Milton Ernest
General History
Lysons' Magna Britannia 1806 (Extract)

Milton Ernest > General History

Milton Ernest in the hundred of Stodden and the deanery of Clopham, lies about five miles from Bedford, on the road to Higham-Ferrers.  It took its name from the family or Erneys, Harneys, or Ernest (for they are thus variously described in the records,) who possessed the manor from the year 1316, or earlier, till 1542, when it passed to the family of Turnor, of Haverill in Suffolk, by marriage with the heiress of Sir Walter Ernest.  Sir Christopher Turnor, baron of the Exchequer, was of this family, possessed the estate, resided at Milton, and lies buried in the parish church.  His sons sold the manor to Sir Thomas Rolt of Sacomb, of whose widow it was re-purchased, about the year 1700, by Sir Edward Turnor, younger brother of the judge, and grandson of John.  In 1719, Edmund Turnor esq. of Stoke-Rochford, sold it to Sir George Byng, afterwards Viscount Torrington, who had married Margaret Master, a grand-daughter of Sir Christopher Turnor.  It was afterwards the property of Mrs Stukely, sister of Margaret, Lady Torrington, who bequeathed it to Withers Bramston esq. of Hall-Place, near Basingstoke.  In 1799, Mr Bramston sold it to Mr Robert Gibbins, the present proprietor.

The manor of Bassets, in this parish, was a considerable time in the family of Rolt, of Milton, a branch of the Rolts of Sacomb.  It is now the property of Mrs Boyden.  There is a third manor called Babbs, which is now in severalties, between T. Fisher esq. Mr. Ellis Shipley, and Mr. Samuel Wyatt.

In the parish church are monuments of the families of Turnor and Rolt.  The great titles of this parish were appropriated by the abbey of St. Alban's.  In the reign of Charles I. the rectory belonged to the family of Franklyn.  Sir Edward Turnor, who, it is probable, purchased of the Franklyns, in the year 1693 munificently endowed the vicarage with great titles, then let at 100l. per annum, and a parsonage house.  His descendant, Edmund Turnor esq. of Panton, in Lincolnshire is the present patron.  Among many other acts of charity for which Sir Edmund Turnor stands recorded as a public benefactor, is the foundation of an almshouse in the year 1695, for six poor persons, which he endowed with lands in Milton, Clapham, and Oakley, now let at 34l. per annum.  An act of Parliament passed for inclosing the parish in 1803, when an allotment of land was assigned to the vicar in lieu of the great and small tithes.

Extract from: Lysons' Magna Britannia being a concise topographical account of several counties of Great Britain by the Rev. Daniel Lysons, A.M., F.R.S. F.A. and L.S. Rector of Rodmarton in Gloucestershire and Samuel Lysons, Esq., F.R.S. and F.A.S. Keeper of His Majesty's Records in the Tower of London, 1806

Page last updated: 3rd February 2014