Hi, I don't know Shorthampton Church, but as has already been suggested the issue is likely to revolve around the practice of charging "pew rents" which were part of a church's income and would have allowed families to ensure that they were able to sit in "their family's pew" at the Sunday Services. The higher pews are likely to have been for the "higher class" members of the community i.e. the landed gentry, whereas the lower ones were for their various servants. It is a manifestation of the so called upper and lower class system. When I was a student 40+ years ago we used to visit Roxton Congregational Church in Bedfordshire (see photo at http://www.panoramio.com/photo/63112496) which not only has a thatched roof and my memory tells me probably had gated pews; at the back of that church was a sort of "royal box" which was reserved for and still being used by the Lord of the Manor and his family at that time. Historically, it was not unknown for the Lord of the Manor to remonstrate with the Minister taking the service and make known his displeasure with some things which were uttered from the pulpit without waiting for the end of the service - or even the next hymn! I never had experience of the presence of the Lord of the Manor and was never told if he ever concurred vocally with some things which were said. The comment made about "keeping dogs out" may not be wide of the mark either. I have certainly heard of a Sunday Service in another country church being interrupted by two dogs fighting part way through a service. Regards, Kenneth Fear -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Dawn Webb Sent: 20 June 2012 14:09 To: eve@varneys.org.uk; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church Even here in Victoria Australia such things are still, rarely, to be seen. St James Old Cathedral by Flagstaff Gardens in central Melbourne still has gated pews. And little, very little, old Talbot up near Marybourough on the Ballarat road, has paupers pews in the Anglican church (C of E in England) - at the back. A sort of grandstand arrangement - benches going up the wall. No steps - climb like a mountain goat. Wooden. Not at all comfortable looking. They were for those who could not afford to pay for a pew, well, rent it, I believe - it was one way revenue was raised to support the upkeep etc etc. I presume there was a collection too just as there is today. At the English churches like you visited those higher or hidden sort of pews would have been for the gentry methinks - they were not to be seen by the common folk! And apparently, very comfortable they were - not like the rest of those attending church. Hot food, drinks, could sleep if they wished... Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:oxfordshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of eve@varneys.org.uk Sent: Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:58 PM To: woodcom@ihug.co.nz; oxfordshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OXF] Shorthampton church When I visited Shorthampton Church where our Bartletts were baptised and married I was surprised to see gates on the pews. There were 3 higher pews that you could not easily look into and on the other side a number of lower pews. What was the purpose of the gates? To keep out the common people who might otherwise have decided seats were for sitting on. Most pews were paid for by renting and this ensured that no casual invaded. Older pews might be allocated to the current inhabitants of Xfarm or Y house. there were generally a few common pews at the back - or people just stood around. EVE author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7234 (20120620) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxfordshire FHS "wills library" is at http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ , with references to 47,347 people and 3,980 testators. Can you offer a will? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OXFORDSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Pews were rented by "upper-class" families for their exclusive use, but I've also transcribed a number of wills where those pews were bequeathed down the generations, sometimes with great care, as though they were a valuable property. Is it possible that the permanent use of a pew could have been bought, perhaps for a large lump sum? Or could the local Squire (or the owner of the benefice) have his own private pew built and installed? I can't believe that (for instance) the Lovells would have rented a pew at Minster Lovell :-) DaveB