Court Rolls 50a to 51b

Introduction to Willington Manor Court Rolls

Willington Manor Court Rolls Index

Court Roll 50a

October 2nd 1462

Cardington. View of Frankpledge with Court of Lady Katherine Duchess of Norfolk

• There had been a change of constable. He and 12 other men made up the jury. 
• Three men, including the Prior of Newnham, were fined for non-attendance. 
• The vicar, Nicholas Ardewyk, assaulted William Spencer with a Harvestknife, worth iiijd [4d] and was fined 12d.

Six men were ordered to clear their ditches and were fined or threatened with penalties.  

Full transcript of Court Roll 50a (pdf)

Court Roll 50b

May 11th 1463

Cardington. Halmoot [Court Baron] of Lady Katherine, Duchess of Norfolk.

A very short roll: ten men in the jury. One man has still not cleared his ditch, and paid the penalty. He was given another 15 days, or would pay another penalty.

Full transcript of Court Roll 50b (pdf)

Court Roll 50c

October 1st 1462

View of Frankpledge with Court of Lady Katherine Duchess of Norfolk.

Parts of this roll are very faint. Some of the edges are torn and a piece of parchment has been sewn on.

• There are no essoins. Common fines of 7s are paid. John Yarwey the younger is named as bailiff. Three tenants were fined for not coming to court, they included the Prior of Newnham.
• The miller was fined for taking excessive toll and one ditch needed to be scoured.
• Four tenants paid fines for brewing.
• The members of the second jury were named and said that all was well.
• Three buildings should be repaired and oaks, withies and other timbers were delivered to six tenants to repair other buildings.
• There is an illegible paragraph at the end of the roll which seems to refer to the rent of the mill.

Full transcript of Court Roll 50c (pdf)

Court Roll 50d

May 11th 1463

Hallmoot of Lady Katherine Duchess of Norfolk

• No essoins. Twelve members of the main jury are named. There is no record of the second jury. John Yerwey is named as bailiff.
• A pig house at the mill and two sheep-folds should be repaired. Two repairs ordered at the previous court had been carried out, but there were still problems with a ditch. This and the following passage is almost illegible.
• Withies and wattle were to be delivered to one tenant, and withies were to be delivered for repairs to the mill dam.
• The bailiff has sold underwood from Sherehache this year and some is delivered as tithe 'by the order of the Steward.'

Full transcript of Court Roll 50d (pdf)

Court Roll BL1

Rolls BL 1 – 8 inclusive have been prepared from British Library manuscript Add.Ch.26813/1-8, a collection of eight Willington Manor Court Rolls. Reference has also been made to a transcription in Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Record Service ref: CRT 130/4 WILLINGTON. Most of the eight rolls contain what might be described as pre-enclosure behaviours and indicate that there were problems over land-holdings and enclosures at this time. The tenants seem to want to enclose parts of their holdings.

October 3rd 1463

View of Frankpledge with court, Katherine Duchess of Norfolk

• There were five essoins. Twelve tithing men formed the main jury and were named. The twelve men in the second jury were also named and said that all was well. The Prior of Newnham is again fined for not attending court. Common fines of 7s 5d were paid.
• One woman assaulted the son of a tenant and broke into the house of his mother. Another woman stole from John Gostwick, the bailiff.
• A ewe and a lamb were held as strays.
• The miller's servant stole a fish basket belonging to William Launcelyn from the river.
• Two new constables were appointed. A note was made that 'that no tenant henceforth shall prosecute another tenant, outside the demesne for debts, nor for trespass, unless they should exceed 40s, under penalty of 20s to be paid to the lady.'
• Alicia Stoughton and John Rydy were the common brewers and paid fines for this and also because they 'did not answer to the order of the tasters at another time.' Eight other tenants paid fines for brewing.
• A cottage was let for 2 lives.
• An oak tree was provided to make a barn door and 'Grinders' for a barn. Materials for repairs were provided to six other tenants and 'for repairing the mill, and the Dam and the Causeway and for making wicker hurdles for turning the river.'
• The steward allowed reductions in rent of 20s to the tenants living in Ovryland and there was an allowance for the mill of 13s 4d.

Full transcript of Court Roll BL1 (pdf)

Court Roll BL2

May 14th 1464

Halmoot.

• There were no essoins.
• There had been an encroachment on land at Willington Mere and the digging of a drainage channel there was reported. Tenants were fined.
• Twigs had been carried away from the Warren without permission and a by-law was passed forbidding tenants from doing this.
• A man fished 'in the lady's several waters' without permission.
• Buildings which needed repair included one hall and a room above a hall, nine barns and one barn door, one bakehouse, two pig shelters, three stables, one shippon (for cows).
• Questions were asked about Margaret Palmer's right to her tenancy.
• Some underwood was sold, some given for repairs to buildings and some given as tithe.
• The Steward ordered that timber should be given to repair one door of Bedford Castle, build a barn at Bromham and repair Willington mill.

Full transcript of BL2 (pdf)

Court Roll 51a

October 3rd 1464

View of Frankpledge with court, Katherine Duchess of NorfolkView of Frankpledge with court, Katherine Duchess of Norfolk.

• There were two essoins. The usual jury of twelve Tithing men and the second jury of twelve men who said that all was well, were named. Common fines of 7s 4d were paid. The Prior of Newnham did not come to court and was fined. 
• Geoffrey Palmer had died and his lands should have passed to Margery his wife. She was ordered to show her evidence at the last court and was admitted as tenant at this one.
• Hedges has been broken down and carried away.
• John Passewater's son William had inherited his father's lands after he died. He had to pay a relief for knight's service to the lady.
• Two brewers brewed constantly. They and eight other brewers paid fines.
• Two new constables were elected.
• Three buildings had not been repaired properly and should be made good by the next court. Another building had not been repaired.
• A holding was granted for two lives.
• Withies were provided to four tenants for repairs.
• An allowance of 20s was made to the tenants of Ovryland this year.
• There were two essoins. The usual jury of twelve Tithing men and the second jury of twelve men who said that all was well, were named. Common fines of 7s 4d were paid. The Prior of Newnham did not come to court and was fined.
• Geoffrey Palmer had died and his lands should have passed to Margery his wife. She was ordered to show her evidence at the last court and was admitted as tenant at this one.
• Hedges has been broken down and carried away.
• John Passewater's son William had inherited his father's lands after he died. He had to pay a relief for knight's service to the lady.
• Two brewers brewed constantly. They and eight other brewers paid fines.
• Two new constables were elected.
• Three buildings had not been repaired properly and should be made good by the next court. Another building had not been repaired.
• A holding was granted for two lives.
• Withies were provided to four tenants for repairs.
• An allowance of 20s was made to the tenants of Ovryland this year.

Full transcript of Court Roll 51a (pdf)

Court Roll 51b

April 19th 1465

Court baron, Katherine Duchess of NorfolkCourt baron, Katherine Duchess of Norfolk.

• No essoins, one tenant had not come to court and was fined. He also paid a fine for breaking and carrying away hedges.
• An enquiry was made about whether 'the water and fisheries of the Lady are enclosed from Shawdyche as far as parkepyt or not.'
• Four tenants had buildings needing repair.
• Lands at Coppyd Halle to be handed over to Elisabeth Maryon. Some land that had already been ploughed was to be handed over to her 'at the next cultivation.'
• Withies were provided for three tenants for building repairs and also to repair the mill Dam.
• The Bailiff has sold and delivered (withies?) for 'the repairs of the mill dam and various tenements as it clearly appears in the aforesaid court roll.' and some given as tithe.
• No essoins, one tenant had not come to court and was fined. He also paid a fine for breaking and carrying away hedges.
• An enquiry was made about whether 'the water and fisheries of the Lady are enclosed from Shawdyche as far as parkepyt or not.'
• Four tenants had buildings needing repair.
• Lands at Coppyd Halle to be handed over to Elisabeth Maryon. Some land that had already been ploughed was to be handed over to her 'at the next cultivation.'
• Withies were provided for three tenants for building repairs and also to repair the mill Dam.
• The Bailiff has sold and delivered (withies?) for 'the repairs of the mill dam and various tenements as it clearly appears in the aforesaid court roll.' and some given as tithe.

Full transcript of Court Roll 51b (pdf)