PAREZ, Rev. C. H., Mentmore Vicar age, Leighton Buzzard PARKER, JOHN, F.S.A., Desborough House, High Wycombe PARROTT, F. B., Aylesbury PARROTT, T., Aylesbury PARROTT, T. G., Aylesbury PAYNE, E. J., Recorder of Wycombe, 2, Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, W.C. PAYNE, S. G., Aylesbury PEARSON, Rev. C. W., Walton Vicarage, Aylesbury PEGGE, J. W. GARRETT, Chesham House, Chesham Bois *PENTON, Capt. F. T., Chalfont Park, Slough PHIPPS, Rev. C. O., The Vicarage, Aylesbury PHIPPS, Rev. P. W., Morcott East, PIGOT, Rev. J. C., Cublington Rectory, PIGOTT, Mrs., Brenley House, near POPHAM, W. V. M., Great Marlow RAFFETY, C. W., High Wycombe READING, Rt. Rev. Bishop of, Christ REYNOLDS, L. W., The Priory, High Wycombe RHIND, Rev. G. BRUCE, Haddenham Vicarage, Thame RHYS, Rev. MORGAN, Stone, Aylesbury RICHMOND, R., Leighton Buzzard NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE MANOR AND CHURCH OF HEDSOR. [The following notes (condensed from the original) embody the result of a research made under my directions during the year 1900, into the history of the Manor and Church of Hedsor. As I can lay no claim to be an expert in archæological matters, I shall gratefully receive any corrections or additional information. I should add that these notes are intended only to be supplemental to the history of the parish as given by Langley and others, so that the information thus provided is consequently not repeated, except incidentally.] THE MANOR. 66 Hedsor, according to one learned authority, is derived from the A.S. proper name "Hæddi" and "õra,” a bank or margin of a stream, and would thus be rendered "Hæddi's bank," the spot beside the river where a settler of this name took up his abode. Another derivation is from the A.S. "Haed" (heath), and the verb "sceran (participle scoren "), to "cut," indicating what we term a "sheer descent." The first syllable would refer to the rough heath-covered land formerly embraced in Taplow and Hedsor commons, the second to the steep cliffs bordering the river, the name being thus rendered as "Heathy Cliff or Hill." In former times the name of the parish was spelt in various ways, some of which are here given— Heddesore, Hadesore, Hadeshowere, Hedesouere, The following is a list of the families which owned. the Manor, the dates given being the years in which Peckhams 1554-1556. Parkers 1720-1764. In 1764 the Manor was purchased by William Lord Boston. The above list, so far as can be ascertained, appears to be complete. The Court Rolls at present in existence date from 1573, and extend to 1852, though the rolls are missing from 1623 to 1654. According to Langley, they date from 37 Henry VI., but what has become of these early rolls is unknown. Hedsor is not mentioned by name in Domesday Book, and Langley's suggestion that it was identical with "Lede" (which he afterwards saw reason to doubt) (1) cannot be proved. Lysons states (2) that the "Manor of Lude or Lyde in Wooburn (called in the Norman survey Lede) has passed with Bishop's Wooburn, and is now the property of Mr. Dupre." If this is correct, Lede was not identical with Hedsor, but the authority for Lysons' statement is unknown to me. Under these circumstances it seems useless to put forward any conjectures, but only to add that nothing in the researches made of late shows any connection between Hedsor and Wooburn in early times. To the proposition that Hedsor was "carved" out of Little Marlow, the objection is made that the "hidation" of the latter Manor was not large enough for this to have been the case. The earliest record discovered respecting the Manor of Hedsor states that in 1166 "Geoffrey, son of Sofrid (or Safrid)" answered for "one knight" at the Court of the Honor of Wallingford (3), showing that Hedsor was held of the Honor at that time. In confirmation of this fact, a record of 1254 states that when an Inquisition was made before the Justices for Bucks touching "The rights and liberties and other things belonging to the King," the inhabitants of Hedsor reported that (1) Hun. Desb., page 273, note. (3) Black Book of Exchequer. Red Book ditto, fol. 101d. 66 66 they know nothing at all, as they are of the Honor of Walingford," (4) and finally in 1548, when this Honor had been annexed to the Honor of Ewelme, the Jurors, under an Inquisition taken in that year, reported that Hedsor was held of the Lord the King, as of his Honor of Ewelme, but by what services the Jurors are ignorant, being worth by the year in all issues £20.” (5) Beyond the extract quoted above, nothing further has been discovered respecting "Geoffrey son of Sofrid," but in 1201-2, "William son of Geoffrey 99 was in possession of the Manor, and paid a fine of one mark through the Sheriff, Geoffrey Fitz Peter, in order to avoid foreign service. (6) In the following year he entered into an agreement with one Miles Neirenuit respecting" 40 acres of pasturage" in Hedsor (7), and in 1204 into a further agreement with Robert Burrell of London, to whom he let to farm " all his land in Hedsor for 24 years, from Easter Day of that year, at the annual rent of one mark of silver." (8) 66 William seems to have been the first member of his family to assume the name of De Hedsor, as though he is occasionally described as "William son of Geoffrey," he is more frequently termed "William De Hedsor." His wife's name was Matilda, but her family is unknown. He died circa 1211-12, for in that year (9) Matilda, "who was the wife of William de Heddeshour," brought an action against various persons in respect of lands in Hedsor (10) and elsewhere, part of her dower," a fine being subsequently levied between her and Thomas de Nevill as to "Westcroft in Hedesores," which she claimed as "her reasonable dower," that she had "of the gift of William de Hedesore, formerly her husband." (11) Matilda died in 1246-7, as appears from an Inquisition taken in that year.(12) 66 (4) Hundred Rolls, Bucks, Chapter House, No. 6, P.R.O. (7) Fines, Bucks, File 7, No. 47. (8) Fine Roll, 6 John, m 10. Charter Roll, 6 John, m 9. (10) Curia Regis Rolls, No. 54, m 14, 16, 16d. (12) Assize Rolls, Bucks, No. 56, m 22d. |