Lease: Old Stratford, Welcombe, Bishopton, Hampton Lucy and Alvechurch

Description

Lease dated 7 March 1662/3 (Old style) [1663] by William Combe of Stratford, esquire to Sir Thomas Stephens of Little Sodbury, Glos., knight and Sir Combe Wagstaffe of Tachbrooke, knight of the site of the Manor or Mansion House called the Colledge with appurtenances situate in Old Stratford together with all gardens courtyards stables etc. lying within the walls and precincts of the said Colledge and a close called Shefields Close and the several fishing in the River Avon, also a capital messuage in Welcombe theretofore in the possession of Thomas Combe, esquire, deceased, also those pasture grounds or closes in Welcombe then in the possession of Francis Watts, also closes called Barne Close, Ingon Ground, Ingon Grove and Parsons Closes, also four yard lands in the common fields of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton, also certain cottages in Welcombe, also three yard lands in the said common fields theretofore in the possession of Thomas Combe, esquire deceased, together with all appurtenances enjoyed therewith (except two cottages called Reignold and Willsons House theretofore in the possession of Thomas Combe, esquire deceased and William Wilson, with the garden thereto and also the close called James's Close then converted into a garden and also half a yard land in the said common fields then in the possession of Edward Roberts and Joseph Phillipps), all which premises were situate in the Parishes of Old Stratford and Hampton Lucy. Also the mansion house called the New House in Alvechurch, Worcs. with appurtenances, then in the possession of William Thomas, esquire, also three pasture grounds in Alvechurch called Drenells, the Cocksuite Crofts, Ford's Leasowe, Ford's Meadow, the Stony Furlong, part of Cocksuite Croft, the Pigg Yards, a meadow adjoining the floodgates, Long Meadow, Church Close, Brick Close, Almeshouse Close, Ford's Meadow, ....ild Close and Meadow, the Dry Ground, Bishopsfield, the Conygre (taken out of Conygree) and other lands belonging to the said mansion in Alvechurch aforesaid for the term of one year to the intent that they might be enabled to accept a release of the said premises and thereafter to hold the same upon trust to sell the same for the benefit of the creditors of the said William Combe (as set out in a schedule thereto) and to hold any which remained unsold to the use of the said William Combe for his life with remained as to one moiety thereof to the use of Katherine Stephens, wife of the said Sir Thomas Stephens, for her life and after her death to the use of Thomas Stephens her son and his heirs; and as to a half part of the other moiety thereof to the use of Mary wife of John Rouse of Tachbrooke, esquire, for her life and thereafter to the use of Sir Combe Wagstaffe and his heirs for ever and as to the other half part of the half moiety to the use of the said Sir Combe Wagstaffe and his heirs for ever [Katherine Stephens and Mary Rouse being the only daughters and co-heirs of the said William Combe]. Signed: William Combe. Seal lost. Witnesses: A. Sparke, William Smith and R. Peyton.