NORTH LUFFENHAM
Luffenham (xi cent.); Norlufeham, Lufham
(xii cent.); North Luffenham (xiii cent.); North
Lefenham (xiv cent.).
North Luffenham covers 2,034 acres, mostly of
limestone brash with a clay subsoil in places. It is
mainly arable, but about a third is grass and only a
few small spinneys of woodland. The parish is
divided from South Luffenham by the River Chater,
from which the land rises to 300 ft. above Ordnance
datum. A magnificent view across the valley is
obtained from the road leading from the station
before entering the village, the land here rising
gradually and forming a ridge towards the horizon.
The geological formation indicates that water once
covered the valley to a considerable extent, and in a
deed of 1237 reference is made to 'magna aqua.' (fn. 1)
The parish is described in 1813 as consisting mostly
of open fields except a few old inclosures.
Sculthorpe, a hamlet of North Luffenham referred
to in the Domesday Book (1086) and later documents,
has now completely disappeared, the only survival
of its name being Sculthorpe Spinney to the south of
the railway line near Settings Farm. (fn. 2) In 1635 a
close in a place called Sculthorpe belonged to James
Digby, (fn. 3) and Sculthorpe Close is again mentioned among
his possessions in 1656. (fn. 4) The hamlet is said to
have been destroyed by the Parliamentary army in
1642 during the siege of Mr. Noel's house at North
Luffenham, as it constituted a threat to the western
flank of Lord Grey's army. (fn. 5) At the brickyard between
the Luffenhams and Pilton, belonging to Lord
Ancaster, a well was discovered in 1881 containing
six jugs and fragments of other mediæval pottery
(now preserved in the Normanton Estate works). A
considerable amount of potsherds was discovered in
clay pits here and it has been considered that these
relics indicate the site of the lost hamlet of Sculthorpe. (fn. 6)
The extensive village is situated on the slope
leading down to the River Chater. It spreads out on
both sides of the road from Stamford to Lyndon.
The church is on the south side of the village, and to
the north-west of it formerly stood Luffenham Hall,
the seat of the Noel family, which, having fallen into
decay, was pulled down in 1806. (fn. 7) After its demolition
the Digby manor house, which stands on the east
side of the church, was the most important house in
the village and became known as North Luffenham
Hall, the name it now bears. (fn. 8) In its present form the
house dates from several periods, the oldest portion
being probably the work of John Harington, who
acquired the estate in 1538 and died in 1553. His
son James built the large barn, and in all probability
the range of buildings adjacent, which now go to
form the outer of the two forecourts on the north
side. The barn, which stands to the north-east of the
house, has been newly roofed, but its walls, with
their long narrow openings and the gabled transept
on which is the date 1555, remain unaltered. The
adjacent building, which stands at right angles to the
barn on the north-west, preserves its original roof
timbers, and its upper story is of timber and plaster,
a style of building rare in Rutland. (fn. 9) Originally a
road ran between these buildings and the house, but
some time in the 17th century the road was diverted
and this portion of it became a private approach to
the house, entered through a round-arched gateway,
still standing.
There is no architectural detail in the earlier part
of the house to enable its date to be fixed with certainty, and it may be earlier than 1555, but the great
chimney which served the kitchen fireplace, the
cambered beam of which is visible, is approximately
of this period and the rest of the work is of the same
general character. Early in the next century the
house was altered, probably by James Digby, who
purchased the property in 1599 and died in 1619,
part of the north or entrance front being rebuilt in
wrought stone, with the Digby arms over the doorway, and a wide curved gable added. Considerable
extensions were also made at the back, a good oak
staircase with turned balusters and flat-topped newels
built to give access to the principal rooms, and minor
staircases to those of less importance. Some of the
rooms were newly panelled, but in others the older
panelling was retained. All these changes and additions were probably made about 1616, which date
occurs on some of the oak panelling. In the 18th
century the south front was rebuilt in the style of
the day, with sash windows, dentilled cornice and
hipped wooden dormers; this was probably done
either by Simon Digby, who died in 1729, or by his
son Kenelm (d. 1743), and some of the rooms affected
by the alterations were newly panelled. It was
apparently at this time, judging by the gate-piers in
front of the house on the north side, that the lay-out
of the forecourts was undertaken, but after the
change of ownership in 1771 no further alterations
were made to the building until 1901, when a new
room was added on the west side, and ten years
later extensive additions were made to the house at
both ends by the present owner, Mr. E. Guy Fenwick,
the interior being at the same time rearranged and
modernised. (fn. 10) The building, therefore, as it now
stands comprises work of several periods extending
from the 16th to the 20th centuries, the contrast of
which, both in style and materials, enhances its
general attractiveness. An old kitchen garden, which
lies between the house and the road on the north
side, is surrounded by a high wall, at one corner of
which is a small octagonal tower, or gazebo, placed
so as to command the main street of the village.
On the Lyndon Road, at the west end of the village,
is the Manor Farm, which bears the date 1640 and
has a two-storied gabled porch and low mullioned
windows. A gabled stone house at the east end of
the village is dated 1628 and another house is dated
1647, much restored in 1894.
There were two mills in the manor in 1086 and
one mill in 1503 (fn. 11) and 1635, (fn. 12) and there are references
to a prison at Luffenham in 1220 and 1238. (fn. 13)
John Stokesley, who succeeded his brother Richard
as rector in 1527, (fn. 14) was sent in 1529 on an embassy
to the Pope about the King's divorce from Queen
Katherine, and in 1530 he was promoted to the
bishopric of London. (fn. 15)
Robert Johnson, founder of the schools and
hospitals of Christ in Oakham and Uppingham
(1584) and archdeacon of Leicester (1591), was rector
of North Luffenham from 1574 until his death in
1625. At North Luffenham, so his son relates (fn. 16)
'he was observant, and preached painfully and kept
good hospitality.' Shortly after he had entered upon
his cure the refusal of one of his parishioners to pay
tithes led to a suit in the Court of Arches, when
Johnson's claim was upheld. Disputes about tithes
were not uncommon: the courts were not unfrequently occupied in settling such cases. Robert
Johnson led an active and useful life. At first the
founding, and afterwards the care, of his schools and
hospitals occupied much of his time; he also re-founded the Hospital of St. John and St. Anne in
Oakham, founded by William Dalby in 1399. Three
visitation articles (fn. 17) testify to his work as archdeacon.
He died on 23 July 1625, and was buried at North
Luffenham.
Vincent Wing, whose grandfather lived in North
Luffenham in the time of Henry VIII, was the son
of Vincent Wing, and was baptised at North Luffenham in 1587. Although he did not go to either
university, he mastered Latin, Greek and astronomy.
Wing was the author of several works; his Harmonicon Coeleste, or 'the Coelestial Harmony of th
Visible World,' was published in 1651: Astronomia
Britannica, his chief and most useful work, appeared
in 1652. His Astronomical Almanac, which was in
the press at the time of his death, contains a mass
of information on astrology, astronomy, and mathematics, and his Almanacs continued to be published
at intervals till 1805. Wing was a land surveyor by
occupation, and he made a most minute survey of
the parish in 1660. He died in 1668 and was buried
at North Luffenham. Tycho Wing, the philosopher
and astronomer, whose portrait is in the Hall of the
Stationers' Company, was descended from Moses
Wing, the younger brother of Vincent. (fn. 18) The Rev.
E. A. Irons (d. 1923), the noted antiquary, wa
rector here.
Place-names found in the records are Budewelle-heved, Wrongedich, Hunisforlong, Wyleweholm, (fn. 19)
Fostersbriggeclose, Clapmilleclose, Dovecote Close,
Moorbridge Close, Mygrey Helmes, Boygrene, Upfeld (fn. 20) (xiii cent.), Gosholm, Portgate, Ketenemer
(xiv cent.), Wrangdykmere (xv cent.).
The parish of North Luffenham possesses some
interesting records, covering the period 1307 to
1690. There are documents, chiefly leases, relating
to the Guild of St. Mary, and some to the Town
Estate, a file of the papers in the tithe suit of 1588,
written on paper, and a 15th-century terrier. The
Constables' Book begins with the year 1788.
Manors
NORTH LUFFENHAM and SCULTHORPE were held before the Conquest by Edith, Queen of Edward the
Confessor, who died in 1075. They were owned by
William the Conqueror in 1086 and he had let them
at farm to Hugh de Port, a great Hampshire land
owner. (fn. 21) Hugh became a monk at Winchester before
the end of the century, when they reverted to the
Crown. North Luffenham was granted by Henry II
to his brother, William Longspee, who subinfeudated
it, or a part of it, to Solomon, his despenser (dispensator) or usher (ostiarius). William Longspee
died in 1164, (fn. 22) and his estate here and his household apparently passed to his nephew Henry,
the young king, son of Henry II, who confirmed
William's grant to Solomon, then described as his
serjeant (serviens). (fn. 23) Solomon probably forfeited,
and it is interesting to note that his land was
at this time considered part of Nottinghamshire, for
the sheriff of Nottingham and Derby charged himself
in 1169 with 66s. for 36 carucates of land in Rutland
pertaining to the county of Nottingham of which
Simon Bassett ought to render account. This seems
to refer to the lands of Solomon, later farmed by
Simon Bassett. (fn. 24) Henry, who had been crowned
King of England in 1170, during his father's lifetime
rebelled against his father and probably lost his lands,
for although he was reconciled in 1174 we find the
lands of Solomon, the usher, in North Luffenham
(then under Rutland) were in farm from the Crown
to Simon Bassett in 1177, and an item of 60s. 6d. for
the land of Solomon, the usher, in North Luffenham,
occurs frequently in the Pipe Rolls until 1190. (fn. 25) In
this year Almeric the despenser paid 35s. 6d. of the
old farm of North Luffenham of the land of Simon
the usher. In the same year also William Mauduit,
the king's chamberlain, paid for having 71 solidates
of land in North Luffenham which the King had. (fn. 26)
By this, apparently, he obtained the overlordship
previously held by William Longspee and Henry
the young king. Probably there were other lands
in North Luffenham than those held by Solomon,
which on Henry the young king's forfeiture were
granted by Henry II to William Mauduit, as in 1206
Robert Mauduit, who had succeeded his father
William, pleaded that William, his grandfather, was
seised of certain lands in the time of Henry II. (fn. 27)
Solomon the usher apparently died about 1194, and
it would seem his property went to co-heirs. Walter
de Cauz in 1195 paid 40s. for having 60 solidates
in North Luffenham of his inheritance. In the
previous year Pietencia (Pientia) widow of Walter
de Cauz, possibly father of the above Walter, had
sued Alonoth de Sifrewast for her dower in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. (fn. 28) In 1196 Walter Mauduit
claimed against Walter de Cauz and Richard Papillon
60 acres in North Luffenham. Walter essoined
himself on account of illness and Richard conveyed
to Robert a third of his lands. (fn. 29) In the same year
Walter de Cauz conveyed 60 solidates and 11 solidates
of land to Robert Mauduit covenanting to deliver all
charters relating to them. (fn. 30) It is clear that Robert
Mauduit was acquiring all the large freeholds in order
to hold the manor in demesne. (fn. 31) Robert's grandson
William Mauduit became Earl of Warwick, and
from this date the overlordship passed with Barrowden (q.v.).
Zouche. Azure bezanty.
Before 1273 the manor had been subinfeudated
to George de Cantilupe, who died in that year. Half
a fee in North Luffenham was assigned in 1276 to
George's sister and co-heiress Milicent, wife of Eudo
la Zouche of Haringworth, formerly married to
John de Montalt. (fn. 32) Milicent, then widow of Eudo,
in 1280 recovered the service of half a knight's fee in
North Luffenham against Isabel, widow of James de
Paunton, Roger Skerehare and eighteen others and
sued them for their services. (fn. 33) Milicent was still
alive in 1287. (fn. 34) In 1345 her grandson Thomas,
younger son of William la Zouche of Haringworth,
settled land here upon himself and his wife Christine
and their issue, with remainder in default to Edmund
brother of Thomas, and William la Zouche of
Haringworth. (fn. 35) The rents
from Luffenham had reverted
before 1382 to the elder line
of the Zouches, for in April
of that year Sir William la
Zouche died holding them of
the Earl of Warwick. (fn. 36) His
son and successor William died
in May 1396, (fn. 37) holding rents
from North Luffenham, and
in November of that year his
son William conveyed the
manor of Luffenham to trustees to fulfil his will. (fn. 38) Two years later John
la Zouche, brother of William, conveyed the manor
to the same trustees, (fn. 39) evidently for a similar
purpose, for in 1415 William la Zouche died seised
of land and tenements in North Luffenham held
of the Earl of Warwick as of the manor of
Barrowden. (fn. 40) This estate was assigned to his widow
Elizabeth, who died in 1425, when it passed to her son
Sir William la Zouche. (fn. 41) John la Zouche, grandson
of this William, was with Richard III at Bosworth
and was attainted and forfeited his honours. He
was restored, however, in 1495 and died in 1526. (fn. 42)
His heirs were still, in 1536, receiving a rent of 3½d.
from land in North Luffenham recently held by the
Hospital of All Saints in Stamford (co. Linc.), (fn. 43) but
the manor of North Luffenham was conveyed in
1538 by Anthony Cope and Joan his wife to John
Harington. (fn. 44) Harington was knighted in 1536 and
died in 1553, when it passed to James, his son. (fn. 45)
James was succeeded in 1592 by his son Sir John, (fn. 46)
who with his wife Anne sold North Luffenham
manor in 1599 to James Digby, son of Roger Digby. (fn. 47)
James Digby, whose name is on the tenor bell (1619)
at North Luffenham, (fn. 48) married Katherine, daughter
of Kenelm Digby, of Stoke Dry, by whom he had
a son John. (fn. 49) James Digby and his son John were
recusants. As they did not attend any church or usual
place of common prayer and failed to pay the fine
of £20 a month for their recusancy, two-thirds of
all their lands were seized. It was found by an
inquisition taken in 1627 that they had a capital
messuage and 87 acres in North Luffenham in the
occupation of James. In 1634 two-thirds were leased
for 41 years to Sir Lewis Watson, bart. (fn. 50) An extent
of John Digby's land was again made in 1640, (fn. 51)
no doubt on account of his
continued recusancy. James
Digby, son of John, who also
was a recusant, settled North
Luffenham manor in the early
part of 1652, (fn. 52) and died shortly
afterwards. He had, before
his death, arranged for portions from his estates to be
paid to his daughter and to
his sisters Katherine and
Dorothy, and their claims
were allowed by the Committee for Compounding. (fn. 53) James Digby, his son,
begged to contract on the Recusants Act for
the sequestered two-thirds of his estates. (fn. 54) James
died unmarried, and his brother John settled the
manor in 1686. (fn. 55) John, who was buried at North
Luffenham in 1705, was succeeded by Simon Digby
(d. 1729). In 1726 Kenelm Digby his son was in
possession of the manor. (fn. 56) He died in August 1743,
when his son John, who had been baptised at North
Luffenham, succeeded to this manor and married
Deborah, daughter of John Fardell. John Digby
died 19 May 1758, at the age of 31, and his widow
in October 1771.
Digby. Azure a fleur de lis argent.
Before 1802 this manor had been acquired by Sir
Gilbert Heathcote, (fn. 57) and it has since descended with
Bassetts manor in this parish.
There was another manor in Luffenham known as
BASSETTS MANOR, part, apparently, of the Lovet
Fee, (fn. 58) the head of which was at Elmley Lovett
(co. Worc.) and was held of the Earls of Warwick. (fn. 59)
A third of a knight's fee was held in 1235–6 by Robert
Lovet (Luvet), (fn. 60) who with his son Simon Lovet
conveyed land here to Alan Bassett. Simon, for
some legal technicality, perhaps, granted his interest
to William Mauduit, the chamberlain, his chief lord. (fn. 61)
Half a knight's fee was still held in 1276 by the heirs
of Philip Lovet, possibly son of Simon Lovet, and
Simon le Clerk. (fn. 62) These heirs may have been Sybil
Lovet and her sister Joan, who in 1287–8 released to
Milicent de Montalt their claims to land in Luffenham
which had been held by Simon Lovet. (fn. 63)
There were so many branches of the Bassett family
at this time whose members bore the same Christian
names that it is difficult to get a connected descent of
Bassetts Manor. Alan Bassett seems to have married
twice and the Luffenham property went to the sons
of one wife while the Bisbrooke (q.v.) estates went to
his daughters by Amis de Foxton, another wife.
Bassett of North Luffenham. Or three piles gules and a quarter argent with three bars wavy azure therein.
Alan Bassett was keeper of the king's escheats in
1232 (fn. 64) and escheator for Rutland in 1246. (fn. 65) He was
succeeded by a son Richard, (fn. 66) who was dead before 1263,
when Alan's sons, John and Gilbert Bassett, released
to William, son of Richard Bassett, two parts of a
messuage and two carucates of land in North Luffenham of the inheritance of Alan their father. (fn. 67) In 1305
and 1315 John Bassett held a fortieth part of a
knight's fee in North Luffenham. (fn. 68) It was probably
this same John who testified to the coming of age of
Giles son of Bartholomew de Badlesmere in 1335.
He was then 50 years of age,
and had a son of the same age
as Giles. (fn. 69) He was appointed
in 1307 and 1313 to collect a
twentieth and a fifteenth in
Rutland, and served on various commissions and offices
mostly relating to Rutland. (fn. 70)
In 1313 John and Peter Bassett
were accused of assaulting
Robert de Glaston at North
Luffenham. (fn. 71) These may be
the John and Peter Bassett
who were tenants of Thomas
la Zouche at North Luffenham
in 1345 and perhaps sons of John. (fn. 72) The fee
was returned in 1402 and 1406 as held by the heir
of John Bassett, (fn. 73) and in 1428 it is returned as late
in the possession of Peter Bassett. (fn. 74) The name of
John Bassett of North Luffenham occurs in the list
of the gentry of Rutland in 1434, who swore not to
maintain peace breakers. (fn. 75) John Bassett was lord of
this manor in 1498. (fn. 76) He left a son Nicholas, who
married Katherine daughter of Lawrence Awnell. (fn. 77)
By an undated complaint before the Star Chamber
in the time of Henry VIII Anthony Bassett of North
Luffenham accused Simon Digby and others of
assaulting him in the house of William Islip of North
Luffenham. (fn. 78) Thomas, son of Nicholas Bassett, died
in 1532 holding the manor of North Luffenham
which had been settled on him and his wife Elizabeth,
daughter of William Bewfo, (fn. 79) in 1525. He also held
land and a water mill in South Luffenham, and a horse
mill in North Luffenham. His son Edward, then
aged 24, who succeeded him, (fn. 80) died childless in 1534,
and John his brother succeeded to the manor. (fn. 81)
John married Anne, daughter of Thomas Rouse of
Rowslinch (co. Worc.), (fn. 82) and in 1545 he and his wife
conveyed a water mill and land in North and South
Luffenham to John Wymark. (fn. 83) In 1569 the manor
was settled on John and Anne in tail male. (fn. 84) John
died in 1575, (fn. 85) and in 1585 Anne and her son John
conveyed the manor for the purpose of settlement to
Edmund Rouse. (fn. 86) John Bassett had a large family
of children by his wife Elizabeth Lyon. (fn. 87) He was
succeeded in 1626 by his eldest son John, (fn. 88) who with
his wife Anne sold the manor in 1628 to John Exton, (fn. 89)
and in 1636 John Exton, Thomasina his wife and
Bridget Exton, widow, sold it to Edward Viscount
Campden. (fn. 90)
Noel. Or fretty gules with a quarter ermine.
Viscount Campden gave North Luffenham to his
younger son Henry Noel, who made North Luffenham
Manor his residence. In
February 1643 the house was
besieged by Parliamentary
forces under the command of
Thomas Lord Grey, son of
Henry Earl of Stamford. Before commencing hostilities
Lord Grey twice appealed to
Henry Noel to surrender, but
the terms were such that he
could not accept and he refused. With only 200 men,
friends and neighbours, illarmed, Noel had no chance against the 1,300
besiegers, and after holding out some twenty-four
hours he surrendered. Terms were agreed upon
which were not kept. Lord Grey's followers
entered and pillaged the house and some ten
dwelling houses of Noel's tenants and neighbours
were burnt down and the inhabitants of North
Luffenham village plundered of their goods and all
their horses. The marauders next turned their
attention to the church, where they defaced the
monument to Noel's first wife and did considerable
damage to the old stained-glass windows. The brass
plate with the memorial inscription to Robert Johnson
did not escape their notice: to-day it bears marks of
their violence. Lord Grey appears to have had little
control over his followers: it was only with great
difficulty that he saved the lives of Henry Noel and
his kinsman, Mr. Henry Skipwith, whom he took with
him to Northampton. They were afterwards sent
to London. In a petition (fn. 91) to the House of Lords
Noel set forth the circumstances of the attack upon
his house and complained of the damages which he
had suffered. He died in July of the same year,
apparently in London. By an order of the House of
Lords of 19 July a pass was granted for the carrying
down of his body to Campden (fn. 92) (co. Glouc.), where he
was buried.
His widow Mary married Sir William Farmer of
Easton Neston (co. Northants), and continued to
live at Luffenham Hall. (fn. 93)
Luffenham manor passed to a nephew and namesake
of Henry Noel, son of his brother Baptist, third Viscount Campden. He was M.P. for Stamford and
resided at Luffenham Hall. He left an only child,
Juliana, and Luffenham manor passed to his halfbrother Baptist Noel. Baptist was in residence at
North Luffenham in 1688 when a letter from the Earl
of Peterborough, Lord Lieutenant of the county,
sounding him as to his political views, was addressed
to him there. (fn. 94) Baptist, son of Baptist, succeeded
as third Earl of Gainsborough in 1690. He settled
the manor in 1706 and 1711, (fn. 95) and died in 1714. (fn. 96)
His son Baptist the fourth earl sold North Luffenham
manor in 1729 to William Burton. (fn. 97) In 1764 William
Burton, Bartholomew Burton and others conveyed it to
Sir Gilbert Heathcote, bart., as the manor of North
Luffenham called Bassetts
Manor. (fn. 98) It has since descended with the manors of
Normanton and Empingham
(q.v.) (fn. 99) to the Earl of Ancaster,
who is the present lord.
Heathcote-Drummond - Willoughby, Earl of Ancaster. Or fretty azure, for Willoughby, quartering or three bars wavy gules, for Drummond, and ermine three roundels vert each charged with a cross or, for Heathcote.
Before 1223 the prior and
convent of Fineshade (co.
Northants) had acquired an
estate in North Luffenham,
which the Pope confirmed at
that date. (fn. 100) In a 15th-century
terrier the land of Fineshade
priory is described as lying in
Lee Estfeld and Lee Upfeld. (fn. 101)
Shortly before the Dissolution
William Pyckwell was the
tenant. The prior leased the
property in 1536 to John Wymarke, and the Crown granted
a similar lease probably in reversion to John Moreton
or Monton. (fn. 102) According to a survey of the time of
Edward VI, these lands were in lease by John Wymarke,
who wished to buy the estate. (fn. 103) John Monton was
lessee until 1563, when Richard Hodgson had a lease
which terminated four years later and George Tyrrell
appears as lessee in 1569. The Fineshade property
then became annexed to the advowson and was granted
with it in 1588 to Richard Braithwaite of London
and Roger Bromley of Bagworth Park (co. Leic.),
who conveyed them two days later to William Romney,
citizen and haberdasher of London. (fn. 104) Romney was
knighted in 1603 and was Governor of the East
India Company in 1606–7. (fn. 105) His wife Rebecca,
daughter of Robert Taylor and Elizabeth daughter of
Hugh Hutton, was half-sister of Robert Johnson's
first wife, Susanna Davers. In 1591 Romney conveyed
the Fineshade lands to Robert Johnson, (fn. 106) rector of
North Luffenham. Robert's eldest grandson, Isaac
Johnson, who, there is good reason to think, was
brought up by his grandfather at North Luffenham,
was one of the founders of Boston, Massachusetts.
He and his wife, the Lady Arabella Fynes, accompanied Winthrop in the expedition to Massachusetts
in April 1630. The Lady Arabella died within a
few weeks of their arrival in America, and Isaac
Johnson died in the following October. His name
appears as one of the donors on the tenor bell (1619)
at North Luffenham. The Fineshade property was
sold by Abraham, son of Robert Johnson, to Samuel
Barker of South Luffenham. It passed to Jonathan,
John, Bridget and Dorothy Barker, four of the
children of Samuel Barker of South Luffenham, who
died in 1658. The brothers and sisters lived at
North Luffenham Manor House, built in 1640. (fn. 107)
Jonathan and John Barker died in 1668 and 1675
respectively and Bridget in 1687. Dorothy Barker
married Wellesbourne Sill in 1688 and died in 1711.
She left a rent from 'Fincet Lands,' to trustees for
the foundation of a charity at North Luffenham
after the death of her husband, which occurred in
1725. (fn. 108) The charity was established by deed dated
1710. (fn. 109)
The priors of Brooke (co. Rutl.) held land and had a
manorial court at North Luffenham as early as 1246. (fn. 110)
Their property here was granted to Anthony Cope
in 1536 and afterwards to the Noel family, when it
became merged in Bassetts manor.
Church
The church of ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST consists of chancel 47 ft. 6 in.
by 18 ft., clearstoried nave of four
bays 51 ft. 4 in. by 19 ft., north and south aisles
7 ft. wide, north and south porches, and engaged west
tower 11 ft. square, all these measurements being
internal. The tower is surmounted by a broach spire.
The width across nave and aisles is 37 ft. 9 in., and
the total internal length of the church about 116 ft.
The building is of rubble throughout, with lowpitched leaded roofs to nave and aisles behind battlemented parapets. The chancel has a modern highpitched stone-slated roof with tabled gutters, and the
south porch is also covered with stone slates. The
north porch is leaded and has a straight parapet.
The aisles extend to the west face of the tower, and
are under continuous lean-to roofs.
There were frequent complaints of the decayed and
uncared-for state of the fabric between the years
1581 and 1624 during the incumbency of Archdeacon
Johnson, and the furniture was apparently in no
better condition. (fn. 111) In 1817 the church was reseated with box pews, which remained, together with
a west gallery, until the restoration of the building
more than fifty years later, under the direction of
George Edmund Street. The chancel was restored
and newly roofed in 1870–1, (fn. 112) the nave in 1874–5. (fn. 113)
In the course of these restorations the plaster was
stripped from the walls throughout. (fn. 114)
The building dates in the main from the 13th and
14th centuries, but has developed from a 12thcentury fabric with an aisleless nave, the north-west
angle of which remains, now within the western part
of the north aisle immediately adjoining the east side
of the north tower arch: this portion of walling
slopes back at a considerable height above the floor
and has a hatched and billet-moulded string.
The 12th-century church was enlarged about
1200–20 by the addition of a north aisle, the arcade of
which, consisting of four pointed arches on cylindrical
pillars and half-round responds, still remains. The
arches are of two chamfered orders, with hood-moulds
on each side, and the pillars and responds have circular
water-holding bases of two types, on octagonal plinths,
except that of the middle pillar, which is square.
This pillar has a circular moulded capital, but all the
other capitals have early conventional stiff-leaf foliage
and octagonal abaci. The hood-moulds have head and
notch stops.
In the latter half of the 13th century a south aisle
was added, and the existing arcade of four pointed
arches is of this period. The arches are of two orders,
with hood-mould on the nave side only, the outer
order chamfered and the inner order with a large
half-round filleted soffit moulding. (fn. 115) The cylindrical
pillars have moulded bases on circular plinths, and
the capital of the middle pier is also moulded;
the other pillars have beautiful foliated capitals in
which the leaves alternately rise up and fall over.
The responds are composed of clustered shafts with
moulded capitals and bases.
The tower was probably erected at the same time
as the south aisle or shortly after, both aisles extended
westward and the north aisle apparently rebuilt its
whole length, the same keel-shaped string running
round the whole building west of the chancel. The
buttresses have plain triangular heads with fleur-delys terminations. All this work, including the
porches, is of late 13th-century date, but may have
extended over a number of years. The most western
window in the south aisle is of two lights with forked
mullion and the corresponding one on the north side
is like it, but modern. The north porch has been
rebuilt and the doorway very much restored. The
other windows of the aisles are later insertions.
The north doorway has a pointed arch of two
orders, the inner continuous with two hollows, the
outer with a keel-shaped edge-roll on jambshafts
with moulded capitals and bases. In the south
doorway the moulded outer order springs from
clustered jambshafts with circular moulded capitals
and bases, while the inner order is chamfered with
modern trefoil head. The outer doorway of the
south porch has a pointed arch of two chamfered
orders, the inner on half-round responds with moulded
capitals and bases. In the rebuilt north porch the
outer order is moulded on jambshafts with moulded
capitals and bases.
The tower is of three (fn. 116) stages, with a projecting
vice in the north-west angle, and a tall lancet window
in the west wall. At the upper part of the middle
stage, on three sides, are tall loops and the bellchamber windows are of two plain pointed lights with
cusped circle (fn. 117) in the head. The octagonal broach
spire rises from a corbel table of masks and notch
heads and has three tiers of gabled openings, (fn. 118) the
lower being of two lancet-lights with lozenge in
the head and mid-shaft with moulded capitals. The
angles of the spire are plain. Internally the tower
opens into the nave by a sharply pointed arch of
three (fn. 119) chamfered orders with hood-mould, the inner
order on half-octagonal responds with moulded
capitals and bases and into the aisles by similar but
less lofty arches. On the east face of the tower is
the tabling of the original high-pitched roof. (fn. 120)
Plan of North Luffenham Church
Early in the 14th century (fn. 121) the chancel was rebuilt
on its present plan and new windows were inserted
in the aisles. Of these the two east windows are
pointed, that in the north aisle being of three trefoiled
lights with reticulated tracery, the other of three
cinquefoiled lights with curvilinear tracery. (fn. 122) The
lateral windows are square-headed and of three trefoiled lights, the hood-moulds having head-stops. At
the east end of the south aisle, where the chapel of
Our Lady was situate, is a 14th-century trefoil-headed
piscina, the bowl of which has been restored, (fn. 123) and
high in the east wall an image bracket supported by
a head. In the north aisle there is a modern floor
drain and a bracket on each side of the east window.
The chancel is of four bays marked externally by
large two-stage buttresses and with pairs of buttresses
at its eastern angles. It has a moulded base and
string at sill level, about 8 ft. above the ground. The
hollow eaves moulding is enriched with ball-flower.
The large five-light (fn. 124) east window has a flat two
centred head and elongated quatrefoil tracery, but is
almost wholly restored. The easternmost bay is
blank on both sides, but the others are pierced by
windows of three and four lights, varying in size and
character, and in the westernmost bay on each side, near
the bottom of the wall, is a small low-side window,
that on the south side pointed and of a single light,
the other square headed and of two plain lights. (fn. 125)
There are also north and south doorways in the second
bay from the east, both of which are wholly restored or
modern. On the south wall the windows are all
pointed, the two easternmost of four trefoiled lights
with geometrical tracery, the smaller window in the
west bay being of three cinquefoiled lights, with
depressed two-centred arch and tracery of more
curvilinear character. On the north wall the tall
easternmost window has a segmental head and is of
three lights, the outer cinquefoiled and the middle
one uncusped with a quatrefoiled circle above. Next
to it is a tall traceried window of three trefoiled
lights and in the westernmost bay a taller and more
sharply pointed window of four lights, the tracery of
which consists of a large trefoil within a triangle. All
these windows have hood-moulds with head-stops.
Internally the chancel has a keel-shaped string at
sill level all round, and with one exception all the
windows have chamfered rear arches; the south-west
window has a moulded head and hood with small
head-stops. (fn. 126) The piscina has a square inner recess
under a pointed cinquefoiled head with blind tracery
and hood-mould, but the bowl is modern. West of
this are two sedilia, with wide trefoiled arches within
a square frame, and big enclosing hood-mould with
head-stops; the hollow mouldings of the arches,
frame and hood are enriched with ball-flower and the
whole is set in front of a shallow arched recess below
the easternmost window. The lofty 14th-century
arch between the chancel and nave is of two chamfered
orders with hood-mould on each side, the inner order
on half-round responds with octagonal moulded
capitals and circular moulded bases. (fn. 127)
In the 15th century the present nave clearstory (fn. 128)
was erected and a roodscreen probably first introduced. The screen was removed in 1874, (fn. 129) but a
blocked opening at the east end of the north arcade
apparently led to the rood-loft stair, and there was
also access to the loft from the aisle on the south
side of the chancel arch. The four-centred clearstory
windows, four on each side, are of two trefoiled
lights with lozenge-shaped opening in the head and
returned hood-mould. The 15th-century nave roof,
though much restored, retains a good deal of original
work, and is of four bays with moulded principals
and wall pieces resting on corbels. Each bay has an
intermediate piece supported by a carved oak angel,
at the intersections of which with the ridge and
purlins there are carved bosses. The aisle roofs are
also much restored, but the bosses appear to be old.
It was perhaps at this time that the west bay of
each aisle was screened off by a stone wall, flush with
the east face of the tower. High up in each of these
walls is a quatrefoil opening, now blocked, widely
splayed on the west side. At a later period the south
arch of the tower was blocked with masonry to form
a vestry, (fn. 130) but the blocking has been removed and
a wooden screen erected. The choir vestry north of
the tower is also screened off.
The font has a plain octagonal bowl, moulded on
the lower edge; it is probably of 14th-century date,
but is mounted on a modern stem.
The 17th-century oak pulpit was altered at the time
of the restoration and now stands on a modern stone
base; it forms six sides of an octagon and has two
tiers of arched panels. A Jacobean altar table is now
in use at the east end of the south aisle.
Before the restoration the east window contained
a considerable amount of early 14th-century glass,
placed there by John de Mollesworth, rector (1284–
1329), (fn. 131) but this is now in the middle window on the
north side of the chancel and in the middle light of
the easternmost window. The middle window contains nine shields placed in three tiers, and beneath
the upper tier are canopied figures of St. Mary
Magdalene, St. Barbara and St. Edward the Confessor. (fn. 132) The other window contains heraldic glass
only. (fn. 133)
There are considerable remains of decorative painting on the arches of the south arcade, the inner and
outer orders having respectively radiating bands and
six-petal flowers and the soffits red scroll-work. The
plastered spandrels are painted with double masonry
lines.
In the chancel is a brass chandelier of twelve
branches, the gift of John Digby (d. 1758), and in the
nave is a dug-out chest with three locks. A barrelorgan case converted into a cupboard, now in the
vestry, is inscribed 'O sing praises, sing praises unto
our God.'
The inscription on the brass plate in memory of
Archdeacon Johnson (d. 1625), founder of Oakham
and Uppingham Schools, which is now fixed at the
back of one of the sedilia, has already been given. (fn. 134)
There are also memorials in the chancel to Mrs.
Susanna Noel (fn. 135) (d. 1640) with bust, Samuel Winter,
D.D. (d. 1666); Colonel Henry Markham (d. 1672),
John Digby (1758), and William Hardyman, rector
(d. 1837), and in the aisles to Simon Digby (d. 1582),
Jonathan and John Barker, 'two loving brothers'
(d. 1668 and 1675), and to fourteen men of the parish
who fell in the war of 1914–19.
There is a ring of five bells, the first by Thomas
Norris, of Stamford, 1630, the second a medieval
bell with imperfect inscription, the third by Tobie
Norris I, of Stamford, 1618, the fourth by Thomas
Eayre of Kettering, 1742, and the tenor by Henry
Oldfield, of Nottingham, 1619. There is also a small
clock bell without date or inscription. (fn. 136)
The plate consists of a cup of 1703, a small paten
of 1637, a large paten given by Bridget Barker in
1687, and a flagon of 1679, with the arms of Richard
Clerk, rector 1641–76. (fn. 137)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i)
baptisms 1572–1747, marriages and burials 1565–1749;
(ii) baptisms 1748–1812, marriages 1749–1832, burials
1748–1812; (iii) marriages 1754–1800; (iv) marriages
Nov. 1800–1812. (fn. 138)
The CHAPEL OF OUR LADY, which with its
burial ground formerly belonged to the Gild of Our
Lady of North Luffenham and in which the village
school was kept, stood a short distance to the southeast of the chancel of the church. In 1335 John de
Wyke, parson of North Luffenham, obtained licence
in mortmain to acquire land and rent worth 5 marks
a year, to find a chaplain to celebrate divine service
daily in the chapel of St. Mary the Virgin in North
Luffenham. (fn. 139) The property of the chantry was in
1567 granted to Robert Holmes and Thomas Boughton. (fn. 140) The chapel was later purchased by the Digby
family, who used it as a burial place, but it was demolished by the Heathcotes, part of the material being
used to build a small garden house, now in the grounds
of North Luffenham Hall, (fn. 141) and part going to the
building of a school in the village, afterwards used as
a reading room. (fn. 142)
Advowson
The advowson of the church of
North Luffenham was held with
Oakham Castle, (fn. 143) and passed into
the hands of the king on the attainder of the Duke
of Buckingham in 1521. (fn. 144) The advowson was granted
in 1588 to Richard Braithwaite and Roger Bromley
and by them sold two days later to William Romney
of London, together with the land belonging to
Fineshade Priory. (fn. 145) In July 1591 Romney conveyed
the advowson to Emmanuel College, Cambridge,
having, as appears above, sold the priory land shortly
before to Robert Johnson, the incumbent of North
Luffenham. Johnson was under the impression that
the advowson had passed to him with the land. (fn. 146)
On the day of Johnson's death in 1625 Henry Mackworth and Isaac Johnson presented Jonathan Tooky
to the church. The college took no action at this
date, but on the next vacancy in 1640 they presented,
and their right was not then or thereafter challenged. (fn. 147)
In 1566 an inquiry was held as to concealed lands
in North and South Luffenham for maintaining a
chantry and a lamp in the parish church of Luffenham. (fn. 148)
In 1821 a dwelling-house in the occupation of Robert
Barfield was licensed for dissenting meetings. This
is said to be the beginning of organised dissent in
North Luffenham. (fn. 149)
Charities
Town Lands. This charity is comprised in the following indentures
of feoffment dated 3 September
30 Henry VIII, 12 August 13 Elizabeth, 26 January
1656, 13 October 1688, and indentures of lease and
release, the release dated 4 July 1789. The indenture
of feoffment dated 13 October 1688 is the first deed
to set out the trusts of this charity, and it directs
that the several properties shall be used to and for
the use of the church and poor of North Luffenham
and the schoolhouse for the benefit of the town.
The charity is regulated by a scheme of the Charity
Commissioners dated 15 July 1890. The endowment
now consists of several pieces of land, farm house, shop
and tenements containing in all approximately 101
acres all of which are let at an annual rent of £140,
and £143 18s. 7d. 3½ per cent. Conversion Stock
and £264 9s. 6d. 5 per cent. Conversion Stock with
the Official Trustees producing in dividends £36 10s.
per annum. The net income is applied as to one-fourth
to the churchwardens for repairs of church, one-fourth
in school prizes, and one-half is paid into coal and
clothing clubs.
Wellesbourn Sill and Dorothy his wife by indenture
dated 9 April 1710 conveyed certain lands in Luffenham to the intent that after their decease the lands
should be charged with a sum of £5 per annum to be
disposed of as follows:—30s. to the rector of North
Luffenham for preaching three sermons on Mondays
after Christmas Day, Easter Day and Whit Sunday,
30s. to be distributed among the poor widows and
maids upon those days, and 40s. to be laid out in
flannel for poor widows and maids. The charge
issues out of the Fincett Lands and is applied by the
rector in the manner directed, about four recipients
participating in the gift of money and flannel.