Whitwell

WHITWELL TAKES ITS name from the ‘White Well’, a water source which descends the hill upon which the village church of St Michael’s is located. This is a small parish of 630 acres (240 h), almost entirely consisting of rich pasture. The Lordship of Whitwell is mentioned in Domesday Book of 1086, when it was held by Judith, Countess of Huntingdon. The entry reads:

“In Whitwell Besi has 1 carucate of land to the geld. There is land for 3 ploughs. Herbert, the Countess’ man has 1 plough there, and 6 villains and 4 bordars with 2 ploughs. There is a church, a priest and 1 mill rendering 12d and 20 acres of meadow and woodland pasture 6 furlongs and 6 perches long and 3 furlongs and 13 perches broad. Before 1066 it was worth £8. Now £10.”

After the execution of her husband, the Saxon Earl Waltheof, for rebellion in 1070, Judith was commanded by William the Conqueror to marry Simon of St Liz, Earl of Northampton. She refused to do this and her estates were confiscated. Whitwell then was passed to her daughter Maud, who did marry Simon and on his death in 1111 it passed to David, King of Scotland. Later in the 12th century, the Lordship was granted to Richard de Moreville who was succeeded at his death in 1189 by his son, William, who lived until 1196. The descent of Whitwell after this point is obscure. The overlordship passed to the Knights Templar, but possession of the Manor appears to have come to a local family who had leased it. It is next fully recorded in 1317 when it was in the hands of Henry Byron of Whitwell. It then descended to his son John, who was Lord in 1333. John’s widow Joan married Sir William Burton and from him it passed to his son Sir Thomas, who died seised of the Lordship in 1382. His son and heir, Thomas, sold Whitwell in 1412 to Roger Flower (or Flore). Roger was the son of William Flower, a wool merchant and also a Member of Parliament for Rutland.

The Flower family represent the early stirrings of a middle class of successful merchants and tradesmen who took advantage of the aftermath of the Black Death in the mid-14th century to build fortunes for themselves and move into land ownership; the natural prerogative of a newly rich Englishman. Flower was also a royal official and served as Steward of the Crown in the Lordship of Oakham and was a placeman of Edward, Earl of Rutland. Through the influence of his patron, Flower was able to be elected to Parliament for Rutland in January 1397 and again two years later. Around this time, Flower expanded his career to take in the law and in 1407 was appointed as Sheriff of the county. His administrative skills were appreciated by Henry IV (1399–1413) and he was made a Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster and also a justice of the peace in ten counties. Flower sat in all the Parliaments from 1414 to 1419 and was elected Speaker for an unprecedented three terms during this period. In 1422, he was appointed Speaker for a fourth time when his experience was called for on the accession of the infant Henry VI. At his death, in 1427, Flower left the enormous sum of £550 in legacies.

The Flower family held Whitwell until the 16th century. From Roger it descended to his son Thomas and from him to his son Roger who was holding it at the time of his death in 1523. He was succeeded by his son Roger, who settled Whitwell on his son Richard, who married Alice, the daughter of John Harington of Exton. Richard died in 1540 leaving a son John who was only five years old. When he was old enough, John married Margery Colley of Glaston, and Whitwell passed to their surviving son, John.

John lived until 1612 and was succeeded by his son, also called John, who sold Whitwell to kinsmen of his wife, Edward and William Sheldon, in 1618. Two years later it was sold again to Baptist Hicks, Viscount Campden. He settled Whitwell on his daughter, Juliana, who was married to Edward, Lord Noel. Noel inherited the viscountcy from his father-in-law. His grandson, Edward, was created the Earl of Gainsborough and the Lordship has remained in this family to the present day. The descent of the Gainsboroughs can be found on page 29 of this catalogue. The pretty village of Whitwell lies in a shallow on the Oakham-Stamford road.

Associated manorial documents / archive references

• Legacy 1553-1538 National Archives

Source notes

Catalogue transcribed by the Lord of Finchingfield - a friend to learning

Historical holder / succession information

1. Richard de Moreville
   1189|1196 · granted_to · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: Later in the 12th century, the Lordship was granted to Richard de Moreville who was succeeded at his death in 1189 by his son, William, who lived until 1196.
2. who [source claim requiring identity review]
   1333 · stated_lord · historical_holder
   Source wording: It then descended to his son John, who was Lord in 1333.