A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OE THE LATE CONVENT OB ORATORY OE BARTON, IN THE ISLE OE WIGHT; WITH SOME NOTICES OF ITS HISTORY.
BY JOHN  ADKINS  BARTON.

From the Transactions of the British Archaeological Association at the Second Annual Congress held in Winchester /August 1845.
The Isle of Wight, although renowned throughout the empire for its beauty and fertility, and chiefly sought by visitors on account of the former, has excited but little attention in other respects. Yet it possesses interest of a very varied nature, and when we turn especially to its historical data, although they may not offer attractions to compare with other and more important localities, yet we find that the island has been the arena of stirring incidents, some of which, in their wild and eventful character, are almost tinctured with romance.
In archaeological remains, and more particularly those of an early date, the Isle of Wight has been represented by some writers to be very barren; which (if true) may have arisen from various causes, and amongst them, doubtless, the sweeping devastations, which have so frequently passed over it in bygone times, are to be considered as primary ones. Yet there is much that will repay the antiquary for a patient investigation—much that may yet be brought to light, hidden beneath the soil; and amongst those relics which time has spared, not the least interesting portion is that which comprises the old manorial residences of ancient families, many of which still remain in nearly their original state, and, being generally in secluded situations, have almost entirely escaped the notice of the tourist or the antiquary. A considerable list of these might be given, but I shall now limit my remarks to the ancient oratory of Burton, or Barton, which has survived to the present day, and till within a very brief period presented a curious example of the domestic arrangements of a different state of society from the present. This fine old place is, at this time, an object of peculiar interest, from its having so recently become the property of Her Most Gracious Majesty, and from the demolition (with small exceptions) of the venerable walls which have so long withstood the assaults of time and the injuries of man. It is true that another building is in progress of erection, and that taste and genius preside over the work, but it is difficult to forget, that, with its destruction, the associations attached to the time-hallowed and hoary dwelling of a distant age are passed away, and however we may admire the new creation, still we must regret the old and familiar. Very fortunately, during the last year, I had taken a series of sketches of the house as it then stood, and as it remained till within these few weeks, and two accompany this paper, which may serve to give some idea of the architectural character of the building, although they cannot convey any impression of its venerable and picturesque aspect, nor of its rich yet solemn tinting.
I shall briefly describe the old house as it lately stood, and then proceed to give such account of its uses and of its history as I have been enabled to collect from the scanty sources of information of which I could avail myself. It is much to be regretted that these are so meagre and unsatisfactory; but the truth is, that the religious house of Barton having been dissolved long before the Reformation, it has escaped the attention of our writers on ecclesiastical antiquities altogether, and with the exception of a few scattered notices of it in old documents, some traditionary matters, and the preservation of the building to illustrate them, its history is involved in obscurity.
Barton Court House was an extensive mass of buildings erected at various periods, and having that general character which has been denominated the Elizabethan style; but it is hardly to be doubted that it belonged to a period somewhat anterior, and that it offered a specimen of the domestic architecture of the close of the 15th century. The reasons for the adoption of this opinion are, that the houses of Elizabeth's time are usually more ornamented, whereas the prevailing characteristic of Barton was a severe simplicity; and also that it is well known that when the oratory was surrendered in the reign of Henry the Eighth, great alterations were made in the building; and to that era, therefore, the late dwelling-house was to be attributed.
          There were two principal fronts; the eastern, in which was situated the porch entrance, and the southern. But from whatever quarter it was viewed, a picturesque and massive group of moss-grown walls, towering and elegant chimneys, and ornamented gables, the whole embosomed in fine old trees, formed a scene of the greatest beauty and cheerfulness combined. The eastern front comprised wings, with a central porch of two stories, and, as will be seen in the sketch, was very beautifully varied in its combinations, and exhibited a rich and interesting assemblage of details. The southern front was of much greater extent and of greater simplicity in its outline, yet exceedingly impressive and noble, while, from its more weather-stained hue, it had a most venerable appearance. These two fronts are the only portions of the ancient building which will be preserved, and it is highly creditable to the taste of those entrusted with the restorations, that they should have spared these antique remains, although it might have been wished that the chimneys could also have been exempted from destruction, as their elaborate and elegant design and massive grouping well entitled them to this distinction.
During the progress of demolition, a wall of very solid construction, the sole remnant of the original building, was brought to light; and it having been stated in the public papers that it was interesting with respect to its architecture, I made a visit of inspection to Barton, but was unluckily too late for the swift progress of destruction, a considerable part having been then demolished, and with it an arched doorway which had been built up, and which the clerk of the works informed me was a plain chamfered one, possessing little of architectural merit. He also stated that the discoveries, concerning which so much had been written, were of a much less important character than had been represented, the arch, precisely similar to that at the eastern entrance, being the only feature of any interest. That portion of the wall which remained, certainly, presented no characteristic to distinguish it from any other, with the exception of its antiquity. It was a plain but massive piece of masonry. I was informed by the same gentleman also, that a few coins had been discovered during the demolition of the house, which had been sent to His Royal Highness Prince Albert, but he could give me no information as to their age or character;—they were of silver.
To describe the interior distribution of a dwelling which has ceased to be, may seem unnecessary, but there were some particulars about that of Barton which may entitle it to notice; and although it no longer retained its original monastic character, its details were of a sufficiently remote period to excite curiosity and to gratify it. One apartment, about 12 feet square, bore the title of the chapel, and was very singular, having been apparently fitted up as a secret chapel for the performance of the mass, subsequent to the Reformation, and within the memory of living individuals retaining its altar, crucifix, and other Roman Catholic accessories. The hall was also a spacious and noble room, though subsequently divided into two, and had its ample fire-places at either end, and its hospitable and antique table, formed from one immense plank of oak.
The Oratory of Burton, or Byrton as it is originally written, was founded about the close of Henry the Third's reign, or the commencement of that of Edward the First, by John de Insula (a member of the ancient family of that name seated in the Isle of Wight), rector of Shalfleet, and Thomas de Winton, rector of Godshill, and by them dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and endowed with certain lands and manorial rights situate in the parish of Whippingham and elsewhere, in the Isle of Wight.
In the register of John de Pontisserra, bishop of Winchester, some notices are preserved of this foundation and of the original constitution of the society, which enable us to form a clearer idea of the internal arrangements of the establishment and of its purposes than could be derived from any other source. The bishop states that he had seen the charters of John de Insula and Thomas de Winton, founders of the oratory of the Holy Trinity, of Burton, for the ordering and governing of the said oratory, made and in full force under the seals of the founders, and confirms them by the document which is there preserved. They are as follows,—
1. That there shall "be six chaplains and one clerk to officiate both for the living and the dead, under the rule of St. Augustine.
2. That one of these shall be presented to the bishop of Winchester, to be the archpriest ; to whom the rest shall take an oath of obedience.
3. That the archpriest shall be chosen by the chaplains there residing, who shall present him to the bishop within twenty days after any vacancy shall happen.
4. They shall be subject to the immediate authority of the bishop.
5. When any chaplain shall die, his goods shall remain to the oratory.
6. They shall have only one mess with a pittance at a meal, excepting on the greater festivals, when they may have three messes.
7. They shall be diligent in reading and praying.
8. They shall not go beyond the oratory without licence from the archpriest.
9. Their habit shall be one colour, either black or blue ; they shall be clothed 
                     " pallio Hiberniensi de nigra brreta cum pileo."
10. The archpriest shall sit at the head of the table, next to him those who have celebrated magnam rnissam, then the priest of St. Mary, next the priest of the Holy Trinity, and then the priest who says mass for the dead.
11. The clerk shall read something edifying to them while they dine.
12. They shall sleep in one room.
13. They shall use a special prayer for their benefactors.
14. They shall in all their ceremonies, and in tinkling the bell, follow the use of Sarum.
15. The archpriest alone shall have charge of the business of the housse.
16. They shall, all of them, at their admission into the house, swear to the observance of these statutes.
Thomas de Winton, and John de Insula, clerks, grant to John, bishop of Winchester, and his successors, the patronage of their oratory at Burton, in the parish of Whippingham, that he might become a protector and defender of them, the archpriest and his fellow-chaplains.
The bishop, at the instance of John de Insula, the surviving founder, Thomas being then dead, orders that after a year and a day from their entering into this oratory, no one shall accept of any other benefice, or shall depart the house. Actum et datum in dicto oratorio de Burton, a. 1289. Jordano de Kingston et aliis testibus.
In an old document relating to the liberties claimed by Isabella de Fortibus, lady of the Isle of Wight, and allowed her, 8 Edward the First, by the justices itinerant, are the following notices of the possessions of Burton at that time.
" Templarii ten. 4am- partem de Curne (Kerne) in eleemosina, et capellani de Burton tenent aliam partem in Curne in eleemosina."
" Robertas de Glamorgan ten. un. feodum et 6am- partem unius feodi de co-mitissa in capite, unde ten. maneria de Motteston et Burton, capellani nunc tenent. Capellani de Burton de eodem Roberto tenent 6am- partem unius feodi in Burton in eleemosina sine servitio."
" Heredes Rob. de Crus tenent 10am- partem un. feodi in Honyhull (Hunny-hill) cum molendino quod capellani de Burton tenent."
" Abatissa de Laycock tenet de comitissa in capite unum feodum, unde ten. in dominio manerium de Shorwell et unam virgat. terras in AYalpan, quani capellani de Burton nunc tenent."
Early in the reign of Edward the Third, in a list of the landholders of the island who were required to furnish certain forces for its defence against the French, we find the prior of Burton rated at two bowmen or archers.
A.D.1386. The archpriest was suspended from his office by
the bishop, and the dean of the island received instructions to take
charge of the oratory of Burton.
By the Winchester Register we are informed that, in a.d. 1390, the prior being then a captive in France, and the buildings of the oratory in a state of dilapidation, instructions were issued by the bishop that the house should be repaired, and other necessary things be done
a.d. 1439, about one hundred and fifty years after its institution, and in the eighteenth year of Henry the Sixth, the oratory of Burton or Barton was surrendered into the hands of the bishop of Winchester by Walter Frengoff the archpriest, who afterwards became archdeacon of Cornwall. This was undoubtedly through the influence of William Waynflete the bishop, and by the same influence the oratory with its lands were granted to the college of St. Mary at Winchester, founded by William of Wykeham, and with this foundation it has remained till the recent transfer to our most gracious queen.
Little remains to be added to the few facts relating to Barton oratory, which have escaped oblivion. The attempt has been made to arrange these in a connected form, rather than to make a continuous narrative; in fact it would have been almost impossible to have done so; it would have been incomplete without some account of the manor of Whippingham or Barton, and of its various proprietors.
In the general survey, known as the Domesday survey, the manor is stated to have been held in king Edward the Confessor's time by Bolla,—and to have been then in the possession of William Fitz Stur, with whose descendants it remained till the reign of Henry the Third, when by the marriage of Walter de Insula with the heiress of the De Esturs it passed into that family. By John de Insula it was granted to the oratory of Burton, and in the time of Henry the Sixth, was given to the college of Winchester. It is now the property of our beloved and amiable queen.

The following was hand written at this spot in my copy.

    Journ of the Arch Ass. Vol.  I 1826 p.260 –
   Mr Daniel Hewitt referring to a paper on the Oratory of Barton made the following observations in a letter to Mr Smith:- “I was on the spot last week, and was very much interested. The restorations have fallen into good hands. The beautiful chimney stacks (one of which remains) are to be rebuilt exactly according  to the original design, for which bricks are being moulded for the purpose: and so particular  have those entrusted with the work been, that they have had the bricks made not only in the same shape, but the same thickness as the bricks which have been taken down.

 Plaque over Barton Manor porch:
     Peace be to thee, Mark, my Evangelist.
(Francisco- General Provost of The Sea.)

Oratory of the Holy Trinity at Barton.

A chantry or oratory was the endowment of a secular priest who was to say  daily mass  for his benefactor and his descendents,.
This was founded in 1275 by Master Thomas de Winton, Rector of Godshill and Sir John de Insula, Rector of Shalfleet. The Bishop of Winchester was the Patron.
Six chaplains and a clerk, under the rule of St Augustine were to prey for the Living and the Dead.
It became a manor.
The Royal licence to Trengof  (Frengof) to alienate to the Warden and scholars of Seynt Marie of Wynchester ’To acquire and hold in mortmain the possessions of the oratory ‘, was dated March 27 1439.
H.R.H. the Prince Consort purchased the Manor in1853 by private Act of Parliament
Ref Boucher James pp. 237-241