HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR TOWN? THE EARLY HISTORY ANSWERS.

Q1. Which is the earliest manor Henley or Beaudesert? and what are the ‘Origins’ of each of the Manor names?

The earliest Manor is BEAUDESERT established around 1086. HENLEY was not established as a Manor until the 13th Century. Beaudesert was derived from Anglo-French meaning, ‘A Beautiful Waste’ (area). Henley was derived from Anglo-Saxon meaning, ‘A High place or Clearing’ (in the forest).

Q2. Which two Norman families were given the Land/Manors following the Norman Conquest?

Thurstan -de- Montfort was given the Manor of Beaudesert , which included the Mount. However the western boundary of the Manor was the River Alne which today runs along the bottom of the Jubilee Garden. Robert-de-Stafford was given land which previously belonged to ‘Wagene’ a Saxon Lord, and this included the land of Wooton Wawen Priory, and the area we now know as Henley-in-Arden, although there were no buildings or settlements. Towards the end of the 12th Century the De-Montforts rented from De-Stafford this land on the Western side of the river Alne, and by The end of the 13th Century it became the Manor of Henley-in-Arden.

Q3. What was the first Settlement on the Mount?, and when was St. Nicholas Church built at the foot of the Mount?

The first Settlement on the Mount was a ‘RING MOTTE CASTLE’ built by the De-Montfort family between 1086 and 1100. Over the following centuries there were various modifications to what became known as ‘Beaudesert Castle’ and King Edward 2nd visited the Castle on January 5th 1324, staying for 5 days. The De-Montfort era died out towards the end of the 14th century, But our records show Castle repairs still being carried out in 1411. St. Nicholas Church was built between 1140-1170 again by the De-Montforts.

Q4. How many Royal Charters have Beaudesert and Henley had between them?, and who gave them?

Beaudesert and Henley-in-Arden have 4 Royal Charters, (2 each). Each Charter gave the ‘Lords of the Manor’ rights to hold Markets, monthly, weekly, or on certain ‘Feast Days’. 1). (daughter of Henry 1st) 0n 2nd March 1141. Given to Thurstan-de-Montfort at Beaudesert. 2). Henry 3rd on July 3rd 1221, to Henley. 3). Henry 3rd on February 10th 1224, to Beaudesert. 4). Henry 6th on May 5th 1449, to Henley.

Q5. How many ‘Lords of the Manor’ have Beaudesert and Henley had between them since 1086?. And how many Kings or Queens of England have also been ‘Lords of the Manor’ of Henley-in-Arden?

Records within the Guildhall show 61 ‘Lords of the Manor’(s). And 9 Kings or Queens were also Henley ‘Lords of the Manor’.

(The De-Montforts were ‘Lords of the Manor’ of Beaudesert Until 1369, when Beaudesert was integrated into the ‘Manor of Henley in Arden’).

Q6. Which ‘Lord of the Manor’ of Henley was killed in Battle?, Where was he killed? And when?.

Peter de Montfort the Lord of Henley Manor was killed during The Barons War at the on August 4th 1265. (He was killed along with his more famous namesake, But no relation …Simon de Montfort).

Q7. What did King Edward 3rd give to Henley in 1336?. And in which Battle in 1346 did 12 good men of Henley , ‘acquit themselves with honour’?.

King Edward 3rd in 1336 decreed that all ‘Tolls from Henley Market be given to the Town so they might Pave their Streets’. At the Battle of Cre’cy in 1346 Peter-de-Montfort assessed 160 Archers from Manors, including 12 from Henley-in-Arden.

Q9. Where In Henley was ‘FELDON STREET’?.

FELDON STREET is the original name of the section of our High St. That runs North to South between the Guildhall and the White Swan.

FELD is an old Saxon word describing an Open piece of Land such as that situated South of Stratford upon Avon, As opposed to the Forest of Arden and the location of Henley-in-Arden In the 13th century if you were traveling South towards Stratford and approached the Market Cross, the road split into two and you would continue South down what is now ‘Back Lane’ emerging near what was Barclays Bank. Travellers moving North followed Feldon Street past the Guild Hall.

This’ Island of Land’ between Feldon St. and Back Lane was the first Henley Market Site, before the Guildhall, shops, or St. Johns Church were built.

Q10. When and Where? was the ‘Guild of St. John’ Chapel of Ease built.

In 1367 the River Alne was significantly bigger than today and Parishioners of St. Nicholas Church living in Henley on the west bank could not cross the river to worship. A Chapel of Ease was therefore built on the Henley (west side ) of the river, and today this forms part of the East end of St. Johns Church.

Q11. Where was a ‘Campanile’ built around 1440—1443?.

Around 1440 a ‘Campanile Bell Tower’ was built on the South end of the Feldon St. Island of land. In 1443 this Bell Tower was joined to the Chapel of Ease to give what is today St. Johns Church.

Q12. When was the Guildhall built?, who built it?, and why?.

The Guildhall was also built on the South end of the Feldon St Island, by Sir Ralph Boteler (also known as Lord Sudeley}, in 1448. It was built as a Medival Hospital to care for the poor who were being looked after by the ‘Guild of St. John’. The Hall remained as a hospital for the poor until 1547 when Henry 8th Dissolved the Guild under the Reformation. Q13. When was the first High Bailiff of Henley-in-Arden appointed? And who is the current High Bailiff?

The first recorded High Bailiff of Henley-in-Arden was John Rufford, Appointed in 1477. Since then there have been 152 High Bailiffs all listed within the Guildhall records. The current High bailiff is local businessman Tom Mangan.

Q14. What is the Court Leet?,how is it different to the Court Baron?. And who is the current ‘Lord of the Manor’ of Henley?

The Henley Court Leet currently has 14 members, all have specific responsibilities, such as Affearors (rent collectors), Butter Weighers, Ale Tasters etc; The Court role in Tudor times was a mixture of Magistrates Court, Trading Standards, and a facility to hold legal documents and Land Titles under the Court Baron register. Today the Court is a ceremonial one, tasked with maintaining the Heritage and Traditions of our Town. The current ‘Lord of the Manor’ of Henley-in-Arden is local solicitor David Lodder.

IN THE NEXT EDITION OF HENLEY EXPRESS…….

ANOTHER SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN

COVERING EVENTS AND PEOPLE FROM THE 16th CENTURY UP TO

THE PRESENT DAY.

WE WILL ALSO LOOK AT HOW BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE GUILDHALL

WERE BUILT AND LIVED IN, GENERATING MANY ‘IDIOMS’ THAT WE

USE TODAY.