• Reference
    AN
  • Title
    Alington Archive
  • Date free text
    1537-2016
  • Production date
    From: 1537 To: 2016
  • Admin/biog history
    Descent of the Estate The Alington Archive consists mainly of the Title Deeds of property acquired by the family over the 19C in the parishes of Arlesey, Great and Little Barford, Henlow, Stotfold in Bedfordshire, Saffron Walden, Essex, Baldock, Barley, Buckland, Graveley, Hitchin, Layston, Letchworth, Norton, Sandon & Wallington, Hertfordshire, Abbotsley in Huntingdonshire, Burton Latimer, Finedon, Twywell in Northamptonshire, the Blue Boar, Holborn, the White Hart, Bromley and property in Wrotham, both in Kent and property in Westminster. Little Barford The core of the Estate was the Manor of Little Barford. This had been held by the Dale family in the Middle Ages. In 1537 it passed to their heirs the Fettiplaces of Swinbrook, Oxfordshire. John Fettiplace sold the manor to George Edwards in 1658. His son Jasper sold it to Sir Walter & Francis St John in 1692. Francis's daughter, Mary married Sir Samuel Browne of Arlesey. In 1764 Browne's granddaughter, Mrs Shutz made over the Estate to her son. He later sold it to an attorney, who transferred it to Mr Hutchinson, partner in Security Bank. On the Bank's failure was sold to Mr John Williamson of Baldock, dealer in malt. His Will was proved on 26 July 1830 (Extract AL 669 AND Russell Volume V page 397) His daughter Sara married the Reverend William Alington (1762-1849). His Will was proved on 14 January 1850. Their son John (1795 1863), married 3 October 1822 Eliza Frances Plumer of Canons Park, Middlesex (died1838). John's Will was proved on 10 February 1864. He left four surviving sons. The eldest, William, (1826-1874) owned both Little Barford Manor House and Letchworth Hall and died unmarried. On 31 July 1873, he sold the Manor of Marston and estates in the parishes of Marston Moretaine, Wootton, Lidlington and Cranfield (total 1598 Acres, 0 roods and 38 perches) for 83,000. I.e. c 53 per acre (Russell reference above). The Little Barford Estate passed to his only surviving brother, Julius (1833-1905), who was Sheriff of Bedfordshire in1883. Julius married Catherine Mary Wright of Halston Hall, Salop on 5 January 1871 On his death the estate passed to Charles Edmund Argentine Alington (1872-1931) He was High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 1915 On his death, unmarried, the Estate passed to his brother Walter Hildebrand Alington (1874-1960). His older son Edmund Hugh Hildebrand Alington of Little Barford (1911-1978) deposited this archive in 1971. His second son, Charles Francis Alington (1919-1987) lived at Hemingford Park, Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdonshire. (Sources Beds VCH Volume III page 207 and 1952 Burke's Landed Gentry) On the death of Edmund Hugh Alington the estate at Little Barford passed to Charles's son Nigel Argentine Alington (1947-2018). Nigel Alington lived on the estate, latterly at the Dower House that had been built on the estate by his father, until his death on the 4th June 2018. Charles Francis Alington also had two daughters: Felicity and Virginia. Felicity had issue two sons. The Creakers Estate at Great Barford has a complex history and was, at one point divided into three parts (one for each daughter of Thomas Garrett) with one of those third parts being sub-divided into thirds (or ninths of the whole) one for each daughter of Daniel Chandler.
  • Scope and Content
    Research Value The minimal Cataloguing and the fact that the Estate straddled three counties, has led to this Archive being one of the most under-used in the BLARS Office. How the Estate was created was also unclear and only the most dedicated Family Historian would wade through the Bundles in the hopes of finding a reference to a family. Deeds of Properties Arlesey AN 38 primarily consists of the deeds of a farm called Impey's Farm, Closes incl. Trainter's Close and a further messuage, all at Arlesey. According to a deed of 1704 they belonged to the Nodes of Sheephall, Hertfordshire. This Deed refers to a number of his father (also George's) children, In 1706 the property was sold to John Godfrey of Hitchin, Esq. and Ann his wife, mainly on the strength of a loan from Edward Laundy of Baldock. In 1727 the property was re-mortgaged to Nicholas Apethorpe of Gamlingay, Cambs for 400. Hawick and Bushey Closes are mentioned. John Godfrey left a will in 1729 (see copy in this bundle). In 1738 John's widow and daughter leased out the property to Thomas Botterell. It mentions limited permission to plough pasture. A deed of 1747 lists a number of closes by name and indicates that the farm had upwards of 150 acres in the common field. By Will, Anne Godfrey, Spinster left the farm in Arlesey to Capel Lofft, made on 21 March 1777. In 1778 it formed part of the Marriage Settlement of Capel Lofft of Queen Square Bloomsbury with Miss Emblin, which included property at Stanton, Suffolk. He was later described as of Troston, Suffolk. In 1792 it was sold to John Williamson of Baldock, Gentleman. In the bundle is a Copy of Court Roll admitting Capel Lofft into Morris Mead held of the Manor of Henlow Warden, 1777. . Further deeds and Copies of Court Roll relate to this property in AN 40 including the Wills of George Nodes of Sheephall in 1696 and John Godfrey of Hitchin, Gentleman in 1729. An Abstract of title brings the title down to Capel Lofft Esq in 1777 from 1696. The rest of this Bundle relates to Norton Mills, which see. There is a small group of Enclosure papers concerned with John Williamson's Estate at Arlesey in 1804. This includes the Bill & Enclosure Act and an assessment of his share of the costs. (AN48) Creakers, Great Barford is an Estate based on an ancient moated site of a Manor House in the North West part of Great Barford parish, close to the border with Renhold. The history of the manor of Creakers, Crewkers or West Ende is given in Volume III of the Bedfordshire VCH page 183. The Crevequeres held land in Barford in the 13C, almost certainly the manor of Creakers. Sometime in the 15C the Manor passed from the Crevequeres to the Fitz Jeffreys, who originated in Thurleigh. They seem to have sold up in mid 17C. By 1726 a third part of the manor was owned by Henry Mander (according to AN 24 the partition took place in 1738.) This was sold in 1738 to John Peck (according to AN 24 this happened in1747-8. Matthew Pedley was a party to the deed of 1748. Another third had passed from John Garthorne to John Emerson in 1739 (AN24) William Pedley bought out at least two shares in 1750. The Halseys are said to have sold the manor to Mr Pedley of Great Barford c1770. By 1820 ceased to be a manor Deeds relating to Creakers are found in AN13 (site of the Manor), 14, 17, 19, 22 AND 15. The deeds of the site of the manor of Creakers, 1744-1750 include a number of references to closes and local common fields. A Decree of 1747 in a legal case (Humphreys v Downes) gives detailed evidence of a dispute over a Bond for 200 & details of the Garthorne, Ridges and Downes Families. (AN13) Later deeds relating to Creakers Farm include the 1820 Great Barford Enclosure Act and the conveyance of 9 October 1827 to the Reverend John Alington, which has a plan & list of field names on the inside skin. A list of field names appears on a Mortgage of 1867. This is repeated on a Deed of Trust for Sale of 2 January 1871 by Julius Alington (AN14). A bundle (reference AN15) gives further information on the legal Case above as well as a late 17C involving the Waite Family and the Will of 1701 of Lady Gould of London, Widow. The other part of the bundle relates to conveyances of 22 acres of arable in named Common Fields in Great Barford. Abuttals are given. A detailed terrier of 66 Acres in the Common Fields of Great Barford in 1671, attached to a Capital Messuage, belonging to the Wye Family. With this property was a close called Peasewell (5A). This was conveyed to William Pedley in 1730. It is represented on the Enclosure Award by either No 54 (Solomon's Homestead 3A, IR, 26p) or by No 58 Farm Homestead (3A, 3R, 13P) Home Close (3A, 3R 17P) In the early 1750's a cottage &, in another transaction, property including Cuckow or Creakers Wood by Robert Beecher to John Pedley. (AN17) AN 19 comprises deeds of cottages, meadow & pasture being purchased by the Pedley Family in the 18th Century. Included is the Marriage Settlement, dated 25 & 26 September1802, of William Pedley and Lucy Rolfe, late of Southill but now of Shefford, covering lands in Great Barford and Biggleswade. The Trustees were Samuel Whitbread II of Southill & Lawrence Gall of Biggleswade, Surgeon Great Barford Enclosure Award of 1824 (Award Book M) lists the old enclosures and field names of property held by William Pedley at Creakers. At the point where Barford meets the boundaries of Renhold and Wilden there was woodland. In between the western boundary of the parish and Creakers lay Coneygrass. Enclosure gave Pedley the chance to expand east over the former Common Fields. He already owned Green End Farm and was granted a further 47 acres at Enclosure. Little Barford AN 23 is a bundle of Deeds relating to the Manor of Little Barford starting with the Marriage Settlement of Reverend John Alington & Miss Eliza Frances Plumer. A number of field names are listed. Another deed of the same date settled 10,000 on Marriage Trustees. Later deeds in the bundle relate to the Alington's Mortgages of their estates 1864-1873. Little Barford is itself is well mapped with the Tithe Map that shows owners and occupiers in 1842. This was revised in 1876 (WG 925). With it is a manuscript terrier, which includes field names but not occupiers. AN 28 is a bundle of deeds relating to a Messuage and two cottages dating back to 1691. In the bundle are wills of Thomas Pierce of Little Barford, yeoman (proved PCC) 1659 Humphrey South of Billiter Square, London, 1715 (proved PCC) Thomas Tingey of Little Barford, (proved Bedford) 1719, Henry Tingey of Little Barford, Gentleman (proved PCC) 1731, John South of St Andrew Undershaft, London, (proved PCC) 1762 AND Legal Cases South v Ayrshcomb, 1706 and Browne v Browne etc over a Marriage Settlement 1731 These Maps can be compared with the 1910 Domesday (DBV 1/6 & 3/83 & 84) AND the 1920;'s Rating Books & Map (DV 1/C 257 & 2/83 & 84). Land TAX Records 1783 (HA 14/5/2), 1797-1832 (QDL) and 1918-1949 (LX) can help you work out who owned land and who occupied it, thus assisting to identify properties in the AN Deed bundles. Unfortunately there are no Terriers, Surveys or Rentals for Little Barford. At best you could get a clearer picture of the 18C landscape. The former Conservation Department of the County Planning Department of Bedfordshire County Council did a Survey of Little Barford. This shows some use of the principal maps but little or no reference to the other documents in the Archive. Eaton Socon On 11 October 1826 the Reverend William Alington bought a house in Eaton Ford on the south side of the Turnpike Road from St Neots to Eaton Socon and land allotted at Enclosure from the Assignees in Bankruptcy George James Gorham of St Neots, Banker on whom an Order had been issued on 26 December 1825. His partners were Francis Rix & William Inkersole. The deeds of the house go back to 1730 and the owners include Benjamin Rogers of Wyboston, Innholder, whose Will was proved at Bedford (ABP/W 1781/23). It is likely that he is the son of the Reverend Benjamin Rogers, the Diarist (BHRS Volume XXX). (AN 25) Letchworth, Hertfordshire AN 41 is a group of deeds relating to the Manors of Stotfold & Letchworth, purchased by John Williamson from the Lloyds of Plas Power, Denbighshire (successors in title to the Lyttons of Knebworth, Herts. The Lease for a Year (release missing), dated 12 February 1796, which has been transcribed, shows that with the Manor of Stotfold was held with its Capital Messuage, called Lordship Farm, formerly Nightingales, four cottages and 264 Acres, 2 Roods, 27 Perches, of which 91 Acres are Tithe Free, late in the occupation of John Payne. A small part of the property was Copyhold. The Abstract of title for this goes back to 1624. And a Farm called Willhouse or White Lion and sometimes called Dryers and now Graveley Farm in the parishes of Graveley, Stevenage, Chisfield & Little Wymondley, Herts (54 A, 0 R, 32 P), heretofore John Stratton, now John Stratton. (previously sold as Lot Six on Orders of Mastery in Chancery And the Manor with its Capital Messuage or Mansion House of Letchworth and land formerly in the occupation of John Hawkins and afterwards of Mary Baron, John Hobbs, William Thrussell, Ann Finlow , Matthew Green and others And three cottages, Total of estate at Letchworth (785 Acres, 2 Roods, 19 Perches), late occupied by John Baron and now occupied by Henry Eve. (Lot 7) Most unfortunately there are no field names listed. And the perpetual advowson of Letchworth. The deed of the 13 February 1796 assigns the property to William Cooch to attend the inheritance of a former Mortgage by Lease for 500 years of 10 June 1752. A Disentailing Deed of 1859 shows how the Alington Estate profited from sale of land to the Railways. Norton, Hertfordshire AN 39 are the deeds of a Messuage, Water Corn Mills called Norton Mills and two pieces of meadow or pasture (2A). The first deed refers back to a conveyance in 1715 from Robert Bell Esq. Although his place of residence is not stated, he could well be the Robert Bell, who owned the site of St Mary's Brewery to the south-west of Bedford Bridge. (CCE 1055). In 1729 James Farrow, formerly Farrer sold the premises to Richard Barnes of Watton at Stone, Mealman. He clearly had moved to Norton as a Miller when he had mortgaged the premises to John Izard in 1740 in 1741 the property was sold to Daniel Wacket on Richard removing to Baldock .Isaac Wilkinson became the Mortgagee in 50 in 1745 [1746]. Daniel sold to Thomas Wacket of Sleapside, Herts in 1752. He in turn conveyed it to Matthew Hutton of Newnham, Herts in 1757. Hutton's Agreement to lease of 1761 is in the bundle of Deeds. By 1773 Izard's interest had descended to the Pryors and the Huttons to Philip Yorke of Erddig. The Mortgage was then assigned to John Williamson of Baldock, Baker. Rest of AN40 re further deeds relating to these Mills, going back to 1685 when Richard Bell gave his mother Mary an annuity of 100 on Radwell Manor. An Abstract lists the deeds 1685-1745. Of particular interest is the Will of James Hutton of Newnham, Herts who left household goods to his nephew Philip Yorke of Erddig, Denbighshire (now a National Trust property. He left his sister Dorothy Yorke a leasehold house in Park Street near Grosvenor Square. Sandon Hertfordshire AN 43 is a small group of early 17C Copies of Court Roll relating to a four acres of land in Quanstock Field, Sandon, prior to purchase by George Robins. AN 34 is a Bundle of Deeds relating to Sandon. The first few deeds relate to a Messuage and Close adjoining, at Rowe Green, Toft on which a cottage formerly stood and Qualmstock and Hell Croft (1682); Land in Hoggeswell, Gourdon alias Ganden, Roe Field (1694) Close called Lorrimer's Penn were purchased by the Robins Family. George of Cottered, Yeoman left a will made 3 October 1728, leaving property in Saffron Walden, Essex and Sandon. The estate passed to his daughter Hester Gorham of Hoddesdon, wife of John. They sold to Edward Fage of Baldock in 1732. There are three Fage Wills 1745-1768 . John Williamson became the Mortgagee in 1788 AN42 (first bundle) Deeds for property in Sandon (1698: 3 houses, 1723 2 cottages and a close , a close of pasture and 2 acres), which passed from the Parker family, Yeomen of Yardley, Herts to John Brooks of Sandon, Bricklayer in 1723. By his Will proved in 1744 the property passed to his sister's family, the Edwards of Sandon , Carpenters. In 1810 left the property to his eldest son as reversionary to his wife, Mary. They sold it jointly in 1822. The deeds are abstracted in a draft Abstract of Title of that date. AN 42 (Second Bundle) are the deeds of a cottage in Mill End, Sandon. It passed from the Parkers (see above) in 1720 [1721] to William Edwards & his wife Rebecca ( nee Brooks ). William by his Will of 1730 left it to Rebecca, who by her own will of 1744 left it to John Edwards. The last deed in the bundle relates to the Marriage Settlement of John Edwards and Katherine. It is probable that these are the John Edwards and Katherine Ford married at Wallington, Herts in 1750, (Herts IGI) AN 42 (third Bundle) relates to a House at Row Green, Sandon sold by Edward Fage to John Williamson. These deeds would appear to be connected to the Lease of 1775 in AN36 below. AN 42 (fourth bundle) relates to a cottage at Wallington and 5 roods of land at Sandon The deeds start in 1705 but refer to a Fine of 1697. In 1762 it passed to John Baldock of Sandon Yeoman, who left it by Will of 1762 to his grandson, John Franklin,. James Franklin sold to John Edwards in 1806. It then was included in the Will of John Edwards above. AN 42 (fifth bundle) is an assignment of several securities to Robert Passell of Ashwell and Elizabeth, his wife (nee Gentle), dated 16 September 1730. Included in the property is a House & Close (now garden ) at New Chipping, Buckland, Herts; a messuage and two tenements in Layston, Herts and a messuage & cottage in Barley, Herts AN 42 (sixth bundle) contains the Deeds of a Cottage at Thingdon, Herts: a) John Robson of Thingdon [Finedon, Northamptonshire], Labourer left it to his wife Alice by his Will proved in 1739. AN 42 (seventh bundle) Cottage at Burton Latimer Northants, Northants Robert Hills, of Burton Latimer, Northants, Labourer mortgaged by Lease of 500 years to Robert Lambe of Great Addington, Northants, Gentleman A Messuage in Burton Latimer, containing by estimation two bays and one part of the yard adjoining the house on the west side and next to the yard, heretofore of Robert Worlidge, Labourer and now or late of John Baily on the side of a little messuage, now or late of Thomas James, which was a barn, formerly being on the west side of the said yard, the house and yard of William Eady on the North side and of Francis Robinson on the South side. Richard Hills Robert's son, sold it to Richard Norris of Burton Latimer, Mason on 11 November 1748. Meanwhile John Baily assigned the 1687 lease of his two bay house, that he had inherited ultimately from his grandfather of the same name, to John Yeomans of the same, Yeoman for 10 on 13 November 1747 AN 42 (bundle 8)The last document in this miscellaneous bundle is a copy of the will of John Watson of Belton, Lincs. He left everything to his wife Jane so long as she did not remarry. If she did half was to go to her niece Ann Frisby. The will was proved on Lincoln on 22 December 1770. AN 37 consists of mainly copies of deeds relating to Daniel's Manor Sandon, Hertfordshire AN 36 relates to John Williamson's executorship of Martha Franklin's Will and John Baldock . There is also an account of the Executors' Accounts of John's Widow, Martha. The accounts cover 1787-1806. There is part of a Lease of 21 Years from Fage to John Baldock of Rowe Green, Sandon, 1775 AN 35 are deeds of a Messuage at Hellen Green and Close near & land in Flackett field part of an Estate built up in the early 18th Century by the Benn Family, (Will of William of East street, Red Lyon Square, London) sold in 1789 to the Holbrooks who sold to John Williamson in 1792. Deeds include Copies of Court Roll dating back to 1680 Abbotsley, Hunts; The Reverend John Alington purchased a farm from Robert Virley's Mortgagees on 2 March 1837. This includes awarded land. A Copy of Court Roll indicates that in 1791 held with the farm was a close (site of a barn, formerly a burnt-down cottage) and a half yardland and other land lying dispersed in the common fields of Abbotsley. Bundle AN 18 consists of the deeds of a freehold and copyhold estate at Abbotsley. The Mortgagor in 1749 was the Reverend Lewis Monoux of Sandy, Clerk. It also includes the Wills of Joseph Oliver of St Neots, Butcher (Proved 5 April 1745) and John Fensham of Colmworth (Proved Bedford 1765) Another John Fensham (and Mary his wife) 's sale to Reverend Whitworth, Farm, of Bugden, Hunts, Clerk Closes (incl. Home & Whites) AND detailed list of a substantial number of lands, given Furlong Names and abuttals on 12 March, 1768. AN 22 are deeds relating to the partition of the manor of Creakers made by Henry Waite to John Peck, who sold his share to Nathaniel Pedley in 1748. AN 21 contains deeds relating to the Whitworths and their relations, the Hursts, prior to the sale of the Abbotsley Estate (c 160 Acres) to the Reverend John Alington on 26 March 1838. AN 20 is a further bundle relating to Abbotsley. It includes a copy of the 1802 Enclosure Act for Abbotsley and the Conveyance of The Downs (incl. Farmstead & Keeper's House 171 Acres 2R 10P) and Pits Down (3A, 2R 11P) on 2 January 1871 by Julius Alington to the Honourable J. R. O Bridgeman. Harman property in London & Kent AN 33 is a group of deeds relating to the property of John Harman of Croydon, Brewer, including the Blue Posts, Holborn, Bars, the White Hart at Bromley and property in Wrotham, both in Kent 1828-1832. There reason for being in the Archive is not immediately obvious. Personal Papers Personal papers include a very detailed Inventory of the goods of William Williamson of Baldock baker, taken on 17 December 1759, This lists the contents of his yard and the numerous debts owed, providing a useful window into an 18C Baker's shop. Accounts of his widow as Executor go onto 1771 and include the education of his daughter, Elizabeth at a Boarding School at Buntingford. She was later the wife of Richard Ward of St Ives, Huntingdonshire. (AN 45) When land came into the Estate Bundle 39 Baldock etc John Williamson 1775 Bundle 41 Letchworth Manor John Williamson 1796 Bundle 30 Little Barford John Williamson 1798 Bundle 10 Twywell Rev W Alington 1799 Bundle Copyhold of Manor of Shephall John Williamson 1801 Bundle land at Stotfold John Williamson 1806 Bundles 4, 11, Land at Stotfold John Williamson 1807 Bundle More land at Stotfold John Williamson 1807 Bundle 10 Twywell, Northants Rev J Alington 1824 Bundle 17, 13, 14, 22 Creakers, Great Barford (part) Rev J Alington 1827 Bundle 31 Little Barford & Eynesbury John Williamson 1829 Bundle Copyhold of Manor of Shephall Revs W & M Alington1834 Bundle Copyhold of Manor of Stotfold Rectory; Rev J Alington 1835 Bundles 16-18 Abbotsley Rev J Alington 1837 Bundle 46 Westminster Rev J Alington 1837 Bundle 24 Copyhold of Manor or Norton Rev J Alington 1848 Bundle 41 Letchworth Manor John Williamson 1859 Bundle 24 Close at Stotfold Rev C Alington 1865 Bundle 24 Blaston, Leics Rev C. Alington 1869 Bundle 24 Sutton Bassett Rev C. Alington 1869 Bundles 13, 14, 22 Creakers, Great Barford Alington 1870 Bundle Eynesbury Julius Alington 1882 Appendix Schedules of Deeds AN Bundle 27 Schedule of Deeds relating to other parts of the Little Barford Estate, prepared by Hawkins of Hitchin, 1885. Bundle 28 described as Bundle A (incl. case Browne v Browne 1739) Bundle 29 described as Bundle 1 Mrs St John first involved as Mortgagee 1757; yet by end of bundle still not part of the Estate Bundle 31 described as Bundle 1A. Purchase by John Williamson Esq. of Freehold and Leasehold Manor and Estate at Little Barford and Eynesbury 13 October 1829 Bundle 30 described as Bundle 2; starts with Marriage Settlement of Samuel Browne and Miss Mary St John; property goes out of the estate and was purchased by John Williamson for 24 & 25 October 1798 No Bundle seems to correspond to Bundle 3 on this Schedule. Bundle 23 is described as Bundle 4 Alington Deeds relating to their Little Barford Estate. But go beyond 1773 on Schedule to 1880. AN Bundle 24 Schedule of Deeds relating to other parts of the Little Barford Estate, prepared by Hawkins of Hitchin, 1885. Bundles 16 & 18 Abbotsley property was purchased by Reverend J. Alington in 1837 Deeds re Twywell, (Northamptonshire) 1799-1865, Blaston (Leicestershire) 1860-1882 (purchased by the Reverend C. Alington 1869) and Sutton Bassett (Northamptonshire) 1837-1881. Originals do not appear to have been deposited. Schedule of Deeds (similar to above) Bundle 17 described as Bundle 1 Creakers Farm (go beyond 1870 to 1880). Also five bundles of 18C deeds relating to Creakers Schedule of Deeds relating to Letchworth, Wilbury and Stotfold (NB early deeds not relating to purchases by Williamson/Alington family not listed in this Schedule) Bundle 41 described as Bundle 1 Manor of Letchworth purchased by John Williamson on 12 & 13 February 1796 (go up to 1881) Bundle 1 described as Bundle 2 Manor of Norton, purchased by Rev J Alington on 28 March 1848 Bundle of Deeds (described here as Bundle3) relating to a Close at Stotfold purchased 18 April 1865 by Reverend Charles Alington. Bundle 4 described as Bundle 4 Lease of property in Stotfold, purchased by John Williamson 9 June 1807 Bundle of Deeds described here as Bundle 5 relating to land at Stotfold purchased by John Williamson 25 October 1806 Bundle of Deeds, described as Bundle 6 Copyhold of the Manor of Shephall; purchased by John Williamson 25 July 1801 Bundle of Deeds, described as Bundle 7 relating to premises in Stotfold, purchased by John Williamson 6 July 1807 Bundle described here as Bundle 8 relating to Copyhold of the Manor of Shephall 1834-1864; Manor of Norton 1864-1874, Copyhold of Rectory of Stotfold 1835-1873- Schedule of Deeds 'As to Eynesbury (purchased 1882)' Deeds 1847-1882 Appendix : Schedule of Probates etc William Williamson 1758 Ann Williamson 1782 John Williamson 1830 Rev John Alington 1864 William Alington 1874 Appendix Succession Duty paid on death of John in 1865 a) Letchworth, Norton and Stotfold b) Creakers, Twywell etc c) Little Barford 1872 a) Marston Moretaine b) Sutton Bassett and Twywell 1873 Blaston Letchworth and Stotfold 1875 Sutton Bassett & Blaston Letchworth and Stotfold 1882 Little Barford and Creakers Legacy Receipts 1872-1882
  • Archival history
    This archive has been catalogued using the bundles in which the deeds were found in 2017 following their bundle listing on deposit in 1971. These bundles were not originally put into any logical order so, for example, the Creakers Estate at Great Barford formed bundles 13, 14, 15, 17, 19 and 22. Additionally, during cataloguing it was found that integrity of title had not been respected in the original bundling; thus the deeds to the latter part of the story of AN13 were found in AN22. Where this was clear the items were removed from one bundle and placed in the more logical bundle. Bundles containing title to out-county properties have not been catalogue and remain bundle listed. In May 2023 it was confirmed that the trustees of Nigel Alington’s Will Trust had transferred ownership of the Alington archives to Christopher and Dominic Learey.
  • System of arrangement
    When the Archive was first deposited, a bundle list was prepared, giving some personal names, parish and covering dates. The Bundles have not been put in any particular order and therefore to find any individual parish, you must either check the Index Cabinets in the BLARS Search Room OR go through the Bundle List. For farms, land etc you will have to look at the original bundles and work though till you find the information you require. Short cuts as to the descent of property are given by lists of deeds that were made by the Estate's Solicitor, Hawkins of Hitchin in 1885. These give the dates of the Deeds and the parties. If the property is a Manor, this will be recorded at the heading of the Schedule. If you are interested in property within a specific parish, go initially for the Bundle of deeds relating to a Manor, as that is likely to be a substantial property. (AN)
  • Level of description
    fonds