Samuel
Lewis's Topographical
Gazeetter 1831
CHIPPENHAM,
a parish in the hundred of STAPLOE, county of CAMBRIDGE, 41/2 miles (N.N.E.)
from Newmarket, containing 607 inhabitants. The living is a discharged
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and diocese of Norwich, rated
in the king's books at £11. 12. 6., and in the patronage of the Trustees
of J. Tharp, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, was rebuilt by
means of a grant of indulgences, shortly after the destruction of the
ancient edifice by fire, in the fifteenth century. A charity school was
founded in 1714, by the Earl of Orford, with an endowment of £20 per annum,
for teaching all the poor children of the parish. William de Mandeville,
Earl of Essex, gave this manor to the society of Knights Hospitallers,
whereupon a subordinate establishment was fixed here. Charles I., during
the civil war, enjoyed the diversion of bowling at Chippenham Park, the
seat of Sir William Russel; and George I. was entertained here by Admiral
Russel, Octobor 4th, 1717. About the middle of the seventeenth century
the mansion and estate were possessed by Sir Francis Russel, Bart, whose
daughter married the fourth son of the Protector Cromwell. Sir Edward
Russel, created Earl of Orford, expended a considerable sum in improving
the park and embellishing the mansion, which latter was taken down and
the materials sold.
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CHIPPENHAM
is a parish and village, 5 miles north-east from Newmarket station, in
the hundred of Staploe, Newmarket union, petty sessional division and
county court district and in the rural deanery of Fordham, archdeaconry
and diocese of Ely.
The
church of St. Margaret is a building of stone in the Gothic style, and
consists of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western
tower containing 6 bells, three of which were recast and rehung in 1898:
the treble bell was given by W. W. De la Rue esq. J.P.: the chancel was
restored in 1885-6, at a cost of £1,200, and a stained east window inserted
in memory of Joseph Sidney Tharp, who died March 4th, 1875, and Laura,
his second wife (daughter of Sir John Trollope, and sister of John, 1st
Baron Kesteven), who died 19 Jan. 1877: there are three other memorial
windows to various members of the same family: near the porch is a marble
tomb, erected over the grave of the Rt. Hon. Sir Thomas Erskine May K.C.B.,
P.C., D.C.L. Baron Farnborough, clerk of the House of Commons 1871-86,
d. May 17th, 1886, and a memorial window was erected by his widow in 1895:
this church is rich in wall paintings, including one of the 15th century,
discovered about 1896 imbedded eight inches in the east wall of the north
aisle and representing two angels censing: in 1714 Lord Oxford presented
a silver chalice and paten to the church, which is still in use: there
are 300 sittings. The register dates from the year 1595.
Chippenham
Hall, standing in a park of about 400 acres, is the seat of Mrs. William
Montague Tharp, who is lady of the manor and principal landowner. The
Manor House is the residence of Lt.-Col. Gerard Tharp.
The
soil is mixed; subsoil, chalk. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats.
The area is 4,301 acres of land and inland water; the population in 1921
was 481.
[Extracts
from Kelly's Directory - Cambridgeshire - 1929]
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Domesday Book Entry
CHIPPENHAM answered for 10 hides before 1066. But a Sheriff put them at
5 hides, through King Edward's concession, becuase its revenue oppressed
him; it now answers for 5 hides. Land for 17 ploughs. Geoffrey holds from
the King. In lordship 3 hides; 3 ploughs there. 19 villagers with 13 smallholders
have 14 ploughs. 6 slaves; meadow for 3 ploughs; pasture for the village
livestock; from the fish pond 1,500 eels. Total value £20; when
acquired £16; before 1066 £12. Ordgar, King edward's Sheriff,
who was later Asgar the Constable's man, held this manor. 5 hides of this
land were in King Edward's revenue; 2 Freemen had 2 hides from the King
and could grant their land to whom they would; however, each found 8d
or 1 horse in the King's service, and for their fines they did justice
in Fordham.
Ordgar the Sheriff had 3 hides of this land himself and could grant to
whom he would. Ordgar placed this alnd in pledge for 7 marks and 2 ounces
of gold, as Geoffrey's men state; but the men of the Hundred have seen
thereon neither any writ nor commissioner of King Edward, nor do they
offer witness.
In STAPLOE Hundrd these men swore
| NICHOLAS
of KENNETT |
Robert
the Englishman of FORDHAM |
| William
of CHIPPENHAM, GEOFFREY (de MANDEVILLE'S man) |
ORDMER
of BADLINGHAM |
| Hugh
of EXNING |
Alan
of BURWELL |
| Warin
of SOHAM |
elfric
of SNAILWELL |
(and all the other Frenchmen and Englishmen of this Hundred
swore).
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