Monument record 63 - The Grove (Le Groves)

{1} An area of woodland, which may in part have given Brackley its name, appears to have lain on the gentle valley side and valley bottom to the south of the Old Town. This is the area of Grove and Breech field names in the medieval and post medieval period which extend almost to St. Peter’s church with Denny Grove next to Bassets Lane. At least part of this area was cleared for agriculture by the 12th century with one furlong here known as le Breech. However it would appear that another part was possibly some form of park belonging to the lord.
The Grove was certainly in existence as an enclosed area by 1170-80 when the lord of the manor granted the Hospital 2.5 acres below their courtyard which extended to the ditch which enclosed his grove. In 1270-1272, in order apparently to create a park or warren, the Hospital reached an agreement with the community of Brackley regarding the dispute over pasture land which the Hospital had bought from Sir John de la Haye, who at that time held part of the manor demesne. The Hospital were to have sole rights over the field land in le Brech and le Grofhey below their courtyard, extending from their sheepfold by the old ditch as far as the stream dividing Brackley from Turweston so they could enclose it with a ditch and wall. In return the community were to have common in another land which the Hospital had from Sir John.
In 1279 a further agreement the community relinquished all their rights in the Grove of the Hospital in return for rights of pasture in le Brech and le Grofhey. 'Le Groves' belonging to the Hospital was further released of all common rights in 1425, when the common land was re-defined as lying outside the ‘Groveheyditch’. This, possibly extending a park of the lord, must be the origin of the park belonging to the Hospital recorded in 1446 when an order was issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury for the excommunication of the people who ‘entered the Hospital, broke down its walls and hedges, killed and carried off a great quantity of hares and fishes...’
It is likely that the slightly curving northern boundary of the College Estate in 1830 represents this ditch of 1425, enclosing a large area to the south with several grove field names, with the croft land to the north being that over which the common rights were retained by the community. The Grove extended as far south as the township boundary with Evenley with the tenements fronting the market place in the 13th century extending east to the bank of the grove. The whole area of the Grove was apparently not turned into a park as by 1415 it was being subdivided, when the hospital leased out a parcel of the Grove, 40 perches long and 8 broad (640ft by 128ft if a 16ft perch) with and adjoining croft between the Chapel of St. James and the watercourse. To the east of the chapel in 1760 the College had a large enclosed estate which contained a flight of five rectangular ponds which may in origin be the medieval ponds within the park or warren.
This document also records the release of common rights by the Abbott of Leicester and burgesses of Brackley to allow Inclosure of 'Le Groves' which lay to the south, adjacent to the Hospital of St John and forming at least part of the Magdalene College Estate delimited in 1830. This, including the site of the Hospital itself and all the other enclosed land owned by the Hospital by 1219, was exempted from tithes in that year whereas any later property acquired was to be subject to tithe. Hence the area defined at tithe free at enclosure probably defines the extent of the Grove and other College property in 1219.

<1> Ballinger J.; Foard G., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Brackley, Section 3.1.2.9 The Grove (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100499.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2012 10:42AM