Mavesyn Ridware in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

MAVESYN RIDWARE.

Mavesyn Ridware. This manor is bounded on the south by the southern bank of the Trent: on the east by Hamstall Ridware: on the north by the river Blythe; and on the west by the manor of Colton, in the hundred of Pire-hill.

After the Conquest, this manor was given by William I. to Roger de Montgomery: another adventurous follower of the Conqueror, named Azeline, held it under him. It probably passed from Azeline to the family of Mavesyn, in right of blood; for tradition asserts, that "the Mavesyns, sithens the Conquest,were, and have been ever, in possession of Ridware."

This manor continued in the possession of the Mavesyn family during ten generations. In the year 1403, Sir Robert Mavesyn, Knight, was slain at the battle of Shrewsbury. A feud had previously existed between this gentleman and Sir William Handsacre; and their animosity was influenced by the civil war. An authentic account of the termination of the quarrel between these Knights is preserved in Latin, in the British Museum, to the following purport:

"The river Trent flows with a clear stream by Mavesyn Ridware, so called, because on its northern bank is situated the ancient inheritance of the Malvesyns. The inhabitants say that a jealousy subsisting between the families of Mauvesin and Handsacre, it so happened when Henry IV had obtained the crown of England from Richard II and it was rumoured that Percy, of Northumberland, was in arms against the King, Mauvesin had ridden forth with six or seven of his vassals on the part of King Henry; it chanced also that Handsacre, who espoused the opposite cause, had left home the same day with an equal number of attendants, to join Percy. These rivals met, and inflamed with rage, rushed furiously to battle.

Handsacre was slain; and the victorious Mauvesin, proud of his conquest, marching to Shrewsbury, there lost his life, fighting valiantly for the King." Mavesyn and Handsacre fought on an open flat meadow, just above High Bridge, in Mavesyn Ridware, lying on the side of the Trent, between their respective mansions, which are in sight of each other. Sir Robert left behind him two daughters. Margaret, the younger daughter, became the wife of Sir William Handsacre, Knight, and thus terminated a feud which had been so fatal. Sir John Carvarden, Knight, married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir Robert Mavesyn; and the manor devolved on their descendants for seven generations.

In the eighth year of James the First, ad1611, this mansion and its dependencies were possessed by Gerard Stanley, gent. of Harlaston, in this county, and John Chadwicke, Esq. of Wade-lane House, in Mavesyn Ridware. Mr. Chadwicke, in right of his wife, became possessed of the ancient manor-house, with five parts in eight of the manor, and the whole of the fishery. In 1600 he became sole lord of Pipe Ridware, with lands, and the fishery of the Trent down to King's Bromley, by purchase. In 1615, he gave the manor of Pipe Ridware to Henry Agarde, Esq. of King's Bromley, in exchange for lands in Mavesyn Ridware, and a fishery in the Trent, within Armitage and Handsacre, above High-bridge, so that he extended his right to both sides of the river.

Mavesyn Ridware has continued in the possession of the family of Chadwicke for upwards of two centuries. The parish is of considerable extent, and contains 1550 acres of arable land, 405 of meadow, and 375 of pasture. Charles Chadwick, Esq. is the present owner. The road from Lichfield to Uttoxeter extends through the whole length of this parish, High-bridge on the Trent being nearly five miles from the former, and Blythford-bridge, eight miles from the latter.

The face of the country is agreeably diversified with an intermixture of corn-fields and pastures, well fenced with flourishing hedges of thorn, and sufficiently thickened with forest trees. The soil towards the north and north-west is an intermixture of marl and clay; about the middle of the parish it becomes loamy and light; and ends towards the south in a vale of sound light land, bounded by open meadows, enriched by the inundations of the Trent. The crops of wheat and barley are generally excellent; and a variety of oats, the white Poland being sometimes cut in July.

The village of Mavesyn Ridware is small, consisting of the manor-house, church, and parsonage, two farm-houses, and eight cottages. The manor-house is situated between the church and the Trent. A gatehouse of stone, 87 feet in length, is all that remains of the ancient mansion. The gateway faces the church: over it there is a large room, which, tradition says, has been an oratory. The walls above the gateway on the north side, and from the ground on every other side, are of brick. On the spot where once stood the antique and magnificent abode of the Mavesyns and the Cawardens, now stands a small house, built in 1718 by Charles Chadwicke, Esq. as a convenient box, pleasantly situated for a summer residence.

This beautiful part of the vale of Trent presented numerous attractions to the admirer of rural amusements. Needwood Forest afforded the sportsman a variety of game: the chace was also pursued with avidity and delight in its ample space, while the Trent offered to the skill of the angler great varieties of fish. This river abounds with pike, perch, greyling, eel, gudgeon, and craw-fish; trout and burbot are more rare: barbel, roach, dace, and chub, may be seen, in large shoals. A pike was caught in the Trent at Mavesyn Ridware, in 1785, which measured one yard six inches and a half, grad weighed twenty-four pounds and a half. An enormous pike was caught in 1772, above four feet long, weighing thirty-one pounds and three-quarters. The otter is the most formidable enemy of the pike in this river, and will attack, kill, and devour those of the largest size. Above fifty brace of pike have been killed here in a season, it being the rule, to take none but those that measure twenty inches in length; so that out of 179 caught, 113 have been thrown into the river, as being under size. Though the neighbouring broods abound with trout, there are few in the Trent, yet these few are the finest fish in the river. Several have been caught of the weight of four pounds apiece and more.

"This and the neighbouring royalties have had 'game of swans' immemorially ; swans and their aeries are named in Handsacre very early, by deed S. D. and are the great ornament of the river, where they are in a sort of wild state, having no food given to them even in the most severe winters. In pairing-time they are very vicious, and fight furiously, the weaker bird being driven to a distance, and one is frequently killed, or has a wing broken if he escapes; so that in the extent of three miles there are not often seen here more than two nests. The hen lays seldom less than five, generally six, very often seven or eight, and even nine eggs, making her nest in the same spot for years together, unless disturbed; and on a rise of water has been seen to raise her nest, yet the nests are often destroyed by floods. At this time the cob jealously guards his mate: a hardy dog has been stunned with the force of his wing, and trampled under water till nearly exhausted; and a lusty farmer was unhorsed and ducked, as he attempted to cross the river incautiously too near the nest. The cygnets are not marked and pinioned till after Michaelmas, when they begin to take a daily flight.''

The swans belonging to eight royalties on the banks of the Trent, are distinguished by peculiar marks made by the swan-marker, who annually catches them for that purpose with an iron crook. Quails, which were formerly numerous in the meadows on the banks of the Trent, are now rare; as the quail is a solitary bird, perhaps it has abandoned its former haunts here in consequence of increased population.

The old Church was dedicated to St. Nicholas and is called the parish church of St. Nicholas in 1521 : sometimes it was styled the manor church, which may show that the parish and manor were co-extensive. This ancient building was of stone, consisting of the nave, north and south aisles, chancel, steeple, and a roomy porch; the whole covered with shingles of oak.

In 1782 the whole of the old church, then very damp and nearly in ruins, was taken down, except Trinity aisle and the steeple, and a new one erected on its site, at the expence of £730. This modern edifice is elevated above the church-yard, and built partly of the old stone, faced with red brick. The pointed gothic door and windows are ornamented with stone, and a stone cornice, and the roof covered with blue slate.

There are only three memorials of the dead in this church, the most-remarkable of which is a blue stone in front of the pulpit steps, with the following inscription:
"In full assurance
of a happy resurrection
are here deposited the remains
of the Rev. Joseph Holbrook, Clerk,
late Curate of this Church.
In him were eminently conspicuous
the good christian
the diligent pastor
the dutiful son
and the sincere friend
Suddenly, and early in life, he obeyed
his great Creator's summons,
and left his parents , to deplore
the hope of their old age,
He died April 3, 1753, Aged 29."

Trinity aisle is a venerable relique of antiquity, and has been the cemetery of the lords of the manor, from the time of its erection in the twelfth century. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and in the days of Popish superstition mass was celebrated on particular days. The rectory-house is an indifferent old brick building. The glebe is about eleven acres; the tithe is moderate, 2s. l/2d. an acre being paid as a composition; and both together produce about £230 per annum, valued in the King's books at £7. 2s. 11d. The mill is a small building well supplied with water from the Trent.

According to the Parish Register, the first entry in which is dated November 12, 1538, it appears that from 1538 to 1547 inclusive, the marriages were 20, births 69, burials 55; and from 1787 to 1796, there were 30 marriages, 122 births, and 79 burials.

Curious Extracts from the Churchwarden's accounts:
1651. For one our glase .............................................. £9. 0s. 9d.
1652. For one dyall.........................................................0 1 4
Post to set a dyall on..................................................... 0 1 0
1653. Paid Gaunt, the clocke-maker, for the clocke........2 10 8
1662. For the hooke of common praier and the booke of
artickles.......................................................................... 0 10 0
1663. For the church bible............................................. 3 0 0

The following Extracts from the Constable's accounts, are illustrative of the unsettled state of the country during the Civil war:
1642. May 15, Paid to Collonell Bagot towards the
maintenance of his Majestie's garrison at Lich-............ £. s. d.
field in money and retornes........................................... 7 10 0
Sept. 12, The same payment, etc...................................7 10 0
Dec. 29, Spent at Mary Edwarde's amongst oure
neghbors and Collonell Cromwill's soldiers.................. 0 2 0
1643. Assessment to pay for five horses that were lost,
(i. e. taken away by Col. Cromwill's forces)
March 17, Provisions went to Lichfield for Prince
Rupert and his foarces.................................................. 4 5 6
April 1, Ditto.................................................................. 4 12 10
Contribution weekly paid for the garrison at
Lichfield, from Nov. 24, 1643, to Oct 25, fol-
lowing, inclusive. In money......................................... 76 3 6
In retornes................................................................... 33 14 6 --109 16 0
Weekly payment paid towards the maintenance of the garrison at Stafford, from Feb. 17 to July 20,1644. In money...... 21 5 0
In retornes....................................................................19 18 10 --41 3 10
1645. The whole disbursement this year in money and
retornes........................................................................289 5 2
1647. Soldiers under Sir Thomas Fairfax quartered
upon them, by ordinance of Parlyment, from
Oct. 7, 1646, to Jan. 25, 1647, after the propor-
tion of 372 men in every division:
Aug. 28, Quartering 400 Scotes prisoners, and 20
soldiers with horses, theire garde............................ 4 19 8
Oct. 11. One moneths towards mentaininge the
county troops............................................................. 2 8 0

In the 25th Henry VIII, there were thirty-six householders of Mavesyn Ridware. At the contested election in 1747, ten freeholders voted from this parish.

Hill Ridware is a small village, situated about half a mile north-east from the church of Mavesyn Ridware. The principal public road in the parish passed through this village: the stocks and whipping-post stand where three roads meet. A may-pole was erected near the cock-pit, at the south end of the village, when George I. was crowned. In 1796, the village consisted of 30 houses, containing 143 inhabitants. Here are two day-schools for girls, and one for boys.

Rake End is situated between Hill Ridware and Blythbury, and almost contiguous to the former, insomuch that it is often reckoned part of it. In this neighbourhood are two of the most pleasant situations in the parish: Cawarden-spring, near a mile to the west, and Bentley, above half a mile to the east. Blythbury. This hamlet contains about one-third of the parish, extending from Bentley Pool-bridge to the river Blythe. Here Hugo Malveysin settled in the reign of Henry I. and founded a church and priory on this demesne.

The priory dedicated to St. Giles was situated on the southern bank of the Blythe, the northern arm of which here bounds the manor, flowing through a pleasant valley. All the wants of the monks were supplied by the fertile tract around them, and the translucent stream. A fruitful garden and orchard, and the river Blythe, which supplied their corn-mill with water and their table with fish, rendered this spot peculiarly agreeable and convenient to a religious confraternity; and as the priory was in the vicinity of a public road, the monks had frequent opportunities for the exercise of their benevolence, by relieving the poor who made daily application at their gate, and the weary and houseless traveller. These monks were of the order of St. Benedict, and were commonly called Black monks from the colour of their outer garments. Part of the priory was appropriated to nuns; but the male and female inhabitants repaired occasionally to the same church to sing requiem for the dead. The old priory has been destroyed; in 1789 there was a good farm-house on the spot, but scarcely a vestige of antiquity remained. It is now a manor-farm, called Blythbury-farm, of about 140 acres of land, of which 116 are tithe-free, and it has a fishery in the river Blythe.