19/08/2026
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Part 4
St Mary’s Church, Hawkwell
a history reaching back before the Norman Conquest
As we continue researching the history of St Mary’s Church, Hawkwell, an increasingly fascinating picture is emerging, one that connects Hawkwell closely with neighbouring Ashingdon and reaches back to the Anglo-Saxon period.
Before 1066 Hawkwell and the Anglo-Saxon landholders
Before the Norman Conquest, the principal manor of Hawkwell was held by Wulfmær, an Anglo-Saxon thegn associated with Eaton Socon.
The Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE) identifies him as Wulfmær of Eaton Socon, while the National Archives’ Domesday material describes him as “Wulfmaer of Eaton Socon, thegn of King Edward.”
(A thegn was a high-status Anglo-Saxon landholder who owed allegiance directly to the king.)
This is significant because Domesday evidence indicates that Wulfmær was the lord of the principal Hawkwell estate in 1066. Its value was recorded at £6 in 1066 and £7 in 1086 considerably greater than another, much smaller holding in Hawkwell.
1066 Robert fitz Wimarc and Ashingdon:
Hawkwell was also connected with Robert fitz Wimarc, an important landholder who held land at Hawkwell in 1066 and was also a major landholder at neighbouring Ashingdon.
By 1086, the smaller Hawkwell holding associated with Robert fitz Wimarc formed part of his son Swein’s estate and was held by Godfrey of Hawkwell.
The Domesday assessment of this smaller holding was only around 0.13 hide, with a value of 10 shillings, very different from the substantially larger manor held by Wulfmær.
This helps demonstrate that medieval Hawkwell was not simply one estate under one lord, but contained different holdings and relationships of landownership.
1227 Hawkwell Church is firmly documented
Fast-forward almost 160 years and we find an important documentary reference.
A 1227 final concord recorded in the Essex Feet of Fines specifically refers to the advowsons of the churches of Ashingdon and Hakewell (Hawkwell).
(An advowson was the legal right to present a priest to a church.)
This is an important piece of evidence because it demonstrates that Hawkwell already had an established church and ecclesiastical institution by 1227.
The surviving medieval fabric of today’s St Mary’s Church is considerably later, with important parts dating from the 14th century. But the documentary evidence tells us that the institution itself existed much earlier.
Even more intriguing is that the 1227 document links the patronage of Hawkwell directly with neighbouring Ashingdon.
1291 Hawkwell appears in the national taxation records
The church appears again in the 1291 ecclesiastical taxation records, where it is recorded as “Ecclesia de Hakewell.”
By the end of the 13th century, therefore, we have clear documentary evidence of Hawkwell as an established ecclesiastical benefice.
Why does this matter today?
When we look at Hawkwell today, it can be easy to see St Mary’s simply as a beautiful medieval village church.
But the documentary trail suggests something much deeper.
Hawkwell’s history reaches back beyond the Norman Conquest, through Anglo-Saxon landholding, Domesday Book, medieval estates and the close ecclesiastical relationship with Ashingdon.
The 1227 reference is particularly exciting because it gives us a firm documentary connection between Hawkwell and Ashingdon churches nearly 800 years ago.
And it raises an even bigger question:
What was the relationship between the churches, estates, manors and communities of Hawkwell and Ashingdon before 1227?
That is where our research continues… 🔎
Cliff hanger!
