The Manor of Harlington Grange

The manor of Harlington Grange appears to have originated in lands granted to the Abbot of Woburn by Ralph Pyrot in the 12th century, and held by the Abbot of Woburn in 1302 in frankalmoin (a type of feudal tenure in which a religious organisation could hold land in return for religious duties). The Victoria County History suggests that Harlington Grange was combined with estates held by Woburn Abbey in Pulloxhill, to form an estate which was became known as Pulloxhill and Greenfield manor. However, it appears that Harlington Grange survived as an independent estate after the dissolution of Woburn Abbey in 1538, as the National Archives’ manorial documents register records two surviving court rolls for the manor of Harlington Grange dating from the 1540s and the manor of Pulloxhill and Greenfield is given a separate entry.  

Harlington Grange seems to have straddled the Harlington-Streatley parish boundary, with the property known as the Grange just into Streatley, while the related mill was in Harlington. In the 17th and 18th centuries Harlington Grange was in the possession of the Burr family. In 1642 William Burr and his son Thomas bought from Graveley Norton, of Offley (Herts), land in Streatley between Sharpenhoe  and the Grange Mill, together with a right of way from that land and a meadow already owned by William Burr to “the grange called Pulloxhill or Harlington Grange”. This property was also mentioned in a post-nuptual settlement of 1677 following the marriage of Richard Norton and Ann, daughter of Henry Hamson. In 1684 William Burr, senior, of Sharpenhoe in Streatley, 1684 left £200 to his son John Burr of Grange, Harlington, and the wills of John Burr and William Burr, made in 1727 and 1755 respectively, describe them both as being “of Harlington Grange”. 

By the 19th century Harlington Grange was in the hands of Sir John Everitt, along with the manor of Westoning. In 1823 Sir John (of Sloane Street, Middlesex) left the manor and advowson of Westoning, to be sold and divided between his two legitimate children. The will also mentioned that Harlington Grange, then leased to Harry Horley, was to be charged with an annuity payable to widow Mary Spencer “now residing with him as Sloane Street”. Sir John appears to have had an interesting personal life, as the will also makes provision for an illegitimate daughter [ST162]. Finally a bundle of deeds held by Bedfordshire Archives relate to the sale of the Harlington Grange Estate in Harlington, Streatley and Westoning to Robert Lindsell in 1837. 

Documents held by Bedfordshire Archives include: 

• ABP/W1730/53: Will of John Burr of Harlington Grange, 1727-1730 

• A83-84: Copies of will of William Burr of Harlington Grange, 1755-1761 

• HF42/5/1: Bundle relating to Harlington Grange estate, 1837 

• SM14: Post-nuptual settlement on marriage of Richard Norton and Ann Hampson, 1677 

• SM20: Assignment by Richard Norton to John Burr, 1709 

• SM30: Conveyance by Gravely Norton to William and Thomas Burr of land in Streatley and right of way to Harlington Grange 1642 

• SM148: Copy of will of William Burr senior, 1684 

• ST143: Copy of will of Sir John Everitt, 1822-23