Bishop’s Stortford

Including the Freehold of the Market Square

THIS IS a most important offer and includes the Lordship of the town of Bishop’s Stortford which anciently carried with it the high honorific dignity of Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. The Precentorship has customarily been appendant to the Manor, and while licence was granted by Edward III in 1352 to appropriate Stortford to the Bishop’s Table, it was not severed.

Bishop’s Stortford was the head of the Bishops of London’s Barony, stretching from Essex to Hertfordshire and containing more than 36 Knights’ Fees. In the reign of Edward the Confessor, it was held by Eddeva the Fair and after the Norman Conquest (1066) it was sold by William I to William, Bishop of London (1051-75).

It is unusual that, with one or two exceptions when the Bishops of London fell into Royal disfavour, the Lordship of Bishop’s Stortford remained in the same hands until the end of this century when it was acquired by Sir Walter Gilbey. It seems that throughout the Middle Ages four Manorial Courts were held a year: Michaelmas, Epiphany, Easter, Trinity and one held the view of frankpledge, usually the day after the feast of Holy Trinity.

Two constables were chosen at this court and the common fine payable by the chief pledges was 16d. Headboroughs aleasters, flesh and fishasters, and cattle drivers were appointed by the Court Leet until 1872. Indeed, the Manorial Courts also appointed the surveyor of the highway until his duty was superseded by the highway board in 1856.

During the intrigues of King Stephen’s reign (1135-54), Bishop’s Stortford played a part of great importance. From its position on the main road London to Saffron Walden, it cut the communication between those places for Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex. In 1141 or 1142, the Empress Maud, daughter to Henry I and claimant of the English Crown, promised to acquire the Lordship from the Bishop of London and give it to Mandeville. This she seems to have failed to do.

William St Mere Eligis, Bishop of London in the reign of King John (1199-1216), was one of the Bishops who published the Interdict in 1208 because of the King’s misrule. John forced him out of the country and Bishop’s Stortford together with his other property was seized by the Crown. John was excommunicated in 1211, but submitted in 1213 and restored Bishop’s Stortford to the Bishop of London.

The Bishops had a prison in Stortford Castle, now the property of the local authority, and it seems to have been a grim place for in 1344, there were 50 prisoners in the gaol of whom 29 died. It was reckoned at the time that each of them cost a farthing a day to keep. The accounts of the gaolers include such items as lights for the prisoners at night, shackles, fetters, iron for staples, stocks, and so forth.

At the Dissolution, Bishop’s Stortford Lordship was regranted to the Anglican Bishops of London and it remained in their hands until the end of the 19th century. It was sold by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to Sir Walter Gilbey, whose family’s informal motto is “blood is thicker than gin”.

The Lordship will include the conveyance of the freehold soil of the market square.

Rights, customs and incidents

The Lordship will include the conveyance of the freehold soil of the market square.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Fines 1640 Herts RO
• Draft Court Rolls 1948, 1849
• Court Book 1859, 1906
• Steward’s Accounts 1848
• Quit Rents 1834, 1842, 1866
• Survey of Copyhold 1824-1890
• Court Books 1713-1734, 1738-1740, 1489-1509 Guildhall Library
• Court Rolls 1576-85
• Court Rolls 1661-83
• Surveys 1811-53
• Estreat Books 1566
• Court Leet and Baron Rolls 1681-1951
• Court Rolls 1278-1679
• Account Rolls 1407-1856
• Survey and Valuation 1646-47
• Court Rolls 17th and 18th century British Museum

Historical holder / succession information

1. Anglican Bishops of London and it remained in their hands until the end of the 19th century [source claim requiring identity review]
   granted_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: At the Dissolution, Bishop’s Stortford Lordship was regranted to the Anglican Bishops of London and it remained in their hands until the end of the 19th century.