COGENHOE
Cugenho (xi cent.); Cogeho, Cughanhocg (xii cent.);
Coginhowe (xiii cent.); Cokenowe, Cuknall (xvi cent.);
Coginghoo, Cogenhow, Cooknow (xviii cent.).
The area of the civil parish is 820 acres land and
water, the soil a fertile mixed kind with gravel and sandstone, the chief crops wheat and oats. The small village
is charmingly placed about 250 ft. above the ordnance
datum on ground sloping down to the east and rising
towards the higher country in the south. It commands
extensive views of the Nene, its northern boundary.
To the north, past the church, stands the water-mill
on the Nene. There were about 30 families in 1720; (fn. 1)
and in 1931 the population of the civil parish was 461,
showing a slight decline from 1921. (fn. 2) The local brown
stone was used for building; a fine white sand is obtained suitable for a superior kind of pottery; and in
1874 there was a prosperous Cogenhoe Iron Company. (fn. 3) Shoe-making is now the chief industry. The
wake followed the feast of St. Peter, (fn. 4) the patron saint
of the church.
Writing in 1904 Mr. A. Hartshorne recorded that
within his recollection Cogenhoe was a very picturesque
village and described it as 'still noteworthy on account
of its numerous great ironstone barns with roofs very
high pitched for the thatch. Some of these have been
transformed into cottages, others into shoe factories,
and several have been pulled down. In many cases the
old thatch has given place to corrugated iron roofs, both
on barn and cottage. All new buildings are now in
brick.' (fn. 5) Since this was written more brick houses have
been built in the upper part of the village, but the older
lower part still preserves much of its original character.
The Manor House, though greatly restored, is dated
1672, and one of the former barns was built in the
same year. The Manor House Farm retains its
thatched roof and has a panel in one of its stone dormer windows inscribed 'rsl 1684'. A house at the east
end of the village bears the initials and date 'e a 1709'.
The rectory house stands immediately east of the
church and is a picturesque two-story gabled building
with mullioned windows and tiled roofs, of late-16thor early-17th-century date, with subsequent alterations (fn. 6)
and adequately restored.
Manors
In 1086 3½ virgates in COGENHOE
belonged to Guy de Reinbuedcurt and
the remaining 3 were among the lands
of the Countess Judith. The former had been held by
Edwin in King Edward's time; Norgiot or Norgiold
was under-tenant of both estates in 1086. (fn. 7)
The overlordship of half the fee descended from
Guy de Reinbuedcurt with his barony of Wardon, as
part of the fee of Haversham. It was held of the manor
of Claybrook, Leicestershire in 1336, (fn. 8) and was charged
for guard at Rockingham Castle. The other half was
held of Judith's successors, the holders of the honor of
Huntingdon, as of their manor of Yardley Hastings. (fn. 9)
The Wardon overlordship is not mentioned after 1428, (fn. 10)
and seems to have been replaced by that of Huntingdon for the whole lordship by 1468. (fn. 11)
Cogenhoe. Gules a fesse between three voided lozenges argent.
Cheyne, of Chesham Bois. Checky or and azure a fesse gules fretty ermine.
Norgiot held also in Great Harrowden and Wellingborough in 1086; and the descent of fees in those places
to the Cogenhoes makes it likely that he was ancestor
of that family. Then, in the 12th century, came
Nicholas de Cogenhoe, lord of Harrowden and Wellingborough (q.v.), and William, lord of Cogenhoe. (fn. 12)
Henry de Cogenhoe, who, about 1175, gave St. Andrew's Priory tithes of Harrowden, (fn. 13) may have been
lord here. Another William was lord from 1202 or
earlier to about 1238, when the overlords of the two
fees made a joint presentation to the church as guardians
of his heir Nicholas. (fn. 14) Nicholas, the traditional builder
of most of the church, (fn. 15) was a knight in the garrison of
Northampton castle in 1264 (fn. 16) and held the manor and
advowson (fn. 17) until he was laid to rest in the beautiful
tomb he had no doubt prepared for himself, in 1280, (fn. 18)
when his son and heir William, aged 40, (fn. 19) received
livery. (fn. 20) Giles had succeeded by 1313 (fn. 21) and died seised
in 1349 leaving a son and heir John, (fn. 22) who died in or
before 1361. His son and heir William (fn. 23) was succeeded
in 1389 by a son William, aged 10, (fn. 24) who died childless ten years later. His sister and heir Agnes (fn. 25) married
John Cheyne of Isenhampstead Chenies, Bucks., (fn. 26) who
with his wife received seisin. (fn. 27) Other settlements were
made; (fn. 28) and in 1444 John Cheyne alienated manor and
advowson to Thomas Cheyne of Chesham Bois, Bucks. (fn. 29)
The former's son William released all right eight years
later to Sir John Cheyne (brother of Thomas) and
Joan his wife. (fn. 30) Later the property was settled on Sir
John and Agnes his second wife. He died seised in
1468, when his heir was his great-great nephew John,
aged 3 (i.e. son of John, son of John, son of Sir Thomas
Cheyne). (fn. 31) This John made a settlement in 1500, (fn. 32) and
died seised in 1535 leaving a son and heir Robert. (fn. 33)
He was succeeded in 1552 by his son John, (fn. 34) who died
seised in 1585 leaving a son and heir John. (fn. 35) John,
through settlements on his younger brother Francis,
died seised of reversions only. (fn. 36) His son Francis succeeded his uncle, now Sir Francis Cheyne, in 1620, (fn. 37)
and was succeeded by his son Charles in 1644, (fn. 38) who
sold the manor and advowson about 1655 (fn. 39) to—Bond. (fn. 40)
George Thompson and Margaret his wife conveyed a
moiety of the manor and advowson to Elizabeth Bond,
widow, in 1678; (fn. 41) and she and James Bond and Mary
his wife conveyed the advowson in that year to Samuel
Freeman (fn. 42) husband of Susan Palmer. (fn. 43) They sold
the manor to Matthew Linwood, whose son Matthew
was lord about 1720. (fn. 44) Matthew Linwood senior and
junior conveyed the manor in 1749 with courts baron
to John Palmer. (fn. 45) His sister and eventual heir Barbara
married Eyre Whalley, (fn. 46) and the manor is now vested
in the trustees of the Rev. John Christopher Whalley.
Church
The church (fn. 47) of ST. PETER consists
of chancel, 23 ft. 9 in. by 15 ft. 6 in. with
chapel on the north side, 12 ft. 9 in. by
13 ft.; clerestoried nave, 38 ft. by 18 ft. 9 in., north
and south aisles, 10 ft. 2 in. and 11 ft. 2 in. wide respectively, south porch, and west tower 11 ft. by 10 ft.,
all these measurements being internal. The width
across nave and aisles is 44 ft. 9 in.
The walling generally is of roughly coursed undressed
limestone mingled with local ironstone, (fn. 48) but the latter
alone is used in the tower. The chancel and chapel
have modern high-pitched overhanging tiled roofs, but
elsewhere the roofs are of low pitch and leaded, behind
straight parapets. Internally the walls are plastered
and the floors flagged.
The building was extensively restored in 1869–70,
when the north chapel, which had been long demolished, was rebuilt on its old foundations, the chancel
and aisles re-roofed, the nave roof strengthened, a new
east window put in the chancel, a west gallery removed
and the tower arch opened out, and the old square
pews replaced by open seats. (fn. 49)
Plan of Cogenhoe Church
The oldest part of the building is the south doorway,
which dates from c. 1180, but no other trace of the
church of that date has survived. This re-used doorway
has a plain round arch of two square orders, (fn. 50) with hoodmould, the outer order on shafts with scalloped capitals
and moulded bases. (fn. 51) The rebuilding of the church
was begun at the east end about 1225, to which period
the present chancel belongs, and later in the century
(c. 1270–80) the nave and aisles were built, probably
by Nicholas de Cogenhoe (d. 1281) whose arms are
on the pillars of the arcades. The chapel on the north
side of the chancel appears to have been erected early
in the 14th century, perhaps by William de Cogenhoe
(d. 1313), and c. 1350 the aisles were widened, the
north aisle being brought into line with the chapel.
The porch was added about the same time, and in the
15th century a tower was built at the west end, a clerestory added to the nave, and two windows inserted
in the north aisle.
The 13th-century chancel (fn. 52) is lighted by three pairs
of lancet windows on the south side and a single pair
on the north, all with plainly chamfered jambs and
dripstones following the line of the heads. The modern
east window is a gradated triplet of similar lancets.
Internally, however, the work is of a more elaborate
character. The north and south walls are arcaded and
the rear arch of the original east window, which is continued to the ground, has banded shafts with moulded
capitals and bases. The south wall-arcade consists of
three pointed arches resting on triple attached shafts,
the capitals of which have square abaci, and on single
shafted responds. (fn. 53) The arches are of a single chamfered
order, with chamfered hood-mould, and the capitals are
quite plain, with round neckings. (fn. 54) Within the arches
the pairs of lancet lights are divided by circular engaged
shafts, or columns, with square moulded abaci carrying the rear arches, which rest at the ends on square
corbels similarly treated. The circular bases of both
the arcade and window shafts are moulded. Below
the window in the eastern bay is a plain stone bench,
or sedile, but there is no piscina. On the north side
the window is near the east end and the arcade consists of two arches only, the westernmost bay having
been pierced in the early 14th century by a low arch
to the chapel, (fn. 55) and in the middle blank bay are three
aumbries, an upper one with trefoiled head beneath a
hood-mould, and two plain rectangular ones below,
forming a single architectural composition. (fn. 56) The
pointed chancel arch is contemporary with the nave
arcades; it is of two chamfered
orders with a hood-mould
towards the nave, and on the
capitals of the responds are
the faces of a knight and
lady. (fn. 57)
The late-13 th-century nave
arcades consist of three
pointed arches of two chamfered orders with hood-mould
on one side, on pillars which
are square on plan with an
attached shaft at each angle
and a hollow in the face of
the intervening spaces. The
responds are of similar character. The shafts have separate
moulded capitals, in the spaces
between which are shields and
grotesque heads, each pillar
having thus four shields or
heads and each respond one:
the necking goes round the
whole of the pillar. In all there are ten shields, and,
with two exceptions, these are confined to the easternmost pillars and responds. In all other cases the spaces
are occupied by grotesque heads. The shield on the
west side of the south-west pier is blank, and (a) the
arms of Cogenhoe (a fesse between three mascles) occur
on four of the others. The other armorial shields are
as follows: (b) ermine a chief indented (Morteyne);
(c) barry of ten a bend (Pabenham); (d) a bend
sinister (probably meant for Hastings); (e) a fesse and
in chief three martlets (possibly Cheyne); and (f) in
chief two human hands displayed (unknown). (fn. 58)
On the west side of the south-east pillar is a mutilated
holy water stoup supported by a draped figure, (fn. 59) and
in the usual position at the east end of the south aisle
there is a small trefoiled piscina recess, wholly restored,
without bowl. The pointed 14th-century windows of
the south aisle are of two trefoiled lights with quatrefoil
in the head, but the tracery is modern: a square-headed
two-light window at the east end is placed high in the
wall (fn. 60) and has a wooden lintel. Between the doorway
and the window east of it is a small blocked trefoilheaded opening with wide internal splay, the purpose
of which is uncertain, though it is usually classed as a
low-side window, (fn. 61) and immediately east of the doorway is a plain bracket on a moulded corbel.
The late-14th-century porch has a low-pitched gable
and pointed outer arch of two chamfered orders, the
inner order on half-octagonal responds with moulded
capitals, the outer continuous: above is a niche, now
blocked. In the north-east angle of the porch there is a
later stoup with mutilated basin.
The plain round-headed doorway of the north aisle
may not be older than the pointed window west of it,
which is of two cinquefoiled lights with quatrefoil in the
head, but the window in the west wall is of three lights
with modern Perpendicular tracery. The other 15thcentury window, which is at the east end of the north
wall, is square-headed and of three trefoiled lights, the
mullions and tracery new. Farther east in the north
wall is a plain oblong recess, or locker, about 3 ft. above
the floor. (fn. 62) The arch between the aisle and the north
chapel is in part old, the original jambs on the west side
having filleted shafts at the angles, with moulded
capitals. The chapel is under a separate high-pitched
gabled roof.
The clerestory has three square-headed windows of
two trefoiled lights on each side. The carved corbels
of the old nave roof remain in position, five on each
side, those on the south a series of human heads, while
those on the north side include an ox's head, a muzzled
bear, and the head of a bishop. (fn. 63) The low-pitched east
gable has a pinnacle at each angle and at its apex a
carved stone, said to have been the head of a churchyard cross, remains of which stood by the path to the
porch. (fn. 64) The four sides of the cross-head, which is of
14th-century date, have trefoiled niches containing
original sculpture—on the east the Father seated holding between his knees the crucified Son, on the west
a Crucifixion with attendant figures, and in the smaller
niches north and south figures of St. Peter and St.
Paul. (fn. 65)
The 15th-century tower, which is faced with finely
dressed stone, is of three stages marked by strings, the
lofty upper stage being slightly set back. It has a
moulded plinth and diagonal buttresses on the west side
to the top of the second stage, and terminates in a battlemented parapet, the pinnacles of which were removed
in 1870. The four-centred moulded west doorway is
set in a square frame, with blank shields in the spandrels, and above it, breaking through the first string,
is a tall four-centred window of three cinquefoiled
lights and Perpendicular tracery. Over this, in the
second stage, is a rectangular traceried opening. The
middle stage has a plain pointed opening on the south
side and a four-centred doorway to the nave roof on
the east. The tall pointed bell-chamber windows are
of two cinquefoiled lights with quatrefoil in the head
and cusped transoms at mid-height; the hood-mould
is taken round the tower at the level of the spring
of the arches. There is a vice in the south-west
angle. The lofty pointed tower arch is of two chamfered orders, (fn. 66) the outer continuous and the inner on
half-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and
bases.
The font consists of a plain cylindrical bowl 14½ in.
high, chamfered round the top, on a double masonry
base: the flat cover is modern. The pulpit and other
fittings are modern.
The late-13th-century effigy of Nicholas de Cogenhoe in the south aisle has already been described. (fn. 67)
At the west end of the north aisle is part of a stone
coffin, and a small coffin-shaped hollowed stone, 2 ft.
in length, possibly for a heart burial. (fn. 68)
In a glazed frame in the south aisle is a piece of
fringed needlework in colour on fine canvas, temp.
Henry VIII, which may have been the upper side of
a long cushion for the sedile, (fn. 69) and in the north aisle
is hung a large cloth of coarse canvas covered with a
repeating design in many coloured cruels, apparently
of Elizabethan date, which may have served as a riddel,
or curtain in the chancel. (fn. 70)
There is a scratch dial on one of the east jamb stones
of the porch, and another on the west jamb of the window east of the porch.
The east end of the south aisle is occupied by a
'shrine' in memory of fourteen men of the parish who
fell in the war of 1914–18.
There is a ring of six bells cast in 1909 by A. Bowell
of Ipswich. (fn. 71)
The plate consists of a 17th-century cup and paten
(c. 1682) with the maker's mark EB linked, and a
flagon of 1743 inscribed 'Cooknoe 1743. The Gift of
Bradley Whalley Rector of this Church.' There is also
a plated bread-holder c. 1790. (fn. 72)
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) all
entries 1558–1657; (ii) 1661–1754; (iii) baptisms and
burials 1755–1812; (iv) marriages 1754–1808;
(v) marriages 1808–12.
A well-bound copy of the Great Bible printed by
Robert Barker in 1617 and purchased in 1631 is in
use in the church. (fn. 73) The parish also possesses a volume
of fifteen manuscript sermons preached at Cogenhoe
church by Francis Smyth, rector 1637–56. (fn. 74)
Advowson
The first mention of the church
found is in 1238, when it was descending with the manor (q.v.), three
Cogenhoes being rectors in the 14th century, William,
Nicholas, and William son of Sir Giles. (fn. 75) It descended
with the manor until about 1678 when the Bonds conveyed it to Samuel Freeman, (fn. 76) probably trustee for the
Whalley family, as, according to Bridges, Peter Whalley,
who was rector in 1656 and died 1701, purchased it
from the Bonds. (fn. 77) Jane Whalley, widow, presented in
1701. (fn. 78) Bradley Whalley, (fn. 79) patron in 1720, dying in
1743, left the advowson in trust for his kinsman Eyre
Whalley to William Freeman, who presented that
year. (fn. 80) Palmer Whalley presented 1762, (fn. 81) and then the
incumbency and patronage are again often found in
the same person. John Watkin clerk presented in
1786, George Watkin, clerk, in 1796, and Edward
Watkin in 1812; (fn. 82) the last-named received a conveyance of the rectory from Henry Locock in 1813. (fn. 83)
R. Rogers, rector till 1863, had acquired the patronage by 1861 and George Burnham of Wollaston by
1863. George Burnham presented in 1864 C. H.
Burnham, who had succeeded him by 1883 as patron. (fn. 84)
His widow presented 1903–20; and from 1921 to the
present time it has been in the gift of Mr. W. LaneClaypon. (fn. 85)
William de Cogenhoe founded a chantry for one
priest to sing at Our Lady's altar. (fn. 86) Its property was
estimated at 67s. 4d. in 1535, (fn. 87) and sold to William
Cecil and Laurence Eiresbie in 1549. (fn. 88)