For many centuries, people who bought property in the Deepings were obliged to attend a Manor Court and show their loyalty to the Lord of the Manor by touching a wooden rod which was held by his Steward. They were then formally admitted as copyhold tenants, after agreeing to pay annual rent and and a fine or fee to become the new owner. Despite money changing hands between a buyer and seller, until the transaction was recorded on a court roll and a copy was given to the buyer, they had no legal proof of ownership.
Deeping St James and Market Deeping were in the Manor of East Deeping which was combined with West Deeping Manor. From the 11th century until the mid 1600s, owners of copyhold property also had a duty to supply goods and services to the Lord. In 1649, Alexander Hudson of West Deeping had to hand over a quantity of oats and two fat chickens, as well as providing his team of horses, a cart and servants to do unpaid work on the Lord’s land for four days each year. By that date, however, he may have paid cash in lieu of performing these additional duties. Over time, the amounts of rental also became merely symbolic.
During the 18th century the Bertie family of Uffington were Lords of Deeping Manor, and their Court was held several times a year in the Bertie Arms (pronounced Barty in that era). It was situated near the Market Place, where the Iron Horse Ranch House now stands, and the small building shown end-on in the photograph, was part of that old pub.
The copyhold Deed of Admission shown below is dated August 1780, when The Most Noble Brownlow Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven was Lord of the Manor. It relates to a cottage in a part of Deeping Fen then known as Coldom, which was being transferred to Edward Sanderson, a flax dresser, from his father William.
Although in some parts of England the Manor Court system was abandoned by the 19th century, it continued in Deeping until the 1920s. A local solicitor then acted as Steward and formalities were carried out in his office. Even the purchase of a small piece of land, 24 yards by 14 yards, involved the same lengthy document in archaic language, with the buyer “humbly praying to be admitted to the premises”. It would have been tedious work for clerks who had to produce hand-written copies of each transaction in duplicate.
Copyhold tenancies were abolished by the Law of Property Act in 1922, when owners could convert them into freeholds. Samuel Mossop, a solicitor in Long Sutton was Lord of the Manor of East and West Deeping by that date, and when he died in 1930, he bequeathed the honorary title to one of his relatives.
Deepings Heritage 