Allesley.
OF this there is no particular mention in the Conq. Survey, it being there involved with Coventre, whereof it was then a Member; and of the Parish, as a••••ears by that Licence, q which R. Clinton B. of Cov. temp. H. 1. granted for building of the Chappell here, at the request of Ran. E. of Chester, in the behalf of poor people, (as was also then allow'd to the inhabitants of Ansty and others whereof I have already spoke) with reservation of Sepulture to the Mother Church. As for the name, I suppose it proceeded from some antient possessor thereof in the Saxons time; which probably might be Alsi; for that was an appellation then in use.
When it came first to the family of Hastings, or how, I cannot positively say; yet confident I am, that it was before the Marriage of Henry de Hastings with Ada Daughter to David E. o•• Hunt. by Maud the eldest Sister, and one of the Coheirs to Ran. the last E. of Chester of that name; because I find it not assigned to the said Maud amongst the lands and fees, in partition allotted to her: But the first mention thereof that I have met with in Record, is after the death of the said H. de Hastings, in 34 E. 3. it being then r in the K. hands by reason of the minority of his Heir, and held of the Crown; as in right of the Ear••dom of Chester; which the K. in 23. of his reign had taken into his own hands, giving satis∣faction for the same to the Sisters and Heirs of Ranulph, the last E•• of that name. In which 34. year I find, s that one Raph de Ierdele a Heremite had an annuity of three Quarters of Whe••t•• al∣low'd him by the K. out of this Mannour (where∣of he had the custody for the reason above ex∣prest:) which yearly allowance the said Heremit had used to receive out of the Mannour of Ierdele in Northamptonsh.) belonging to the same Henry.
The next year following did the said H. t ••nlarge his Park, here, having obtained 24. Acres of West∣wood-wast from Osbert then Abbot of Stoneley to that purpose. And from him it descended to Iohn, his Grand-child (as the Pedegree in Fillonl••y manifesteth) who in 7. E. 1. was certified u to hold it of Rog. de Somery (Husband of Nichola one of the Sisters and Coheirs of Hugh de Albany E. of Arundell, son of Will. de Albany, and Ma∣bel his Wife one of the Sisters and Coheirs to Ran. E. of Chester before specified) by the ser∣vice of one Kt. Fee; which Iohn had then 26. ser∣vants here, holding xx. yard land and a half, at will, paying certain Rents, and performing se∣verall services in time of Harvest: As also 22. Cot∣tagers holding so many Cottages, at will likewise, paying certain small Rents, and performing the like services; with xi. Freeholders occupying 6. yard land and a half and 17. acres, for severall Rents, and suit to his three weeks Court: And moreover 40. acres of out-wood, with an antient Park containing 30. acres; whereof 12. were par∣cell of the Mannour of Stoneley, but by what au∣thority inclosed within that Park not then known: And lastly Freewarren and Weyfs within his liberties here, as also Court-Leet, Gallows, Assize of Bread and Beer, for a p••••frey, yearly, payable to the King. All which liberties, with cer∣tain other Priviledges did he claim w within this Mannour by Prescription in 13 E. 1. alledging that himself and his ancestors had enjoy'd them time out of mind.
From whom descended Iohn de Hastings E. of Penbroke (his great Grand-child, as the Pede∣gree in Fillongley sheweth) which Earl entayling x his lands, as there appeareth (and his issue Male extinguisht) this Mannour (inter alia) came, by force thereof to Sir Will. Beauchamp Kt. second Son to Thomas Beauchamp E. of Warwick; which Will. being afterwards summoned to Parl. as Lord Bergavenny, had issue Richard, whose Daughter and Heir Eliz. brought this Lordship unto the family of Nevill (as in Fillongley is al∣so more fully shew'd:) In which line it continu∣ed till Sir Henry Nevill, late Lord Bergavenny sold it, in our time to Sir Henry Compton Kt. of the Bath, now scil. an. 1640. owner thereof.
Upon the brow of an hill, in the Park here at Allesley, do appear some ruins of building, which as the Inhabitants say, were of a Castle; but in Record I cannot find, that it was ever so termed.
That the Church was originally but a Chappell belonging to the Priory of Coventre, and the oc∣casion of its building. I have already declared. In 33 H. 3. there were y certain persons delegated by the B. of Cov. and Lich. who, with the consent of the Monks of Coventre, and the then incum∣bent, presented by the Lord Hastings, did ordain that the said Incumbent and his successors should have of the profits belonging thereto, all obla∣tions, obventions, tythes, and other emoluments; reserving 6. s. 8. d. yearly to the said Church of Coventre in lieu of all burialls: and excepting also the tythes of Allesley-Park, and all personall tythes, which were used amongst the oblations to be offered upon Sundaies, in regard that the Lord Hastings (being Patron of the Church) had relea∣sed to the Church of Coventre all his right of com∣mon in Coventre and Coundulme, and the Ham∣lets adjacent; which Ordination bears date on the day of St. Tiburce and Valerian an. M. CCXLIX. (33. H. 3.)
In an. 1291. (19. E. 1.) the Church (Dedic. to All Saints) was valued z at xii. marks; but in a 26. H. 8. at 17. l. 18. s. 8. d. over and above