Denman, and Rye Pinfold, should take order with Mr. Goodyer and Mr. Eggelfeld, to pass over Horseydown to the use of the school.
Mr. Beston and Mr. Goodyer having died in the lifetime of Hugh Eglisfeild, the freehold of Horseydown became vested solely in the latter as the surviving joint tenant, and descended to his son, Christopher Eglisfeild, of Gray's Inn, gentleman, who, by deed dated 29th December, 1581, conveyed Horseydown to the Governors of St. Olave's Grammar School, to whom it still belongs; and it is one of the remarkable instances of the enormous increase in the value of property in the metropolis, that this piece of land, which was then let to farm to one Alderton, who collected the weekly payments for pasturage, and paid for it a rental of £6 per annum, now produces to the governors for the use of the school an annual income exceeding £3,000.
In Hilary Term, 26 Eliz., an information was filed in the Exchequer by the Attorney-General, against John Byrde and John Selbye, churchwardens of St. Olave's, and Robert Bowghier, for intrusion into the Queen's land at Horseydown, which was stated in the information to have been part of the possessions of the late dissolved monastery of Bermondsey. The defendants pleaded the title of the governors through Sir Roger Copley's fine to Beston, Goodyer, and Eglisfeild, and the conveyance to the governors of the school from Christopher Eglisfeild as heir of Hugh; and that they, the churchwardens, were in possession as bailiffs to and on behalf of the governors. The plea was satisfactory and the proceedings were discontinued.[1]
By a feoffment, dated 19th January, 1586, Hugh
- ↑ Exchequer Rolls, Hil., 26 Eliz., Roll 137.
