EDITORIAL NOTE 



The third volume of the Victoria History oj the County oj Northampton was 

 published in 19^0 under the editorship of the late Dr. William Page, and 

 materials for the accounts of the four hundreds of Higham Ferrers, Spelhoe, 

 Hamfordshoe, and Orlingbury had then been collected. The manorial descents 

 of these hundreds had actually been compiled by members of Dr. Page's staff 

 as far back as 1908; these have been completely revised, and largely rewritten, 

 by the Editor, with assistance from local authorities. 



Special thanks are due to Miss Joan Wake, who again put her own enthusiasm 

 and local knowledge and the documentary resources of the Northamptonshire 

 Record Society at our disposal. To Mrs. Harry Manfield we are indebted for 

 the frontispiece to this volume; to the Marquess of Northampton for the loan of 

 the plan of Castle Ashbv, and also for reading proofs; and to Mr. L. G. H. Lee, 

 F.S.A., for the loan of two blocks of Raunds Church, Mr. H. J. Smith, whose 

 contribution of photographs to the third volume was inadvertently left un- 

 acknowledged, has again provided photographs; and Messrs. John Murray have 

 kindly permitted us to reproduce an illustration from Baldwin Brown's Arts in 

 Early England. Professor A. Hamilton Thompson gave considerable help with 

 the architectural descriptions, as did the late Major C. A. Markham, F.S.A., 

 who kindly allowed full use to be made of his book on the Church Plate 

 oj Northamptonshire. Mr. Reginald W. Brown, Librarian of the Borough of 

 Northampton, was also most helpful. 



Among others who gave valuable assistance, special mention may be made of 

 the late Mr. W. Talbot Brown, F.S.A., Mr. C. Vere Davidge, Mr. Gyles 

 Isham,the Rev. H. Isham Longden, F.S. A., and Mr. H. Savory. Thanks are also 

 due to the proprietors of Kelly's Directories for permission to quote from their 

 publications; and to the following for reading proofs and making corrections 

 and suggestions regarding them: the Rev. H. P. Brown, Mr. A. C. Chibnall, 

 the Rev. G. H. Haines, the Rev. J. Hotine, the Rev. K. Kershaw, the Rev. 

 C. Grant King, the Rev. G. H. Mallctt, the Rev. W. F. Need, the Rev. A. C. 

 Nugee, the Rev. E. Y. Orlebar, Miss G. E. H. Roberts, the Rev. H. J. Smale, 

 Col. H. G. Sotheby, Major A. H. Thurburn, Sir Hereward Wake, bart., and 

 the Rev. J. White. 



Many others, particularly among the parochial clergy, have given much 

 appreciated help in various ways. 



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