Investigating the Lent Family in Wadswick Jonathan Parkhouse September 2025
Field occupied by "LENT" family shown in Allen’s 1626 map (courtesy Wiltshire History Centre)
I was interested to see the article on Lents Green recently. I can add a little to the story. The place name must refer to the Lent family. There are numerous entries in the parish registers for Lents between 1667 and 1795; most of these are for baptisms and burials rather than marriages, which is probably a reflection of the high rates of infant mortality.
Examples of Death/Burial and Baptisms at Box Church
28 February 1667-68 Dorothy Lent died, widow of John Lent
4 February 1668-69 Edward Lent died
13 July 1698 John Lent died
10 July 1698 Mary Lent died
25 June 1710 David Lent, son of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
14 June 1713 Abraham Lent, son of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
20 March 1724 Ann Lent, daughter of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
7 March 1733 Abraham Lent, son of John and Sarah (also called Ann) Lent, baptised
2 April 1733 Abraham Lent, son of Elizabeth Lent, baptised
Examples of Death/Burial and Baptisms at Box Church
28 February 1667-68 Dorothy Lent died, widow of John Lent
4 February 1668-69 Edward Lent died
13 July 1698 John Lent died
10 July 1698 Mary Lent died
25 June 1710 David Lent, son of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
14 June 1713 Abraham Lent, son of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
20 March 1724 Ann Lent, daughter of David and Elizabeth Lent, baptised
7 March 1733 Abraham Lent, son of John and Sarah (also called Ann) Lent, baptised
2 April 1733 Abraham Lent, son of Elizabeth Lent, baptised
Family Outside Box
The Lent family were not exclusively resident in Box and in 1739-40 there is evidence that one branch had moved to Bradford-on-Avon when the family of John and Sarah Lent was removed from Box to their parish of birth, together with their children Jane, Ann, Rachael, Abraham, Mary and Sarah. The implication may be that John was unable to work and had applied for parish relief in Box. In February 1741 an unmarried woman, Hannah Lent, was similarly removed to Bradford.
In the 1861 census stone mason and widower, Thomas Lent (1788-), was living at Pye Corner, but that may just have been a room that he could afford to rent as he was sharing the residence with Samuel Gingell, another stonemason, and possibly also David and Elizabeth Smith. In 1871 Thomas was an inmate at the Bradford-on-Avon Union Workhouse, Avoncliff.
Place of Residence
The parish registers offer no indication as to where the various members of the Lent family lived within the parish. The headline map shows that the Lent family occupying a field in 1626 a short distance to the east of Chapel Plaister.
An additional clue is given by the 1689 will of Anthony Gibbins of the Bell Inn at Chapel Plaister, which was witnessed by John Lent.[1] Wills were often witnessed by neighbours, and the cottages at Lents Green were only a few minutes’ walk from the Bell Inn.
The Lent family were not exclusively resident in Box and in 1739-40 there is evidence that one branch had moved to Bradford-on-Avon when the family of John and Sarah Lent was removed from Box to their parish of birth, together with their children Jane, Ann, Rachael, Abraham, Mary and Sarah. The implication may be that John was unable to work and had applied for parish relief in Box. In February 1741 an unmarried woman, Hannah Lent, was similarly removed to Bradford.
In the 1861 census stone mason and widower, Thomas Lent (1788-), was living at Pye Corner, but that may just have been a room that he could afford to rent as he was sharing the residence with Samuel Gingell, another stonemason, and possibly also David and Elizabeth Smith. In 1871 Thomas was an inmate at the Bradford-on-Avon Union Workhouse, Avoncliff.
Place of Residence
The parish registers offer no indication as to where the various members of the Lent family lived within the parish. The headline map shows that the Lent family occupying a field in 1626 a short distance to the east of Chapel Plaister.
An additional clue is given by the 1689 will of Anthony Gibbins of the Bell Inn at Chapel Plaister, which was witnessed by John Lent.[1] Wills were often witnessed by neighbours, and the cottages at Lents Green were only a few minutes’ walk from the Bell Inn.
1841 Tithe Apportionment map of Lents Green Cottages (courtesy Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre)
Why a “Green”?
The word “Green” is still a reference to common land in England, hence “village green” and similar descriptions. This aspect of communal ownership directly contrasts with the idea that the Lent family personally held land at Wadswick. The answer appears to relate to the timing of events. We can see from Allen’s 1626 map that the land directly south of Lents Green Cottages runs unusually north-south in straight lines, an indication of possible strip lynchets from medieval common field division. It is difficult to make out the names of the occupiers of the strips, apart from the largest one called “Vindels” (believed to be the name of the tenant of the land at that time). Could this be an earlier area of common land later held by the Lent family.
The word “Green” is still a reference to common land in England, hence “village green” and similar descriptions. This aspect of communal ownership directly contrasts with the idea that the Lent family personally held land at Wadswick. The answer appears to relate to the timing of events. We can see from Allen’s 1626 map that the land directly south of Lents Green Cottages runs unusually north-south in straight lines, an indication of possible strip lynchets from medieval common field division. It is difficult to make out the names of the occupiers of the strips, apart from the largest one called “Vindels” (believed to be the name of the tenant of the land at that time). Could this be an earlier area of common land later held by the Lent family.
Allen’s 1626 map showing the strips of land south of Lents Green Cottages (courtesy Wiltshire History Centre)
Can you help in identifying the origin of the name Lents Green and who the Lent family were? If so, please let us know to publish a follow-up article.
References
[1] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre: P3/G/339
[1] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre: P3/G/339