Collection GB 0074 ACC/0027 - BEACHCROFT, HAYS AND LECHWARD {SOLICITORS}

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 ACC/0027

Title

BEACHCROFT, HAYS AND LECHWARD {SOLICITORS}

Date(s)

  • 1576-1844 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.08 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1086 Stanwell Manor was held by William fitz Other and in the time of King Edward it had belonged to Azor. The estate recorded in Domesday Book probably comprises most of the ancient parish except the manor of West Bedfont, which was already separate. In 1796 there were 539 acres copyhold of the manor, nearly all lying east of Stanwellmoor. By 1844 the lord of the manor owned Hammonds farm, Merricks farm (later known as Southern farm), and Park farm (later Stanhope farm), as well as about 84 acres around his house and a few other small areas. The manorial rights, house, and lands were separated in 1933.

William fitz Other, the Domesday tenant, was constable of Windsor castle and his descendants took the name of Windsor. They held Stanwell of Windsor castle for over four centuries, together with lands principally in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. In 1485 Thomas Windsor left a widow, Elizabeth, who held Stanwell with her second husband Sir Robert Lytton. Thomas's son Andrew was summoned to parliament as Lord Windsor from 1529. The story of his loss of Stanwell has often been told: in spite of Windsor's previous favours from the Crown, Henry VIII compelled him in 1542 to surrender Stanwell in exchange for monastic lands in Gloucestershire and elsewhere. Sir Philip Hobby was made chief steward of the manor in 1545. Sir Thomas Paston was granted a 50-year lease during Edward VI's reign, and Edward Fitzgarret in 1588 secured a lease to run for 30 years from the end of Paston's term. In fact Fitzgarret was in possession when he died before 1590. His estate was much embarrassed and after litigation Stanwell passed to his son Garret subject to certain rent-charges to his daughter. In 1603 the freehold was granted to Sir Thomas Knyvett, who became Lord Knyvett in 1607. Knyvett and his wife both died in 1622, leaving their property to be shared between John Cary, the grandson of one of Knyvett's sisters, and Elizabeth Leigh, the granddaughter of another. Elizabeth married Sir Humphrey Tracy, and she and Cary held Stanwell jointly until her death. In 1678 the Knyvett estates were divided between Cary and Sir Francis Leigh, who was apparently Elizabeth's heir. Cary retained Stanwell, which he left to his great-niece Elizabeth Willoughby on condition that she married Lord Guildford; otherwise it was to pass to Lord Falkland. After Elizabeth's marriage to James Bertie she held the manor under a chancery decree until her death in 1715.

It then passed to Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland (d. 1730), who sold it in 1720 to John, Earl of Dunmore (d. 1752). His trustees sold it in 1754 to Sir John Gibbons. It descended in the Gibbons family with the baronetcy until 1933, when the manorial rights were sold to H. Scott Freeman, clerk of Staines urban district council, who still held them in 1956.

Source: 'Stanwell: Manors', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 36-41 (available online).

Archival history

GB 0074 ACC/0027 1576-1844 Collection 0.08 linear metres Beachcroft, Hays and Lechward , solicitors

In 1086 Stanwell Manor was held by William fitz Other and in the time of King Edward it had belonged to Azor. The estate recorded in Domesday Book probably comprises most of the ancient parish except the manor of West Bedfont, which was already separate. In 1796 there were 539 acres copyhold of the manor, nearly all lying east of Stanwellmoor. By 1844 the lord of the manor owned Hammonds farm, Merricks farm (later known as Southern farm), and Park farm (later Stanhope farm), as well as about 84 acres around his house and a few other small areas. The manorial rights, house, and lands were separated in 1933.

William fitz Other, the Domesday tenant, was constable of Windsor castle and his descendants took the name of Windsor. They held Stanwell of Windsor castle for over four centuries, together with lands principally in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. In 1485 Thomas Windsor left a widow, Elizabeth, who held Stanwell with her second husband Sir Robert Lytton. Thomas's son Andrew was summoned to parliament as Lord Windsor from 1529. The story of his loss of Stanwell has often been told: in spite of Windsor's previous favours from the Crown, Henry VIII compelled him in 1542 to surrender Stanwell in exchange for monastic lands in Gloucestershire and elsewhere. Sir Philip Hobby was made chief steward of the manor in 1545. Sir Thomas Paston was granted a 50-year lease during Edward VI's reign, and Edward Fitzgarret in 1588 secured a lease to run for 30 years from the end of Paston's term. In fact Fitzgarret was in possession when he died before 1590. His estate was much embarrassed and after litigation Stanwell passed to his son Garret subject to certain rent-charges to his daughter. In 1603 the freehold was granted to Sir Thomas Knyvett, who became Lord Knyvett in 1607. Knyvett and his wife both died in 1622, leaving their property to be shared between John Cary, the grandson of one of Knyvett's sisters, and Elizabeth Leigh, the granddaughter of another. Elizabeth married Sir Humphrey Tracy, and she and Cary held Stanwell jointly until her death. In 1678 the Knyvett estates were divided between Cary and Sir Francis Leigh, who was apparently Elizabeth's heir. Cary retained Stanwell, which he left to his great-niece Elizabeth Willoughby on condition that she married Lord Guildford; otherwise it was to pass to Lord Falkland. After Elizabeth's marriage to James Bertie she held the manor under a chancery decree until her death in 1715.

It then passed to Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland (d. 1730), who sold it in 1720 to John, Earl of Dunmore (d. 1752). His trustees sold it in 1754 to Sir John Gibbons. It descended in the Gibbons family with the baronetcy until 1933, when the manorial rights were sold to H. Scott Freeman, clerk of Staines urban district council, who still held them in 1956.

Source: 'Stanwell: Manors', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 36-41 (available online).

Received in 1934 (Acc/0027).

Legal documents, acquired by the solicitor's office in the course of their work, relating to the Manor of Stanwell, including: abstract of title for the Manor of Stanwell, parties: Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland and John, Earl of Dunmore, 1576-1725; abstract of title for lands in the parish of Stanwell, parties: Richard Willshaw and Lord Dunmore, 1677-1726; abstract of title for arable lands in the common fields of Stanmore, parties: Richard Blunt and the Earl of Dunmore, 1714-1737; abstract of tithe for copyhold lands in Stanwell, some belonging to the Earl of Dunmore, 1712-1780; and memorial of release for lands in the parish of Stanwell, 1736.

Also deed of company to establish a bank, to be called the 'Middlesex and Surrey Bank' at Staines, 1810; marriage settlement for lands in Staines, Highgate, Hornsey and Shenley Bury (Hertfordshire), 1844; copy of probate of will, regarding a house at Stamford Hill belonging to Thomas Gudgeon and copy of information at the Exchequer relating to a prosecution for evasion of stamp duty on bottles of soda water, 1813.

Nine items; ACC/0027/001-005: papers relating to land in Stanwell; ACC/0027/006-009: Other records.

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also ACC/0267 for a further accession from Beachcroft, Hays and Lechward. See ACC/0621 for more property transactions, plans, family and manorial records relating to the Manor of Stanwell.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. July to October 2009 Murray , John , 1685-1752 , second earl of Dunmore , army officer and politician x Dunmore Solicitors Manorial records Primary documents Wills Probate copies Documents Information sources Deeds Title deeds Marriage settlements (documents) Finance Financial institutions Banks Land use Manors Agricultural economics Land economics Land tenure Manorial land Cary , Lucius , d 1730 , Viscount Falkland x Falkland Beachcroft , Hays and Lechward , solicitors Stanwell Surrey England UK Western Europe Europe Islington London Shenley Bury Hertfordshire Highgate Haringey Hornsey Middlesex Staines Legal profession personnel Personnel People by occupation People

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Received in 1934 (Acc/0027).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Legal documents, acquired by the solicitor's office in the course of their work, relating to the Manor of Stanwell, including: abstract of title for the Manor of Stanwell, parties: Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland and John, Earl of Dunmore, 1576-1725; abstract of title for lands in the parish of Stanwell, parties: Richard Willshaw and Lord Dunmore, 1677-1726; abstract of title for arable lands in the common fields of Stanmore, parties: Richard Blunt and the Earl of Dunmore, 1714-1737; abstract of tithe for copyhold lands in Stanwell, some belonging to the Earl of Dunmore, 1712-1780; and memorial of release for lands in the parish of Stanwell, 1736.

Also deed of company to establish a bank, to be called the 'Middlesex and Surrey Bank' at Staines, 1810; marriage settlement for lands in Staines, Highgate, Hornsey and Shenley Bury (Hertfordshire), 1844; copy of probate of will, regarding a house at Stamford Hill belonging to Thomas Gudgeon and copy of information at the Exchequer relating to a prosecution for evasion of stamp duty on bottles of soda water, 1813.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Nine items; ACC/0027/001-005: papers relating to land in Stanwell; ACC/0027/006-009: Other records.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also ACC/0267 for a further accession from Beachcroft, Hays and Lechward. See ACC/0621 for more property transactions, plans, family and manorial records relating to the Manor of Stanwell.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area