Sneating Hall

Morant (vol. 1, p. 483) writes:

“Sneadon Hall is the other Manor I have mentioned in this parish. It is otherwise Sneating and Snetting. The mansion house is near a mile north-west from the Church.”

This is the endowment or corps of one of the Prebends of the cathedral church of St. Paul’s, London. It hath the 14th Stall on the right side of the Quire and is rated at 100s.

The Librarian of St. Paul’s Cathedral has provided some information about this Prebend. The Stall of Sneating is on the decani side, i.e., the South side of the quire looking East. He says that originally the income would have been in kind, i.e., barley, oats, later in money, but the amount would vary considerably according to the state of agriculture at any given time (as is the case of fellowship dividends at the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge).

All Prebendal estates were taken over in 1840 by the newly created Ecclesiastical Commissioners (now the Church Commissioners) saving the rights of the existing prebendaries. The present prebendary of Sneating is the Rev. A. J. G. Hawes, Vicar of All Saints, Fulham. He does not receive any income, but has a stall in the quire, a place in the Greater Chapter and a Saint’s Day allotted to him for an annual sermon. This was the Tuesday in Whitsun week.

In 1590, when William Cotton was Lord of the Manor, the Circuit of the Manor “with the Meete and Bounds of the same” was made and the description of the perambulation was followed by “The Scite of the Manor with the Demesne Lands”, “The Tenants by Copy of Court Roll according to the Custom of the Manor with their yearly Rents” and the “Rental of the said Manor transcribed 30th November the Revd. Jno Pettingall Doctor in Divinity being the present Prebendary of the said Prebend and Lord of the Manor and so He followed details of the rents collected up to 1848. Against the rent of 6d. payable by Martin Mann is a note “Belongs to a Club”. What Club would this be? See Appendix for the actual wording of The Perambulation, etc. There is another Rental dated 1858 and a third 1701.

From an entry of a Court Baron held on 23rd September, 1782, it appears that the Reverend George Judd was Lord of the Manor and that his Steward was John Round (no doubt one of the Birch family).

At that Court the Homage presented that a cottage belonging to Thomas Sorrell and Benjamin Ruffels had burnt down and they were “commanded to rebuild the same before 24th June next on pain of the piece of land upon which the cottage formerly stood being forfeited into the hands of the Lord of the said Manor”. It was bad luck that they should not only lose their cottage but be forced to rebuild it. Probably, in those days, there was no insurance against it. It would be interesting to know when such insurance first became possible.

On 5th August, 1788, was held the First Court Baron and Customary Court of the Reverend Thomas Carwardine. His Steward was Samuel Annew, who, at the next Court, was replaced by Thomas Probert. The Carwardine and Probert families were related, which no doubt accounted for the replacement.

The amercement (or fine) for tenants defaulting in attending the Lord courts was raised from 4d. to 6d. The new Lord was evidently not satisfied with the lower fine and wanted to increase his income from the Manor.

By an Indenture dated 31st July, 1862, the Ecclesiastical Commissioner for England conveyed to Frederic Foaker, of Thorpe Hall, Thorpe-le-Soken, the Manor of Sneating freed and discharged from certain yearly rents charged thereon. By an Indenture dated 11th October, 1872, Frederic Foaker conveyed to John Salmon of Sneating Hall, Kirby-le-Soken, the Manor of Sneating and all Courts Leet Courts Baron Views of Frank Pledge and Perquisites of Courts Fines Heriots Amerciaments issues privileges liberties franchises services of Court Law days waifs and strays felons goods escheats forfeitures royalties reservations and other casualties whatsoever to the said Manor belonging or in any wise appertaining.

On 22nd May, 1909, the Manor was conveyed by the Trustees of the Will of John Salmon to Henry Edwards Paine. His Steward was George Frederick Beaumont and his Deputy was Horace Frederick Beaumont.

Col. G. O. C. Probert, C.B.E., of Bevills, Bures, and his son Lieut.-Col. R. H. C. Probert, O.B.E., are descendants of the Thomas Probert mentioned above.

The records which will be handed over on completion are as under:

Court and Minute Books: 1737–1759; 1762–1782; 1788–1811; 1817–1821 and 1811–1931. 1590: Rental or terrier and Circuit of the Manor of “the Meets and Bounds”. 1698: Rental. 1701: “Terrar of ye Mannor of Sneating Hall in Essex.” 1908: Rental. 1909: Tenants and Parcels and Particulars of Enfranchisements, 1826–1918. 15 Absolute Surrenders. 1844–1882: 15 Conditional Surrenders and Warrants of Satisfaction. 1877–1922: 5 Draft Admissions. 1919–: 9 draft deeds of Enfranchisement. 1st April, 1909: Particulars of Sale of Sneating Hall residence cottages land and the Manor of Sneating and Prebend of Sneating.

The vendor as Mr. J. L. Beaumont, who will convey as beneficial owner. The title shall commence with a conveyance on Sale dated 22nd May, 1909.

Rights, customs and incidents

It hath the 14th Stall on the right side of the Quire and is rated at 100s.
All Prebendal estates were taken over in 1840 by the newly created Ecclesiastical Commissioners (now the Church Commissioners) saving the rights of the existing prebendaries.

Historical holder / succession information

1. In 1590 [source claim requiring identity review]
   1590 · lord_of_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: In 1590, when William Cotton was Lord of the Manor, the Circuit of the Manor “with the Meete and Bounds of the same” was made and the description of the perambulation was followed by “The Scite of the Manor with the Demesne Lands”, “The Tenants by Copy of Court Roll according to the Custom of the Manor with their yearly Rents” and the “Rental of the said Manor transcribed 30th November the Revd.
2. From an entry of a Court Baron held on 23rd September, 1782, it appears that the Reverend George Judd [source claim requiring identity review]
   1782 · lord_of_manor · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: From an entry of a Court Baron held on 23rd September, 1782, it appears that the Reverend George Judd was Lord of the Manor and that his Steward was John Round (no doubt one of the Birch family).