VOLUME 46

The valor, or survey, of the finances of the English lands of Edmund Grey, Earl of Kent (also Lord Grey of Ruthin in Wales), was drawn up from the Earl’s accounts in 1467-8. The Earl held estates in eight counties, and nearly half of the manors were in Bedfordshire. The introduction analyses the gross value of, and charges upon, each manor.

The text of the accounts includes the rents, tenants’ names, field names and a mass of detail about individual tenant’s holdings. Amongst the more unexpected items of repairs is the cost at 3s 4d for making a new cucking stool in Blunham.

Other valuations of the estate to 1524 are given in summary.