CH

CHESTER MUNIMENTS

Deposited by A.J.B.Chester, esq., of The Old Rectory, North Crawley, Bucks. First three instalments, July & Nov 1934 and Oct 1935; Then also Nov 1936; August 1954. Catalogued 1936. All items in the collection were accepted by HM Government in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to Bedfordshire Archives and Records Service, 2017. Accession number 1085 unless specifically stated.

Documents relating chiefly to the Tillsworth and Lidlington estates of the Chester family. The Chester family of Chicheley, Bucks., acquired the manor of Tillsworth in 1604 (CH.53), amanor in Hockliffe in 1637/8 (CH.225-28), and the manor of lidlington about 1630 (the park of Lidlington was acquired in 1629 (CH.540) but no documents give definite evidence as to the date when the Chesters obtained the manor). (Cf.Vict. Co. Hist., Beds.,iii,306).The first was sold before 1838, the last in 1769. As these manors were not originally part of the family estate, Mr. A.J.B. Chester deposited their documents at Bedford in 1935, retaining those which related to the property in Buckinghamshire and elsewhere. He also gave permission for the retention by the county record office of eight early charters of Rippingale, Lincs. (CH.864-71) which seem to have been acquired in connection with a mortgage on the adjacent Billingborough. It is not as complete as later catalogues. Many deeds contain personal names & place names, not given in catalogues, witnesses never taken out.

The majority of the documents in this deposit were found in a loose state; these have been carefully arranged. Deeds found in their original bundles are distinguished from those found in no order.

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