Parishes: Edwalton

Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire: Volume 1, Republished With Large Additions By John Throsby. Originally published by J Throsby, Nottingham, 1790.

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'Parishes: Edwalton', in Thoroton's History of Nottinghamshire: Volume 1, Republished With Large Additions By John Throsby, (Nottingham, 1790) pp. 121-123. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/thoroton-notts/vol1/pp121-123 [accessed 19 March 2024]

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EDWALTON. (Edwalds Town).

Of Rogerius Pictavensis Fee here was a Manor, which Stepi had, before he and the Normans came, and paid for it to the general Taxation as six Bovats. The Land was twelve Bovats. (fn. 1) There was in Demesne, when Doomsday Book was made one Car one Vill. sixteen Acres of Meadow. In the Confessor's Time it was 30s. Value, then 10s. In Edwolton in the Confessor's Time Gode had a Manor rated to the Geld for six Bov. the Land whereof was two Car. ½. There in the Conqueror's Time Hugo Gren- temaisnil had in Demesne two Car. six Sochm. eleven Vill. having one Car. ½. and twenty Acres of Meadow then valued at 20s. in the King Edward's Time, before but at 10s. It lay at Stoaun.

Robert (Son of, or) Fitz-Ranulph, who was High Sheriff of these Counties, 12. H. 2. (fn. 2) and so much a zealous Servant of the King, that he is reported (how truly I know not) to be one of those who committed the foul Murder on Thomas Beckett, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, for which (besides two other) he built the Abby of Beauch- ief in Darbyshire, to which he gave this Church, together with the Churches of Nor- ton, and Alfreton, and Wymundeswold; (fn. 3) those Lordships continued long with his Posterity, and this doth still.

Thomas de Chaworth, one of the Heirs of the Barony of Alserton, 41 H. 3. (fn. 4) had Free Warren granted in Barnham, Chaworth, Edwalton, and Osberton in this County, in Alferton, and Horton in Darbyshire, and the like in other Places of his Estate in Leicester and Yorkshires.

The Family of Latham of Lancashire was the other Heir, (fn. 5) of which Robert de Le- tham is said to hold half a Knights Fee here of the Earl of Leicester (who married Pa- tronilla, Heir of Grentemaisnil) of the old Feoffment, which I suppose was but in the Minority of Thomas Chaworth, whose Heir Male, Patricius Viscount Chaworth, of Armagh, in the Kingdom of Ireland, now enjoys it by Descent from Engelram, Father of Ranulph, Father of Robert, first mentioned, which Engelram was enfeoffed there- of by the said Hugo Grentemaisnil, as I guess, in the Time of H. 1. Thomas de Chaworth, 16 E. 1. was to pay 30s. per Annum to the Prior of Merton, according to a Fine levied, 53 H. 3. (fn. 6) by Robert de Auferton his Uncle, whose Heir he was for Tenements in Edwolton, which Robert, I think, should be Thomas (rot. pip. 26 H. 3.)

Ralph Basset of Drayton is found, 25 E. 1. f. to hold the third Part of a Knight's Fee here of the Honor of Leicester. But it seems that Thomas Chaworth, 17 E. 3. g. held it of the Lord Basset. The present Lord Chaworth is also an Heir of the Lord Basset, as Wiverton or Marneham, is more particularly shown, where the Descent of that Noble Family is inserted.

This is now thought to be in the Parish of Ruddington, and my Lord Chaworth bought some Lands here of the R. H. William Earl of Devonshire, Heir also of that Impropriation.

This small Lordship is all or most of it inclosed.

[Throsby] Edwalton

LORDSHIP contains 700 acres of old inclosure. The principal proprietor is George Chaworth, Esq. who is Lord of the Manor. A few years since the land was so boggy and indifferent, that it could scarcely be let at any price; but it is now much improved by the diligence of the present occupiers, who, it is to be hoped, are doing well.

Here are only about thirteen farms, and as many poor houses. The parsonage, which stands at the edge of the church-yard, is one of the most wretched habitations I ever beheld: the walls are of dirt, or of materials equally as graceful, formed nearly into a square of an inconsiderable size, which was once honored with a thatch covering, now partly removed by the wind. It is ornamented with a rich display of ivy, through which the sun beams enter to give light to its inhabitant, who rents it dearly at 10s. per annum; near it is a brick barn, which serves as an elegant contrast, or soil.

The chapel is dedicated to Holy Rood, has a brick clumsy tower with three bells, a nave and side aisle. Here is nothing worthy notice, excepting a strange line or two upon an old woman's grave stone, in the chapel yard, of the name of Freeland, once a land owner, who died in 1741. It says,
"She drank good ale, good punch and wine, And lived to the age, of ninety-nine."

I saw an old register beginning A. D. 1545, in which it appears, that in five years, the average of baptisms was 11, and burials 9. The latest I did not see.

Footnotes

  • 1. Lib. Dooms.
  • 2. Ex. Coll. J. B.
  • 3. Mon. Angl. vol. 2. p. 608.
  • 4. Ch. 41. H. 3. m. 3.
  • 5. Test. de Nev.
  • 6. Pl. de Banc Hill. 16 E, 1. ro. 34. Esc. 25 E. 1. n. 51. Esc. 17 E 3. n. 59.