On priory grounds: 17th century St Benedicts Priory
St Benedicts Priory
The history of St Benedicts Priory offers many stories about the people who have lived in the house and called it home, as well as former land owners who were involved with significant historic events involving the Kings of England and some who were closely linked with events during the English Civil War.
However, we can’t move on to the 17th century before having a brief look at the original priory, located on the very site of the house, from the 12th century. The priory was founded by Baldwin Fitz Gilbert in 1139 and dedicated to Saint James. The priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 and the lands and buildings granted to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk (Anne Boleyn’s uncle) in 1540.
The lords of the manor of Deeping St. James in the 17th century, were the Wymondsold family. The earliest documentary evidence of the house is an indenture from 1659 specifically naming the former priory lands (including today’s St Benedicts Priory – then simply known as the Priory Farm). The document details the transfer of the land from William Wymondsold of Putney to his grandsons.
1659 Indenture for manor of Deeping St. James - Lincolnshire Archives
William Wymondsold was a prominent gentleman in Putney (today’s south west London) and was high sheriff during the Civil War. Most particularly, William Wymonsold was present at the Putney Debates in 1647 and General Fairfax was billeted to his house. Other members of the Wymondsold family held high positions in the court of Kings, including Sir Dawes Wymondsold, a favourite of Charles II and Robert Wymondsold was knighted by James II in 1684.
The Wymondsold family ceased to be lords of the manor of Deeping St. James by the turn of the 18th century when it had transferred into the hands of the Whichcote family. It is not clear if this was through marriage, or whether the Whichcote family actually purchased the manor.
Sir Jeremy Whichcote was created baronet by Charles II in 1660, but by the mid 1700s the lord of the manor was Sir Christopher Whichcote, who lived at Aswarby Hall in Sleaford. A surviving rent receipt from 1776 for Priory Farm shows the payment of fifteen pounds, five shillings and six pence for the annual rent on the farm. The receipt also clearly identifies the occupant at this time was Mr. John Pawlett.
1776 rent receipt for Priory Farm - Lincolnshire Archives
It is uncertain how long before this time the Pawlett family had lived at Priory Farm, but they are recorded at the farm throughout the late 18th century into the 19th century. During the 1770s the rent books show that John Pawlett occupied the farmhouse, as well as farmed over 400 acres of land.
John Pawlett was actively involved in the local community, acting as vestryman (early council member) and was overseer of the poor (responsible for distribution of money to the poor). John’s son, also called John, followed after his father and became chief constable of Deeping St. James during the 1840s.
The Pawlett family continued at the Priory Farm until the 1885, when Edmund Pawlett passed away and the house transferred to Richard Ward. It is also believed that the freehold of the house was purchased by the Ward family at this time.
St Benedicts Priory staircase
By the turn of the 20th century Priory Farm had passed to Richard Ward’s son, Albert, but by 1919 had once again passed on, this time to Albert’s son, John.
The mid 20th century saw a lot of change at the Priory Farm and by the 1980s the house was in much need of restoration and care. Fortunately, the Rickard family bought the house in 1987 and spent many years restoring the house. It was at this time that the house also acquired the new name, St Benedicts Priory.
St Benedicts Priory is for sale with Chesterton Humberts – for more information visit our website
For the complete history of the house – The history of St Benedicts Priory – Deeping St James
