| Description |
The mortgages derive from an Act of Parliament of 17 Geo. III cap. 53, known as Gilbert's Act or the Clergy Residences Repair Act. This Act was later amended by 21 Geo. III cap. 66, 1/2 Vict. cap. 23, 28/29 Vict. cap. 69 and 35/36 Vict. cap. 96. By these Acts incumbents were enabled to raise money for the repair or rebuilding of their parsonage houses by mortgaging the fruits of their benefices, usually to Queen Anne's Bounty. The repairs undertaken were interpreted very widely and covered not only repairs and extensions to the incumbent's house but also improvements to farms and cottages on the glebe, and even, where the incumbent was the rector, repairs to the chancel of the parish church.
The range of documents from 1778 to 1921 reflects the changing status and ambitions of the incumbents. Larger families in the Victorian era led to a need for more bedrooms and a private study for the incumbent, while cholera epidemics led to an increased concern over the drains. A comparison between the humble dwellings of the 18th century parsons with those of the 19th century, the building of coach houses and wine cellars and the provision for increased numbers of servants, are measures of the growth in social importance of parsons over this period.
The early works were carried out by men describing themselves as surveyors or builders; the term architect is not used until later. Some famous names appear in the list: T H Wyatt; Benjamin Ferrey; Henry Weaver, the author of a rare book on cottage architecture; G R Crickmay of Weymouth, William Butterfield, Ewan Christian and C E Ponting.
The documents associated with these transactions are as follows:-
1. A copy of the mortgage which was generally arranged through Queen Anne's Bounty.
2. A bond of two or more nominees. These were chosen by the bishop, patron and incumbent and were required to receive, apply and account for the monies borrowed on mortgage, and in many cases their accounts survive. They were required to enter into a bond with the bishop to administer the money properly. In many cases the nominees were governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. Where the money was raised on two mortgages, two separate bonds were required.
3. The bishop's commission to two neighbouring clergymen to inspect the glebe and report on the state of the buildings, how long the incumbent had been there, what money he had received for dilapidations and how this had been spent. Sometimes a certificate was required to the effect that the benefice was unencumbered.
4. The architect was required to swear to all the documents which he produced. These were:-
a. An affadavit that he was accustomed to carry out the sort of work required.
b. A report on the buildings concerned and the possibility of using old materials or of using timber from the glebe.
c. An estimate.
d. A specification of the work to be carried out.
e. Plans, sections and elevations.
In the following list the only documents specified are plans and other illustrations. The name of the architect is included in the entry. Unless otherwise stated, the mortgage is always for improving, enlarging or rebuilding the parsonage house. There is one box of mortgages covering the period 1922-1969 at the end of the series. There is no list to the contents of this box. The mortgages are arranged in date order. |