STIKELANE, Ralph, of Bridport and Lyme Regis, Dorset.

In 1362 Stikelane inherited from his father two messuages in South Street, Bridport, and in 1376 he made a quitclaim to Robert Beaminster of another in East Street. Later, he acquired an interest in property in Lyme as well, and it was evidently there that he chiefly resided. In 1386 he was indicted in the King’s bench for aiding and abetting in the murder of another inhabitant, Richard Tynham, but was eventually acquitted.3Dorset RO, B3/S70; Harl. Ch. 57 A 46; KB27/500 m. 13. He is known to have served a term as mayor of Lyme before sitting four times for the borough in Parliament. Stikelane seems to have become quite an important figure in the area: in 1403 his seal was used to authenticate a conveyance of land at Axminster, Devon, because that of the grantor was not widely known, and in July 1405 and October 1408 on the occasions that the dean of Salisbury made an official visitation of the church at Lyme, he acted as proctor for the absent rector. On the earlier occasion he was instructed to repair defective choir stalls, on pain of a fine of 20s., but three years later he reported that the stalls in the chancel were lacking, and the chancel itself ruinous. He may have died before June 1412, by which date Thomas Stikelane (perhaps his son) had taken over from him as the rector’s proctor.4Devon RO, Petre (Bonville) ms TB213; Reg. John Chandler (Wilts. Rec. Soc. xxxix), 21, 204, 314.