Brickendonbury

In the Liberty of Brickendon and Hundred of Hertford

This Manor according to the Victoria History of Hertfordshire (Vol. III) was in the Hundred of Hertford in the parish of All Saints and was known as the Liberty of Brickendon. it was anciently part of the possessions of the Saxon Kings and was bestowed by Edward the Confessor upon the canons of the church of Waltham. The Canons of Waltham were 14th in the list of holders of land in the County of Hertford when the Domesday Survey was made and it was in that work called Brickendona. The detailed description of it is:

"It is assessed at 5 hides.

There is land for 8 ploughs.

In the demesne are 3 1/2 hides,

and on it are 2 ploughs, and there could be a third.

There 9 villeins have 4 ploughs between them and there could be a fifth.

There are 9 bordars and 24 cottars and 2 serf, and 1 mill worth 8 shillings.

Meadow is sufficient for 2 ploughteams,

pasture sufficient for the live stock of the vill and (worth) 2 shillings bedside,

woodland to feed 200 swine.

In all its value is and was 100 shillings at the time of King Edward 8 pounds.

This Manor belonged and belongs to the Church of Holy Cross of Waltham. "

Between the years 1174 and 1184 King Henry II confirmed the Manor to the monks of Waltham Abbey who had replaced the Canons of Waltham. It was given to them free from geld and toll and from the forfeiture of criminals, thus establishing the Liberty.

In 1227 the Abbot of Waltham obtained freedom from tollage and as there was no church then at Brickendon the Manor was regarded as belonging to the Parish of All Saints, Hertford. The monks held this Liberty until the Dissolution when King Henry VIII granted it to Thomas Knighton with the advowson of All Saints; from him it passed to Sir William Soame who conveyed it to Edward Clarke in 1682. His son Thomas surrendered to the Manor and when he died in 1754 it is said that he left it to Mrs. Jane Morgan, his niece. Her youngest son John Morgan inherited it and left a half share to his sister Jane and the other to the representatives of his Aunt, Anne Freke.

Jane's moiety passed to her son Sir Charles Morgan and from him to his grandchild Selina Rose Catherine, who was the wife of the Rev. W. T. Marsh-Luschington Tilson. The other moiety went to Anne Freke's two granddaughters, Mary, wife of the Rev. Edward Lewis, and Fanny, the wife of the Rev. Francis Lewis. In 1881 Henry Edward Paine and Richard Brettell, of Chertsey, purchased the Lordship of the Manor for £2,000. The parties to the Conveyance were: (1) Charles Edward Lewis of St. Pierre, Mon.; (2) Frances Lewis of Portskewitt, Mon. Spinster; (3) Thomas Freke Lewis of Abbey Dore, Hereford; (4) Thomas Henry organ of Chepstow, Mon. as surviving Settlement Trustee; (5) the said T. H. Morgan as mortgagee; (6) Selina Rose Catherine Marsh-Lushington Tilson of South Hall, Guildford; (7) Edward Motman, a Lt.-Col. in H.M. Army and Governor of H.M. Prison at Holloway; (8) Henry Edward Paine and Richard Brettell of Chertsey.

Up to this point the Lordship of the Manor had gone automatically with the Brickendon Estate, but like many other large estates during the second half of the last century, the time came when they came under the hammer and the Lordship of the Manor, sold as a separate Lot, passed to a person other than the owner of the Manor House and estate. in this particular case the purchaser of the Lordship of the Manor is unlikely to be the present owner of the Mansion, for this now belongs to the County and is the Headquarters of the County Executive Agricultural Committee. It is pleasant to relate that the buildings and grounds are kept in such perfect order that any former owner of the estate would feel that the house, stabling, parkland, woodlands and views he so loved were still appreciated and giving pleasure to employees and visitors.

An interesting feature in connection with the sale of the estate in 1881 is that considerable portions of the extensive wastes of the Manor were sold with the appropriate Lots. Even Brickendon Green, that charming open space at the Southern extremity of the Liberty, was sold as part of Fanshaw's Farm; Well Green and a number of wide roadside wastes were also sold with the Farms which they bordered. Altogether 35 acres of wastes were sold away from the Manor of which they had hitherto formed part. They cannot be enclosed, but the adjoining owners have the right to cut the grass, and fell the trees subject to any necessary license. These wastes, which were excepted from the 1881 conveyance of the Manor, are specifically shown on the plan attached to the old Particulars of Sale included in the records to be handed to the purchaser.

The plan referred to shows at the point where Brickendon Lane joins the road from Hertford to Hatfield, opposite the Horns Public House, a triangular piece of land upon which a small rectangular building is shown marked "Pound." No trace now remains of the building, but it was presumably the Pound into which the Pindar of the Manor drove stray cattle, sheep, etc., only to be recovered by the owners upon payment of the customary charges. Such interest as the present Lord of the Manor may have in this, and any wastes still forming part of the Manor, is included in the sale, and the purchaser should be able to negotiate wayleave agreements with the appropriate Authorities in respect of any telegraph, telephone, electricity poles, stays, kiosks, etc., erected thereon.

Many items of interest are to be found upon perusal of the records included in the sale. For example, some names well-known in the County are to be found among the Stewards, viz., Bostock Toller (Court held 1703); Henry Thorowgood (1755); Benjamin Rooke (1770); William Crowdy (1823, Rooke's stewardship thus being at least 53 years); Philip Longmore (1838); Matthew Skinner Longmore (1875); Thomas Joseph Sworder (1881); the last three being partners in the still existing Longmores at Hertford. Upon the sale to H. E. Paine and R. Brettell, Joseph Beaumont became Steward and has been followed by his son and grandson up to the present time.

The custom of descent in the Manor was to the eldest son; the fines were arbitrary, i.e. two years' annual value, as opposed to a fine certain of so much per acre, house, etc.

From an early date the Courts were held at the "Inn called the Black Swan otherwise Pimblico" in Hertford. This Inn was a copyhold property of the Manor and, at a Court held in 1706, is recorded as being surrendered by the tenant, Maria Hawkings, to her son-in-law Thomas Harrod and her daughter Maria, on their marriage (Vol. 1, p. 49).

The Cowper family had a long connection with the Manor. William Cowper (later referred to as "Clerk to the Parliaments") succeeded to holdings on the death of his father Spencer Cowper, a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, and subsequent reference to the Earldom conferred later on William Cowper occur frequently in the transactions.

The records of the mid-eighteenth century are unusually clear and full. The proceedings at a Court Leet held in 1758 (Vol. II, o. 141) are confirmation of the status of those Courts for reference is made to "the Great Inquest for our Lord the King." At these Courts the Jury - in Courts Baron and Customary Courts the jurors are called "The Homage" - took notice of the infringement on the ancient rights, not only of the Lord but also of the tenants, commoners, or inhabitants, such as the stopping-up of a water course for commoners' cattle, closure of a footpath, etc. A presentment was made to the Court referred to "that there is an Ancient Footpath leading from the West Street in the said Manor to the River Lee lying between the house of Stephen Beadle on the West part and the house of John Giddings on the East part and that no horses ought of right to pass or go in the said Footpath and that several persons have lately went up and down the said footpath with horses to the great prejudice and danger of all persons passing and repassing on foot up and down the said Footpath."

A court held in 1801 runs to 117 pages in recording redemptions of Land Tax by the heirs fo the Dowager Lady Tonwnshend; this family had a long connection with the Manor. Baron Dimsdale (the Barony was of Russian origin) also held extensive properties in this and other Hertfordshire Manors.

In Vol. VIII, p. 238-268 are enrolled a conveyance to the Governors and Company of the New River of several parcels of riverside land with accompanying plans. An intriguing loose note in this volume (at p. 161) is worded, "This book should be carefully examined with the Court Rolls and deeds of ? (illegible ) ? to 1874, Mr. ? does not appear to have enfranchised all but see deed." The note is signed "P. Longmore, The Castle."

The Conveyance of the Manor in 1881 enumerates in detail the rights intended to be included (inter alia) "wastes, warrens, commons, mines, minerals, quarries, furzes, trees, woods, underwoods, coppices and the ground and soil thereof, fences, hedges, ditches, ways, waters, water courses, fishings, fisheries, fowlings, Courts Leet, Courts baron and other Courts, views of frank-pledge, mills, mulctures, tolls, duties, reliefs, heriots, waifs, estrays, rents, services, royalties, jurisdictions, franchises, liberties, privileges, easements, profits, advantages, enrolments, hereditaments" and so on.

Among the papers to be handed over is a statement of fines on admission of tenants received by the Lord during the years 1871-76, the last decade of the ownership of the Manor by the Morgan family. These included 90 from H. Randall in 1871; 405 Pembertons Trustees (1872); 118 Misses Stodart; 79 10s. 0d. B. Young (1874) and 250 Baroness Dimsdale's Trustees (1876). These transactions emphasise the fact that Manorial Rights were in those days of substantial value, and that a good deal still remained is shown by the amount of the amount of the purchase money for what remained in 1881, viz., 2,000. Of that, 1,500 went to Charles E. Lewis, Thos. Freka Lewis, Frances Lewis, and Mrs. S. R. C. M. Lushington-Tilson , while the remaining 500 was paid to Everard Stephen Milward. Their receipt for the money duly signed and witnessed are endorsed on the conveyance.

Rights, customs and incidents

They cannot be enclosed, but the adjoining owners have the right to cut the grass, and fell the trees subject to any necessary license.
II, o. 141) are confirmation of the status of those Courts for reference is made to "the Great Inquest for our Lord the King." At these Courts the Jury - in Courts Baron and Customary Courts the jurors are called "The Homage" - took notice of the infringement on the ancient rights, not only of the Lord but also of the tenants, commoners, or inhabitants, such as the stopping-up of a water course for commoners' cattle, closure of a footpath, etc.
A presentment was made to the Court referred to "that there is an Ancient Footpath leading from the West Street in the said Manor to the River Lee lying between the house of Stephen Beadle on the West part and the house of John Giddings on the East part and that no horses ought of right to pass or go in the said Footpath and that several persons have lately went up and down the said footpath with horses to the great prejudice and danger of all persons passing and repassing on foot up and down the said Footpath."
The Conveyance of the Manor in 1881 enumerates in detail the rights intended to be included (inter alia) "wastes, warrens, commons, mines, minerals, quarries, furzes, trees, woods, underwoods, coppices and the ground and soil thereof, fences, hedges, ditches, ways, waters, water courses, fishings, fisheries, fowlings, Courts Leet, Courts baron and other Courts, views of frank-pledge, mills, mulctures, tolls, duties, reliefs, heriots, waifs, estrays, rents, services, royalties, jurisdictions, franchises, liberties, privileges, easements, profits, advantages, enrolments, hereditaments" and so on.
These transactions emphasise the fact that Manorial Rights were in those days of substantial value, and that a good deal still remained is shown by the amount of the amount of the purchase money for what remained in 1881, viz., 2,000.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Court Books: 1703-1731; 1733-1762; 1767-1799; 1801-1820; 1823-1845; 1845-1865; 1865-1932.
• Rental: 1848
• Particulars of Sale: 15th August 1882
• Particulars of Tenants: properties etc., dates of admissions, enfranchisements, etc.
• Insurance of records 300, premium 15/- p.a.
• Commencement of Title: Deed dated 14th December, 1881

Historical holder / succession information

1. In 1881 Henry Edward Paine and Richard Brettell, of Chertsey [source claim requiring identity review]
   1881 · purchased · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: In 1881 Henry Edward Paine and Richard Brettell, of Chertsey, purchased the Lordship of the Manor for £2,000.
2. a person other than the owner of the Manor House and estate [source claim requiring identity review]
   passed_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Up to this point the Lordship of the Manor had gone automatically with the Brickendon Estate, but like many other large estates during the second half of the last century, the time came when they came under the hammer and the Lordship of the Manor, sold as a separate Lot, passed to a person other than the owner of the Manor House and estate. in this particular case the purchaser of the Lordship of the Manor is unlikely to be the present owner of the Mansion, for this now belongs to the County and is the Headquarters of the County Executive Agricultural Committee.