (fn. 64) and died, a widow, in 1612. (fn. 65) Her daughter
succeeded to it (fn. 66) and, after the death of Thomas
Holcroft, married Sir William Armyne, bart. (fn. 67) She
appears to have held the manor till her death in 1675, (fn. 68)
when it seems to have passed to William Pierrepoint,
the second son of her sister Gertrude, wife of Robert
Pierrepoint, first Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull. (fn. 69)
William Pierrepoint died in 1679, and his heir was his
grandson William, who succeeded his uncle as Earl of
Kingston-upon-Hull in 1680. (fn. 70)
Orton Longueville is mentioned in the settlement made
in 1685 on the occasion of
the Earl's marriage to Anne,
daughter of Robert Greville,
Baron Brooke, to which his
mother, Elizabeth, was one
of the parties. (fn. 71) He died in
1690, his brother Evelyn
being his heir. (fn. 72) The manor,
however, seems to have come
into the possession of his
aunt Frances Pierrepoint, the widow of Henry,
Duke of Newcastle; she died in 1695, and it passed
to her third daughter and co-heir Margaret, the wife
of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle. (fn. 73) The latter
presented to the church of Botolphbridge (q.v.), the
advowson of which was in the same ownership as that
of Orton Longueville (q.v.) in 1715. (fn. 74) She died childless the following year, (fn. 75) and the manor passed to her
niece Frances, daughter of her sister Arabella (d. 1698)
and Charles, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, and wife of
Viscount Morpeth, afterwards 4th Earl of Carlisle. (fn. 76)
Frances died at Orton Longueville in 1742 (fn. 77) and left two
daughters and co-heirs, the eldest of whom, Arabella,
inherited Orton Longueville manor. She married
Jonathan Cope, son and heir
of Sir Jonathan Cope, bart., of
Brewerne Abbey, Oxon, (fn. 78) and
they owned it in 1744. (fn. 79) She
died in 1746 and her husband
in 1763. (fn. 80) They were succeeded
by her son (d. 1781) (fn. 81) and
grandson, both named Charles,
but the latter died young in
the same year as his father,
and his estates passed to his
two sisters, Arabella Diana,
afterwards Duchess of Dorset,
and Charlotte Anne. (fn. 82) Orton
Longueville was assigned to
Charlotte Anne, who married George Gordon, son
of the 4th Earl of Aboyne, who also succeeded as
9th Marquess of Huntly, (fn. 83) in 1836. It now belongs
to his grandson, the present Marquess of Huntly.
Braybrook. Argent seven voided lozenges gules.
Pierrepoint.Argent powdered with cinqfoils gules a lion sable.
Gordon, Marquess of Huntly. Azure three boars' beads or cut off at the neck.
In the 13th century, John de Longueville paid
annually to the county 2s. for view of frankpledge, (fn. 84)
and about 1278 his widow Isabella held a mill worth
30s. a year and a fishery worth 2s. a year. (fn. 85)
Church
The church of the HOLY TRINITY
consists of a chancel (33 ft. by 16 ft.),
north chapel (22¾ ft. by 18 ft.), nave
(36¾ ft. by 15¼ ft.), north aisle (36¾ ft. by 7½ ft.),
south aisle (37¾ ft. by 16¾ ft.), west tower (7½ ft. by
7½ ft.), and south porch. The walls are of coursed
rubble with stone dressings, and the roofs are covered
with lead.
The church is mentioned in the Domesday Survey
(1086), but nothing of this early church remains. It
probably had an aisleless nave, to which aisles were
added c. 1240. A general rebuilding seems to have
been commenced towards the end of the 13th century,
commencing with the chancel, chancel arch and north
chapel, c. 1280; the nave and
aisles, c. 1300; and the west
tower, either built or rebuilt,
about the same time. The clearstory was added a few years
later; and about the middle of
the century the north chapel
was rebuilt and the arch between
it and the chancel was widened
towards the east. The belfry seems
to have been rebuilt with very
high walls in the 15th century.
The south aisle was rebuilt to
about double its former width,
with the materials of Botolphbridge Church, in 1675, (fn. 86) at
which time the porch was rebuilt. The porch was repaired
in 1835, and the church in 1840,
the north chapel being partly
rebuilt in 1861. (fn. 87) The north
aisle roof was restored about
1888, and the roofs of the chancel, nave and south aisle were
largely renewed in 1908–9, when
some repairs were also done to the east window and
the south clearstory windows.
The late 13th-century chancel has a five-light east
window of c. 1350, with flowing tracery in a twocentred head. The north wall has an original twolight window with a quatrefoil in a two-centred
head; a two-centred arch of c. 1280, but widened
c. 1350, having two hollow chamfered orders, and
carried on responds formed of three grouped shafts
with moulded capitals and bases; and a reset tall and
narrow 13th-century niche, low down, with a twocentred head and continuous chamfered jambs. The
south wall has an early 14th-century three-light
window with tracery in a two-centred head; an early
14th-century transomed window, of which the upper
part is of two lights with tracery in a two-centred
head, and the lower part is a blocked three-light lowside window; an early 14th-century doorway with a
slightly ogee head and continuous double hollowchamfered jambs; a piscina with trefoiled head and
octofoiled basin; and, on the outside, two reset
early 14th-century niches with trefoiled heads and
continuous hollow-chamfered jambs. The hinges
of the south door are of early 14th-century date and
have scrolls ending in stamped rosettes and leaves,
and stamped lappets, and are probably the work of
Thomas de Leighton. The late 13th-century chancel
arch is two-centred, of two chamfered orders, and rests
on responds having semicircular attached shafts
with moulded capitals and chamfered bases; on each
side, in the chancel, is an early 14th-century seat
recess with trefoiled ogee head and hollow-chamfered
jambs. On the gable above is a very fine wheel-cross.
The mid 14th-century north chapel has a reset threelight east window of c. 1300, with tracery in a twocentred head; (fn. 88) a piscina with trefoiled head and
octofoiled basin; and two niches of c. 1300, having
trefoiled ogee heads and chamfered jambs. The
rebuilt north wall has two early 14th-century two-light
windows with tracery in two-centred heads. In the
west wall is a two-centred arch to the aisle, c. 1280,
of two chamfered orders, the lower order resting on
attached semicircular shafts with moulded capitals
and bases.
Reproduced by permission of the Controller of H.M. Stationery Office from the Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hunts.
The nave, c. 1300, has on each side an arcade of
three bays of two-centred arches of two chamfered
orders, carried on octagonal columns with moulded
capitals extended out as brackets on the north and
south sides to carry the outer orders of the arch;
the bases are moulded and stand on square plinths of
c. 1240, with griffes at the corners. The second
column from the east, on the south side, has a small
recess cut in the western side, and fitted with a metal
alms-box. At the eastern end of the north wall, the
15th-century rood stairs have been destroyed and
an opening formed right through the wall to the
lower doorway in the north aisle. On the south side
is a modern opening with a trefoiled head into the
south aisle. The 14th-century clearstory has three
square-headed two-light windows on each side.
The north aisle, c. 1300, has in the north wall two
early 14th-century two-light windows with tracery in
segmental-pointed heads; and an early 14th-century
doorway with a two-centred head and moulded jambs.
In the south-east corner is the 15th-century doorway
to the rood stairs. In the west wall is a two-light
window somewhat similar to those in the north wall.
The windows of this aisle contain fragments of
coloured glass of the 13th to 17th centuries.
The south aisle, rebuilt 1675, has in the east wall
two early 14th-century two-light windows with
tracery in two-centred heads. The south wall has
two early 14th-century two-light windows with
modern tracery in two-centred heads eastward of the
porch; a similar window, but c. 1300, west of
the porch; and a doorway of c. 1290, with two-centred
head and continuous moulded jambs. The west
wall has an early 14th-century two-light window
similar to that at the west end of the north aisle,
and a two-light window of c. 1300, similar to that in
the south wall.
The west tower, c. 1300, has a two-centred tower
arch of three chamfered orders, the lower order resting
on semicircular attached shafts with moulded capitals
and chamfered bases. The north wall has a blocked
late 13th-century doorway with two-centred head and
chamfered jambs, leading to a blocked stair-turret at
the north-east corner. In the south wall is a doorway
with two-centred head to the stair-turret at the southeast corner. The west window is a late 13th-century
two-light with a pierced spandrel in a two-centred
head, and contains a small demi-figure of a saint in
13th-century glass. The second stage has an opening
with a two-centred head in the east wall; a quatrefoil
in the north and south walls; and a trefoiled-headed
niche in the west wall. The belfry has no west
window, but the east, north and south walls have each
a 15th-century two-light window with simple tracery
in a two-centred head. The tower, which has
diagonal buttresses at the north-west and south-west
angles, rises to an unusual height above the belfry
windows, and is finished with an embattled parapet.
The south porch, which has a date-stone inscribed
'1675 ' in its southern gable, has a reset 14th-century
outer archway with a two-centred arch of two
chamfered orders and continuous moulded jambs.
In the east wall is a reset quatrefoiled circular window
of c. 1300. The roof is of the 15th century, reset in
1675, and has moulded beams.
The 15th-century font has an octagonal bowl with
panelled sides and moulded cove, on a panelled stem
with a modernised base.
There is one bell, inscribed: Nomen Magdalene
Campana Gerit Melodie and bearing the stamps of
John Walgrave, c. 1418–1440. There is also a sanctus
bell with no inscription.
On the north wall of the north aisle is an exceptionally well preserved early 16th-century painting of the
upper part of St. Christopher and the Christ Child. (fn. 89)
Lying loose in the south aisle is a long stone with a
plain circular sunk basin, found in the north clearstory wall in 1927. On the north wall of the north
chapel is an early 17th-century funeral helm with
vizor and spike for crest. Lying loose in this chapel
are some panels of lead glazing containing some
14th-century coloured glass.
Under the arch between the chancel and the chapel
is an effigy of a knight, c. 1280, in chain armour and
long surcoat with heater-shaped shield and with crossed
legs resting on a dog. It is said that a tabard formerly
hung above it, emblazoned: Argent, a chevron between
ten crosslets, 4, 2, 1, 2, 1. (fn. 90)
Against the north wall of the north chapel is a
large monument of alabaster and marble with a tableslab supported on Doric columns, inscription tablet,
and many shields of arms, commemorating Elizabeth
(Rayner) wife of Henry Talbot, d. 1629, Maria her
daughter, wife of Sir William Armyne, Bart., d. 1674,
and Talbot Armyne, son of the last, born 1630.
There are other monuments: in the chancel, to the
Rev. Charles Child, Rector, d. 1835; the Rev.
Samuel Rogers, Rector, d. 1852, and Eliza Ann, his
wife, d. 1855; the Rev. Peter Royston, Rector, d. 1906;
floor slabs to William Yarwell, d. 1597; Richard
Caryer, d. 1671; Thomas Caryer, d. 1680; Mary,
dau: of Richard Caryer, d. 1695; Penelope, dau. of
Robert Caryer, d. 1698; the Rev. Richard Caryer,
Rector, d. 1704; Robert Neville, d. 170[6]; the
Rev. Richard Caryer, d. 1711; the Rev. Robert
Caryer, Rector, d. 1714; the Rev. Jonathan Stubbs,
Rector, d. 1789. In the north chapel, to Lady Mary
(Gordon), wife of Lord Frederick Seymour, d. 1825;
Elizabeth Henrietta, wife of Charles, Earl of Aboyne,
d. 1832; Charles, 10th Marquess of Huntly, d. 1863;
Lord Randolph Seton Gordon, d. 1859; Lady Edith
Blanche Gordon, d. 1862; Lord Bertram Gordon,
d. 1869; and Lord Lewis Gordon, d. 1870; floor slab
to Sir Charles Cope, Bart., d. 1781; and window to
Charles, 10th Marquess of Huntly, d. 1863. In the
north aisle, to Mary Antoinette (Pegus), wife of the
10th Marquess of Huntly, d. 1893; Lord Douglas
William Cope Gordon, d. 1888. In the south aisle,
to William Yarwell, d. 1597; Sir Charles Cope,
Bart., d. 1781; Mary Elizabeth Moore, d. 1826;
Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Roberts, d. 1828; Thomas
Speechley, d. 1832; Henry Milnes Townsend, d. 1917;
floor slabs to Mary, wife of Thomas Wakelin, d. 1693;
G.W. 1697; and A.K. 1698/9. There are also four
hatchments in the north chapel and two in the
tower.
The registers, which include Botolphbridge, are
as follows: (i) St. Botolph's Bridge: baptisms and
burials, 29 May 1556 to 13 April 1680, and marriages
15 Nov. 1562 to 25 Feb. 1695; (ii) Orton Longueville:
baptisms, marriages and burials, 25 May 1559 to
1 March 1695; (iii) the combined parishes: baptisms,
marriages and burials, 25 March 1696 to 16 Dec. 1770,
marriages end 10 June 1753; (iv) baptisms and
burials, 10 Feb. 1771 to 17 Oct. 1812; (v) the official
marriage book, 19 Sept. 1754 to 22 April 1812; the
usual modern books.
The church plate consists of a Britannia-silver cup,
hall-marked for 1711–12; (fn. 91) a silver standing paten, hallmarked for 1829–30.
Advowson
A church is mentioned in Domesday
Book on the land, formerly held by
Elsi, which in 1086 was in the hands of
Eustace the Sheriff, (fn. 92) and was apparently granted with
the manor of Orton Longueville (q.v.). John de Longueville was patron of the church in 1247–8, (fn. 93) and the
advowson was held with the manor till 1916, (fn. 94) when
it was purchased by Canon Warren Hastings, who
is the present patron and rector of the church. In
1721, the rectory of Botolphbridge was united with
that of Orton Longueville by deed of Bishop Gibson of
Lincoln. (fn. 95) In 1428, a portion of tithes to the value
of 30s. a year was paid from the rectory to the Priory
of Huntingdon. (fn. 96) At the Dissolution of the Chantries
lamp land consisting of half an acre, worth 17d.
a year, had been given to the church. (fn. 97) In 1549 it
was granted by the king to John Dodington and
William Warde. (fn. 98) The church was taxed at £6 13s. 4d.
in 1291 and 10 marks in 1428. Its value in 1535 was
£12 19s. 8d. (fn. 99)
Charities
Mary Walsham, by will dated
19 January 1744, gave to the minister,
churchwardens and overseers £100
for the benefit of the poor of the parish. The
endowment now consists of £251 6s. Consols with the
Official Trustees, and the dividends are distributed
to the poor in money.
Christopher Jeffery, by will dated 22 March 1838,
gave to the minister and churchwardens a sum of
money for the poor of the parish. This sum is now
represented by £109 8s. 9d. Consols with the Official
Trustees, the dividends from which are distributed to
the poor in money.
William Yarwell, by will proved 10 April 1598,
gave a yearly rentcharge of £1 issuing out of pasture
ground called Burne Grounds to poor householders of
the parish. The charge is regularly paid and distributed by the rector and churchwardens among the
poor householders of the parish.
The Church Leys.—The annual sum of £110s. is paid
out of an estate in the parish to the rector for the repair
of the church. The origin of the charity is unknown.
Lady Armyne's Charity.—Dame Mary Armyne,
by her will dated 31 August 1654, gave to the rector
a yearly rentcharge of £22 issuing out of her manor
lands and tenements in Orton Longueville, for the
benefit of eight poor widows or widowers of the
parish. The charge is regularly paid and distributed
in money to eight poor widows.
BOTOLPHBRIDGE
Botuluesbrige (xi-xiv cent.); Botelesbrig, Botolfbrigg (xiii cent.); Bottelbridge (xvi cent.).
Botolphbridge or Bottlebridge is now only a hamlet
in Orton Longueville parish, containing a few houses.
It was formerly a separate parish, the church of
which is mentioned in Domesday Book. (fn. 100) It consisted
of the whole of the present parish which is north of
the old road from Peterborough to Oundle and some
small part south of the road, but the precise boundary
between the two parishes is now difficult to follow.
The road was straightened early in the 19th century,
but its former line is still shown on the original oneinch Ordnance map. In a Hundred Roll (temp.
Edw. I) Botolphbridge is described as a hamlet of
Orton Longueville, (fn. 101) but it was really a separate
place.
In 1316 Botolphbridge and Orton Longueville
formed one vill for purposes of taxation, and they
have been assessed together ever since. (fn. 102)
The manor house of the Drayton family and the
church stood at the east end of the parish. The
house had been demolished before 1669, (fn. 103) and the
church, the site of which is marked by a stone, was
pulled down in 1695.
Manors
The manor of BOTOLPHBRIDGE
belonged to Edward the Confessor
and in 1086 was 'kept' by Ranulf
for the king. It was assessed at five hides, with land
for 8 ploughs. (fn. 104) Its history in the following century
is obscure, as it has chiefly to be gathered from documents of the 13th and 14th centuries which are somewhat contradictory. The most probable account is
that King Henry (II) gave it to one of his serjeants
named Hugh de Lizures to hold as one knight's fee.
Hugh was succeeded by his daughter and heir Sybil,
who was in the king's wardship and was given in
marriage with the manor to Robert de Gimeges. (fn. 105)
He held it in the reign of Richard I (fn. 106) and paid scutage
for his land in Huntingdonshire in 1194. (fn. 107) Subsequently he and Sybil granted a moiety of the manor
to Hugh de Boyeby on his marriage with their daughter
Emma, (fn. 108) and this formed a sub-manor, later known as
Paynels or Deens Manor (q.v.), which was held of the
de Gimeges and their successors. It appears to
have been this Robert de Gimeges who, with his
wife's consent and advice, granted to Ralph de
Longes and Sybil his wife a ⅓ part of his demesnes in
Botolphbridge and Orton, together with the ¼ part,
which Ralph de Longes held of him in the same vills,
so that the whole moiety of his demesne should remain
to Ralph and Sybil and Ralph's heirs. (fn. 109) The relationship, if any, of the grantees to Robert de Gimeges and
his wife does not appear, but the grant of the ¼ part
was confirmed in a final concord by their son and heir
William in 1234, who, however, reserved the capital
messuage. (fn. 110) Robert died before 1210–12, when Sybil
de Gimeges answered for the whole fee to King John, (fn. 111)
but probably she only held it during the minority of
her son William. The king, however, appears to
have reduced the service due from Botolphbridge to
two-thirds of a knight's fee, together with the duty
of feeding the king's hounds when his huntsmen
came into the county. (fn. 112) In 1218, William de Gimeges
paid his relief for the manor, (fn. 113) holding a moiety as
mesne lord and a moiety in demesne. He died soon
after 1234, his son and heir Robert being a minor
in the wardship of Reginald de Heddon. (fn. 114) Robert
was of age in 1242, (fn. 115) and in 1259 granted the moiety
of the manor which his father had held in demesne
to Baldwin Drayton and his wife Idonea. (fn. 116) In the
same year, Lady Sybil de Gymeges, late lady of
Caroby, granted in free widowhood all her land in
Overton and Botolphbridge to her daughter Idonea
and Sir Baldwin de Drayton, kt., in free marriage. (fn. 117)
It seems probable that this Sybil was a second daughter
of the first Robert de Gimeges and Sybil de Lizures,
and she may also have been Sybil, wife of Ralph de
Longes, for whom her parents had thus made provision
in the grant mentioned above.
From this time the de Gimeges held both moieties
of the manor in mesne lordship. Robert was succeeded
by his son, a third Robert, who was the overlord
early in the reign of Edward I. (fn. 118) In 1333, a Robert de
Gimeges, presumably his son, granted all his right in
the rent of one sparrowhawk or 2s. a year due from
the Draytons' moiety to his under-tenant Simon
de Drayton. (fn. 119) He was still apparently in seisin of the
mesne lordship in 1358, when he was described as
Robert de Gimeges of Stachesden (Stagsden, Beds), (fn. 120)
but was succeeded in 1359 by John, (fn. 121) said to be his
grandson, but more probably his son. The latter in
1364 brought an action against the Crown to recover
the wardship of the sub-tenant of the Paynels moiety
of the manor, (fn. 122) but evidently died before the end of
the suit. It was, however, restored to his son and heir
John in 1366, and he did homage for it, (fn. 123) but after this
time the mesne lordship disappeared.
Drayton. Argent a cross engrailed gules.
Shirley. Paly or and sable a quarter ermine.
The manor of BOTOLPHBRIDGE or LOVETS
MANOR may be identified with the moiety of
Botolphbridge which Robert de Gimeges granted
to Baldwin de Drayton and his wife Idonea, (fn. 124) and it
passed on the death of Baldwin, about 1278, (fn. 125) to his
son John, (fn. 126) who in turn was succeeded about 1292
by his son Simon, (fn. 127) but the manor was assigned in
dower in 1293 to Alice, John's widow. (fn. 128) She seems,
however, to have granted it to her son in 1318 or 1319, (fn. 129)
and Simon settled it in 1321 on himself, his wife
Margaret and his son John and their heirs. (fn. 130) In 1355,
however, a new settlement was made on Simon and
Margaret for their lives, with remainders to John's
sons Baldwin and Gilbert, (fn. 131) and John made a quitclaim of all his right in the manor. (fn. 132) Simon died in
1357 (fn. 133) and Margaret in 1358, when it passed to their
grandson Baldwin. (fn. 134) The latter died before 1399, when
his widow, Alice, granted seisin of the manor to his
son John. (fn. 135) In 1426, the
latter granted land and tenements to the annual value of
20 marks from his manors of
Botolphbridge and Cranford
(Northants) to his son John
on his marriage with Anne,
daughter and eventually coheir of Robert Craunford. (fn. 136)
The feoffment was not made
before the death of the
younger John and a chancery
suit was brought by Craunford. (fn. 137) It was probably in consequence of this
that John Drayton, the elder, granted the manor of
Botolphbridge in 1429 to his daughter-in-law for her
life. (fn. 138) She afterwards married Thomas Halle. (fn. 139)
On the death of her father-in-law, before 1443, (fn. 140)
his heir was his grandson, Anne's son William,
who was a minor. (fn. 141) He was living in May 1465,
when he obtained a pardon for all misprisions from
Edward IV. (fn. 142) He is described as William Drayton
of South Newton in co. Oxon, esquire, . . . alias
William Drayton, late (nuper) of Botolphbridge, (fn. 143)
co. Hunt., gentleman, son and heir of Anne Halle.
He died in September of that year, seised of the
manor of Botolphbridge. (fn. 144) His heir was his son
Richard aged 13, (fn. 145) but in 1479 Richard died and the
manor passed to his sister Anne, the wife of Thomas
Lovet. (fn. 146) In 1492 their son and heir Thomas succeeded (fn. 147) and was followed by
his son and grandson, both
named Thomas. (fn. 148) The latter
died in 1586, his heir being
his grandson George Shirley,
the son of his only daughter
Jane and her husband John
Shirley. (fn. 149) George was created
a baronet in 1611, and died
in 1622. (fn. 150) He appears to have
left Botolphbridge to his
second son, Sir Thomas
Shirley, kt., who was celebrated as an antiquary. (fn. 151) In
1635 Thomas and his eldest
son Henry were living, (fn. 152) but Thomas's lands were
sequestrated under the Commonwealth. (fn. 153) The
Shirleys alienated the manor, (fn. 154) but its history has
not been traced, until it appears among the property
included in the marriage settlements of William
Pierrepoint, 3rd Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull, (fn. 155) and
from that time it has belonged to the lords of Orton
Longueville manor (q.v.). (fn. 156)
The moiety of Botolphbridge said to have been
granted by Robert de Gimeges and Sybil (or by
Hugh de Gimeges) to Emma and Hugh de Boyeby
was known as the manor of BOTOLPHBRIDGE or
PAYNELS or DEENS manor, and was held by the
service due from one-third of a knight's fee. (fn. 157) Emma
and Hugh were succeeded by their son Osbert, (fn. 158)
and then by another Hugh de Boyeby, probably their
younger son, who was holding the manor about 1278. (fn. 159)
He was succeeded by his son Alexander, (fn. 160) whose
daughter and heir Agnes married John Paynel. (fn. 161)
She and her husband were in seisin in 1317, (fn. 162) but
in 1325 they granted it to Simon Drayton and his
wife Margaret, (fn. 163) the tenants of the other moiety of
Botolphbridge (q.v.), for their lives. On the death
of the survivor, Margaret, in 1358, Paynels manor
reverted to John Paynel, grandson of Agnes, a minor,
whose wardship was recovered by his mesne lord,
John de Gimeges of Stagsden (Beds), from the
Crown. (fn. 164) He came of age before 1369, when he made
a settlement of the manor. (fn. 165) His son Thomas succeeded him but, dying childless, Paynels manor
passed to his sister Margaret, whose husbands were
Thomas Kinnesman and John Deen; (fn. 166) it was settled
on her and John Deen in 1452. (fn. 167) Robert Deen appears
to have been the next tenant, (fn. 168) and the manor was
granted in 1488 by James Deen to Thomas Quadring and his wife Elizabeth, widow of Robert, for her
life. (fn. 169) On her death it reverted to Dorothy, daughter
and heir of James Deen, and sister and heir of Bartholomew Deen. (fn. 170) She was the widow of Sir Richard
Bozom, kt., and in 1530, at the time of Thomas Quadring's death, she was the wife of William Vernon. (fn. 171)
Sir Richard had died in 1525, leaving five daughters:
Elizabeth, wife of Richard Paynel; Mary, wife of
John Worseley; and Margaret, Alice and Agnes, who
were unmarried, as his heirs. (fn. 172) Dorothy died before
1552, leaving apparently a daughter as her heir by
William Vernon, since Paynels manor was then held
in shares of one-sixth part. (fn. 173) In that year, William
Cordell and Mary his wife, a kinswoman and one heir
of Sir Richard Bozom and Dorothy, were dealing with
one of these parts, (fn. 174) and in 1557 Thomas Lewis and
Alice his wife, daughter and one heir of Bozom and
Dorothy, were dealing with another part. (fn. 175) Eventually, however, the whole manor appears to have come
into the possession of the Worseleys, since Richard
Worseley, presumably the son of John Worseley and
Mary Bozom, was holding it in 1597. (fn. 176) He was
succeeded in 1616 by his son John, (fn. 177) who died in
1625, leaving a son and heir Richard not yet two years
old. (fn. 178) The boy seems to have died young since, in the
middle of the century, it was in the hands of two
heiresses, Anne, wife of Henry Clifton, and Sabina,
wife of Gilbert Wigmore, clerk. (fn. 179) The Cliftons obtained the whole manor, but in 1662, Henry Clifton
and his son and heir, another Henry, appear to have
sold it to John Scrimshire. (fn. 180) No further history of
Paynels manor appears, and it was presumably bought
with Lovets manor (q.v.) and held by the lords of
Overton Longueville manor.
The Abbey of Thorney held a virgate of land at
Botolphbridge, the grant of William de Gimeges about
1238. (fn. 181) About 50 years later the abbey held two
messuages, 20 acres of land and 2 acres of meadow
in frankalmoin. (fn. 182)
In 1276 Baldwin Drayton claimed to have view of
frankpledge and the assize of bread and ale in his
manor of Botolphbridge. (fn. 183) He died seised of a fishery
and also of a toll on the river Nene (fn. 184) which in 1285
was called 'Thurtholl,' by which every ship carrying
merchandise paid ½d. (fn. 185) In 1327, Simon Drayton
obtained a grant of free warren in his demesne
lands. (fn. 186) About 1278, Hugh de Boyeby, as lord of the
other moiety of Botolphbridge, claimed to hold view
of frankpledge. (fn. 187) In 1285, the Prior of the Knights
Hospitallers, to whom the advowson of the church
(q.v.) belonged, claimed to hold a view of frankpledge for his tenants there, and other privileges
granted to the Order by the king. (fn. 188)
A small manor of OVERTON and BOTOLPHBRIDGE was held by the Abbey of Peterborough,
to which Ralph de Gimeges granted a carucate of
land about 1273. (fn. 189) The abbey also held a virgate of
land in frankalmoin about the same date. (fn. 190) The
manor was held by the abbot, William Ramsey, in
1495, when the hall of the manor was let to William
Payne. (fn. 191) In 1541 it was granted by the king to the
Dean and Chapter of Peterborough to hold by a
yearly rent, (fn. 192) and a farm was apparently still held
by William Wildbore at his death in 1558, which
he had had from 'my lord of Peterborough.' (fn. 193)
Church
The church of ALL SAINTS was
pulled down in 1695, and the materials
were used to repair and enlarge the
church at Orton Longueville. (fn. 194)
The church is mentioned in the Domesday
Survey (1086), but judging by the south aisle of
Orton Longueville, which was enlarged with its
stones, it must have been partly rebuilt in the 14th
century. The bells are referred to in a will in 1540. (fn. 195)
One of the chancel windows had, in 1669, two shields
of arms: (a) Azure, three arrows or, and (b) Argent,
a cross lozengy gules. (fn. 196) A solitary tombstone with
an illegible inscription, standing amidst some trenches
in a large field, is now all that marks its site.
Advowson
In 1086 a church and priest were
attached to the king's manor (q.v.)
at Botolphbridge. (fn. 197) The advowson
passed with the manor to the de Gimeges family. In
1224, William de Gimeges granted it to the Knights
Templars, (fn. 198) who some years later received an annual
pension of 5 marks from the rectory. (fn. 199) From the
Templars the advowson passed to the Knights of St.
John of Jerusalem. At the time of the Dissolution of
the Monasteries, the Order received an annual pension
of 53s. 4d. (fn. 200) In 1311, when the Templars' lands were
forfeited to the Crown, the Draytons, as lords of the
manor, attempted to seize the advowson, and four
presentations were made for the same vacancy, by
the king, by Simon Drayton, by Alice widow of John
Drayton, and by the Bishop of Lincoln; the king's
nominee was finally instituted in 1312, (fn. 201) and the
presentation in 1325 was made by the Hospitallers. (fn. 202)
The advowson was bought from the Crown between
1597 and 1599 by Sir William Reyner, (fn. 203) and from
this time was held by the patrons of Orton Longueville (q.v.). From 1663 the rectors of the two
churches were the same. (fn. 204) In 1721 the two rectories
were united under a deed of Bishop Gibson of Lincoln. (fn. 205) At the Dissolution of the Chantries, lamp
land to the value of 16d. a year was attached to the
church. (fn. 206)
The guild of Corpus Christi is mentioned in
the will of William Drayton of Botolphbridge manor
(q.v.), who died in 1465. No place is given to the
guild, but his benefaction to it follows immediately
after his directions as to his burial in the church of
Botolphbridge. (fn. 207)