Tingley Wood was originally part of the Manor of Pirton and the later the half manor of Pirton Dodingselles. The paragraph below from the Victoria County History explains the way the land was passed down.
Oddingselles
The manor of ODDINGSELLES (Doddingseles, Odyngseles, xiv cent.), often called also ‘half the manor of Pirton,’ was that part of the manor of Pirton which on the death of Basilia Oddingselles fell to the share of Hugh her son. Hugh died seised of it in 1304–5, leaving as heir his son John. (fn. 43) He and his wife Emma obtained licence in 1316 to grant the manor to Thomas de Wassyngeles for a settlement on them and their heirs. (fn. 44) In 1337 John and Emma granted the manor to William Corbet for life, with reversion to their son Thomas. (fn. 45) After the death of John, Emma married William Corbet, who died in 1346. (fn. 46) She survived until the next year. (fn. 47) Her son John Oddingselles succeeded to the manor, and died abroad in 1352, leaving a son John, then aged sixteen. (fn. 48) It descended in 1380 to his son Sir John, and in 1404 to Edward son of John (fn. 49) (during whose minority the property was entrusted to John Cokayn, (fn. 50) his father-in-law), to Edward’s son Gerald, and finally to Edward son of Gerald. (fn. 51) In 1505 Gerald d’Oddingselles granted the manor to feoffees, (fn. 52) who released it to Richard Decons. (fn. 53) He sold it shortly afterwards through trustees to Roger Lupton, clerk, Provost of St. Mary’s College, Eton. (fn. 54) Eton College held the manor till 15 February 1800, when it was purchased by Penelope widow of Sir Charles Farnaby Radcliffe, (fn. 55) from whom it has descended to Mr. F. A. Delmé-Radcliffe.
Delme-Radcliffe Archives held at Hertfordshire Archives and Library Service HALS The first mention of Tingley Wood that I have found is in a deed dated before 1290(DE/ 150a). I believe the date to be before the Statute of Quia Emptores which was passed in 1290. This act prevented tenants from selling or passing on their land by subinfeudation. Although the document is not dated, the names of the people can be linked to other references and so give a rough idea of a date……Richard De Heyron { feet of Fines 1240},Peter De Cranemere { Feet of Fines 1267}, Giles and Margery De Oddingselles {Feet of Fines 1284} , William De Oddingselles {Lay Subsidy Roll Pirton 1294}, Robert Castel De Aspele {Lay Subsidy Roll Pirton 1294}. The wood was called in Latin Tinele.
DE150a
In 1515 the Manor of Pirton Doddingselles was transferred to Eton College.
The following documents are displayed with the kind permission of Eton College
DOCUMENT 1 Reference code ECR 57 001 Title Pirton, Hertfordshire: Counterpart of indenture Date 19 November 1520 Content description
Counterpart of indenture of bargain and sale, by master Roger Lupton, Provost, to John Fryday and John Tristram, of Hychyn, co. Herts, of a wood in Pirton otherwise called Peryton, co Herts, called Tyngley wood viz. 15 acres of wood and underwood to be measured by the perch or pole containing 18 feet in length by the squyer and so every are to be 40 perch or pole in length and 4 pole in breadth of the measure aforesaid. For £40, that is to say 4 marks for every acre, of which £20 is to be paid at St John Baptist’s day next and £20 at the same feast next ensuing. The grantees to fell the said wood and underwood in winder between Martinmas and the middle of March, except the oaks and ashes, for saving of the bark, to be felled till the middle of May. And the spring of the wood to be saved so that it be not hurt negligently in felling, lying or carrying. They are to have two years of utterance of the wood from Christmas next and are to discharge the Provost and College for tithe if any be due. At their own costs they are to make a sufficient hedge about the wood, the stakes being of oak where needful, so that the hedge shall stand and save the felling thereof. In every acre of the wood there or else to fill the number with young ashes if these may be found. If the ground of the wood is found to contain within the bounds or ditches of the same more than 15 acres, they are to pay the grantors in their second payment for the over measure at rate of 53s 4d. And if it contains less, they shall be abated proportionately at the same rate. Eton. Memorandum of receipt by the Provost and College in part payment of £40 of 6s 8d by the hands of Richard Fytzwater. Seal, round, 12mm, red wax, on doubled tag. A device. There is another doubled tag, with no trace of seal. Endorsements. Memorandum by Nicholas Smale and Richard Wynnesmor, bursars, of the receipt by the hands of Richard Fitzwater on 8th July 1521 of £20. Memorandum by Richard Wynnesmore and William West, bursars, of the receipt on 23rd October 1522 £23 13s 4d. Memorandum of agreement between the parties to the indenture that the grantees shall have three years of utterance of the premises from Christmas 1520, that is to say the first two years to fell the bigger wood or coppice and the third year to fell the less part that lies by itself and shall keep the spring of the said coppice and hedges and closures of the same for 7 years next after that the wood and underwood is felled and carried at their costs and charges, notwithstanding anything written in the indenture. Location of this record in the archive hierarchy COLL > ECR 01 – 65 > ECR 57
ECR 57 001
DOCUMENT 2 Reference code ECR 57 006 Title Pirton, Hertfordshire: Counterpart of lease Date 10th April 1569 Content description
Counterpart of lease, by the Provost and College to Thomas Asheton, of Grayes Inne, co. Middlesex, gentleman, of the site of their moiety of the manor of Pyrton with all the demesne lands belonging, also the moiety of their two woods there called Odyngsylles woods, and all manner of rents and profits appertaining in as ample manner, except all perquisites of courts and leets and the keeping of the same, but reserving the great trees. From Lady Day last for 21 years. Rent £21 6s 8d and 20 good wether sheep to be delivered at Eton in the pasture called “the playing leaze” on the feast of St Bartholomew or 6s 8d for every sheep, and one boar at Christmas or 20s. The lessees to permit the lessors from time to time to hold courts of survey upon the premises, in which courts the lessors shall not intermeddle or have anything to do with any taxing of any fine or income for the grant of admittance of any copyhold estate, or with any profits of the courts there, and the authority that the lessors shall have in the said courts shall be only to give judgement upon such actions, quarrels and suits as shall happen to be depending in the said courts. Within three months of holding any court or leet, copies of the court notes are to be sent to the lessors. All courts are to be entitled and entered in the name of the Provost and College. The lessees to provide once a year for any representative of the lessors who shall come to keep any Court Baron, Survey or Leete, for two days and three nights. The lessee binds himself in £50 for the observance of the indenture. Signature of lessee. Seal, round, 20mm, red wax, on doubled tag. A monogram of THOMAS ASHTON, beneath (? a sprig of ASH) and above a TUN. Location of this record in the archive hierarchy COLL > ECR 01 – 65 > ECR 57
Eton College Archive relating to the manor of Pirton
DOCUMENT 3 Reference code COLL OB 01 01 Title Grant of the manor of Pirton, Hertfordshire to establish chantry Date 3 August 1516 Content description
Indenture between 1. Provost and College of Eton 2. William, Bishop of Lincoln [Atwater, 1514-1521] and 3. Robert Hacombleyn, Provost of King’s College, and the scholars of King’s.Manor of Pyriton alias Pyrton alias Odyngsells, Hertfordshire, with messuages etc in Pyriton, Ikelford [Icklefield], Affley and Ramerchewyk have been granted to the College by Roger Lupton for the support of a chantry for the souls of himself, his parents and benefactors. A suitable priest is to be appointed and paid £5 6s 8d with commons and his own room. On his day of death exequies with requiem mass the next day. Provost to received 2s 8d, Fellows, Head Master and Chantry Priest 16d, other chaplains and usher 8d, clerks 6d, parish priest 12d, scholars and choristers 1d with 10s for the poor and 8d to the Bursar for their trouble. 6s 8d to be spent on a feast, and the boys to play until 5. 10s toward the feast at Pentecost and 23s 6d for pens and ink for the scholars. If these promises are not carried out through negligence, £5 each is to be paid to the Bishop of Lincoln and to King’s College in the first year of failure, £10 each the second and £20 thereafter. Priority to be given to maintaining the chantry. Two seal tags This is Eton’s copy, which was sealed by King’s College and the Bishop of Lincoln. Location of this record in the archive hierarchy COLL > COLL BEN > COLL OB 01
An excellent article by Keith Fitzpatrick Matthews of North Herts Museum
