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CHAPTER XI.

BENGEWORTH DIVISION OF THE TOWN-FREE-SCHOOLCHAPEL OF ST. PETER, WITHIN THE DEANERY OF THE MONASTERYTRANSFER OF THE ENTIRE PARISH

FROM THE POSSESSION OF EVESHAM ABBEY.

BENGEWORTH was at the time of Domesday Survey a mere hamlet in the then wide-spread parish of Cropthorne, and consisted but of a few detached farm-buildings, near the high-road then conducting to the abbey of Evesham in its vicinity. By its proximity to that foundation it, at a later period, gradually increased; and when Evesham became deprived of the distinction of its monastery, the inhabitants here seem to have urged their claims to equality with the inmates of the older town, by arguments of no gentle character. For in the reign of James the First, that pacific ruler intimates, in the preamble of his second charter to the borough, that "controversies, dissensions" and other irregularities occurring here, had occasioned "damage, grief, and molestation" to the more sedate indwellers of Evesham and therefore, for the better rule, government, and improvement of the entire town, he incorporates Bengeworth within the borough of Evesham. This municipal junction has thenceforward continued; and Bengeworth thus participates in the improvements and advantages of its elder neighbour.

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Eyelwey, abbot of Evesham in the reign of William I. is stated to have unjustly acquired a portion of the present parish, by defrauding the church of Worcester of four hides here-equivalent to about four hundred acres; these having at that time formed part of the manor of Cropthorne, which belonged to Worcester Church. In the

registry of Domesday these hides were consequently entered as belonging to Evesham abbey; and at a later period, abbot Whitchurch purchased the remainder of the parish from William de Beauchamp, and the whole became thus included in the demesne of the abbey. In the middle of the twelfth century, the four hides then held here were, by abbot Randulph's Institutes, appropriated to the office of prior of the monastery; as also the hall or grange, with its garden, vineyard, and meadow, and several tenements adjoining.47 This grange by reason of the continuity of the houses that adjoined it, as intimated in the extract cited-must have stood southward of the street; and from the accompaniments recorded in connection, was doubtless an important mansion,-one of the moated manorhouses of the olden time. The names still borne by grounds in this particular quarter, confirm our supposition as to its site. One is "the parson's close," the croft of the priorial mansion; another "the moat orchard," as having immediately adjoined the moat. In the last meadow-adjacent to the residence of Dr. Beale Coopersome extensive foundations were discovered, in levelling a bank about twenty years ago; and, as we understand, an ancient signet ring of metal, inscribed ODO, was also found. There is little doubt but that these foundations were connected with the Grange, belonging to the Evesham priors: another portion of which, or of a gatehouse attached to it, presents itself in part of a tenement near the north-west corner of the church. The arched doorway is here of ancient character, and in the wall of a chamber above there is a stone cupboard or ambry.

The only public buildings at present standing in this division of the town that will require particular attention, are the Free School and Parish Church. The former is a substantial building of brick, standing a little way back from the street; and includes a dwelling house for the master, with a school-room for the boys. It is situate in the middle of Port-street; and was erected in 1738, pursuant to the will of John Deacle, esq. This gentleman was a native of the

447 "Pertinet etiam ad priorem, curia de Benigwithe cum croftis ad eandem curiam pertinentibus, et cum gardino, vinario, et prato, quæ sunt infra ipsam curiam, et cum omnibus mesuagijs de croftis quæ sunt circa ipsam curiam, videlicet, a domo Thoma Algar usque ad domum Walteri Bellard."-Cotton. MS. Augustus II, num. 11.

parish, and by his own exertions and good fortune became a woollen-draper in St. Paul's Church-yard, acquired the possession of wealth, and ultimately attained the distinction of alderman of London. It is evident from his tombstone that his origin was humble, though Dr. Nash by a brief notice would fain connect him with a different class, by miscalling him D'Eagle.448 But we regard him as one who having felt the deficiency of early education himself, in this manner sought to remove that evil from the lot of others who might struggle from obscurity in his native town as he himself had striven. By his will, dated 24th July 1706, proved 29th October 1729, £200 is bequeathed for the erection of a school for teaching, clothing, and apprenticing "thirty of the poorest boys born in this parish." But if the entire number of this description cannot be derived from hence, then such deficiency is to be supplied from "poor boys in Evesham, providing that these at any one time shall not exceed ten in number." To this foundation he further munificently bequeathed the sum of £2000, to be vested in lands and tenements of the yearly value of one hundred pounds. From that income twenty pounds were to be paid as salary to the master, thirty-four pounds were to be expended in clothing for the boys, twenty-five pounds to be employed in apprenticing four of them yearly, five pounds were to be expended in books, and fifty shillings. were appropriated to repairs of the school: fifty shillings were further to be expended in bread for poor parishioners, as will be noticed in our twentieth chapter. The residuary receipts are reserved for taxes and other contingencies. No boy is to be admitted into the school under eight years old, nor after the age of ten. The choice and admission of boys are vested in "the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the parish of Bengeworth aforesaid, and in the mayor and capital-burgesses of Evesham :" but "in case of the neglect of the said churchwardens and overseers, then in the mayor and capital-burgesses of Evesham aforesaid, or the major number of them." A further clause, somewhat unusual at the period, but exhibiting the heedfulness and forecast of the donor, provides "that the children may be carefully taught and that the schoolmaster may

448 " Mr. D'Eagle left one thousand pounds for teaching and cloathing the poor children of the town."-Nash's Worcestershire, vol. i. page 411.

wholly apply himself to their instruction, that no person in any ecclesiastical orders whatever shall be admitted to fill that situation." In fact no means that forethought could devise effectively to carry out his purpose, seem to have been omitted by the testator. He appoints the Company of Drapers in London the trustees of his foundation, with a further bequest of £200 to defray the expense of periodical visitations of the establishment by the master and wardens of that body. He then generously bequeathes to the corporation of Evesham the sum of £50, to secure their watchfulness over the infant institution.

The testator died in 1709; and the Drapers' Company refusing to accept the trust, a bill was filed in chancery: the result of which was an appointment of new trustees, in lieu of the Drapers' Company. A piece of ground in Port-street was then purchased, as the site of the school, from sir John Rushout, bart. and this was conveyed to the new trustees by indenture of 23d May 1729. By an order of the court, dated 9th April 1736, the sum of £335 was directed to be applied to the building of a school; and the erection was during the same year completed. The original endowment had in 1743 become augmented by accumulation to £3341 15s. 1d. and this was ordered to be vested in South Sea Annuities, a receiver being at the same time appointed by the court. In 1749 part of the above stock was by a further order sold, and employed in the purchase of an estate at Ashton-under-Hill; and in 1773, by award under the Ashton Inclosure Act, an allotment was made to sir John Rushout and his heirs, in lieu of the charity property: thus making the entire estate upwards of 167 acres. This produced in 1830 a rental of £251.449 Since the award, the estate does not appear to have been conveyed to trustees, but has remained legally vested in the Northwick family. There have, however, been successive appointments of trustees, without any transfer of the property.450 The present trustees thus constituted are-lord Northwick; hon. and rev. George Rushout; rev. Wm. Digby; rev. John Shaw; T. B. Cooper, M. D.; sir Charles Cockerell, bart.; Wm. Manning, esq.;

449 The previous rentals were from 1796 to 1799, £250; from 1800 to 1820, £230; and from 1821 to 1823, £255 18s.

450 See 24th Report of Commissioners for Inquiry concerning Charities, page 518.

hon. H. B. Lygon ; hon. Pyndar Lygon ; Hanbury Beaufoy, esq. ; and the rev. B. Preedy. The apprentice fees have lately been increased to £10 each, and a small addition has been made to the number of boys placed out. As regards the appointment of a master, the testator directs-that the mayor and burgesses of Evesham and their successors do present two persons to the trustees of the estate, who are to elect one of them. The salary of the master has latterly been augmented to £30. The present number of scholars is thirty; who are clothed and instructed, but not boarded. The

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Commissioners for Inquiry concerning Charities report in 1830 that vacancies are filled up on recommendation, in the first instance from the churchwardens of Bengeworth with respect to the boys. from thence; and in default of such recommendation, the other appointments, whether for Bengeworth or Evesham, are made at the discretion of the acting trustees. And as regarded the appointment of master, this had for some time been made solely by the same trustees. But in the year 1837 an Information was filed by the attorney-general, on the relation of John New, esq. and others,

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