Manor Profile
Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire· Bishop's Waltham Hundred· 904 – 1869
Also known as: Waltham Episcopi, Waltham
King Edward the Elder granted Bishop's Waltham to Denewulf, Bishop of Winchester, in 904 in exchange for Portchester. The grant conveyed the lands with fields, woods, meadows, fisheries and all appurtenances. King Edgar renewed the grant before 1066. At the Domesday survey in 1086 the bishop held the manor in demesne, assessed at 20 hides though 30 hides existed in fact, valued at £30. A priest named Ralf held two churches of the manor with 2.5 hides (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
The bishops of Winchester held the manor continuously as part of the see's possessions throughout the medieval period. Henry de Blois (bishop 1129-1171) built the episcopal palace during the twelfth century. The palace became a favoured residence of the bishops and hosted royal councils in 1182 and 1194, receiving visits from Henry II, Richard I, Henry VIII and others (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
In 1551 Bishop Poynet conveyed the property to Paulet, Lord Treasurer, representing the Crown, in exchange for a fixed annual income. The following month King Edward VI granted the manor to William, Earl of Wiltshire. Queen Mary restored it to John White, Bishop of Winchester, in 1558 (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
The palace was destroyed following a siege during the Civil War. After a defence by 200 cavaliers under Colonel Bennett, it surrendered to General Brown on 9 April 1644. Within two days it was reported in ashes. The ruins subsequently served as a quarry for building stone and are now in the care of English Heritage (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
During the Commonwealth the bishops' lands were sold. Robert Reynolds purchased Bishop's Waltham for £7,999 14s. 10.25d. and held a court there in 1653. At the Restoration the manor reverted to the bishops of Winchester. Dr George Morley (bishop 1662-1684) divided the former park into farms via royal assent to an Act in July 1663 to fund repairs at Farnham Castle. By 1664 it was described as the great disparked park (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
The Bishops' Resignation Act of 1869 vested all episcopal lands, including Bishop's Waltham, in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (VCH Hampshire Vol. 3, pp. 276-282).
| # | Name | From | To | Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Denewulf of Winchester(Bishop of Winchester) | 904 | 909 | royal grant (exchange for Portchester) | The 904 exchange is one of the earliest documented land transactions in Hampshire.King Edward the Elder granted Waltham to Denewulf in 904 in exchange for Portchester. Grant conveyed lands with fields, woods, meadows, fisheries and all appurtenances. |
| 2 | Successive Bishops of Winchester(Bishop) | 909 | 1129 | episcopal succession | King Edgar renewed the grant before 1066. At Domesday the bishop held in demesne, assessed at 20 hides though 30 existed, valued at £30. |
| 3 | Henry de Blois(Bishop of Winchester) | 1129 | 1171 | episcopal succession | Builder of the Bishop's Waltham palace. Brother of King Stephen.Built the episcopal palace during the twelfth century. The palace hosted royal councils in 1182 and 1194 and received visits from Henry II and Richard I. |
| 4 | Successive Bishops of Winchester(Bishop) | 1171 | 1551 | episcopal succession | The bishops held continuously through the medieval period. The palace was a favoured episcopal residence. |
| 5 | William, Earl of Wiltshire(Earl of Wiltshire) | 1551 | 1558 | royal grant (Edward VI) | Bishop Poynet conveyed to Paulet, Lord Treasurer, for the Crown. Edward VI then granted to William, Earl of Wiltshire. Queen Mary restored the manor to the bishopric in 1558. |
| 6 | John White(Bishop of Winchester) | 1558 | 1560 | restoration by Queen Mary | Queen Mary restored the manor to the bishopric in the person of Bishop White in 1558. |
| 7 | Successive Bishops of Winchester(Bishop) | 1560 | 1644 | episcopal succession | Palace reported in ashes by 11 April 1644.The palace was besieged and destroyed in April 1644. Colonel Bennett defended with 200 cavaliers before surrendering to General Brown on 9 April 1644. |
| 8 | Robert Reynolds | 1647 | 1660 | purchase (bishops' lands sale) | Purchased for £7,999 14s. 10.25d. following the sale of bishops' lands. Held a court at the manor in 1653. |
| 9 | Dr George Morley(Bishop of Winchester) | 1662 | 1684 | Restoration | Divided the former park into farms via royal assent to an Act in July 1663 to fund repairs at Farnham Castle. By 1664 it was described as the great disparked park. |
| 10 | Successive Bishops of Winchester(Bishop) | 1684 | 1869 | episcopal succession | Held by the see until the Bishops' Resignation Act of 1869 vested all episcopal lands in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. |
See of Winchester
diocese · held · 904 – 1869
Granted by King Edward the Elder to Bishop Denewulf in 904 in exchange for Portchester. Renewed by King Edgar before 1066.
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
government_body · held · 1869
Bishops' Resignation Act 1869 vested all episcopal lands in the Commissioners.
Fairthorne (Hulle) was a sub-manor within the episcopal manor of Bishop's Waltham.
King Edward the Elder exchanged Portchester for Bishop's Waltham with Bishop Denewulf in 904.
Both Bishop's Waltham and Fareham were held by the Bishop of Winchester and later the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
Both Bishop's Waltham and Alverstoke were held by the Bishop of Winchester.
Both Bishop's Waltham and Hambledon were held by the Bishop of Winchester.
Bishop of Winchester held Bishop's Waltham in demesne. Assessed at 20 hides (30 existed), valued at £30.
King Edward the Elder granted Waltham to Bishop Denewulf of Winchester in exchange for Portchester.
Referenced in VCH for grants to the Earl of Wiltshire (1551), restoration by Queen Mary (1558), and the bishops' lands sales.
Principal source for the manorial descent of Bishop's Waltham and Fairthorne. Covers parish, manors, palace, churches and charities.
