Summary – The Hattons – Baronets of Longstanton
General Introduction
In ancient times the family of Hatton was of great repute in the county of Chester. A branch of the family settled in Longstanton in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. These Longstanton Hattons were related to the famous Sir Christopher Hatton (1540 – 1591), the Queen’s Lord Chancellor. They were created Baronets on 5 July 1641. This baronetcy became extinct on 19 September 1812.
The main feature of the family crest was a golden hind(a deer). Sir Francis Drake renamed his ship (Pelican) in which he sailed around the world ‘Golden Hind’ in honour of his patron, the Lord Chancellor. The Hatton arms were described as: Azure a chevron between three garbs or, with a mullet for distinction.
The Longstanton village sign, erected in 1981 to mark the marriage of the Prince of Wales, featured a golden hind taken from the Hattons’ crest.
In addition to their Longstanton lands the Hattons owned property in Bassingbourn and Melbourn and elsewhere.
Hatton Family Tree – Summary
John Hatton, a cousin of Sir Christopher Hatton – the Lord Chancellor, was living in Longstanton by about 1579. He probably came to be associated with Longstanton because his wife, Jane Shute. The latter’s mother was Thomasine Burgoyne whose family had previously owned some of the manors in the village. John and Jane had three sons: Christopher, Robert and Thomas. Their eldest son, Christopher, came to inherit the property of the Lord Chancellor when he died without issue, whilst their third son, Thomas, inherited the family’s property at Longstanton. Thomas was knighted in 1616, married, became 1st baronet in 1641 and died in 1658. The descendents of this man lived and owed property in Longstanton until the death of the 10th baronet in 1812.
Sir Thomas’ son, Thomas, became 2nd baronet. The latter’s son, Sir Christopher, became the 3rd baronet but died unmarried so his brother, Thomas, became the 4th baronet. The latter also died without issue so his uncle, Sir Christopher, became the 5th baronet. Sir Christopher’s son, Thomas, became the 6th baronet but as he too died childless, his brother, John, became the 7th baronet. John’s son, Sir Thomas, became the 8th baronet, and John’s grandson and namesake became the 9th baronet briefly but died without leaving any children in 1811. His brother, Sir Thomas Dingley Hatton, became the 10th and last baronet, who died unmarried in 1812.
The Hattons’ Manors, Mansion House and Road, School, Chapel and Sepulchre
Manors: John Hatton purchased the lease of the rectory estate in Longstanton All Saints in 1583. His descendents almost continually leased this estate until Daniel Heneage Finch Hatton, a distant relation, purchased the freehold around the time of inclosure.
In addition the Hattons came to own most of the manors in Longstanton as follows: John’s son, Sir Christopher, purchased the manor of Colvilles in 1616 and Cheyneys in 1617. Another part of Colvilles manor (that possibly included Walwyns manor) descended to Sir Christopher in the Hatton family via his mother, Jane Hatton (wife of John). Sir Christopher’s son later sold all his manors to his uncle, Sir Thomas, who was living in the village, which thereafter were inherited by his descendents. Sir Thomas Dingley Hatton’s three married sisters inherited the Hattons’ property in Longstanton after the former’s death in 1812. After the last of these sisters died in 1845, this property passed to the Hon Reverend Daniel Heneage Finch Hatton (descended from Christopher Hatton, the son of the first Hatton in Longstanton – John Hatton) who sold it to Salmon Linton of Longstanton St Michael in 1874.
Manor Houses: The Hattons came to own multiple manor houses that were attached to these manors. As they chose to live and develop the house that had been the Burgoynes’ manor house, sited north of All Saints’ church, the other houses either fell into decay or became farm houses. The house known as ‘The Manor’ today was probably a 15th century re-build of Cheyneys manor house. It was known as ‘Manor Farm’ at times and was occupied by the principal farmer of the Hattons.
John Hatton purchased the Burgoynes’ mansion house in the 1580s. His descendents enlarged this house over the years which was said to have 16 hearths in 1674. Part of the house was pulled down in 1792 after a fire. Sir Thomas Dingley Hatton built Hatton Road to access his house. Before inclosure in 1816 he was said to occupy a capital manor house with garden, 2 orchards, 20 acres of meadow, 16 acres of pasture and liberty of foldage and sheepwalk for 600 sheep…
In 1812, Sir Thomas Dingley Hatton, the last Hatton lord of Longstanton, was killed in an accident on what is today the A14 (somewhere near Girton/Crematorium). He did not die immediately but some days later. After his death, the mansion house fell into dis-repair. The house was completely demolished in 1851. Eventually in 1874 the Hatton Estate of c 1700 acres was broken up and sold off.
School: The Hattons were supporting a mixed school in All Saints in the early 19th century which probably closed after the Hattons ceased to reside in the village. In 1843 part of the south aisle of All Saints’ church was used for a school, which in 1844 moved to a new building that was possibly paid for by Elizabeth Ann Hatton opposite the church, built of brick and slate. In the 20th century the growth of the village outpaced the accommodation available at this school and a new school , called Hatton Park School, was opened in 1954 on the site of the Hattons’ manor house.
Chapel and Sepulchre: The Hatton family took over the Cheyney Chapel in All Saints church and converted it into their own chapel. A monument to Sir Thomas Hatton, the 1st baronet who died in 1658, was installed in it (and can still be found there today). Surrounding the tomb are the statues of his six children, 3 boys and 3 girls, who survived at the time of Sir Thomas Hatton’s death. The tomb is also dedicated to Mary, Sir Thomas’ wife.
Earlier members of this family were probably interred in the subterranean part of the church below the chapel’s floor. However later on, Sir Thomas Hatton (died 1787) converted this family chapel into a sepulchre for twelve coffins that can still be found in the chapel. Eleven Hatton burials took place in the sepulchre, the last in 1845. The sepulchre appears to be a rather ugly, un-ornamented and ill-fitting monument. It is such a contrast to the ornate 17th Century tomb. During research into the Hatton family, it appears that by the early 19th Century the family’s fortunes were on the wane, and this monument does appear to be a visual sign that this was indeed the case.
During a renovation of this chapel in 1908 three of the Hatton memorial wall plaques were moved to the chancel.
References
* Victoria County Histories – A History of Cambridgeshire, Vol IX, section on Longstanton, (Cambridgeshire Public Libraries)
* The Hatton Family, The Baronets of Longstanton, by J Lane, (CRO / LDHS archives)
* Additional information by HAE Stroude from research into the history of the village.
