Title
INTRODUCTION
The de Greys held land in Thurleigh as early as 1234 (V.C.H. iii,104),
soon after which they are found in possession of the manor. They held the
manor till 1621, when Henry, Earl of Kent, sold it to Sir Oliver Butler.
(It later passed to the Crawley family; for later documents see the
Crawley collection). These documents are leases for the last 40 years
of the de Grey ownership, and throw light on their estate policy at the
time.
In every lease there is a clause against sub-letting (not transcribed
in the catalogue).
The timber clauses are a feature of the earlier leases. In practically
every case wood and underwood are expected in general terms, but in many instances the lopping of willows and maples is specifically allowed; as to oak and ash trees, however, a special census seems to have been made; but this listing of the trees in every field is falling out of use by 1614
(cf.15/31).
One lease (15/3) shows special arrangements made for an ageing tenant.
The old tenant is to contain with part of the land, and his widow is to be
supported by the incoming tenant with things convenient for her age and
calling.
Certain of the tenants do 3 carriage-duties annually to Wrest or
elsewhere within 14 miles. These also contribute capons and hens.
The building of a barn is specified in 15/34. Repairs, hedges, fences
and ditches are practically always the responsibility of the tenant.
Cottages on the waste are mentioned. In one case (15/9) a parcel
of waste has been set aside by consent of the inhabitants for the tenant
to build himself a house. Another cottage already built on the waste
is allowed to be taken over by the son of the man who erected it, and
later he seems to be paying rent for it in the normal way (15/13,29).
On the other hand, on another occasion the man who erected the cottage
has the option of giving it up for compensation or of removing it.
At one time a farm seems to have been set aside as the Bailiff's Farm.
After the death of John Francklin this is divided among the tenants (15/8).
However, William Bryer, bailiff, has land in Thurleigh, and reference is
made to his 'good and painful' service (15/24).
A curious feature is that the manor house in 1593 and 1614 is let
with a farm of about 400a.(15/35-6); but is not mentioned when this farm
is the subject of a recovery in 1619, and in fact according to V.C.H. the
was sold separately in 1621.
Cf. D.D.C. 1,1a,9,12 (as on preceding page), 1390-1520
SCHEME OF CATALOGUE
THURLEIGH
1. Leases made in 1583 L15/1-6
2. Leases made in 1596 L15/7
3. Leases made in 1604 L15/8-23
4. Leases made in 1606 L15/24
5. Leases made in 1614 L15/25-33
6. Leases of the manor, 1593-1614 L1534-36
7. Conveyance of a farm (The Manor ?) L15/37
RISELEY
1. Lease, 1596 L15/38
Note
Cf DDC
1. Lease of Thurleigh manor, 1390
1a. Warrant ot drain pond, 1395/6
9. Appointment of steward, 1504/5
12 Lease, 1520
LEASES
(For deeds see Jeayes Catalogue, number 541-570)
(These documents come from Jeayes bundles numbers 975, 977, 989)
INDEX OF TENANTS
Allen, W. 32
Bryer, W. 24
Browne T. 5, 18
Cadwell R. & T 34 -36
Covington J. 13, 29
Darlling T. 21, 26
Dennys, W. 38
Dawson, A. 20
Gale, T. 9
Green, J. 1
Harvey, O. 17
Keygle, F. 25
Luffe, A. 3,10
Luffe, T. 23, 31
Maxey, T. 16,30
Norris, T. 15
Rawlins, J. 22
Sanders, W. 8
Slade, John. 2,7,12
Slade, T. 6, 19
Warde, W. 4, 11, 28
Wightman, R. 27