The House at the Church Gates

[Bayleaf]

This article first appeared in the Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society, Vol 1 p70. and is reproduced here by kind permission of the Society.

THE HOUSE AT THE CHURCH GATES.

By R. E. LEADER.

IN the last months of the reign of King Henry VIII (1546), Robert Swift, or Swyfte, Esquire, of Broom Hall, and his brother, William Swift, of Rotherham,, sold to one Richard Fenton, of Sheffield, a house and land forming the eastern boundary of the Parish Churchyard; together with some crofts of meadow land called Chanon-ings,[1] on the road to Owlerton and near Morton Wheel.

The messuage so transferred stood across the south end of what is now East Parade, and on the site of the building standing at the corner of that footpath and High Street. Behind this there were gardens and crofts running back to the Hartshead.

Of the Swifts we have full accounts in Hunter's "Hallamshire," and Guest's "Historic Rotherham." Already men of consequence, they became of still greater importance during and after the Reformation. The Robert and William of 1546 were the sons of Robert Swifte, of Rotherham (who died in 1561, aged 83, and to whom there is a monumental brass with a quaint inscription in the north chancel aisle of Rotherham Church). Robert, the younger, became possessor of Broom Hall through his wife, heiress of the Wickersleys. By the marriage of one of his daughters it passed to the Jessops, and so, in course of time, to the Rev. James Wilkinson, Vicar of Sheffield, 1754-1805.

These Swifts enormously increased their already large possessions on the dissolution of the monasteries and chantries, including the spoliation of Archbishop Rotherham's college. They got, too, extensive grants of abbey land and tithes, with church patronage.

The latter included the advowson of the Parish Church; hence their right of presentation to the Vicarage of Sheffield, exercised by them and their descendents, in part at least, ever since.

From Robert Swift's extensive dealings in alienated Church lands, and from the fact that the Church Gates property is described as situated in the Prior's Row, butting upon High Street, it has been suggested, with some probability, that the site with which this article deals had been a part of the possessions of the Priory of Worksop.

There is a piquant irony in the fact that Robert Swift, so amply enriched by the dispersal of the old religious foundations, was, with his uncle, William Taylor, the "orator" of the "most lamentable" petition to Queen Mary, to restore to the inhabitants of Sheffield the burgages appropriated by Edward VI to the Crown.

His name heads the list of the Twelve Capital Burgesses, appointed under the Charter of 1554, as the outcome of that petition. Those who maintain that sooner or later misfortune ever waited upon the appropriation of the Church's possessions, may cite as a case in point the complete dissipation of the Swifts' accumulations by a dissolute rake of Charles the Second's Court. For, the family having been raised to the peerage, Lord Carlingford's heiress married a restoration profligate who quickly squandered her inheritance.

A branch of the family found its way to Ireland, and was chiefly distinguished by Dean Swift being among its scions.

Richard Fenton was one of those opulent mercers who, often related to the gentry, were able to restore their sons or grandsons to that rank. He was very closely associated with the Swifts, buying largely from them, and from others, much property in and around Sheffield.

His will was proved in 1550, and his only son, Richard, not long after coming into his inheritance, set about severing his connexion with Sheffield, where he was an original Capital Burgess, by systematically selling his holdings hereabouts and exchanging them for extensive purchases in the neighbourhood of Doncaster. Thus in 1568 he is described as a Doncaster merchant, and in 1571 as of Doncaster, gentleman.

Somewhere about 1580 his estates had come into the possession of Richard Fenton the third. He bought half-a-dozen villages near Frickley, including Burgh Wallis, where he lived and suffered for his adherence to the old religion, along with the Anne family, to whom his possessions descended through his daughter. Hunter (South Yorkshire, II, 485) names him as one of over fifty Roman Catholics who were imprisoned in York Castle in 1600.

There is little doubt that the Fentons of Gleadless, Little Sheffield, and elsewhere, some of whose descendents were prominent in Sheffield affairs down to the early nineteenth century, came from the same stock.

The original deeds relating to the Church Gates property are not in all cases forthcoming, but a "Schedule of Writeings," a sort of abstract of title, evidently made about the year 1710, and a much later List of Papers, enable us to fill up the gaps.

These are prefaced in the following summary by the words "Schedule" and "List of Papers" respectively;

(1) 1546. - 38 Henry VIII. (Schedule).

Copy of a deed from Robert Swift and William Swift, his brother, to Richard Fenton about the House and Channell-Ings.

(2) - 1565. 14th day of March, 8th Elizabeth.

Richard Fentone of Doncaster, merchant, for the some of fourskore and two poundes and ten shillings, grants &c. to John Bunttinge, of Rotherham, merchant, all those hys two messnages or tenements, with all the buyldinges thereupon bylded, two garthynges and two croftes to the said messuages or tenements adioynynge ;

And one close called Chanon-ynges, lying of both sydes the broke, contaynynge by estymacion four acres of medow; with their appurtenances &c: lyinge and beyinge in Sheffeld and in the feldes of the same ... whereof the sayd two messuages &c and croftes lieth togeyther in Sheffeld afforesayd in a certain place there called the Priories Row, between the tenements of (? John) Skynner of London of the Easte parte; and the the churcheyard of the parish Churche of Sheffeld of the West parte ;

and buttes of the Ilie Streete of the Southe parte, and the land of Richard Hale of the Northe parte.

And the sayd close called Chanon-ynges lyeth of both sydes the broke between the land of George, the Erle of Shrewsburye, of the Southe parte and the Weste parte ; and the common layne leadinge from Sheffeld to Ollertone and Morton Whele of the North Easte parte. Which sayde messuages, garthyinges &c. are now or late were in the several tenures or occupacions of William Sylvester, and Thomas Goodall. And all the evydences, dedes, charters, munyments, scripts and all other wrytynges onlye concerning the premises or any part or parcel thereof. To have and to hold &c.

The fine levied to complete this transaction (Yorks. Record Series, V0l. II, Fines I; p. 351), dated Easter term, 10 Elizabeth, 1568, is: John Buntyng, plaintiff; Richard Fenton and Johannahis wife, deforciants ; two messuages and lands in Sheffeld. A warrant against the heirs of Robert Swyfte Esq. and Thomas Thornell.

It will be seen that the messuages are described as in a certain place called Priories Row, with their southern frontage towards High Street. Eastward they abutted on "land -which, after (? John) Skynner's [2] time was in the hands of Richard Skynner, of the Hill, Hathersage, gentleman, until 1593. [3]

With regard to the position of Chanon Ings, the mention of Morton Wheel gives the most definite clue. This is marked on old maps as standing near the position of the Rutland Works of to-day, south of one of the mill races which enclose Bacon Island, and return their waters to the Don a little above Neepsend bridge. Clearly, the meadows lay to the south-west of this and of the Penistone Road.

The brook which ran through them would no doubt be that stream which, coming down from Crookes Moor on its way to the Don, supplied the tanneries of Upperthorpe with needful water.

In 1609 the jury of the Sembly Quest made an order that all persons with grounds adjoining Sheremore (Shales Moor); Sheremore lane, Mortoun Wheele lane, Upperthorpe layne,

"do skower and cleanse the ditches and water courses, and do cut the bankes of the ditches that so the water may have passage and be kept in the right courses."

And in 1690 the Chanon-ings are spoken of as "at or near Shearmoor valley." Probably they were between the Penistone Road side of the Infirmary grounds and the Owlerton Road.

(3) 1625 ult. Sept. (Schedule). Chancellor's order for ye seat in ye Parish Church.

John Bunting's grand-daughter (Margery, daughter of Robert Bunting), married William Vessey, of Brampton, gent. The John Vesey of the following conveyance, her son, a member of Gray's Inn, died in 1639. (See "Hunter's F.M,G" p. 1207, where Vesey's death is misprinted 1629 for 1639; "SouthYorkshire," II, 179; and "Hallamshire," 496). This Brampton is Brampton-in-le-Morthen, parish of Treeton:-

(4) 1634. Feb. 26 (Schedule). John Vesey, of Brampton, conveys the property to James Creswick by deed.

Subject to the reservations necessary in consequence of the contemporary existence of more than one James Creswick, the above would seem to have been the James Creswick, junior, who was Town Collector in 1626-7 : Master Cutler (following a namesake in 1632) in 1638; and, as we learn from Harrison's "'Survey," one of the tenants of the Morton Wheel already mentioned.

(5) "Vicar's certificate concerning ye building in ye Churchyard." 1636, the Sixth of May.

Whereas vpon some question made by vs the Vicar and Churchwardens of the parish of Sheffeld, whether James Creswick. the owner of an house adioining to the east side of the Churchyearde there, had made any incroachment upon the same Churchyearde, in the placeing and buildinge of a wall at his house-side, yt appeared to vs (after a viewe taken thereof) as well as by the testimony of divers ancient people affirming that they well remember 2 Brick chimeneys belonging to the said house standing further into the Churchyeard than the said wall doth : as by the relacion of the woorkmen who testifie and affirme that in the digging of the 'ground, for setting forth the said wall they found Bricks orderly laid (beeing the bottom of the said chimneyes) lying further in the Churchyeard than the wall is now sett-therefore wee weare content, as far as in vs lyeth, that the woorkmen (who were once taken upp frotn their worke) should procede therein. And in testimony thereof have hereunto sett our hands.

JOHN BRIGHT, Vic.

The burial of James Creswick is recorded in the parish registers on the 15th Oct., 1652, his will being proved in June, 1653 with administration to his relict, Mary. He left no male issue, the Rev. James Creswick, D.D., ejected in 1662 from the living of Freshwater, Isle of Wight, being his nephew, not his son, as Hunter, by one of his very rare slips, following Calamy, stated ("Hallamshire," p. 270)

The Church Gates property he left, in equal shares, to his four daughters.

These were:

1, Ellinor, or Helen;

2, Sarah;

3, Lydia;

4, Dorothy.

The following deeds show the dealings with the four portions down to the time when the various fractions into which they had become divided were gradually acquired by Mr. Joseph Banks, of Shirecliffe Hall, who practised as an attorney in the adjoining house.

I. ELLINOR CRESWICK (Mrs. Wordsworth).

She married Thomas Wordsworth (whom I am unable to identify among the many possessors of that name), and from them one-eighth went to their elder daughter, who married Abiell Rollinson; the other eighth to their younger daughter, wife of Thomas Jennings, “hardware-man," who may have been the Master Cutler of that name in 1665 or 1678.

Abiell Rollinson, connected with the family whose best known member was Robert Rollinson, the prosperous Market-place mercer, one of the town's benefactors ("Hallamshire," p. 255), was himself a man of some importance. For two years (1689-91) he was Town Collector. He was the issuer (1667) of a "halfpeny" token bearing his name and the ironmongers' arms.

The deed below of 1690 describes him as an "ironmonger."

In the Burgery accounts for 1688, p, 240, there is this entry:

"Expenses att all the meetings this year about the town's business att the coffee house, Abiell Rollinsons, &c."

In the deed dated 1698 [RichardB - this said 1098] he is an "innhoulder," mortgaging his property and giving as additional security his household goods to Joseph Ashmore, also an "innhoulder."

Since there are Burgery references to Ashmore as a tavern-keeper from 1690-1711; and as mention of Morton's Inn begins in 1713, I am very much tempted to suggest that Ashmore was Morton's predecessor at that Crown Inn which has recently been shown to have stood where York Street now runs. (Sheffield Telegraph, Oct. 31st, 1913).

In the end, the eighth share to which Abiell Rollinson was entitled was added to the portion of the representatives of two of his mother's sisters when his own only daughter died without issue.

The intermediate stages are far from clear, Rollinson at times being found dealing not with an eighth, but with a fourth share. (See Nos. 6, 7, 2 1). [4] The point is not one whose elucidation is of much importance.

(6) 1695. May 10. 4 William III.

Abiell Rollinson, of Sheffield, innholder, grants to Joseph Ashmore, of Sheffield, innholder, for £16 for 7 years, one fourth part of messuages in Sheffield now in occupation of Mr. Joshua Bayes, and one fourth of all the houses, closes, &c., at a peppercorn rent:

For further securing the payment of £16 and interest, Rollinson grants to Ashmore all and singular the goods and chattels in his dwelling house, that is to say:

In primis, in the house and parlour, two tables, one dozen of chairs and one range.

Item, In the chamber over the house, one Bedd, chaffebedd and feather bedd, curtains and vallance; two Ruggs, one paire of Blanketts, and one coverlett, with Pillowes, Bolsters and other Bedding.

Item, one table and six chairs.

Item., in the Chamber over the Parlour, two Bedds, two feather bedds, with curtains and vallance, two paire of Blanketts, two Ruggs, two Coverletts, with Bolsters, Pillows, and all other Bedding.

Item, one large Table and Formes.

Item, in the Grene Chamber: one Bedd and hangings, one feather-bedd, Blanketts, Rugg, coverlet, pillows, Bolsters and other bedding, with one table and six chairs.

Item: six stone of Pewter.

Item, one Lead and a ffurnace Pott; with the rest of the Potts and Panns.

Seal'd and delivered upon sixpenny stampt parchment, and six pounds was hereby delivered in the name and possession of all and singular the goods and chattels within bargained and sold, in the presence of T. Wright.

Endorsement on this deed.

Aprill ye 29, 1699. I received in part of this moneys £4 15 0

Jany. ye 18, 1699. Received of Mr. Bays £5 0 0

Aug. ye 9, 1700. Received of Mr. Bays £2 10 0

Feb. ye 6, 1 700. Received of Mr. Bays ,£2 10 0

(7), Another Endorsement.

1701. May 4. I agree yt I have sold to Mr. Banks, my fourth parte of ye house and land herein mentioned for ye terme of ninety nine years if I soe long live in consideration of Twenty five pounds whereof he hath paid me Seven pounds five shillings and is to pay to Joseph Ashmore for my use fifty five shillings; and to Mr. Revell fifteen pounds; and I promise to execute a conveyance thereof tomorrow.

Witness my hand this 4th of May, 1701. Abiell Rollinson. Test. John Bosvile; Ro. Banks.

(8) Another Endorsement.

1701. May 15. Recd. then of Mr. Joseph Banks fifteen poundes ordered by Abiell Rollinson to be paid me being a debt ye said Abiell owed me. I say recd. (No signature by Revel).

(9) Another Endorsement.

1701. May 15. Recd. then of Mr. Joseph Banks, ye summe of fifty five shillings being what remains due to me on this security, for which I agree at any time to assign the same over to ye said Joseph Banks by--. Witness my hand (no signature by Ashmore.)

(10) 1698. June 23. (Schedule).

A deed from John Wadsworth, tobacconist, to Mr. Banks of the 8th part of the Church gates house and lands, then in possession of Mr. Bayes.

II. SARAH CRESWICK (Mrs. Thomas Birkbeck).

The second daughter, Sarah, in 1639 married the Rev. Thomas Birkbeck, at that time one of the Assistant Ministers at the Parish Church. He was made Vicar of Sheffield in 1644, and in 1648 accepted the living of Ackworth, near Pontefract. From this he was ejected under the Act of Uniformity, 1662, or perhaps earlier at the Restoration. His daughter married the Rev. Richard Kitson, of Hull.

My interpretation of the following transactions is that the fear of further persecuting legislation to deprive the nonconformist clergy not only of their religious but also of their civil rights, led to precautions being taken by the Rev. Thomas Birkbeck against a possible confiscation of his property.

Mr. William Rokeby, or Roksbie, a friendly sympathizer, accordingly came to his aid under the guise of a sort of mortgage on Mrs. Birkbeck's fourth share in her father's property. A few years later Mr. William Spencer, of Attercliffe, another warm supporter of the ejected clergy, took Rokeby' s place until, on Mr. Birkbeck's death in 1674, his son-in-law, the Rev. Richard Kitson, discharged the obligation, and obtained the re-conveyance of the moiety of the property.

(11) 1662. Oct. 20. 14th Charles II.

Thomas Birkbeck of Ackworth, clerk, and Sarah, his wife (one of the daughters and co-heirs of James Creswick late of Sheffeld deceased), For £50 have demised to William Rockbie of acliworth Park Hall, Esquire, all Sarah's interest in messuages in Sheffeld in a certain place called ye Prior's Rowe, between the lands now in the occupation of Stephen Foxe, eastwards; and ye Churchyard of ye Parish Church of Sheffield westwards; and butting on a certain lane commonly called ye Hartshead, or Campo Lane, northwards; and on ye High Street leading from ye Markett place of Sheffield towards ye Parish Church southwards; now in the occupation of Samuel Leake.

And also that close or parcel of land, &c.. now divided into two parts, commonly known by the name of Chanon Ings, containing 5 1/2 acres, lying in ye feildes and territories of Sheffield near unto a certaine wheele called Morton Wheele, and adjoyneing to ye highway that leadeth between Sheffield and Ollerton, northwards and north-eastwards.

And all the said James Creswick's possessions descending upon Sarah in co-partnery with her sisters, and with Mary, now the wife of Thomas Jennings, and Sarah now wife of Abiell Rollinson daughters and grand-daughter of James Creswick.

Condition : If Thomas and Sarah Birkbeck pay £50 within five years, on thirty days warning, to William Rockbie, the present writeing, grant &c. is void and of none effect. Witnesses Samuel Birkbeck, Sarah ? Fann. Signature of William Rockbie.

A bond, Birlrbecks to William Rockbie to fulfil the- above: - Same witnesses.

(12) 1673. April 11. (From List of Papers).

Bond. William Rokeby of Ackworth, armiger, to William Spencer. Witnesses Thomas Birkbeck : Hen. Fawcett.

(13). Jan. 6.

William Spencer to Richard Kitson bond to perform obligation contained in No. 14 .following (List of papers).

(14) 1674. Jan. 19. 26 Charles II

William Spencer of Attercliffe, gentleman for £50 grants &c. to Richard Kitson, of the Charterhouse in the County and towne of Kingstone-upon-Hull, clerke, the fourth parte of all that messuage &c: in Shefeild adjoining the Churchyard there, now in the tenure of Joshua Bayes.

As allsoe of Chanon-ings [described as before] now or late in the tenure of Joshua White and Thomas Lemmon all of which premises were lately purchased by the said William Spencer of William Rokeby of Ackworth Parke, Esquire.

Sealed and delivered in presence of John Webster, Will. Woodhouse, John Twigg, Matt. Bloome.

(15) 1704. Oct ?0. 3 Anne:

Richard Kitson, of the Charterhouse without the North Gate of the Towne of Kingston-upon-Hull, clerk, and Sarah, his wife, grant to Christopher Gunby, of the psh. of Sutton -in- Holderness, gentleman, in trust for their daughters Elizabeth and Lydia: All that moiety or halfe-parte (the whole in two partes to be divided) of one messuage &c. in Sheffield in a certain place called Priors Row, between the lands of Mr. Joseph Banks and in the occupation of the said Joseph Banks towards the East [Churchyard W., Hartshead N:, High Street S., as in No. 11] late tenanted by Jos. Baise deceased, and now occupied by severall tenants. And half parte of one close divided into two partes called Chanon-ings [as before] late tenanted by the said Bayes deceased; and the sixteenth part of the same close: and the Metcalfeclose, 8 acres, in the lordshipp of Scowstotts, alias Sculcoates, Yorks.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of W. Tennyson.

1705. A fine levied thereupon, Michaelmas term after.

(16) 1707. Dec 26. (Schedule).

Richard Kitson, clerk and Sarah, his wife, and Elizabeth and Lydia Kitson their daughters, convey to Mr Banks ye said moyety and 16th part, and all other their shares therein.

(17)

" A release of House and land at Church Gates."

1711 Sep. 3. 10 Anne

Joshua Kitson of the Towne of Kingston-upon-Hull, druggist, son and heir of Richard Kitson clerk, deceased, and Sarah his wife, remise &c. unto Joseph Banks gent. all estate and interest in all the parts and parcells of that messuage &c in Sheffield, and the seats in the Church there, which my said father and my sisters lately sold to Joseph Banks; and Banks shall hold without interruption from me or my heirs. Witnesses Edw. Rohinson, John ? Stacye, Ro. Banks.

To the original Birkbeck share of one-fourth there had been added Mrs. Orbell's [stackhouse] fourth, and a sixteenth of Dorothy Leake's portion, making nine-sixteenths of the whole.

III. LYD1A CRESWICK (Mrs. Stackhouse, afterwards Mrs. Orbell).

Lydia, the third daughter, married, firstly John Stachhouse, of London, secondly James Orbell.

Stackhouse was one of the group of Minories' Merchants who, like Thomas Hollis and John Ramscar, acted as middle-men for the distribution of Sheffield cutlery to foreign markets.

Restricted by the city regulations to Leadenhall, they were frequently subject, at the instance of the jealous London Cutlers' Company, to raids in search of "faulty and deceiptful " -that is, non-London-made wares. John Stackhouse, his widow, and James Orbell, who in turn carried on the business, all suffered from periodic confiscation of their goods. (Hist. Cutlers' Company, Vol. I, p. 159).

(18) 1662. Feb. 4. Decimo-quinto Charles II.

Wee Roger Stackhouse, citizen and merchant of London, and John Graves of Goodman's Fields, psh. of Whitechapel, vintener, of London, executors of John Stackhouse, late of Trinity Minories without Aldgate, Merchant Taylor of London, deceased, have remised &c. unto Lydia Stackhouse, of the Trinity Minories, widdow, relict of the said John Stackhouse, all ye household goods whatsoever and implements of household stuffe, plate, rings, jewells, books, linnens, linnen Cloathes and Apparell of the said John Stackhouse att ye time of his death, or any ways appertaininge to him, Witnesses Samuel Hall, Sarah Birkbeck.

IV. DOROTHY CRESWICK (Mrs. Leake).

The fourth daughter, Dorothy, married Samuel Leake, occupation unknown, who was tenant of part of the premises m 1662. They had one daughter, Lydia, the wife, firstly, of Fido, or Fidoe; secondly, of William Clarke.

(19) 1691. Nov. 21. (Schedule).

Lidia Fidoe, widow makes a deed of her fourth part to Mr. Thomas Wyth (? Wicke), and others to keep it in her own dispose ; notwithstanding her intended marriage with Mr. William Clarke.

(20) 1707. Feb. 20 (Schedule).

A deed tripartite from Mr. William Clarke and Lydia his wife, formerly widdow Fidoe of the 1st part, Thomas Wyth or Wicke of the 2nd part and Joseph Banks of the 3rd part, of a 4th and 16th parts of a messuage and farme in Sheffield, and all other their shares therein.

Trinity Term following: A fine thereupon from Clarkes to Banks.-

LEASE TO JOSHUA BAYES.

It will be seen by the following that, in 1690, Mrs. Orbell held a double portion. This she had acquired by purchase of the fourth part of her sister, Dorothy Leake. She afterwards by will bequeathed this to Mrs. Leake's daughter, Mrs. Clarke, and gave her own fourth to Mrs. Kitson. As has been said before, it is not clear how it came to pass that Abiell Rollinson was at this period (1690) dealing with one-fourth.

(21) 1690. Feb. 36.

2nd William and Mary.

Lidia Orbell of ye citty of London, widdow; Richard Kitson of Hull, Clerke ; Abiell Rollinson, of Sheffield ironmonger, demise to Joshua Bayes, of Sheffield, cutler, messuage in ye Pryor Row and Channell Ings closes at or near Shearmoor Vallee (all now in the occupation of Bayes) from ye Feast of ye Nativity of our Blessed Saviour last past, for ye term of one and twenty years at ye yearly rent of £20, payable att ye Feast dayes of St. John ye Baptist and ye Nativity of our Blessed Saviour by even portions, that is to say to Lidia Orbell £10, to Richard Kitson £5, to Abiell Robinson £5.

Bayes covenants to maintain the premises in good repair (great timbers alone excepted);-also, ye hedges, ditches and fences of the closes; to pay all layes, assessments, taxes, charges and impositions; - And if he plow up the said two closes or any parte thereof before two of the last years, then he will pay 30s. for any acre soe plowed up.

Witnesses to Lidia Obell's signature: Elizabeth Nalor, John Bayes, J. Banks.

Witness to Rollinson's signature J.- Banks, Wm. Renny.

Witnesses to Richard Kitson's signature Ro. Banks, Joseph Langthorne.

The sum total of the whole transaction was that Mr. Banks acquired two-sixteenths from John Wadsworth; nine-sixteenths from Joshua Kitson, and five-sixteenths from Mrs. Clarke

This marked the beginning of a new order of things. In 1700 the Town Hall was built, partly within the south-east corner of the Churchyard, separated from the Creswick house by only the width of the entrance gates.

Banks set about substituting for an older structure next to the Creswick premises a new "great house," and he was largely instrumental in founding the Boys' Charity School, for whose accommodation he sold a plot at the extreme north-western corner of his land, abutting on the Hartshead. The Charity School was completed in 1710. By that time Mr. Banks, leaving Sheffield for Scofton Hall, near Worksop, was beginning to get rid of his properties here.

He sold his "great house" [1] to Mr. John Battie who, succeeding to the lucrative practice that had been carried on there, became the leading local attorney; and he disposed of the Creswick house to Thomas Heaton, ironmonger. [see A Quite Difficult Question but the Answer is out there thread - RichardB]

Following these events East Parade came into being. An account of the deeds relating to these matters must be deferred for future publication.

[1] The elaborate doorway, leading into the yard of this house, is now at the Weston Park Museum.

[RichardB]

Now THAT is Sheffield history, Brilliant, Thank you Bayleaf and Thanks to HAS.

I may just have to re-read that article a few times, then a few times more to attempt to get all that detail clear in what is left of my tiny mind.

[RichardB]

This article first appeared in the Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society, Vol 1 p70. and is reproduced here by kind permission of the Society. [What year ?]

THE HOUSE AT THE CHURCH GATES.

By R. E. LEADER.

IN the last months of the reign of King Henry VIII (1546) {reigned from :to], Robert Swift, or Swyfte, Esquire, of Broom Hall, and his brother, William Swift, of Rotherham,, sold to one Richard Fenton, of Sheffield, a house and land forming the eastern boundary of the Parish Churchyard; together with some crofts of meadow land called Chanon-ings,[1] on the road to Owlerton and near Morton Wheel. [Early map ? Anyone ever heard of Chanon-ings please ?]

The messuage [Definition, I know, but many may not] so transferred stood across the south end of what is now East Parade [sketch locating N, S, E and W in that location], and on the site of the building standing at the corner of that footpath and High Street. Behind this there were gardens and crofts running back to the Hartshead.

Of the Swifts we have full accounts in Hunter's "Hallamshire," [We'll get there in Merry Christmas (Gatty's; or Hunters is available online)] and Guest's "Historic Rotherham." [i've never heard of this; anyone got a copy or is it available online please ?]

Already men of consequence, they became of still greater importance during and after the Reformation [Details/dates please]. The Robert and William of 1546 were the sons of Robert Swifte, of Rotherham (who died in 1561, aged 83, and to whom there is a monumental brass with a quaint inscription [Picture/details please]in the north chancel aisle of Rotherham Church).

Robert, the younger, became possessor of Broom Hall [links to pictures/other threads please] through his wife, heiress of the Wickersleys. By the marriage of one of his daughters it passed to the Jessops, and so, in course of time, to the Rev. James Wilkinson, Vicar of Sheffield, 1754-1805. [Old Niddlety Nod link please]

These Swifts enormously increased their already large possessions on the dissolution of the monasteries and chantries, including the spoliation of Archbishop Rotherham's college. They got, too, extensive grants of abbey land and tithes, with church patronage.

The latter included the advowson of the Parish Church; hence their right of presentation to the Vicarage of Sheffield, exercised by them and their descendents, in part at least, ever since.

From Robert Swift's extensive dealings in alienated Church lands, and from the fact that the Church Gates property is described as situated in the Prior's Row, butting upon High Street, it has been suggested, with some probability, that the site with which this article deals had been a part of the possessions of the Priory of Worksop. [Prior's Row/Worksop Priory links please].

There is a piquant irony in the fact that Robert Swift, so amply enriched by the dispersal of the old religious foundations, was, with his uncle, William Taylor, the "orator" of the "most lamentable" petition to Queen Mary, [Links/details please]to restore to the inhabitants of Sheffield the burgages appropriated by Edward VI to the Crown.

His name heads the list of the Twelve Capital Burgesses [The full list of Burgesses please], appointed under the Charter of 1554, [Details of the 1554 Charter anyone ?] as the outcome of that petition. Those who maintain that sooner or later misfortune ever waited upon the appropriation of the Church's possessions, may cite as a case in point the complete dissipation of the Swifts' accumulations by a dissolute rake of Charles the Second's Court [Details anyone please ?]. For, the family having been raised to the peerage, Lord Carlingford's heiress married a restoration profligate who quickly squandered her inheritance.

A branch of the family found its way to Ireland, and was chiefly distinguished by Dean Swift [who he ?] being among its scions.

Richard Fenton [Dates/details/address please] was one of those opulent mercers who, often related to the gentry, were able to restore their sons or grandsons to that rank. He was very closely associated with the Swifts, buying largely from them, and from others, much property in and around Sheffield.

His will was proved in 1550, and his only son, Richard, not long after coming into his inheritance, set about severing his connexion with Sheffield, where he was an original Capital Burgess, by systematically selling his holdings hereabouts and exchanging them for extensive purchases in the neighbourhood of Doncaster. Thus in 1568 he is described as a Doncaster merchant, and in 1571 as of Doncaster, gentleman.

Somewhere about 1580 his estates had come into the possession of Richard Fenton the third. He bought half-a-dozen villages near Frickley, including Burgh Wallis, where he lived and suffered for his adherence to the old religion, along with the Anne family, to whom his possessions descended through his daughter. Hunter (South Yorkshire, II, 485) names him as one of over fifty Roman Catholics who were imprisoned in York Castle in 1600.

There is little doubt that the Fentons of Gleadless, Little Sheffield, and elsewhere, some of whose descendents were prominent in Sheffield affairs down to the early nineteenth century, came from the same stock.

The original deeds relating to the Church Gates property are not in all cases forthcoming, but a "Schedule of Writeings," a sort of abstract of title, evidently made about the year 1710, and a much later List of Papers, enable us to fill up the gaps.

These are prefaced in the following summary by the words "Schedule" and "List of Papers" respectively;

(1) 1546. - 38 Henry VIII. (Schedule).

Copy of a deed from Robert Swift and William Swift, his brother, to Richard Fenton about the House and Channell-Ings.

(2) - 1565. 14th day of March, 8th Elizabeth.

Richard Fentone of Doncaster, merchant, for the some of fourskore and two poundes and ten shillings, grants &c. to John Bunttinge, of Rotherham, merchant, all those hys two messnages or tenements, with all the buyldinges thereupon bylded, two garthynges and two croftes to the said messuages or tenements adioynynge ;

And one close called Chanon-ynges, lying of both sydes the broke, contaynynge by estymacion four acres of medow; with their appurtenances &c: lyinge and beyinge in Sheffeld and in the feldes of the same ... whereof the sayd two messuages &c and croftes lieth togeyther in Sheffeld afforesayd in a certain place there called the Priories Row, between the tenements of (? John) Skynner of London of the Easte parte; and the the churcheyard of the parish Churche of Sheffeld of the West parte ;

and buttes of the Ilie Streete [High Street] of the Southe parte, and the land of Richard Hale of the Northe parte [Richard Hale details ?].

And the sayd close called Chanon-ynges lyeth of both sydes the broke between the land of George, the Erle of Shrewsburye, of the Southe parte and the Weste parte ; and the common layne leadinge from Sheffeld to Ollertone [Owlerton] and Morton Whele of the North Easte parte. Which sayde messuages, garthyinges &c. are now or late were in the several tenures or occupacions of William Sylvester, and Thomas Goodall. And all the evydences, dedes, charters, munyments, scripts and all other wrytynges onlye concerning the premises or any part or parcel thereof. To have and to hold &c.

The fine levied to complete this transaction (Yorks. Record Series, V0l. II, Fines I; p. 351), dated Easter term, 10 Elizabeth, 1568, is: John Buntyng, plaintiff; Richard Fenton and Johannahis wife, deforciants ; two messuages and lands in Sheffeld. A warrant against the heirs of Robert Swyfte Esq. and Thomas Thornell.

It will be seen that the messuages are described as in a certain place called Priories Row, with their southern frontage towards High Street. Eastward they abutted on "land -which, after (? John) Skynner's [2] time was in the hands of Richard Skynner, of the Hill, Hathersage, gentleman, until 1593. [3]

With regard to the position of Chanon Ings, the mention of Morton Wheel gives the most definite clue. This is marked on old maps as standing near the position of the Rutland Works of to-day [Modern map link or edited highlight please], south of one of the mill races which enclose Bacon Island [Map please], and return their waters to the Don a little above Neepsend bridge. Clearly, the meadows lay to the south-west of this and of the Penistone Road.

The brook which ran through them would no doubt be that stream which, coming down from Crookes Moor on its way to the Don, supplied the tanneries of Upperthorpe with needful water.

In 1609 the jury of the Sembly Quest made an order that all persons with grounds adjoining Sheremore (Shales Moor); Sheremore lane, Mortoun Wheele lane, Upperthorpe layne,

"do skower and cleanse the ditches and water courses, and do cut the bankes of the ditches that so the water may have passage and be kept in the right courses."

And in 1690 the Chanon-ings are spoken of as "at or near Shearmoor valley." Probably they were between the Penistone Road side of the Infirmary grounds and the Owlerton Road.

(3) 1625 ult. Sept. (Schedule). Chancellor's order for ye seat in ye Parish Church.

John Bunting's grand-daughter (Margery, daughter of Robert Bunting), married William Vessey, of Brampton, gent. The John Vesey of the following conveyance, her son, a member of Gray's Inn, died in 1639. (See "Hunter's F.M,G" p. 1207, where Vesey's death is misprinted 1629 for 1639; "SouthYorkshire," II, 179; and "Hallamshire," 496). This Brampton is Brampton-in-le-Morthen, parish of Treeton:-

(4) 1634. Feb. 26 (Schedule). John Vesey, of Brampton, conveys the property to James Creswick by deed.

Subject to the reservations necessary in consequence of the contemporary existence of more than one James Creswick, the above would seem to have been the James Creswick, junior, who was Town Collector in 1626-7 : Master Cutler (following a namesake in 1632) in 1638; and, as we learn from Harrison's "'Survey," one of the tenants of the Morton Wheel already mentioned.

(5) "Vicar's certificate concerning ye building in ye Churchyard." 1636, the Sixth of May.

Whereas vpon some question made by vs the Vicar and Churchwardens of the parish of Sheffeld, whether James Creswick. the owner of an house adioining to the east side of the Churchyearde there, had made any incroachment upon the same Churchyearde, in the placeing and buildinge of a wall at his house-side, yt appeared to vs (after a viewe taken thereof) as well as by the testimony of divers ancient people affirming that they well remember 2 Brick chimeneys belonging to the said house standing further into the Churchyeard than the said wall doth : as by the relacion of the woorkmen who testifie and affirme that in the digging of the 'ground, for setting forth the said wall they found Bricks orderly laid (beeing the bottom of the said chimneyes) lying further in the Churchyeard than the wall is now sett-therefore wee weare content, as far as in vs lyeth, that the woorkmen (who were once taken upp frotn their worke) should procede therein. And in testimony thereof have hereunto sett our hands.

JOHN BRIGHT, Vic.

The burial of James Creswick is recorded in the parish registers on the 15th Oct., 1652, his will being proved in June, 1653 with administration to his relict, Mary. He left no male issue, the Rev. James Creswick, D.D., ejected in 1662 from the living of Freshwater, Isle of Wight, being his nephew, not his son, as Hunter, by one of his very rare slips, following Calamy, stated ("Hallamshire," p. 270)

The Church Gates property he left, in equal shares, to his four daughters.

These were:

1, Ellinor, or Helen;

2, Sarah;

3, Lydia;

4, Dorothy.

The following deeds show the dealings with the four portions down to the time when the various fractions into which they had become divided were gradually acquired by Mr. Joseph Banks, of Shirecliffe Hall, who practised as an attorney in the adjoining house.

I. ELLINOR CRESWICK (Mrs. Wordsworth).

She married Thomas Wordsworth (whom I am unable to identify among the many possessors of that name), and from them one-eighth went to their elder daughter, who married Abiell Rollinson; the other eighth to their younger daughter, wife of Thomas Jennings, “hardware-man," who may have been the Master Cutler of that name in 1665 or 1678.

Abiell Rollinson, connected with the family whose best known member was Robert Rollinson, the prosperous Market-place mercer, one of the town's benefactors ("Hallamshire," p. 255), was himself a man of some importance. For two years (1689-91) he was Town Collector. He was the issuer (1667) of a "halfpeny" token bearing his name and the ironmongers' arms.

The deed below of 1690 describes him as an "ironmonger."

In the Burgery accounts for 1688, p, 240, there is this entry:

"Expenses att all the meetings this year about the town's business att the coffee house, Abiell Rollinsons, &c."

In the deed dated 1698 [RichardB - this said 1098] he is an "innhoulder," mortgaging his property and giving as additional security his household goods to Joseph Ashmore, also an "innhoulder."

Since there are Burgery references to Ashmore as a tavern-keeper from 1690-1711; and as mention of Morton's Inn begins in 1713, I am very much tempted to suggest that Ashmore was Morton's predecessor at that Crown Inn which has recently been shown to have stood where York Street now runs. (Sheffield Telegraph, Oct. 31st, 1913).

In the end, the eighth share to which Abiell Rollinson was entitled was added to the portion of the representatives of two of his mother's sisters when his own only daughter died without issue.

The intermediate stages are far from clear, Rollinson at times being found dealing not with an eighth, but with a fourth share. (See Nos. 6, 7, 2 1). [4] The point is not one whose elucidation is of much importance.

(6) 1695. May 10. 4 William III.

Abiell Rollinson, of Sheffield, innholder, grants to Joseph Ashmore, of Sheffield, innholder, for £16 for 7 years, one fourth part of messuages in Sheffield now in occupation of Mr. Joshua Bayes, and one fourth of all the houses, closes, &c., at a peppercorn rent:

For further securing the payment of £16 and interest, Rollinson grants to Ashmore all and singular the goods and chattels in his dwelling house, that is to say:

In primis, in the house and parlour, two tables, one dozen of chairs and one range.

Item, In the chamber over the house, one Bedd, chaffebedd and feather bedd, curtains and vallance; two Ruggs, one paire of Blanketts, and one coverlett, with Pillowes, Bolsters and other Bedding.

Item, one table and six chairs.

Item., in the Chamber over the Parlour, two Bedds, two feather bedds, with curtains and vallance, two paire of Blanketts, two Ruggs, two Coverletts, with Bolsters, Pillows, and all other Bedding.

Item, one large Table and Formes.

Item, in the Grene Chamber: one Bedd and hangings, one feather-bedd, Blanketts, Rugg, coverlet, pillows, Bolsters and other bedding, with one table and six chairs.

Item: six stone of Pewter.

Item, one Lead and a ffurnace Pott; with the rest of the Potts and Panns.

Seal'd and delivered upon sixpenny stampt parchment, and six pounds was hereby delivered in the name and possession of all and singular the goods and chattels within bargained and sold, in the presence of T. Wright.

Endorsement on this deed.

Aprill ye 29, 1699. I received in part of this moneys £4 15 0

Jany. ye 18, 1699. Received of Mr. Bays £5 0 0

Aug. ye 9, 1700. Received of Mr. Bays £2 10 0

Feb. ye 6, 1 700. Received of Mr. Bays ,£2 10 0

(7), Another Endorsement.

1701. May 4. I agree yt I have sold to Mr. Banks, my fourth parte of ye house and land herein mentioned for ye terme of ninety nine years if I soe long live in consideration of Twenty five pounds whereof he hath paid me Seven pounds five shillings and is to pay to Joseph Ashmore for my use fifty five shillings; and to Mr. Revell fifteen pounds; and I promise to execute a conveyance thereof tomorrow.

Witness my hand this 4th of May, 1701. Abiell Rollinson. Test. John Bosvile; Ro. Banks.

(8) Another Endorsement.

1701. May 15. Recd. then of Mr. Joseph Banks fifteen poundes ordered by Abiell Rollinson to be paid me being a debt ye said Abiell owed me. I say recd. (No signature by Revel).

(9) Another Endorsement.

1701. May 15. Recd. then of Mr. Joseph Banks, ye summe of fifty five shillings being what remains due to me on this security, for which I agree at any time to assign the same over to ye said Joseph Banks by--. Witness my hand (no signature by Ashmore.)

(10) 1698. June 23. (Schedule).

A deed from John Wadsworth, tobacconist, to Mr. Banks of the 8th part of the Church gates house and lands, then in possession of Mr. Bayes.

II. SARAH CRESWICK (Mrs. Thomas Birkbeck).

The second daughter, Sarah, in 1639 married the Rev. Thomas Birkbeck, at that time one of the Assistant Ministers at the Parish Church. He was made Vicar of Sheffield in 1644, and in 1648 accepted the living of Ackworth, near Pontefract. From this he was ejected under the Act of Uniformity, 1662, or perhaps earlier at the Restoration. His daughter married the Rev. Richard Kitson, of Hull.

My interpretation of the following transactions is that the fear of further persecuting legislation to deprive the nonconformist clergy not only of their religious but also of their civil rights, led to precautions being taken by the Rev. Thomas Birkbeck against a possible confiscation of his property.

Mr. William Rokeby, or Roksbie, a friendly sympathizer, accordingly came to his aid under the guise of a sort of mortgage on Mrs. Birkbeck's fourth share in her father's property. A few years later Mr. William Spencer, of Attercliffe, another warm supporter of the ejected clergy, took Rokeby' s place until, on Mr. Birkbeck's death in 1674, his son-in-law, the Rev. Richard Kitson, discharged the obligation, and obtained the re-conveyance of the moiety of the property.

(11) 1662. Oct. 20. 14th Charles II.

Thomas Birkbeck of Ackworth, clerk, and Sarah, his wife (one of the daughters and co-heirs of James Creswick late of Sheffeld deceased), For £50 have demised to William Rockbie of acliworth Park Hall, Esquire, all Sarah's interest in messuages in Sheffeld in a certain place called ye Prior's Rowe, between the lands now in the occupation of Stephen Foxe, eastwards; and ye Churchyard of ye Parish Church of Sheffield westwards; and butting on a certain lane commonly called ye Hartshead, or Campo Lane, northwards; and on ye High Street leading from ye Markett place of Sheffield towards ye Parish Church southwards; now in the occupation of Samuel Leake.

And also that close or parcel of land, &c.. now divided into two parts, commonly known by the name of Chanon Ings, containing 5 1/2 acres, lying in ye feildes and territories of Sheffield near unto a certaine wheele called Morton Wheele, and adjoyneing to ye highway that leadeth between Sheffield and Ollerton, northwards and north-eastwards.

And all the said James Creswick's possessions descending upon Sarah in co-partnery with her sisters, and with Mary, now the wife of Thomas Jennings, and Sarah now wife of Abiell Rollinson daughters and grand-daughter of James Creswick.

Condition : If Thomas and Sarah Birkbeck pay £50 within five years, on thirty days warning, to William Rockbie, the present writeing, grant &c. is void and of none effect. Witnesses Samuel Birkbeck, Sarah ? Fann. Signature of William Rockbie.

A bond, Birlrbecks to William Rockbie to fulfil the- above: - Same witnesses.

(12) 1673. April 11. (From List of Papers).

Bond. William Rokeby of Ackworth, armiger, to William Spencer. Witnesses Thomas Birkbeck : Hen. Fawcett.

(13). Jan. 6.

William Spencer to Richard Kitson bond to perform obligation contained in No. 14 .following (List of papers).

(14) 1674. Jan. 19. 26 Charles II

William Spencer of Attercliffe, gentleman for £50 grants &c. to Richard Kitson, of the Charterhouse in the County and towne of Kingstone-upon-Hull, clerke, the fourth parte of all that messuage &c: in Shefeild adjoining the Churchyard there, now in the tenure of Joshua Bayes.

As allsoe of Chanon-ings [described as before] now or late in the tenure of Joshua White and Thomas Lemmon all of which premises were lately purchased by the said William Spencer of William Rokeby of Ackworth Parke, Esquire.

Sealed and delivered in presence of John Webster, Will. Woodhouse, John Twigg, Matt. Bloome.

(15) 1704. Oct ?0. 3 Anne:

Richard Kitson, of the Charterhouse without the North Gate of the Towne of Kingston-upon-Hull, clerk, and Sarah, his wife, grant to Christopher Gunby, of the psh. of Sutton -in- Holderness, gentleman, in trust for their daughters Elizabeth and Lydia: All that moiety or halfe-parte (the whole in two partes to be divided) of one messuage &c. in Sheffield in a certain place called Priors Row, between the lands of Mr. Joseph Banks and in the occupation of the said Joseph Banks towards the East [Churchyard W., Hartshead N:, High Street S., as in No. 11] late tenanted by Jos. Baise deceased, and now occupied by severall tenants. And half parte of one close divided into two partes called Chanon-ings [as before] late tenanted by the said Bayes deceased; and the sixteenth part of the same close: and the Metcalfeclose, 8 acres, in the lordshipp of Scowstotts, alias Sculcoates, Yorks.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of W. Tennyson.

1705. A fine levied thereupon, Michaelmas term after.

(16) 1707. Dec 26. (Schedule).

Richard Kitson, clerk and Sarah, his wife, and Elizabeth and Lydia Kitson their daughters, convey to Mr Banks ye said moyety and 16th part, and all other their shares therein.

(17)

" A release of House and land at Church Gates."

1711 Sep. 3. 10 Anne

Joshua Kitson of the Towne of Kingston-upon-Hull, druggist, son and heir of Richard Kitson clerk, deceased, and Sarah his wife, remise &c. unto Joseph Banks gent. all estate and interest in all the parts and parcells of that messuage &c in Sheffield, and the seats in the Church there, which my said father and my sisters lately sold to Joseph Banks; and Banks shall hold without interruption from me or my heirs. Witnesses Edw. Rohinson, John ? Stacye, Ro. Banks.

To the original Birkbeck share of one-fourth there had been added Mrs. Orbell's [stackhouse] fourth, and a sixteenth of Dorothy Leake's portion, making nine-sixteenths of the whole.

III. LYD1A CRESWICK (Mrs. Stackhouse, afterwards Mrs. Orbell).

Lydia, the third daughter, married, firstly John Stachhouse, of London, secondly James Orbell.

Stackhouse was one of the group of Minories' Merchants who, like Thomas Hollis and John Ramscar, acted as middle-men for the distribution of Sheffield cutlery to foreign markets.

Restricted by the city regulations to Leadenhall, they were frequently subject, at the instance of the jealous London Cutlers' Company, to raids in search of "faulty and deceiptful " -that is, non-London-made wares. John Stackhouse, his widow, and James Orbell, who in turn carried on the business, all suffered from periodic confiscation of their goods. (Hist. Cutlers' Company, Vol. I, p. 159).

(18) 1662. Feb. 4. Decimo-quinto Charles II.

Wee Roger Stackhouse, citizen and merchant of London, and John Graves of Goodman's Fields, psh. of Whitechapel, vintener, of London, executors of John Stackhouse, late of Trinity Minories without Aldgate, Merchant Taylor of London, deceased, have remised &c. unto Lydia Stackhouse, of the Trinity Minories, widdow, relict of the said John Stackhouse, all ye household goods whatsoever and implements of household stuffe, plate, rings, jewells, books, linnens, linnen Cloathes and Apparell of the said John Stackhouse att ye time of his death, or any ways appertaininge to him, Witnesses Samuel Hall, Sarah Birkbeck.

IV. DOROTHY CRESWICK (Mrs. Leake).

The fourth daughter, Dorothy, married Samuel Leake, occupation unknown, who was tenant of part of the premises m 1662. They had one daughter, Lydia, the wife, firstly, of Fido, or Fidoe; secondly, of William Clarke.

(19) 1691. Nov. 21. (Schedule).

Lidia Fidoe, widow makes a deed of her fourth part to Mr. Thomas Wyth (? Wicke), and others to keep it in her own dispose ; notwithstanding her intended marriage with Mr. William Clarke.

(20) 1707. Feb. 20 (Schedule).

A deed tripartite from Mr. William Clarke and Lydia his wife, formerly widdow Fidoe of the 1st part, Thomas Wyth or Wicke of the 2nd part and Joseph Banks of the 3rd part, of a 4th and 16th parts of a messuage and farme in Sheffield, and all other their shares therein.

Trinity Term following: A fine thereupon from Clarkes to Banks.-

LEASE TO JOSHUA BAYES.

It will be seen by the following that, in 1690, Mrs. Orbell held a double portion. This she had acquired by purchase of the fourth part of her sister, Dorothy Leake. She afterwards by will bequeathed this to Mrs. Leake's daughter, Mrs. Clarke, and gave her own fourth to Mrs. Kitson. As has been said before, it is not clear how it came to pass that Abiell Rollinson was at this period (1690) dealing with one-fourth.

(21) 1690. Feb. 36.

2nd William and Mary.

Lidia Orbell of ye citty of London, widdow; Richard Kitson of Hull, Clerke ; Abiell Rollinson, of Sheffield ironmonger, demise to Joshua Bayes, of Sheffield, cutler, messuage in ye Pryor Row and Channell Ings closes at or near Shearmoor Vallee (all now in the occupation of Bayes) from ye Feast of ye Nativity of our Blessed Saviour last past, for ye term of one and twenty years at ye yearly rent of £20, payable att ye Feast dayes of St. John ye Baptist and ye Nativity of our Blessed Saviour by even portions, that is to say to Lidia Orbell £10, to Richard Kitson £5, to Abiell Robinson £5.

Bayes covenants to maintain the premises in good repair (great timbers alone excepted);-also, ye hedges, ditches and fences of the closes; to pay all layes, assessments, taxes, charges and impositions; - And if he plow up the said two closes or any parte thereof before two of the last years, then he will pay 30s. for any acre soe plowed up.

Witnesses to Lidia Obell's signature: Elizabeth Nalor, John Bayes, J. Banks.

Witness to Rollinson's signature J.- Banks, Wm. Renny.

Witnesses to Richard Kitson's signature Ro. Banks, Joseph Langthorne.

The sum total of the whole transaction was that Mr. Banks acquired two-sixteenths from John Wadsworth; nine-sixteenths from Joshua Kitson, and five-sixteenths from Mrs. Clarke

This marked the beginning of a new order of things. In 1700 the Town Hall was built, partly within the south-east corner of the Churchyard, separated from the Creswick house by only the width of the entrance gates.

Banks set about substituting for an older structure next to the Creswick premises a new "great house," and he was largely instrumental in founding the Boys' Charity School, for whose accommodation he sold a plot at the extreme north-western corner of his land, abutting on the Hartshead. The Charity School was completed in 1710. By that time Mr. Banks, leaving Sheffield for Scofton Hall, near Worksop, was beginning to get rid of his properties here.

He sold his "great house" [1] to Mr. John Battie who, succeeding to the lucrative practice that had been carried on there, became the leading local attorney; and he disposed of the Creswick house to Thomas Heaton, ironmonger. [see A Quite Difficult Question but the Answer is out there thread - RichardB]

Following these events East Parade came into being. An account of the deeds relating to these matters must be deferred for future publication.

[1] The elaborate doorway, leading into the yard of this house, is now at the Weston Park Museum.

[Guest Gramps]

I think I prefer the black on beige version

Vol 1 - 1913 ??