Billeby and Ranby

BILLEBY and RANBY.

In Billeby before the conquest Trunchell had a manor which paid to the geld for six bov. The land then three car. There afterwards Ingram the man of Roger de Busli, whose fee it was, had one car. nine vill. and one bord: having three car. and six acres of meadow. In the Confessours time this was valued at 40s. in the Conquerours but at 20s. (fn. 1)

(fn. 2) This Ingram may well be supposed the ancestor of the lords of Auferton, whereof Ranulf, son of Engelram (or Ingram) was sheriff of these counties of Nott. and Derb. in the beginning of Henry the second, and his sons Robert and William likewife.

(fn. 3) Idonea de Blacquell, the wife of William, son of (or Fitz-) Ranulf, gave to the canons of Wellebec, the whole part of her mill of Blackwell, with her body, half of that mill, with the whole suit, and all customs belonging to that half, to sustain and make yearly the anniversary of sir William Fitz-Ranulf her lord, and her own anniversary for ever.

(fn. 4) Isabella, the daughter of William Fitz-Ranulf, sometime wife of John de Orreby, gave and confirmed to the canons of Wellebec the mill of Bileby, which William Fitz-Ranulf her father, gave, with his body there to be buried, and the moyety of the mill of Blackwell, which Idonea her mother gave to the said canons, with her body there to be buried also.

(fn. 5) Gilbert, son and heir of John de Orreby, gave to the said canons all his right and claim in divers tenants of Bileby, with their sequels, &c.

(fn. 6) Thomas de Chaworth, knight, called chief lord of the town of Bilby (being heir of the elder house, as in Weverton may be seen) granted to the said canons full and free power to make and repair their damm (or pool) of Bileby as oft as need should be, and to take and dig turf and earth on both sides of it, with free passage to carry it through the alderholt (Alnctum) of Bileby, without the impediment of him, his heirs or assigns, as long as the custody of the town of Bileby should be in his hands, or of his heirs or assigns. Sir Thomas de Chaworth held half a knights fee in Billeby, and in 4 E. 2, (fn. 7) sir Thomas de Chaworth, son of sir William, held it. And in the time of Henry the sixth, or Edward the fourth, Thomas Chaworth held three fees in Alfreton, Norton, Bilby, and Ranby.

(fn. 8) John de Orreby, and Thurstan despenser, held in Bilby the third part of one knights fee, and a twelfth part of the countess of Ewe, or Augi, lady of Tikhill.— Bilby, 9 E. 2, answered for half a villa, whereof John de Orreby was then lord. (fn. 9)

(fn. 10) In queen Elizabeths time, Edward Osborne, knight, alderman of London, paid for his lands in Bilby, late sir William Hewetts, and before-time John de Orrebyes, and Thurstan Dispensers, sometime Thomas Chaworths, held by the service of a third part and a twelfth part of a knights fee 2s. 9d. q.

(fn. 11) Richard Appleby. 11 Eliz. claimed against Edward Osborne, and Anne his wife, the manors of Bilby and Ranby; which William Gresley, esquire, and others gave to Richard Appleby, and Elizabeth his wife, &c.

Sir Edward Osborne, knight and baronet, the aldermans heir sold it to sir Gervas Clifton, knight and baronet, and it continueth with his posterity.

Ranby is an old decayed town, where certain oaks lately grew called Ranby Oaks. It was most of it waste in the Conquerours time, some of it was of the Soc of the kings manor of Bodmescell. Ranesby, and Sudershale, answered the geld or tax for five bov. The land was one car. ½ waste. There was also of that Soc in Raneby two car. ad geldam. (fn. 12) The land four car. waste. There was also of Roger de Busli's fee Soc to Grove one bov. ½ ad geldam. The land one car. in Grove waste. Soc also in Eton one bov. of land to the geld. It went it seems with Bilby, with which, part of it is parish to Blyth, and part of Ranby to Babworth.

[Throsby] Billeby,

As Thoroton says, a place decayed.