Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X1056
  • Title
    Records of the Manor of Chalgrave
  • Date free text
    1278-1797
  • Production date
    From: 1278 To: 1797
  • Admin/biog history
    The Victoria County History for Bedfordshire published in 1912 suggests two manors of Chalgrave, one extent from the time of Domesday until 1641 and one that 'appears for the first time in the 17th century, when it was held of Lord Berkeley as of his manor of Melton Mowbray. However, the records here suggest that these manors are the same. The descent of the manor passes through: Peter de Loreng (Loring) [X1056/1m.iii, xii, xiii] Sir Nigel Loring (died 1385-6) [MC2 m.ii, iv], to Margaret younger daughter of Sir Nigel and wife of Thomas Pever of Toddington (died 1429), to Mary Pever wife of John Broughton and by Mary's son John (d. 1489) grandson John (d. 1479), great-grandson Robert (d1506) to John Boughton of Toddington (d1518) [X1056/3m.i, ii, iii]. Cardinal Wolsey and others held the manor court from 1521-1525 [X1056/3m.ix] presumably as all John Boughton's children were minors. John's son John died in 1528 and his sisters Anne and Katherine hold the manor court in 1529 [X1056/3m.x]. Katherine married William Howard and died in 1535. Anne married Sir Thomas Cheyney in 1539. However in 1547 Edward VI is named owner of the court in right of Katherine sister and co heir of John Broughton [X1056/3 mxiv and X1056/4m.i]. The manor then goes to Thomas and Anne Cheyne [X1056/4m.iii] and to their son Henry Cheyne, 1st Baron Cheyne of Toddington (1540-1587) [X1056/4m.viii, ix, xi, xiii and X1056/5pi-33]. Henry married Jane, the daughter of Thomas Wentworth. In 1611 Jane Cheyne gifted an annuity to Edward 5th son of Sir John Crofts and Dame Mary to be begin 30 years after her death [X1056/34]. She also appears to have made provision for Samuel, 4th son of Sir John Crofts and Dame Mary [X1056/37]. Lady Jane Cheyne died in 1614 and the Bedfordshire estate at Toddington passed to her great-nephew, Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland (1591-1667). Thomas Wentworth had married Anne Croft, a daughter of Sir John Croft in 1611. In 1614 Thomas Wentworth and wife Anne bargained and sold the manor of Chalgrave, the manor of Harlington etc. to Sir John Croft of Toddington, Henry Litchfield, Thomas Kent and Thomas Houlden, yeomen [X1056/35, X1056/5 p47-50, X1056/6m.1-2]. In 1624 the manor of Chalgrave was bargained and sold by Croft, Litchfield, Kent and Houlden to Anthony Croft of Gray's Inn, esq, son of Sir John & Mary Croft [X1056/38]. Anthony sets about freeing the manor from other claims i.e the annuity to his brother Edward [X1056/39] and Lord Berkeley, 'of whose manor of Malton, Leics., Chalgrave manor has been held' [X1056/40]. Anthony then grants the manor to Charles I so that it may be awarded to the wardens and commonality of the mystery of mercers of the city of London [X1056/45] Anthony and Edward getting £5,500 and £500 respectively from the Mercers company [X1056/48, 50]. From then on the manor continues to be held by the Mercers Company until at least 1912. In 1950 it was reported that three court books 1755-1912 were held at the Mercer's Hall in which rolls for Chalgrave are intermixed with those for Bucks manors belonging to the Company. The Chalgrave entries being for 1755, 1772, 1783, 1798, 1805, 1816, 1828, 1834, 1843, 1856, 1863, 1869, 1879, 1889, 1912. There were also perambulations for 1834 and 1846. The Manor of Wingfield does appear to have been separate and it is possible that when reference is made in to Wingfield in the documents here it refers to the manor of Chalgrave's land in Wingfield.
  • Scope and Content
    Court rolls, rentals and deeds for the Manor of Chalgrave; Chalgrave with Tebworth, Chalgrave with members.
  • Archival history
    Deposited by the Mercers' Company, Ironmonger Lane, MC2 on 15 December 1937 (accession number 1360) and 5 January 1938 (1366). Catalogued May 1944 by Joyce Godber under reference MC as MC1-55. Reference changed to X1056 in 2025 to avoid confusion with another, much larger, collection held by Bedfordshire Archives that had also been given the reference MC.
  • Level of description
    fonds
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