Blagdon Farm 1500-1700

Blagdon Farm 1500-1700

The name Blagdon, originally Blaldenys alias Blackdenys, might indicate a site of early settlement, as is the case in many instances of the name Blacklands.

Until 1574, it had been part of Merton priory's West Barnes (Visit our pages on West Barnes) estate, but on 25 February 1573/4 the purchaser of the priory's former estate, John Gresham, citizen and mercer of London, received royal licence to give possession to Thomas Randall citizen and mercer, and Thomas Randall his eldest son and their heirs: ¹

that land called Blaldenys als. Blackdenys containing 113 acres

and all that his land called Canondowne Hilles containing 40 acres

together with all lands, meadows, leasowes, pastures, woods, rents, reversions, services, tithes of grain, sheaves and hay, oblations, obventions, profits, commodities, emoluments and heredities arising and growing of in and upon the premises and all other rights portions and pertinents whatsover belonging to the said land called Blaldenys als. Blackdenys or Canondowne Hilles situate in the parish of Marton als Marten in county of Surrey

On 1 May 1586 Thomas Randall gent received licence to alienate to Thomas Chapman and his heirs:²

all land and hereditaments with pertinents called Blaldenys als. Blackdenys containing 113 acres

and all land called Canondowne Hilles containing 48 acres

and all lands, tenements, tithes, and hereditaments upon the premises

in the parish of Marten als Marten, in county of Surrey

in the tenure of John Carpenter

Carpenter bought most of the rest of the estate from the Greshams.

On 24 June 1595 (Trinity 37 Eliz) Thomas Chapman citizen & scrivener of London received licence to alienate to John Evelyn, Esq. and his heirs forever:³

all that land with pertinents called or known by the name or names of Blaldenys – or called or known by any other name or names – containing by estimation 113 acres more or less,

together with all lands, meadows, pastures, woods, underwood, rents, reversions, services, tithes of corn and hay, oblations, obventions, profits, commodities, emoluments, & hereditaments arising or growing in and upon the premises

and all other ... portions and pertinents belonging or in any way pertaining ... accepted, known, reputed, occupied, used and demised as part parcel or member of the same

situate lying and being in the parish of Martyne als Mertyne als Martyn in the county aforesaid ...

now or late in the tenure of John Carpenter or his assigns

On the same day he received licence to alienate to Evelyn:⁴

all that land called Canondowne Hill containing 48 acres land with all lands, leasowes, pastures, woods, underwood, rents, reversions, services, tithes of both sheaves and of hay, oblations, obventions & hereditaments in and upon the premises in the parish of Marton als Marten in county of Surrey.

The following April Evelyn was granted Licence to alienate this latter property to John Carpenter and his heirs.⁵

In Hilary term 1608 John Evelyn Esq and Elizabeth his wife and George Evelyn and Elizabeth his wife received licence to alienate to Thomas Evelyn Esq and his heirs:⁶

all that land with pertinents called or known by the name Blaldenys alias Blackdenys containing by estimation 113 acres, and all lands, tenements and hereditaments belonging to Blackdenys situate, lying and being in the parish of Marten alias Merton.

In Michaelmas term 1614 Thomas Evelyn senior Esq and Frances his wife were granted licence to alienate to William Harvey knight and George Evelyn and the heirs of William, to the use of Thomas himself and his heirs:⁷

certain land called Blackdens containing by estimation 40 acres land, 60 acres meadow, 120 acres pasture and 20 acres wood with pertinents

as well as the Manor of Ditton alias Long Ditton, Thames Ditton, Talworth alias Talworth Court with pertinentsin Ditton and Talworth and Kingston upon Thames, and Malden and Martin in Surrey.

In Hilary term 1626 Thomas's widow, Frances Evelyn, and George Evelyn received licence to alienate to Richard Broughton gent and his heirs:⁸

that tenement with pertinents called by the name of Baldenys alias Blackdenis containing by estimation 113 acres and all lands, meadows, pastures, woods, underwoods, rents, and hereditaments pertaining situate and being in the parish of Merton in the county of Surrey

now or late in the tenure of Francis Evelyn, George Evelyn and Ludovic Bagford or their assigns

In his will, written 22 June 1632 and proved 12 February 1632/33, Broughton said 'I do give unto my said godson Mr Robert Cesar when he shall accomplish the age of 21 years this my foresaid farme of Blagdens, Appledore and Hoppinge to him and the heirs male of his body and if no heirs to the right heirs of the said Richard Broughton.'⁹

In Easter term 1634 royal pardon was granted under the will and testament of Richard Broughton Esq. deceased who in his lifetime was seized in lordship and fee, among others, of and in:¹⁰

40 acres land, 20 acres meadow, and 53 acres pasture called Baldens alias Blackdens and tithes ... with pertinents in the parish of Merton, late Evelins

On 11 June 1649 Rowland Wilson purchased from Robert Cesar and others, by indenture:¹¹

all that farm commonly called Blackdens als Blackdeniss, in the county of Surrey, part thereof being in the parish of Martin or Merton, and part thereof in the parishes of Kingston-upon-Thames and Malden or any of them, in the said county of Surrey.

Wilson built up a vast estate within Merton, including former West Barnes land at Cannon Hill.

in his will of 5 February 1651, Rowland Wilson left Blackdens to his grandchildren, Ellis Crispe, Tobias Crispe, and Samuel Crispe, and their heirs, subject to a sum of 52 shillings a year to be paid to and amongst the poor of Merton parish 'out of my lands called Blackdens in Martin, Kingston and Malden'. ¹²

It is not known how long Rowland Wilson’s heirs, the Crisp family, kept Blagdon. They sold the former priory precincts in 1668, and the land on which Nelson’s Merton Place was built was sold by them in 1699.

In 1695 and 1697 the Kingston Poor Rate the Kingston Poor Rate lists William Collins of Blackdownes, Blackdens, Hopping, etc as holding land in Kingston.

¹ TNA A 4/1 fo.133

² TNA A 4/4 fo.54

³ TNA A 4/6 fo.48

⁴ TNA A 4/6 fo.55v

⁵ TNA A 4/6 fo.138v

⁶ TNA A 4/9 fo.245

⁷ TNA A 4/12 fo.39v

⁸ TNA A 4/15 fo.215

⁹ TNA PROB 11/233/222

¹⁰ TNA A 4/17 fo.261v

¹¹ TNA PROB 11/233/203

¹² TNA PROB 11/233/203