SOUTH LUFFENHAM
Luffeham (xii cent.); Southluffenham, Lufham
(xiii cent.); South Lufnam, South Lefenham (xiv
cent.).
South Luffenham covers an area of 1,442 acres of
clay soil with stone and sand in places. About half
of the land is arable and half pasture with about 38
acres of woodland. The River Chater forms the
boundary between North and South Luffenham and a
tributary of it flows in a north-easterly direction
through the village. The London Midland and
Scottish Railway passes through the parish with a
station at the junction of the Peterborough and
Leicester lines.
The village lies on the north side of the road from
Uppingham to Stamford. It is divided into two
parts by a tributary of the River Chater where a
pleasant belt of meadow and trees adds to the picturesqueness of the site. The part of the village on the
south-east side of the stream has the church and
rectory, to the south-west of which is a good round
dovecot of stone. South Luffenham Hall stands a
short distance to the south-east of the church. It is a
rectangular building of two principal stories above a
high basement floor, with square-headed transomed
windows of two lights, and stone-slated hipped roofs
with widely projecting coved eaves and small wooden
dormers. The longer sides face north and south, the
latter being faced with ashlar, but elsewhere the
walling is of coursed dressed stone, the angles are
emphasised by quoins and the windows have moulded
architraves. Externally, the building has much in
common with Lyndon Hall (built 1665) and, like it, is
a good example of the Jacobean-Classic overlap,
dating probably from the latter part of the 17th
century.
On the north-west side of the stream are cottages
and the Boot and Shoe Inn, near to which there is a
good view across the valley towards North Luffenham.
The old windmill south of the railway station has
now only a stump remaining; a cornmill stands on
the north side of the station. The mill of South
Luffenham was claimed by the co-heirs of Alice de
Bidun, (fn. 1) and was recovered from them by Robert
Mauduit. (fn. 2) In 1544 John Tooky and his wife Cecily
settled land, a watermill and a horsemill in South
Luffenham, with remainder to Clement Tooky, Henry
Tooky and Boniface Tooky in tail. (fn. 3) This mill still
belonged to the Tooky family in 1709 when Noah
Tooky and his wife Sarah conveyed it to Robert Meres. (fn. 4)
There are two old quarries in the south-western
extremity of the parish, where it borders on Morcott
village. The eastern side of the parish, where the
land rises to 300 ft., is occupied by South Luffenham
Heath, rough pasture land with a small wood on its
western edge. There is now a golf course on the
heath.
Robert Scott, the lexicographer who, with Dr.
Liddell, compiled the great Greek-English Lexicon,
was rector of South Luffenham 1850–54. In the
latter year he was elected Master of Balliol.
Place-names occurring in the records are Ashclose,
Todley Close, Folleys Close, Penn Close, Dovesetts
Close, (fn. 5) and certain commons called 'Millhomes' and
lands called Church Hedland are mentioned in 1633. (fn. 6)
Manor
In 1086 South Luffenham formed part
of the king's manor of Barrowden. (fn. 7) It
was granted with that manor to Michael
de Hanslope, (fn. 8) and passed, in the same way as Barrowden, to the Earls of Warwick. There are a number of
undated grants of land in South Luffenham made by
various tenants there to Robert Mauduit, the
Chamberlain. (fn. 9)
In 1283 William de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick,
obtained a grant of free warren in South Luffenham, (fn. 10)
and at the time of his death he was receiving rents
from various free tenants, most of them holding one
bovate of land. (fn. 11)
An estate in South Luffenham, which afterwards
became the manor, was held of the hundred of
Wrandike, (fn. 12) by the Greenham family of Ketton.
In 1254 Richard de Pilton, at the request of Roger
de Suwicke and Beatrice his wife, granted to Ralph de
Greenham and Mabel his wife and their issue a
messuage, 2 bovates of land and a mill in Ketton and
South Luffenham. (fn. 13) This probably comprised the
manor which from this date followed the descent of
Ketton (q.v.) until in 1496 Thomas Greenham, son
of William Greenham (fn. 14) of Ketton, who was born at
South Luffenham, conveyed a mill and land there and
elsewhere to Sir John Digby, of Eye Kettleby (co.
Leic.) and Henry Tooky. (fn. 15) Sir John had been knighted
by Henry VII for his services at Bosworth and in
1513 he attended King Henry VIII to Calais. He
served as Sheriff of Rutland, Warwick and Leicester. (fn. 16)
In 1531 he settled the manor of South Luffenham on
himself and his wife Sanchia with remainder to his
second son Simon Digby and his wife Katherine
Clapham. (fn. 17) Sir John died in May 1533 at Eye
Kettleby, Sanchia having died earlier in the same
month, (fn. 18) and Simon succeeded his parents in the
manor. He died at North Luffenham in 1560 and
Katherine at South Luffenham in 1558. (fn. 19) Their son
Roger succeeded and settled the manor in 1561 on
his wife Mary Cheney and his own heirs male. Roger
was buried at North Luffenham in 1568, his son
James being then a child of five. (fn. 20) South Luffenham
was from that time held with North Luffenham by the
Digbys. In 1627 a capital messuage here was in the
tenure of James Digby, and the land was let to
tenants. (fn. 21) This capital messuage, which was called
the Hall, was in 1640 delivered by the sheriff to John
Turner, in satisfaction of a debt due to him by John
Digby. (fn. 22) From this time the records of South
Luffenham, as a separate manor, cease, and the
manor probably became attached to that of North
Luffenham, and came into the possession of the Earls
of Ancaster, the present Earl being lord of the manor
and principal landowner.
Church
The church of ST. MARY consists
of chancel 29 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft. 6 in.
with south chapel 21 ft. 3 in. by 13 ft.
6 in., nave 37 ft. 8 in. by 18 ft., north and south aisles
respectively 8 ft. 3 in. and 12 ft. wide, south porch,
and west tower 9 ft. square, all these measurements
being internal. The tower is surmounted by a spire.
The width across nave and aisles is 43 ft. There are
clearstories both to chancel and nave.
The tower is faced with ashlar, but elsewhere the
building is of rubble. The chancel has a modern
gabled stone-slated roof, but the low-pitched roofs
of the nave and aisles are leaded. The porch is
covered with stone slates. All the roofs are eaved.
The chancel was restored about 1850, and in 1861
there was an extensive restoration of the whole of the
fabric, under the direction of G. E. Street, when the
plaster was stripped from the walls, the tower arch
opened out, the chancel floor raised, and the fittings
renewed. A narrow arch (fn. 23) was at this time cut through
the wall at the east end of the south arcade, in which
previously there had been a rood-loft staircase.
The original church was probably an aisleless
building with small chancel, and was enlarged
c. 1190–1200 by the addition of a north aisle of two
bays, the arcade of which remains. The semicircular arches are of two orders with edge-rolls
and flat soffits, and the hoods, which occur only on the
side towards the nave, are enriched with billet moulding. The arches spring from half-round responds and
a cylindrical dividing pillar, all with moulded bases
on square plinths and carved capitals with divided
square abaci. In the responds, the abaci are quirked
and are without ornament, but that of the pillar is
enriched with two lines of nail-head and the capital
itself has a human head in each angle and facing east
and west, (fn. 24) with large angle volutes terminating in
incurved cones. The capital of the east respond has incurved volutes, but those of the west respond curve
outwards: there is a head on one angle of the west
capital only. The volutes in every case are enriched
with nail-head, the use of which in the arcade marks
its transitional character.
In the first half of the 13th century a south aisle
was added, the existing arcade of two pointed arches
being of that period. The arcade is set out approximately to correspond with that opposite, leaving
about 8 ft. length of wall at the east end, which may
mark an extension eastward of the nave at this time,
when in all probability the chancel was rebuilt,
though subsequently altered and enlarged. (fn. 25) The
arches of the arcade are of two chamfered orders,
with hood-mould on the nave side only, and spring from
half-round responds and a cylindrical dividing pillar,
all with circular water-holding bases and moulded
capitals enriched with nail-head.
Plan of South Luffenham Church
In the 14th century the whole of the fabric was
remodelled, and assumed in a great degree the character it has since retained. Both aisles were rebuilt,
the south aisle widened and extended eastward to
form a chapel covering the chancel, (fn. 26) the porch and
tower were added, and the nave clearstory erected.
The existing chancel arch of this period probably
indicates a remodelling and lengthening of the chancel
at the same time, but in the 15th century new windows were inserted and the
walls heightened to provide
a clearstory.
The north aisle, as rebuilt
in the 14th century, appears
to have extended eastward
the full length of the nave,
but at some subsequent time
was shortened; (fn. 27) its east wall
has been thickened on the
inside and now stands in
front of the arcade respond. (fn. 28)
The chancel has a modern
east window of five lights
with geometrical tracery, and
in the north wall are two
four-centred three-light windows, the mullions of which
run up to the head. The
east wall has been much restored and the diagonal buttresses rebuilt. The muchrestored triple sedilia are at one level, and have
cinquefoiled ogee arches and hollow chamfered jambs
and divisions; the piscina has not survived. On the
south side the chancel is open in its western half to the
chapel by a 14th-century arcade of two double chamfered pointed arches, respectively 9 ft. and 5 ft. in
width, springing from an octagonal dividing pillar with
moulded capital and base, and at the east end from a
small half-round respond shaft with octagonal moulded
capital and circular bases. On the west side the smaller
arch springs from a moulded corbel supported by a
grotesque head. The arches have hood-moulds on
each side. The lofty chancel arch is of two orders,
the outer with a continuous hollow chamfer, the
inner with a large filleted round moulding dying into
square jambs. Below the arch is the lower portion
of a 15th-century screen, with moulded rail and
four trefoiled panels on each side of the opening.
The chancel clearstory has three four-centred windows
on each side, without hood-moulds; a tall four-stage
buttress in the north side is contemporary with the
clearstory. Internally the south wall bears evidence
of considerable structural alterations in the chancel. (fn. 29)
The aisles have chamfered plinths and keel-shaped
strings at side level; the west window of the north
aisle is pointed and of two trefoiled lights with a plain
lozenge in the head, but the window in the north wall
and all those in the south aisle and chapel are squareheaded and of one type: the easternmost window in
the south wall, which lights the chapel, is of three
trefoiled lights, the others of two, all having hoodmoulds with head-stops. The south doorway is of
two continuous moulded orders with hood-mould;
the north doorway has an outer wave-moulding and an
inner hollow chamfered order, and above it is a small
trefoil-headed niche with hood and finial. On the
north side the hollow eaves table is enriched with
small grotesque heads widely spaced. All this work
is of the 14th century. There is no structural
division between the chapel and the south aisle. In
the usual position in the chapel is a plain squareheaded chamfered piscina, the fluted bowl of which
has been cut away in front.
The porch has a pointed doorway of two continuous
chamfered orders with hood-mould, and small trefoiled
niche on either side of the arch: its south wall and
gable are plastered, and a window in the east wall is
blocked. The nave clearstory has three squareheaded windows of two trefoiled lights on each side,
of similar character to those in the aisles. The
roof is of a very plain description and of four bays, but
the rounded corbels of the older roof, five on each
side, remain at the level of the sills of the clearstory
windows. The roofs of the aisles are much restored.
The tower is of three stages, with moulded plinth,
pairs of buttresses at the angles and battlemented
parapet. There is a vice in the north-west angle.
The pointed west window is of two cinquefoiled lights
with curvilinear tracery and hood-mould with good
head-stops. In the middle stage on three sides is a
tall pointed single-light transomed window, (fn. 30) above
which, on the north and south, is a shield charged
with a cross, and on the west a small cinquefoiled
niche. In the upper stages the face of the tower is
slightly recessed, with banded shafts in the angles,
but the many-staged buttresses are taken up the full
height. The pointed bell-chamber windows are
transomed and of two trefoiled lights with quatrefoil
in the head. Above the windows is a band of blind
tracery and the parapet is carried on head corbels.
The spire has crocketed angles and three tiers of
gabled openings, the lower and topmost in the
cardinal faces, the other alternating. The bottom
openings are of two trefoiled lights, the others single,
and the spire terminates in a large crocketed finial
and cock vanes. Internally the tower opens into the
nave by an arch of two chamfered orders, the inner
on half-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
bases, and hood-mould with head-stops. The fourcentred doorway to the vice has a continuous wave
moulding.
The 14th-century font has an octagonal bowl with
quatrefoil panels on seven sides, on an octagonal stem
and chamfered base. The stone pulpit dates from
1861.
On the north side of the chancel (fn. 31) is a 14th-century
table tomb with panelled sides and effigy of a man in
civil costume, the head resting on cushions below a
canopy. The western panel contains a shield of the
arms of Culpepper with a label of three points.
At the west end of the chapel is a floor slab to Rose
Boswell, daughter of Edward Boswell, 'king of the
gypsies,' who died in February 1794 near Fosters
Bridge. (fn. 32) In the south aisle (fn. 33) are a number of mural
tablets of the 18th and 19th century, and a memorial
to five men of the parish who fell in the war of 1914–19.
In the north aisle is an iron-bound dug-out chest with
three locks.
There is a scratch dial on the south-east angle of the
porch, above the buttress.
There are four bells in the tower, the first by Hugh
Watts of Leicester, 1593, the second and third by
Taylor of Loughborough, 1886, and the tenor a
medieval bell with recurrent letter s (twice) alternately with a cross. (fn. 34)
The plate consists of a paten of 1637–8 with the
maker's mark R.M., a cup and cover paten with the
maker's mark only, R.L. twice, but apparently 17th
century, and a flagon of 1683–4 inscribed 'The gift
of Samuel Barker, Esqre of South Luffenham 1682'
with maker's mark P.S. (fn. 35)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) burials
1678–1734; (ii) baptisms and marriages (fn. 36) 1682–1734;
(iii) baptisms 1735–71, marriages 1735–54, burials
1735–75; (iv) baptisms 1772–1812, burials 1776–1812;
(v) marriages 1754–1812.
Advowson
The advowson of the church of
South Luffenham was an appurtenance of the manor of Barrowden (fn. 37)
and passed with that manor into the hands of
Richard II on the forfeiture of Thomas, Earl of
Warwick. (fn. 38) Subsequently the advowson followed
the same descent as Barrowden (fn. 39) until the death of
the Duke of Clarence in 1478. It then remained
in the hands of the Crown until granted to Sir William
Cecil, who presented in 1552. The Cecils, Lords
Burghley and Earls of Exeter held the advowson
until 1706, when a presentation to the church was
made by Robert Meres (fn. 40) and by William Barker in
1721 and 1725. In 1726 William Barker and Charles
Titley, clerk, and Eleanor his wife conveyed the
advowson to Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield. (fn. 41)
In 1731 Joshua Cox presented (fn. 42) and in 1734 Joshua and
his wife conveyed the advowson to Carteret Leathes,
who presented in that year. (fn. 43) William Fancourt, clerk,
and Arabella his wife conveyed the advowson in 1761
to Thomas Frewen, clerk. (fn. 44) John Bush presented in
1797 (fn. 45) and in 1802 William Baker and Mary his
wife conveyed the advowson to James Bush, (fn. 46) who
presented in 1828 and 1849, while John Bush
presented in 1850. (fn. 47) William Baker was rector
of South Luffenham (1797–1828). He inherited
the property and papers of his grandfather Henry
Baker, F.R.S. (1698–1774), founder of the Bakerian
oration at the Royal Society. William's grandmother was Sarah, daughter of Daniel Defoe, and
his father, Henry Baker, was an author. The advowson had been acquired by the Masters and
Scholars of Balliol College, Oxford, by 1854 and
they are still the owners of it. (fn. 48)
Charities
Barker's Dole is comprised in an
indenture dated 1 October 1688,
whereby a rent charge of 12s. issuing
out of a cottage and lands in South Luffenham was
granted to be distributed in doles among the poor.
The rent charge issuing out of a field near the Half
Way House is paid by the Rutland Brewery Company
and is distributed among the poor by the rector and
churchwardens.
Sapcote's Charity, founded by an indenture dated
6 June 1857, originally consisted of three almshouses
and is now regulated by schemes of the Charity
Commissioners dated 21 January 1898 and 26 April
1901. The almshouses are no longer used as such, but
are let at an annual rent of about £15. The net
income is distributed by two trustees appointed by
the parish council in gifts of money to about twelve
old people.
The Church Estate.—The origin of this charity is
not known, but for many years the endowment consisted of land containing approximately 6 acres situated
in South Luffenham and Barrowden. The land has
been sold and the endowment is now represented by
a sum of £158 14s. 1d. 5 per cent. War stock, with the
Official Trustees, producing (1932) £7 18s. 8d. per
annum in dividends. The income is paid over by the
churchwardens to the church expenses fund.
The Bell Ringers Field Charity, which is referred
to in a terrier dated 1749, is regulated by a scheme
of the Charity Commissioners dated 18 October 1921.
The endowment consists of a piece of land containing
1 acre and 6 poles let at an annual rent of £4. The
net income is paid to the bellringer by the rector and
two trustees appointed by the Parochial Church
Council. There are two stories as to this charity, the
one that a lady having lost her way on South Luffen
ham Heath was guided home by the sound of the
church bells. In gratitude she left an acre of land on
the Morcott Road opposite Half Way House to provide
a fee to the sexton to ring the bells at 5 a.m. and 8 p.m.
daily from 19 October to 25 March. The custom, it
was said, continued for a long time. (fn. 49) The other
story is that in 1577 the rector and churchwardens were
accused of selling the church bells. Their excuse
was that they had the full number of bells, but that
the great bell which had been cast anew had become
the least, hence there was a saving of 40s. This sum
was eventually applied to the purchase of a close and a
house which it is thought is the origin of Bellringers
Close in South Luffenham. (fn. 50) The latter story is
borne out by the Archdeacon's visitation of 1577
and was testified by seven parishioners and the
rector.