Halloughton and Hawton

HALLOUGHTON, OR HAWTON.

This makes a prebend in Southwell, as in that place is shown: it was called the lay prebend, having nothing spiritual but the tyrhes of its own lands.

(fn. 1) John Forest, gent. son and heir of Richard Forest, brother of Roger Forest, esquire, who died 10 May, 1 Mariæ, seised of the manor of Fleton in Huntingdonshire, and the manor of Halloughton or Haughton in this county, was under age at the death of his said uncle: he had both land and tythes.

(fn. 2) Sir Charles Owseley or Wolseley had it in lease lately, and I think still hath.— The prebend of Halton was 10l. 'Tis now 8l. 17s. 6d. value in the king's books.

[Throsby] Halloughton or Hawton.

Here is a chapel dedicated to St. James. This is a prebendary in Southwell college. Propr. and Patron 10l. certified value. It has been conjectured that here was a religious foundation, belonging to Thurgarton Monastery, and that the establishment was for females.

The mansion house, in its original state, which stood upon the prebendal estate, was large and gloomy, and stood near the chapel. In making some alterations in this building (for now it is very unlike what it has been) in taking up the kitchen floor, some time since, was found a large stone about the size of a mill stone, under which was a large key; and which had the appearance of being laid there by design. Some time after this place was more minutely examined, and it proved to be the mouth of a cavity enclosed by a circular wall. This was traced a considerable length till the workmen found water; the search in consequence was discontinued. There is an old tradition in Southwell that a subterraneous passage had a communication thence to Thurgarton.

It is further remarkable that in taking down a stack of chimnies in the same house there was found, in the middle of them, a large recess, in which were found many human skeletons quite entire and uncovered with earth: they were chiefly those of children. (fn. 3)