An extract from The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester by John Nichols, 1795

PLUNGAR

in antient writings called Plungarth, is situated in the Vale of Belvoir, about four miles South-west of the castle. It is bounded on the North by Barkston ; on the East by Belvoir ; on the South by Harby and Starthern ; and on the West by the county of Nottingham. It is 10 miles distant from Melton Mowbray, the nearest market-town ; 24 from Leicester ; and, in the ecclesiastical division of the county, is within the deanry of Framland.

At the time of the general survey under the Norman Conqueror, the lordship of Plungar is believed to have been included under that of Barkston ¹ ; as it is no where separately mentioned ; nor is it noticed in the Testa de Nevill.

On the aid granted to king Henry III. in 1225, towards marrying his sister with the emperor of the Romans, the following payments occur, as part of the fee of William Daubeney, of the old feoffment (de veteri feoffamento domini regis).

From one knight's fee, held by Odinell de Albini in Barkston and Plungar, two marks ; and from one knight's fee held by Cecilia de Hunt in Barkston, 20d.

The heir of Odinell de Albiniaco held three parts of a fee in Barkston and Plungar under the lord of Belvoir ; under whom William Hoteft also held half a fee in Muston, Redmile, and Plungar.

In the Itinerary of 1280, Plungar, Harby, and Stathern, answered collectively as one vill.

In 1343, William lord Ros of Hamlake died seised of one knight's fee in Plungarth and Barkston, which Richard and John de Belhous held together ; also the half of one knight's fee in Barkston and Plungarth, which Hugh Charnels and Julian his wife held ; also the half of one knight's fee in Bottesford, Redmile, Barkston, Plungarth, and Muston, which William de Hotoft of Bottesford held ².

Ralph de Hotoft, by a deed without date, confirmed to the priory of Belvoir, for the health of his own soul and those of his ancestors, and of William de Albini his lord, a bovate of land in Plungar, which had been given them by Geffrey the son of Herewic ; and added a tost, called Middlecroste, some land near West-well, and a meadow adjoining to Barkston ³.

In 1346, William lord Ros (on the aid then granted for knighting Edward of Woodstock, the king's eldest son) was assessed 30s. for three parts of one knight's fee in Bottesford, Normanton, Redmile, Barkston, Plungar, and Herdby ; Richard Belhouse 20s. for half a knight's fee in Barkston and Plungar ; John Barnake and Hugh Charnels 20s. for half a knight's fee in Barkston and Plungar ; and John Borton, on the same occasion 10s. for a quarter of one knight's fee in Bottesford, Redmile, Muston, and Plungar ; all parcel of the fee of Ros ⁴.

In 1352-3, it appeared that William de Ros of Hamlake, deceased, held a certain spiney, called Beaver Warren ; whose soil and pasture belonged to the towns of Stathern, Plungarth, and Barkston, and were of no yearly value ; because the thorns, if they were cut away, could not grow again, by reason of the cattle of the aforesaid villages there depasturing ⁵.

In 1363, Margery, who was the wife of William de Ros, of Hamlake, died possessed of the moiety of one knight's fee, with the appurtenances, in Barkston and Plungar, which John son of William de Barnak held ; also the moiety of one knight's fee in Barkston and Plungar, which Hugh de Charnals and Julian his wife held ; also one knight's fee with the appurtenances, in Barkston and Plungar, which Richard and John de Belhouse held together ; also the moiety of one knight's fee, with appurtenances, in Bottesford, Redmile, Barkston, Plungarth, and Muston, which William de Hotoft held ⁶.

In 1383, it appeared that Thomas de Ros of Hamlake, deceased, held the moiety of the manor of Plungar of the king in capite, by knight's service, as parcel of the manor of Belvoir ⁷.

In 1415, Beatrix, wife of Thomas late lord of Ros, deceased, was seised of a moiety of the manor of Barkston and Plungar, with appurtenances, held of the king in capite, by knight's service, as parcel of the honour of Belvoir ⁸.

In the subsidy of 1416 (when the county of Leicester was rated at £.757.12s.111/2d.) Plungar paid 23s ; and Barkston 36s.

In that of 1445, Plungar was rated at £.1.3s. ; and no abatentent (sp) was made
Aug. 9, 1467, king Edward IV. granted divers lands at Plungar (late parcel of the lands of William Beaumont) to William Hastings, to hold of the king and his heirs by homage only, in lieu of all other service ⁹.

After the death of the lord Hastings, this manor was again restored to the family of the lords Ros, from whom it descended to John-Henry the present duke of Rutland, who is now lord of the manor, and principal owner of the land. To him also belong the great tithes, and the presentation to the vicarage.
This parish, or lordship, as parishes are here in general denominated, contains about 1000 acres of land ; a very small portion of which is old inclosure ; and the remainder was inclosed, with Barkston, in 1791 ¹⁰.
The land is arable, and produces principally barley and beans.
In 1552, Francis Keble, esq. died seised of three messuages in Plungar and Stathern, held of the king by fealty, and the rent of 10s. a year ¹¹.
In 1564, there were 26 families in Plungar.
There are now 25 families, and 145 inhabitants.
No freeholder occurs here in the list of 1630.
At the general election in 1722, 18 freeholders polled for this parish ; and the same number in 1778.
Nett expence of the poor in 1766, £.7. 4s. 2d.
Meduim for three years, 1783 - 1785, £.29. 7s. 8d.
There is no register to be found of an ealier date than 1759. The late clerk of the parish was the village grocer ; and, having no reverence for antiquity, nor probably any other idea of the use of paper than that it serve to wrap up tea and snuff in, he made it answer that purpose ; and, indeed, if it were no better kept than the early part of the present, it could have answered no better.
It appears that for the last twenty years there have been 28 baptisms, and 72 burials ; which is contrary to what happens in the neighbourhood in general ; but it is to be remarked that, in the year 1785, 14 died of the small-pox.

The CHURCH

dedicated to St. Helen, is a small building, containing two narrow aisles, one of equal width with the chancel, and lying between that and the tower ; the other smaller, on the South side ; both in bad condition ; the floor much broken, and the roof out of repair. A South-east view, taken by Mr. Pridden in 1791, is given in plate LII.
The tower is small and low, with two middling bells, on one of which is inscribed,
"God save the King, 1614."
There is also a saint's bell hanging in the West window of the steeple, whereupon is no inscription.
In the chancel are a piscina and locker.
Though there are lands of about ten pounds yearly value given for the reparation of this church, it seems to be much more in want od it than any other in the neighbourhood. Notwithstanding this apperance, there are no marks of great antiquity in or about the building, unless we consider as such the grotasque bas-reliefs exhibited in plate LII, fig. 2, 3, 4.
Iwenus de Albini and Geffrey de Chauveni his brother, gave the church of Plungar to the priory of Belvoir, for the health of their own souls, and those of their uncle William de Albini, and of his son William, and all their ancestors. The grant has no date ; but it was confirmed by archbishop Kilwardby in 1277 ¹².
In 1220, the prior of Belvoir was patron of the church of Plungar, and then had it [that is, the great tithes appropriated] to his own use. The then vicar was Robert, instituted by the then bishop of Lincoln Hugh [Walleis], under whom the vicarage was then ordained:
(In the following latin texts no attempt has been made to change the old style f to s)
"Ecclesia valet 10 marc'. Vicarius perpetuus habebit totum altararuim præter principale legatum. Habebit a priore de Belvoir 2 fumas frumenti pacabiles ad feftum Michaelis ; valet vicaria 3 marc'. Vicarius folvert fynodalia. Manfum non eft affignatum ¹³."
The duke of Rutland still pays annually something to the vicar, which Dr. Vernon took to be the two quarters of wheat ( frumas frumenti) , which formerly were paid by the priory of Belvoir.
The prior of Belvoir demised to his servant Humphrey Suffolk two bovates of land belonging to the church of Plungar ; rent 6s. ¹⁴
The possessions of the priory of Belvoir at Plungar were valued in the assessment towards tenths and fifteenths at the sum of £.3. 6s. 8d.
In 1344 the procrations were 7s. 63/4d. ; the church was taxed at 5 marks ; and paid 2s. for Peter-pence.
In 1650, the vicarage was returned as part of Barkston.
The clear yearly value in the king's books is £.9. 1s.
The episcopal procurations for the rectory, 1s. 51/2d ; for the vicarage, 10d.
July 31, 1449, a dispute, which had existed between the prior and covent of Belvoir and Robert Knotte, perpetual vicar of Plungar, was determined, by archbishop Stafford, in favour of the vicar, who was thenceforth to have eight marks a year in addition to his former stipend. The decree is thus expressed :

(I shall transcribe the latin text of the decree at a later date Guy)