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  • Category: Research
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  • Author: William Page (ed.)
  • Publisher: 1924
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Page: 202
  • Text: Parishes: Strensham

    MANORS
    Ten manses at STRENSHAM are said to have been granted to the abbey of Pershore by King Coenwulf at the request of the ealdorman Beornoth, and after being lost to that abbey to have been restored to it by King Edgar in 972. (fn. 17) Strensham was afterwards granted to the abbey of Westminster by Edward the Confessor as belonging to the manor of Pershore. It is not entered by name in the Domesday Survey, but from another survey made shortly after it appears that it is to be identified with a berewick of 10 hides belonging in 1086 to the manor of Comberton. Under the abbey of Westminster it was held by Gilbert Fitz Turold as successor to Ulf and Ansgot, (fn. 18) and Gilbert's interest in the manor seems to have passed at an early date to the Abbots of Westminster.

    ¶The Abbots of Westminster apparently held this manor, afterwards known as NETHER STRENSHAM, in demesne, until Abbot Walter (ob. 1191) granted it to Geoffrey de St. Leger to hold for service of two knights' fees. (fn. 19) The St. Leger family held for a short time, Reginald de St. Leger confirming a grant to Tewkesbury Abbey of land held of his fee in Strensham by an undated deed. (fn. 20) Engelm de St. Leger also granted land at Strensham to Tewkesbury Abbey, (fn. 21) but forfeited his estate here for some reason in the reign of John. (fn. 22) Hugh de Fokinton or Fulketon was holding Strensham in 1210–12, (fn. 23) but Engelm's land was restored in 1216. (fn. 24) It seems possible that the St. Legers and Fokintons may then have held Strensham between them, as Geoffrey de Fokinton was holding land in Strensham in 1226–7. (fn. 25) In 1232 certain land in Strensham forfeited by Robert de Dicleston, an outlaw, was held of William de Englefield, (fn. 26) who in 1248–9, with Margery his wife, granted a messuage and a carucate of land in Strensham to Andrew son of William de Englefield. (fn. 27) John la Warr and Olimpia (fn. 28) his wife and William de Englefield and Margery his wife were holding the manor jointly in 1254–5. (fn. 29) In 1276 Margery, relict of William de Englefield (one of the justices of England), paid a subsidy of 20s. in Strensham. (fn. 30) Roger son of John la Warr, (fn. 31) who was holding the advowson in 1278, (fn. 32) received a grant of free warren in his demesne lands of Strensham on 2 January 1285, (fn. 33) and sold the manor in that year to Godfrey de Auno in exchange for the manor of Rushall (co. Wilts.). (fn. 34) In 1298–9 Godfrey and Joan his wife sold the manor to James Russell, (fn. 35) who had probably acquired the Englefields' moiety before 1283, when he obtained licence to build an oratory in his house at Strensham. (fn. 36) James was still alive in 1300, (fn. 37) but had been succeeded before 1312 by his son Nicholas, (fn. 38) who presented to the church at that date. (fn. 39) He was appointed collector of the aid for the county in 1322, (fn. 40) and on 27 January 1328 he received a grant of free warren in his demesnes of Strensham and Peopleton. (fn. 41) In 1337–8 he settled the manor on his heirs by his wife Agnes with contingent remainders to his children John, Edmund, Robert, Christine, Margaret de Appurleye and Margery de la Bourne. (fn. 42) He must have died before 1346, when his widow Agnes was holding the two knights' fees which he had formerly held. (fn. 43) John son of Nicholas died in 1349, and as Edmund his brother was already dead without leaving issue the third brother Robert succeeded. (fn. 44) Robert Russell of Strensham received exemption for life on 9 October 1353 from being put on assizes, juries, &c., against his will. (fn. 45) He married Catherine daughter of John Vampage, (fn. 46) and must have been living as late as 1361, when he presented to the church. (fn. 47) He was succeeded before 1376 by his son Sir John Russell, Master of the Horse to Richard II. (fn. 48) In 1383 Thomas Earl of Warwick gave him a yearly rent of £20 in time of peace and £40 in time of war from the earl's manor of Chedworth, with bouche-au-court for himself, a chamberlain, three grooms and five horses in time of war, in return for bachelor service. This was inspected and confirmed by Richard II on 25 April 1383. (fn. 49) In 1388 he received licence to crenellate his mansion-house at Strensham, (fn. 50) and in 1397 confirmation of the grant of free warren made to Nicholas in 1328. (fn. 51) A grant of land and rent in Strensham, made to him by Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, before the forfeiture of his lands, was confirmed to him in the same year, (fn. 52) and in 1398, (fn. 53) for gratuitous good service. On the last occasion he was described as 'long keeper of the king's great horses.' In 1399 he settled the manor and advowson on his wife Elizabeth. (fn. 54) His son William ratified the estate of Elizabeth, his father's wife, in the manor in 1400–1, (fn. 55) and in 1405 Sir John died at Letheringham in Suffolk, according to the inscription on his tomb at Strensham, on which are recorded also the names of his three wives, Elizabeth, Margaret and Agnes. Elizabeth survived him and as Lady de Clinton held the manor until her death in 1423. (fn. 56)

    17. Kemble, Cod. Dipl. no. 570.
    18. V.C.H. Worcs. i, 303; Cott. MS. Vesp. B. xxiv, fol. 6d.
    19. Deeds of D. and C. of Westm. no. 22635. The manor was held of the abbey of Westminster by this service until the Dissolution. After the Dissolution it was held of the dean and chapter, their overlordship being mentioned until 1632 (Testa de Nevill [Rec. Com.], 43; Deeds of D. and C. of Westm. no. 21763 et seq. i Chan. Inq. p.m. [Ser. 2], dlxxx, 97).
    20. Dugdale, Mon. ii, 72.
    21. Ibid.
    22. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), i, 314.
    23. Red Bk. of Exch. (Rolls Ser.), 566; Testa de Nevill (Rec. Com.), 43.
    24. Rot. Lit. Claus. (Rec. Com.), i, 314.
    25. Feet of F. Worcs. case 258, file 3, no. 29.
    26. Cal. Close, 1231–4, p. 90.
    27. Feet of F. Worcs. case 258, file 6, no. 36.
    28. Olimpia may have been the widow of Ralph de Wilinton, who was dealing in 1226–7 with land in the manor, which seems to have passed to him from William del Pet (Feet of F. Worcs. case 258, file 3, no. 17). Ralph's wife was Olimpia daughter of Robert de Evercy (V.C.H. Worcs. iii, 559).
    29. Feet of F. Worcs. case 258, file 7, no. 34.
    30. Lay Subs. R. Worcs. c. 1280 (Worcs. Hist. Soc.), 103.
    31. Wrottesley, Ped. from Plea R. 450; Cal. Close, 1272–9, p. 58.
    32. Reg. G. Giffard (Worcs. Hist. Soc.), 97.
    33. Chart. R. 13 Edw. I, m. 32, no. 140.
    34. Feet of F. Wilts. Hil. 13 Edw. I, no. 25.
    35. Feet of F. Worcs. case 259, file 12, no. 14.
    36. Reg. G. Giffard (Worcs. Hist. Soc.), 187.
    37. Nash, Hist. of Worcs. ii, 396.
    38. Visit. of Worcs. 1569 (Harl. Soc.), 117.
    39. Nash, op. cit. ii, 396.
    40. Cal. Pat. 1321–4, p. 224.
    41. Cal. Chart. R. 1327–41, p. 68.
    42. Feet of F. Worcs. case 260, file 20, no. 30.
    43. Feud. Aids, v, 305.
    44. Chan. Inq. p.m. 23 Edw. III, pt. ii (1st nos.), no. 66.
    45. Cal. Pat. 1350–4, p. 497.
    46. Visit. of Worcs. loc. cit.
    47. Nash, op. cit. ii, 396.
    48. Visit. of Worcs. loc. cit.
    49. Cal. Pat. 1381–5, p. 238.
    50. Ibid. 1385–9, p. 446.
    51. Ibid. 1396–9, p.252.
    52. Ibid. 222, 275.
    53. Ibid. 314.
    54. Feet of F. Worcs. case 260, file 25, no. 57.
    55. Close, 2 Hen. IV, pt. ii, m. 7 d.
    56. Deeds of D. and C. of Westm. no. 21778. She was the daughter and eventually sole heir of William de la Planche, Lord de Clinton being her first and Sir John Russell her fourth husband (G.E.C. Complete Peerage, ii, 304).
Personal Names
PersonClaimDetailEvidence
Agnes PlanchesNameAgnes [S3220:202]
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Alice de GrindonNameAgnes [S3220:202]
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Catherine VampageNameCatherine Vampage [S3220:202]
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James Russell of StrenshamNameJames Russell [S3220:202]
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John VampageNameJohn Vampage [S3220:202] [S3221:116]
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Margaret HastingsNameMargaret [S3220:202]
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamNameNicholas Russell [S3220:202]
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Robert Russell of StrenshamNameRobert Russell of Strensham [S3220:202] [S3221:116]
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Events & Attributes
PersonClaimDateDetailAgeEvidence
James Russell of StrenshamFlourished1283Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
he obtained licence to build an oratory in his house at Strensham
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James Russell of StrenshamFlourished1298/99Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
bought the manor of Strensham from Godfrey de Auno and wife Joan
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James Russell of StrenshamLiving1300 [S3220:202]
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James Russell of StrenshamDeathbef 1312 [S3220:202]
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamLiving1312 [S3220:202]
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamFlourished1322Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
was appointed collector of the aid for the county
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamFlourishedJan 27, 1328Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
received a grant of free warren in his demesnes of Strensham and Peopleton
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamFlourished1337/38Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
settled the manor on his heirs by his wife Agnes with contingent remainders to his children John, Edmund, Robert, Christine, Margaret de Appurleye and Margery de la Bourne.
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Alice de GrindonFlourished1337/38Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
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Nicholas Russell of StrenshamDeathbef 1346 [S3220:202]
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Alice de GrindonFlourished1346Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
holding the two knights' fees which her husband had formerly held
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Robert Russell of StrenshamFlourishedOct 9, 1353 [S3220:202]
received exemption for life from being put on assizes, juries, &c., against his will.
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Robert Russell of StrenshamLiving1361 [S3220:202]
he presented to the church
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1376Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1383Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
Thomas Earl of Warwick gave him a yearly rent of £20 in time of peace and £40 in time of war from the earl's manor of Chedworth, with bouche-au-court for himself, a chamberlain, three grooms and five horses in time of war, in return for bachelor service
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1388Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
received licence to crenellate his mansion-house at Strensham
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1397Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
confirmation of the grant of free warren made to Nicholas in 1328
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1398Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
grant of land and rent in Strensham, made to him for gratuitous good service
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John Russell of StrenshamFlourished1399Strensham, Worcester, England [S3220:202]
settled the manor and advowson on his wife Elizabeth
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John Russell of StrenshamDeath1405Letheringham, Suffolk, England [S3220:202]
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John Russell of StrenshamOccupationMaster of the Horse to Richard II [S3220:202]
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