Hagworthingham.
Hagworthingham is a considerable village, at a distance of 6 miles east of Horncastle, and 4½ north-west of Spilsby, on the road from Horncastle, via High Toynton and Greetham, to Partney. Letters via Spilsby, arrive about 9 a.m. It has its own Post Office, Money Order Office, and Savings Bank; the nearest telegraph office being at Spilsby. Of this parish there are several notices in Domesday Book. It is described as comprising six manors. These were owned, at the date of the Norman Conquest, by Thanes named Sivert, Elric, Swen, Swave, Holinchetel, and Adestan. The Conqueror apparently removed all these original proprietors, to provide for his own followers. Few places shew to a greater degree than this parish the insecurity of tenure which marked those times of trouble, transition, and lawlessness, when might was right. The survey of the country, made by order of the Conqueror, in Lincolnshire in 1085, was called by the Saxons “Domesday Book,” because it recorded their “doom,” or their almost universal expropriation from their rights, in favour of the Normans, who flocked into the country with William. But the “doom” was not confined to the Saxon. The Norman intruder, in many cases, found his possessions even less secure than had been that of those whom he superseded, and the Norman Lords of these demesnes succeeded each other with such rapidity, that, at this distance of time, it is beyond our power to trace their connection, in every case, with each other, or the causes of the changes. Doubtless, in many instances, having acquired possession through violence to others, violence again led to the confiscation of what they had acquired. The first-named of these is Alan, Earl of Britanny, on whom the Conqueror had conferred his daughter Constance in marriage. Famed for his valour and martial spirit, he had held an important command at the Battle of Hastings; and for his services the Conqueror conferred upon him, firstly, all the lands in the North Riding of Yorkshire, forming the district called Richmondshire, which had belonged to the powerful Saxon Earl Edwin, who was now dispossessed. From this gift he derived the title of Earl of Richmond, as well as of Britanny. Dugdale tells us that, altogether he held, by grant from the Conqueror, 450 Manors, 101 of these being in Lincolnshire. He seems however, in himself, to have been not unworthy of so great a position; since, though so great a warrior, the Chronicler, Ordericus Vitalis, states, that he was “ever studious for peace, a great lover of the poor, an especial honourer of the religious”; and that “his death, without issue created no little sorrow to all good people.” Such was one of the first Norman Lords of Hagworthingham. He was succeeded by his brother, also named Alan. His chief residence, probably, being in Yorkshire, when not in attendance on the King, he was represented at Hagworthingham, by his vassal, Eudo, who occupied his land here, to the extent of 3 carucates (or 360 acres), with dependents, in whose hands were 5 carucates (or 600 acres) more. Before proceeding to speak of other Norman Lords connected with this place, let us notice the name itself of the parish. It has 3 elements: “Haugh,” (says Streatfeild, “Lincolnshire and the Danes”), “is low, meadow land, bordering on a stream, and frequently overflowed”; a kindred form, “Hagi” he says also means a meadow. [73] Anyone standing in the churchyard at Hagworthingham will see below him westward, just such a low-lying meadow, traversed by a beck. The second element in the name is “Worthing.” Here we seem to have the Saxon “Weorthig,” which enters into many a place-name as “Worth”; (compare Waddingworth, and Benniworth in the neighbourhood); which is derived from the old Saxon “Warian,” to ward or protect. Hence these two elements mean the warded, or fenced, meadow, and “Ham,” the last element, also is Saxon, and means a place hemmed in; but especially the residence, the “home,” or the collection gathered round the one house, now forming the “hamlet.” What could give a more speaking description of the locality? It is the homestead, and afterwards the residences of the villagers gathered round it, whose position was on the higher ground, because they wished to be above the low-lying enclosed meadow, liable to be flooded by the brook, which runs through it, when swollen by the rain. Even in these days of drainage universal, the fox-hunter, in crossing that grassy valley, may still find his steed “boggled” in the slough of quagmire. In connection with this we may mention, that even in modern times, this dampness has not been forgotten.
In a note to Chap. ii. vol. i. of Smiles’ “Lives of Engineers,” it is stated that, when Dr. Whalley was appointed to the Rectory of this parish, it was with the singular proviso, that he should not reside in it, as the air was fatal to any but a native (Letters and Correspondence of T. S. Whalley, D.D.)
Another Norman soldier, named in Domesday as having a grant of land in Hagworthingham from the Conqueror was Drogo de Bevere. He was a Fleming by birth, and for his services in the cause of the King had many lordships given him in Lincolnshire and other counties. Among others, he had the lordship of all Holderness, in which was Beverley, whence he had the title of “Terrius de Bevere.” He was however of a very grasping and overbearing disposition. Not content with the lordship of Holderness, he wished further to seize lands given by the King to the Church of St. John at Beverley. Camden says that, as a mark of royal favour, he received in marriage the Conqueror’s niece; but that he got rid of her by poison; and then fled the country to escape the punishment he deserved. He was succeeded (his estates being probably confiscated) by Odo, Lord of Albemarle, in Normandy (Camden “Britannia” p. 742, Ed. 1695.)
To this Drogo was granted all the land in Hagworthingham, which at the conquest had belonged to the Saxon Thane, Adestan, including “a hall, with sac and soke” (or the right to hold a court of justice for the trial of misdemeanours), with 8 villeins occupying considerable lands under him, and a mill of the value of 18d. yearly. As his chief residence, when not in attendance on the King, would probably be in Holderness, he was here represented by one Robert, who was his vassal.
Another name mentioned as having property in this parish, is Gozlin, son of Lambert, of whom little is known. This was one of the 222 parishes in the county which had a church before the Conquest; and Domesday Book states that he had the church here, as well as a mill; but as it is added that “the soke” (or jurisdiction) belonged to Gilbert de Gaunt, the latter was evidently the superior lord. Gozlin had lands in 39 parishes in Lincolnshire, besides those in other counties; but Gilbert de Gaunt had 113 Manors in this county, besides 41 in other counties.
It has been mentioned that, on the flight of Drogo de Bevere, after poisoning the Conqueror’s niece, his estates were transferred to Odo, Earl of Albemarle. [75] Accordingly we find the old record, Testa de Nevill, p. 336. (Circa 1213), stating, “the Earl of Albemarle” holds of the King (land) in Hagworthingham, which Gilbert de Langton holds, as his vassal.
About the same time the same old record states that the Earl of Chester, besides other neighbouring possessions, held land of the King in Hagworthingham, which the same Gilbert de Langton held under him, as his vassal. This Earl was the only son of Hugh d’Abrincis (or Avranches), one of the most important among the followers of the Conqueror, who was his uncle. William gave to him numerous manors in this and other counties, and especially the earldom of Chester. He was surnamed Lupus, or the Wolf, for his daring deeds. It was supposed that he was granted the county of Chester, that he might restrain the incursions of the neighbouring Welsh people, the stubborn descendants of the old Britons; and this he did with a vengeance, for, in conjunction with Hugh Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, he took the Isle of Anglesey from the Welsh. Later in life, to make up for his tyrannous proceedings, he became a monk of the Abbey of St. Werberg, of his own establishment in Chester, and died there, in 1101. The Earl of Chester held in Lincolnshire about a score of manors, besides more than that number in Leicester, 32 in Suffolk, many in other counties, and the whole of Cheshire. At this stage the successive, or contemporary Lords of these manors become too complicated a tissue to unravel here. Some of the manors became merged in the superior manor of Richmond or Bolingbroke; some, in that of Greetham. The Earl of Chester enfeoffed before his death, William de Hardyshall, of certain land in Hagworthingham, where his descendant resided in the 14th century. A Gilbert de Langton held land here as a vassal of Alan de Mumby; his son John, held the same lands under a de Quincy. Hawise de Quincy, Countess of Lincoln in her own right, had a daughter Margaret, who married John de Lacy, and the de Lacies thus became Earls of Lincoln. At one period, members of two different families were at the same time Earls of Lincoln. After a succession of steps, John of Gaunt became Earl of Lincoln, and ultimately Duke of Lancaster, and held many of these manors.
Walter de Gant gave land in Hagworthingham to Bardney Abbey. The Abbot of Bardney (“Placito de Warranto,” p. 409), claimed the right to have a gallows in Hagworthingham, as well as in Edlington and other places. Other owners were Laurence de Dikeby, who died 1270, Robert de Altomonte, 1274, William de Saxill, in 1280. Gilbert de Hagworthingham is named in an Assize Roll (No. 478, John A.D. 1202), Walter de Hagworthingham and his son Philip, are named in an Assize Roll, 5 Ed. III. 1331. In the 14th century the Cupledyke family had land in Hagworthingham, viz., Roger de Cupledyke, who died 1324, and Alexander who died, 1335. In the 15 century, Thomas Blunt held a manor here, of the Duchy of Lancaster, dying in 1468. [76] The great family of Welles, also connected with the Dymokes, acquired lands here, which were forfeited after the battle of Loose-coat field, when Sir Robert Welles was attainted and executed at Doncaster, for espousing the Lancastrian cause, 1470. In the next century the old county family of the Hansards held a manor here, by Knight’s service, of the Honour of Bolingbroke. Sir William Hansard died 1520, leaving as his heir his granddaughter Elizabeth. Robert Marbury, in 1545 died, seized of a third part of a manor in this parish, which he left to his son William. Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, died Nov. 3rd, 1558, seized of a manor here, which was connected with the superior manor of Herby (probably Hareby, and equivalent to the Honour of Bolingbroke), which he held of the Queen (Elizabeth) by fealty. He also held another manor here, of the Queen’s manor of Greenwich, which had belonged to Bardney Abbey; the gift, as stated above, of Walter de Gaunt.
John Littlebury, of Hagworthingham, Esq., by will, dated 20 June, 1535, requests that he may be buried in the parish Church “before our Lady of the Rood.” He seems to have been a man of large property, for he bequeaths “to my wife £40, due to me from Mr. John Hercy; £4 of land in Somersby, Tetford, Skegness and Orby, to bring up my children in their nonage.” This she is to have for life; and then Somersby and Tetford are to go to his son George and his heirs male; Skegness and Orby to his son Peter and heirs male, and failing them, to his son Humphrey, and his heirs. “My sheep gate called Thorpe in the Mires (I leave) to my wife for her life, and then to my son Humphrey and Ursulay his wife, according to the indenture between me and Mr. Hercy. To my three daughters, my brother Humphrey Myssendyne 10s. a year for life, out of my copyhold held of Lord Willoughby.” His wife is to have the “putting in of the priests at Langton,” i.e., the presentation to the benefice for her life, and after her death, the “first avoidence of one priest” is to go to his son Humphrey, the other to his son Thomas. To his son Thomas his lands in Kealcotes. To his wife he leaves “my copyholds held of Lord Willoughby; and the farm of my son Langton, as long as the lease lasteth.” Also “if my wife be in decay in her widowhood, I will that she give no peny to her daughters, of the £40 that is appointed to every of them, and if they be not rewled by her in their marriage they are to have nothing. Item. I will all my children be contente with the lands which was assigned to me by my brother, and the feoffe of my father’s purchased lands; and if they, or any of them, be interrupted of the parts assygned to them by my neve Thomas, or his heires, I wyll they restate their tytyll of Richmonde fee, wych is the moyty of 360 akers, as it apperyth by a customar booke remaynyng with my wyfe, and a crosse set at the hede of it by Sir John Lyttlebury my grandfader’s fader. I appoint my brother John Eland supervisior, and my wyfe ex’x.” Witnesses, William Langton Gent, Sir Malmaduke Myssendyne and Sir Richard Cheles, of Ashby Puerorum. Various other wills show that Thomas Littlebury had lands at Hagworthingham in 1589, that Humphrey, of East Kirkby, held land in Hagg in 1568, and that Margaret Littlebury, of Stainsby, held land there in 1582.
The will of John Gedney, of Bag Enderby, mentions his lands in Hagg in 1535. The Gedneys were an old family in this neighbourhood. In the church at Bag Enderby, there is a stone mural monument, commemorating Andrew Gedney and Dorothy his wife, with their two sons and two daughters kneeling before prayer desks, date 1591. There is a slab of John Gedney in the floor, date 1535. [78] Andrew Gedney married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Skipwith, of South Ormsby, in 1536. Within recent years Arthur P. H. Gedney, a cousin of the writer, owned Candlesby Hall, near here.
The will of John Gannock, of Boston, shews that he also was a landowner here, in 1583.
In 1572, Francis Bountague, died seized of a manor in Hagworthingham, which he held of the King, as of the manor of Greetham, of the Duchy of Lancaster.
John Littlebury, gent., of Hagworthingham, by will dated 27th March, 1594, bequeaths to Mr. William Wray, “the ring that it pleased my lady, his mother, to give me.” The Lady Wray, would be the wife of Lord Chief Justice Wray (temp. Elizabeth), whose residence was at Glentworth—he died in 1592; they were an old Durham family. The fine house at Glentworth continued to be the family residence of the Wrays, until Sir Cecil Wray, Bart., erected “Summer Castle” at Fillingham, in 1760, so called from Esther Summers, Lady Wray. Mr. John Littlebury also leaves to Sir George St. Poll, “my half part of the hawks,” with bequests to other relatives. Sir G. St. Poll or St. Paul, or Simpole, was a member of a good Lincolnshire family, their chief residence being at Snarford. Mr. John Saintpole was compulsively mixed up with the Lincolnshire Rising in 1536. The grandson, George, was created a Baronet in 1611. They were connected with the Hansards, already mentioned as having land in Hagworthingham.
Yet one more will of a Littlebury concerns us. John Littleburye (28 Sep. 1611), requests to be buried in Hag church. He leaves to the poor 20s.; to his son John, his land in Raithbye, for his life, and for his “bringing up in learning.” £100 to his daughter Bridgett, “soe that shee be ruled by mye wief her mother in marriage,” with £200 to be paid her when married. “To my wief Anne the lease of Orbye from Mr Massingberd, alsoe my stocke and cattle, with all my plate and furniture.” As the children are young he confirms an indenture previously made with Richard Gedney, and others, to act as trustees.
Sir John Langton, of Langton, by will dated 25 Sep. 1616, also left to the poor of Hagworthingham 10s., and like bequests to other places.
(These particulars are taken from “Lincolnshire Wills,” by Canon Maddison).
Among “Final Concords,” there are agreements about lands in Hagworthingham, under date 26 Oct. 1208, between Thomas de Winceby and Gilbert and Osbert of Hag, under date 20 Jan. 1213–14, between Mary, the wife of Hugh, son of Robert, Ernald de Dunham acting for her and Hugh de Harrington, appertaining to her “reasonable dowery;” and under the same date between the same Mary, and John de Bardney, as to land called “Sigwardes Croft,” in “Hacworthingeham, which Mary surrenders to John de Bardney and his heirs,” he for this giving her 2 marks.
We have already mentioned that in the 14th century, Roger de Cupledyke who died 1324, and Alexander, who died in 1335 had land in Hagworthingham. We also find that John Copledyke of Harrington, by will dated Palm Sunday, 1408, left to his sons lands in Hagworthingham, and other places.
In the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. a certain John Parker of this place became somewhat notorious as a religious and political turncoat. He made a public declaration “of the manner in which he had been drawn from the service of God to become a Papist,” dated 12 December, 1580; but in 1605, evidence was taken against him at Enderby, as to his making certain seditious speeches, and he was pronounced to be a Recusant (“Domestic State Papers” James I. vol. xv. “Architect. S. Journal” 1865 p. 55).
At the present day the only one of the old families of proprietors in this parish is the Rev. Alan Cheales above named, descended from Sir Richard Cheales who lived as far back as 1535. At the present time Earl Manvers is Lord of the Manor; Sir Henry D. Ingelby, Bart., the trustees of the late Rev. W. A. Bathurst, and the Wingate family are the principal landowners, the larger portion belonging to Mr. Cheales. We now proceed to the Church. It is beautifully situated on the slope of a steep hill commanding a view along a deep valley to the west, of fertile soil varied by copse and whin; and it is surrounded by a beautifully kept God’s acre. The Church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, consists of tower, nave, south aisle and chancel. In the tower are 8 melodious bells. The Church was carefully restored and largely rebuilt in 1859; but still retains several of its original Early English features. The tower, of green sandstone, being much decayed, had new belfry windows inserted, but still retains its patched appearance by a mixture of brick: the green and red tints blending harmoniously. Towards the west end of the north wall is one of the old Early English pilaster buttresses; and at the east bay of the same wall is an original low-side window. Within, the aisle arcade of four bays is supported by circular-shafted pillars, having rudely-designed caps; the arches above being not sufficiently massive to correspond, and their junction clumsy. These low arches produce a sort of “dim religious light.” The aisle itself is entirely new; as are also the seats and fittings generally. The early English font has a plain octagonal bowl, supported upon a central shaft, and unengaged subsidiary shaftlets. The east windows are modern, but may be reproductions of the old. That in the east end (of three lights) is filled with coloured glass by Wailes, in memory of the Cheales family. There is a modern brass on the north side of the chancel, commemorating the Rev. Henry Cheales sometime Vicar of Burton Pedwardine, “and for sixty-six years a landowner of this parish,” 1870.
N.B.—The Parish Registers contain a large numbers of names of this family. The earliest mention of them is in the Church Book Topographical Collection of Sir Joseph Banks, 1786, where Hugh Cheales is given as one of the Churchwardens, 25 Henry VIII. (1534).
The window in the north wall is by Clayton and Bell, that in the south wall by Powell. They commemorate the families of the late Rector the Rev. F. Pickford, and his wife’s relatives, the Listers of Burwell Park; one also being in memory of the late Prince Consort. “The whole effect,” says the late Bishop Suffragan, Dr. E. Trollope, one of our greatest authorities, “is most pleasing and appropriate.” Gervase Holles the antiquarian says that, when he visited the Church (temp. Chas. I.) there was in the Chancel this fragmentary inscription, “Hic jacet . . . Redilston quondam Rector istius Ecclesiæ.” He says also, “on a gravestone of blue marble in ye body of ye Church is pourtrayed in brasse one in compleate armour, bearing upon ye manches of his coate of arms, on either side, 2 crescents. Between his feet a right hand couped. The rest is defaced.” (Harleian MSS., No. 6829.) The benefice was formerly in the gift of the Bishop of Ely (see Ecton’s “Thesaurus” p. 188); the patron is now the Bishop of Lincoln.
In the Registers were formerly some curious entries of “Briefs,” or Royal Letters, issued for various charitable objects, among 65 which were publicly read in Church in the 14 years from 1653 to 1667, 24 were for relief in cases of loss by fire; others were for various purposes; one being “For the Church of Lithuania being under persecution” (1661). [82]
Walter de Gaunt gave the manor, benefice, and six oxgangs of land, and “a view of frankpledge” in this parish to Bardney Abbey (Dugdale’s “Monasticon,” 1682, p. 143).
In sinking a well in 1897, on the property of Mr. Cheales in this parish, there were found at a depth of about 45ft. fragments of “Brinkhill gold” and fossilized wood. The gold has also been found in the churchyard. It is pronounced, chemically, to be a form of silicate of aluminia. Iron pyrite is also found, abounding in small fossils. The rectory is now held by the Rev. G. R. Ekins. The rectory house was built in 1841, a very commodious residence, at a cost of about £2000, by the late Rector the Rev. F. Pickford, the memory of whose family still remains in the parish, and many miles round it, as “a sweet smelling savour.”
There is a rent charge of £8 for the poor paid out of the estate, about 700 acres, of the Cheales family.
The Rev. William Dales also in 1667 left land, the rent of which was for the poor and the bell-ringers.