CHARLTON ADAM
The ancient parish of Charlton Adam, often known
as East Charlton, had an area estimated at 1,458 a.
in 1810 (fn. 1) and at 1,476 a. in 1861, (fn. 2) but no accurate
assessment of its area survives. The many detached
portions of the parish lying dispersed in Charlton
Mackrell, some at Wellham on its western boundary,
may represent tenements originally granted to
Bruton priory, together with their holdings in
the common fields, which were subsequently administered from Charlton Adam. (fn. 3) Two irregularly
shaped areas, totalling 132 a., lay detached in
Copley wood, about 2 miles north-west of the
parish. (fn. 4) When the civil parishes of Charlton Adam
and Charlton Mackrell were amalgamated under the
name of Charlton Mackrell in 1885, the western
portion was transferred to Compton Dundon and
the eastern to Kingweston. (fn. 5)
The parish is situated 3 miles east of Somerton,
extending 1½ mile from north to south and nearly
2 miles from east to west, excluding the detached
areas. It abuts north-east on Kingweston and
Keinton Mandeville, east on Babcary, and south
and west on Charlton Mackrell.
The soil of the parish is clay over limestone and
lias. (fn. 6) The land rises above the 150 ft. contour at
Bulland in the north-west, and above 125 ft. by
the Foss Way in the north-east, and falls away
gradually to the river Cary in the south-west.
South and west of Manor Farm the ground rises
steeply above 100 ft. and 150 ft. respectively. The
area is poorly watered; a single small stream, known
as Matford brook ('Modford broke' in 1327), (fn. 7)
runs immediately east of Withybed Lane under the
new course of the Foss Way at Sticklebridge,
passes south-east of the old road and west of Midney,
and flows into the parish of Keinton Mandeville
in the north-east. A small stream which formerly
served Peck Mill, south of Manor Farm, is dry for
much of the year.
The road pattern is irregular. The Foss Way
(A 37) runs north-east through the south-western
end of the parish, with a diversion to the north at
Sticklebridge. It seems evident that this is not
original and that its course was formerly straight.
It has been suggested (fn. 8) that this alteration was to
avoid an area of low-lying marshy ground, and the
change of route may have been permanently effected
when the common pasture there was inclosed in
1634. (fn. 9) Part of the former road survives as a lane
south-west of Sticklebridge, indicating that a less
abrupt diversion was once used, possibly until the
Foss was adopted by the Ilchester turnpike trust in
1753. (fn. 10) 'The way which is called Fos' occurs in a
Charlton Adam charter of c. 1258. (fn. 11) From the Foss
at Sticklebridge a lane, probably once known as
Eastwell Lane (fn. 12) but now as Broadway, runs west
to the north end of the village. A bend in the lane
and the position of two fields named Cornish Way (fn. 13)
suggest that its course once lay further south to
meet the Foss at its shorter diversion, presumably
crossing the stream there by means of Matford. (fn. 14)
The village itself is formed by a rectangle of four
lanes: Broad Street runs south from the western
end of Broadway to meet first Station Road, sometimes known as Court Lane, and then George
Street, both on the west. The rectangle, known as
the Penning or Square in 1832, (fn. 15) is completed by
Church Lane which links Station Road and George
Street. Apart from Church Lane which occurs in
1836, (fn. 16) none of these names is mentioned before
the late 19th century. Front Street and Quay Lane,
which occur in the early 19th century, (fn. 17) can probably
be identified with George Street and Broad Street
respectively. Broad Street continues north and
then north-east as Combe Lane to Keinton Mandeville, and an irregular track known as Balls Lane,
probably from a 16th-century family of that name, (fn. 18)
proceeds eastwards from George Street and subsequently north to Broadway, evidently to provide
access to fields along its course. Station Road runs
west and then north-west to that part of Charlton
Mackrell around Charlton House, and subsequently
to Kingweston. A lane, originally known as Chessells
Lane from the adjoining field, goes south from
George Street to the south-western limit of the
parish at Tout. Thence three roads run north-west
to Charlton Mackrell, and south and south-west
to the Foss in Charlton Mackrell. Ten Acre Lane
runs north from Station Road just west of its
junction with Church Street, then east across Combe
Lane and north-east, originally for access to the
open fields in that part of the parish. Two lanes
run north-west from the Foss Way at Sticklebridge:
Withybed Lane runs into Combe Lane at the
northern limit of the parish, for the latter part of
its course forming the parish boundary, and Common Lane links Sticklebridge with Keinton Mandeville. In the east of the parish a lane runs south-east
from the Foss, across the Cary at Steart bridge to
Steart in Babcary.
The Great Western rail link between Castle Cary
and Charlton Mackrell, running through the northwest of the parish, was opened in 1905, and from
Charlton Mackrell to Somerton in the following
year. (fn. 19) Charlton Mackrell station, which lay just
within the western boundary of Charlton Adam,
was closed to all traffic in 1962. (fn. 20)
The early inclosure of the common fields makes it
difficult to trace their extent with certainty. Of the
two medieval arable fields, (fn. 21) North field appears to
have stretched from Bulland on the north-western
boundary to Red Holes ('Revedol Furlong' c. 1258), (fn. 22)
possibly bordering Withybed Lane in the north and
east, and crossing the Broadway in the south at
Withyhays ('Witheheye' c. 1258). (fn. 23) It is not certain
whether North field included Walkmoor lying
across Combe Lane in the north of the parish.
South field lay south of Balls Lane, adjoining the
parish boundary on the south, Chessels Lane on
the west, and possibly including most of the
area known as the Slades between Balls Lane and
the Foss. (fn. 24) The four-field system, formed by c.
1564–6, (fn. 25) was created by the subdivision of North
field and South field. North-east field, sometimes
inexplicably called West field, occupied the area
south-west of Withybed Lane between Walkmoor
and Red Holes. South-east or East field lay between
Balls Lane and the Foss, south of Matford, possibly
including lands further west. The medieval common
pasture and meadows are represented by sixteen field
names, (fn. 26) but of these only one can be located: 'Middelnyemed', occurring in 1340. (fn. 27) This can be identified with Midney in the south-east corner of the
parish. It seems likely that most of the early pasture
and meadows lay in this area on the land beyond
the Foss dropping down towards the river Cary.
The common pastures inclosed in 1634 lay further
north. Matford extended south of Broadway, between Balls Lane and the Foss. The Lains ('Laynes
and Brokes' in c. 1564–6, 'Mackerise Layne' in
1634) occupied the extreme eastern corner of the
parish in the area of the Foss diversion, with Hale
('Hayle' in c. 1564–6, 'Heale' in 1634) and Heaples
to the south, and Turdhills to the north-west. (fn. 28)
Archaeological evidence for Romano-British settlement in Charlton Adam includes potsherds, coins,
slab graves, and traces of building found in Perrin's
Quarry at Bulland in the north-west of the parish,
which suggest occupation and possible quarrying
activity during the 3rd or 4th century. (fn. 29) The field
name Chessels (Cheshull in c. 1238), (fn. 30) which is
found south of the village, may indicate another
site of Roman settlement, as has been shown to be
the case elsewhere. (fn. 31) The parish church and 'the
Abbey', formerly the lay rectory, lie in the southeast corner of Station Road and Church Lane.
Settlement in the village appears originally to have
been restricted to both sides of Broad Street and the
south side of George Street, established round
lands held with 'the Abbey'. The earliest buildings
in this area date from the 16th century, although
most are lias houses and cottages of the 18th and
19th centuries. Four cottages were erected on the
waste in Eastwell Lane between 1595 and 1611. (fn. 32)
A row of houses on the north side of Broadway is
dated 1842 and modern houses have been built to
the south, towards its western end. In the 19th
century the school and former Methodist chapel
were erected on the south-west corner of Station
Road and Broad Street. Just south of the school
lies the Temperance Hall, first mentioned in 1902 (fn. 33)
and used in 1970 as a youth club. The principal
village shops stand on the east side of Broad Street
at this junction. The farm-houses lie generally
within the village itself. East Farm is sited on the
east side of Broad Street with its farm buildings opposite. Just north of the junction of Broadway and
Combe Lane stands the Barton, formerly known
as Walters' Barton from the family which owned
it in the early 19th century. (fn. 34) On the north side of
the lane leading west from George Street stood the
farm-house held in turn by the Willes and Thring
families, probably to be identified with a dwellinghouse now called 'the Laurels', east of which cottage
development has taken place. 'Pleasant Spot', lying
north of Broadway, and Sticklebridge, on the south
side of the Foss Way diversion, were small farms,
both erected in the middle or late 19th century. (fn. 35)
Priory Farm and Manor Farm both lie in a detached
part of the parish in Charlton Mackrell, on the east
side of Peck Mill Lane, running north from the
hill on which Charlton Mackrell church stands.
A public house called the New Inn occurs between 1745 (fn. 36) and 1764, (fn. 37) and in 1765 appears to
have changed its name to the Old Inn. (fn. 38) It is not
mentioned thereafter and its site has not been
traced. The Blue Boy inn is recorded in 1769. (fn. 39)
During the 19th century the parish appears to have
been served by beer shops, one of which, the
George, gave its name to George Street. (fn. 40) The
former Fox and Hounds, on the south side of Broadway, was converted to an inn in the 19th century,
possibly when the north wing was added in 1866. (fn. 41)
There was no public house in the parish in 1970.
Charlton Adam and Charlton Mackrell, 1810
Most of the buildings in the village date from the
early and mid 19th century. They are of the local
blue lias stone, probably quarried in Charlton
Adam or Charlton Mackrell, with thatched or tiled
roofs; one or two have classical porches of Ham
stone. On the west side of Broad Street, just north
of East Farm buildings, is a plain lias house of two
storeys, standing at right angles to the road and
probably built c. 1700. In the south wall are four
Ham stone mullioned windows with hood moulds,
the moulding on the ground floor being continuous.
'Cedar Lodge' at the south end of Broad Street is
a larger L-shaped house of lias with thatched stables
and a coach-house, bordering the lower east end of
the street. It is probably of 18th-century origin.
The range abutting on the road was formerly
thatched but was gutted by fire and largely rebuilt
with a tiled roof in the 20th century. The history
of the house is poorly documented, but in 1810
it was occupied by the Revd. Anthony Pyne, (fn. 42) a
member of the family formerly resident at Charlton
House in Charlton Mackrell. (fn. 43) 'Court Hay' in
George Street, with a Ham stone porch, was also
owned by the Pyne family in 1810. (fn. 44)
The population of the parish was given as 210 in
1791. (fn. 45) In 1801 it had risen to 254, but fell slightly
to 251 in 1811. Thereafter it rose to 550 in 1851.
Subsequently a steady decline set in: 530 in 1861,
416 in 1881, and an abrupt drop to 295 in 1891,
due no doubt to the general agricultural depression.
The last available total, indicating a slight recovery,
is 322 in 1901, after which Charlton Adam was
included with Charlton Mackrell for census purposes. The cumulative totals show a small rise in
1911, dropping again after the First World War,
with a gradual increase thereafter. (fn. 46)
Manors and Other Estates.
In 1066
the manor was held by three thegns and one clerk
'in parage', but by 1086 had passed to Robert,
count of Mortain. (fn. 47) Robert was probably succeeded
in 1090 by his son William, until William forfeited
his estates in 1106. (fn. 48) The Mortain overlordship
appears subsequently to have been retained by the
Crown.
In 1086 Reynold de Vautort held under the
count, (fn. 49) but by 1160–1 John son of Hamon, whose
family had been Domesday tenants of the count at
Buckhorn Weston (Dors.), was holding the church
and manor. (fn. 50) John had been succeeded before 1166
by his son William, who appears to have died without issue by 1211. (fn. 51) The manor then passed to John
son of Richard, grandson of John son of Hamon,
who was succeeded by his brother Henry son of
Richard in 1226. (fn. 52) He was stated to hold two fees
in Charlton of the Crown in 1242–3. (fn. 53) On his death
in c. 1243 his lands were divided between five
coheirs, Thomas le Breton, Matthew Wake,
Walter de Esselegh, William son of Walter, and
Henry Walleram. (fn. 54) Nothing further is known of
Walleram's share. William son of Walter sold his
interest to Thomas le Breton, who conveyed the
resultant two shares or moiety to Geoffrey de
Mandeville. (fn. 55) In 1249 Mandeville's holding was
itself described as two fees in Charlton; the mesne
lordship of one of these he sold to Bruton priory. (fn. 56)
By 1268–9 Geoffrey had been succeeded by his son
John de Mandeville, (fn. 57) who in 1286 occurs as lord
of the latter fee and another, of which ¾ was held by
John de Perham and ¼ by Humphrey de Kail. (fn. 58)
The Mandevilles were lords of East Coker manor
until 1305–6, (fn. 59) and in 1321 the prior of Bruton was
stated to hold Charlton Adam of the lord of East
Coker. (fn. 60) The tenure is again recorded in 1431–2, (fn. 61)
but has not been noted thereafter.
Matthew Wake gave his share in marriage with
his daughter Joan to Philip Lucyen, who quitclaimed lands in Charlton held by Thomas de
Perham to Berengar de Welles and Richard de
Wyggeber and their wives, the other two daughters
of Matthew Wake. (fn. 62) Walter de Esselegh's share
passed to Geoffrey of the marsh, who gave it in
marriage with his niece to Emery de Gardino. (fn. 63)
No further reference to their lordship has been
traced. By 1305 the Mortimer earls of March were
claiming the lordship of lands in Charlton including
the fee held by Bruton priory. (fn. 64) They continued to
claim it until 1399, (fn. 65) but by what right is not known.
In the early 13th century William son of Adam
held one fee in Charlton Adam, (fn. 66) but by 1249 he
had been succeeded by his son William. (fn. 67) In 1258
William FitzAdam sold his manor of CHARLTON
ADAM to Bruton priory for 120 marks and a
life interest in Brewham manor, held by the priory. (fn. 68)
The priory (later an abbey) retained the manor
until the Dissolution. (fn. 69) It received many small
grants of lands in the parish during the 13th and
14th centuries. (fn. 70) These lands were probably united
with the manor of Charlton Adam held by the
priory, and other plots initially located in Charlton
Mackrell may be represented by detached lands
there later belonging to Charlton Adam parish.
In 1560 the manor was granted to Francis Walsingham who sold it in that year to Sir William Petre
(d. 1572). (fn. 71) He was succeeded by his son John,
Lord Petre (d. 1613), who settled the manor on
his third son Thomas Petre of Cranham (Essex). (fn. 72)
Thomas entailed the manor upon his sons John
(d. 1623) and Francis successively, and died in
1625. (fn. 73) Francis Petre (d. c. 1660) appears to have
sold it during the Interregnum to Nathaniel Wright,
a London merchant, who compounded for it in
1648 on Petre's recusancy, and held court in 1649. (fn. 74)
By 1662 Francis's son, Sir Francis, Bt. (d. between
1670 and 1679), had recovered the manor. (fn. 75) He
was succeeded by Anthony Petre, claimant to the
baronetcy, (fn. 76) who in 1682 sold the manor to Edmund
Gregory of Thorne in Castle Cary. (fn. 77) Gregory left
it by will proved in 1697 to his nephew Edmund
Seaman. (fn. 78) Seaman sold it to his niece's husband,
Thomas Gapper of Sutton in Wincanton in 1705, (fn. 79)
who left it to his son Edmund Gapper of Baltonsborough. (fn. 80) The last was succeeded by his son the
Revd. Edmund Gapper (d. 1773), and by his grandson the Revd. Edmund Gapper (d. 1809). (fn. 81) The
second was followed by his widow Mary, and son
William Southby Gapper, who in 1819 subdivided
and sold it. (fn. 82) In 1832 the lordship was claimed by
Edward Richards Adams of Elmer Lodge, Beckenham (Kent), (fn. 83) who appears to have acquired lands on
Walkmoor from Mary Gapper c. 1829. (fn. 84) Adams was
still holding these lands in 1856. (fn. 85) The lordship was
claimed in 1861 by Francis Henry Dickinson, (fn. 86)
and subsequently by his son William, and by his
grandson William Francis Dickinson. (fn. 87) However,
the Dickinson claim may rest on the ownership of
Manor farm, which formed a separate estate. (fn. 88)
The second fee in Charlton Adam, held under
Henry son of Richard, was by 1286 divided between
John de Perham, who held ¾ of a fee, and Humphrey
de Kail, who held the remaining ¼ fee. (fn. 89) In the early
13th century Thomas de Perham received lands in
Charlton Adam from William son of Adam and his
sons totalling 120 a. of arable and 15 a. of meadow. (fn. 90)
In 1249 Isabel, widow of William son of Adam,
claimed dower in 3 virgates there held by Thomas
de Perham, (fn. 91) and in the same year Thomas is shown
holding lands in Charlton from the heirs of the
Mandevilles. (fn. 92) In 1254 Thomas exchanged a carucate in Charlton Adam for a carucate in Charlton
Mackrell with Thomas son of John de Perham,
possibly his nephew. (fn. 93) By 1286 he had been succeeded by John de Perham (I), who granted 4s.
rent from 3 virgates in the manor to Bruton priory. (fn. 94)
He was also stated to hold 2 virgates from Robert
son and heir of Robert de Netherton, who held from
the priory. (fn. 95) John de Perham (I) appears to have
died by 1302, for in that year his widow Joan brought
an action for dower against the Staunton family. (fn. 96)
His successor appears to have been John de Perham
(II), probably his son, (fn. 97) who died in 1327, in which
year Robert de Netherton assigned to the priory
his claim to overlordship of the Perham property,
and the priory granted dower in the lands to John's
widow, Joan de Perham. (fn. 98) John held 160 a. of
arable and 24 a. of meadow in Charlton Adam from
Bruton priory, and other lands in Charlton Mackrell from John de Lorty. (fn. 99) The origin of this lordship is also unknown, but it was illegally seized on
John's death by Roger Mortimer, earl of March,
whose claims were subsequently disallowed. (fn. 100) John
de Perham's son and heir John (III) was dead by
1332, his heir being his sister Thomasia, wife of
William Paulet. (fn. 101) William died between 1349 and
1353 and was succeeded by his son Nicholas Paulet,
then a minor. (fn. 102) The custody of his son's lands had
been granted by William Paulet to Thomas and
Nicholas de Panes who conveyed it to Bruton
priory in 1358. (fn. 103) In the same year the priory granted
the wardship to Sir John FitzPayn and Peter de
Wenyete. (fn. 104) Nicholas Paulet was still living in 1412, (fn. 105)
but these lands appear to have been united with
those held by the Kail and Paulet families treated
below.
The ¼ fee held in 1286 by Humphrey de Kail
under John de Mandeville was held by the former
with 1/10 fee in Charlton Mackrell from Robert
FitzPayn. (fn. 106) As Kail also held the advowson of the
chantry of the Holy Ghost, founded by Henry son
of Richard in c. 1238 and adjacent to the latter's
manor-house, (fn. 107) this ¼ fee probably represents the
capital messuage and demesne lands of the whole
fee retained by Henry son of Richard. (fn. 108) In 1346
Humphrey de Kail and William Paulet jointly held
¼ fee in Charlton Adam, (fn. 109) and the latter twice
presented to the chantry in 1349. (fn. 110) Humphrey de
Kail appears to have been succeeded by William
Kail (d. 1348). (fn. 111) During the minority of William's
son his lands were held by Thomas de Panes, and
in 1360 and 1399 the overlordship was claimed by
the Mortimers. (fn. 112) William was succeeded by his
son John Kail (d. c. 1383–4), and grandson Thomas
Kail (d. c. 1394–5). (fn. 113) Thomas Kail was followed by
his sister Idony, wife of John Paulet, who had issue
two sons, John and Thomas Paulet. Both of them died
in 1413, the premises reverting to a feoffee, John
Kaynes. (fn. 114) Idony Paulet evidently held the advowson
of the chantry of the Holy Ghost until her death in
c. 1401–2, (fn. 115) which thereafter passed to Nicholas
Paulet. The lands appear to have descended with
the patronage of the chantry, which was held in
1423 and 1448 by John Lymington. (fn. 116) He was succeeded by William Brytte, patron between 1452 and
1486, in right of his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 117) In 1476
Brytte settled his lands on Hugh Larder on his
marriage with his daughter Alice, (fn. 118) and by 1509
John Larder, probably their son, was presenting to
the chantry. (fn. 119) John Larder and Ursula his daughter
and heir, wife of Thomas Baskett, both died in
1556, leaving Ursula's two daughters as coheirs. (fn. 120)
Thomas Baskett (d. 1592) occurs in 1564–6 as
holding 140 a. of freehold land from the Petre
manor of Charlton Adam, (fn. 121) and this passed to his
daughter Mary (d. 1628–9), wife of Thomas Hussey
of Shapwick (Dors.), and to her son Hubert Hussey
(d. 1659). (fn. 122) Thereafter the latter's lands were divided
between his daughters and coheiresses. (fn. 123)
The bulk of the lands held by the Larder family,
lying both in Charlton Adam and Charlton Mackrell,
descended to Baskett's second daughter Mabel, wife
of John Bonham. (fn. 124) These lands appear to have
formed the nucleus of a manor known subsequently
either as that of CHARLTON ADAM or CHARLTON ADAM WITH CHARLTON MACKRELL,
the owners of which enjoyed the right of burial
in the south chapel of Charlton Adam church, and
lived at what is now known as Manor Farm. John
Bonham's daughter and heir, Anne, married Thomas
Strangways of Winterborne Muston in Winterborne
Kingston (Dors.). (fn. 125) An interest in the manor of
Charlton Adam with Charlton Mackrell, held in
1609 by Mabel wife of Andrew Walton of Low
Ham, (fn. 126) who was possibly related to the Baskett or
Bonham family, was conveyed in 1635 and 1649 to
Thomas and Anne Strangways. (fn. 127) The manor then
descended from father to son in the Strangways
family, Thomas (d. 1648), Giles (d. 1677), Bonham
(d. 1719), Giles (d. 1744), Giles (d. 1777), and
Thomas Littleton Strangways. (fn. 128) In 1796 the last
sold the manorial lands, then comprising Manor
farm, Peck Mill, and 421 a. of land, to John White
Parsons of West Camel, (fn. 129) and the lordship separately
to an unknown purchaser. (fn. 130) In 1798 the manorial
lands were sold by Parsons to James King of Cranborne (Dors.), later of Stowey, who conveyed them
to William Dickinson of Kingweston in 1805, (fn. 131)
after which they formed part of the Dickinson estate.
The farm-house, now known as Manor Farm, with
the lands immediately adjacent to it, were sold to
Major Charles Jackson by William Francis Dickinson in 1930, (fn. 132) and the house was held by his widow
in 1970.
Manor Farm is a long low lias building of two
storeys with tiled roof. (fn. 133) The walls contain traces of
timber-framing and the plan, originally one room
deep and consisting of parlour, hall, screens-passage,
and kitchen, suggests that the house may have had
a medieval or 16th-century origin. Among its older
features are the two gable-end chimneys, that at the
west, or parlour, end having a newel stair beside it.
The house was altered early in the 18th century
when a square dining room was formed out of part
of the hall. The room is handsomely fitted with
bolection-moulded panelling, the upper panels being
painted with real and imaginary landscapes. One
portrays Glastonbury Tor and another the second
Eddystone lighthouse. The inclusion of the latter,
built in 1709 and destroyed in 1755, suggests an
approximate date for the work. The dining room
chimney on the south front may be contemporary,
but, if so, the four-centred arches to the Ham stone
fireplaces on both floors are somewhat archaic in
design. (fn. 134) A narrow addition along the north side
of the house may date from the early 19th century.
It contains the principal staircase and is housed
under a low-pitched extension of the main roof.
All the windows, both casements and sashes,
appear to belong to this or later periods. In the
20th century a new entrance hall was formed at the
north-west corner of the house when the front door
was moved there from the screens-passage site on the
south side.
In the early 13th century Bruton priory granted
to Henry son of Richard the right to have a free
chapel in 'his court of Charlton', to be served by
chaplains from the priory. (fn. 135) They were to receive
all oblations except those due from the free serjeant
of the manor, when resident, and from the lord's
household. (fn. 136) In return Henry granted 6 a. of arable
and 1 a. of meadow from his demesne to the priory. (fn. 137)
The grant was confirmed in 1238. (fn. 138) The chapel was
dedicated to the Holy Ghost and in 1548 was stated
to adjoin the house of John Larder, probably
Manor Farm. (fn. 139) The earliest reference to the patronage of the chapel is in 1302 when Joan, widow of
John de Perham, sued William de Staunton and his
family for her dower, which included the advowson
of the chapel. (fn. 140) It appears to have descended with
the fee formerly held by Henry son of Richard,
which by 1286 had been divided between the Perham and Kail families. (fn. 141) In 1348 Humphrey de
Kail presented, (fn. 142) and in the following year William
de Paulet. (fn. 143) The patronage continued in the hands
of the Paulet family until 1412, (fn. 144) Nicholas Panes
presenting as guardian of Nicholas Paulet in 1353, (fn. 145)
and Sir John Beauchamp of Lillesdon in 1362. (fn. 146) The
Crown presented in 1401 and 1403 during the
minority of the heir of Idony, wife of John Paulet. (fn. 147)
John Chicheley held the advowson in 1415, (fn. 148)
and was succeeded by John Lymington, who presented in 1423 and 1448. (fn. 149) Thereafter the presentation descended through the Brytte and Larder
families until the chantry was dissolved in 1548. (fn. 150)
It was stated at that time that no mass had been
celebrated there for the past 20 or 30 years, Robert
Bysse (chaplain 1509–44) having been VicarGeneral of the diocese and a notorious pluralist. (fn. 151)
In 1545 the penultimate incumbent, Thomas Russell
(chaplain 1544–7), leased the chantry and its lands
to the patron, John Larder, at a rent of 26s. 8d. (fn. 152)
There were no ornaments nor plate in 1548 and
no incumbent, although a chaplain had been presented in the previous year. (fn. 153) In 1548 the chantry
was granted to Sir Thomas Bell of Gloucester and
Richard Duke of London, (fn. 154) but its subsequent
descent has not been traced. No description of
its lands survives and no vestiges of the building
remain in the vicinity of Manor Farm, its probable
site.
The manor of East Lydford included lands in
Charlton Adam which in the late 14th century,
before the tripartite division of East Lydford manor
in c. 1394, are occasionally referred to as the manor
of CHARLTON. (fn. 155) It was probably this holding
that led William de Reigny, lord of East Lydford
manor, to quit-claim his rights in the manor of
Charlton Adam to Bruton priory in 1320. (fn. 156) When
one third of East Lydford manor was partitioned
in 1775, 105 a. of land were found to lie in Charlton
Adam. (fn. 157) The major part of this property comprised
a farm and 86 a. of land which were sold to Samuel
Pitt (d. 1790) in 1777. (fn. 158) The lands subsequently
passed to his son Charles Pitt, and then to his
granddaughter Eliza Jane, wife of George Augustus
Hennesy of Northover, who sold the farm to William
Dickinson in 1825. (fn. 159) It subsequently formed the
nucleus of East farm, the largest agricultural unit
in the parish in 1939. (fn. 160)
The rectory estate was included in a grant of the
church to Bruton priory by John son of Hamon between 1142 and 1166, and was retained by the priory
(later an abbey) until the Dissolution. (fn. 161) The rectory
was valued at £6 in 1291, (fn. 162) and in 1334 the tithes
were worth 18s. 4d., oblations and obventions
£4 1s. 4d., and the lands £1 0s. 4d. (fn. 163) In 1535 these
lands comprised closes adjoining the rectory house
totalling 10 a., with a dovehouse and barn. The
total income from the estate was then still £6,
although by that date the lands were subject to
a customary payment of £2 13s. 4d. to the vicar, (fn. 164) a
sum still paid in 1809 when the tithes were commuted. (fn. 165) The rectory estate was leased to Thomas
Tucker in 1527 for 40 years, (fn. 166) and both were granted
to John Bellowe and John Broxolme in 1546. (fn. 167)
William Hodges of Middle Chinnock was given
money to purchase the rectory for his father, but
secured a grant to himself in 1546 and forged a conveyance to his father to satisfy him. (fn. 168) The subterfuge
came to light on the son's death in 1553, when he
was succeeded by his son Bartholomew. (fn. 169) William
Hodges, the father, conveyed his interest in the
property to Giles Hodges of Curry Rivel in 1566, (fn. 170)
when it was valued at £10 a year or under. (fn. 171) Giles
had evidently occupied the rectory house by 1576,
in which year he is described as of Charlton Adam. (fn. 172)
He died in 1591 and was succeeded by his eldest
son William. (fn. 173) In 1626 John Hodges died holding
the rectory and was followed by his son, also John. (fn. 174)
In 1635 Stephen Hodges was farmer of the rectory, (fn. 175)
and in the following year John, Stephen, and Theophilus Hodges, with others, conveyed it to William
Strode. (fn. 176)
The Strodes still held the rectory in 1695 (fn. 177) but
sold it c. 1700 to John Bond of Combe St. Nicholas. (fn. 178)
The latter's son, also John, conveyed the rectory
to Edmund Gapper of Baltonsborough in 1716, (fn. 179)
after which it descended with the Gapper manor of
Charlton Adam. (fn. 180) The Bonds augmented the rectory lands by purchasing 141 a., of which 14½ a. lay
in Charlton Mackrell. (fn. 181) By the time of the 1809
inclosure this had been reduced to 82 a., the
Charlton Mackrell and other lands having been
sold off by the Gappers. (fn. 182) The rectorial tithes were
converted into corn rents assessed on the average
price of wheat over the previous 14 years and
yielded about £116. (fn. 183) Mary, widow of Edmund
Gapper (d. 1809), sold further rectory lands (fn. 184) and
in 1823 leased the rectory house to John Hopkins
Bradney (vicar 1825–40). (fn. 185) The house was sold
to J. G. D. Thring of Alford House (d. 1874) for
£7,500 in 1831. (fn. 186) Thring was succeeded by his son
Theodore (d. 1891) and by his grandson John
Huntley Thring. (fn. 187) The Thrings extended the estate
attached to the house, which amounted to 151 a.
in 1876. (fn. 188) The property was leased to Claude Neville
of Butleigh Court (d. 1944) for 21 years in 1902,
and he purchased it with 48 a. of land in 1905. (fn. 189)
It was held in 1970 by his son Cdr. Edward Neville.
The large rectory house, lying immediately northeast of the church and known as the Abbey or
Abbey Farm by 1849, (fn. 190) is described as a 'mansion'
in 1549. (fn. 191) Although the present house has several
pre-Reformation features, including external buttresses, it has been so much altered that the original
plan is obscure. (fn. 192) Major changes were probably the
work of the Hodges family in the late 16th century.
The building is mainly two-storeyed, of lias stone
with tiled roofs. Projecting from the west end, now
the entrance front, is a small buttressed wing of
three storeys with a two-light mullioned window,
apparently of late medieval date, on the ground floor
and traces of a relieving arch on the floor above.
The wing contains an Elizabethan oak staircase and
a coved ceiling to the top room. The ceiling was
renewed after an extensive fire in 1960. (fn. 193) Behind the
wing and stretching across the house from north to
south is the main Elizabethan structure, housed
under its own roof. It may represent an earlier solar
wing. The south room on the ground floor is the
parlour or drawing-room which has contemporary
oak panelling, an enriched frieze, and a carved
chimney-piece. Above was a lofty 'great chamber'
which probably occupied the whole upper floor
with a tall mullioned and transomed window at each
end. The northern half was later divided horizontally and only the south room retains its original
coved ceiling. In the eastern part of the house some
of the medieval fabric may have survived. There is
a stone doorway with a two-centred head in the
north wall of the present kitchen, traces of an early
stair, and a pointed oak doorway in one of the attics.
The east end of the building has been much altered
and extended, notably in the early 20th century when
Claude Neville built extra service rooms at the northeast corner. Another 20th-century addition is an
entrance lobby with a new front door on the west
front.
The holding now known as Priory farm was an
ancient freehold held of the lord of Somerton
hundred by payment of a fine. It appears to have
been held by the heirs of John Maunsell in 1543, (fn. 194)
probably father of John Maunsell, who was in
possession in 1565, (fn. 195) and grandfather of Richard
Maunsell, who owned the property in 1617 and
1619. (fn. 196) By 1634 it had been conveyed to John
Wroth of North Petherton, who died in that year,
when the premises passed to Sir Thomas Wroth. (fn. 197)
The property continued in the Wroth family until
the death of another Sir Thomas Wroth in 1721. (fn. 198)
His daughter Cecily married Sir Hugh Acland of
Columbjohn (Devon), (fn. 199) and the latter sold the
property, then described as 'the remaining parts
of the manors of Charlton Adam and Charlton
Mackrell', to John Bryan of Charlton Adam in
1732. (fn. 200) He was succeeded by his son John and his
grandson John Bryan of Redland, Bristol. (fn. 201) The
daughter of the last, Mary Anne, married W. N.
Tonge (d. 1844) of Alveston (Glos.) in 1804. (fn. 202) They
were succeeded in turn by their sons A. H.
Tonge (d. 1867) and L. C. H. Tonge (d. 1895). (fn. 203)
On the latter's death, or soon after, the property
appears to have been purchased by Frank Percy
Pitman, who held it in 1902 and whose family
still owned and occupied the farm in 1970. (fn. 204)
The farm-house originally lay south of the present
outbuildings, but was described as being in ruins
in 1902 and was demolished when the railway was
built. (fn. 205) The present house, to the north-east of the
farm buildings, was built in the 19th century and
in 1886 evidently formed part of a holding known as
Folly farm. (fn. 206) It has served as the farm-house for
Priory farm since at least 1904. (fn. 207)
The estate of 196 a. held by J. G. D. Thring in
1810, (fn. 208) and dispersed after the sale in 1905 of the
Thring lands in Charlton Adam, (fn. 209) had its origin
in the amalgamation of two properties by the Willes
family. As a result of his marriage with Frances
daughter of Thomas Freke, a Bristol merchant,
John Willes of Astrop (Northants.) received lands in
Charlton Adam and Charlton Mackrell purchased
by Freke in 1730 from Bridget, widow of Henry
Dampier and only child of Richard Kellaway, and
held during the late 17th century by John Wilcox. (fn. 210)
To these Willes added lands in Charlton Adam
acquired from the heirs of Dr. William Logan of
Bristol in 1771, which the latter had purchased from
Robert Houlton in 1732 and which had formerly
been held by Richard Eggerdon of Whatley. (fn. 211) John
Willes was succeeded by his son John Freke Willes,
who left his lands to his cousin William Shippen
Willes of Cirencester (Glos.). (fn. 212) The latter sold the
property to Richard Selfe of Cirencester in 1805,
who conveyed it to John Thring of Warminster
(Wilts.) in 1807. (fn. 213) On the latter's death in 1830 he
was succeeded by his son J. G. D. Thring. (fn. 214) The
farm-house, an 18th-century lias building, was in
1970 a dwelling-house called 'the Laurels'.
Economic History.
In 1086 Charlton Adam
was assessed at 5 hides; there was land for 6 ploughs,
although only 4½ are recorded. Two hides were held
in demesne by Reynold de Vautort under the count
of Mortain, and 2½ were worked by 5 villeins, 6
bordars, and 2 cottars with 1½ plough. The additional ½ hide is not accounted for in the Exeter
Domesday. There were 50 a. of meadow, 60 a. of
pasture, and 20 a. of underwood. Stock included
1 pack-horse, 5 beasts, 30 swine, and 60 sheep. The
manor was then valued at £6, the same figure as
before the Conquest. (fn. 215)
Early grants from the demesne indicate the
presence of a number of substantial freeholders:
Robert Fraunceis, who gave 18 a. of arable and 3 a.
of meadow to Bruton priory in 1257–8; (fn. 216) William
de la Lade under whom Thomas de Reigny held
a ½ virgate of land and 2½ a. of meadow, which he
gave to the priory c. 1273; (fn. 217) Ralph de la Purie, who
married Isabel, widow of William son of Adam,
and his son Robert, all three of whom granted
lands and rents to the priory at the end of the 13th
century. (fn. 218) The largest grants from the demesne,
however, were those made by William son of Adam
and his sons, William and Adam, to Thomas de
Perham in the early 13th century, totalling 120 a.
of arable and 15 a. of meadow, with common of
pasture for 14 oxen and 40 sheep. (fn. 219) Grants to the
priory by Henry son of Richard from his demesne
at about the same period comprised 4 a. and 9
selions on Chessels, 1 a. of meadow below 'Childebereg', and 2 a. near Hurcot, (fn. 220) the latter presumably
represented by parts of Charlton Adam lying detached in Charlton Mackrell. By the Dissolution
the demesne lands, totalling 237 a., had been leased
to four tenants for lives, and were subsequently
treated as copyhold. (fn. 221)
The 13th- and 14th-century charters of Bruton
priory show that a two-field system, based on
North field and South field, had already developed
and that the meadows were generally stinted. (fn. 222) By
the mid 16th century a four-field system had
emerged, North-east field or West field having been
divided from North field, and East or South-east
field from South field. (fn. 223) Strips of arable farmed by
tenants of the Petre manor in c. 1564–6 comprised
102 a. in North field, 38 a. in South field, 91 a. in
East field, and 106 a. in North-east field. These
figures probably indicate the areal relationship of the
open fields at that time. (fn. 224) The manor then comprised
295 a. held by four freeholders and 540 a. by customary tenants, paying a total rent of £11 10s. 2d. (fn. 225)
Of the customary lands 337 a. were arable in the
common fields. (fn. 226)
These totals do not include a further 200 a. of
common pasture. The Lains and Brooks comprised
120 a., stated to be dry ground, Hale and Matford
50 a., adjudged better ground, and 30 a. at Midney
hill devoted to cattle, being the best pasture. (fn. 227)
Over these commons 18 customary tenants claimed
stinted grazing rights for 113 beasts and 780 sheep. (fn. 228)
The manor court carefully regulated grazing,
particularly in the arable fields after harvest. (fn. 229)
In 1616 it was ordered that no pigs were to be
allowed in the common fields before the feast of
St. Simon and St. Jude (28 Oct.); from 1617 no
horse was allowed loose in the fields or on the highways; and in 1618 those tenants holding grazing
rights on Midney hill and Matford were permitted
to pasture one beast for every 2 a. they held in the
common meadows, a rother beast for every 2 a. in
the stubble fields, and a horse beast for every 4 a.
there. (fn. 230) From 1627 the tenants were allowed to
pasture one sheep for each acre they held, and two
for each acre on Lains Common. These customs
were later altered in detail. (fn. 231) Severe fines for the
breach of grazing rights were imposed, assessed on
a basis of the number of days each animal had been
illegally pastured. Thus in 1627 one tenant was
amerced 33s. 4d. for wrongly depasturing a cow on
Midney hill and Matford for 5 months. (fn. 232) Fences,
gates, and ditches around the common fields were
repaired jointly by tenants claiming common rights. (fn. 233)
All customary estates were subject to widows' estate
and heriots and were described as 'metely fineable'. (fn. 234)
Until the late 16th century copyhold for 1, 2, or
3 lives was the invariable tenure. (fn. 235) Conversion to
leases for 99 years or 3 lives began in 1599 (fn. 236) and
proceeded slowly during the 17th century. When the
manor was conveyed to Edmund Gregory in 1682
there was only one copyhold estate excepted from
the grant, and seven leasehold tenements were
mentioned. (fn. 237) Seven of the 18 customary tenants in
c. 1564–6 farmed 90 per cent of the total customary
lands within the manor, the sizes of their holdings
ranging from 110 a. to 48 a. (fn. 238) By c. 1612 the erection
of five cottages on the waste and the subdivision of
some of the larger holdings had increased the number of customary tenants to 22. (fn. 239) By the early 18th
century, owing principally to enfranchisements
executed by the Petres, there were only twelve customary holdings, all in reversion, of which half
were cottagers. (fn. 240)
By 1535 the value of the manor had risen to
£12 19s. 6d., based on a rental of £11 5s. (fn. 241) By 1559
the total had fallen slightly to £10 6s. 8d., but only
because perquisites were low and no fines had been
levied that year. (fn. 242) The rental rose to £11 14s. 11d.
by c. 1612, owing partly to rents from cottages
recently erected on the waste. (fn. 243) In 1625 the manor
was stated to be worth only £7, although annual
receipts from lands in Charlton Adam of £11 12s. 9d.
suggest that this was an underestimate. (fn. 244) In the
early 18th century the total rents from the manor,
which had undergone considerable enfranchisement, were £11 15s. 11d. and the value of the manor
for sale was put at £1,941. (fn. 245)
Surviving charters of the 13th and early 14th
century make virtually no reference to inclosed lands
in Charlton Adam, (fn. 246) and even by c. 1564–6 such
lands were generally limited to curtilages and
orchards adjoining dwelling-houses. (fn. 247) In 1565 it
was stated that the inclosure of lands within the
manor, 'being already begun, shall further proceed
the next year'. (fn. 248) A tentative move to inclose common
meadow and pasture was made in 1614, (fn. 249) and in
1634, by agreement with the lord, 132½ a. of pasture
in Midney hill, Mead Ditch, Hale, Little Turdhill,
and Mackerise Lain, were inclosed and allotted to
13 customary tenants; a further 53½ a. at Matford,
Heaples, and Turdhill were allotted to two freeholders. (fn. 250) Inclosure of the arable lands seems to
have taken place gradually during the earlier 18th
century by private agreement, (fn. 251) and by 1781 the
estate of Edmund Gapper, including both the
manor and the rectory, lay entirely in closes. (fn. 252) By
award of 1810 112 a. in Charlton Adam were inclosed,
but most of this comprised land belonging to
the parish lying dispersed in Charlton Mackrell common fields. (fn. 253) Barely 12 a. lay in Charlton Adam itself.
At the time of the inclosure the largest estate in
the parish was that of William Dickinson, then containing 370 a.; (fn. 254) 224 a. of this were land attached to
Manor farm, acquired in 1805. (fn. 255) Edmund Gapper
held 317 a., of which 82 a. represented the lands of
the lay rectory, and the remainder the remnants of
Charlton Adam manor. (fn. 256) J. G. D. Thring possessed
a further 196 a., the former estate of the Willes
family, (fn. 257) purchased from Richard Selfe in 1807, (fn. 258)
and Charles Pitt owned 97 a., (fn. 259) formerly part of
East Lydford manor and later known as East farm. (fn. 260)
Priory farm, held by Maria Bryan, was 131 a. in
extent, but only 74 a. lay in Charlton Adam parish. (fn. 261)
Similarly James Sutton held 67 a. in Charlton Adam,
but this formed part of his 458 a. estate at Cary
Fitzpaine. Some smaller holdings were also farmed
from Charlton Mackrell. (fn. 262) Subsequently the Dickinsons increased their estate by purchase, acquiring
the Pitt property in 1825, (fn. 263) so that by c. 1835 they
owned about 600 a. in the parish. (fn. 264) At that time
171 a. were farmed from East farm (of which 36 a.
lay in Charlton Mackrell) and 246 a. were farmed
from Manor farm (of which 40 a. lay in Charlton
Mackrell). (fn. 265) J. G. D. Thring's purchase of the
rectory lands in 1831, and the subdivision and sale
of the Gapper estate, (fn. 266) made the Thring family the
only other prominent landowners in the parish
during the later 19th century. Since the break-up
of the Dickinson estate in 1930 most of the lands
have been owned by the farmers. (fn. 267) Manor Farm,
formerly part of the largest farm in the parish, was
sold with only 24½ a. of land in 1930. (fn. 268) Dairy farming
has continued to predominate within the parish.
The quarrying of blue lias stone for building
purposes appears to have been carried on in the
Charltons at least since Roman times, (fn. 269) but never
on a very large scale. In c. 1564–6 the manor included a lias quarry of 'small value'. (fn. 270) The field
name Quarry Close occurs in 1810 on the east side
of the lane running south from the village to
Tout, (fn. 271) and may indicate the site of much earlier
workings. Stonemasons are mentioned regularly
during the 19th century; (fn. 272) by 1897 there were two
quarries in operation and by 1906 three. (fn. 273) Since
that time the industry has continued to expand and
is still an important feature of the economy of the
parish. The quarries, several now abandoned, lie
generally in the north-west of the parish beyond the
railway, north of Broadway near the Barton, and in the
south-west in the area of Tout House, which formed
the centre of quarrying operations by the Cary family
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. (fn. 274)
There is evidence that gloving as a cottage industry was pursued by the women of the village
during the 19th century, the finished products
being taken to Glastonbury for sale. (fn. 275) By 1868 the
Dickinson estate at Kingweston was providing employment for Charlton men, and the Dickinsons
had erected new cottages at Charlton Adam on ¼ a.
plots to supplement existing accommodation, which
was generally poor. (fn. 276) Allotments, also of ¼ a., were
let by the vicar to the parishioners for 7s. 6d. a year,
where they grew potatoes and beans for their pigs. (fn. 277)
In the later 19th century some new trades were
introduced. A few shopkeepers had established
themselves by 1861, including a draper and grocer,
a butcher, and a basketmaker. (fn. 278) By 1866 a baker,
tailor, and coal merchant had settled here, and by
1883 a general store had been opened. (fn. 279) A cycle
agent, bootmaker, hairdresser, and motor-car proprietor occur in 1923, a chemist in 1927, a music
teacher in 1931, and a dog food manufacturer in
1939. (fn. 280)
A stream running along the southern boundary of
Manor Farm garden was described as the 'Mullbroke' in 1257–8. (fn. 281) It evidently supplied the water
grist mill known as Peck Mill in 1810. (fn. 282) This may
also be the mill called Bydelmyll in 1376, (fn. 283) and
was probably one of the two mills in Charlton
tithing mentioned between 1392 and 1437, when
their millers were presented for taking excessive
tolls. (fn. 284) John Larder was presented for the same
offence in 1539. (fn. 285) When William Brytte settled his
lands in Charlton Adam and Charlton Mackrell on
his daughter Alice and her husband Hugh Larder
in 1467, two mills formed part of the estate. (fn. 286)
They were probably the water-mill and windmill
which occur in 1616 as part of the Manor farm
lands. (fn. 287) Thereafter Peck Mill appears always to
have descended with the latter property. In 1780
the mill was stated to be out of repair and without
water, (fn. 288) and in 1785 most of its fixtures, including
the ironwork and millstone, were sold by Thomas
Littleton Strangways. (fn. 289) It was evidently renovated
and in c. 1800 was leased to Farmer Hockey. (fn. 290) When
the Manor farm estate was leased to John Knight
in 1802 he covenanted to maintain the thatch of
the mill-house. (fn. 291) The mill does not appear to have
been worked to any great extent during the later
19th century, when grain was regularly taken to West
Lydford for grinding. (fn. 292) It was demolished during the
first quarter of the 20th century. (fn. 293)
Local Government.
Manor courts appear
to have been held only for the manor owned by
Bruton priory and later by the Petre family. Court
rolls for this manor survive for the years 1612–20,
1623–9, 1632–8, and 1649. (fn. 294) Courts were generally
held twice a year in April and October, and were
described principally as curie manerii, but occasionally as curie baronis or curie legalis. The use of
the last title may imply the vestiges of a former leet
jurisdiction. Considerable attention was paid in
the courts to the erection and maintenance of fences,
scouring ditches, and the observance of grazing
customs in the common pastures. Other business
included licences to live outside the manor, strays,
pound breach, and the repair of houses. A hayward
was appointed annually, usually in October. (fn. 295) A
single tithingman served for both Charlton Adam
and Charlton Mackrell (fn. 296) and in 1756 the cost of his
housing a prisoner was equally divided between the
two parishes. (fn. 297) The vestry appointed two churchwardens from 1843 to 1911, and two overseers from
1845 to 1885, except between 1871 and 1873, when
three were appointed. Four were appointed in 1886. (fn. 298)
The vestry also elected one or two waywardens
(1843–83) and a hayward (1871, 1873). (fn. 299)
References to a poorhouse occur in 1797 and
1803. (fn. 300) During the 18th century various houses
were rented for the accommodation of paupers, (fn. 301) and
it is doubtful whether there was ever any permanent
building for their reception. The parish became part
of the Langport union in 1836. (fn. 302)
Church.
A clerk was holding lands within the
manor at the time of the Norman Conquest, (fn. 303)
although the church of Charlton Adam is not
mentioned until between 1142 and 1166. (fn. 304) During
this period the church was granted to Bruton
priory by John son of Hamon, (fn. 305) and this grant
evidently included lands which later formed the
rectory estate. No reference to the ordination of
a vicarage has been traced, but this had evidently
taken place by 1291. (fn. 306) By 1535 the incumbent was in
receipt of a pension from the rectory lands, a pension
still being paid in 1809. (fn. 307) The benefices of Charlton
Adam and Charlton Mackrell were united in 1921. (fn. 308)
The advowson descended with the rectory and
its lands at least until 1626. (fn. 309) By 1635 John Hodges
had conveyed the advowson to Robert Hammon,
mercer, who in that year presented William Hammon to the vicarage. (fn. 310) The latter succeeded to the
patronage and conveyed the next presentation to
John Rock, vicar of Butleigh, and Simon Whetcombe, rector of Charlton Mackrell. Whetcombe
having died in 1657, Rock presented Robert Hammon in 1664. (fn. 311) The bishop collated by lapse in 1678,
although the Hammons appear to have retained the
advowson after this date. (fn. 312) The patronage was
evidently acquired by Alexander Starke (vicar
1678–1700) as his widow, Maria, presented in
1700. (fn. 313) In 1709 the patron was Thomas Clare, and
in 1719 Sarah Cridland of Staplegrove. (fn. 314) The
latter presented her son-in-law, Benjamin Kebby
(vicar 1719–66), (fn. 315) who subsequently succeeded to
the advowson. (fn. 316) By 1766 the patronage had been
acquired by William Sealy Strangways, who also
presented in 1770. (fn. 317) In 1808 Thomas Strangways
presented himself, his executors held the advowson
in 1823, (fn. 318) and the family was still enjoying it in
1840. (fn. 319) It was then acquired by John Barney (vicar
1840–61), (fn. 320) but between 1859 and 1861 it passed to
Guy Bryan, rector of Woodham Walter (Essex). (fn. 321)
Between 1875 and 1883 Bryan was succeeded by
the Revd. Henry Guy Bryan, and in 1897 by the
Revd. Henry Percival Bryan of Askerswell (Dors.). (fn. 322)
Wilmot Lee Bryan of South Godstone (Surr.) held
the advowson between 1899 and 1906, (fn. 323) but in
1910 the bishop collated by lapse, (fn. 324) and by 1912 the
Diocesan Trustees were patrons. (fn. 325) They continued
to present until the union of the benefices of Charlton Adam and Charlton Mackrell in 1921. (fn. 326) The
subsequent descent of the advowson is treated under
Charlton Mackrell. (fn. 327)
The vicarage was valued at £5 in 1291, (fn. 328) but
this figure had fallen to 5 marks by 1445. (fn. 329) In 1535
it was worth £6 14s. 11d., (fn. 330) and in c. 1668 the common reputed value was £30. (fn. 331) In 1793 the living
was augmented by lot with £200, (fn. 332) and in 1811 by
a further £200 from the Horner trustees. (fn. 333) Thus by
1814 the income had risen to £115, (fn. 334) and by 1831
to £137 net. (fn. 335) In 1851 it stood at £119 19s. 0d. (fn. 336)
The predial tithes and tithes of wool belonging to
the vicar were valued at 38s. 2d. in 1535, and oblations and personal tithes at 36s. 5d. (fn. 337) In 1626 the
vicar claimed tithe hay from specified meadows at
Midney, and from others in detached areas of
Charlton Adam at Wildmoors and Southwells
situated in Charlton Mackrell. He also held the
tithes of calves, kine, white wool, lambs, pigs,
geese, eggs, pigeons, colts, honey, fruit, hemp,
flax, teazles, and withies. He received the tenth
penny of meadow or pasture leased to outdwellers,
the left shoulder of each slaughtered calf, ½d. for
each weaned calf, 3d. for a cow, 1½d. for a heifer,
and the tithe of underwood in Copley wood whenever it was cut. He was also to keep a bull and a
boar for the use of his parishioners. (fn. 338) The vicarial
tithes, like those paid to the lay rector, were converted into corn rents in 1810, (fn. 339) and were valued at
£57 in 1851 (fn. 340) and in 1874. (fn. 341) They had dropped to
£41 in 1902, (fn. 342) and in 1920 were converted to a tithe
rent-charge fixed at £43 0s. 10d. (fn. 343)
The vicarial glebe was worth 7s. in 1535. (fn. 344) In
1626 it comprised 7 a. of arable land attached
to the vicarage house, the herbage of the churchyard and trees there, and a messuage and tenement
with 10½ a. of arable land, 1 a. of meadow, two hedge
plots, and two beast leazes in Midney and Matford. (fn. 345)
These lands probably included the 2 a. of arable and
1 a. of meadow which William son of Adam gave
to Bruton priory for the increase of the tenement
of Charlton church in the early 13th century, and
a further grant of 1 a. of land made by him at about
the same time. (fn. 346) In 1810 the glebe lands totalled
just over 19 a., (fn. 347) but by 1874 these had been increased to 24 a., and by 1902 to 28 a. (fn. 348) In 1913
certain glebe lands were sold for £845. (fn. 349) There
were c. 37 a. of glebe in 1972. (fn. 350)
The old parsonage house lay on the east side of
a short lane running south from George Street. (fn. 351)
It was 'in decay' in 1557, (fn. 352) but in 1626 was described
as 'well builded', with a barn, stable, curtilage, and
garden. (fn. 353) In 1734 the vicar, Benjamin Kebby,
stated that he had spent £50 in repairing the house,
and over £30 some years before. (fn. 354) In 1815 the
house was stated to be too small and 'fit only for a
labourer', (fn. 355) and by 1827 the vicar was living in 'the
Abbey'. (fn. 356) The house was described as being in good
repair in 1840, but was not occupied by the vicar
nor his curate. (fn. 357) A new vicarage house was built in
1862 to the south of the old building, which was
demolished, at a total cost of £555, of which £500
was provided by Queen Anne's Bounty. (fn. 358) It is a
two-storeyed structure of three bays, built of blue
lias with a tiled roof. A new rectory house was built
to the west of the vicarage house in 1955. (fn. 359)
John Donneslegh (vicar by 1405–7), 'broken
down by old age and not having judgement of
mind', was in 1405 given a curate to assist him,
initially appointed for one year only. (fn. 360) Owen
Smyth (vicar 1463–5), a canon of St. John's, Carmarthen, obtained papal dispensation to hold the
benefice. (fn. 361) In 1511 Thomas Griffith (vicar from
1506 at least until 1535) was ordered to pay 26s. 8d.
to John Larder of Manor Farm for having publicly
slandered him, and they were ordered 'to live together charitably as good Christian men should do,
and as nigh as God shall give them grace'. (fn. 362) William
Abbott (vicar 1545–58) was evidently non-resident
in 1557. (fn. 363) William Hammon (vicar 1635–64) appears to have survived the Interregnum. (fn. 364) Of the
ten vicars between 1678 and 1861, all were graduates
except one, (fn. 365) Thomas Strangways (vicar 1808–23),
and four occupied other benefices in plurality:
Thomas Kemp (vicar 1700–9), Benjamin Kebby
(vicar 1719–66), James Minifie (vicar 1766–8),
and Samuel Gatehouse (vicar 1770–1808). (fn. 366) Both
Gatehouse and Strangways appear to have been
non-resident and employed curates to serve the
church in their absence. (fn. 367) Percival Wilmot Bryan
held the vicarage for 48 years until his death at the
age of 92 in 1909. (fn. 368)
In 1554 the churchyard was insufficiently enclosed and the chancel windows needed repair. (fn. 369)
Three years later the church wall was stated to be in
decay. (fn. 370) The poor state of the churchyard wall was
again presented in 1568, and also the lack of a
table of the Ten Commandments. (fn. 371) The latter was
still wanting in 1606, and the pews were found to be
dilapidated. (fn. 372)
In 1827 services were held alternately, morning
and evening, each Sunday, (fn. 373) and in 1843 Holy
Communion was being celebrated six times a year. (fn. 374)
On Census Sunday in 1851 morning service was
attended by 36, and the afternoon by 90 persons. (fn. 375)
By 1895 the celebration of Holy Communion had
been increased to once a week and there were two
services every Sunday. (fn. 376)
A church house is mentioned in 1548, when it was
stated to have been given for the maintenance of
obits in the parish church. (fn. 377) It was then worth £3
and had been let for 12d. (fn. 378) In 1549 it was granted to
Thomas Marshe of London and Roger Williams of
Usk (Mon.) and was described as adjoining the
rectory. (fn. 379) William Hodges claimed it as parcel of the
rectory purchased by him in 1546, (fn. 380) and it appears
to have been held with that property by the Hodges
family in 1591 and 1626, and by the Bond family
in 1715. (fn. 381) No reference to it has been traced thereafter.
An annual payment of 2s. 2d. from the manor to
the churchwardens, to maintain the church and
lights before the high altar there, is mentioned in
1539. (fn. 382)
The church of ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL
lies immediately to the north-west of the village,
on the east side of Church Lane. It is described as
the church of St. Peter the Apostle in the early
13th century (fn. 383) and in 1543, (fn. 384) and it is not known
when the double dedication was adopted. The building comprises chancel, nave, south transeptal chapel,
south porch, and west tower. It dates from the 13th,
14th, and 15th centuries. The east window in the
chancel has Perpendicular panel tracery, two low
lancet 13th-century windows in the north wall, and
a 15th-century window in the south wall, possibly
in an earlier opening. There is a shallow piscina in a
niche in the south wall of the sanctuary. The chancel
arch is 14th century, as are the nave and south door.
The nave has Perpendicular windows, original roof
corbels, and against the north wall a rood loft stair
turret. There are reset 14th century niches in the
east-wall of the porch and over the south door, the
latter containing a grotesque figure. The plain west
tower is of three stages with diagonal buttresses,
a pyramidal roof behind embattled parapets, and
a prominent north-east stair turret. There are early
Perpendicular windows to the belfry and a large
renewed Perpendicular window in the west wall.
The south chapel, known as the Strangways aisle,
was added in the 16th century. It is separated from
the nave by a three-centred arch and has mullioned windows of four segmental-headed lights.
An oblique passage with a smaller window and an
external door communicates with the chancel.
The chapel contains a wall monument to Thomas
Baskett (d. 1592) and one across the north-east
angle to Giles Strangways (d. 1638). Other inscribed slate tablets commemorate members of the
Bonham and Strangways families. Francis Henry
Dickinson, as owner of the Manor Farm estate,
renounced his right to the chapel in 1889. (fn. 385) The
font, with round bowl and shaft, is c. 1200, and the
pulpit Jacobean. The chancel was restored c. 1860
and the remainder of the church in 1892. (fn. 386) The
barrel roof of the nave probably dates from this
time, and the restoration included the removal of a
gallery which had accommodated the choir. (fn. 387) In the
churchyard to the west of the south porch is the
base of a cross, formerly consisting of two octagonal
steps with a shallow socket, possibly late 13th
century in date. (fn. 388) The third step and shaft are
modern.
The plate includes an Elizabethan cup of c. 1573
and a small paten of 1718. (fn. 389) There are five bells:
(i) 1714, Edward Bilbie; (ii) 1738, Bilbie; (iii)
c. 1480–1500, Bristol foundry; (iv) 1714, Edward
Bilbie; (v) 1832, T. Mears of London. (fn. 390) The fourth
bell bears the inscription:
'I am not now as wonce I was,
Sq: Straingwing was the caus'. (fn. 391)
This presumably refers to Giles Strangways (d.
1744).
The registers are complete from 1704. (fn. 392)
Nonconformity.
John Cappes and eight
other members of his family were presented as
recusants in 1612, (fn. 393) followed by Jane, widow of
John Fitzjames, and her son George at intervals
between 1620 and 1626. (fn. 394) Joan wife of Thomas
Hodges was cited in 1626, (fn. 395) and William Fawkner
and his wife in 1629, (fn. 396) both families being prominent
landowners in the Charltons.
The houses of John Lewis and Samuel Cossens
were licensed in 1690 for Dissenting meetings, as
were those of Elizabeth Strode in 1698, and Richard
Kellaway in 1700 and 1709. (fn. 397) John Walter's house was
licensed for Independent worship in 1789 on petition from eight inhabitants of the Charltons and a
minister of Martock. (fn. 398) It was licensed again in 1809
and John Reynold's house, possibly as a temporary
replacement for the former, in 1796. (fn. 399) Licences were
also granted for Protestant meetings in the houses of
Samuel Grinham in 1815 and of Charles Seymour
in 1843, (fn. 400) but their denominations are unknown.
A Bible Christian chapel, erected 'since 1820',
with 200 free sittings, had two services each Sunday
in 1851. On Census Sunday the congregations numbered 50 in the morning and 45 in the evening. (fn. 401)
No subsequent reference to this chapel has been
found, and its site has not been traced.
A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was founded in
1841, the license being granted for services to be
held in a schoolroom owned by Robert Barrett. (fn. 402)
In 1851 the building was still being used as a day
school, there were 150 free sittings, two services each
Sunday, and a Sunday school with 30 pupils. On
Census Sunday there were 15 worshippers in the
afternoon and 50 in the evening. (fn. 403) The small stone
chapel stands on the west side of Broad Street near
its junction with Station Road, and was closed in
1970. (fn. 404)
In 1897 the vicar was concerned lest the management of the school should be taken out of the hands
of the Church and 'thrown open to the Dissenters,
who in this parish are very numerous'. (fn. 405)
Education.
In 1818 there was a school for small
children, and a Sunday school for 30 to 40 pupils; (fn. 406)
the latter was attended by 27 boys and 38 girls in
1825. (fn. 407) In 1830 a day-school was begun for about
30 children, supported by subscription and parental
payments of 1d. a week. (fn. 408) By 1833 there was another
day-school attended by 10 boys and 7 girls, and an
evening school for 5 boys and 3 girls, supported
wholly by school pence. (fn. 409) There were also two
Sunday schools, one run by the Church of England
for 19 boys and 17 girls and supported by voluntary
contributions, and the other founded in that year
and attended by 24 boys and 15 girls, taught
gratuitously by dissenters, probably Wesleyans. (fn. 410)
In 1841 a schoolroom was licensed for dissenting
meetings, (fn. 411) and this was still being used as a day
school in 1851. (fn. 412) By 1846–7 there was only a dame
school for 10 boys and 12 girls who paid for instruction, taught by one mistress, having one room
and a teacher's house. (fn. 413)
In 1864 a parochial schoolroom building fund
was started to replace the school 'lost to the parish
some years previously', and this led to the foundation of the Charlton Adam Infants School, probably
in 1865. (fn. 414) The declared object of the school was to
provide education for children of the parish who,
at the age of 7 or 8, would be transferred to the
Charlton Mackrell school. (fn. 415) A cottage and garden
were purchased by public subscription and a small
'gothic' schoolroom erected on the south side of
Station Road near its junction with Broad Street.
The school was subject to governmental and
diocesan inspection. (fn. 416) There was one mistress,
generally certificated, assisted by a stipendiary
monitress. (fn. 417) In 1903 the school was stated to be
'unusually well taught' and there were 38 children
on the books with an average attendance of 25. (fn. 418)
It was closed in 1917 and the 15 remaining pupils
were transferred to Charlton Mackrell school. (fn. 419)
The building is now (1970) used as a storeroom.
Charities for the Poor.
None known.