MRP: Maydekin
Maydekin
Maydekin is a name which refers to two houses related to the Oxinden/Oxenden family at the border of the parishes of Barham and Denton in Kent - Great Maydekin and Little Maydekin. D.K. Gardiner writes that Little Maydekin was the dower house of Great Maydekin (Gardiner, 1933:xiv). The properties first owners were from the Maydekin family. Subsequently the property came to James Brooker (b.?, d. 1588), whose daughter Elizaberth was the first wife of Sir Henry Oxinden of Deane. Richard Oxinden, father of Henry Oxinden of Barham, was the first Oxinden to own Maydekin property. He was a grandson of James Brooker. Mckay (1998:178) states that James Brooker owned ca. 500 acres in and around the parish of Barham, and that Richard Oxinden owned and enlarged Great Maydekin.
According to an article in Archaeologia Cantiana:
Great Maydekin is a timber-framed house and may already have been old when it was purchased by Oxinden's grandfather, James Brooker, in 1563. The quality of the structure was a source of pride to Oxinden; in the sale document he'... (LOOK AT ORIGINAL TO COMPLETE)
(Archaeologia cantiana, vol. 121 (XXXX, 2001), p. 354)
The same article reproduces a plan of Little Maydekin dated 1746, and notes that the garden layout accurately matches the details given in Henry Oxinden of Barham commonplace book (Add. MSS 54,332).
Henry Oxinden of Barham's commonplace book - descriptions of Maydekin
Maydekin features frequently in Henry Oxinden of Barham commonplace book (Add. MSS 54,332). This was the house he inherited from his father, Richard Oxinden's (1588-1629), following Richard's relatively early death. Many of his occasional entries relate to the planting of Henry's gardens:
The Hall, & studies & roomes over it at great maydekin was builded by Richard Oxinden Esq:r 1620, & all the Chimnies besides, & the South side of the house were builded by him before that time (f. 17r.)
(?Post 1620) Of the land to Denton Court which Ed: Swan Esq:r sold to Cap:t Percival 325:a-1-18 perches, beside what was in the high wayes: sold it for 4750:l (f. 22r.)
1634 planted the row of walnut trees, & some other in the place at great Maydekin (f. 17v.)
1635 planted the cherry garden at great Maydekin (f. 17v.)
The yew tree before the great parlour windore at Maydekin I planted Anno Dmi: 1637 (f. 23r.)
No.16.1647 planted twentie five peare trees in the garden that is walled at great maydekin, witness my sonne Thomas, & my sonne Hobart (f.30r.)
Iuly. 1649. Builded the brick head to the Red house next to the garden, & made then the windoores at the side next to the garden & the doore going out of the parlour witness my sonne Thomas (f. 18r.)
1649 Denton streete was paved from my Red house to the Church stile at the cost of mee henry Oxinden, Excepting forty shillings which Phineas Andrew esq, & forty shilling which M.r Clement Barling Rector of Denton allowed towards the charge (f. 23r.)
1649 I layd the 4 grave stones in Denton Chancel upon my Ancestors xxx: & ?sate up the Armes in the windows (f. 23r.)
Feb. 10.1652 sent my Coz Henry Oxinden the yew tree stood in the well house next to the holy trees at Maydekin & stands at the left hand coming in to the ?gate: Lent him then my stone ?rowle (f. 30r.)
August 1654 the well at the red house was deepned (sic) but not to the chalk & was deepned again in 1667 but not to y:e chalk (f. 30v.)
Oct. 27. 1654 my son Tho: planted some ??chequer trees behind the stable at Maydekin (f. 30v.)
No:9:1654. Tooke up, out of the Nursery at maydekin, 1 quince tree. 2 ?warden trees. & 3 other peare trees, xxxxx y:e in Byton. & 1 pear tree against the bake house windore. 1 allso (f. 20r.)
Oct.26.1668 planted the 2 peach trees the one in the Kitchin garden, the other in the flower garden: & the Apricot tree under my studie windore At the garden side had them of Valentine Reade: planted allso then six vines about the trees in the Nursery had of him allso (f. 31r.) (not clear if this refers to Maydekin, or a different house)
Henry gives a more detailed building history over several pages of his commonplace book. (Detailed building history of Great Maydekin: f.25v.-f.26r.-f..28r)
- f.28r. lists the work done by Mr. Edward Adie to Maydekin, who came there in 1663
Sources
Primary
Henry Oxinden of Barham commonplace books, Add. MSS 54,332
The Genealogist new series 8, (1893), p 150; vols 31-8 [transcription of Oxenden's Memorandum Book]
Secondary
Archaeologia cantiana, vol. 121 (XXXX, 2001), p. 354
Mckay, Barry, The reach of print: making, selling, and using books, vol. 2 (XXXX, 1998)
Recollections of the Late Sir Henry Oxenden, Bart.,of Broome Park, Respectfully Inscribed to Robert Collard, Esq., of Reculver, Edward Gibbens, Esq., of Minster, and the Tenantry of the Broome Estate by a Late Steward, Canterbury: Ward, Printer, “Kentish Gazette” Ofice, 1862,
- "The fox hounds were kept at Maydekin at his own expense" (p.14)
