Sheldon Manors
Documenting the manorial history of the south Hampshire coast,
the Solent, and Chichester Harbour
Coverage Area
Manors in the Database
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Showing 50 documented manors. Research is ongoing across the coverage area.
Published Records
Manor Profiles
Alverstoke
Alverstoke, Hampshire · from 1086
Alverstoke was held by the Bishop of Winchester for the support of the monks of St Swithun at Domesday. In 1284 the manor was transferred from the priory to the bishop in exchange for important concessions. It remained with the see until the Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over.
View full profileBeaumonds
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1316
Beaumonds was a reputed manor in Farlington parish in the sixteenth century, possibly derived from the lands of John Beaumond recorded in 1316. Elizabeth Pound died seised of part of Beaumonds in 1511. Her son William, aged 37, succeeded. The descent thereafter followed Farlington manor.
View full profileBedhampton
Bedhampton, Hampshire · from 826
Bedhampton lies in the south-east corner of Portsdown hundred, bounded to the south by Langstone Harbour. King Egbert granted the manor to Winchester Cathedral in the ninth century, from which it passed to Hyde Abbey. The descent ran through the Fitz Herbert family, the Despensers, the earls of Kent, and the Holland and Beaufort families before merging with the Crown on the death of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, in 1509.
View full profileBelanney
Southwick, Hampshire · from 1086
A sub-manor within Southwick parish, possibly derived from the Domesday holding of William Mauduit. The Belanney family held it in the thirteenth century. It passed through the Sturmy, Holt, and Pound families before merging with the main Southwick manor through the marriage of Mary Pound to Edward White. Courts leet were held as late as 1803.
View full profileBirdham
Birdham, West Sussex · from 683
Birdham was included in Caedwalla's endowment to the monastery of Selsey in 683. In Domesday Book, the manor was held under Earl Roger by William, with Nigel as his tenant, at three and a half hides with a mill yielding 20 shillings and two fisheries. The principal manor descended with Halnaker to Thomas West, Lord de la Warre, who exchanged it to the Crown in 1540. It was granted to Sir Richard Sackville in 1557, then to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester in 1565. Sir Richard Lewkenor held it by 1616, and it descended with West Dean manor thereafter.
View full profileBoarhunt
Boarhunt, Hampshire · from 1086
The principal manor of Boarhunt parish, held at Domesday by Tezelin under Hugh de Port. The Boarhunt family held it from the early thirteenth century until 1365, when Bernard de Brocas and his wife Mary conveyed it to William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester. Wykeham granted it to Southwick Priory in 1369. At the Dissolution it passed to Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, then to John White of Southwick. It followed the descent of Southwick manor thereafter.
View full profileBoarhunt Herbelyn
Boarhunt, Hampshire · from 1216
A serjeanty manor within Boarhunt parish, named after Herbelin who held it in the reign of Henry III. The holder owed castle service at Portchester: habergellum (mail coat service) for twenty to forty days in time of war. It passed from the Boarhunt family to the Danvers family, then to Southwick Priory. At the Dissolution it was granted to Thomas Wriothesley and followed the descent of the principal Boarhunt manor.
View full profileBosham
Bosham, West Sussex · from 1066
Bosham was one of the great pre-Conquest lordships of Sussex, held by Earl Godwin and then his son Harold before 1066. William the Conqueror retained it as the only Sussex estate in royal hands. The manor passed through the Marshal earls of Pembroke, the Bigod earls of Norfolk, the Mowbray dukes of Norfolk, and the Berkeley earls. The Guinness family (Earls of Iveagh) purchased the lordship before 1937 and held it until 2019, when it was sold to Franck Petitgas. The full title is the Hundred and Manor of Bosham and Chidham and Manor of Bosham Buckfold.
View full profileBrockhampton
Havant, Hampshire · from 1066
Brockhampton was a tithing on the western borders of Havant parish, held before the Conquest by Sired under Earl Harold. After 1066 the overlordship passed to Hugh de Port with Herbert the Chamberlain as actual tenant. Its Domesday mill was valued at 15s. The manor was held in dower with Bedhampton by Joan, widow of Reginald FitzPeter, and after 1428 was merged into Bedhampton manor.
View full profileCams
Fareham, Hampshire · from 1086
Cams, also known as Cammes Oysell, developed from a 4-hide Domesday holding formerly of Earl Godwin. It passed through the Oysell, Curteys, Ludlow, Badd, Chandler, Carnac, and Delme families. John Oysell represented Fareham in Parliament in 1306.
View full profileChidham
Chidham, West Sussex · from 1243
Chidham was not separately assessed in Domesday Book but formed part of the Bishop of Exeter's estate of the chapelry of Bosham. A confirmatory grant of 1243 first names the manor of Chidham. The Bishop of Exeter held it until 1548, when it was conveyed to Thomas Fisher. The Bickley family held it from 1549 to 1707. It subsequently passed through the Earls of Scarborough, the Padwick and Cheesman families, and Sophie, Lady Gifford. Before 1937 it was acquired by the Earl of Iveagh.
View full profileCosham
Wymering, Hampshire · from 1086
The king held four hides at Cosham at Domesday as part of the royal manor of Wymering. The Cosham family held by serjeanty, providing one armed man for the defence of Portchester Castle in time of war. The manor merged with Wymering by 1604 through the Bruning holdings and passed to Thomas Thistlethwayte in 1821.
View full profileCrofton
Titchfield, Hampshire · from 1066
Crofton was held at Domesday by Count Alan of Brittany as part of the honour of Richmond. It had previously been held by Wulfward. The Furneaux family held as mesne lords, with the Talbot family as sub-tenants. In 1331 Elias de Cherleton and Benedicta, widow of Lawrence Talbot, alienated the manor in mortmain to Titchfield Abbey on condition that a chaplain celebrate daily in the chapel of St Edmund, Crofton. After the Dissolution in 1537, Crofton followed the descent of Titchfield manor.
View full profileCrookhorn
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1312
Crookhorn, historically known as Creuquer, was a small manor within Farlington parish. Its descent was identical to Farlington until 1312, when it was returned to John de Gimises on the death of John de Berewyk. Forfeited for Gimises's felony, it was granted to Hugh le Despenser for life in 1317 and subsequently followed the descent of Farlington. Crookhorn Farm, near Purbrook, is its probable site.
View full profileDrayton
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1250
Drayton was a sub-manor within Farlington parish. Henry III gave a moiety to Roger de Merlay in 1250. The Sandford family consolidated the estate by 1303. The Pageham family held Drayton from 1327, owing the service of one man to guard the east gate of Portchester Castle for fifteen days in time of war. The manor passed through the Pound and Wayte families to the earls of Sussex, then to the Garth family, after which it followed the descent of Farlington.
View full profileEarnley
Earnley, West Sussex · from 780
Earnley does not appear in the Domesday Survey, probably being included within Wittering. In 780 Oslac, Duke of the South Saxons, granted land called Earnaleach to the church of St Paul at Selsey. The manor was held by the Ernele family from at least 1284 and passed through several lay hands after the fifteenth century.
View full profileEast Cosham
Wymering, Hampshire · from 1086
East Cosham was held at Domesday by Anschitel son of Osmund. It passed through the Maundeville family to Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, who assigned it in free alms to Titchfield Abbey. After the Dissolution it was granted to Henry Wriothesley. The property passed through the Joliffe, Wrenford and Meller families before Thomas Gosling sold it to Thomas Thistlethwayte in 1821.
View full profileFareham
Fareham, Hampshire · from 1086
Fareham was held by the Bishop of Winchester from Domesday until the Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over in 1869. It contained 30 hides but was assessed at only 20 on account of its exposed coastal position and liability to Danish raids. Fareham was a free borough and returned two members to Parliament in 1306, the only occasion it was so represented.
View full profileFarlington
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1187
Farlington was held by the Curci family in the late twelfth century. It passed through the Merlay, Berewyk, and Upton families before Hugh le Despenser acquired it in 1320. Southwick Priory held the manor from 1348 until the Dissolution. The Pound family received it in 1540, and it descended through the Wolfe, Smith, Taylor, Keith, and Walker families to the Deverell family.
View full profileFrendstaple
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1480
Frendstaple, also known as Stakes, was a sub-manor within Farlington parish. Its descent followed Farlington until 1480, when William Gunter acquired it. The Gunter family held it until the mid-seventeenth century. In 1820 Stakes Farm was purchased by William Taylor and the hamlet of Stakes Hill by John Hulbert. The Hulbert family held Stakes Hill Lodge at the date of VCH publication.
View full profileFuntington
Funtington, West Sussex · from 1086
Funtington was a member of the manor of Bosham and was usually termed a hamlet until the fifteenth century. In 1478 and in later records it figures as a manor. It descended with Bosham throughout the medieval period, passing through the Marshal earls of Pembroke, the Bigod earls of Norfolk, the Mowbray dukes, and the Berkeley earls. The rectory formed a prebend attached to the office of sacrist in the college of Bosham, valued in 1291 at 26 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence.
View full profileHambledon
Hambledon, Hampshire · from 1086
Hambledon was a large manor in the hundred of the same name, granted to the Bishop of Winchester by King John in 1199 after it had escheated to the Crown under Henry I. The bishops held it continuously until the Commonwealth sale in 1650, regaining it at the Restoration. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over in 1869.
View full profileHavant
Havant, Hampshire · from 935
Havant was granted by King Athelstan to the thegn Witgar in 935 and confirmed to the monks of St Swithun at Winchester by King Ethelred. The monks held it at Domesday for ten hides. In 1284 the priory exchanged the manor with the Bishop of Winchester, who retained it until the nineteenth century.
View full profileHayling
Hayling Island, Hampshire · from 956
Hayling Island was held by the Abbey of Jumieges in Normandy from the time of William I, making it one of the few Hampshire manors held by a French abbey. As an alien priory, it was seized by the Crown during the French wars and in 1414 granted to the Priory of Sheen in Surrey. After the Dissolution it passed through the Earls of Arundel and the Dukes of Norfolk.
View full profileLangstone
Havant, Hampshire · from 1086
Langstone was one of four tithings of Havant, situated on the harbour of the same name near the causeway connecting Hayling Island with the mainland. It had salterns dating from the eleventh century, a small port for coastal trade, and a mill. The nearby sub-manor of Limborne at Wade Court descended separately as a parcel of Warblington manor.
View full profileMoralls
Portchester, Hampshire · from 1150
Moralls was a sub-manor within Portchester parish held by Southwick Priory until the Dissolution. The method by which the priory acquired it is unknown. In 1559 it was granted to John White, and thereafter followed the descent of Southwick manor.
View full profileNew Fishbourne
New Fishbourne, West Sussex · from 1066
New Fishbourne was held by Earl Tostig before the Conquest and granted by Earl Roger to the Abbey of Seez in Normandy. It remained with the abbey until the alien priory confiscations, when in 1416 the Crown granted it to the Bridgettine nunnery of Syon in Middlesex. After the Dissolution the manor was annexed to the honour of Petworth in 1540 and first called a manor at that date. Granted to John Fenner in 1560, it passed through the Bowyer family to William Cawley in 1633, then through the Biggs and Comber families to the Miller baronets of Froyle, who held it until the 1870s.
View full profileNewlands
Southwick, Hampshire · from 1200
A sub-manor in Southwick parish held by Southwick Priory. It originated from Peter de Cosham's serjeanty in Cosham. The prior held a virgate and a half at Newland in the thirteenth century. Granted to John White of Southwick in 1546, after which it followed the descent of Southwick manor. Represented by Newlands Farm.
View full profileNorth Fareham
Fareham, Hampshire · from 1086
North Fareham, also known as Roche Court, developed from 7.5 hides held by Ralph in 1086. It descended through the des Roches, Brocas, Pexall, and Gardiner families. Sir Bernard Brocas the younger was beheaded in 1400 for conspiracy favouring Richard II.
View full profileOld Fishbourne
Bosham, West Sussex · from 1086
Old Fishbourne lies on the northern shore of Chichester Harbour within the ancient parish of Bosham. First recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, the manor was held by Southwick Priory for approximately four hundred years before passing to the Crown at the Dissolution and then to Anne of Cleves in 1540. The lordship was acquired by Morgan Sheldon in 2023.
View full profilePaulsgrove
Wymering, Hampshire · from 1318
Paulsgrove was a hamlet on the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour within Wymering parish, Portsdown hundred. First documented in a fine of 1318 as "Palegrove", the name survived in Paulsgrove Lake and Paulsgrove Quay. Local tradition held that St Paul landed here on a visit to England. The settlement shared the manorial descent of Wymering.
View full profilePortchester
Portchester, Hampshire · from 285
Portchester stands at the head of Portsmouth Harbour within the walls of a late Roman Saxon Shore fort built c.285 AD, the most complete example in northern Europe. The Norman castle built in the north-west corner was held by the Mauduit family through their office of royal chamberlain. The manor was the central hub of the Portsdown castle service network, with multiple surrounding manors owing armed men for its defence in time of war.
View full profilePurbrook
Farlington, Hampshire · from 1248
Purbrook was a hamlet in the northwest of Farlington parish, Portsdown hundred, at the foot of Portsdown Hill on the London to Portsmouth road. It shared the manorial descent of Farlington, passing through the Merlay, Despenser, Southwick Priory, Pound, and Deverell families. The settlement was surrounded by copses formerly part of the Forest of Bere.
View full profileRowner
Rowner, Hampshire · from 1066
Rowner was held by William Mauduit at the time of the Domesday survey. The la Falaise family held by a serjeanty of providing one armed man for forty days yearly for the defence of Winchester Castle. After the la Falaise line ended in felony, the Crown granted the manor to Sir William le Brune in 1277. The Brune family, later Prideaux-Brune, held Rowner continuously from 1277 to the time of VCH publication.
View full profileSelsey
Selsey, West Sussex · from 681
Selsey was the original seat of the Sussex bishopric, founded by St Wilfrid in 681 on a grant from King Aethelwalh. The Bishop of Chichester held the manor continuously from Domesday until 1561, when Elizabeth I compelled Bishop Barlow to surrender it. The manor then passed through the Morley, Elson, Glanville, and Peachey families. John Peachey was created Baron Selsey in 1794. The title became extinct in 1838.
View full profileSidlesham
Sidlesham, West Sussex · from 683
Sidlesham was granted to Bishop Wilfrid in 683 by King Caedwalla as endowment for Selsey monastery. At Domesday it was held by the Bishop of Chichester at 12 hides. The manor remained with the bishops until 1560, when Queen Elizabeth acquired it by exchange, and thereafter passed through lay hands.
View full profileSouthwick
Southwick, Hampshire · from 1133
Southwick was granted to Southwick Priory in 1133 and remained with the Augustinian canons until the Dissolution in 1538. The site passed to John White, then to the Norton family, and from 1733 to the Thistlethwayte family. Southwick House served as the advance headquarters of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in 1944, where General Eisenhower took the decision to launch D-Day.
View full profileStubbington
Titchfield, Hampshire · from 1066
Stubbington was held by Earl Godwin before the Conquest and passed to Hugh of Port at the Domesday survey. The overlordship descended through the de Port and St John families until 1309, when John de St John granted it to Titchfield Abbey. The Mohun and Rayny families held as sub-tenants before granting their lands to the abbey c.1293. After the Dissolution in 1537, the manor passed to Thomas Wriothesley. In the 1540s it was granted to Winchester College as compensation for the College's Middlesex estates taken by Henry VIII. Manorial records held at Winchester College Archives span from 1189 to 1925.
View full profileTitchfield
Titchfield, Hampshire · from 1066
Titchfield was a Crown manor at the time of the Domesday survey, described as a berewick of Meonstoke held by King Edward before the Conquest. Henry III granted the manor to Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, in 1232 to endow a Premonstratensian abbey. After the Dissolution in 1537 the estate passed to Thomas Wriothesley, created Earl of Southampton, and descended through the Noel, Portland and Beaufort families before Peter Delme purchased it in 1741.
View full profileWanstead
Southwick, Hampshire · from 1250
A sub-manor in Southwick parish held by the family of Wanstead from the mid-thirteenth century. The holders owed castle service at Portchester: one man armed for eight days in time of war. The manor passed through the Dawtry and Bennett families before being absorbed into the Southwick estate under the Thistlethwayte family.
View full profileWarblington
Warblington, Hampshire · from 1066
Warblington was held by Earl Godwin before the Conquest and passed to Earl Roger of Shrewsbury after 1066. The manor descended through a series of Crown grants, the Monthermer and Montagu families, the Nevills and earls of Warwick, and the ill-fated Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, before being settled on the Cotton family from 1551 to 1736.
View full profileWest Boarhunt
Boarhunt, Hampshire · from 1086
West Boarhunt was held by Earl Roger at the time of Domesday. The overlordship passed to the Earls of Arundel. By the reign of Henry III, Southwick Priory held the manor as half a fee of the old feoffment. The priory retained West Boarhunt until the Dissolution in 1538. The manor was granted to Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, in 1543, who alienated it to John White of Southwick in 1544.
View full profileWest Stoke
West Stoke, West Sussex · from 1066
West Stoke was granted to one Edgar soon after the Conquest and passed through the Barentyn and de la Faleyse families. Roger Bigod conveyed it with Bosham to Edward I in 1279, and it descended with Bosham through the Brotherton earls, Mowbray dukes, and Howard dukes of Norfolk. Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, exchanged it to the Crown in 1540. It was granted to the Stoughton family in 1559 and divided among coheirs in the seventeenth century. The Duke of Richmond purchased the whole manor in 1764, and it has since remained with the Dukes of Richmond.
View full profileWest Thorney
West Thorney, West Sussex · from 1086
West Thorney occupies Thorney Island in Chichester Harbour, assessed at 12 hides in Domesday Book with geld liability of 8 hides. The overlordship belonged to the Bishops of Exeter as two knight's fees. The manor was divided into thirds in the thirteenth century among the heirs of the de Thorney family. One third was acquired by Hugh Bigod and descended with Bosham. Another descended through the Bickley family with Chidham. The parish church rectory was valued at 20 pounds in 1291.
View full profileWest Wittering
West Wittering, West Sussex · from 683
West Wittering was granted by King Caedwalla to endow the See of Selsey in 683. The Bishop of Chichester held the manor continuously from Domesday, with the episcopal manor house at Cakeham serving as the bishops' favoured country residence. Bishop Robert Sherburne rebuilt the house in the early sixteenth century, adding a distinctive five-sided Tudor brick tower that still stands. The estate passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners after the Reformation.
View full profileWestbourne
Westbourne, West Sussex · from 1066
Westbourne was held by Earl Godwin before the Conquest and by Earl Roger of Montgomery in 1086, assessed at 36 hides. The manor descended with the Honour of Arundel through the FitzAlan earls for over three centuries. Lord Lumley acquired it in 1566 and the Earls of Scarborough held it until 1771. Richard Barwell purchased it in 1781. The parish straddles the Hampshire-Sussex border and includes the sub-manors of Prinsted, Woodmancote, Aldsworth, Nutbourne, and Westbrook.
View full profileWickham
Wickham, Hampshire · from 1066
Wickham was held by Hugh de Port at the time of the Domesday survey, having previously been held as two manors by four brothers under King Edward. The Scures family held the manor under the de Port overlordship from at least 1268. Through the marriage of Sybil Scures to John Uvedale, the Uvedale family held Wickham for some 350 years from 1381. The Garnier family, later Carpenter-Garnier, purchased in 1764 and held at the time of VCH publication.
View full profileWidley
Widley, Hampshire · from 1086
Widley developed from the two hides held by Geoffrey under Hugh de Port at Domesday, assessed at Cosham. It passed through the earls of Albemarle, the Scures family, and the Uvedale family. The Uvedales were deprived of two-thirds of their lands for recusancy in 1605. The Thistlethwayte family acquired the manor in the early nineteenth century.
View full profileWyker
Portchester, Hampshire · from 1230
Wyker, also known as Wiccor or Wykes, was a sub-manor within Portchester parish held by Titchfield Abbey from c.1230 until the Dissolution. It was granted to Thomas, Earl of Southampton, for life in 1550, then to John White of Southwick in 1556, after which it followed the descent of Southwick manor.
View full profileWymering
Wymering, Hampshire · from 1086
Ancient demesne of the Crown at Domesday. Wymering passed through the Earls of Albemarle, the Botiller family, and the Wayte family before division among six co-heiresses in 1561. The manor was reunited under George Kelly c.1730 and sold to Thomas Thistlethwayte in 1821. The manor house, H-shaped in plan and standing north of the road between Cosham and Fareham, is the oldest domestic building in Portsmouth.
View full profileEvery manor in the coverage area, every source cross-referenced, mapped, and presented in one place.
Our research programme works systematically through the Victoria County History volumes for Hampshire and Sussex, cross-referenced against the Manorial Documents Register, Inquisitions Post Mortem, and primary records held at county record offices. Every statement on this platform is tied to a documented source.
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