NORTH CRAWLEY is a parish and village on an eminence on the borders of Bedfordshire, 3 miles east from Newport Pagnell, 10 south-west from Bedford, 18 from Northampton and 6 from Olney, in the hundred, union and country court district of Newport Pagnell, rural deanery of Newport Pagnell, archdeaconry of Buckingham and diocese of Oxford. The church of St Firmin, first bishop of Amiens (supposed to be the only one in England so named), is a very ancient stone edifice, and consists of chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, porch and an embattled western tower with a small spire, and containing a clock and 5 bells; the whole external appearance of the nave is Perpendicular: the chancel is Early Decorated, with an east window of three lights and geometrical tracery, on the south side is a small piscina and near it a fine doorway, with shafts and mouldings; the roofs of both nave and chancel are open-timbered and of the Perpendicular period with moulded ribs and bosses: the piers and arches of the nave arcades are Early Decorated, some of the former being octagonal and others clustered. The chancel is said to have been built by Peter de Guildford, rector, who died in 1321: on the outside wall, under the east window is this inscription —-
“Petrus cancellum tibi dat Firmine novellum
Ut cum lauderis Deo, Petri memoreris.”
A finely carved oak screen remains in a very perfect state and is a rich specimen of open screen work of the Decorated period; the whole screen is divided into sixteen compartments and in the panels at the base are painted as many figures, well drawn and in excellent condition, representing royal and ecclesiastical personages, and all carry inscribed scrolls; also an ancient stone octagonal font: on the north wall of the chancel is a very fine brass to the memory of John Garbrand D.D. 1589, a former rector, also one in the floor to Thomas Hackett esq. 1689; a third is recorded to Robert Latymer esq. 1548, and Catherine his wife, and one other to Elizabeth, wife of Nicholls Hackett esq. 1690. The register of baptisms and burials commences in 1558 and contains the names of rectors from 1294 to 1856; marriages 1565. The living is a rectory, yearly value about £450 with residence, in the gift of William Selby-Lowndes esq. and held since 1856 by the Rev. Charles William Selby-Lowndes M.A. of Christ’s College, Cambridge. Bryan’s charity of £10 yearly is for apprenticing and there is £6 from the same charity for clothing. There are other charities of £20 a year for public uses and one of £5 for bread. There are Congregational and Wesleyan chapels here. Bricks and tiles are made here. The principal landowners are John Bosworth esq. who is lord of the manor, the trustees of Miss Williams and the rector. The soil is strong clay; sub-soil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, oats and beans. The area is 4,060 acres;
rateable value, £4,413; the population in 1881 was 699.
Letters through Newport Pagnell arrive about 7 a.m.
WALL LETTER BOX cleared at 5.40 p.m. on week days
& 10.40 a.m. on sundays. The nearest money order &
telegraph office is at Newport Pagnell
National School, built in 1844 by the rector & Thomas
Alexander Boswell esq. aided by a Parliamentary grant;
Miss Christiana Duke, mistress
Linger William
Loftus Capt. Douglas, Crawley grange
Selby-Lowndes Rev. Charles William M.A., J.P. (rector)
COMMERCIAL
Armstrong William, farmer & brick maker
Atkins James, farmer
Austin Henry, blacksmith
Billington Henry, farmer
Brandon Benjamin, wheelwright
Brandon Edwin, baker
Brimley John Taylor, carpenter & baker
Coles John, farmer, Rook Tree farm
Coles William Foster, Castle
Glidewell George, shopkeeper
Hatton James, farmer
Hayes Peter, farmer
Hobbs John, farmer
Jordan William, farmer
Jorden Charles, shopkeeper
Joyce Thomas, farmer, East end
Lathall Isabella (Mrs.), Chequers
Levitt John, butcher
Maslin William, sen. farmer
Roads James, farmer, Church farm
Ruffhead James, Cock inn
Ruffhead William (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Ruffhead Robert, butcher
Slater Eliza (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Smith Samuel, baker
Ward Henry, farmer
Wilkinson Thomas, beer retailer
Williamson John, farmer
Wooding William, carpenter
1893 Kelly’s Directory