Patrick Comerford
I was back in Shenley Church End last week for a lunchtime meeting, and took some time later in the afternoon to explore the architectural legacy and history of the village, about 3 km south-west of Central Milton Keynes, and about 3 km north-west of Bletchley.
In the past, I have written about Saint Mary’s Church in Shenley Church End, including the striking monument in the north aisle to Sir Thomas Stafford (1607) of Tattenhoe. This monument includes a recumbent effigy on a base with a central figure of his wife flanked by their four sons and three daughters, all carved in relief, and it dramatically recalls that only one son and two daughters were still alive when he died.
But last week, I wanted to see the former Stafford hospital or almshouse, founded by the Stafford family in Shenley Church End in the early 17th century.
A minor branch of the Stafford family of Stafford and Buckingham acquired Tattenhoe and became involved in Shenley Church End in the mid-16th century, and following some legal challenges the estates eventually passed to a ‘bastard’ son in the family and his heirs. But Shenley dates back centuries before that to pre-conquest days.
Shenley Church End, along with the neighbouring districts of Shenley Brook End, Shenley Wood and Shenley Lodge, are collectively known as ‘The Shenleys.’ The name Shenley is an Old English word meaning ‘bright clearing.’ In the Domesday Book (1086), the area was collectively known as Senelai and controlled by Hugh d’Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester.
The distinction between Shenley Brook End and Shenley Church End dates from the 12th century, when a new manor house was built in Shenley Brook End by the Mansell family. However, the two manors were owned by the same person by 1426 and by then the distinction between the two places was in name only.
Today, the core of the historic village is at the heart of the new district with its name. One of the earliest places of interest in Shenley Church End is the Shenley Toot, a motte and bailey, although only the motte remains. Last week, though, I wanted to see the former Stafford Hospital or Almshouses in Shenley Church End, which date from 1615.
When Sir Thomas Stafford died in 1607, he left instructions in his will to build almshouses house four unmarried, impoverished men and two women. They had to regularly attend Shenley church, and were required to refrain from any ‘riotous living.’
A daily payment of 3 pence was to be made to each of the men, and 2 pence to each of the women. Under the provisions of Stafford’s will, the trustees were to buy 70 acres of land at Great Linford. This land was rented to William Hopkins for £30 a year, and the rental income was to be spent on ‘the Poor People of Stafford’s Hospital in Shenley.’
The income was expected to provide the finances needed to maintain the building and to pay the pensions. However, over time the rental income lost its value. The Charity Commissioners agreed in 1882 that three of the tenements could be let, with the income applied to the benefit of the three remaining residents. Since then, the almshouses have been converted into four private houses.
The grade II terraced, nine-bay former almshouses are built of coursed limestone, and are of one-storey with attics. Although they have been altered, the architectural details include an old tile roof with four brick chimneys, six gabled dormers with two-light casements, and three pairs of doors.
The gable over the central pair of doors has a weather-beaten inscription and datestone. The plaque is greatly weathered and was difficult – almost impossible – to make out last week, but it reads: ‘This almshouse was caused to be erected by Thomas Stafford Esq, Deceased, and was built by Thomas Stafford his son, Anno Domini 1614.’
The charity in its present form was set up after the sale of the almshouses. The proceeds from the sale were invested in 1984 and the interest from this investment provides the trust with its income, distributed within the criteria set out in the trust document and within charity commission guidelines.
The trustees are the Vicar and Churchwardens of Saint Mary’s Church, four trustees nominated by Shenley Brook End and Shenley Church End Parish Councils, and two trustees co-opted by the trustees.
In recent years, the trust has helped with children’s school trips, bought an oven for a family, and provided Christmas gifts for senior residents of Shenley. The area it covers now includes Crownhill, Grange Farm, Hazeley, Shenley Church End, Medbourne, Shenley Brooke End, Westcroft, Kingsmead, Furzton, Emerson Valley, Tattenhoe and Tattenhoe Park.
Sir Thomas Stafford’s monument remains an impressive monument in Saint Mary’s Church. It was originally on the east wall of the family mausoleum, now the Lady Chapel, but was moved to its present position in front of the old North Door during restorations of the church in 1909.
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