10 Jul Lordship Title of Astwick or John de Jons ID13282
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In the fifteenth century there are traces of another so-called manor in Astwick. The will of John Enderby, dated 1450, and proved in 1457, mentions amongst his real property lands and tenements in Astwick. In the inquisition taken in 1471 at the death of his widow Maud, who had married a second husband Robert Bothe, this property is called the manor of ASTWICK alias JOHN DE JONS. Maud left a son Richard Enderby as heir, who at his death in 1487 was seised of the same manor of Astwick, worth £4, and held of Richard Sheldon as of his manor of Astwick. He left a son under age at the time of his father's death. Here all traces of the manor as such cease, but at a court held by Richard Sheldon in 1497 John Enderby, lately come of age, did homage for the lands of Richard Enderby. Sixteenth century Court Rolls of Astwick also refer to the Piggotts (to whom the Enderby lands had passed) as defaulting suitors of the manor. Walter the Fleming had a small holding in Astwick at the time of the Survey, when Hugh held of him 1 virgate and a mill which had formerly been held by Lewin, a thegn of King Edward, and this fee was held by his heirs the Wahulls. In the fourteenth century the prior of St. John of Jerusalem successfully claimed the right of view of frankpledge twice a year as of his manor of Langford (q.v.). At the same time the abbot of Warden claimed view of frankpledge over his lands in Astwick, but judgement was deferred. The abbot of Warden is mentioned as a defaulter at the manorial court of Astwick. Two mills are mentioned in Domesday; one, a water-mill, belonged to Hugh de Beauchamp's tenant, and appears to have remained appurtenant to Astwick manor (q.v.); the appointment of the miller is constantly to be found in the Court Rolls. The other mill belonged to Hugh, who held it of Walter the Fleming. This was probably the same mill which in 1386 Sir John Vynter, parson of Clothall, granted to John Cukkowe of Clifton, but no further mention has been found of it. Certain jurisdictional rights over the town appear to have been possessed by the lord of the manor. At his court the constable of the town was elected and sworn in. At a court held in 1564 the stocks were declared to be in ruin, and the inhabitants were ordered to repair them by a certain date. Again a Court Roll of 1583 relates that all who had offended against the statute of 13 Elizabeth anent the wearing of caps were amerced to the lord 3s. 4d. A document recording a lease of the manor in 1479 by William Astwick to John and Robert Squire affords interesting detail as to the resources of a fifteenth-century manor. The manor-house or hall, 'with the chambers in the eyr end of the hall, with botry, pantry, kechyn, stabylle, with the chambers above the stabylle, the hawkes house, and the garden within the mote on the east side of the hall, before the hall window' were not to be included in the lease. William Astwick was also to retain 'all the fruits that shall happen to grow within the said mote,' and a hey-house at the westgate, the dove-house, a garden, and the cherry trees in the Church 'mede.' Reference is also made to a vinery belonging to the said William Astwick. Robert and John were to make yearly payments of fuelwood, two hogs, three dozen capons, a gander, three geese, a cock, six hens, half a bushel of apples, one peck of 'grate walnotys schalyd,' and straw for litter 'both for horses and beds,' and were to pay all charges on the manor save stint money. They were not to fowl with nets nor fish within the grounds, moats, and waters of the manor, nor to fell or lop the trees. William Astwick on his side had to provide sufficient plowbote, cartbote, and harowbote, and to find at the beginning of the term 'all manner of heggyngwode necessary to closure,' which John and Robert were to leave in good repair at the end of their lease. William was also to give yearly a cloth gown or 3s. 4d. in money, and four cart-loads of wood or else 5s. 4d. In conclusion, John and Robert entered into a bond of £40 to fulfil the conditions of the lease.
Other Information:
Manorial Counsel Limited has created a new legal right to bring the titles of this lordship back into use.
Listed in the Domesday Book:
No