Manor Profile
Birdham, West Sussex· Manhood Hundred· 683 – 1953
Also known as: Birdham Manor, Birdham Court Barns
Birdham lies on the eastern shore of Chichester Harbour, within the Manhood Hundred. The parish was included in Caedwalla's endowment to the monastery of Selsey in 683. Before the Conquest, Alnod held the manor as an alod under Edward the Confessor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 199-201).
In 1086, the manor was held under Earl Roger by William, with Nigel as his tenant. The holding consisted of three and a half hides, with a mill yielding 20 shillings and two fisheries. Anschitel held a further one and a half hides as a separate tenant. William's lands formed the honour of Halnaker, and Nigel was succeeded by the Sartilli family (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 199).
Geoffrey de Sartilli granted one virgate at la Hulle (Hill Land) to Boxgrove Priory. Prior Nicholas leased this around 1220 to Thomas de Chesney, who later surrendered it to William St. John in Halnaker court, after which it became part of the main manor held by the St. Johns in demesne. By 1329, the heirs of Robert de Sortell held half a knight's fee. Robert de Bromore held this by 1336 and 1349 (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 199).
The Broomer holding (Birdham Broomer manor) passed to the Earl of Arundel. The earl's executors gave it in 1423 to Holy Trinity Hospital, Arundel. Upon the hospital's suppression, it was granted in June 1546 to Sir Richard Lee, who sold it within a year to Thomas Carpender. Carpender alienated it in 1561 to Thomas Shelley, who sold it to Sir Richard Sackville. In 1565, Queen Elizabeth granted it to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester in exchange for other property (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 199-200).
The principal Birdham manor descended with Halnaker to Thomas West, Lord de la Warre, who exchanged it to the Crown in 1540. In December 1557, it was granted to Sir Richard Sackville as one fortieth of a knight's fee. He obtained licence to alienate in 1564 and conveyed both manors to the Crown in 1565. Sir Richard Lewkenor held it by 1616 in socage. His grandson Richard settled it upon his 1617 marriage to Mary Bennett, daughter of an alderman of London, and died in 1635 leaving a son John, then eleven and a half years old. Thereafter it descended with West Dean manor (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, p. 200).
Birdham church was granted to Lessay Abbey by Robert de Hay in 1105, confirmed to Boxgrove Priory by William and Robert de St. John in 1187. The parish of East Itchenor was united to Birdham on 17 April 1441 by Bishop Praty (VCH Sussex, Vol. 4, pp. 200-201).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alnod | 1066 | Held the manor as an alod under Edward the Confessor. | ||
| 2 | William (of Halnaker) | 1066 | grant from Earl Roger | Held the manor under Earl Roger with Nigel as his tenant. Three and a half hides, a mill yielding 20 shillings, and two fisheries. William's lands formed the honour of Halnaker. | |
| 3 | Sartilli family | inheritance (from Nigel) | Nigel was succeeded by the Sartilli family. Geoffrey de Sartilli granted one virgate at la Hulle to Boxgrove Priory. | ||
| 4 | St. John family (of Halnaker) | descent with Halnaker | William St. John acquired the Hill Land from Thomas de Chesney in Halnaker court. The St. Johns held the main manor in demesne. | ||
| 5 | Thomas West(Lord de la Warre) | 1540 | descent with Halnaker | The principal Birdham manor descended with Halnaker to Lord de la Warre, who exchanged it to the Crown in 1540. | |
| 6 | The Crown(Crown) | 1540 | 1557 | exchange from Lord de la Warre | Held the manor after the 1540 exchange. |
| 7 | Sir Richard Sackville | 1557 | 1565 | crown grant (December 1557) | Granted the manor as one fortieth of a knight's fee. Obtained licence to alienate in 1564. Conveyed both manors to the Crown in 1565. |
| 8 | Sir Richard Lewkenor | Held the manor by 1616 in socage. | |||
| 9 | Richard Lewkenor (grandson) | 1635 | inheritance | Grandson of Sir Richard. Settled the manor on his 1617 marriage to Mary Bennett, daughter of an alderman of London. Died in 1635 leaving son John (then eleven and a half years old). Descended with West Dean manor thereafter. |
Monastery of Selsey
abbey · endowed · 683
Caedwalla's endowment to Selsey, 683
Lessay Abbey
abbey · held_church · 1105
Grant from Robert de Hay, 1105
Holy Trinity Hospital, Arundel
hospital · held · 1423 – 1546
Dean and Chapter of Chichester
church · held · 1565
BIRDHAM HARBOUR ESTATES LIMITED
company · corporate_holder · 1987
Companies House 02176966
Boxgrove Priory
priory · held_lands
Grant from Geoffrey de Sartilli of one virgate at la Hulle
Tortington Priory
priory · held_property · 1538
Sidlesham and Birdham are neighbouring parishes in the Manhood hundred.
Birdham Broomer was a sub-manor within the larger Birdham estate, originating from the 1/12 fee held by Robert de Bromore.
Birdham Court Barns was the second sub-manor of Birdham, granted as "the other manor of Birdham" in 1565.
423m from manor coordinates. Period: POST MEDIEVAL. Evidence: EARTHWORK. Project: South East RCZAS (CCC).
Sussex folios. Birdham held under Earl Roger by William with Nigel as tenant. Three and a half hides, a mill yielding 20 shillings, and two fisheries.
…1...Westbourne Common R.O. West Dean C.L. 256...Hog Common West Itchenor ... C.L. 265...Waste of the Manors of Birdham , West Itchenor and West WitteringO. V.G. 66...Harbour, Creeks, Foreshore and Beaches West Thorney .…
…ignor C.L. 249 ... Poors PieceO. C.L. 260 ... Mill Hill or Coppice Birdham C.L. 265 ... Waste of the Manors of Birdham , West Itchenor and West WitteringO. r, ,IT n' £.£. '" f Harbour, Creeks, Foreshore and Beaches rJos…
455m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
477m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
473m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
474m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
132m from manor coordinates. Listed Building, Grade II.
Property as in Add Mss 7404 and 7406
Admission of Sarah Challen (dau. of William Challen of Appledram, yeo.), upon the surrender of Ann Costellow Duer, wid. (formerly Ann Costellow Drinkwater, spinster), Elizabeth Peckham, wid. (formerly Elizabeth Drinkwater, spinster) and Mary Pawlett Drinkwater Property as in Add Mss 12,471 (including a plot of land (2 roods) late parcel of Birdham Common and which upon the inclosure thereof was allotted to said Ann Costellow Duer in respect of 'the aforesaid Land' and bounded on N. by a plot of
(a) William Booker, of Rogate, labourer, (eldest son of Joseph Booker, formerly of East Wittering, blacksmith, late of Farlington, co. Hants. farmer, dec'd, and Elizabeth, his wife); (b) William Bartley, of Sidlesham, labourer; (c) James Sowton, of Grays Inn, London, gent Messuage, divided into two tenements, with gardens and ground in East Wittering, now or late in occ. of Mary Hammond and George Faith, abutting E on road from Chichester to East Wittering and Earnley, and S. on East Wittering w
A messuage, barn and 3 a. land, abutting S. and E. on Manhood Common, W. on customary lands formerly of Richard Bland, and N. on Court Barns Lane, at an annual rent of 8s. on the same conditions and at the same request as in Add Mss 7405
The Dean and Chapter of Chichester Cathedral, lords of the manor of Birdham Broomer Manor to Susannah Prior Tenement and 1a. land in Birdham Broomer called Catchelloys, or Catchellows, at an annual rent of 5s
Property as in Add Mss 7407
Admission of Mary Pawlett Drinkwater (dau. of Woodroofe and Ann Drinkwater) Messuage, garden, barn and croft of land (3a.) near the highway leading to Birdham Court Barns To hold for her life in reversion immediately after the death of her sisters Ann Costellow Drinkwater and Elizabeth, w. of blank Peckham, esq., to whom the property was formerly granted for their lives successively Court of the Dean and Chapter of Chichester Stewards: Ishmael Kilwick, gent
The sole heir of John Murrough, of Chichester, provision merchant, and Lucy, his wife, (née Patrick)
Property as in Add Mss 7407
Property as in Add Mss 7407, for the life of Mary Napper, aged 13, eldest dau. of William Napper, of Birdham, Wheelwright, in reversion
Surrender of Thomas Gravely of property as in Add Mss 8997 to the use of his will Steward: Francis Dear
Property as in Add Mss 7406, at an annual rent of 8s
Admission of Elizabeth, wife of Richard Richardson, to - Messuage and 40a. land (no details) On the surrender of the said Richard Richardson, for her life after his death Lord: Sir John Peachey. Steward; John Charman
Property as in Add Mss 7404 at an annual rent of 5s
Principal source for the manorial descent of Birdham.
village in West Sussex, England, UK. Type: village
Wikimedia duplicated page. Type: Wikimedia duplicated page
painting by Miguel Mackinlay (1893–1959), Bushey Museum and Art Gallery. Type: painting
UK local authority for the parish of Birdham. Type: parish council
former manorial estate in Birdham, Sussex. Type: manor estate
