A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



no further trace of the advowson until 1 340, when Sir 

 Thomas Spigurnel released to Sir Gerard Braybroke 

 and Isabella his wife his right and claim to the 

 presentation to the church.™ The advowson con- 

 tinued annexed to the manor of Clifton, which was 

 then in the possession of Sir Gerard Braybroke, and 

 passed with it to Sir William Babyngton, Sir John 

 Fisher, and then into the family of the St. Johns of 

 Bletsoe," in whom it was vested until conveyed by 

 fine in 1602 to Walter Rolt," It apparently con- 

 tinued the right of the family of Rolt for some time," 

 for although Thomas Upwood and Stephen Apthorpe 

 had the right of presentation in 1662," Frances Rolt, 

 widow, was the patroness in 1668," and in 1708 it 

 was in the possession of Francis Rolt and Charles 

 Bayliffe." It is not known at what date the advowson 

 ceased to be held with the manor, but the separation 

 probably occurred when Rolt sold his manor and went 

 out of the county before 1667-8. In 1732 George 

 Edwards presented, and in 1738 Sarah Osborn, 

 widow." In 1 744 Thomas Osborn, D.C.L., and his 

 wife possessed the advowson," but apparently con- 

 veyed it to the Rev. Thomas Ripley, who sold it in 

 1788 to Susanna Olivier widow for j^3,ooo." The 

 right passed from Mrs. Olivier to her son the rector 

 of Clifton, in whom it was vested in 1832* and in 

 1 85 1." In 1864 H. Miles presented to the church," 

 and his son the then rector, the Rev. Henry Hugh 

 Miles, inherited the advowson and is patron at the 

 present day.^ 



There are two almshouses and two widows' houses 



which were built in 1 87 1. There is a Baptist chapel 

 built in 1853 and another chapel built in 1883 which 

 is now vacant. 



The Poor's Land consists of a cot- 

 CHJRITIES tage and ir. 7p. in Great Barford, 

 conveyed in 1736 for the use of 

 the poor in satisfaction of a sum of ;^lo which had 

 been given by a donor unknown for their use. The 

 land is let at j^l 10/. 6J. a year, which in 1904 was 

 supplemented by voluntary subscriptions amounting to 

 j^4 8/. and distributed among thirty-seven widows, each 

 receiving 3 cwt. of coal. 



The Church Land consists of 5a. zr. I3p of land let 

 in allotments, producing in 1904-5 ^^14 18/., which 

 sum, together with a rent-charge of ^^l 10/. out of 

 '1 an Yard Meadow and a yearly sum of 5/. issuing 

 out of Hanford Mill, were applied in the repairs of 

 the church. 



In 1 83 1 Miss Mary Arnold Olivier by will, proved 

 at London, left a legacy now represented by 

 £24.7 13/. 6d., the income to be applied in the 

 purchase of flannel for distribution amongst the poor 

 of the parish. The stock is held by the official 

 trustees ; the dividends, amounting to £6 3/. 8a'., are 

 duly applied under the title of the ' Flannel Charity.' 



Tie Schools. See above, ' Schools.' 



Daniel Stephen Olivier by his will left £^6z 8/. id. 

 consols, income to be applied towards the support of 

 All Saints Parochial School. The stock was transferred 

 to the official trustees in 1 86 5, and the dividends are 

 remitted by them to the Old School Charity trustees. 



HENLOW 



The parish of Henlow, with an area of 2,377^ 

 acres, is generally flat, what slope there is being from 

 south to north ; the highest point att.Tined above the 

 ordnance datum is 169 ft., the lowest 107 ft. Of 

 the area 1,7 00 J acres 

 are arable land, and 

 319J permanent 

 grass.' The soil is 

 clay and gravel, the 

 subsoil gault. The 

 chief crops are whe.it, 

 barley, oats, beans 

 and peas on the four- 

 course system. The 

 river Hiz forms the 

 eastern boundary of 

 the parish. 



The main road from 

 ShefFord to Baldock 

 runs across the parish 

 from north-west to 

 south- east, and that 

 from ShefFord to 

 Hitchin southward 

 along its western 

 boundary. A secon- 

 dary road runs north- 

 east from Henlow sta- 

 tion on the Great 



70 Close, 14 Edw. Ill, pt. 1, m. 31 </. 



71 Vide Clifton Manor. Inst. Bk. in 

 Diocesan Registry of Lincoln, Cott. MSS. 

 Cleop. C. iii, fol. 103*. 



72 Feet of F. Beds, Trin. 4+ Eliz. 

 7» Clergy List for 1605. Beds. Archd. 



Northern Railway, on the southern edge of the parish, 



crossing the Baldock road at the south end of the village. 



The parish is level and well watered, the Hiz and 



Ivel running along its eastern boundary, while a small 



Henlow Church from the West 

 6 Jas. 



Feet of F. Beds. Mich. 16 Jas. i ; Ibid. 



Hil. 8 Chas. I. 



'■• Inst. Bks. P.R.O. n Ibid, 



?° Bacon, Liber Regis, 484. " Ibid, 



78 Feet of F. Beds. Trin. 17 Geo. II. 

 '» Close, 28 Geo. Ill, pt. 1 5, m. 3 (4), 



280 



3 WiU. IV, 



8" Priv. Acts, 2 

 cap. 4. 



81 Slater, Dir. 1851. 



6« Kelly, DiV. 1S64. 



^ Clergy List for 1 90 J. 



' Return of the Bd. of Agr.c. (1905). 



