S/AM

Ashburnham of Ampthill

Further deposits 1954, Accessions 2270, 2288

The Estates The Ashburnham estates in Bedfordshire divide naturally into three groups: the parks of Ampthill, Brogborough and Beckerings; the Taylor estate at Clapham; and the site of the Grey Friars priory in Bedford The Parks: Ampthill The deeds add a little to the Victoria County History (iii, p.270), account. John Ashburnham with two others was apparently given a grant of the three parks of Ampthill, Brogborough and Beckerings in 1646; by 1661 he had acquired the shares of his co-grantees. The unexpected assignment of 1666 (S/AM4) has some interesting details of the bounds of the park and the buildings therein. The Parks: Brogborough and Beckerings Both of these are in the possession of the Earl of Elgin by 1640; in 1661 both were granted to John Ashburnham by which date they are described as "park or late park" Lysons states that Ampthill Park was sold by Lord Ashburnham to Viscount Fitzwilliam in 1720. Brogborough and Beckerings were sold in 1727 to the Radcliffe family (Cf. H/DE) The Taylor estate, Clapham These deeds are concerned with the property acquired in 1705 by the marriage of William Ashburnham with Katherine Taylor, and with a purchase by Ashburnham in 1752. There is little for the period during which the Taylors held the estate, except for the enclosure agreement (S/AM74), Richard Taylor's will (S/AM75) and the deeds S/AM65-S/AM71. The Clapham property remained longest in Ashburnham ownership, the greater part being sold in 1812, when the manor passed to the Trevors of Bromham Bedford: the Grey Friars The deeds continue the Victoria County History account from 1604. The site of the house passed from Paradine to Riseley in 1626; from Riseley (through marriage) to Sir John Mordaunt of Walton, Warwickshire, in 1678; and from Mordaunt to Ashburnham in 1711. Additions of land were made to the property by its several owners. The property was divided into a number of lots in the 1812 sale, the actual site of the priory being bought by William Sharpe who had been occupying it. Certain details of the buildings on the site can me obtained from the deeds, and the lease of 1725 (S/AM146) excepts free fishery in the "moats and ponds". The names of the closes are also of interest; S/AM94 particularly giving detailed descriptions of the bounds, with a reference to the "Sapthorne ditch" Estate administration Noteworthy items in a good series are S/AM153, the "Leger" book of the Bedfordshire estates, 1710-32; and the letters and papers of the agents, particularly those of William Custance (S/AM258) Sale of estates The whole estate was put up for auction in 1812, and a fair proportion was sold at that time, producing over £44,000. Other portions were sold separately, and further auctions were held in 1831 (?), 1843 and 1862

The Bedfordshire section of the Ashurnham estate Mss. was transferred to the County Record Office in April 1954 by the owner, Mr J D Bickersteth, through the East Sussex Record Office (see correspondence 1954) The collection was in good order and needed little reorganisation. (Lady Caroline Ashburnham died 1953)

fonds

Ashburnham, John,
Ashburnham,
Fitzwilliam,
Radcliffe,
Ashburnham, William,
Taylor, Katherine,
Taylor, Richard,
Trevor,
Paradine,
Riseley,
Mordaunt, John,
Sharpe, William,
Custance, William

AMPTHILL, Beckerings Park, Ampthill Park, Brogborough Park, CLAPHAM, Greyfriars, estate management