CC5 Surveys: Westminster Chapter

Survey volume CC5 is the fifth in the series of seven 'CC' volumes, which covers the Ecclesiastical Corporations of the Royal Peculiar of Westminster, which were transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under mid nineteenth century parliamentary legislation. ; This volume covers the surveys carried out on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by their appointed land agents, Messrs. Smith & Watkins. and Messrs. Cluttons. The preferments in this volume concern the Westminster Chapter Estates, which were transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners on the following dates: 29 September 1868 (effective date), which was published in the London Gazette on 13 August 1869 by Order in Council; and on 24 June 1888 (effective date), which was published in the London Gazette on 23 November 1888 by Order in Council. ; These surveys were essential to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as the survey reports gave a comprehensive way of clearly ascertaining the extent, condition and value of the preferments being commuted.; As preferments were transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from the Ecclesiastical Corporations, the various holdings of the estates were either kept or sold; the land agents supplied recommendatory advice on this matter with the survey reports.; The volume also has added annotations often regarding the disposal of property or land since the surveys were originally carried out and therefore incorporate later dates.; The geographical area covered within the volume includes: the county of Gloucestershire, parishes of Elmstone Harwicke, Boddington, Bishops Cleeve, Staverton and Deerhurst Leigh; the county of Cambridgeshire, parish of Bassington; the county of Bedfordshire, parishes of Biggleswade and Langford; the county of Essex, the parish of Tolleshunt Knights; the county of Worcestershire, parishes of Castlemorton, Longdon and Mathon; and the counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, parish of Mathon.