10 Jul Lordship Title of Biggleswade or Biggleswade with Burgage ID1023
Posted at 20:00h
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Previous to Domesday BIGGLESWADE MANOR was held by Archbishop Stigand, but at the time of the Domesday Survey it belonged to Ralph de Lisle, who held it of the king in chief, and was assessed at 10 hides. Ralph de Lisle did not retain permanent possession, for in 1132 Henry I granted Biggleswade manor to Alexander bishop of Lincoln and his successors as an endowment for the cathedral. The bishop of Lincoln rendered feudal service for this manor, assessed at half a knight's fee, to the king in 1284, and in 1329 Bishop Henry received a charter of free warren here. In 1547 Henry Holbeche, then bishop, transferred Biggleswade manor to Edward VI in exchange for other lands, and it thus became crown property. It was leased in the time of Henry VIII to William Steward for a certain term of years, which was still running in 1575. In 1604 it became part of the jointure of Queen Anne wife of James I, and at a later date of Henrietta wife of Charles I. In 1689 Lord Carteret was holding the manor by lease; and in 1772 Robert, Earl Granville, became lessee for thirty-one years at a yearly rental of £26 19s. 7d. Shortly after the expiration of this lease Biggleswade manor was sold, in 1807, to Sir Francis Willes for £2,180. He died in 1827, when he bequeathed the manor to Peter Harvey Lovell, whose representative Francis Lovell is at the present day lord of the manor. Amongst under-tenants of the bishops of Lincoln the name of Le Blunt or Blundell occurs frequently. Simon Blundell and Emma his wife held lands and rents in Biggleswade in 1276, and some years later William Blundell was holding there. An inquisition taken at the death of Alan Blundell in 1304 shows that he held land here of the bishop of Lincoln in 1334, and his son John died seised of 50 acres of land in Biggleswade held in the same manner. In the fifteenth century the Enderbys also were tenants of the bishop. Maud Bothe, widow of John Enderby, held 10 messuages and 200 acres of land as of Biggleswade manor in 1474, and her son Richard Enderby held six messuages and land of the bishop in 1488.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
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