A Magnificent Piece of 17th-Century History – Signed Commonwealth-Era Manuscript.
Dating from the time of Oliver Cromwell this exceptional 1657 Property Indenture. Hand-inscribed on heavy animal vellum, this document records a freehold conveyance in the historic parish of Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire.
 
This manuscript is a primary witness to the Interregnum, a rare period where legal proceedings were conducted in the "common tongue" of English. It features the prominent signatures of Henry and Katherine Powle, complete with their original red wax seals. Documents from the 1650s are significantly rarer than those from the later 18th century. The "Commonwealth" dating (avoiding mention of a King) makes it a specialist item. Henry Powle: The Powle family were prominent landowners and lawyers. A Henry Powle (1630–1692) later became a very famous politician, serving as Speaker of the House of Commons and Master of the Rolls. While this document may be an earlier relative or a local branch of the family, the name carries significant weight in legal and parliamentary history. Katherine Powle: It is relatively rare to find a 17th-century document prominently featuring and signed by a wife. This usually occurred in "Lease and Release" agreements or settlements where the wife had a dower interest or inherited right in the property at Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire.
The Location: Little Eversden was a small, tight-knit parish. Freehold land here was highly prized due to its proximity to the University of Cambridge and its fertile agricultural value.
 
Document Highlights:
Date: 1657 (The Commonwealth of England).
 
Parties: Henry Powle and Katherine Powle.
 
Location: Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire.
 
Format: Scalloped "Indenture" top edge with ornate calligraphic initial letters.
 
Material: Genuine 17th-century vellum with dark iron gall ink.
 
Condition:
The document is in remarkable antique condition for being over 365 years old. The vellum remains supple, the signatures are crisp, and the wax seals are well-preserved. It carries the original fold lines used for storage in a lawyer’s deed box.
A centrepiece for any collection of rare manuscripts, Cambridgeshire local history, or Cromwellian-era artifacts.
 
Document measures 67 x 61cm or 73cm including the pendant seal strips (26" x 24" x 99"). 
 
The document will be shipped folded along the original crease lines.