Helmedon, formerly Helmenden, and in domesday book called Elmedene, is bounded on the east by Wapenham, on the north by Ally-brook, dividing this parish from Weston and Wedon; west by Stutesbury, Hawes and Sulgrave, and on the south by Radston. In this Lordship are about one hundred and four families and forty freeholders. There is one innship, called Stockins, consisting of two houses, Moore's-Stockins, and Abbot's Stockins. Helmedon is famous for its quarries of a soft stone for building, and of a rag-stone for paving.

In the chimney-piece of a parlour in the rectory house is a date, which Dr. Willis makes out to be † Ao.Doi..Mo.133. and concludes from it that the use of numeral figures was much earlier here than hath been generally supposed; and that J. Gerard Voffius in particular is mistaken in assigning no older date to their introduction than the year 1253, at farthest.

At the Conqueror's survey the earl of Moretain held four hides in Helmedon. The arable land was ten carucates. In demesne were two hides and five carucates: and two servants, and seven villanes, and two cottagers had two carucates. The was a mill of the yearly rent of xii d. The whole was rated at six pounds, which was the former valuation. In the reign of the Confessor it was the freehold of Alwin and Godwin.

In the reign of Henry II. William de Torevill was certified to hold these four hides, of the fee of the Earl of Leicester.

In the fifty second year of Henry III. Simon de Turville was Lord of Helmeden, and from him the Manor appears to have passed to William de Turville, who in the twenty fourth year of Edward I. was found to hold in Helmedon of the Earl of Leicester one Knight's fee and an half. This knight's fee and an half in the thirty fifth year of this reign were in the possession of Nicholas de Turville, and had been held of Edmund Earl of Lancaster the King's brother, to whom King Henry III. His father had granted the honour and Earldom of Leicester, upon the forfeiture of Simon de Montfort.

This Nicholas de Turville in the ninth year of Edward II. was certified to be Lord of Helmedon; and dying not long after without issue male, his inheritance descended to Sarah his daughter, the wife of Robert Lovett of Liscombe in the County of Buckingham.

In the third year of Edward III. Henry Earl of Lancaster was summoned by a writ of quo Warranto to show cause why he claimed to have in Helmeden, Lilburn, East Haddon, Dodford and Wedon, the return of all writs, pleas de vetito namip, view of frank-pledge, wayf, strays, infangthef, the privilege of punishing by gallows, pillory, and ducking stool, with freedom in all his demesne lands here from toll, pontage, stallage, pannage, and the repairs of castles, walls, bridges, &c. These very large powers and exemptions he appears to have enjoyed, as having held these Lordships by Barony.

From Robert Lovet the Manor of Helmedon descended to Thomas Lovet his son, who in the twentieth year of Edward III. upon collecting the aid for making the King's son a Knight, accounted for one fee in Helmedon, as held of the honour of Leicester.

The successor of this Thomas Lovet was William his son, who in the thirty ninth year of this reign released to Maud Darches his sister all his right to the Manor of Helmedon called Overbury, and to all the lands and tenements lying within this Lordship, which had formerly been in the possession of Thomas Lovet, or of Robert Lovet, and Sarah his wife.

Who was the next possessor of this Manor we do not find; but in the fifth year of Henry V. Sir Edward de la Pole Knight, demised, granted and by deed confirmed to Roger Lovet of Liscombe his Manor of Helmedon called Overbury, to hold to himself, his heirs and assigns, during the life of the said Edward. And in the eighth year of this reign died Ralph Parles seized of a messuage in Helmedon called Netherbury, with ten acres of meadow, and one hundred acres of pasture, which he was certified to hold of the said Roger Lovet, as of his Manor of Overbury. And from this time we find mention of three distinct Manors in Helmedon, viz. Overbury, Netherbury, and the Minicourt Manor, or Middlebury; each having a share in the inn-ship of Stockins and in a piece of woodland called Allithorn. The Manor of Overbury by indenture bearing the date on the twentieth of June, in the twelfth year of Henry VI. between John Lovet and Margaret his wife, and Robert Puttenham on the one part, and William Harrison, clerk, and Arthur Brook on the other part, was let to farm to the said William and Arthur, for the term of the lives of the said John, Margaret, and Robert; and early in the reign of Henry VIII. it was in the possession of Thomas Moore, Esq. who sold out his share of the Stockins, which is now the property of Thomas Cartwright, Esq.; but the Manor and capital messuage of Overbury with the portion of Allithorn is vested in Sir Charles Holt, Bart. Of Aston near Birmingham, who hath it in right of his son Clobery's wife the sole heiress of Thomas Lister, esquire.

In the fifth year of Henry VIII. died Anne the widow of John Cope, Esq.; seized of the manor of Helmedon Netherbury which she was certified to hold of Thomas Moore, Esq. as Lord of Overbury. Her successor in it was Anne the daughter of Edward Cope, Esq. her son and heir at that time the wife of William Lovell and a minor of twelve years of age. From this possessor it had the name of Cope's Manor. A fine was levied of this Manor in the twenty eight year of this reign between John Malore and the said Thomas Moore, Esq. from whose Manor this was derived. This Lady appears to have been married a second time to …….. Hennage, Esq. and to have outlived her second husband. During her widowhood Robert Pargiter, Esq. of Gretworth in the first year of Queen Elizabeth was found to hold one messuage, with the adjoining yard and croft, as of her Manor of Helmedon. From this Anne Hennage it passed in the fifth year of Queen Elizabeth to John Founteyn, Esq. who levied a fine of it the same year; and in the twenty first or twenty second year of this reign conveyed it to Thomas Emyly Esq. with Cope's Stockins and the Stockins of the abbat's Manor after mentioned.

This gentleman married Joyce the daughter of Thomas Godwyn Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, by whom he had issue two sons, Edward and Maximillian, and four daughters, Judith the wife of Hercules Osbaldiston of Chadlington in Oxfordshire, Mary the wife of Nicholas Dryden of Canons Ashby, Anne the wife of Hugh Robotham of Thame in Oxfordshire, and Joyce the wife of Augustin Baker of Fawcote. Edward his eldest son dying without issue, Maximillian the younger succeeded him in this Manor in the sixth year of King James I.. By the inquisition taken upon his death he was found to die seized of the Manor of Helmdon, with the capital messuage called Netherbury, alias Cope's Manor or Cope's capital messuage, and four virgates of land belonging to the said manor, which he had purchased of John Founteyne, Gent.. Maximillian Emyly married Elizabeth the daughter and coheir of John Waleston of Rislipp in the County of Middlesex, by whom he had three sons, Thomas, John and Edward, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Joyce and Judith.

In the twentieth year of Henry VIII. Mrs. Moore being Lady of the Overbury and Mrs. Heneage of the Netherbury Manor, Thomas Crispe, Esq. was seized of the Minicourt or Middlebury Manor, and in 1587 29 Eliz. Augustin Crispe of this County Esq. and Francis his son conveyed to Brown and Coles the said capital messuage and four yard lands and a half in Helmedon together with their share of the Stockins called Crispe's Stockins.

In 1654 Brown and others convey the same (except Crispe's Stockins) to James Cole, Esquire. And in 1678, ………. Coles, Esq. conveyed the same to Richard Fairbrother, whose son Mr. John Fairbrother now holds it; Crispe's Stockins being sold to ……… Lister, Esq. from whom it is now come to Sir Charles Holte. These three Manors pay a quit rent to the King's Manor of the Dutchy of Lancaster.

But besides these, there was another Manor in Helmedon, consisting of lands given to the convent of Bittlesden in Buckinghamshire by Simon de Turville and Roger de Craft in the reign of Henry III. with its share of the Stockins and Allithorn. In the fines of this County in the year 1228, 12 Henry III. it appears that eleven yard lands in Helmedon were granted to this abbey. And in the survey thereof taken in 1535, 26 Henry VIII. (when Richard Green was abbat) Helmedon abbat's Stockins was valued at 1 l. 10s 0d. and their yard lands at 7 l. 7s. 4d. and inter resolutiones, as the same are entered in the first fruits office, appears Feod. Roberti Griffin Ballivi de Helmedon 6s 8d. There is also an authentic terriar of this estate entitled "The territory or boundynge of all the lands and tenements in the town and fields of Helmedon in the County of Northampton belonging to the monasterie of the blessed Marie of Bittlesden renewed and made of newe by Sir Richard Bennet sometyme abbat of the same monasterie, and sometyme monk of the blessed Marie of Gerondon by the knowledge of faythful inhabitants of the same town whose names are underwritten." This terrier bears date in 1530, and amongst the names occurs that of Thomas Shortland, of whose family it is remarkable that they have lived at Helmedon in the same house ever since, if not before, the year 1397, when John and Margaret Shortland were the owners, and who in the year 1420 levied a fine therof, and from whom is descended Mr. Richard Shortland the present owner. In this survey no mention is made of a Manor, but antiently the abbat held here a court-leet, and the convent was entitled to homage from their tenants, with wards, escheats, reliefs, fines, heriots, and reversions of lands. Upon the dissolution of the abbey, these lands in the thirty third year of Henry VIII. were granted to Anthony Stringer and Sir John Williams, except that portion of them called Abbats Stockinlees which had been given to John Cope, esq. in the year before, and went with his Manor to Mr. Emily, and now belong to Magdalen College in Oxford. To the same college also belongs one yard land which the convent of Ashby-Canons had in Helmedon, which in 1535, 26 Henry VIII. was valued at the annual rent of xxxiv s. iv d. and granted to Anthony Stringer and Sir John Williams with the possessions of Bittlesden abbey in the thirty third year of the same reign, and also a quarter of a yard land which belonged to the prioress of Nuneaton.

The crown holds here a court-leet, as possessed of the Dukedom of Lancaster.

The church dedicated to S. Mary Magdalene, consists of a body, north and south ile, leaded, and chancel tiled. At the west end is a low embattled tower, in which are six bells. The length of the church and chancel is eighty one foot eight inches; the breadth of the body and iles is thirty one foot and a half: the length of the tower is fourteen feet four inches, and the breadth of it nine foot eight inches. On the south side of the chancel, which is large and spacious, is a confessionary; and in the wall of the south ile an antient arch, where it was supposed there was formerly a monument. The register is dated in 1572. A moiety of this church was given to the abbey of S. James near Northampton by Matthew de Rumely, which was afterwards given up by the convent to the hospital of S. John, in consideration of the yearly stipend of 20s. paid by the master and brethren of the hospital to the said monastery of S. James.

In the year 1254, 38 Henry III. this rectory was valued at sixteen marks, besides a pension of three marks paid to the master of the hospital of S. John in Northampton, who had the right of presentation. This right in the eleventh year of Edward I. was claimed by William Turville, the abbat of Bittlesden, and Hugh de Herdeberch, and recovered by the master of the hospital. In 1291, 19 Edward I. the rectory and masters pension were valued as before. In 1535, 26 Henry VIII. the rectory was rated at xvi l. i s. vi d. out of which was deducted for synodals and procurations x s. vii d. and for the yearly pension to the master of the hospital x ls. The right of presentation is now in the president and fellows of Corpus Christi college in Oxford, by purchase from George Jones A.M. the present rector. It is in the deanery of Brackley.

Patroni Incumb. & temp. Institut.
Mag. & fratr. Hosp.
S. Joh. Northampt. Walt. De Kancia.
Rob. De Lincoln, 17. Cal. Aug, 1283.
Edm. De Fleming Subd. 4. Cal. Jan. 1289
Joh. De Longa Villa, Cl. 5 Cal. Jun. 1290.
Rob. De Wavre, Acol. 4. Non. Mart. 1307.
Joh de North Killyngworth. Pbr. Cal. Jul. 1340.
Tho. De Holm. Pbr. 3. Non. Feb. 1347.
Mag. Joh. De Tykhull. Acol. 5. Id. Maii. 1349.
Will. Clement de Whaccote. Acol. 4. Cal. Apr. 1350.
Joh. Benorthon, Pbr. 7. Cal. Sept. 1361
Joh. Roper, Pbr. 3. Mart. 1373.
Edm. Buckyngham, 28. Mart. 1383.
Will. Barowe, Cap. 5. Apr. 1401.
Dom. Joh. Dysworth, de Pbr. 21. Jan. 1406.
Dom. Will. Bunche Reed, 15. Feb. 1409.
Tho. Fraunceys, Pbr. 6. Oct. 1414.
Will. Fil. Henr. Fil. Rob de Tynton, Pbr. 23. Aug. 1415.
Joh. Roce, Pbr. 19. Sept. 1440.
Jon Lichbarow, Pbr. L.L.B. 7. Jun. 1443.
Joh. Bytum, Pbr. 25. Feb. 1430.
Will. Gyles, Pbr. 6. Apr. 1446.
Will. Churche, Cap. 23. Jun. 1450.
Tho. Bachon.
Will. Ingryth, Pbr. 13. Maii. 1468.
Dom. Hen. Bowbon, Pbr. 3. Jan. 1470.
Tho. Rose, 22. Dec. 1488.
Dom. Will. Smyth, Pbr. 28. Jun. 1494.
Mag. Will. Renalde, A.M. 1523.
Ric. Palfreman, occur. Rector anno 1560.
Joh. Burton, Cl. Comp. Pro Primit. 31. Jan. 1633.
Will. Burton, Cl. Comp. Pro Primit. 13 feb. 1637.
Rad. Richard, Cl. Comp. Pro. Primit. 10. Feb. 1641.
Georg. Jones, A.M. Coll. Trin. Oxon. 1721.

Monumental Inscriptions

On the south side of the church, in the church yard, is a raised monument of free stone, which hath on the north side of it these arms, Three bears heads muzzled erased Gules, in chief three torteauxes, and on the south side the following inscription;
HERE LYETH THE BODY OF SIR RICHARD BARKER KNT. WHO DYED IN THE 64TH YEAR OF HIS AGE, AND THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL, AND ON THE EIGTH DAY WAS INTERRED HERE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMAND 1686.

A pension of xx s. per annum is paid out of the rectory to the Dutchy Court of Lancaster.

There is here a charity school for ten children raised and supported by the neighbouring gentlemen and inhabitants.

Mrs. Jane Leeson hath settled twenty shillings yearly upon the poor.

(End of entry. Next entry is Hinton.)