Displaying items by tag: Manor House
Manor House, Summer 2020
The Manor House and garden wall, 30 High Street, Kibworth Beauchamp, is a grade II listed building and possibly the oldest surviving house in the village dating from the 16th century. The house is H-shaped in plan, the lower part of the walls being of ironstone and the upper story timber-framed. The hall, with a room above it, occupies the central block. The hall is lit by a stone-mullioned window in the front wall, and has a stone chimney at its west end. Behind the chimney is the former crosspassage, its front entrance now blocked. The service wing, which lies beyond the passage, has an early fire-place on its back wall which was originally surmounted by a large flue of timber and plaster construction. This was cleared away in 1911 and the space which it occupied on the first floor has been converted into a bathroom. The remains of the flue are visible in the roof. The parlour is in the east wing, which was altered, probably in the 18th century, to accommodate an entrance hall and staircase. The roof contains original trusses with curved principals. To the left of the house are the stables which continue down Smeeton Road. The stables were built early in the 20th century, replacing older outbuildings.The stables building is surmounted by a prominent small clock turret. A red brick wall with brick coping 2⸱5meters highruns from the stables along Smeeton Road enclosing the garden and paddock.
Manor House Stables Clock Turret
A mud wall marks the boundary between the Manor House and its neighbour 28 Main Street.
There is evidence that a tapestry, consisting of many square yards, covering the whole of the panelling round the interior of one of the rooms on the second storey. The tapestry and was believed to be of Flemish design. The subjects were varied and curious in their character. The date of the tapestryis thought to be from the end of the 16th century. In August 1863 a number ofattendees at the AGM of the Leicestershire Architectural and Archaeological Society (see Historic Gathering-Modern) visited the Manor House at the invitation of the occupier, Mrs Buzzard, to view the tapestry which was described as being in fine state of preservation. The tapestry is no longer at the house and its whereabouts is unknown.
It is believed that in the 16thcentury the house was occupied by the steward or bailiff of the manor. There is little information on the occupants of the house however Mrs Buckby, who sponsored a play, ‘Inkle and Yarico’, at the Kibworth Theater (see Kibworth Theater-modern) in September 1790, lived in the Manor House. The next known occupant was Mrs. Buzzard wholived there in 1863. The next information on ownership was 12 June 1907, when the Manor House, the outbuildings and land were conveyed to a Mr George Mattock from Mr Thomas Arthur Bateman who was thoughtto be the owner of 28 and 30 High Street, Kibworth Beauchamp. It seems that the mud wall was not included in the sale.
Mr Mattock died on 30th March 1936 when the property passed through his wife to his daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Goodey who lived in the house until she died on 4 January 1965. In Mrs Goodey’s will Mrs Joan Croxford inherited the house, garden and paddock. However, Mrs Goodey husband Theodore Goodey continued to live in the property until he died on 29 February 1972.
Mrs Joan Croxford and her husband move into the Manor House in the early 1970s. On 12th June 2014, Mrs Croxford ‘gifted’ the paddock to her two grandchildren.
The Manor House, excluding the paddock, was sold to the current occupants, Mr & Mrs Strevens, on 1stAugust 2014.
The Manor House has undergone extensive renovations over the past 3 years and the three photographs below show the extent of those renovations:
Photographs showing the extent of the renovations
Manor Housw September 2020 - rear aspect
Acknowledgements
The Story of England by Michael Wood
Liberal England Blog 17/06.1917
British History On-line
Historic England
Conservation Areas HDC
Barbara Strevens
Kevin Feltham
John Phillips*, landowner, grazier, antiquarian who lived for many years in in the Manor House (Manor Farm House) 39 Main Street, KibworthHarcourt, was born in 1801 at the farm Esgerfa in Abernant parish,Carmarthenshire.
John was the son of Jonathan Philipps (1765 Conwil Elvet -1849) and Catherine Howell (1770- 1849 of Rhydd y garreg ddu, Talog. Carmarthenshire.) John Philipps was also the nephew of John Howell - surgeon in the East India Company, whose memorial is adjacent to his in St Lucia’s Church, Abernant. Jonathan and Catherine Philipps had married on 1st June 1790 in St Lucia’s, Abernant.
From a family letter it would seem that John had been well educated. My thoughts from reading family letters being that this was paid for by his mother Catherine Howell ’s uncle the Rev. Thomas Thomas who lived in Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire. John Philipps was the grandson of Rosamond Howell nee Thomas - the Rev Thomas Thomas ’ sister.
In 1823 the Rev David Lewis writes from Carmarthen to John Phillips’s uncle the Rev Thomas Thomas of Kibworth Harcourt describing the 22 year old John Phillips at Lampeter Collegethus…
‘I must not omit that he bears the best character for assiduity and regular deportment in school and at home: and such is the improvement of our country in dress, or rather perhaps the deterioration of it, that our Welshmen, in our great school, dress as well as in any part of England.’
After his uncle Rev. Thomas Thomas ’s death in 1826 John Philipps aged 25 undertakes renovations of the Manor House, Kibworth Harcourt. (see Manor House (Manor Farmhouse) 39 Main Street, Kibworth Harcourt- Ancient)
Three years later, John Phillips now aged 28 married Elizabeth Smeeton aged 19 on the 30th July 1829 at Kibworth Beauchamp by license and with the consent of her parents. A son, John Smeeton Philipps, was baptised on the 17th November 1830 at Kibworth Beauchamp.
On the 1841 census John Philipps says that he is aged 35 and that he was born in 1806 in Abernant, Carmarthenshire. Making himself a little younger? He is living in Kibworth Beauchamp with his wife Elizabeth who is now aged 30 who was born in 1811 in Leicestershire. John and Elizabeth’s son, John Smeeton Philipps, is aged 11 and John’s mother in law Elizabeth Smeeton is aged 70 (born in 1771) and living with them. Their housekeeper Elizabeth Day is aged 20; she was born in 1821.
Five years later in 1846 John Philipps is living at the Manor House in Kibworth Harcourt.
On the 1851 census John Philipps is aged 50 and now a widower continuing to live at the Manor House in Kibworth Harcourt. John is described as a Grazier of 30 acres with no labourers. His son John Smeeton Philipps is now aged 20 and described as a hosier who was born at Kibworth Harcourt.
In a letter from Richard Thomas at Haverfordwest in the Pembrokeshire Archives we learn that John Philipps bought the Manor House at Kibworth Harcourt from his uncle the Rev ThomasThomas’s estate for £4,450 on the 5th November 1855.
Later in 1863, we learn that ‘John Philipps had rebuilt the Manor House, Kibworth Harcourt with twin gables and barge boards as well as putting up a wall around the garden and land. The brick front with its twin gables and ornamental barge boards is evidently his work. The garden wall also built by Philipps carries tiles dated 1475, 1690 and 1860. As both he and his uncle were local antiquarians there may be good evidence for the earlier dates. About 200 yards north of the house are two fishponds probably of medieval origin.
In August 1863 The Leicestershire Architectural and Archaeological Society held its AGM over two days in Kibworth (see Historic Gathering at Kibworth 1863-Modern) On the aft ernoon of the first day of the meeting an exhibition was held in a museum (temporarily formed in the National Schools by permission of the Rector) which was opened to the public. In this exhibition the objects of antiquarian interest were numerous and interesting.
John Philipps exhibited the following items:
- Belt
- Court cupboard.
- Queen Elizabeth’s Poem in her own handwriting, signed,
- Charles II’s autograph for signing the warrant to elect Wm Hanbury Esq, High Sheriff of the county of Northampton, December 1665 (William Hanbury was a friend of John Philipps’s uncle the Rev. Thomas Thomas this must be how it was acquired)
At 5pm that day the attendees of the meeting visited the Tumulus (The Munt) then The Manor House, 39 Main Street, Kibworth Harcourt, the residence of John Philipps Esq and the many objects of interest to antiquarians there afforded much pleasure. Mr Phillips, after a good old English fashion, requested the members of the company to partake of good and homely beverage.
John Philipps' Will 21st April 1866
John Philipps leaves his son and his nephew Thomas Philipps of 182 Piccadilly (Fortnum and Masons grocers in their early days! ) son of my brother Thomas Philipps and my friendsThomas George Langham of Oxford Terrace, London butcher and John Langham of Walton in Knaptoft, joint executors of his will.
I direct a small tablet to be placed by my executors in the parish church of Abernant in the county of Carmarthen with the following inscription
‘This tablet is placed to the memory of John Philipps son of Jonathan and Catherine Philipps late of Skyrfa in this parish‘ with the date of my demise annexed.
I revoke all former wills in witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament ….
He leaves 19 guineas to his friend Emily Sarah Slatter and £10 each to his three executors. (Emily was a governess)
Tablet in the Parish Church of Abernant in the
county of Carmarthen with the following inscription:
‘ This tablet is placed to the memory of John Philipps Son of Jonathan Catherine
Philipps late of Skyrfa in this parish who departed this life December 23rd 1867
Aged 67 Years’
Sacred to the memory of JOHN PHILLIPS
of the Manor House who died December 23rd 1867
aged 67
Also to ELIZABETH, his beloved wife
daughter of JOHN & ELIZABETH SMEETON
WHO DIED AUGUST 7TH 1847
AGED 40 YEARS.
'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord'
In 1706 the Manor House was sold to the Foxton’s who owned it until 1797 when the last of that family died the office and property passed to the son- in -law The Reverend Thomas Thomas of East Farndon, Northamptonshire. The property remained college leasehold, but both the Reverend Thomas and later John Philipps made considerable alterations.In 1972 the Manor House was sold by Merton College, Oxford to Mr P Thurnham.
John Philipps - a letter to family in Wales.
On 1st December 1853 he writes…
Dear Sir,
I have seen the minister of the chapel this afternoon and he will send the rent down to you in about three weeks’ time, be so kind as to send me how much he owes you. There is no tithe in this parish and I can’t give you my account of other parishes.
You asked what family I have -only one son and he is in a very good situation at Leicester in a country house, he is nearly 24 years of age and very steady. My dear wife has been dead 6years last August, almost all your old friends at Kibworth are no more. I shall be very pleased to see you at Kibworth to spend a week or two with me.
Let me know when you will be likely to come. I shall be in London about the 2nd of January for a week or two. I was at Dublin last August and through North Wales and I enjoyed the trip very much. Give my best respects to your family and let me know how many you have.
I remain, dear sir
yours truly
J Phillips
P.S. I have one of best Durham bulls in the county 2 years old on the 13th of last month he has now served a great many cows this last summer at 6s per cow the mother was counted the best cow in the county and was got by one of the Marquis of Exeter’s bulls.
* Philipps is the original spelling of his name on the baptism entry denoting his ancestry to the Philipps of Picton Castle - however it is often later spelt ‘Phillips’
© Jeni Molyneux 14th November 2019
(John Philipps was my 4x great grandmother’s younger brother.)
Acknowledgements
Information extracted from Family Letters which were deposited at both the National Library Wales and Pembrokeshire Archives at Haverford West.
The Leicester Journal
Part 2
Copies of Kibworth Harcourt Village Deeds c1235 to 1301
Each image of the fifteen deeds is followed by a typed version - where the words are legible!
1235-1247
Grant from Richard of Harcourt to Seker his son of all his manor of Kibworth. Witness Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester; Sir Roger of Lueney, Earl of Winchester; Sir Robert of Lueney; Sir Philip Lunel; Sir Robert of Harecurt; Sir Henry of Harecurt; William of Harecurt; Thomas the Clerk (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
c1260
Grant from Saer de Harcourt, Knt., to John the Farrier (le Ferron), citizen of London of his manor of Kibbeworth of Leicester receiving only the advowson of the chapel. Witnessed: Sir William Bagod; Sir William of Kilby; Sir Richard of Harington; Sir Nocholas of Hastings; Robert of Rumes; Richard of Harrington; Robert of Wiuile; Robert of Martinans, (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1263 September 25
Grant from Saer of Harecurt to Robert Wyteside, of Thorp, of two borates of land in Kibwurth, to wit, one formerly held of the donor by Robert, son of William the Reeve, and the one formally held by the doner by William of Langton, together with all appurtenances and with the aforesaid Robert, son of William, the Reeve, and William of Langton, and all their sequelae and chattels. Witnessed; Richard Haldeyn, of Flekeneye; Hugh Seneret, of the same; Richard the Hunter (Venator) of the same; William of Gundi, of Neuton; Richard, son of Robert, of the same; Peter, son of Roger, of the same; William of Regns, of Kibworth; William his son; Robert Aaron of the same; Robert of Marnham, of Reresby; Walter the Clerk; (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1270 October 23
Grant from John the Farrier (le Ferron), citizen of London to his especial friend Dom. Walter of Merton formerly Challencor of his manor of Kibbeworth, Leicester, with the advowson of the chapel of the same manor. Witness: Dom. Master of Lutleby; Master Roger of Seton, Justice of the Bench; Sir William Bagod; Sir William of Ryleby; Sir Richard of Harrington; Sir Nicholas of Hastings, Rutgbls; Robert of Wyuill; William of Rumes; Robert of Martynans; Richard of Brademese, of the County of Surrey; Richard of the More in the County of Bucks; Roger Jay Clard, of Bucks; Eustace the Fleming. of Hants. (Liber Ruber fo.29d.)
1270 October 26
Grant from Saer of Harcourt to his friend and companion (socins) Dom. Walter of Merton late Challencor of the manor of Kybbeworth which manor John the Farrier (le Ferron) held of the said Saer and afterwards gave to the said Walter. (No 2874). Witness; Dom. Martin Lutlebir and Master. Roger of Seton, Justices of the Bench; Sir William Bagod; Sir William of Kyleby; Sir Richard of Harington; Sir Nicholas of Hasting; Robert of Wyrell; William of Rumes; Robert of Martynans; Richard of Bradenose, of Surrey; Richard of the More, of Bucks; Roger Jayllard, of Bucks; Eustace of Fleming, of Hants. (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1270 October 26
Another form of the preceding grant in which the date is omitted and it is stated that Walter of Merton gave the donor £400 for his grant. . (Liber Ruber fo.29d.)
1270 October 29
Copy of enrolment of a star of acquittance from Cok, son of Cresse, to Walter of Marth(un) of his claim upon the manor of Kybworthe by reason of my debts due to the said Cok from Saer of Harcourt. He also agrees to hold him quit of claim from any other fees. (Liber Ruber fo.30.)
c1270
Grant from Richard of Harrecurt to Robert, son of Richard the Parson of Glynhale of half a virgate of land in Kibbeworthe, which Robert, son of Matilda held, and of eight acres of land in the fields of the same town, whereof 1 acre lies on Litlehul near the land that Roger Wyther held; 1½ roods lie under are Blakelondes, near the land that Yuo, son of Henry held; 1½ roods lie upon Blakelonde near the land held by Reginald at the Well; ½ an acre lies in Crowenersihe near the land Alexander, son of Robert holds; 1 rood lie upon Reyland near the land that Robert Joye holds; 3 roods lie at Walwrtes near the land that Hugh Hurtlebole holds; 1 acre lies under Pesecrofte; 1? roods upon Sesecroft near the land that Robert Joye holds; 1? roods lie under Northut near the land that Reginald at the Well holds; half an acre lie at Stalegate near the land that Robert Brun holds; 3roods lie in Sesilsike near the land that Reginald at the Well holds; 1 acre extends into Boretlesdale near the land that Roger Wyther holds; 1 acre extends into Sesilsike near the land held by Nicholas, son of Simon the Reeve. Witness; Robert Noel; Henry Wyshard; William of Stok; Clno, son of Henry of Kibworth; William of Reys; John of Flechen, Clerk; Richard Halding, of the same; Richard the Huntsman, of the same; Willian Gundisy, of Neuton; Yro, son of Roger of Kibbeworth; Silvester the Clerk.
1271 May 15
Final concord made at Westminster between Walter of Merton, demandant, and Saer of Harcourt deforciant, of the manor of Kibbewurth Harcourt, which the deforciant acknowledges to be the right of the demandant, and of the gift of John the Farrier (le Ferron) and of the gift and confirmation of the said Saer. John the Farrier was present at the making of the first and acknowledged that he had no right or claim to the said manor. (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
c1272
W. of Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick to Ralph of Heya and his other Bailiffs charging them not to impede Dom. Walter of Merton or his assigns in the possession of the manor of Kibbeworth, of the fee of the said Earl, which he has confirmed to the said Walter his especial friend. (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
c1272
Grant from William of Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, to his especial friend Dom. Walter of Merton, late Challencor of the King of England, the manor of Kybbeworth, of the fee of the said William which John the Farrier (le Ferron) gave to the said Walter. Witnessed; Sir Robert Walerannd, Sir Walter of Heylon, Sir Bartholomow of Suthlegh; Sir Thomas of Arderne; Sir Walter of Cokeseya; Sir Roger Corbet; Richard of St. John; Richard of Brademere. (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1273 June 18
Release from Margery, widow of John the Farrier (le Ferron) citizen of London to discertus viz Dom. Walter of Merton to her claim to dower in the manor of Kybbeworth. Witnessed; John Adryan; William of Durham; Gregory of Kelegh; Phillip the Tailor (Le Taylur); Henry le Waleys; Richard Bonanenture; Master Jeffrey the Clerk (le Clerc). ‘Item is to interfuerant’; Ralph of Algate, clerk of the Sherriffs of London; William of Salisbury (Sars). Geffrey of Angre; William of Lutlebys; John of the Hale. . (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1274 June 22
Release from Richard of Sadynton and Matilda his wife, daughter of Syo of Kybbeworth to Walter of Merton, Lord of the manor of Kybbeworthe, of free pasture for four cattle in the demense pasture of Kybbeworth, part of the free pasture for eight cattle enjoyed by the releasers. Witnessed; Master Nicholas of Muselegh; William of Langgeton; William of Leynes; William Dudekyn; Thomas of the Dune; Roger Jallard; Richard of the More; (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
1276 January 8
Grant from Walter of Merton, Bishop of Rochester to his sister Editha wife of Thomas Tayallard, of eight marks of rent in his manor of Kibbeword to be received from the tenements of Richard of Sadington 10s., of Nicholas the Smith half a mark, of Robert Sibile 10s., of Seolastica 10s., of Roger Johie 10s., of Ralph the Carter (Carrettarens) 10s., of Hugh Godwine 10s., of John son of Hugh, 10s., of Henry Polle 10s.; of Matilda, sister of Robert the Carpenter 10., of Hawisia of Kilmers, 10s., to have and to hold to the said Edith for the augmentation of her sustenance for the term of her life; provided that if she survive the asforsaid Thomas her husband and have her land and dower in the manor of Aeton in peace, or if the said Walter shall at another time provide for her more fully, then the said 8 marks are to revert to him or his assigns holding the said manor. Witnessed; Robert, son of Nigel; Roger Jayllard; William Dudekin; Nicholas of Thedden; Andrew of Hotot; Richard of Brademere;Thomas of Chaston; Roger, son of John of Litlebur; Walter the Gardener, Clerk. Dated at Hallings’ (Liber Ruber fo. 29d.)
(Fine impressiom of seal)
1300-1 February 16
King Edward I. Licence for Master Henry of Fodringeye and Master Robert of Cardevre to assign 8 messuages, six virgates and two acres of land and 4 marks of rent in Kibbeworth Harcourt to the Warden and and Scholars of Merton and for the Warden and Scholars to receive the same notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain.
Written / translated by David Adams
Acknowledgements: Clare and Steve Langan
British History on Line
R.H. Hilton, Kibworth Harcourt A Merton College Manor in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
Cicely Howell, Land, Family and Inheritance in Transition: Kibworth Harcourt 1280-1700
Part 1
In 1235-36 Richard de Harcourt was holding land in Kibworth from the Earl of Warwick, and it is probable that this was the manor of Kibworth Harcourt. The Harcourt family retained the manor until 1265 at which time the size of the manor was calculated for Exchequer purposes and gives an insight into the estate and its value;
One mesuage and 10 virgates in demense worth £7 12s 0d., 18½ virgates in villeinage of land, each virgate being worth 16s per annum.
Rents from free tenements and cottars amount to 38s 10d. per annum.
Fixed rent from 1 virgate free land worth 6s 8d. per annum.
One mill worth 20s 8d. per annum in rents.
A render of 4 capons at Christmas worth 6d.
Total value of the manor, £26 0s 8d. per annum
In 1265 the manor was seized from Saer de Harcourt by Henry Ⅲ because of Saer’s allegiance to Simon de Montfort (Earl of Leicester) who led the rebellion against the King. In 1267, the King handed over the manor to William Mauduit, Earl of Warwick.
In 1267 the King pardoned Saer de Harcourt and the manor was returned to him in 1268 by William Mauduit’s widow. However it is believed the Saer had financial problems and in consequence he transferred, possibly as security for debt, the manor, less the advowson, to John le Ferron, a Farrier of London.
On October 23 1270 John le Ferron granted to Walter of Merton the manor of Kibworth, with the advowson of the chapel of the same manor and on the 26ᵺ of the same month Saer of Harcourt granted to Walter of Merton, for the sum of £400, the manor of Kibworth Harcourt which John le Ferron held. The payment of £400 by Walter of Merton to Saer de Harcourt for the manor of Kibworth Harcourt appeared to be below the actual value of the manor possibly due to the Saer anxiety to urgently raise money.
On May 15 1271 the manor of Kibworth Harcourt was legally transferred from John le Farron and Saer de Harcourt to Walter of Merton.
Walter died in 1277 and he had six heirs. Two of Walter’s heirs gave up their shares to Merton College in 1278. After protracted negotiations and some substantial payments the remaining heirs gave up their shares of the manor to Merton College. This resulted in Merton College holding the whole of the Kibworth Harcourt manor.
There was a lesser manor in Kibworth Harcourt in the early reign of King Henry Ⅲ which was held by Lawrence of Apetoft. William de Harcourt, Saer de Harcourt’s grandfather, had granted 10 virgates of land to Lawrence of Apetoft during the early part of the 13th century. The Apetoft manor appears to have remained separate from the main Kibworth Harcourt manor and passed through a number of hands before being held by John le Ferron and subsequently by Walter of Merton. The Apetoft manor was granted to two fellows of Merton College, Master Henry of Fodringeye and Master Robert of Cardevre c1295 who in turn conveyed the manor to Merton College. This conveyance was challenged by the Earl of Warwick, however in 1300-1 King Edward Ⅰ dismissed the challenge and the conveyance of the Apetoft manor to Merton College was confirmed and became part of the main manor of Kibworth Harcourt.
Merton College holds the manor to the present day.
Written by David Adams
Acknowledgements
Clare and Steve Langan
British History on Line
R.H. Hilton, Kibworth Harcourt A Merton College Manor in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
Cicely Howell, Land, Family and Inheritance in Transition: Kibworth Harcourt 1280-1700