Monument record 727/37/1 - Bakehouse

{1}An undated document of the 13th century recorded the grant by Avelina, Countess of Essex, to the canons of Holy Trinity, London, of 6s 8d quit rent from the rent of her oven in her manor of Towcester. This payment was still made when Warin de Munchensi was lord of the manor. On the death of William de Clinton, earl of Huntingdon, in 1354, the profits of the oven were returned at 20 shillings a year; the common oven was worth 20 shillings a year in 1392. In 1467-8 it was at farm for 66s 8d.

In 1590 Sir George Fermor sued a man who had erected a bakehouse in Towcester, declaring that from time beyond memory he (Fermor) and all his ancestors had had a bakehouse and a baker there to bake white bread and horse bread for all the inhabitants and strangers passengers, and that none had a bakehouse there but by their appointment. The defendant pleaded that when he erected his bakehouse there were three bakers there, that he was an apprentice to the trade, and that he set up his bakehouse for the benefit of all persons, as it was lawful for him to do. Judgment went against him. Perhaps the manorial lord was enforcing his monopoly with particular vigour at this period. The court held in March 1599 laid down penalties for butchers and brewers but made no reference to bakers. In the 1540s, however, two or three bakers from Towcester regularly broke the assize of bread, and five local bakers were named in the records of a court held in the 17th century.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 3.1.2.5 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103132.

Record last edited

Oct 15 2009 4:26PM