Volume 10 Number 07

CAKE AND
COCKHORSE
BANBURY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
AUTUMN 1987
VOLUME 10
PRICE €1.00
NUHBER 7
ISSN 6522-0823
Bun6ury H i s t o r i c a t Society
President:
The L o r d Saye and Sele
D r . J.S.
J.S.W.
Chairman:
R i v e r s , Homeland, M i d d l e Lane, B a l s c o t e ,
Banbury.
Deputy Chairman:
Gibson, H a r t s Cottage, Church Hanborough, Oxford, OX7 2AB
D.A.
Hitchcox,
Magazine Editor:
1 D o r c h e s t e r Grove, Banbury, OX16 OBD.
Hon. Treasurer:
A. Essex-Crosby,
3 Brantwood C o u r t ,
Banbury.
( T e l : 56238)
Hon. Secretary:
Mrs. M. B a r n e t t ,
Banbury Museum,
8 H o r s e f a i r , Banbury.
( T e l : 59855)
Programne Secretary:
Miss P. Renold M.A.F.R.Hist.S.,
51 Woodstock Close,
O x f o r d OX2 8DD.
( T e l : O x f o r d 53937)
Mrs. J.P.Bowes,
Hon. Research Adviser:
J.S.W. Gibson,
H a r t s Cottage,
Church Hanborough, O x f o r d OX7 2AB
(Tel: Freeland [0993]882982)
Cornnittee Members:
Mrs. N.M.Clifton, Mrs. C.Jakeman,
Miss M. Stanton.
D e t a i l s about the Society's a c t i v i t i e s and
publications can be found on the inside back c o v e r
Cover P i c t u r e :
Main S e c t i o n o f t h e Chancel Screen for Hobart C a t h e d r a l , Tasmanla.
Photographed i n F r a n k l i n ' s Yard, C.1916 b e f o r e shipment.
Cake
and Cockfiorse
The Magazine o f t h e Banbury H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y
I ssued t h r e e times a year.
Volume 10
Number 7
Sally Stradling
From Hempton t o Hobart:
F r a n k l i n ' s o f Oeddington c.1850-1917
162
The Town C l e r k s o f Banbury
1554 - 1835
170
A Banbury Chruch Pew-Holder o f
1737
182
T r a d i t i o n a l Domestic A r c h i t e c t u r e
i n t h e Banbury Region
183
R.K.
Gilkes
H a r o l d Thompson
Book Review
~
O.A.U.
Ne wsletter
Oswald Chaplin
Autumn 1987
~
~
~~
~
Sainsbury, Calth o r p e S t r e e t
184
A Nonconformist Cameo
185
F o l l o w i n g an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "A Survey o f I n d u s t r i a l Remains
i n Banbury and D i s t r i c t " i n t h e Summer 1987 e d i t i o n , I r e c e i v e d an
i n t e r e s t i n g l e t t e r from M r . F.A. Blencowe, p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t t h e
l oco motive named was "LitJban" and n o t "Lidben".
He a l s o n o t e s t h a t
another locomotive i s mentioned i n t h e I n d u s t r i a l Railway S o c i e t y
Handbook ' J ' namely "John" ( b u i l t by Hudswell C l a r k e No.32 i n 1889
and r e b u i l t i n 1909) i t a r r i v e d from Poynton C o l l e r i e s i n Cheshire
v i a E.Nutta1 & Co., C o n t r a c t o r s probably b e f o r e L i d b a n and d i d n o t
go away u n t i l a f t e r August 1922.
I n the p r e v i o u s i s s u e I n o t e d t h a t Sarah G o s l i n g had l e f t t h e
area.
I t i s with g r e a t r e l i e f and p l e a s u r e t h a t I announce t h e
a r r i v a l o f h e r successor, Mrs. Me1 B a r n e t t .
She has a l r e a d y met
a number o f members and i s a l r e a d y c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e success o f
t h e Society.
D.A.H.
161
FROM HEHPTON TO HOBART:
FRANKLINS OF DEDDINGTON c.1850-1917.
T h i s a r t i c l e i s based on r e s e a r c h work c a r r i e d o u t f o r Oxfords h i r e Museums S e r v i c e between 1984-5 d u r i n g which t i m e two exhibi t i o n s were mounted, one a t Banbury Museum, t h e o t h e r a t t h e County
Museum, Woodstock.
The r e s e a r c h i n i t i a t e d as a r e s u l t o f a d o n a t i o n o f a c o l l e c t i o n
o f 74 woodcarving t o o l s t o Banbury Museum.
A t an e a r l y stage i t
was a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t t h e t o o l s were used by woodcarvers employed by
H.R. F r a n k l i n ' s b u i l d e r s , o f Deddington.
The main aims o f t h e r e s e a r c h were t o : p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n about
the woodcarving t o o l s and t o e x p l a i n t h e i r use w i t h i n a l o c a l s k i l l e d
t o r e l a t e t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e t o o l s t o H.R.Franklin's
trade;
b u i l d i n g o p e r a t i o n by examining examples o f woodcarving, p a r t i c u l a r l y ;
and t o e s t a b l i s h t h e scope and importance o f F r a n k l i n ' s w i t h i n a
l o c a l , n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n t e x t .
F r a n k l i n ' s were g e n e r a l b u i l d e r s b u t a l s o s p e c i a l i z e d i n church
b u i l d i n g and r e s t o r a t i o n .
Although F r a n k l i n ' s became w e l l known f o r
t h e i r l o c a l b u i l d i n g work i t was f o r t h e h i g h q u a l i t y o f church
c a r v i n g t h a t t h e f i r m gained a n a t i o n a l and l a t e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l
reputation.
From c.1850-c.1860 F r a n k l i n ' s p r o b a b l y produced work1
f o r churches under t h e d i r e c t i o n o f G.E. S t r e e t .
I n the l a t e 19th
century F r a n k l i n ' s produced work f o r t h e a r c h i t e c t s G.F. Bodley,
T.Garner and i n t h e e a r l y 2 0 t h c e n t u r y f o r C e c i l llare.
The f i r m was founded c.1850 by Robert F r a n k l i n who was a carpe n t e r and j o i n e r by t r a d e .
Census r e t u r n s f o r 1841 show t h a t
R. F r a n k l i n , aged 50,carpenter, l i v e d i n Chapel S t r e e t , Deddington.
He e s t a b l i s h e d a h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l b u i l d e r s y a r d and employed 10 men
by 1851.
By 1871 h i s widow employed 84 men and 8 boys.
Later the
b r o t h e r s Henry Robert F r a n k l i n and W i l l i a m F r a n k l i n took over the
f i r m which became a very b i g o p e r a t i o n by t h e 1890's employing 200
men or more. 2
H.R. F r a n k l i n l i v e d a t C a s t l e House, Deddington and bought Yarnt o n Manor i n 1895:
Bought i n a r u i n o u s and s a d l y n e g l e c t e d s t a t e
Yarnton Manor was r e s t o r e d under t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f Thomas Garner.,
W. F r a n k k i n l i v e d a t The B l o c k s now renamed Featherstone House.4
F r a n k l i n ' s B u i l d e r s Yard was s i t u a t e d immediately b e h i n d Featherstone
House (The B l o c k s . )
The Yard i s now occupied by Johnson's.5
H.R. F r a n k l i n and W. F r a n k l i n were t h e two d i r e c t o r s o f t h e
I n C.1912 a f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s o c c u r r e d caused by
family f i r m .
Franklin's
W i l l i a m ' s w i f e l e a v i n g him and t a k i n g most o f t h e money.
became a L i m i t e d Company w i t h two new d i r e c t o r s , Frank Gray, MP f o r
Oxford C i t y and M r . G a r g e t t s , Manager o f B a r c l a y ' s Bank6
The F i r m c o n t i n u e d i n business u n t i l 1917 when i t was forced t o
I t appears t h a t F r a n k l i n ' s r e c e i v e d a
c l o s e due t o bankruptcy.
l a r g e o r d e r f o r s t r e t c h e r s d u r i n g t h e 1914-18 war, which they t u r n e d
o u t approximately 6 i n c h e s s h o r t o f War O f f i c e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s . As
a consequence t h e War O f f i c e r e f u s e d payment and t h e O f f i c i a l Receiver
162
was c a l l e d i n . 7
I t was a l s o known t h a t F r a n k l i n ' s were t o work on
L i v e r p o o l C a t h e d r a l b u t due t o f i n a n c i a l problems c o u l d n o t take
t h e work on.7
As w e l l as p r o d u c i n g f i t t i n g s
Output by t h e f i r m was p r o l i f i c .
and f u r n i s h i n g s f o r churches, F r a n k l i n ' s a l s o produced work f o r
O x f o r d Colleges, s c h o o l s and p r i v a t e houses.
From i n t e r v i e w s w i t h r e s i d e n t s i n Deddington, p a r t i c u l a r l y
r e l a t i v e s o f woodcarvers i t was p o s s i b l e t o e s t a b l i s h some i d e a o f
how F r a n k l i n ' s operated.
F r a n k l i n ' s employed j o i n e r s , c a r p e n t e r s ,
p i t sawers, smiths, masons, horsemen and e s t i m a t o r s a t the t u r n o f
t h e 2 0 t h Century.
Woodcarving was a s p e c i a l i s t t r a d e w i t h i n t h e
Firm.
The woodcarving tools donated toBanbury Museum p r o v i d e d t h e
f i r s t c l u e s o f how t h i s s p e c i a l i s t s e c t i o n operated.
The t o o l s
i n c l u d e d c h i s e l s , gouges, p a r t i n g t o o l s , f l u t e r s and v e i n e r s .
The
names o f t h e woodcarvers were stamped or engraved on t h e wooden
handles:
A.J. Hancox ( A r t h u r )
Wheeler
H. F a u l k n e r
W. S p i e r s ( W i l l i a m , f a t h e r o f F r e d )
C. Carve11 ( C h a r l e s )
F. S t u r c h ( F r e d )
J. H o p c r a f t (Joseph)
F . S p i e r s ( F r e d e r i c k , son o f W i l l i a m )
J. S p i e r s
I t was f u r t h e r known t h a t o t h e r c a r v e r s were Canberry, Smithin
and Walters.8 (See F i g . 1 . )
Although most o f t h e men working f o r F r a n k l i n ' s were from
Deddington, a number o f c a r v e r s were brought i n from o u t s i d e i n
o r d e r t o complete s p e c i f i c o r d e r s t o time.
S p i e r s were one such
family.
Carvers came from Stratford-on-Avon and a l s o from a f i r m
a t Gloucester.
F r a n k l i n ' s men would sometimes work f o r these f i r m s
i n return.9
D a v i d Hancox was foreman a t F r a n k l i n ' s and was b r o t h e r t o Arthur,
one o f t h e c a r v e r s pre-1914.
Woodcarvers served a 5-year a p p r e n t i c e ship.
I t was common p r a c t i c e t o i n h e r i t t o o l s from a member o f t h e
f a m i l y or t o perhaps buy t o o l s secondhand o f f another c a r v e r .
For
t h i s reason some o f t h e wooden (handmade) handles b o r e two names
stamped one over t h e o t h e r .
The m e t a l p i e c e s f o r t h e c h i s e l s , p l a n e s
saws and o t h e r t o o l s were purchased from t h e well-known t o o l makers
such as Marples o f S h e f f i e l d .
The c a r v e r s made t h e handles commonly
o u t o f ash or beechwood, t o t h e i r own design.
A complete s e t o f
t o o l s amounting t o perhaps 60-90 p i e c e s were k e p t i n handmade wooden
t o o l boxes or more s u b s t a n t i a l t o o l chests.10
The oak
F r a n k l i n ' s m o s t l y used E n g l i s h oak f o r t h e i r c a r v i n g .
came from E x e t e r and a l s o from B r a c k l e y .
Oak was stacked i n t h e
I t was t h e n sawn
l a n e s near t h e Yard f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s t o season.
The oak was k i l n d r i e d a t F r a n k l i n ' s Yard.
A
by hand i n p i t s .
l a r g e s t o c k o f t i m b e r was held.11
From an o l d photograph o f woodcarvers, taken c.1895 o u t s i d e
Featherstone House (The B l o c k s ) i t can be seen t h a t t h e woodcarvers
163
Fig.1. Sample board showing examples o f f i v e c u s t u s i n g from l e f t
t o r i g h t : Back-bent gouge, f r o n t - b e n t gouge, curved p a r t i n g took,
f l u t e r and another curved p a r t i n g t o o l .
Fig.2. Woodcarvers a t F r a n k l i n ' s c.1895 o u t s i d e F e a t h e r s t o n e House
(The B l o c k s ) .
164
I
wore w h i t e l i n e n aprons.(See Fig.2.3
The a p p r e n t i c e s wore b e l l - b o y
A
s t y l e h a t s , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g them from t h e q u a l i f i e d woodcarvers.
number o f t h e w o r k f o r c e were i d e n t i f i e d by Miss Stanley and Mrs.Ray
These i n c l u d e d :
Deddington r e s i d e n t s r e l a t e d t o woodcarvers.
M r . H a l l , t h e s u p e r v i s o r on t h e f a r r i g h t o f t h e photograph; A l f
S t a n l e y s t a n d i n g 5th from l e f t i n t h e t o p row; Mrs. Ray's f a t h e r
The F i r m reproduced c o p i e s
seated second from l e f t i n f r o n t row.
F r a n k l i n ' s a l s o employed a
o f t h i s photograph f o r t h e employees.
number o f boys t o ' f e t c h and c a r r y ' f o r t h e working men. Errands
were r u n t o c o l l e c t 'beer and b a c c y ' .
Miss S t a n l e y , daughter o f A l f S t a n l e y , one o f t h e l a s t woodc a r v e r s t o work f o r F r a n k l i n ' s r e c a l l s t h a t h e r f a t h e r worked
e x t r e m e l y l o n g hours.
He was o f t e n away from home, and h e r mother
always k e p t h i s bag packed as he sometimes went away on church work
a t very s h o r t n o t i ce.
There were 7 or 8 woodcarvers employed by F r a n k l i n ' s c.1917.
Employees a t F r a n k l i n ' s worked a s i x day week from Mondays t o Saturdays, w i t h o n l y Sundays o f f .
The t i m e t a b l e o f a t y p i c a l working
day i n summer was as f o l l o w s :
6.00 am. S t a r t work
8 . 0 0 - 8.30 am. B r e a k f a s t
12.00 - 12.30 pm Dinner
4.00 - 4.30 pm Tea
7.00 pm. f i n i s h Work
The woodcarvers were p a i d 64d p e r hour.
H o l i d a y s were unpaid.12
The C.19 was a p e r i o d o f g r e a t a c t i v i t y i n church b u i l d i n g and
restoration.
C.1850 R . F r a n k l i n c a r r i e d o u t g e n e r a l r e p a i r work t o
churches b u t a l s o worked on new b u i l d i r i y s o f t e n w i t h J.Hopcraft,
another Deddington B u i l d e r .
Examples i n c l u d e : The.chape1 o f
S t . John, Hempton 1850-51, and t h e Church o f S t . John, M i l t o n 1856
R. F r a n k l i n c a r r i e d o u t work
t o t h e design o f W i l l i a m B u t t e r f i e l d .
a t t h e Church o f SS P e t e r and Paul, Deddington; 1843 nave r o o f renewed i n oak ( c o s t E300); 1836-7 new p u l p i t , r e a d i n g desk, communion
I t i s l i k e l y t h a t F r a n k l i n ' s worked on t h e
r a i l s and a l t a r p i e c e s .
g e n e r a l r e s t o r a t i o n t h e r e i n 1858 and i n 1865-6 under the d i r e c t i o n
o f t h e Diocesan A r c h i t e c t G.E. S t r e e t (1824-1881).13
From 1884-19'17, H.R. F r a n k l i n ' s became c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e
a r c h i t e c t s G . F . Bodley (1827-1907), T . Garner (1839-1906), and C e c i l
I t was f o r t h e h i g h q u a l i t y o f c r a f t s Hare, a p u p i l o f B o d l e y ' s .
manship i n p r o d u c i n g wood c a r v i n g s and c h u r c h f u r n i s h i n g s t h a t
F r a n k l i n ' s became reknown.
Rood screens, reredos, p u l p i , t s and
This work was c a r r i e d o u t t o
organ cases were very much i n demand.
t h e designs o f Bodley and Garner and a f t e r B o d l e y ' s death, t o t h e
designs o f C e c i l Hare.
Bodley had worked i n G i l b e r t S c o t t ' s o f f i c e
w i t h S t r e e t i n t h e 1840s.
I n 1869 Bodley formed a p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
Garner which l a s t e d u n t i l 1897, when Garner was r e c e i v e d i n t o t h e
Roman C a t h o l i c Church.14
A g r e a t many o f Bodley and G a r n e r ' s churches were b u i l t i n t h e
I n t e r n a l l y churches were o f t e n decorated
E n g l i s h L a t e Gothic s t y l e .
w i t h p a i n t e d boarded wooden r o o f s , wood s c u l p t u r e such as rood
screens, reredos and organ cases, sometimes i n a h e a v i l y g i l d e d and
165
p a i n te d Flemish or L a t e Gothic Style."
The l i s t o f churches and
other commissions c a r r i e d o u t by F r a n k l i n ' s (which were known d u r i n g
research c a r r i e d o u t between 1984-5) demonstrates t h e v i t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n which t h i s N o r t h Oxfordshire f i r m made w i t h i n t h e l o c a l ,
n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n t e x t .
The commissions i n c l u d e d
Perhaps the most
general b u i l d i n g work, stonework and woodcarving.
p r e s t i g i o u s woodcarving completed by F r a n k l i n ' s was t h e chancel screen
and p u l p i t f o r th e Cathedral Church o f Hobart, Tasmania.
Bodley and
Garner s u c c e s s f u l l y competed f o r t h e commission f o r t h e c a t h e d r a l
which was b u i l t between 1868-94.
The p u l p i t designed by Bodley was
erected i n 1903.
The rood screen by Hare was e r e c t e d i n 1916.
Residents i n Deddington r e c a l l t h a t a g r e a t s t i r was caused i n
Oeddington a t the time t h e Chancel Screen and P u l p i t f o r Hobart were
packed f o r shipment.
Mrs. Hopcraft, w i f e o f t h e Deddington b u i l d e r ,
J. Hopcraft r e c a l l e d t h a t she and h e r s i s t e r Maude were young g i r l s
a t t he time ' I . . . no one seemed t o know where Tasmania was, except
t h a t i t was a lo ng, l o n g way away"
(See Cover P i c t u r e . )
Sally Stradling.
L i s t o f Sources.
Vane-Turner,M.
The S t o r y o f Deddington, 1933,p.39.
I.
Census Returns f o r 1841,1851, and 1881 f o r Oeddington,, Oxon
2.
i n t h e County Record O f f i c e .
Country L i f e , December 21st and December 28th, 1951.
3.
C o l v i n , H.M. A H i s t o r y o f Deddington, Oxon, 1963, p.10
4.
I n f o r m a t i o n from M r . J.M. French, e s t i m a t o r f o r F r a n k l i n ' s .
5.
Op c i t
6.
I n f o r m a t i o n from Mrs. Ray o f Deddington whose f a t h e r worked for
7.
Franklin's.
8.
I n f o r m a t i o n from M r . J.M. French.
9.
I n f o r m a t i o n from Miss Stanley, daughter o f A l f Stanley, woodcarver f o r F r a n k l i n ' s .
10. I n f o r m a t i o n from M r . Orinkwater, who was a p p r e n t i c e d t o A l f
Stanley, woodcarver.
11. I n f o r m a t i o n from M r . J.M. French.
12. I n f o r m a t i o n from Miss Stanley.
13. C o l v i n , H.M. A H i s t o r y o f Deddington, Oxon, 1963, p.107.
14. Dixo n R and Muthesins's, V i c t o r i a n A r c h i t e c t u r e , 1978, pp.223-4.
15. 0p.Cit. p.223.
16. Vane-Turner, M. The S t o r y o f Deddington, 1933, pp.39-40.
. .
166
Background Sources
Buildings Index, Central Library, Oxford.
Cathedral Church of Hobart, Tasmania, Church Booklet.
City o f Sheffield, Department of Museums, Trade Directories.
Correspondence with the incumbents of churches
Oavey, N. A History of Building Materials
Diocesan Scrapbooks f o r Oxfordshire.
Fawcett, J. (Ed) Seven Victorian Architects, 1976.
Grouard, M. The Victorian Country House.
Goodman, G.L. Woodworking, 1962.
Howell, P. Excursion notes for the Victorian Groups of the Oxfordshire Architectural
and Historical Society, 1982.
Jackson's Oxford Journal 1880's - 1890's.
Magdalen College Archives, Oxford.
Mais, S.P.B. Our Village Today, 1956.
Mortages under Gilbert's Act for Benefices in the Oxford Diocese 1787-1849.
Oxford Mail, article on Oeddington 14Y4Y1953.
Pevsner N. and Sherwood, J . Buildings of England: Oxfordshire 1974.
Potts, W . History o f Banbury,1978 edition.
Salaman, R.A. Dictionary of Tools used in the Woodworking and Allied Trades
C. 1700-1970. 1975.
State Archives, Hobart, Tasmania : Correspondence and measured drawings.
Victoria County History, Oxfordshire, Vol. XI.
Franklin's Cmissions
Abbreviations used for saurces:
Potts
- Potts, W., A history o f Banbury, 1978 edition.
- Victoria County History
VCH
Revsner
Pevsner; N. & Sherwood, J., Buildings o f England, Oxfordshire, 1974.
Colvin
- Colvin , H.M., A History o f Deddington, Oxon, 1963.
Mais - Mais, S.P.B. Our Village Today, 1956
J.0.J.
- Jackson's O x f o r d Journal
Vane-Turner - Vane-Turner, M., The Story o f Oeddington, 1933.
Oxfordshire
Banbury
Horton Hospital by Charles H. Driver o f London. 1869-72, built by
Messrs. Franklin & Sons of Deddington. &9,168 spent on purchase of
ground, building and fittinq (Potts, p.303: VCH: Oxfordshire Vol.X.p.85)
Christ Church south Banbury-1853 by Benjamin Ferrey, built by Joseph
Hope of Oxford.
Tower on north side built by Franklin's of Deddington
in 1880 to-Ferrey's original design. (VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol.X.p.106)
Church of St. John the Baptist Medieval, rebuilt 1843-4. Enlargement of
Bodicote
church 1843-4. Medieval tower removed, new tower built at west end of
nave. North aisle rebuilt and whole church much altered and reLseated.
Architect, John Plowman. Builder, Robert Franklin ) o f Oeddington.
Further changes: 1866 north porch added. In 1878 organ moved from west
end to chancel, new seats placed in chancel, new pulpit built, new
vestry made at base o f tower. (VCH.Oxfordshire, Vol.IX, p.38)
Clifton
Chapel o f St. James the Great Built by Robert Franklin and James Hopcraft
I,,
in 1851. Paid f o r by Revd. Risley (VCH.Oxfordshire, Vol.XI.p.116)
Clifton School 1870. Built by H.R. Franklin on a site given by W.C.Cartwright. Day School. Attendance of 13 boys and 18 girls. House for
single certified teacher. Governed by a separate Trust Deed but under
joint management with Hempton. Closed 1945 and later demolished.
(VCH: Oxfordshire. Vol. XI.C).119)
Cropredy
Church of St. Mary Magdalene Medieval church restored C.19 and C.20.
Third instalment of repairs carried out by Messrs. Franklin o f Deddinaton
architect W.T. Loveday'. Repairs included'&l,900 on tower, vestry
windows, chancel arch, extensive repairs to tower and buttresses added
to chancel. Tower by Messrs. Booth of Banbury.
(VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol.X.p.222)
~
167
Deddington Castle House Bought by H.R. Franklin in 1894. Restored with the aid of
the architect Thomas Garner. (Colvin. p.9)
The Blocks, Castle Street C17 altered and.partly rebuilt by H.R.
Franklin. (Colvin, p.10).
Bridge over the Sowbrook to the south of Deddington. Rebuilt by Messrs.
Franklin and Hopcraft in 1842 and widened by the County Council in 1951.
(Colvin. p.16)
Church o f SS. Peter and Paul Nave roof rebuilt in oak in 1843 by Robert
Franklin at a cost of C300. G.E. Street restoration 1858-1866. Pulpit,
reading desk, communion rails and alter piece by Robert Franklin's.
Carvers Tom and Alf Stanley. Gates by Alf Stanley after his retirement
from Franklins (Colvin p.107: Miss Stanley: Mr. Drinkwater, Mais
pp. 122-1 32).
Epwell
Church of St. Anne Restoration in 1857 by Henry Franklin a Deddington
builder. South aisle repaired, church re-roofed, new pews, singers
gallery removed. (VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol.X.p.255)
Finstock
Church of Holy Trinity Chancel screen by Franklin's (Letter from
Mr. Bowman).
Clympton
Church of St. Mary 1871 restoration and repairs to chancel by G.E.Street.
Rectory House and offices by Robert Franklin. ( J . 0 . J . and VCH:
Oxfordshire, Vol. XI.p.130).
Hempton
Chapel of St. John 1850-1. Entire church built by Robert Franklin and
James Hopcraft. Designed by Rev. William Wilson, junr. Paid for by
Rev. Wilson Snr. (Colvin. p.110).
Milton
Church of St. Mary the Virqin-1856-7. After design of William Butterfield. Built by Franklin's and Hopcraft. Nave, chancel, south porch.
Early Dec. style. Small central tower with 2 bells. Fittings include
font and carved cover, reading desk, pews and pulpit.
(VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol.lX.p.36)
Nether Worton Nether Worton House Home of Lord and Lady Schuster. One of Franklin's
woodcarvers Alf Stanley worked here after the firm closed. Gates and
staircase.
Oxford
Church o f St. Giles Franklin's involvement with rebuilding of south
chapel 1850-2. (Vane-Turner. p.39)
Church of St, Margaret 1883/93 by H.G.W. Drinkwater. Rood screen by
Bodley: Gates 1896, Rood 1907, Cresting 1915. Pulpit by Bodley. 1908
reredos and aumbry by Cecil Hare produced by H.R. Franklin's. Baptistry
screen 1913. Font cover 1914 by Hare possibly made by H.R. Franklin's.
Tower by Bodley, builder H.R. Franklin 1897.
(Vane-Turner, p.39; Pevsner, p.293: Oxfordshire County Record Office
MS Oxf. Oioc. Papers c.1936)
Jesus Colle e Building work carried out in 1883 by H.R: Franklin's
+Correspondence
.
with Jesus College Archivist. )
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Cowley Whole church by Eiodley 1894-6.
Roof, organ case, pulpit, screen made by H.R. Franklin's. Reredos not
by Bodley. (Pevsner, p.292: Vane-Turner, p.39)
Magdalen College H.R. Franklin was commissioned to work here with Bodley
and Garner 1886-8. Rebuilding of the President's Lodgings, Carriage
Gateway and new Quad; 1880-84 St. Swithun's Buildings: 1902 Hall Restorations; chapel woodcarvings. (Mais pp.122-132; Vane Turner, p.39; Pevsner
p.149; Magdalen College Archives D9-284; JoJ 15th October 1881 p.7a,
13th October 1883, p6a, 11th October 1884, p8b, 17th October 1885 p6a)
Somerton
Church o f St. James C12 with C19 restoration and additions. Oak screen
in tower doorway designed by lhomas Garner and erected in memory of the
Coronation of Edward VII, carved oak vestry screen added in 1915..
Woodcarvingby H.R. Franklin's. Choir stalls carved ,by Alf Stanley.
(VCH: Oxfordshire, Vol. VI: Information from Mr. Drinkwater).
Steeple Barton Barton Abbey Franklin worked here f o r the two remodellings of C.1840
and C.1890.
(Vane-Turner, p.39; VCH.Oxfordshire, Vol. X I ) .
168
Yarnton
in 1885 by Bodley, Garner and H.R. Franklin.
Oxfordshire, Vol.XI).
Yarnton Manor Sold to H.R. Franklin by the Dashwoods in 1895. Restoration by T. Garner and Franklin 1897.
(Pevsner, p.867; Country Life Dec. Zlst, 1951 and Dec. 28th 1951,
Yarnton Manor, Oxfordshire I & I 1 by Gordon Nares).
Cheshire
Eccleston Church of St.Mary 1894-9 by Bodley for the Duke of Newcastle. Woodcarvings by H.R. Franklin. (Vane-Turner, p.40).
Cornwall Church of St. Ives. (Vane-Turner, p.39)
HertFordshire
Berkhampstead Mansion for a man named Coker (Information from Mr. French).
London
Cripplegate (Vane-Turner, p.39).
House of Commons Panelling by Alf Stanley, 1912. (Information from
Mr. French).
St. Paul's London Screen, pulplt, sounding board, organ g r ~ l l e ,
lectern and stalls by H.R. Franklin.
(Information from Miss Stanley and Mr. Drinkwater).
Nottinghamshire Clumber chapel 1886-9 by Bodley. Commission for the Duke of
Newcastle. Woodcarving by Franklin (Vane-Turner, p.40).
powyS
Powys Cathedral, Nr. Welshpool Rood screen by Franklin. (Information
from Miss Stanley.
Staffordshire
Burton-on-Trent Church of St. Chad Designed in 1903 by Bodley. Completed by
r-llceC
Bodley's death. Woodcarvings by Franklin's.
(Vane-Turner, p.40).
Suffolk
Felixstowe Church at Felixstowe (Information from Mr. French).
Warwickshire
Stratford-onAvon
Holy Trinity Restoration by Bodley and Garner 1888-92: new reredos
exclusive o f sculpture f1,771; organ case 1891, cost f495. Oak sides
cost t10D. Also screens and panelling. Woodcarvings by H.R.Franklin's
(Vane-Turner, p.39; Shakespeare Centre MS in DR 490/10).
Wiltshire
Marlborough Marlborough School Chapel Restoration by Bodley and Garner 1882-6 with
H.R. Franklin.
(Vane-Turner, p.39; Correspondence with Marlborough School).
Salisbury Salisbury School Chapel Fittings by H.R. Franklin's.
(Vane-Turner, p.39).
Worcestershire
Tardebigge Hewell Grange 1884-9 Franklin's worked here with Bodley and Garner f o r
The Earl of Plymouth. Staircase by Alf Stanley.
(Information from Mr. Drinkwater).
Yorkshire
York Minster Doors carved by H.R. Franklin's (Information from
York
Mr. Drinkwater).
Leeds Cathedral Woodcarving by H.R. Franklin's (Information from
Leeds
Mr. French).
~
3
Rome
Tasmania
Hobart
Liner
Church of San Remo Woodcarving by H.R. Franklin's (Information from
Mr. Drinkwater).
Cathedral Church of St.David 1886 by Bodley. Pulpit designed by Bodley
carved in English oak by H.R. Franklin's. Erected 1903. Canopy and
panelling added 1904. Rood screen by Hare carved by H.R. Franklin's.
Erected 1916. (Vane-Turner, p.39; Correspondence and plans from the
Dean's Secretary, Hobart Cathedral).
5.5. Queen Mary (Information from Mr. Drinkwater).
169
THE TOWN CLERKS OF BANBURY, 1554-1835.
The O f f i c e o f Town C l e r k , l i k e t h a t o f t h e Chamberlain, may
w e l l have d e r i v e d from o f f i c i a l s o f t h e medieval G i 1 d s : l
i t had
no counterpart i n manorial administration.2
The Town C l e r k , or
Common C l e r k as he was sometimes c a l l e d , f i r s t made h i s appearance
i n s e v e r a l town and c i t i e s d u r i n g t h e t h i r t e e n t h and f o u r t e e n t h
c e n t u r i e s , b u t d i d n o t g e n e r a l l y occupy a p l a c e o f r e a l importance
However,
i n town government u n t i l t h e f i f t e e n t h c e n t u r y or l a t e r . )
by 1689 he was c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d as an i n d i s p e n s a b l e and l e a d i n g
f i g u r e i n most m u n i c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n s , 4
' t h e s t a n d i n g and c o n f i d e n t i a l a d v i s e r o f t h e Mayor and C o r p o r a t i o n ' , on whose ' T a l e n t and
I n t e g r i t y much o f t h e m e r i t s o f t h e i r o f f i c i a l conduct must depend'!
The Town C l e r k was almost always one o f t h e t o w n ' s l e a d i n g
a t t o r n e y s , and on h i s death or r e t i r e m e n t i t was common procedure
f o r him t o be f o l l o w e d by h i s successor i n t h e l e g a l p r a c t i c e ,
This c o n t i n u i t y e s t a b l i s h e d a g e n e r a l l y
o f t e n t i m e s h i s own son. 6
b e n e f i c i a l p a t t e r n o f permanence and s t a b i l i t y , for w h i l e t h e Mayor
h e l d o f f i c e f o r o n l y one year and o t h e r o f f i c e r s m i g h t be r e p l a c e d
as the C o r p o r a t i o n decided, t h e Town C l e r k s h i p was t e n a b l e for l i f e . !
From 1554 t o 1835 Banbury was served b y p r o b a b l y no more t h a n s i x teen or seventeen Town C l e r k s , i n c l u d i n g seven, perhaps e i g h t , who
were members o f t h r e e f a m i l i e s : S t y l e ( s ) , A p l i n , Walford.
As w e l l as c o n t i n u i n g i n h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i c e , i t was
u s u a l f o r t h e Town C l e r k t o h o l d s e v e r a l .other town appointments;
f o r example, as C l e r k o f t h e Peace f o r t h e Borough and County
Quarter Sessions, C l e r k t o t h e M a g i s t r a t e s i n P e t t y Sessions,
R e g i s t r a r , C l e r k t o t h e Markets; maybe a l s o as Coroner, Deputy
Recorder, Steward o f t h e Manor, or as p r e s i d i n g o f f i c e r a t t h e
Some boroughs a d m i t t e d t h e Town C l e r k as a member o f
Court L e e t .
t h e Common C o u n c i l , and Dover and C a r l i s l e even e l e c t e d h i m t o t h e
o f f i c e o f Mayor, t h u s c r e a t i n g what t h e Commissioners on M u n i c i p a l
C o r p o r a t i o n s d e s c r i b e d as ' a s t r a n g e i n c o n g r u i t y ' .8
The S a l a r y p a i d t o t h e Town C l e r k was s m a l l , u s u a l l y no more
than a few pounds a year; b u t f o r h i s work as s o l i c i t o r f o r t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n he r e c e i v e d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e l e g a l fees, he u s u a l l y
c o l l e c t e d a f e e f o r each admission t o t h e freedom o f t h e borough,
and, o f course, was e n t i t l e d t o a l l t h e c o s t s i n c u r r e d i n t h e
discharge o f t h e d u t i e s o f t h e o t h e r o f f i c e s he h e l d . O p p o r t u n i t i e s
f o r p r o f i t and t h e l e v e l o f p r o f i t v a r i e d from town t o town, b u t t h a t
some Town C l e r k s d i d very w e l l indeed i s c l e a r l y i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e
example o f Thomas Burbidge; who, when h e l o s t h i s j o b as Town C l e r k
o f L e i c e s t e r w i t h t h e r e f o r m o f t h e m u n i c i p a l c o r p o r a t i o n s i n 1835,
so assessed h i s income from t h e o f f i c e over t h e p r e v i o u s four years
t h a t h e f e l t e n t i t l e d t o c l a i m t h e sum o f L10,760.6s.ld.
by way o f
compensation. 9
O f p a r t i c u l a r s i g n i f i c a n c e was t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Town C l e r k ,
as the b o r o u g h ' s o n l y p r o f e s s i o n a l o f f i c e - h o l d e r , regarded t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n as n o t so much h i s employer or master as one o f h i s
c l i e n t s , l O so t h a t , a l t h o u g h he was f u l l y i n v o l v e d w l t h t h e t o w n ' s
170
a f f a i r s , . he c o u l d e x e r c i s e a c o n s i d e r a b l e degree o f independence and,
indeed, a u t h o r i t y , n o t enjoyed by h i s f z l l o w C o r p o r a t i o n o f f i c e r s .
The most i m p o r t a n t consequence o f t h i s s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p , a t l e a s t
so f a r as Banbury i s concerned, was t h a t t h e r e c o r d s o f h i s i n v o l v e ment i n C o r p o r a t i o n a f f a i r s , which t h e Town C l e r k was r e q u i r e d t o keep,
were guarded as h i s own, or h i s p r a c t i c e ' s , p r i v a t e and c o n f i d e n t i a l
papers and, as such, f o r m i n g no p a r t o f an o f f i c i a l borough a r c h i v e .
I f , i n f a c t , these r e c o r d s have s u r v i v e d t h e i r whereabouts a r e
unknown.
A l l t h a t has come down t o us i s t h e Town C l e r k ' s Book o f Forms
and Precedents, dated 1 7 9 7 . l '
T h i s i s a handbook o f l e g i s l a t i o n
r e l a t i n g t o c o r p o r a t i o n s , t h e o a t h s t o be adminstered t o o f f i c e h o l d e r s , the.method o f appointment and d u t i e s o f Land Tax and
Window Tax Commissioners and Assessors,the s e t t i n g o f t h e Assize o f
Bread; and i t i s a g u i d e t o such m a t t e r s as t h e procedure t o be
f o l l o w e d i n a d m i t t i n g members i n t o t h e C o r p o r a t i o n , i n e l e c t i n g t h e
Mayor and t h e Member o f P a r l i a m e n t , and i n c o n d u c t i n g t h e Sessions.
To i d e n t i f y t h e Town C l e r k s and t o form some i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e p a r t
t h e y p l a y e d i n t h e government o f t h e town we have t o r e l y upon t h e
few s u r v i v i n g g e n e r a l r e c o r d s o f t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ' s a c t i v i t i e s .
Banbury's f i r s t recorded Town C l e r k was P e t e r G y l l , one o f
s e v e r a l 'necessary o f f i c e r s t o be a n n u a l l y chosen' i n accordance
w i t h t h e t o w n ' s f i r s t c h a r t e r , g r a n t e d i n 1554.12
Each year he
was p r o v i d e d w i t h a qown a t t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ' s expense and, i t would
The s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y by-laws and ordinances
appear,a wage o f f l .
g i v e us some i d e a o f h i s d u t i e s and t h e fees he c o u l d expect t o
On t h e day o f S t . M i c h a e l t h e Archangel he p l a y e d a
receive.
c e n t r a l r o l e i n t h e annual e l e c t i o n of: t h e B a i l i f f , p r e s e n t i n g the
two candidates f o r e l e c t i o n , r e c o r d i n g t h e v o t e o f each Alderman
and Burgess, l 4and a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e o a t h o f o f f i c e t o the successf u l candidate.15 He t h e n c a r r i e d o u t t h e same procedure ' f o r t h e
e l e c t i o n o f t h e K i n g and Oueen's J u s t i c e o f t h e Peace w i t h i n the
and a l l o t h e r o f f i c e r s necessary for t h e
s a i d borough o f Banbury
town and c o u r t t o s e r v e f o r t h e year f o l l o w i n g ' . 1 6
'Every Sunday and h o l y day and a t o t h e r t i m e s convenient except
s i c k n e s s and o t h e r l a w f u l excuses' t h e Town C l e r k was r e q u i r e d t o
a t t e n d on t h e B a i l i f f ; every year, i n autumn or w i n t e r , a l o n g w i t h
' a l l o t h e r o f f i c e r s a c c o u n t a n t s ' he was r e q u i r e d t o submit h i s
' p r o p e r and f u l l accounts' t o t h e a u d i t o r s 'upon p a i n o f imprisonI n t h e Court o f Record every
ment w i t h o u t b a i l o f m a i n p r i z e ' . 1 7
w a r r a n t f o r a r r e s t ( ' c a p i a s ' ) was t o ' b e made and d i r e c t e d under
s e a l o f t h e Town C l e r k and s u b s c r i b e d w i t h h i s hand and name', and
no c a p i a s would be ' g r a n t e d a t t h e s u i t o f any s t r a n g e r or f o r e i g n e r
or t h e Town.
except i t s h a l l f i r s t appear p l a i n l y t o t h e B a i l i f f
C l e r k t h a t t h e r e i s good cause t o commence t h e same s u i t w i t h i n t h e
Once an i s s u e i n t h e Court g o t under
L i b e r t y o f t h e s a i d town'.
way i t was t h e Town C l e r k ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o 'make t h e r e c o r d s
p e r f e c t and engross them i n parchment upon p a i n o f one day o f
imprisonment and pay t o t h e Chamber o f t h e town l s . 8 d . for every
default';
and every two months t h e r e c o r d s o f a l l Court proceedings
were t o be brought up-to-date, w i t h a d a y ' s imprisonment and a 2 s .
...
...
171
f i n e t h e punishment f o r h i s f a i l u r e t o do s0.19
I t was accepted t h a t some fees were i n or d e r f o r b o t h t h e Town
Clerk and t h e Sergeant-at-Mace f o r t h e i r work i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e
Court, and these were s p e c i f i e d and p u b l i c l y recorded ' i n a t a b l e s e t
and hanged up i n t h e Court H a l l ' t o d e t e r b o t h o f f i c i a l and s u i t o r
from any attempt a t b r i b e r y , w i t h t h e added t h r e a t o f a f i n e and two
days imprisonment should the Sergeant and Town C l e r k g i v e way t o t h e
t e m p tation o f t a k i n g more than was p r e s c r i b e d as t h e i r due.20
This
t a b l e o f fees has n o t s u r v i v e d , but i t can be assumed t h a t t h e Town
Clerk d e r i v e d a n o t i n c o n s i d e r a b l e and, c e r t a i n l y , r e g u l a r income
from h i s Court a c t i v i t i e s , as, indeed, he d i d from t h e I s . h e r e c e i v e d
from each s u c c e s s f u l candidate f o r t h e freedom o f t h e borough and
from each Alderman on h i s e l e c t i o n , t h e 6d. from every n e w l y - e l e c t e d
C a p i t a l Burgess and t h e 4d. fee f o r r e c o r d i n g a covenanted s e r v a n t ' s
completion o f h i s apprenticeship.21
Pe ter G y l l was s t i l l Town C l e r k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e v i s i t a t i o n
o f O x f o r d s h i r e by W i l l i a m Harvey, Clarencieux K i n g o f A r m s i n 1566 22
and c o u l d have continued i n o f f i c e u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n February 1575/76,
although t h e r e i s no evidence for t h i s .
The C o r p o r a t i o n Accounts make no r e f e r e n c e t o t h e o f f i c e o f Town
C l e r k a f t e r 1572/73 u n t i l N i c h o l a s Austen (Awstin)was e l e c t e d and
'sworn t o t h e t r u e e x e c u t i o n o f h i s o f f i c e and u n t o t h e supremacy' on
t h e Feast o f S t . Michael t h e Archangel (29 September) i n Armada year.
1588. 2 3 He was r e - e l e c t e d on 29 September, 1591, 2 4 and when t h e
1608 Charter c a l l e d f o r 'one wise and d i s c r e e t man t o be e l e c t e d who
s h a l l be c a l l e d th e common w r i t e r or c l e r k , i n E n g l i s h t h e Town
C l e r k ' h i s appointment was confirmed.25
Although P e t e r C y l l was
entered as a Freeman o f t h e borough i n 1554, t h e r e i s no i n d i c a t i o n
N i c h o l a s Austen,
t h a t he was ever a member o f t h e Corporation;
however, was, s e r v i n g as an a u d i t o r i n 1598-9, 1600-1 and 1601-2,
and c o n t r i b u t i n g t o ' c e r t a i n s u i t s , o b t a i n i n g t h e C h a r t e r o f t h i s
Borough, the s u i t o f the Cross, and o t h e r charges, t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t
o f the King, t h e b u i l d i n g o f t h e Wool H a l l and o t h e r business
concerning t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ' . 26
On 6 January, 1617/18; W i l l i a m K n i g h t ' d i d l e a v e h i s p l a c e o f
Town C l e r k s h i p u n t o t h e Mayor; and t h e Company i s t o choose some
o t h e r whom they s h a l l t h i n k f i t ' . 2 7 K n i g h t had been Chamberlain
s i n c e 1608 (named f o r the o f f i c e i n t h e Char t e r o f James I)and
c o u l d p o s s i b l y have added t h e o f f i c e o f Town C l e r k on N i c h o l a s
Austen's death i n J u l y 1613, perhaps i n the absence o f anyone e l s e
prepared t o t a k e i t on.
He continued as Chamberlain u n t i l 1628,
but on 10 January, 1617/18, ' t h e r e was chosen t o be Town C l e r k by
most o f t h e Company, according t o t h e Charter , Mr.Edward Edenes'
(Edens), who, on t h e same day, took t h e ' o a t h o f obedience and h i s
o a t h f o r t h e e x e c u t i n g o f h i s o f f i c e b e f o r e t h e Mayor, t h e whole
Company b e i n g then present ' ; 28 t h a t t h e Banbury B u r i a l R e g i s t e r
records t h e b u r i a l o f Edward Edens 'Town C l a r k e ' on 21 November, 1643,
i n d i c a t e s t h a t he remained i n o f f i c e u n t i l h i s death?9
A t some t i m e between 2643 and h i s own death i n July 1649, W i l l i a m
Pym would appear t o have been Town C l e r k , b u t t h e n e x t c o n f i r m e d
h o l d e r o f t h e o f f i c e was Timothy H a r r i s , son o f the Rev. Or. Robert
172
H a r r i s , Rector o f Hanwell, and o f h i s wife,Joan, s i s t e r o f the
Not a member of
r e d o u b t a b l e W i l l i a m Whateley, V i c a r o f Banbury.
t h e C o r p o r a t i o n , H a r r i s , as Town C l e r k , s u b s c r l b e d t o a l e t t e r from
t h e Mayor and Aldermen t o t h e T r u s t e e s f o r t h e s a l e o f Fee Farm Rents,
d a t e d 3 June, 1653; 3 0 f o u r years l a t e r he was a w i t n e s s f o r t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n i n t h e Chancery l a w s u i t a r i s i n g from t h e Sheep Pens
d i s p u t e , and d i e d i n o f f i c e , s t i l l o n l y a young man o f 36, i n June,
1659. 3 '
H i s successor, R i c h a r d Down(e)s, was Town C l e r k , w i t h j u s t one
I t i s most u n f o r t s h o r t break, from 1659 u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n 1691.
u n a t e t h a t more t h a n t h i r t y - o n e y e a r s s e r v i c e - through the I n t e r regnum, t h e r e i g n s o f C h a r l e s I 1 and James I 1 and t h e e a r l y years o f
W i l l i a m and Mary - s h o u l d be marked by o n l y a h a n d f u l o f b r i e f
He was named as Town C l e r k
r e f e r e n c e s i n t h e s u r v i v i n g documents.
and Coroner on 1 December, 1683, when, t h e 1618 C h a r t e r having been
surrendered t o C h a r l e s 11, a new one was g i v e n t o t h e town.32
He was one o f t h e town o f f i c i a l s removed from o f f i c e by James I 1 on
20 November, 1687, b u t was r e s t o r e d , as A s s i s t a n t and Town C l e r k , i n
October o f t h e f o l l o w i n g year when t h e K i n g r e v e r s e d h i s p o l i c y
towards t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s i n a f r a n t i c e f f o r t o f s ~ r v i v a l . ) ~
From 1691 t o 1722 t h e o f f i c e o f Town C l e r k would appear t o have
been f i l l e d by f o u r members o f t h e S t y l e ( s ) f a m i l y .
P h i l i p Style,
S e n i o r , was c e r t a i n l y Town C l e r k a t t h e t i m e o f t h e contending Mayors
a f t e r t h e death i n o f f i c e o f W i l l i a m Thorp i n February 1698/99,
s u p p o r t i n g John Welchman, John West, J u n i o r and John West, Senior,
w h i l e h i s son, P h i l i p , J u n i o r , s e r v e d t h e o f f i c e i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e
and i t i s t e m p t i n g t o assume t h a t
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f Samuel West,34
in f a c t , he had h e l d t h e o f f i c e s i n c e 1691.
However, Jeremy Gibson
has shown r e c e n t l y t h a t P h i l i p S t y l e d i d n o t s i g n t h e A s s o c i a t i o n
Oath R o l l o f 1695, which, as Town C l e r k , he s u r e l y should have done;
a f t e r t h e Mayor, t h e Recorder and t h e Member o f Parliament, t h e R o l l
was signed by D a n i e l S t y l e , P h i l i p , S e n i o r ' s younger b r o t h e r and landl o r d o f t h e U n i c o r n Inn, which l e a d s M r . Gibson t o suggest t h a t D a n i e l
S t y l e 'was a l s o Town C l e r k i n 1695-6, as h i s f a m i l y f i l l e d t h i s o f f i c e
l a t e r ' . 35 But D a n i e l S t y l e was no lawyer, whereas P h i l i p , S e n i o r ' s
son, W i l l i a m , who d i d s i g n t h e A s s o c i a t i o n R o l l t h r e e places a f t e r
h i s u n c l e , was, so t h a t i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t he s i g n e d as Town C l e r k ,
thus h o l d i n g t h e o f f i c e b e f o r e h i s f a t h e r , as w e l l as succeeding-him
on h i s ( P h i l i p ' s ) d e a t h i n 1706; t h e involvement o f P h i l i p , J u n i o r ,
i n t h e mayoral d i s p u t e may w e l l have made h i m persona non g r a t a , as
f a r as t h e C o r p o r a t i o n was concerned.
W i l l i a m S t y l e remained as Town C l e r k u n t i l h i s death i n 1716, and
h i s own son, John, was named i n t h e 1718 C h a r t e r as t h e ' f i r s t modern
Town C l e r k and C o r o n e r ' ;
t h i s C h a r t e r a l s o excluded t h e Town C l e r k
from t h e n e c e s s i t y o f annual e l e c t i o n , and p r o v i d e d t h a t on John S t y l e ' s
' d e a t h or removal' t h e Mayor, Aldermen and C a p i t a l Burgesses would
a p p o i n t h i s successor. 36
That became necessary when John S t y l e d i e d i n 1722 and R i c h a r d
Paynton may w e l l have been chosed ( a l t h o u g h an e n t r y i n the Vestry
Book f o r 18 J u l y , 1740, c o n t a i n s t h e f i r s t r e f e r e n c e we have t o him
as Town C l e r k ) , c o n t i n u i n g i n t h e o f f i c e u n t i l h i s death i n 1748.
173
Ift h i s was, i n f a c t , t h e case, then a l l t h a t we know o f h i s more
than twenty years o f s e r v i c e i s the V e s t r y ' s concern i n 1740 t h a t
he had 'been d e f i c i e n t f o r many years l a s t pas t i n making t h e P o o r ' s
Assessments according t o h i s Agreement a t a Ve s t r y h o l d e n A p r i l 4 t h . ,
1727 t o Execute h i s p a y i n g h i s Taxes'.37
Perhaps Richard Paynton's negligence was symptomatic o f a
general mood o f apathy and i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , which appears t o have
been p r e v a l e n t i n t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e C o r p o r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e years o f
h i s Town C l e r k s h i p .
A t t h e e l e c t i o n s f o r Mayor i n 1723, 1724, 1729
and 1738 th e s u c c e s s f u l candidate r e f u s e d t o serve, a replacement
nomination was r e q u i r e d and a r e - e l e c t i o n was necessary;38 i n 1725
and 1735 a t h i r d e l e c t i o n was c a l l e d f 0 r , 3 ~ w h i l e i n 1745 o n l y a t
the f o u r t h attempt d i d the Mayor-elect agree t o serve.40
On 7
September, 1730, t h e day appointed by t h e Cha r t e r f o r t h e e l e c t i o n
o f t h e Mayor, twenty-two o f those summoned f o r t h e purpose by the
Sergeants-at-Mace f a i l e d t o appear and t h e e l e c t i o n had t o be
delayed; t h e r e was a g a i n no quorum on 5 September, 1737, so t h a t
'No Mayor c o u l d be chose' u n t i l t h e f o l l o w i n g day.41
Furthermore,
on no less than f i v e occasions i n 1734 t h e r e was no quorum a t H a l l s
summoned by t h e Mayor, Edward Box, ' t o c o n s u l t about d i v e r s weighty
a f f a i r s and m a t t e r s f o r t h e good and b e n e f i t o f t h i s C o r p o r a t i o n ' ,
even though Richard Page and W i l l i a m Bloxham, t h e Sergeants-atMace, t e s t i f i e d t o h a v i n g summoned ' p e r s o n a l l y or by message l e f t
a t t h e i r houses' t h e m i s s i n g Aldermen and C a p i t a l Burgesses.42 One
wonders what r e s t r a i n t Richard Paynton or an unknown Town C l e r k
urged upon Robert Greenall, Mayor f o r the year 1728-9, who provoked
an o f f i c i a l p r o t e s t signed by t h e Recorder and e i g h t Aldermen and
Burgesses when, having met i n H a l l d u r i n g t h e forenoon o f Monday,
12 January, 1729, t h e Mayor a r b i t r a r i l y adjourned t h e meeting t o
6 p.m., having r e f u s e d t o d e c l a r e what business he had t o propose.
Then a t 6 o ' c l o c k t h e Mayor c o n t i n u e d a t r a i n o f adjournments; t o
11 a.m. on 13 January, t o 11 a.m. on 14 January, t o 6 p.m. on the
same day, t o 5 p.m. on 15 January and, f i n a l l y , t o 11 a.m. on
Friday, 16 January; and t h e o n l y business atten d e d t o d u r i n g t h i s
whole week was t h e r e j e c t i o n o f t h e r e s i g n a t i o n s u b m i t t e d by an
A s s i s ta nt and t h e d e f e a t o f a s i n g l e c a n d i d a t u r e f o r C a p i t a l
And i f the Town C l e r k had advised Mayor Henry C l a r s o n a g a i n s t h i s
f o r c i n g th rough t h e e l e c t i o n o f W i l l i a m J a r v i s as C a p i t a l Burgess
on 31 March, 1736, a g a i n s t t h e wishes o f the m a j o r i t y o f H a l l members
and ' c o n t r a r y t o t h e a n c i e n t custom and usage o f t h e Borough' h i s
advice was ignored, and i t needed c o u r t a c t i o n a g a i n s t C l a r s o n and
J a r v i s t o have ' t h e s a i d pretended nomination and t h e e l e c t i o n o f
the s a i d W i l l i a m J a r v i s
d e c l a r e d n u l l and v o i d . '44
For the remainder o f t h e l i f e o f the c l o s e d c o r p o r a t i o n the
Town C l e r k s h i p was i n t h e hands o f members o f t h e A p l i n and W a l f o r d
f a m i l i e s.
Benjarnin A p l i n was e l e c t e d by a v o t e o f 10-0 on 11 October, 1748$5
having been e l e c t e d an A s s i s t a n t e a r l i e r the same year;46
h e became
Coroner on 8 September, 1756.47
When he resi g n e d t h e o f f i c e o f Town
Clerk 'and a l l p r o f i t s and advantages t h e r e t o b e l o n g i n g ' on
3 September, 1770, i t would appear t o have been t o l e a v e him f r e e t o
.. .
174
s e t h i s s i g h t s on f u r t h e r advancement i n C o r p o r a t i o n o f f i c e ;
that
same day he was e l e c t e d C a p i t a l Burgess and ap p o i n t e d Deputy t o t h e
Recorder, F r e d e r i c k Montagu. 48 The C a p i t a l Burgess vacancy had
a c t u a l l y a r i s e n on 25 J u l y when t h e Rev. Mathew Lamb and John Lambert
had been e l e v a t e d t o Aldermen; b u t f o r some reason t h e Mayor,
C h a r l es Hide, decided ' t h a t no more business was t o be t r a n s a c t e d a t
t h a t t i m e ' and l e f t t h e H a l l w i t h Henry Clarson, John P a i n , s e n i o r ,
and t h e Rev. Mathew Lamb.
Seven Aldermen and C a p i t a l burgesses
remained, and they ' t o o k upon themselves t o E l e c t ' R i c h a r d B u r f o r d
and Thomas Gibberd as Burgesses ' i n t h e room o f t h e s a i d Mr. Lamb
and Mr. Lambert'.
T h e i r a c t i o n was d e c l a r d ' i l l e g a l c o n t r a r y t o
our C ha rter and t h e custom i n such cases used' when t h e vacancies
were f i l l e d on 3 September w i t h t h e e l e c t i o n o f Benjamin A p l i n and
Thomas Gibberd. 4 9 The seven r e b e l s - Aldermen Edward B u r f o r d , John
H i l l , Charles Wyatt, W i l l i a m B a r r e t t , John Lambert, and Burgesses
Jonah George and W i l l i a m White, - were prepa r e d t o accept Thomas
Gibberd, whom they a l s o had e l e c t e d , but they p r o t e s t e d on 19
September a g a i n s t t h e p r e f e r e n c e for Benjamin A p l i n over t h e i r c h o i c e ,
R i c h a r d B u r f o r d . 50 The i s s u e was n o t r e s o l v e d u n t i l a H a l l on
6 February, 1771, when A p l i n ' s r e s i g n a t i o n was accepted and he was
p r o m ptly ( a l b e i t n a r r o w l y ) r e - e l e c t e d A s s i s t a n t and C a p i t a l Burgess,
t h e seven p r o t e s t o r s s t i l l v o t i n g a g a i n s t him.51
On 2 September,
1771, he was u nsuccessful i n t h e e l e c t i o n f o r Mayor, but John Lambert
(one o f t h e seven), who had been p r e f e r r e d by 30 v o t e s t o 2,
d e c l i n e d t o serve, and i n t h e second c o n t e s t on 16 September A p l i n
d e f e a te d Charles Wyatt by 26 v o t e s t o 5. 52 Having become Mayor he
gave up t h e o f f i c e o f Deputy Recorder. 5 3 He d i e d i n 1773.
Benjamin A p l i n ' s son, C h r i s t o p h e r , b o r n i n 1747, succeeded h i s
f a t h e r as a s s i s t a n t and Town Clerk,54 and t h e seven Aldermen and
C a p i t a l Burgesses who were opposed t o t h e f a t h e r ' s e l e c t i o n as
C a p i t a l Burgess were e q u a l l y unhappy t h a t t h e son s h o u l d be Town
C l e r k , a l t h o u g h i f any o f them had been prese n t a t t h e H a l l on
3 September, 1770,' they had n o t r e g i s t e r e d t h e i r d i s a p p r o v a l i n a
v o t e o f 10-0. 5 5 However, t h e y were t h e r e i n f o r c e a t t h e H a l l on
6 February, 1771, when Benjamin A p l i n ' s l e t t e r o f r e s i g n a t i o n as
C a p i t a l Burgess and C h r i s t o p h e r ' s as Town C l e r k ( b o t h d a t e d 27
October, 1770) were accepted?
Christopher A p l i n ' s resignation
'was founded as i s allecjged upon t h e Omission o f h i s n o t havimg
r e c e d t h e Sacrament o f
Lords Supper w i t h i n 12 Months b e f o r e t h e
t i m e o f h i s E l e c t i o n i n t o t h a t O f f i c e and a l s o upon t h e o b j e c t i o n s
o f M r . Jonah George, Charles Wyatt and o t h e r s o f p C o r p o r a t i o n t o
When t h e q u e s t i o n was p u t
h i s c o n t i n u i n g i n t h e sd. o f f i c e ' . 5 7
'Whether s h a l l t h e sd. Ch. Aplin who h a t h l a t e l y and p u b l i c k l y
a c c o r din g t o p S t a t u t e i n t h a t case p r o v i d e d r e c e d p Sacrament
of p L ords Supper be Town C l e r k f o r t h i s C o r p o r a t i o n or n o t ' . by
9 v o t es t o 7 - presumably t h e seven p r o t e s t o r s - C h r i s t o p h e r Aplin
was e l e c t e d Town C l e r k and Coroner, and f i v e days l a t e r t o o k t h e
o a t h s o f c f f i c e , a l o n g w i t h those o f A l l e g i a n c e and Supremacy.58
Whether c o n t i n u e d o p p o s i t i o n from t h e seven p r o t e s t o r s reached
an unacceptable l e v e l o f i r r i t a t i o n , or whether h i s f a t h e r ' s d e a t h
maybe as a c o m b i n a t i o n
i n c r e ase d h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
>e
-
175
o f b o t h - Christopher A p l i n o b v i o u s l y f e l t he had had enough and h i s
r e s i g n a t i o n as Town C l e r k and Coroner was accepted a t a H a l l on 7
September, 1773.5''
But he was prepared t o c o n t i n u e t o s e r v e on t h e
a t the same H a l l he r e c e i v e d t h e freedom on t h e
C o r p o ration;
borough and was e l e c t e d C a p i t a l 8urgessPo and t e n years l a t e r was
e l e c t e d Alderman and Mayor f o r t h e year 1783-4, a l t h o u g h t h e f a c t
t h a t John P a i n and Robert K n i g h t r e f u s e d t o v o t e on t h i s o c c a s i o n
suggests t h a t C h r i s t o p h e r A p l i n c o u l d s t i l l arouse s t r o n g f e e l i n g s . 6 l
On 17 August, 1787, he resumed t h e o f f i c e o f Coroner, which he
r e t a i n e d u n t i l h i s r e s i g n a t i o n on 18 August, 1797.62
C h r i s t o p h e r A p l i n was r e p l a c e d as A s s i s t a n t and Town C l e r k by
h i s f a t h e r ' s business p a r t n e r , W i l l i a m W a l f ~ r d ; t~h a~ t was on 7
September, 1773. 6 4 On 17 October, 1774, t h e Recorder, E r e d e r i c k
Montagu, appointed h i m h i s Deputy, b u t t h i s r a i s e d doubts as t o t h e
l e g a l i t y o f t h e two o f f i c e s b e i n g h e l d by t h e same person, and
W i l l i a r n Walford f e l t c o n s t r a i n e d t o r e s i g n , b o t h as Town C l e r k and
Deputy Recorder, on 30 December, 1774, so t h a t t h e C o r p o r a t i o n c o u l d
resolve the matter.
I t was decided t h a t t h e two o f f i c e s s h o u l d n o t
be s i mu ltaneously i n t h e hands o f one person; W i l l i a m W a l f o r d was
r e - e l e c t e d Town Clerk, and, w i t h t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ' s agreement, t h e
Recorder appointed Theophilus Walford h i s Deputy .65
When W i l l i a m Walford, s e n i o r , r e s i g n e d on 18 August 1797, a f t e r
t w e n t y-four years as Town C l e r k , h i s p l a c e was taken by h i s son,
twenty-one-year-old W i l l i a m , j u n i o r , who was s t i l l i n o f f i c e when
t h e o l d C o r p o r a t i o n was r e p l a c e d i n 1835, and whose appointment t o
c o n t i n u e w i t h t h e new C o u n c i l e s t a b l i s h e d h i m as t h e l o n g e s t s e r v i n g Town C l e r k i n t h e town's h i s t o r y . 6 6
W i l l i a m Walford,senior, h a v i n g r e s i g n e d t h e Town C l e r k s h i p ,
f o l l o w e d t h e example o f h i s A p l i n predecessors and b u i l t on h i s
C o r p o r a t i o n membership: he was i m m e d i a t l gran t e d t h e freedon o f
t h e borough and e l e c t e d C a p i t a l 8 ~ r g e s sbecame
~ ~
Alderman on
8 March, 1799 60and served as Mayor f o r the years.1799-1800 6 9
and 1805-6; 7 d i n 1802 he added t h e d u t i e s o f J u s t i c e o f t h e Peace!'
W i l l i a m , j u n i o r , however, f u l f i l l e d h i s C o r p o r a t i o n a m b i t i o n as Town
C l e r k and, a l s o , from 1797 when he took over from C h r i s t o p h e r Aplin,
as Coroner. 72
The date, 1797, f o r t h e Town C l e r k ' s Book o f Forms and Precede n t s , suggests t h a t i t was t h e work o f W i l l i a m Walford, s e n i o r ,
drawing t o g e t h e r m a t e r i a l s i l l u s t r a t i v e o f t h e Town C l e r k ' s sphere o f
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and i n t e r e s t , i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e a r e f e r e n c e book
and g uid e f o r f u t u r e h o l d e r s o f t h e o f f i c e .
I f t h a t is r e a l l y so,
i t i s strange t h a t none o f t h e m a t e r i a l c o n t a i n e d d a t e s from W a l f o r d ' s
own t w enty-four-year tenure o f t h e Town C l e r k s h i p ;
indeed, most o f
t h e p r o c e d u r a l examples a r e drawn from t h e p e r i o d when Benjamin A p l i n
was Town C l e r k , and t h e f a c t t h a t on p a g e s , l 2 6 and 127 o f t h i s 135page volume i t i s r ecorded (and h a r d l y by W i l l i a m W a l f o r d ) t h a t
Benjamin A p l i n ' s l e t t e r r e s i g n i n g as C a p i t a l Burgess and h i s son,
C h r i s t o p h e r ' s l e t t e r r e s i g n i n g as Town C l e r k were b o t h d a t e d 27
October, 1770 - two o f t h r e e A p l i n references , and t h e o n l y ones i n
t h e book t o i n d i v i d u a l Town C l e r k s by name - l e a d s one t o s p e c u l a t e
t h a t t h i s volume was r e a l l y an A p l i n c o l l e c t i o n , w i t h t h e f l y - l e a f
176
t i t l e and date-,added l a t e r .
The volume b e g i n s w i t h an e x t r a c t o f t h e 1718 C h a r t e r (16 J u l y ,
4 Geo.1) and what f o l l o w s c o n s t i t u t e s a p r a c t i c a l p r o c e d u r a l g u i d e
t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n and c o n t r o l o f t h e town% government, b y way o f
implementing t h e v a r i o u s p r o v i s i o n s o f t h a t C h a r t e r and s t a t u t e s
r e l e v a n t t o t h e government o f C o r p o r a t i o n s .
T h i s and t h e s p e c i a l
role o f t h e Town C l e r k i s c l e a r l y i l l u s t r a t e d b j t h e procedure t o be
f o l l o w e d i n t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e Mayor, s e t o u t as f o l l o w s :
' T o t a k e p l a c e f i r s t Monday i n September.
( a ) C a l l over names o f t h e C o r p o r a t i o n and A s s i s t a n t s and
rnakr those p r e s e n t ( a ) and upon a m a j o r i t y o f t h e 48 appearing,
each i n t e g r a l p a r t .
( b ) Then r e a d t h i s c l a u s e c o n t a i n e d i n 2nd. s k i n o f t h e
i n h i s presentibus
C h a r t e r - 'volumus e t p e r p r e s e n t e s
expressam Declaratam'.
( c ) T h e n r e a d Act a g a i n s t B r i b e r y and C o r r u p t i o n o u t o f
p r i n t e d A c t (2nd.G.III,C.24)
( d ) Then Mayor w i t h t h e S e n i o r Aldermen and J u n i o r Aldermen,
Senior Burgesses and J u n i o r Burgesses a r e t o withdraw i n t o
t h e C o u n c i l Chamber and nominate a c a n d i d a t e t o s t a n d i n
e l e c t i o n t o be Mayor f o r n e x t year which b e i n g v o t e d t o s t a n d
i n election.
Then t h e Mayor and t h e above Nominators a r e t o
withdraw i n t o t h e C o u n c i l Chamber and Nominate a second
c a n d i d a t e which b e i n g v o t e d t o s t a n d i n e l e c t i o n .
The q u e s t i o n i s p u t and v o t e d which o f t h e two s h a l l be
Mayor.
When and how Mayor i s t o t a k e o a t h o f o f f i c e .
To t a k e o a t h o f o f f i c e on Michas day f o l l o w i n g e l e c t i o n
when n o t h i n g more i s t o be r e a d save o n l y t h e Oaths o f
A l l e g i a n c e and Supremacy r e q u i r e d by 13 C.Znd.Sec.22.
Manner o f t a k i n g o a t h - l a t e Mayor stands and h o l d s a Mace
i n h i s r i g h t hand and B i b l e i n l e f t upon which newly e l e c t e d
Mayor a l s o p u t s h i s r i g h t hand.
Town C l e r k r e a d s Mayor's o a t h .
A f t e r t a k i n g t h i s o a t h and o a t h s o f A l l e g i a n c e and
Supremacy and b e f o r e n e x t Sessions which always happens w i t h i n a month o f Michas. Mayor under d i r e c t i o n o f 2 5 t h .Chas.Z
( C o r p o r a t i o n A c t ) t a k e s Sacrament and g e t s a C e r t i f i c a t e t h e r e o f
s i g n e d by M i n i s t e r and Churchwardens and a t t e s t e d by two
w i t n e s s e s and a t n e x t Sessions C e r t i f i c a t e i s produced and
proved i n open c o u r t on o a t h by t h e two witnesses; which
done, Mayor t a k e s o a t h s o f A l l e g i a n c e and Supremacy and
a b j u r a t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o I s t . G . 1 and r e p e a t s t h e D e c l a r a t i o n
c o n c e r n i n g t r a n s u b s t a n t i a t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o 25th.Chas.11 which
concludes a l l r e q u i s i t e s f o r h i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t . ' 7 3
Set o u t i n a s i m i l a r way a r e t h e r e q u i r e d procedures f o r
a d m i t t i n g members i n t o C o r p o r a t i o n o f f i c e , 7 4 f o r t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e
Member o f P a r l i a m e n t 75and f o r t h e conduct o f proceedings a t t h e
Sessions, 7 6 t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e t e x t o f t h e many oaths, which t h e Town
C l e r k was r e q u i r e d t o a d m i n i s t e r - A l l e g i a n c e , Supremacy, A b j u r a t i o n T 7
and those s p e c i f i c a l l y designed t o be t a k e n by t h e Chamberlain, t h e
...
...-
177
T e s t e r o f Weights and Measures, t h e F l e s h Ta s t e r , t h e Searcher and
S e a l e r o f Leather, t h e T o l l - t a k e r , t h e A l e T a s t e r and Bread Weigher,
t h e Attorney,. t h e J u s t i c e o f t h e Peace.78
From the book we f i n d t h a t t h e Town C l e r k r e c e i v e d a f e e o f
f i v e uineas f o r h i s p a r t i n t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e Member o f P a r l i a mentlq9 and 2s. from every newly-admitted Freeman o f t h e Borough;8o
when alehouse l i c e n c e s were g r a n t e d - ' p r i n c i p a l l y between t h e
choosing o f a new Mayor and Michaelmas Day' - t h e Town C l e r k c o u l d
c l a i m fees of E1.6s.6d.,
made up as f o l l o w s :
'Duty by 9 Anne
1 .o
1 .o.o
Duty by 29 G . 1 1
As C l e r k o f t h e Peace (over and above
fees payable t o J.P.s' C l e r k by 26
G.11
1.0
As J.P.s' C l e r k by 9 G . 1 1 & 24 G . l l
f o r the licence
2.6
For every recognizance as t h e Table o f
Fees s e t t l e d by County J.P.s under
2.0' 8'
26 G . 1 1
D e t a i l e d n otes a r e i n c l u d e d on t h e c o l l e c t i o n and payment o f
t h e Window Tax, f i r s t impossed i n 1696 as a replacement f o r t h e
Hearth.Tax and c o l l e c t e d u n t i l 1 1 3 5 1 , ~and
~
t h e Land l a x , which d i d
much t o f i n a n c e t h e wars o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y and which v a r i e d
between I s . and 4s. i n t h e E ( P i t t f i x e d i t a t 4s. i n 1798); t h e
Town C l e r k was C l e r k t o t h e Land Commission and ' f o r w r i t i n g t h e
assessments, d u p l i c a t e s , copies, warrants, o r d e r s and i n s t r u c t i o n s '
he ' s h a l l have l i d . i n t h e E t o be p a i d h i m by t h e Receiver accordi n g t o t h e warrant o f two Commissioners'.83
.
By a r u l i n g o f 2
September, 1805, t h e Town C l e r k was a l s o all o w e d E2.2s.Od. f o r
h o l d i n g the Court Leet, as w e l l as a f r e e d i n n e r a t a p u b l i c house
f o r h i m s e l f and t h i r t e e n jurymen on Court L e e t Day.84
That none o f these payments i s recorde d i n t h e Report from t h e
Commissioners on M u n i c i p a l C o r p o r a t i o n s i n 1835 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e
f a i l u r e o f t h e young Whig b a r r i s t e r s , appoin t e d A s s i s t a n t Commissi o n e r s t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e f a c t s , t o d e l v e deeply and t o r e c o r d
What
f a i r l y i n t h e i r headlong enthusiasm f o r m u n i c i p a l reform.
they d i d r e c o r d was t h a t t h e Town C l e r k r e c e i v e d a s a l a r y o f E25
a year ( p a i d from Michaelmas, 1825, ' t o i n c l u d e h i s attendances on
t h e M a g i s t r a t e s a t t h e i r Courts o f Record and P e t t y Sessions and
o t h e r occasional meetings f o r t r a n s a c t i o n o f j u d i c i a l b u s i n e s s as
a l s o f o r h i s attendance a t t h e d i f f e r e n t H a l l s h e l d by v i r t u e o f
summons from th e M a ~ o r ' 8 ~ ), w i t h i n c i d e n t a l emoluments t h e u s u a l
p r o f e s s i o n a l charges f o r business done by him f o r t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ,
and which amounted t o f 7 . 8 s . l d . i n t h e year p r e v i o u s t o t h e i r r e p o r t . 8 6
His o t h e r fees were g i v e n as ' 1 guinea upon t h e admission o f each
new member i n t o t h e c o r p o r a t i o n ' , about E40 a year from t h e g e n e r a l
and P e t t y Sessions, and some E12 from t h e C o u r t o f Record ' d u r i n g
t h e s i x months i t has been i n o p e r a t i o n ' ( i t had f a l l e n i n t o disuse,
b u t had 'been r e v i v e d by Sergeant T a l f o u r d , when Deputy Recorder).
He was. ' a l s o allowed by t h e c o r p o r a t i o n t o r e c e i v e t o h i s own use
t h e t o l l s i n th e horse market, amounting t o about E3 a y e a r '
Then,
178
as Coroner, t h e Town C l e r k r e c e i v e d a fee o f El on each i n q u e s t and
2s.6d. f o r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f b u r i a l . 8 7
The M u n i c i p a l C o r p o r a t i o n s Act o f 1835 made t h e appointment o f
a Town C l e r k o b l i g a t o r y , t h e o f f i c e now t o be h e l d , n o t a t p l e a s u r e ,
b u t d u r i n g good behaviour.88
A c c o r d i n g l y , on 1 January, 1836,
t h e new, d u l y - e l e c t e d Town C o u n c i l met and e s t a b l i s h e d a v a l u a b l e
c o n t i n u i t y by a p p o i n t i n g W i l l i a m W a l f o r d as p a r t - t i m e Town C l e r k a t
a s a l a r y o f 50 guineas a year and expenses;89
the f i r s t f u l l - t i m e
Town Cle rk, E.Owen Reid, was o n l y a p p o i n t e d i n 1932.90
Thus,
W i l l i a m Walford was a b l e t o b r i d g e t h e o l d w o r l d o f t h e c l o s e
c o r p o r a t i o n and t h e new w o r l d o f t h e e l e c t e d c o u n c i l , making a
s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o b o t h as Town C l e r k over a p e r i o d o f
47 years.91
R.K.
Gilkes.
See n e x t page f o r r e f e r e n c e s .
_--
E t c h i n g o f Banbury i n 1724 by S t u k l e y .
179
References
1.
S.&B.Webb, E n g l i s h L o c a l Government: t h e Manor and t h e Borouqh,
- . 1908,Part I .
pp.296-7.
I b i d . , p.325.
2.
B a t t y R . Masters, 'The Town C l e r k ' , t h e G u i l d h a l l M i s c e l l a n y , 3 (19691.p.55.
3.
S & E.Webb, o p . c i t . , p.326.
4.
Records o f t h e Borough o f L e i c e s t e r , Vol.V.p.389.
5.
Eryan Keith-Lucas, t h e Unreformed L o c a l Government System, 1980,p.23.
6.
J . R e d l i c h & F.W.Hirst, L o c a l Government i n England, 1903,Vol.I.p.338;
7.
Mrs. J.R. Green, Town L i f e i n t h e F i f t e e n t h Century, 1894, Vol.II.pp.260-3.
B. Keith-Lucas, o p . c i t . , p.23; J . R e d l i c h & F.W.Hirst, op.cit.,pp.l19-120.
8.
R.W.Creaves, The C o r p o r a t i o n o f L e i c e s t e r , 1689-1836, 1939, p.17.
9.
10.
B. Keith-Lucas, o p . c i t . , p.23. S e r v i c e i n a l l C o r p o r a t i o n o f f i c e s , a p a r t
from t h e Town C l e r k s h i p , was compulsory and r e f u s a l t o s e r v e was p u n i s h e d by
fine.
11.
Banbury MS., now i n O x f o r d s h i r e County Record O f f i c e .
A. Eeesley, H i s t o r y o f Eanbury, 1841, p.220; E.R.C.
B r i n k w o r t h & J.S.W.Gibson,
12.
Eanbury C o r p o r a t i o n Records; Tudor and S t u a r t , Banbury H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y ,
Vo1.15, 1977, p.9 f.2v (Book o f Accounts).
o p . c i t . , p.17, f.171; p.34.f.175v.;
p.45,
E.R.C.Brinkworth & J.S.W.Cibson,
13.
f.177. (Book o f A c c o u n t s ) .
I b i d . , p.20, f f . 1 9 7 , 197v. (1557-8 By-Laws).
14.
I b i d . , p.20, f . 1 9 7 ~ . (1557-8 By-Laws); p.48, (1573 By-Laws).
15.
I b i d . , pp.20-21, F . 1 9 7 ~ (1557-8 By-Laws).
16.
17.
I b i d . , p.29, f.202 (1557-8 Ordinances).
I b i d . , p.27, f f . 2 0 1 , 201v. (1557-8 U r d i n a n c e s ) .
18.
I b i d . , pp.27-28, f . 2 0 1 ~ . (1557-8 O r d i n a n c e s ) .
19.
I b i d . , p.28, f.201v. (1557-8 Ordinances.)
20 *
I b i d . , p.24, f f . l 9 9 v . ,
200 (1557-8 O r d i n a n c e s ) .
21.
I b i d . , p.43.
22.
I b i d . , p.58, f.204 (Eook o f Accounts).
23.
I b i d . , P.62, f.204 (Book o f Accounts).
24.
A b s t r a c t o f t h e C h a r t e r o f James I . S e c t i o n 46, B e e s l e y , Op.cit.p.257.
25.
o p . c i t . , p.110, f.26 (Book o f Accounts).
E.R.C.8rinworth & J.S.W.Gibson,
26.
I b i d . , p.125, f . 3 5 ~ . (Book o f Accounts).
27.
I b i d . , pp.125-6, f . 3 5 ~ . (Book o f Accounts)
28.
J.S.W. Gibson, ed., Banbury Baptism and B u r i a l R e g i s t e r , 1558-1653, Banbury
29.
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , V o l . 7, 1966, p.242.
E.R.C. B r i n k w o r t h & J.S.W. Gibson.. 0 .0 ..c i t . . . .0.189 ( B r i t i s h Museum L i b r a r v, .,
30.
Stowe MS.185, f . 5 ) .
I b i d . , . p.196
(P.R.O. E.134/1657-8/Hilarv 2 3 ) .
31.
.
I b i d . , p.235 (P.R.O. S t a t e Paper 0 f f i c e . E n t r y Books 44/66, f.308).
32.
I b i d . , p.241 (P.R.O. P r i v y C o u n c i l R e g i s t e r s 2/72, f f . 5 3 4 - 5 ) ; p.246, , f . l 6 6 v .
33.
(Book o f Accounts).
I b i d . , pp.257-9 ( J o u r n a l o f t h e House o f Commons, 13 March, 1700/1).
The
34.
Commons J o u r n a l r e f e r s t o ' M r . P h i l i p S t y l e s s e n i o r ' and ' M r . S t y l e s J u n i o r ' ;
' s e n i o r ' and ' j u n i o r ' were always used t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e a f a t h e r and son
w i t h t h e same f i r s t . n a m e , so son P h i l i p , r a t h e r t h a n son W i l l i a m , must have
a c t e d as Town C l e r k t o t h e r i v a l mayoral a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
J.S.W.
Gibson, 'Some Banbury I n h a b i t a n t s i n t h e 1690s', Cake & Cockhorse,
35.
Vol.10, No. 4, Autumn, 1986, p.83.
T r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e C h a r t e r o f .George I , 4 Geo.1, 1 6 J u l y 1718 (Banbury MS).
36.
Eanbury V e s t r y Book, 18 k l y , 1740.
37.
Eanbury J o u r n a l , 1722-1761, pp.39-40; 43; 64b, 65; 129b-130b.
38.
39.
I b i d . , pp.47b, 48, 48b; 109b, 110.
40;
I b i d . , pp.176b-180.
41.
I b i d . , pp. 71b , '126.
42.
I b i d . , pp.96, 98, 98b.
43.
I b i d . , pp.68, 68b, 69.
44.
I b i d . , pp.132, 132b.
I b i d . , p. 197b.
45.
180
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
Ibid., pp.194,194b.
Ibid., p.239b.
Banbury Minute Book, 1764-1812, pp.20, 20b, 22.
Ibid., pp.20, 20b.
Ibid., pp.22b, 23.
Ibid., p.25
Ibid., p.34.
Ibid., p.33.
Ibid., pp.20, 20b.
Ibid., p.20b.
Town Clerk's Book of Forms and Precedents, 1797, pp.126, 127.
Banbury Minute Book, pp.25, 25b. The Sacrament requirement was laid down by
the Corporation Act, 1661 (13 Car.11, st.2, c.1).
Banbury Minute Book, pp.25, 25b, 26.
Ibid., p.46b.
Ibid.., ,00.46.
46b.
.
Ibid., pp.84, 85b, 86; Entry of Admissions into Offices in Banbury, contained
in Toll Book, 1753/1826 (Banbury MSS).
Banbury Minute Book, p.132; Entry o f Admissions into Offices in Banbury.
The 1st edition of W. Potts, History of Banbury, 1958, p.184, names Oliver
Aplin as Walford's partner; the 2nd edition, 1978, p.229, corrects this to
Benjamin Aplin. Both editions, however overlook Christopher Aplin's tenure
of the office o f Town Clerk, 1770-3, and have William Walford succeeding his
partner in this office in 17i).
Banbury Minute Book, p.46b.
Ibid., pp.62b. 64, 64b.
Ibid., p.132b.
Ibid., pp.l32b, 133 (18 August, 1797).
Ibid., p.141b.
Ibid., p.143b (elected 2 September, 1799).
Ibid., pp.167, 167b (elected 2 September, 1805).
Admission o f Members of the Corporation, 1797-1834, Banbury MS., (admitted
3 May, 1802).
Banbury Minute Book, p.132 (elected 18 August, 1797)
Town Clerk's Book of Forms and Precidents, pp.13-19.
Ibid., pp.50-1, 127-130.
Ibid., pp.30-35.
Ibid., pp.39-46.
Ibid., pp.21-22.
Ibid., pp.25-29.
Ibid., p.35.
Ibid., p.37.
Ibid., p.48.
Ibid., pp.65-73.
Ibid., pp.62-68.
Banbury Minute Book, pp.170, 170b.
5 November, 1825, Corporation Journal, p.113.
Appendix to 1st Report from Commissioners on Municipal Corporations in England
and Wales. Part I . p.14.31. 1835.
Ibid., pp~l0-11,13.'
J. Redlich & F.W. Hirst, op.cit., pp.337n., 126-1'27. These were two o f
several amendments, introduced and passed by the House of Lords while the
Municipal Corporations Bill was going through Parliament, and accepted by the
Whig Government by way of concession to the Tory opposition.
Banbury Council Minute Book, 1835-1844. p.75.
Banbury Council Minute Book, 1927-1932 (7 March, 1932).
His successor, James Beesley, took hls oath as Town Clerk on 12 February, 1844.
(Declarations Book).
I
181
A BANBURY CHURCH PEW-HOLDER o f 1737
My gt.gt.grandfather was R i c h a r d Welch, who was b u r i e d i n
Whitchurch, Bucks., i n 1828 aged 81, h a v i n g had e i g h t c h i l d r e n
baptised i n t h a t parish.
However t h e r e was no evidence t h a t t h e
f a m i l y had l i v e d t h e r e , or i n t h e adjacent v i l l a g e s , so t h e hunt
was on, spreading from p a r i s h t o p a r i s h i n ever i n c r e a s i n g c i r c l e s ,
b u t no t r a c e c o u l d be found o f R i c h a r d ' s m a r r i a g e or baptism.
At
l a s t a r e f e r e n c e was made t o t h e s m a l l p e r s o n a l names i n d e x i n t h e
Aylesbury Record Office, which shewed t h a t a R i c h a r d WBlch was t h e
s u b j e c t o f an Archdeaconry Deed i n 1737 - t e n y e a r s b e f o r e my man
was born.
T h i s was t h e g r a n t o f a pew space t o Ric h a r d Welch, peruke-maker,
i n S t . Mary's, Banbury, Banbury b e i n g a ' p e c u l i a r ' o f t h e Bishop o f
L i n c o l n , w i t h t h e Archdeacon o f Buckingham as h i s s u r r o g a t e , hence
t h e deed i n t h e Bucks. Record O f f i c e .
The g r a n t was f o r a ' v a c a n t
s e a t or pew s c i t u a t e d i n t h e South Isle bounded by t h e pew o f R i c h a r d
Lambert Grazier on ye East ye s e a t o f Mrs. B a r r e t t on ye West ye pew
o f Andrew Long Apothecary N o r t h and ye passage on t h e South c o n t a i n i n g i n h g t g h t h f i v e f e e t & e i g h t inches
i n length s i x feet
i n bre adth t h r e e f e e t & e i g h t inches
ve r y c o n v e n i e n t f o r h i m
t h e sd. Rich ard Welch & h i s f a m i l y t o s i t i n s t a n d k n e e l p r a y &
hear D i v i n e S e r v i c e & Sermons read & preached1 . . . I There,was one
o b j e c t i o n by - Abbott over-ruled.
The phrase ' s i t i n s t a n d k n e e l
p r a y & hear D i v i n e S e r v i c e & Sermons read & preached' must have
appealed t o t h e s c r i b e as i t i s i n t r o d u c e d f o u r t i m e s i n q u i t e a
s h o r t document. [he was p r o b a b l y p a i d acco r d i n g t o t h e l e n g t h o f
t h e document].
I l o s t no t i m e i n w r i t i n g t o t h e incumbent, who passed my l e t t e r
t o Jeremy Gibson, t r a n s c r i b i n g t h e r e g i s t e r s a t t h a t t i m e [now
p u b lished, BHS.161, and who was a b l e t o c o n f i r m t h a t my R i c h a r d ,
t h e peruke maker's nephew, was indeed b a p t i s e d i n S t . M a r y ' s i n
1747; h i s p a r e n t s were W i l l i a m Welch (chair m a k e r ) and Mary, n6e
Upstone, a m i l l e r ' s daughter o f F r i n g f o r d .
H i s g r a n d f a t h e r , John
Welch, h a v i n g b a p t i s e d t h i r t e e n c h i l d r e n i n S t . M a r y ' s between 1689
and 1714, was b u r i e d t h e r e i n 1720 - 'Alderman and g l o v e r ' .
Little
seems t o be known o f John i n Banbury L i b r a r y or t h e O x f o r d s h i r e
Record O f f i c e o t h e r than t h a t he was noted as a ' c a p i t a l b u r g e s s '
i n t h e Act g r a n t i n g borough s t a t u s t o t h e town by George I i n 1719.
A t lakt
That s t i l l l e f t t h e marriage o f my Richa r d o u t s t a n d i n g .
I found h i m , i n B i e r t o n , a d j a c e n t t o Whitchurch.
The c u r a t e had
c e r t i f i e d t h a t he had m a r r i e d W i l l i a m Welch t o Rachel D u r l e y i n 1783;
I was l u c k y t h a t L o r d Hardwicke's Act had been passed some t h i r t y
y e a r s b efore and t h a t Richard, a carpenter, was a b l e t o s i g n h i s name
a s t h e groom.
The marriage was b y l i c e n c e , which L i n c o l n was
unable t o f i n d , so maybe W i l l i a m had stood by h i s b r o t h e r as 'bondman', b u t i t would have been i n t e r e s t i n g t o have been a f l y on t h e
w a l l a t t h e ceremony and t o know whether t h e c u r a t e asked ' W i l t
H a r o l d Thornpson
t h o u William.....
7.
...
...
182
...
Jeremy Gibson comments:
Ownership o f a pew i n Banbury Church was an i m p o r t a n t s t a t u s
symbol i n t h e 1 8 t h and 1 9 t h c e n t u r i e s .
A t t h e O x f o r d s h i r e Record
O f f i c e , MS. Oxf. Arch. Papers c.157, t h e r e a r e 39 deeds f o r
f a c u l t i e s t o b u i l d or a l t e r pews, m a i n l y f o r t h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e
I t is u s e f u l t o know t h a t t h e r e a r e o t h e r s a t t h e
18th century.
Records o f t h e Banbury P e c u l i a r
Buckinghamshire Record O f f i c e .
a r e s p l i t between t h e s e two o f f i c e s , presumably depending upon who
was s u r r o g a t e f o r t h e p e c u l i a r a t t h e t i m e .
I hope one day t o a b s t r a c t a l l t h e s e documents, i n b o t h o f f i c e s .
They p r o v i d e c u m u l a t i v e l y some w o r t h w h i l e evidence t o add t o our
s c a n t y knowledge o f t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e o l d church; and some comment
on Banbury's s o c i a l h i e r a r c h y a t t h a t time.
BOOK REVIEW
Wood-Jones, R.B., T r a d i t i o n a l Domestic A r c h i t e c t u r e i n t h e Banbury
Region. F i r s t p u b l i s h e d by Manchester U n i v e r s i t y Press i n 1963.
Second e d i t i o n by Wykham Books, Wykham Farm, Banbury, 1986.
E12.95 hardback
T h i s book had been o u t o f p r i n t f o r some t i m e and a second
e d i t i o n had been l o n g a w a i t e d by b o t h members o f t h e p u b l i c , houseowners and a r c h i t e c t u r a l h i s t o r i a n s a l i k e .
There a r e two f e a t u r e s enhancing t h e second e d i t i o n : f i r s t l y a
new d u s t - j a c k e t d e s i g n showing a cut-away i s o m e t r i c o f a house;
secondly a p r e f a c e by Dr. R.W. B r u m s k i l l , former c o l l e a g u e o f
D r . R.B. Wood-Jones i n t h e School o f A r c h i t e c t u r e , Manchester U n i v e r sity.
Dr. B r u m s k i l l makes t h e p o i n t t h a t , save f o r some u p d a t i n g and
a m p l i f i c a t i o n o f s p e c i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n i t would be h a r d t o see how
Dr. Wood-Jones
t h e substance o f t h i s book c o u l d have been improved.
m i g h t have contemplated a r e v i s i o n b u t s a d l y d i e d i n 1982.
The substance o f t h e book remains as r e l e v a n t today as i t d i d
o v e r twenty years ago, p r o v i d i n g a s c h o l a r l y y e t r e a d a b l e a n a l y s i s
o f t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t r a d i t i o n a l domestic a r c h i t e c t u r e i n t h e Banbury
Region.
The t e x t i s complemented w i t h numerous measured drawings
i n c l u d i n g p l a n s , e l e v a t i o n s and s e c t i o n s t o g e t h e r w i t h b l a c k and
A h i g h l y regarded p i o n e e r s t u d y i n t h e 1960's,
w h i t e photographs.
t h i s work remains an e s s e n t i a l t e x t i n t h e s t u d y o f minor domestic
architecture.
I n t h e p r e f a c e t o t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f 1963, D r . Wood-Jones
expressed a sense o f urgency i n "assessing and permanently r e c o r d i n g
vernacular b u i l d i n g before i t disappears i n the spate o f demolitions
and a l t e r a t i o n s w i t h w h i c h , , f i e l d w o r k c o u l d h a r d l y keep pace".
183
,
The rate of alteration and change in the villages around Banbury
is equally as pressing today, but thanks to Or. Wood-Jones a permanent record survives o f regional buildings with examples from the
medieval period to the nineteenth century and in scale from the single
cell cottage to the manor house.
Dated examples provide a yardstick for comparative analysis of
undated examples, tracing the evolution of regional style through the
study of plan types, materials, local craftsmanship and building
techniques. Both exterior and interior details o f buildings are
described and explained against a back-drop of social, economic and
political history, providing a fascinating account o f building development.
The essence of the work and the conclusions drawn have been
achieved through intensive field study together with acedemic research
The high standard to which this work has been carried out is a
tribute to Dr. hood-Jones's enthusiasm, keenly enquiring and meticulous
approach.
Not only will Traditional Domestic Architecture in the Banbury
Region remain an exempJory work:to the specialist, it will continue
to provide house-owners, members of the public and visitors to the
area with a fine guide to the regional domestic architecture of this
richly endowed part of the country.
Sally Stradling
CALTHORPE STREET - R.A. Chambers
Oxford Archaeological Unit Newsletter - V o l . X V . No. 2 - September 1987
Thisextensive site lies between b r l t u Road
~ ad Calthorpe Street, ad
mtil recently was ocnpied by a w,a &relict printing WO& ad housing. The
northern erd of the site inpirqs qxn the historlr core o f the tan ad the southem
ad lies against ad possibly included part of the rnedieval curtilage of Calthorpe
H3use ad m r . It is pcssible that Calthorpe Street (formerly Calthorpe Lac)
formed part of rn earlier settlement prior to the laylng out o f the medieval tan
in the 12th century. Any surviving archaealcgy is therefore of prim inportxce to
the uxkrstadrq of the historical &velqment of the W.
In Jlly 1984 a7 evaluation of the site was carried out by the h t for J.Sainstmy R C . The results of fcur &ire ad t-md-dq tlwctles revealed that plwias
developnent had chtmyed mrfi of the ardmmlcgy. b v e r the mrtherrrmst trench
lccated to the rear of pmperties frmting onto the Him Street confirmed that the
taw had extended a l a q the southem sick o f the Him Street by the 13th century.
the southem end of this trach revealed rrndem garden soils with residal medieval
pottery, scm of Wch was of a f&ric (Babury F1) rrerufacM &ing Ilth-13th
d lay a medieval pit with a filling
mturies. Tavards the mrthem erd of the t
of clay, i m b d h l e and donestic refuse. T k pottery ccnprised Potters ?u)ury
xd hill w x e s :IF the 13th-14th Century. There were M bulding mirs. This
trench appears to have lain at the mar ad of a rnedieval bursage plot established by
the 13th century, ad the area slbseqrently occtpied mtil the later Mth m
m as
would be eqected o f a prime trading pasitim in this part of the b m .
The developnnt of this site will inwlve miderable earth moving and this will
be watched for further arrtraeolcqical material.
SAINSBURY,
184
1
A NONCONFOWIST C M O .
I have r e c e n t l y been r e a d i n g t h e autobi o g r a p h y o f Joseph Parker
who was one o f t h e g r e a t nonconformist preac h e r s o f t h e 1 9 t h Century
a t t h e t i m e when t h e 'Nonconformist Conscience' was something t o be
reckoned with.
His f i r s t p a s t o r a t e was a t Banbury and i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o read h i s comments on what was an i m p o r t a n t f o r m a t i v e
period o f his l i f e .
I quote "Is e t t l e d a t Banbury i n t h e summer o f
1853.
Banbury i s t h e c e n t r e o f an a g r i c u l t u r a l c o u n t y .
My a m b i t i o n
had never gone beyond t h e l i t t l e town o f Banbury, my s u r r o u n d i n g s
were a l l I c o u l d d e s i r e , my f r i e n d s were warm-hearted and f a i t h f u l .
Banbury was, o f course, what may be c a l l e d a day o f s m a l l t h i n g s .
My s a l a r y was E130 a year, my house r e n t amounted t o 6/- a week, and
my c l o t h e s d i d n o t r e q u i r e many wardrobes f o r t h e i r accommodation.
When I asked my draper-deacon how much he would want f o r a b l a c k
s u i t , he s a i d i f I d i d n o t o b j e c t t o a c e r t a i n q u a l i t y o f c l o t h he
c o u l d l e t me have a s u i t a t a very moderate p r i c e ; whereupon I
answered "Now remaineth b l a c k , s h i n y and<cheap; b u t t h e g r e a t e s t
o f these i s cheap."
I g o t t h e s u i t - I wore i t - I remember i t .
To one aspect o f my Banbury l i f e I ought t o a l l u d e as i t was
made much o f a t t h e time.
On every Sunday a f t e r n o o n I preached
i n a l a r g e f i e l d l o c a l l y known as t h e Bear Garden.
I had g r i e v o u s l y
o f f e n d ed t h e lo wer o r d e r s o f t h e town by perhaps t o o v i g o r o u s
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e k i n d o f people who, by word and deed, s u p p o r t e d
t h e p r a c t i c e o f Sunday excursions.
I cannot a t t h i s remote p e r i o d
r e c o l l e c t t h e e p i t h e t s which I a p p l i e d t o t h e e x c u r s i o n i s t s , b u t
c e r t a i n l y they aroused t h e most remarkable and most u n c o n t r o l l a b l e
e x c i t eme nt.
Most assuredly I would n o t app l y such e p i t h e t s t o
B u t I d i d a p p l y them and
such people i n l i k e circumstances today.
I had t o s u f f e r punishment f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n .
I was n o t t o be
a l l o w e d t o preach any more i n t h e Bear Garden.
A t a l l r i s k s and
c o s t s I must be p u t down.
A c c o r d i n g l y t h e l o c a l roughs (supported t o some e x t e n t , I am
a f r a i d , by men o f a much h i g h e r c l a s s ) gathe r e d i n g r e a t numbers t o
h o w l and scream and h i s s .
There was no doubt about t h e temper o f
the opposition.
The h a t r e d was deep and i n t e n s e .
Sooty p o r t r a i t s
o f m y s e l f were s t r o n g l y drawn on l a r g e c a l i c o s h e e t s and waved i n my
f a c e as I preached t o t h e e x c i t e d crowd.
Then g r e a t s h o u t s arose.
I n a moment some o f t h e roughest o f t h e gang rushed a t t h e c a r t which
I used as a p l a t f o r m , and threatened t o r o l l me down t h e h i l l .
Every t i m e I passed down t h e s t r e e t I was l i a b l e t o be h o o t e d by l i t t l e
k n o t s o f people.
On one occasion t h e crowd came t o my house on a
Sunday a f t e r n o o n and shook t h e sooty c a l i c o a g a i n s t my window and
t h r e a te ned t o p u l l down t h e house.
I was alarmed f o r o t h e r s b u t
I c o n t i n u e d t o preach i n t h e f i e l d as i f n o t i n g had
never myself.
happened, and my C h p i s t i a n f r i e n d s stook c l o s e l y round me i n a l l t h e
I n t h e end t h e C h r i s t i a n cause triumphed t o such
u p r o a r and tumult.
an e x t e n t t h a t some who had a s s a i l e d me w i t h extreme v i n d i c t i v e n e s s
I had
were induced t o hear me preach i n q u i e t e r circumstances.
185
Joseph Parker
186
-
1 9 t h century Noncomformist Preacher
.
reason t o b e l i e v e t h a t n o t a few o f t h e men were r e a l l y honest,
and t h a t they were e x p r e s s i n g a h e a r t f e l t i n d i g n a t i o n a g a i n s t a man
who, as they supposed, had SO g r o s s l y misunderstood them.
To t h i s
day I never go t o Banbury w i t h o u t h a v i n g a l o o k a t t h e h i s t o r i c a l
Bear Garden.
On t h a t ground I hope some day t o see a memorial
Christian institution.
A l l t h e Banbury days were happy so f a r as they c o u l d be made
happy by f r i e n d s h i p and sympathy.
The l i t t l e o l d - f a s h i o n e d chapel,
h i d d en up an obscure l a n e w i t h o u t schoolroom or v e s t r y , became i n
due t i me t o o s m a l l f o r us;
t h e n w i t h g r e a t enthusiasm we s e t about
t o p r o v i d e more adequate accommodation.
A f t e r about f o u r y e a r s
r e s i d en ce i n Banbury, I c o u l d boast o f a chapel, a v e s t r y , and a
commodious school room.
What c o u l d any man d e s i r e more?
To
have a l l t h i s a t 26 years o f age seemed t o be a l l t h a t h e a r t c o u l d
p o s s i b l y wish f o r .
A very happy l i f e i s t h e l i f e o f a c o u n t r y
pastor.
A t Banbury my l a b o u r was v a r i e d .
F o r example, I preached i n
my own p u l p i t on Sunday morning, l e c t u r e d i n t h e Corn Exchange on
Sunday afternoon, or preached i n t h e open f i e l d s d u r i n g t h e summer
Sundays; i n t h e evenings a g a i n i n my own p u l p i t and d u r i n g t h e
week I had seldom fewer t h a n t h r e e p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , one o f them
b e i n g i n t h e open a i r i n some n e g l e c t e d p a r t o f t h e town.
Ilook
back w i t h p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t on a s m a l l i n s t i t u t i o n which I estabI n conducting t h i s class
l i s h e d under t h e name o f a Secular Class.
I endeavoured t o teach t h e s c h o l a r s something o f Grammar and L a t i n
and H i s t o r y .
One o f t h e s c h o l a r s became a s o l i c i t o r i n t h e n o r t h
o f England, another became s e c r e t a r y t o a m i l l i o n a i r e , and another
was promoted t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e p o s i t i o n i n t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n p o l i c e
force.
To my g r e a t s u r p r i s e I was i n v i t e d t o preach-a Sunday or two,
i n Cavendish S t r e e t Chapel, Manchester and w i t h i n a few weeks I was
asked t o r e c e i v e a d e p u t a t i o n from t h a t Chapel with a view t o
becoming t h e i r p a s t o r .
I thanked them f o r t h e i r c o r d i a l i n v i t a t i o n
but t o l d them t h a t circumstances would n o t a l l o w me t o accept.
W i t h i n t h e l a s t year or so my people have b u i l t me a chapel,
and i n doing so th ey have i n c u r r e d a debt o f something l i k e E700.
Whilst t h a t debt remains, I remain.
I f I had found i t h e r e I c o u l d
have l e f t i t , b u t i n a c e r t a i n sense t h a t deb t was i n c u r r e d on my
account and u n t i l t h a t debt i s removed I must s t a n d by my people who
have done so much f o r my comfort.
I n about 17 days a telegram came a s k i n g me t o r e c e i v e another
I was i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e Manchester p e o p l e
d e p u t a t i o n from Manchester.
were prepared t o pay o f f t h e Banbury debt i f I would consent t o
I s a i d I would l a y t h e
accept t h e i n v i t a t i o n t o Cavendish S t r e e t .
m a t t e r b e f o r e my Banbury deacons and f r i e n d s .
T h e i r answer a f f e c t ed me n o t a l i t t l e "It w i l l be t h e d a r k e s t day i n o u r l i f e when you
l e a v e us b u t we have no doubt t h a t God i n t e n d s you s h o u l d remove t o
Manchester."
They gave me a handsome c l o c k , a b e a u t i f u l s o l i d
s i l v e r t e a s e r v i c e , a h a n d f u l o f g o l d and two massive s i l v e r l a d l e s .
Thus we p a r t e d - my f i r s t p a s t o r a l l o v e and I . "
I t was i n t h e o l d Independant Chapel i n Church Passage t h a t
187
Joseph Parker conducted t h e marriage i n J u l y 1856 o f James Casebrook
James was
and Jane Page who belonged t o B o d i c o t e B a p t i s t Chapel.
25 years o l d and a l a b o u r e r and son o f a l a b o u r e r , and Jane was a
daughter o f a thaJcher.
N e i t h e r o f them c o u l d w r i t e n o r c o u l d t h e
two witnesses o f t h e i r marriage.
When h i s w o r k i n g l i f e was n e a r l y
o v er, a l a b o u r e r was sometimes o b l i g e d t o t a k e a j o b stone-breaking.
The j o b was a l o n e l y one on t h e grass verge o f t h e road a l l t h e day.
He must f i r s t break t h e stones down w i t h h i s l a r g e hammer and t h e n
use a small, b l u n t , double-headed one t o f i n i s h them o f f .
I t was
n o t as easy as i t looked.
He had t o make s u r e o f h i s mark, or he
would make slow progress.
O f t e n he would s i t on p a r t o f t h i s b r o k e n
heap t o g e t c l o s e r t o t h e work, and so t o ease h i s back.
Occasiona l l y he would g e t a passer-by t o s t o p and t a l k .
He would f i n d a
s h e l t e r e d spot i n the hedge f o r h i s midday meal o f b r e a d and cheese
and a b o t t l e o f c o l d tea.
When he s t a r t e d f o r home i t t o o k him a
w h i l e t o f i n d h i s road l e g s ; and t h e n he would h u r r y t o h i s chimney
I t was u s u a l l y an o l d man who had t o t a k e
c o r n e r and h i s warm meal.
such work and James was now o l d .
The pay was n o t as much as a
l a b o u r e r ' s u n l e s s l o n g p r a c t i c e had made h i m q u i c k .
However t h e
d o s t t o James was a heavy one and slowed him down as he l o s t t h e s i g h t
caused by-:a f l y i n g stone.
Not t h e l i f e o f a successof one eye
f u l man, one might say, b u t he and Jane were committed C h r i s t i a n s
and made a C h r i s t i a n home, and Joseph Parker would have known t h a t
t h e y would.
One o f h i s daughters became a pioneer S a l v a t i o n Army O f f i c e r
and was t h e o n l y woman s e n t p e r s o n a l l y by General Booth t o p i o n e e r
work i n A u s t r a l i a , p r i n c i p a l l y c i i n a Reform s c h o o l f o r boys i n
Queensland.
A l l t h e Casebrooks were brou g h t up as Nonconformists
and were a ssociated w i t h t h e v i l l a g e chapel s u n t i l t h e 1930's.
They have reason t o l o o k back w i t h g r a t i t u d e t o James and Jane
I s h o u l d know as
Casebrook and t o Joseph Parker who m a r r i e d them.
I am t h e i r g r e a t grand-son!
Oswald Chaplin.
Q u o t a t i o n from ' A P r e a c h e r ' s L i f e '
-
an Autobiography and an Album.
Joseph Parker DD
188
-
Hodder and Stoughton 1903
The Banbury Historical Society was founded in 1957 to
encourage interest in the history of the town of Banbury and
neighbouring parts of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and
Warwickshire.
The Magazine Cake and Cockhorse is issued to members three
times a year. This includes illustrated articles based on
original local historical research, as well as recording the
Society's activities. By 1985 there had been 88 issues and at
least 230 articles. Most back issues are still available and
out-of-print issues can if required be photocopied.
Other publications still in print include:
Booklets Old Banbury - a s h o r t popular h i s t o r y , E.R.C. Brinkworth
New L i g h t o f Banbury's Crosses, P.D.A. Harvey
Banbury C a s t l e - a sumnary o f excavations i n 1972, P.Fasham
The B u i l d i n g and F u r n i s h i n g o f S t . Mary's Church, Banbury,
N. Cooper
Pamphlets H i s t o r y o f Banbury Cross
The Globe Roam a t t h e Reindeer Inn, Banbury
The Society has also published twenty o r more volumes in
its records s e r i e s (list available of those still in print).
These have included Banbury P a r i s h Registers (in seven parts:
Marriages 1558-1837, Baptisms and Burials 1558-1812); Banbury
Corporation Records: Tudor and S t u a r t ; Banbury Wills and Invent o r i e s , 1591-1650 (Part 1, 1591-1620; Part 2 , 1621-1650):
A V i c t o r i a n H.P. and h i s Constituents: The Correspondence o f
H.W. Tancred 1841-1860; Shoemaker's Window: R e c o l l e c t i o n s o f
Banbury b e f o r e t h e Railway Age, by George Herbert (now available)
in Gulliver Press edition); South Newington Churchwardens'
Accounts 1553-1684; Wigginton Constables' Books 1691-1836;
Bodicote P a r i s h Accounts 1700-1822; V i c t o r i a n Banbury, by Barrie
Trinder (with Phillimore); and Aynho; A Northamptonshire Parish,
by Nicholas Cooper (with Leopard's Head Press); Banbury Goall
Records 1805-1852, edited by Penelope Renold.
Volume in
preparation Baptisms and B u r i a l s 1813-1838. An edition of letters
to the 1st Earl of Guilford ( o f Wroxton, father of Lord North,
Prime Minister and M.P. for Banbury) is also planned.
Meetings are held during the autumn and winter, normally at
7.30 pm at the North Oxfordshire Technical College, Broughton Road,
Banbury, on the second Thursday of each month.
Talks are given
by invited lecturers on general and local archaeological, historical
and architectural subjects.
In the summer, the AGM I S held at a
local country house and other visits are arranged.
Membership of the Society is open to all, no proposer o r
seconder being needed.
The annual subscription is f8.00
including any records volumes published, or f5.00 if these a r e
excluded.
Application forms can be obtained from the Hon. Membership
Secretary, c/o Banbury Museum, 8 Horsefair, Banbury, Oxon.
Printed by
Parchment (Oxford) Ltd.. 60 Hunt Streer, Oxford
From originals supplied by Publisher