BIGGLESWADE HUNDRED 



POTTON 



which stop at the first set-off and have a curiously 

 early look. On the exterior of the north wall, about 

 1 2 ft. from the ground, is a stone lamp-holder, having 

 a weathered head, and two corbels below, the space 

 between which is now filled by part of a modern 

 gravestone. 



All the roofs, in spite of much repair, retain a cer- 

 tain number of their old timbers of fifteenth and 

 sixteenth-century date ; the nave roof having moulded 

 purlins and ridge with bosses at the intersections and 

 traceried spandrels below the tie-beams. In the south 

 aisle, however, some of the timbers may be of four- 

 teenth-century date. 



No other woodworlc in the church is ancient, and 

 the chancel contains some good modern stalls and a 

 screen on the south side. 



The font, which stands at the west end of the 

 nave, is circular and quite plain, and though un- 

 doubtedly ancient is of uncertain date. 



In the Cole MSS. 1753 (Add. MSS. 5836, fol. 

 1 08), is a note that there was an altar tomb in the 

 chancel ; it has now completely disappeared. 



There are five bells, the treble and second by 

 Thomas Newman, 1706 ; the third by Robert Tay- 

 lor of St. Neots, 1797 ; the fourth by Thomas 

 Janaway, 1785 ; and the tenor by C. and G. Mears, 

 1844. 



The plate consists of a communion cup of 1 7 1 7, 

 with a paten undated but contemporary ; two large 

 almsdishes of 1 7 2 o, and a smaller one of 1 7 1 8 . There 

 is also a modern plated cup and flagon. 



The first book of the registers begins in 161 4, 

 being a copy made in 1635, and goes to 1747. The 

 second contains the entries from 1747 to 1 801, and 

 the third those from 1802 to 1812. There are 

 overseers' accounts from 16 14. 



The advowson of the church of 

 ADVOWSON Potton followed the same descent as 

 that of the Rectory manor (q.v.) 

 until the Dissolution,'' when it fell to the crown, by 

 whom the right of presentation has since been 

 exercised.^ 



The rectory of Potton follows the same descent as 

 that of the Rectory manor (q.v.) until its purchase 

 by Rowland Litton in 1591," who in 1602 alienated 

 it to Henry Godfrey," who in his turn transferred it 

 to Sir Humphrey Winch, justice of the King's Bench 

 in 1618.*° The Winches retained possession of 

 Potton Rectory during the seventeenth century,*' and 

 in 1698 it was purchased under a decree in Chancery 

 by the parish of Thaxted with a sum of money be- 

 queathed to the parish by William Lord Maynard for 

 charitable uses.™ 



Potton contains a Congregational chapel built in 

 1848, a Wesleyan chapel rebuilt and enlarged in 

 1850, and a Baptist chapel. 



The following charities subsisting 



CHARITIES in this parish were by a scheme of 



the Charity Commissioners, dated 



17 June, 1898, consolidated and brought under one 



body of trustees ; namely : — 



The Town Lands (Deeds, 1666, 1699, and In- 

 closure Act of 54660. Ill, cap. 38), now consisting of 



46 acres of land in Potton, known as the Roundabout 

 Allotments, let to various holders, and producing about 

 £jo a year : - 



Charities of Robert Smith (will, 1738), Mary 

 Tottman (will, 1727), Henry Ward (will, 1739), 

 William Hankin (will, 1782), and Alexander Atkinson 

 (will, 171 2) now represented by 6 acres of land in 

 Windmill Field, Potton, purchased with moneys left 

 by these donors, and land in Mill Road let at j^i2 

 and £z a year respectively. 



Charities of John Caryer (will, 1731), and Dame 

 Constance Burgoyne (who died in 1711), consisting 

 of 13 acres at Over, co. Cambridge, let at £,21. 



Charity of William Potter (will, 1558), con- 

 sisting of cottages and gardens in Horselow Street, 

 3 a. o r. I o p. in Narrow Lane, and 2 acres in Byards 

 Green, producing rentals of about ;^39 a year. 



Charities of Alexander Atkinson (will, 1 71 2) and 

 James Smith (will, 1733), being two rent-charges of 

 £1 and j£7 8/. respectively on land in Potton paid 

 by Henry Smith, esq., Brighton. 



The Official Trustees of Charitable Funds also hold 

 j^228 10/. jd. consols in respect of the Town Lands 

 and the charity of John Snitch (will, 1687), ^£202 

 consols in respect of the charity of Thomas John 

 Burgoyne (will, 1826) for organ and psalmody and 

 £t,6 9/. l\d. consols in respect of James Underwood's 

 charity (will, 1863). The income received from the 

 real and personal estate amounts to £,160 a year or 

 thereabouts. 



By the scheme above referred to the sum of ^£202 

 consols constituting the endowment of the charity of 

 Thomas John Burgoyne and a yearly sum of £z 1 8/. ^d. 

 out of the income of the charities are separated from 

 the rest of the endowments under the title of the 

 United Ecclesiastical Charity, of which the vicar and 

 churchwardens are constituted the trustees, the vicar 

 to receive the said yearly sum of £2 18/. 4a'. for 

 preaching sermons, and the remainder of the income 

 of the Ecclesiastical Charity to be applied towards 

 keeping the organ of the parish church in good repair, 

 organist's salary, and providing suitable vocal music 

 in the church. 



Provision is made for the appointment of trustees 

 of the remaining charities under the title of the Con- 

 solidated Charities, of which the vicar is constituted 

 the ex-officio trustee. The trustees are authorized to 

 expend a yearly sum of £\s, for education at public 

 elementary schools and technical classes and a yearly 

 sum not exceeding £t^o'vx apprenticing, and to apply 

 the remainder of the income for the general benefit of 

 the poor, in aid of the funds of any hospital and 

 any provincial club ; also towards the provision of 

 nurses for the sick and infirm, and in the supply of 

 articles in kind not exceeding £\o in any one year 

 for the last-mentioned object. 



This parish is also possessed of 2 3 a. 2 r. 2 8 p. of 

 land known as the ' Poor's Common', acquired under 

 an indenture dated 1859, let to various holders pro- 

 ducing ^18 a year or thereabouts ; 4 acres of land 

 constituting 'The Recreation Ground,' purchased in 

 1869 with moneys arising from the sale of a portion 

 of the Poor's Common ; and 5 acres of land known 



63 V.Cn. Beds, i, 315 ; Cott. MSS. 

 Vesp. E. xvii ; Cal. of Pat. 1324-7, 

 pp. 156, 164; 1340-3) P- 119) 



Add. 



Chart. 1 995 1 ; Mins. Accts. bdle. 1108, 

 No. 21. 



2 



63 Close, 29 Hen. VIII, pt. 2. No. 7 ; 

 InBt. Bks. (P.R.O.). 

 6< Pat. 33 Eliz. pt. 13. 



65 Feet of F. Beds. Mich. 44 Eliz. 



66 Ibid. Hil. 15 Jas. I. 



241 



67 Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 

 No. 28 ; Recov. R. Trin. 6 

 Mary. 



61* Lysons, Mag. Brtt. i, 124. 



2), dxv. 

 Will. & 



31 



