Eynford Hundred: Twyford

TWYFORD.

This town is not mentioned in Domesday Book, being accounted for under the lordship of Walter Giffard Earl of Bucks, in Bintre, and under the lordship of Swanton in Folsham, then in the King's hands; I shall therefore treat of them jointly, and in order of time as I find them.

Both these lordships of Giffard's, in Bintre and Swanton, were held by the Marshalls, Earls of Pembroke, and the family of De Bintre was soon after the conquest enfeoffed of this lordship of Twyford, that belonged to the Earls of Clare, by the Marshalls, who held it of that honour.

In the 2d year of King John, Eborard de Bintre was lord; Bartholomew de Bintre held here, &c. half a fee of the Earl of Gloucester and Clare, in the reign of King Henry III. and in 1309, presented to this church, as did Robert, son of Bartholomew, in 1321, and Joan, daughter of Bartholomew de Byntre, in 1342. John de Foxley, who gave name to this lordship, presented in 1349, and William de Wichingham in 1356. In the year 1373, Robert Curson of Huningham, granted to William Curson of Belford, all his right of the manor of Swanton's in Folsham, with the appertenances, and the advowson of Twyford church, he had of the grant of Thomas Curson; and Thomas Curson of Folsham, presented in 1379; it was settled on Thomas Curson for life.

In the 9th of Richard II. Peter Bygayn who held by the law of England certain lands and tenements of Twyford, &c. of the inheritance of John, son and heir of Thomas de Foxley, after the death of Agnes, late his wife, grants to John Churchman, citizen of London, the said lands and tenements.

Thomas Curson of Twyford was lord, and presented in 1393, and William Curson in 1414; but in the year 1448, John Heydon, Robert Popy, &c. presented; John Popy was lord in 1464, and with Catherine his wife, presented, as Robert Popy did in 1485, and in 1509.

Rob. Poppy was lord in the reign of Henry VIII. and his daughter and heir Alice, brought it by marriage to Robert Townsend, Esq. son of Sir Roger Townsend of Reinham, who presented in 1541, then serjeant at law; Thomas Townsend, Esq. his son, in 1558, and Roger Townsend, Gent. in 1571, as did Thomas Townsend, by his assigns, in 1578 and 1581.

From the Townsends it came to George Grime, Esq. who was patron about 1600.

Augustine Holl, Esq. was lord and patron in 1715, son of Sir Robert Holl, by Anne, his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Guybon of Thursford, and this family presented in 1740.

The Church is a rectory, dedicated to St. Nicholas; the ancient valor was 35s.

The abbey of Nutley had a portion of tithe valued at 10s.—the portion of Ichyringham, 6s. 8d.—Peter-pence 2d. ob. The present valor is 4l. 19s. 8d. ob. and is discharged from first fruits and tenths.

Rectors.

1309, Hugh de Byntre instituted, presented by Bartholomew de Byntre.

1321, John de Byntre, by Robert, son of Bartholomew de Byntre.

1342, Richard de Geyst, by Joan, daughter of Bartholomew de Byntre.

1349, Richard Godwyne, by John de Foxley.

1356, Richard de Dedmore, by William de Wichingham.

Robert Girne, rector.

1385, Richard Ulsy. Ditto.

1393, John Wrastlyngworth. Ditto.

1394, William Blaby. Ditto.

1399, John Hamond, by Thomas Curson of Twyford.

1402, Thomas Vyel. Ditto.

William Frankelyn, rector.

1414, John Pelles, by William Curson.

1415, John Gardener. Ditto.

1418, William Windele. Ditto.

1448, William Doraunt, by John Heydon, Robert Popy, &c.

1464, John Porter, by John Popy, and Catherine his wife.

1478, Nicholas Williams, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1485, Robert Mark, by Robert Popy.

1487, Thomas Barker. Ditto.

1494, John Freeman. Ditto.

1495, John Trewe. Ditto.

1503, William Heyward. Ditto.

1509, Thomas Harneys. Ditto.

1541, Robert Jary, by Robert Townsend, serjeant at law.

1554, Robert Watson, by Sir Robert Townsend.

1555, John Jubb, by the Bishop, a lapse.

1558, Robert Seaman, by Thomas Townsend, Esq.

1561, William Gippes. Ditto.

1562, Henry Ruston. Ditto.

1571, Thomas Church, by Roger Townsend, Gent.

1578, Andrew Steynsby, by the assigns of Thomas Townsend.

1581, Henry Hilton. Ditto.

Edward Ricks, rector, succeeded Hilton; and George Grime was then patron.

J. Goodman, occurs rector in 1689.

Daniel Morley, rector.

1715, Joseph Hogan, on the resignation of Morley, by Aug. Holl, Esq.

1720, Robert Barrow. Ditto.

1722, Francis St. John. Ditto.

1723, Robert Laurence. Ditto.

1730, Edward Farmer. Ditto.

1740, John Gregory, by Augustine Holl, &c.

The Holls descend from Thomas Holle, of Heyham, by Norwich, Gent. who died in 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, and left Thomas his son and heir.

The Church is a single pile without a steeple, but there is a shed in the churchyard for 3 bells.—In the chancel, on a gravestone,

Orate p. a'i'a. Tho. Harnes quo'd. rector.

In the east window, azure, a chevron, ermin, between three gilly flowers, proper, the stalks, or, the arms of Poppy, impaling, ermine, a bend compony, argent and sable, Curson.

In the church,

Orate p. a'i'a. Isabelle Poppy nup. uxor. Roberti Curson, que obt. 1497.

Sacred to the memory of Henry Framingham, Esq. who by his last will, gave 1000l. to endow an hospital for ten poor men in Lynn Regis, of which town he was twice mayor, as he was also high sheriff of the county of Norfolk: he departed this life November 29, 1710, in the 73 year of his age:

Here also lyeth the body of Bridget his wife, who died March 2, 1712, aged 78. This monument was erected by Dame Johanna Seaman, wife of Sir Peter Seaman, only child and heir to her father.

In the 38th of Elizabeth, George Gryme had a præcipe to render to Robert Tilney, Esq. and Robert Themilthorp, Gent. Twyford-Foxley's manor, and Swanton's in Folsham, Geist, &c. and South Hall in Twyford, Bintre, &c. and in the 13th of James I. Nicholas Cooke, Gent. had a prœcipe to render to Thomas Fairfax, Gent. and Thomas Lane, the manors of Twyford Swanton's, Foxley's, and Southall messuage.

After this, it came to Mr. Raley, and by his daughter to — Nabbs, Gent. and by his daughter and coheir, —, to James Ward, Esq. of Hindringham, and so by marriage to Augustine Holl, Esq. who was lord in right of his wife, Catherine, in 1714.

The town takes its name from some stream or rivulet, called anciently the Twy; thus Twyford in Hampshire, Leicestershire, &c. Twywell, Northamptonshire, Twyverton in Somersetshire, &c. or from 2 streams or rivulets.