Heritage Open Days: Everyday Histories #8: The Workers at Middleton Hall of Philip de Marmion, 5th Baron Marmion of Tamworth
It is frequently stated that Middleton has a very long documented history. One example of this is that, as a result of deeds and court records in the late 13th century, it is possible to know the names of some of the workers at Middleton for Philip de Marmion, 5th Baron Marmion of Tamworth. This post will focus on some of them.
The relationship between the lord of the manor and his servants and workers was very different in 13th century England to that of later centuries. In particular, the most significant difference was that the physical segregation of the classes was absent. Instead, the relationship was marked by spatial intimacy but regulated by legal status and a strict social hierarchy.
Despite the lord of the manor holding significant power, the reality of medieval life forced all classes and types of workers to live and work in very close proximity. This is exemplified most by the Great Hall of medieval manor houses. In this single room, the lord of the manor, all of his retinue, his household servants and many other estate workers would live, eat and sleep together. The few distinctions included that the lord would sit on a raised dais at one end, would eat slightly better food and that he also had his private solar where he would sleep.
The greatest divide in this era was the legal status of the workers, specifically whether they were free or unfree servants. Those that were unfree, who were known as villeins, serfs or bondmen, were legally tied to the manor and could not leave, marry or do anything in regard to property without the lord’s permission. They were also required to work the lord’s land. Free tenants had no such restrictions.
However, at the same time the lord’s power was restricted by customary law in manorial courts in which the juries were made up of the peasantry. There are many examples in these courts of the peasantry using these laws against the lord’s demands of his workers and regularly winning the case. Furthermore, in return for the labour of his workers, the lord of the manor was legally and morally obligated to provide physical protection, access to the manorial mill (although they would have been charged for access) and care, charity and relief in times of hardship.
The most well documented worker of Philip de Marmion was Roger de Coningsby. He was described as the retainer of Philip. Retainers were normally high-status individuals whose services were “retained” in the service of the lord through a formal legal contract. They formed part of the lord’s most elite socio-military circle and were paid either traditionally in land or, increasingly in the 13th century, in money. They would provide military service, legal and political “influence” and administrative counsel, often being trained in law or accounting, and they were also permitted to hold the manorial court in the lord’s absence.
It is known that the de Coningsby family had been part of the retinue of the de Marmion family for generations before Roger. A deed from about the 1280s, specified that, for his service, Roger and his wife, the heiress Joan Bagot, were granted land at Middleton that was described as being between Stoke End and the Lichfield Road. When Philip became infirm in the years before his death, Roger and another retainer, John de Coyley, were given complete control over all of Philip’s affairs in all spheres and acted as his representative in all situations. Furthermore, after Philip’s death, Roger was one of Philip’s executors. Roger is believed to have died in about 1328. Roger’s son John, inherited his mother’s land of Morton Bagot in Warwickshire and his grandson, another John, married Margaret Basset of Drayton Bassett and gained the manor of Neen Sollars in Shropshire. Thus, within a couple of generations the family moved from service to lords of a manor.
It is known that, for Philip, Robert de Handsacre was an attorney and Roland de Siena was a legal advocate. The legal profession was very different in the 13th century. An attorney was a highly trusted role. He literally legally became Philip’s proxy in court and he would also handle administrative paperwork and accept court dates. Philip would also be bound to the outcomes of his actions. However, if they lost, the sentence could sometimes be applied to the attorney as he was the person present in the court, which Robert found to his cost. The modern descendant of the attorney is a solicitor. It is known that Robert was a member of the knighted landed gentry. He was likely unpaid, taking the role for the patronage and protection from Philip instead.
On the other hand, the legal advocate was solely Philip’s voice in court and would argue the merits of the case in legal terms. The modern descendant of this is the barrister. Roland de Siena was an Italian clerk and professional legal specialist in civil and canon law and was paid for his services. It is known that Philip granted him by deed one of his properties in London, although Philip reserved the right to use it when he was in the city.
Another noble servant named in records was Philip’s squire, John de Vylers. Squires were young men of noble birth. However, even though they were high-status, their role would have involved menial personal service for their lord. John would have been responsible for dressing Philip, carving his meat at dinner and, in the role of bodyguard, sleeping at the foot of his bed. Essentially, John was learning court etiquette, politics and warfare through service to a baron, awaiting the time that he himself would be knighted. It is known that John was knighted in 1272 and afterwards held land in Nottinghamshire.
The deeds also make reference to Philip’s reeve, Roger Praepositor (literally Reeve), and his son Gilbert who was granted land at Middleton. In the 13th century, although being considered an officer of the manor, the reeve was normally someone from the unfree peasantry. They were responsible for managing all the other peasants working the land on the manor. A new reeve would be elected by the manor’s peasantry from their number each year. The reeve was usually rewarded for his service by being exempt from regular labour and was elevated to the high-status workers of the household. A similar deed was granted to Collet who was described as the son of a former reeve. In both of these deeds it specifically stated that the land granted to these sons was land previously held in villeinage (unfree) and Philip was granting it to them to make them free tenants in reward for the service of their father as reeve. This is how the lower peasantry was able to change their fortune for future generations.
In one deed there was mention of a Richard de Coleshill who was specifically stated to have been Philip’s “shearman”. A shearman was someone who sheared the rough nap off newly woven woollen cloth. Richard was granted land for his service and subsequently became known by the surname Cissor. This indicates that his occupation changed and progressed from artisan to craftsman because of the change in identification and that a “Cissor” was someone who cut fabric.
The deeds also refer to others with the occupational surname Cissor being granted land at Middleton, specifically Gervase and Gilbert, the latter being identified at the son of Thomas the Miller. In other records there is also mention of a Gilbert Parminter. Parminter is a Norman French version of the surname and occupation tailor and literally meant a maker of the trimmings of fine clothing. A parminter would thus have added the velvet facings, silk trimmings or fur linings to the lord’s expensive clothing. It is uncertain whether this Gilbert is the same person as Gilbert Cissor.
Finally, in a noted document, dated 10th August 1287, Philip sold his serf nativus, who was someone born into servitude, to John le Venour, who was one of his tenants at Middleton. The serf nativus was called William and he was the son of Philip’s serf Walter de la More. William was sold for 18 shillings (about £661 today). However, on the same day, John granted William his emancipation (freedom) for the price of William supplying John or his heirs a pair of gloves on St Editha’s Day every year for the remainder of William’s life.
John le Venour frequently appears in documents relating to Middleton, very often as a witness, but it is uncertain what his position within the manor was. Le Venour is Norman French for “the huntsman”. It is possible that John might have held that occupation, as the only reference to a forename for one of Philip’s huntsmen is John, but it might also have been a true surname. There are others with the surname le Venour in Middleton at the same time. Specifically, there was Norman, who was granted by deed the vintry (winemaking facilities) in Middleton by Philip. There was also a Nicholas and an Adam, the latter identified as Norman’s son and he became the chaplain at Middleton after someone called William.
Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.
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