DOCSLIB.ORG

The Disposal of the Property of Monastic Houses, with a Special Study of Holy Trinity Aldgate

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Disposal of the Property of Monastic Houses, with a Special Study of Holy Trinity Aldgate The disposal of the property of monastic houses, with a special study of Holy Trinity Aldgate. Rosenfield, Manuel Charles The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author For additional information about this publication click this link. http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/jspui/handle/123456789/1543 Information about this research object was correct at the time of download; we occasionally make corrections to records, please therefore check the published record when citing. For more information contact [email protected] THE DISPOSAL OF THE PROPERTY OF LONDON MONASTIC HOUSES, WITH A SPECIAL STUDY OF HOLY TRINITY, ALDGATE MANUEL CHARLES ROSENPIELD Thesis sibmitted in the Faculty of Arts of the University of London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1961 1. ABSTRACT OF THESIS This thesis is a study of the disposal by the Crown of the monastic property in the city of London and its suburbs which came into royal possession at the dissolution of the houses concerned. The period covered extends from 1532, the year in which the first London house was dissolved, to the death of Henry VIII in 1547, by which date the bulk of the property had been alienated; but occasional reference is made to subsequent transactions. The property studied comprises that of both monasteries situated in London and. those elsewhere in England, and while attention is focussed upon land and buildings used for secular purposes the disposal of monastic sites and. of spiritual income receives some notice. The results of the investigation are presented in two parts, one particular and the other general. Part I, a detailed study of the first house to be dissolved, the priory of Holy Trinity, Aldgate, includes, besides four chapters dealing with the Crown's management and disposal of its property, three others furnishing a background to its surrender and examining the surrender itself. In these some light is thrown upon the circumstances and motives of the episode, including the roles of Cromwell and Audley. Part II begins with a survey of all monastic property in the area and an estimate of its annual value. Succeeding chapters examine three aspects of the processes of disposals the purchase of large quantities of the property by operators on a large scale, and, where known, its subsequent handling by them; the transfer, by gift or lease, of many smaller parcels to servants and. officers of the Crown; and the impact of such transactions upon a single London parish, that of St. Mary le Bow. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTTS Introduction Page PART I: Holy Trinity, Aidgate Chapter I: Holy Trinity, Aidgate, on the Eve of the Dissolution 9 II: Holy Trinity, Aldgate, in the Context of the Suppressions of Wolsey 37 III: The Surrender of Holy Trinity, Aldgate ....... 53 IVs Sir Thomas Audley and. Holy Trinity, Aidgate •. 71 V: Governmental Administration of the London Lands of Holy Trinity, Aidgate, 1532 - 1547 •................................. 106 VI: The London Tenants of Holy Trinity at the Time of the Surrender .................... 154 VII: Lessees, Recipients and Purchasers of the London Lands of Holy Trinity, 1532 - 1547 •..s 183 Holy Trinity: A Review and Conclusion ....... 204 PAI?1 II: Aspects of the Monastic Lands in London Chapter VIII: The London Property of Monastic Houses ....... 206 IX: The Largest Purchasers of London Monastic Property •............................•......• 280 X: The Court and London Monastic Land ........... 307 XI: The Dissolution and the Parish of St. Mary le Bow .......................................... 327 The Monastic Lands in London: Conclusion..... 348 Appendix: A View of the Account of the Priory of Holy Trinity, Aldgate, 1532 - 1536. Transcribed fromP.R.0.E315/279/1-14.................... 351 Bibliography: 3. ABBREVIATIONS B. M. British Museum Bul. Inst. of Hist. Res. Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research Papal Regs. Calendar of Papal Registers C. P. R. Calendar of Patent Rolls .. ., London Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem for London C. L. R. 0. Corporation of London Record Office D. K. R. Deputy Keeper's Report D. N. B. Dictionary of National Biography Davis E. Jeffries Davis, "The Beginning of the Dissolution: Christchurch, Aidgate, 1532" Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Fourth Series, viii, 127-50 E. H. R. English Historical Review Ec. Hist. Rev. Economic History Review G.E. C. The Complete Peerage G.E.C., edited by the Hon. Vicary Gibbs ____ Henry VIII Edward Hall, edited by Charles Whibley . 22. Historical Manuscript Commission Jour. of Ecc. Hist. Journal of Ecclesiastical History Knowl e D. Knowles, The Religious Orders in England Rev. Law Quarterly Review 4. L & P Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, edited by Brewer, Gairdner and Brodie Parish Records The Registers of St. Mary le Bowe, Jhe.psid.., edited by W. B. Bannerman Privy Purse The Privy Purse Expenses of King Henry the Eight, edited by N. H. Nicolas P. C. C. Prorogative Court of Canterbury P. R. 0. Public Record Office Rep ert. Repertory Iymer Foedera, Conventiones, Litterae ...by Thomas Rymer, edited by George Holmes State Papers State Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII S. R. Statutes of the Realm Stow A Survey of London John Stow, edited by C. L. Kingsford. T. Essex Arc. Soc. Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society T. R. H. S. Transactions of t,he Royal Historical Society V. E. Valor Ecciesiasticus V. C. H. Victoria County History 5. Introduction. This thesis, dealing with the disposal of monastic land in the city of London, is a counterpart of similar studies already made by Dr. Joyce Youings for the Sounty of Devon, Mr. G.A. J. Hodgett for Lincoinshire, Mr. 3. Kennedy for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and Miss Sybil Thorpe for Leicestershire. Other theses on the subject now in progress deal with Lancashire and Yorkshire, but why the dissolution in London, the chief city of the realm, should have been left largely unstudied until now is not to be easily explained. Perhaps the lack of visible remains of its monastic houses, arid of the contribution of their property to the foundation of local dynasties, may be part of the answer. There are, of course, the pioneer studies made by the late Miss Jeffries Davis and her pupil Miss Marjorie Honeybourne. Miss Davis's paper on Holy Trinity, Aidgate, was the starting-point for nr own more detailed examination of thiscase history', and I have come to a different conclusion from hers as to the significance of the dissolution of that house only with due respect for and consideration of her views. Miss Honeybourne's unpublished thesis, completed in 1929, has similarly provided a starting-point for my study of monastic property in general: her locating and valuing of the monastic sites provid.e an indispensable basis for my own work of listing and studying the properties scattered throughout the city and suburbs which yielded the houses concerned •' the bulk of their income. 6. The sources for this subject are both voluminous and. of diverse character. Three principal categories may be mentioned. The archives of the central government take pride of place as the chief source of our knowledge of the agencies whereby the monastic property was acquired, managed and disposed of: among them the records of the Court of Aumentations are of outstanding importance, but other classes of Exchequer records supplement them at many points. What the Public Record Office is to the national history, the City Record. Office is to that of the capital. Of the corporation's records chiefly used for this study those of the Court of Aldermen, Court of Common Council and the Hustings are of prime importance. The third major source consists of the records made for and originally kept by the monastic houses. These were in part taken over by the Crown at the time of the dissolution, to find their way into the public records, and. in part passed through different ownership, many eventually to reach the British Museum. It is to be regretted that so few family papers and private documents which would have illuminated this subject have survived. This thesis is divided into two parts. The first presents a detailed study of the dissolution, and the disposal of the propertyoQ. a single house, Holy Trinity, Aidgate. The second, more general in nature, surveys some aspects of the dissolution and the resulting property changes in the city. Here, after calculating the value of the secular property in the city held. by religious houses, I deal with 7. three main topics: the largest purchasers, the court and. its significance in the distribution of the property, and finally the effect of the change of ownership on one of the city parishes, St. Mary is Bow. 8. PART I. HOLY TRINITY ALDGATE. 9. CHAPTER I HOLY TRINITY, ALDGATE,ON THE EVE OF THE DISSOLUTION. In order to understand the effects of the dissolution of Holy Trinity, kldgate) and the dispersal of its property, it is necessary to review the condition of the house on the eve of its fall and to sketch its earlier history. The priory of Holy Trinity was located within the city walls, just to the west of Aidgate, with which it had a historic connexion. The site consisted of a large triangular plot of land bounded on the north by the wall, on the south by the curving Leaderthall Street and on the west by what is now Creechurch Lane and Heneage Lane; the three sides had a frontage of 600 feet apiece. The priory must have been an impressive edifice, and its lofty spire, the first of many city spires which he would see, a welcome sight to the traveller aDproaching London from the east.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Late Anglo-Saxon Finds from the Site of St Edmund's Abbey R. Gem, L. Keen
    LATE ANGLO-SAXON FINDS FROM THE SITE OF ST EDMUND'S ABBEY by RICHARD GEM, M.A., PH.D., F.S.A. AND LAURENCE KEEN, M.PHIL., F.S.A., F.R.HIST.S. DURING SITE CLEARANCE of the eastern parts of the church of St Edmund's Abbey by the then Ministry of Works, followingtheir acceptance of the site into guardianship in 1955, two groups of important Anglo-Saxon material were found, but have remained unpublished until now. These comprise a series of fragments of moulded stone baluster shafts and a number of polychrome relief tiles. These are illustrated' and discussed here; it is concluded that the baluster shafts belong to around the second quarter of the 11th century or shortly thereafter; and that the tiles belong to the same period or, possibly, to the 10th century. HISTORY OF THE BUILDINGS OF ME LATE ANGLO-SAXON ABBEY The Tenth-Centwy Minster Whatever weight may be attached to the tradition that a minster was found at Boedericeswirdein the 7th century by King Sigberct, there can be little doubt that the ecclesiastical establishment there only rose to importance in the 10th century as a direct result of the translation to the royal vill of the relics of King Edmund (ob. 870);2this translation is recorded as having taken place in the reign of King Aethelstan (924 —39).3 Abbo of Fleury, writing in the late 10th century, saysthat the people of the place constructed a 'very large church of wonderful wooden plankwork' (permaxima miro ligneo tabulatu ecclesia) in which the relics were enshrined.' Nothing further is known about this building apart from this one tantalising reference.
    [Show full text]
  • The Original Lists of Persons of Quality, Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political
    Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924096785278 In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 2003 H^^r-h- CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE : ; rigmal ^ist0 OF PERSONS OF QUALITY; EMIGRANTS ; RELIGIOUS EXILES ; POLITICAL REBELS SERVING MEN SOLD FOR A TERM OF YEARS ; APPRENTICES CHILDREN STOLEN; MAIDENS PRESSED; AND OTHERS WHO WENT FROM GREAT BRITAIN TO THE AMERICAN PLANTATIONS 1600- I 700. WITH THEIR AGES, THE LOCALITIES WHERE THEY FORMERLY LIVED IN THE MOTHER COUNTRY, THE NAMES OF THE SHIPS IN WHICH THEY EMBARKED, AND OTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS. FROM MSS. PRESERVED IN THE STATE PAPER DEPARTMENT OF HER MAJESTY'S PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, ENGLAND. EDITED BY JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN. L n D n CHATTO AND WINDUS, PUBLISHERS. 1874, THE ORIGINAL LISTS. 1o ihi ^zmhcxs of the GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THIS COLLECTION OF THE NAMES OF THE EMIGRANT ANCESTORS OF MANY THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED PY THE EDITOR, JOHN CAMDEN HOTTEN. CONTENTS. Register of the Names of all the Passengers from London during One Whole Year, ending Christmas, 1635 33, HS 1 the Ship Bonavatture via CONTENTS. In the Ship Defence.. E. Bostocke, Master 89, 91, 98, 99, 100, loi, 105, lo6 Blessing .
    [Show full text]
  • Chronicles of the Family Baker"
    Chronicles of the Family by Lee C.Baker i ii Table of Contents 1 THE MEDIEVAL BAKERS........................................................................................1 2 THE BAKERS OF SISSINGHURST.........................................................................20 3 THE BAKERS OF LONDON AND OXFORD ............................................................49 4 THE BAKERS AT HOTHFIELD ..............................................................................58 5 COMING OUT OF ENGLAND.................................................................................70 6 THE DAYS AT MILFORD .......................................................................................85 7 EAST HAMPTON, L. I. ...........................................................................................96 8 AMAGANSETT BY THE SEA ................................................................................114 9 STATEN ISLAND AND NEW AMSTERDAM ..........................................................127 10 THE ELIZABETH TOWN PIONEERS ....................................................................138 11 THE BAKERS OF ELIZABETH TOWN AND WESTFIELD ......................................171 12 THE NEIGHBORS AT NEWARK...........................................................................198 13 THE NEIGHBORS AT RAHWAY ...........................................................................208 14 WHO IS JONATHAN BAKER?..............................................................................219 15 THE JONATHAN I. BAKER CONFUSION
    [Show full text]
  • Chertsey Abbey
    Chertsey Abbey Additional Resources This resource pack has been created for and by Chertsey Museum in partnership with Royal Holloway, University of London and The National Archives, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Key to Slides Key Information and Terminology Resources and Activities Primary Sources Key Words • Monastery - An enclosed community of monks who lived and worked together. • Monk - A man who has given up all worldly possessions and devoted his life to serving God. • Abbey – the building/s occupied by a community of monks (or nuns). • Abbot – The man in charge of a community of monks. • Benedictine – A particular group of monks who followed the rule of St Benedict which was established in the 6th century. They wore black robes. Key Words • Dissolution – The act of formally ending or closing something. • Relic – The physical remains or personal belongings of a saint. Relics are believed to have mystical powers which allow for miracles. • Rule – The rules that govern the way of life for monks. • Commissioner – A senior official who is responsible for a certain task/investigation. • Hide – a unit of land measurement. • Villain – a person who is completely reliant on their lord. They have to seek permission to do anything and are required to give up part of their labour to their lord. Important Figures • St Erkenwold – Founder of Chertsey Abbey in 666. • John de Usk – abbot in the late 14th century. • John Cowdry – abbot in the 1530s. • Thomas Cromwell – Henry VIII’s key advisor in the lead up to the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
    [Show full text]
  • R;;·=;;··'I Assisted by Mrs
    Yk CHESTERVILLE.;,, m [TI]''DU_NDAS COUNTY THE LAND Of MILK AND HONEY''· COVERS EASTERN ONTARIO'S GREATEST DAIRYING SECTION 1ID ixty-first Year; No. 14 Chesterville, Ontario, Thursday, January 6th, 1955 Single Copies, 5c Surviving are 10 children: four sons, Ferrier, Edmonton; Edgar, Winchester Council Holds First Meeting Berwick; John, Crysler; Le'Onard, Sudbury. Six daughters: Mrs. Ray­ Council Holds Inaugural Meeting Tuesday Township Officers Appointed for New Year mond Beehler (Rita), Crysler; Mrs: John Marko (Simmone), Montreal; The inaugural meeting of Win­ son John McLaughlin, Leo Ocyne, Margaret, EdmontQn; Mrs. Douglas Suffers Cuts, Bruises Council Makes Appointments for 1955 chester Township council for 1955 H. R. Johnston, Wm. Irven, J. W. Grant (Edna), Montreal; Jacquel­ was held in the Presbyterian Hall, Docksteader, Bernice Wood, Lau­ ine, Montreal; Lucie, Ottawa. Four In Car Crash Morewood, on Monday, January, rence Annable, Ken Durant, Sam brothers and one sister also sur­ Some Salaries Boosted to New Highs 3rd, 1955, at 11.00 a.m., with the Hummel. vive. Mrs. Pat Kelly, of Chester­ Lee Barkley, 21, RR 2, Chester­ following members present and Fence·viewers: Jas. C. McGregor, ville, is the sister; the b11others ville, escaped serious injury early Commissions Balanced Evenly in Sex This Year subscribing to the necessary oath Jake McLaughlin, Earl Munro, are: Ambrose, Felix, Edward and Saturday evening when his car was '.Ladies Run Halls, Fire Dept.; Men to Run Streets of office: Basil Dawley, reeve; A. Donald Rae, E. B. McMillan, W. Joseph. in eollision with another driven by E. Smith, deputy-reeve; council­ S. Gunn, Russe~ Froats, Walter The Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • Inscribed 6 (2).Pdf
    Inscribed6 CONTENTS 1 1. AVIATION 33 2. MILITARY 59 3. NAVAL 67 4. ROYALTY, POLITICIANS, AND OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES 180 5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 195 6. HIGH LATITUDES, INCLUDING THE POLES 206 7. MOUNTAINEERING 211 8. SPACE EXPLORATION 214 9. GENERAL TRAVEL SECTION 1. AVIATION including books from the libraries of Douglas Bader and “Laddie” Lucas. 1. [AITKEN (Group Captain Sir Max)]. LARIOS (Captain José, Duke of Lerma). Combat over Spain. Memoirs of a Nationalist Fighter Pilot 1936–1939. Portrait frontispiece, illustrations. First edition. 8vo., cloth, pictorial dust jacket. London, Neville Spearman. nd (1966). £80 A presentation copy, inscribed on the half title page ‘To Group Captain Sir Max AitkenDFC. DSO. Let us pray that the high ideals we fought for, with such fervent enthusiasm and sacrifice, may never be allowed to perish or be forgotten. With my warmest regards. Pepito Lerma. May 1968’. From the dust jacket: ‘“Combat over Spain” is one of the few first-hand accounts of the Spanish Civil War, and is the only one published in England to be written from the Nationalist point of view’. Lerma was a bomber and fighter pilot for the duration of the war, flying 278 missions. Aitken, the son of Lord Beaverbrook, joined the RAFVR in 1935, and flew Blenheims and Hurricanes, shooting down 14 enemy aircraft. Dust jacket just creased at the head and tail of the spine. A formidable Vic formation – Bader, Deere, Malan. 2. [BADER (Group Captain Douglas)]. DEERE (Group Captain Alan C.) DOWDING Air Chief Marshal, Lord), foreword. Nine Lives. Portrait frontispiece, illustrations. First edition.
    [Show full text]
  • Speakers of the House of Commons
    Parliamentary Information List BRIEFING PAPER 04637a 21 August 2015 Speakers of the House of Commons Speaker Date Constituency Notes Peter de Montfort 1258 − William Trussell 1327 − Appeared as joint spokesman of Lords and Commons. Styled 'Procurator' Henry Beaumont 1332 (Mar) − Appeared as joint spokesman of Lords and Commons. Sir Geoffrey Le Scrope 1332 (Sep) − Appeared as joint spokesman of Lords and Commons. Probably Chief Justice. William Trussell 1340 − William Trussell 1343 − Appeared for the Commons alone. William de Thorpe 1347-1348 − Probably Chief Justice. Baron of the Exchequer, 1352. William de Shareshull 1351-1352 − Probably Chief Justice. Sir Henry Green 1361-1363¹ − Doubtful if he acted as Speaker. All of the above were Presiding Officers rather than Speakers Sir Peter de la Mare 1376 − Sir Thomas Hungerford 1377 (Jan-Mar) Wiltshire The first to be designated Speaker. Sir Peter de la Mare 1377 (Oct-Nov) Herefordshire Sir James Pickering 1378 (Oct-Nov) Westmorland Sir John Guildesborough 1380 Essex Sir Richard Waldegrave 1381-1382 Suffolk Sir James Pickering 1383-1390 Yorkshire During these years the records are defective and this Speaker's service might not have been unbroken. Sir John Bussy 1394-1398 Lincolnshire Beheaded 1399 Sir John Cheyne 1399 (Oct) Gloucestershire Resigned after only two days in office. John Dorewood 1399 (Oct-Nov) Essex Possibly the first lawyer to become Speaker. Sir Arnold Savage 1401(Jan-Mar) Kent Sir Henry Redford 1402 (Oct-Nov) Lincolnshire Sir Arnold Savage 1404 (Jan-Apr) Kent Sir William Sturmy 1404 (Oct-Nov) Devonshire Or Esturmy Sir John Tiptoft 1406 Huntingdonshire Created Baron Tiptoft, 1426.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lives of the Saints of His Family
    'ii| Ijinllii i i li^«^^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Libraru BR 1710.B25 1898 V.16 Lives of the saints. 3 1924 026 082 689 The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026082689 *- ->^ THE 3Ltt3e0 of ti)e faints REV. S. BARING-GOULD SIXTEEN VOLUMES VOLUME THE SIXTEENTH ^ ^ «- -lj« This Volume contains Two INDICES to the Sixteen Volumes of the work, one an INDEX of the SAINTS whose Lives are given, and the other u. Subject Index. B- -»J( »&- -1^ THE ilttieg of tt)e ^amtsi BY THE REV. S. BARING-GOULD, M.A. New Edition in i6 Volumes Revised with Introduction and Additional Lives of English Martyrs, Cornish and Welsh Saints, and a full Index to the Entire Work ILLUSTRATED BY OVER 400 ENGRAVINGS VOLUME THE SIXTEENTH LONDON JOHN C. NIMMO &- I NEW YORK : LONGMANS, GREEN, CO. MDCCCXCVIII I *- J-i-^*^ ^S^d /I? Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson &' Co. At the Ballantyne Press >i<- -^ CONTENTS The Celtic Church and its Saints . 1-86 Brittany : its Princes and Saints . 87-120 Pedigrees of Saintly Families . 121-158 A Celtic and English Kalendar of Saints Proper to the Welsh, Cornish, Scottish, Irish, Breton, and English People 159-326 Catalogue of the Materials Available for THE Pedigrees of the British Saints 327 Errata 329 Index to Saints whose Lives are Given . 333 Index to Subjects . ... 364 *- -»J< ^- -^ VI Contents LIST OF ADDITIONAL LIVES GIVEN IN THE CELTIC AND ENGLISH KALENDAR S.
    [Show full text]
  • Walk 6 - Ostler's Plantation & Walk 7 - Woods & Water
    Woodhall Spa Walks No 6 & 7 Walk 6 - Ostler's Plantation & Walk 7 - Woods & Water Start from Royal Square - Grid Reference: TF 193631 (or park in Ostlers Plantation - Grid Reference: TF 216629) Walk 6 goes to, and around, the Forestry Commissions Ostler's Plantation, now a fast growing pine forest with walks marked out through it. It also encompasses the remains of Woodhall Spa's wartime airfield. If preferred, there is a car park at the entrance to the forest, which cuts over two miles off the total walk and makes instant access to the woods possible for anyone who doesn't have the time or inclination for a long walk. Walk 7 follows 6 initially then follows a right of way that connects Horncastle road to Kirkby Lane. It crosses pine forest and deciduous woodland, and some small watercourses From Royal Square, walk along Station Road and the Broadway. The point where the two meet was, until recent years, the site of the railway crossing and until the late 50's a station was situated in the centre of the Spa, behind the Broadway shops. This was one of two rail links serving the village, the second was at Kirkstead Bridge, over a mile out of the Spa in the opposite direction. No rail links remain. Note the refurbished canopies above the six shops that once fronted the railway station. Walk on past the shops, the church, the chapel, the Golf Hotel and the entrance to the golf course. Eventually, almost a mile from where you began, a road to the right, Kirkby Lane, is signposted Kirky on Bain.
    [Show full text]
  • River Witham the Source of the 8Th Longest River Wholly in England Is
    River Witham The source of the 8th longest river wholly in England is just outside the county, Lincolnshire, through which it follows almost all of a 132km course to the sea, which is shown on the map which accompanies Table Wi1 at the end of the document. Three kilometres west of the village of South Witham, on a minor road called Fosse Lane, a sign points west over a stile to a nature reserve. There, the borders of 3 counties, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Leicestershire meet. The reserve is called Cribb’s Meadow, named for a famous prize fighter of the early 19th century; at first sight a bizarre choice at such a location, though there is a rational explanation. It was known as Thistleton Gap when Tom Cribb had a victory here in a world championship boxing match against an American, Tom Molineaux, on 28th September 1811; presumably it was the only time he was near the place, as he was a Bristolian who lived much of his life in London. The organisers of bare-knuckle fights favoured venues at such meeting points of counties, which were distant from centres of population; they aimed to confuse Justices of the Peace who had a duty to interrupt the illegal contests. Even if the responsible Justices managed to attend and intervene, a contest might be restarted nearby, by slipping over the border into a different jurisdiction. In this fight, which bore little resemblance to the largely sanitised boxing matches of today, it is certain that heavy blows were landed, blood was drawn, and money changed hands, before Cribb won in 11 rounds; a relatively short fight, as it had taken him over 30 rounds to beat the same opponent at the end of the previous year to win his title.
    [Show full text]
  • Neighbourhood Plan (PDF)
    Great Dunmow Neighbourhood Plan 2015-2032 1 | GDNP Great Dunmow Neighbourhood Plan 2015-2032 © Great Dunmow Town Council (GDTC) 2016 This Plan was produced by Great Dunmow Town Council through the office of the Town Clerk, Mrs. Caroline Fuller. It was overseen by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, chaired by Cllr. John Davey. Written and produced by Daniel Bacon. This document is also available on our website, www.greatdunmow-tc.gov.uk. Hard copies can be viewed by contacting GDTC or Uttlesford District Council. With thanks to the community of Great Dunmow, Planning Aid England, the Rural Community Council of Essex, Easton Planning, and Uttlesford District Council. The Steering Group consisted of: Cllr. John Davey (Chair) (GDTC & UDC), Cllr. Philip Milne (Mayor) (GDTC), Cllr. David Beedle (GDTC), Mr. William Chastell (Flitch Way Action Group), Mr. Tony Clarke, Cllr. Ron Clover (GDTC), Mr. Darren Dack (Atlantis Swimming Club), Mr. Norman Grieg (Parsonage Downs Conservation Society), Mr. Tony Harter, Cllr. Trudi Hughes (GDTC), Mr. Mike Perry (Chamber of Trade), Dr Tony Runacres, Mr. Christopher Turton (Town Team), Mr. Gary Warren (Dunmow Society). With thanks to: Rachel Hogger (Planning Aid), Benjamin Harvey (Planning Aid), Stella Scrivener (Planning Aid), Neil Blackshaw (Easton Planning), Andrew Taylor (UDC), Melanie Jones (UDC), Sarah Nicholas (UDC), Hannah Hayden (UDC), Jan Cole (RCCE), Michelle Gardner (RCCE). Maps (unless otherwise stated): Reproduced under licence from HM Stationary Office, Ordnance Survey Maps. Produced by Just Us Digital, Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate, Great Dunmow. 2 | GDNP Contents I. List of Figures 4 II. Foreword 5 III. Notes on Neighbourhood Planning 7 IV.
    [Show full text]
  • Ancestors of Phillip Pasfield of Wethersfield, Essex, England
    Ancestors of Phillip Pasfield of Wethersfield, Essex, England Phillip Pasfield was born in Wethersfield about 1615 and died in early 1685 in Wethersfield. He lived there his entire life, as did his ancestors going back at least 250 years. This paper will identify and document his known ancestors. Community of Wethersfield Wethersfield is now and always has been a very small community in northwest Essex County. Its history dates back to at least 1190.[1] The earliest known map dated in 1741 shows the roads that connect Wethersfield to other nearby towns and a number of small properties on either side of those roads.[2] Although there are very few Essex County records prior to 1600, Phillip’s ancestors can be traced through them back to the early 1400s in Wethersfield. The surviving parish records in Wethersfield begin about 1650. Fortunately there are wills from 1500 and some land and court records available from the 1300s in the Essex County archives. There are also lawsuits in London Chancery courts that help the genealogical researcher trace Phillip Pasfield and his ancestors. Wethersfield Land Records Land records in early Essex County typically assign names to the various properties rather than use metes and bounds or acres. The assigned property names come from various sources, including names of previous owners of the property. Land transactions typically list the sellers and the buyers, property name, and the neighboring land owners. Many of these properties are bought and sold by groups of individuals who may or may not all be relatives. Because of the lack of wills and available vital records, property ownership plays a critical role in tracing Phillip’s ancestors.
    [Show full text]