Martells Hall

Ardleigh lies 5 miles north-east of Colchester, on the road to Manningtree.

The name is derived from the family of Martell who were under-tenants in the Manor soon after the Domesday Survey, when Geoffrey de Magnaville was Lord. Morant tells us that "in the reign of Henry II, Ralph de Martell held on e Knight's fee here of Geffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex." It passed to Elias Dorewood in 1424 and was left to David Mortimer in 1438. It was bought ninety years later by William Mannock.

The first General Court Baron of Willian Mannock was held on the 6th November, 1733. In a View of Frank Pledge and General Court Baron under the same Lord in 1738, the Inquisition of the Leet appointed two Constables and we read, "They also chuse Robert Luckin and Ambrose Cooper to be Bread and Ale Tasters within the Precincts of this Manor for the year ensuing." ON 29th December, 1778 is recorded the "View of Frank Pledge and First General Court Baron" of Sir Thomas Mannock, Baronet. Constables and Bread and Ale Tasters were again elected and the Amercements at this Court were only 4d. instead of the customary 6d. in previous Courts. At the next Court (25th November, 1783) Sir George Mannock is Lord and the Court is held before Thomas Brands, Deputy Steward of John Round, who was then Chief Steward.

After belonging to Abram Newman and William Webb the Lordship was acquired by Alexander Baring, later Lord Ashburton. This family was in possession of the Manor for the rest of the century; the Hon. and Rev. Frederick Baring's first Court was held on the 19th June, 1850 and that of Francis Denzil Baron Asburton on the 8th September, 1892. It was from the latter that the late George Frederick Beaumont purchased the Lordship in 1917.

Among interesting entries in these records are the presentment on the 3rd October, 1726 of the death of "Sir Ralph Creffield Knight who held of the Lady of the Manor by deed and by fealty suit of Court" properties known as Abells on the Hill, Barbers and 20 acres of arable land abutting upon Barbers Hall, Fillies, and 4 1/2 acres of meadow and two acres of wood abutting upon Barbers Heath. The total of the rents was 17/- and reliefs payable were of a like amount. The Bailiff was commanded to distrain for the same.

At a Court held on the 6th November, 1798 there are entries which record the power of the Lord to carve up the Common land and create fresh holdings, for which rents had to be paid by the tenants. There were sixteen grants of pieces of Crockleford Heath and three pieces of Smythes Heath, and in some of the grants the "timber and other rights" were reserved to the Lord. This wholesale enclosure of what was formerly Heath land explains why, although Crockleford Heath is marked in large letters on the Ordinance Map of Ardleigh, there is in fact no heath land apart from roadside verges. Barbers Heath and Smythes Heath seem to have been dealt with just as drastically, for their names do not appear at all on the Ordinance Map to remind villagers of their lost open spaces. Had the Commons, Footpaths and Open Spaces Preservation Society been in existence then the greedy Lords would have had opposition to these ruthless enclosures.

In this Manor the Eldest son succeeded to copyhold properties on the intestacy of a tenant.

The documents (insured for £200, premium 10/0 per annum) to be handed over are:

Court Books: 1726-98; 1798-1815; 1816-41; 1843-92; 1892-1925

Minute Books: 1744-98; 1828-45; 1844-67; 1871-1910

Fee Book: 1848-73

Sundry draft admissions, surrenders, etc.

The following enfranchisement rent charges issuing out of lands formerly copyhold of the Manor of Bovills Hall, Ardleigh, are included in the sale of this lot:

(Image detailing two rent charges & tenants - totaling 19s. 5d per annum, payable 1st Jan & 1st July)

It might be interesting to students of old customs and franchises to note here that at a Court held on 28th October, 1754 for the Manor of Bovills Hall, which is not included in this sale, the following entry appears:

It was presented that William Meakings, a copyhold tenant was accidentally killed by a cart since the last court, whereby the said cart became forfeited to the Lord of the Manor as a deodand for which the widow being poor the Lord compounded for 10/-.

Deodand, a franchise only accruing for the benefit of the Lord if expressly granted by the Crown, was abolished by Act of Parliament in 1846 probably because Railway Directors feared that their trains might be forfeited on the occasion of accidents.

Rights, customs and incidents

At a Court held on the 6th November, 1798 there are entries which record the power of the Lord to carve up the Common land and create fresh holdings, for which rents had to be paid by the tenants.
There were sixteen grants of pieces of Crockleford Heath and three pieces of Smythes Heath, and in some of the grants the "timber and other rights" were reserved to the Lord.

Historical holder / succession information

1. Alexander Baring, later Lord Ashburton
   purchased_by · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: After belonging to Abram Newman and William Webb the Lordship was acquired by Alexander Baring, later Lord Ashburton.
2. It was from the latter that the late George Frederick Beaumont [source claim requiring identity review]
   1917 · purchased · historical_holder_or_transferee
   Source wording: It was from the latter that the late George Frederick Beaumont purchased the Lordship in 1917.