Parishes: Colingham, North and South

COLINGHAM NORTH and SOUTH.

Before the Normans invaded this Country, St. Peter, of Burgh, had a Manor in Colingham, rated to the public Payment of that Time at four Car. and half a Bovat. The Land whereof was then certified to be fourteen Car. (fn. 1) There, when King William made his great Survey, in Demesne were two Car. and thirty seven Sochm. on two Car. and three Bovats of this Land, and eight Villains, and twenty Bordars, having fourteen Car. There was a Priest and two Churches, and two Mills 20s. and two hundred Acres of Meadow, small Wood two qu. long, and one qu. broad. This continued the former value 9l.

Here was some part also which were with Shelton of Raph de Limesies Fee, and some part was accounted of Richmond Fee, but the main of both the Towns continued to the Abbat of Peterborow, who had Free Warren granted here, 35 H. 3. (fn. 2) Yet the Bishop of Lincolne, 14 E. 1. (fn. 3) complained of him, that he had set up a Gallows at Collingham and there hanged a Thief, to the derogation of the Liberty of his Wapentac of Newark, which the Bishop held of the grant of the King's Predecessors: to which the Abbat answered, that the King's Father, thirty-seventh Year of his Reign, granted to him and his Successors, Infangthef, and Utsangthes, in all his Hundreds and Demesnes, and so he avowed his Gallows, and complained against the Bishop, That he took two Horses and six Cows at Newark, and drove them to his Parc (or Pound) and there detained them. The Bishop pleaded that he held the Wapentac of the gift of the King, within which are the two Towns of Collingham, which the said Abbat held, and for which he ought to make suit at the said Wapentac, by three men of each Town, from three weeks to three weeks, and because the suit was with-drawn, he took the Horses and Kine: at last they agreed, the Abbat being constrained to pull down his Gallows and submit. The Bishop of Lincoln, 10 E. 3. (fn. 4) impleaded divers men of North and South Colingham, for that when his Baillie had taken divers Cattle, of several condemned and out-lawed persons, of the said Towns, (some whereof were hanged) as the Goods of Felons and Fugitives belonging to him, in right of his Wapentac of Newark, and impounded them; the said men broke the Pound and took the Cattle, and had them away, for which they answer they are not culpable; but the Agreement before-mentioned, 14 E. 1. between Oliver Bishop of Lincolne, and the Abbat will end the strife.

The Grand Assize, 53 H. 3. at Darby, between Rob. de Collingham, and John de Hryst, Compl. and Walter, Son of Galfr. and Walter de Markham, (fn. 5) concerning Common of Pasture, which the two Walters exacted in the Lands of the said Robert and John in Collingham, was respited till the Octaves of St. Michael, at Leicester, because Nicholas de Eyvill, Robert de Markham, Robert de Burstall, Richard de Weston, Benedict de Rolleston, Richard de Grey, Raph Barry, Philip de Colewick, Bryan de Herdeby, Simon de Gringeley, Walter de Touk, Thomas de Bella aquâ, Galf. de S aunton, Robert de Stokes, John de Villars, Roger de Alneto, Knights, chosen, came not, and were therefore amerced.

Here was a M nor in North Colingham, which the Leeks of Landforth held of the Abbat of Peterburgh.

These Towns still belong to that Church, and the Honorable Anchetill Grey, Son of Henry Earl of Stanford, is the grand Lessee; he married Anne, the eldest of the three Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir Henry Willoughby, of Risley, in Darbishire, the Relict of Sir Thomas Astton, and Mother of Sir Willoughby Astton.

(fn. 6) The Rectory of South Coltingham was 20l. when the Abbat of Peterburgh was Pacron. It is now 14l. 1s. 10d. in the Kings Books, and the Bishop of Peterburgh Patron. The Vicarage of North Collingham was 8l. when the said Abbot was Patron. It is now in the Kings Books 3l. 19s. 2d. and the Dean and Chapter of Peterborow, Patrons.

The Holy Abbess St. Ebba. . . and her Nuns, who defaced themselves left they should be deflowered by the Heathen Danes, are reported to have had their Residence at Collingham, (fn. 7) but I having seen nothing certain of it, must leave her to Coldingham in Scotland, a Cell of Darham, where there is more certain notice of her.

[Throsby] Collingham North and South.

South Collingham field is enclosed, and is large. It is possessed by several owners. The Earl of Stamford has a considerable portion. Peterborough Minster is in possession, also, of a portion.

In this village are about eighty dwellings, some tolerably well built. It lies partly on the road.

The church consists of a nave, and two side aisles with a tower in which are four bells. It is dedicated to St. John Baptist. The arches on the South side the nave are all pure Saxon; but not corresponding ones. They are of good workmanship. The opposite arches are plain, and were built, doubtless, at a later period than the former. Perhaps the old arches I have noticed might be part of the priory church which tradition reports stood at Collingham; but of which there is little certainty.

I saw nothing which particularly deserves notice in this church besides; excepting an old stone which is nearly covered by a seat, which had an inscription in black letter, I discovered "Hic Jacet Thoma."—My attendant informed me that it is supposed to remember a gentleman who formerly lived in a large mansion, in this place, on the fire of which is erected a farm house.

Patron, South Collingham, Bishop of Peterborough. Incumbent the Reverend William M'Kenzie. King's book, 14l. 1s. 10½d. Yearly tenths 1l. 8s. 2¼d. Syn. and prox. 11s. 6d. Val. in mans. cum un. oxgang. ter. per ann. 1l. 1s. in dec. garb. &c.

North Collingham, Lordship is in several hands, Lord Stamford I believe owns the manor. Mr. Rastall and Mr. Mills, I was told are principal proprietors. It was lately inclosed; the village is nearly of the size of South Collingham, which is situate at the distance of a mile from that place. The church consists also, of a tower with four bells, a nave and two side aisles, and is dedicated to All Saints. In this village is a Baptists' Meeting-house.

Upon the authority of Horsley and Stukeley, Mr. Gough says, "at Collingham, or Burgh near it, was the Crococolana of Antoninus. The ramparts are ploughed over, but the Roman coins, Burgh pennies, have been found here, and foundations often struck up. Many pots, urns, bricks, iron ore, and cinders, have been found here." That pots, bricks and cinders may have been seen here, frequently, no one can deny; but from, what I could learn, not such kind of pottery and bricks, that indicate that this place had been a Roman station of that consequence as Crococolana.

Patron of this vicarage is the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough. Incumbent Rev. Joseph Simpson, Kings book, 8l. 14s. 0d. clear yearly value, says Bacon, 8l. 15s. 0d. It may be worth about 30l. per ann. Val. per ann. in mans. cum gardir, 4s.